Welcome to the MormonNewsRoundup where Dives ruminates on the great and spacious Beehive!

What happens when ex-Mormonism starts looking a little too much like the patriarchy it claims to have escaped? In this explosive conversation, Joe Rawlins of The Hellfire Agency and Rene Steelman of She Became Visible sit down to deconstruct ex-Mormon patriarchy—and nothing is off limits.🔥 Shots are fired at some of the most recognizable names in the ex-Mormon space, including Bill Reel, Radio Fr...

Many people have heard of Kate Kelly—the Mormon feminist who challenged church power—but few know her full story. In this episode of Mormon News Roundup, we trace her journey in chronological order: from a faithful member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the founder of Ordain Women, and ultimately to a nationally recognized advocate for gender equality and the Equal Rights...

Hey everyone, I’m Dives, and welcome back to The Mormon News Roundup. Today, we’re breaking down a fascinating deep-dive from historian Dan Vogel on one of the most iconic claims in Mormonism: the Book of Mormon gold plates. His original video runs over an hour—but in this episode, I cut through the noise and give you the most important insights in a clear, digestible format.🎥 Watch Dan Vogel’s O...

Leaving the Mormon Church isn’t just about stopping attendance—it’s about undoing a lifetime of conditioning, shame, fear, and identity control. In this episode, Jimmy Snow (Mr Atheist) shares his full Mormon timeline: growing up deeply embedded in LDS leadership culture, early childhood indoctrination, purity shame, priesthood pressure, sexual guilt, Proposition 8, and the slow, painful realizati...

In 2019, the LDS Church released a new video on the Word of Wisdom, also known as the Lord’s Law of Health. With over 200,000 views, the video attempts to explain why Latter-day Saints abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea, and drugs—but it glosses over the messy historical reality. From its origins in 1833, the Word of Wisdom was shaped by the temperance movement, early 19th-century cultural...

In April 2020, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a “Now You Know” video explaining the gold plates—the foundation of the Book of Mormon. But how complete is that explanation? In this video, we walk through the Church’s presentation line by line, comparing it with historical sources, primary documents, and modern scholarship. What emerges is a pattern: simplified storytelling...

Julia from Analyzing Mormonism is one of my favorite content creators—and for good reason. As a master’s student in history, she brings a level of depth, sourcing, and credibility that’s rare, especially in short-form content. Whether she’s covering current LDS Church news or diving into church history, her work is consistently thoughtful and high quality. In this Throwback Thursday highlight, we...

Hey guys! Dives here, and it’s Throwback Thursday. Today I’m bringing you highlights from one of my favorite episodes of the Mormon News Roundup—Episode 116, featuring Landon Brophy, cohost of the Mormonish podcast. If you’re not already familiar with Landon, you’re in for a great discussion. As an ex-Mormon and outspoken critic of the LDS Church, he brings a thoughtful but candid perspective to s...

Today on The Mormon News Roundup, I’m doing something different. Instead of reacting to breaking news or the latest institutional scandal, I walk through the current temple recommend interview questions of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—and I answer them honestly, exactly as they are asked today. If you don’t answer these questions “correctly,” you don’t enter the temple. No templ...

Gordon B. Hinckley is remembered by many Latter-day Saints as a kind, media-savvy prophet who modernized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He smiled easily, charmed journalists, built temples across the globe, and became the public face of Mormonism for over a decade. But behind the polished image lies a far more troubling record. In this episode of the Mormon News Roundup, we count...

Why do so many Americans have a negative view of the LDS Church? This episode of Mormon News Roundup breaks down the data, polling, and public perception behind Mormonism’s reputation problem. This is not just a personal story or anecdotal criticism. Multiple national surveys show that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is viewed less favorably than most mainstream religious groups in...

For most of its history, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has claimed that excommunication is rare, loving, and purely spiritual. Since 2015, that claim has become increasingly difficult to defend. In the internet age, church discipline no longer happens quietly behind closed doors. It unfolds in newspapers, podcasts, television interviews, and viral social media posts. From child-p...

For this Throwback Thursday, we’re revisiting one of the most memorable episodes of the Mormon News Roundup — Episode 115 — featuring the hilarious and unapologetically sharp Makenzie Vance. Makenzie has built a reputation in the ex-Mormon space for her brutally honest and wildly funny commentary. On her YouTube channel she blends dark humor, self-awareness, and fearless criticism of Mormon cultur...

In this video, I break down why I personally stopped attending the LDS temple — from unsettling symbolism like Lucifer’s Lantern and creepy depictions of Satan, to realizing that consecrating your life to a church organization instead of directly to God just didn’t make sense for me. I react to the original video and explain the moments that raised red flags, challenged my beliefs, and ultimately...

Were Mormon teachings about race rooted in divine revelation — or the fallible opinions of imperfect men? In this groundbreaking video, we dive deep into the history and background of the LDS Church’s teachings concerning African descent and Native American descent. From the origins of racial doctrines to how they were taught as Revelation, this video summarizes the historical context, the claims...

Jonah Barnes is a rising star in Latter-day Saint apologetics—but his work is increasingly controversial. From his book The Key to the Keystone to his bold claims about John 4:24 and the Adam-God theory, Barnes has attracted attention from fans and criticism from LDS scholars alike. In this video, we break down:How The Key to the Keystone claims to “reconstruct” Lehi’s brass plates from apocryphal...

In 2010, the LDS Church launched the “I’m a Mormon” campaign—a sleek, high-budget public relations effort designed to normalize Mormon identity and counter negative stereotypes. Through billboards, ads, and professionally produced videos, members introduced themselves by name, profession, and family role before confidently declaring, “I’m a Mormon.”The message was clear: Mormonism was diverse, opt...

Is the Mormon Stories Podcast actually in trouble—or is it simply entering a new phase of its lifecycle? Over the past few years, Mormon Stories has been one of the most influential voices in the post-Mormon and faith-crisis space. But recent trends in subscriber growth, viewership, and organizational behavior have raised questions about what’s really happening. In this video, we break down the nu...

Millions of Mormons cling to faith despite contradictions, cover-ups, and corruption in church history, doctrine, and leadership. In this video, The Hidden Files of the Mormon Church exposes 10 common lies Latter-day Saints tell themselves — the mental gymnastics used to defend the LDS Church — and explains why each one falls apart under scrutiny. Watch as we break down these familiar apologetic e...

On September 13, 2020, Elder and Sister Rasband spoke to youth in a Face-to-Face event hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When asked by a young member named Harry about serious doubts regarding the church’s truth claims, Elder Rasband avoided providing a direct answer. Instead, the Rasbands:Encouraged reframing questions toward reasons to stay in the churchShowed a highly e...

The Tower of Babel story in Genesis is one of the Bible’s most famous myths, explaining the origin of different languages. But what happens when we examine the historical and linguistic evidence? In this video, we break down:Why biblical and secular scholars agree the Tower of Babel was not historicalEvidence of diverse languages long before the Tower of Babel supposedly happenedConnections betwee...

In this video, we expose the full story:Why Russell M. Nelson suddenly declared “Mormon” satanic in 2018 after nearly 200 years of church usageThe massive rebrand campaign (choir renamed, Mormon.org shut down, members told to correct everyone)How the church quietly kept trademark registrations alive through Intellectual Reserve, Inc. The 2025 legal letters targeting Mormon Stories Podcast, Radio F...

In this video, we break down Rene Steelman’s powerful analysis of the LDS Identity Crisis from her original She Became Visible video. Rene explores whether the Church is trying to reshape history, redefine the past, or tighten obedience, and what that means for everyday lived experience.👉 Original Video — Rene Steelman / She Became Visible:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOzD6pOiAp0📌 In this rea...

This is not a hate video. It’s an attempt to engage honestly with the arguments being made. In this long‑form discussion, we examine:Whether criticizing Mormonism constitutes “hate” or legitimate scrutinyThe difference between testimony, feelings, and evidenceWhy former members continue speaking out after leavingThe moral and historical record of the LDS ChurchTrauma, indoctrination, authority, an...

In this episode, I take on one of the most influential documents in modern Mormon history: Jeremy Runnells’ CES Letter. I sat down and tried to answer every single question Runnells originally sent to a CES director — from Book of Mormon anachronisms, to the Book of Abraham, to prophets, polygamy, the priesthood ban, temple issues, and more. How well did I actually do? Did any of the traditional L...