The Latter Day Lens
The Latter Day Lens
Shawn & Matt
Welcome to The Latter Day Lens, a weekly faith-based podcast where we explore the intersection of Mormonism, global news, and political science. Hosted by Shawn Record and Matthew Miles, a professor of political science, this is your home for an authentic and nuanced LDS perspective on the world’s toughest topics.Each episode provides thoughtful Latter-day Saint commentary on current events, ranging from Christianity and politics to social identity and economic policy. Whether you are an active LDS member seeking a deeper religious podcast experience or a listener interested in Mormon studies, we apply a "gospel lens" to move beyond the headlines.Join us every Wednesday for LDS perspectives that are faith-promoting, intellectually honest, and designed to help you navigate your faith in the modern world. From Come Follow Me 2026 insights to deep dives into LDS history and doctrine, we tackle the conversations most people avoid.
Episode 179: LDS Perspectives on Celestial Polygamy, Book Banning, War Powers, and Property Redistribution
Send us Fan Mail In this deep-dive episode of The Latter-Day Lens, hosts Matt and Shawn tackle listener mail and pressing socio-political questions through a unique Latter-day Saint perspective. 1. Listener Mailbag: Mormon Heaven & Eternal Polygamy A listener and mental health therapist shares why young LDS women are feeling disheartened by perceptions of a male-centric heaven. Matt and Sean discuss Heavenly Mother, the theological vs. cultural views on celestial marriage, and whether the...
Aug 5
1 hr 5 min
Ep. 178: Mark Cuban, Capitalist Communism, and Scriptural Limits on Property
Send us Fan Mail Join Matt, Shawn, and guest Levi as they tackle complex cultural and geopolitical issues through a Latter-day Saint lens! In this episode, the team discusses a listener mailbag letter on unrighteous dominion and eternal polygamy, dives into the nuclear diplomacy double standards between South Korea and Saudi Arabia, debates employee stock ownership vs. free market principles, and explores the gospel perspective on property rights and taking care of those in need. 🔑 Key Topics...
Jul 29
1 hr 2 min
Episode 177: Why Young Women Leave, Russian Oligarchs, U.S. Trust, and the Scriptural Meaning of Property Rights
Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary: Melanie returns to the show to add a missing perspective as the team tackles a wide range of timely and complex topics! The crew begins by diving into LDS youth retention rates, examining why young women leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at higher rates than young men between ages 18 and 25. From there, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie examine Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko’s warnings regarding Putin and the Ukraine conflict, debating what ro...
Jul 22
54 min
Episode 176: Gen Z's Career Dilemma, Declining Fertility, the Temple Steeple Dispute, and Is Church Culture Creating a Retention Gap for Young Women?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and Porter reunite to tackle a fascinating mix of listener mail and heavy-hitting social data. From a deep dive into the nuances of the abortion debate to economic realities facing Gen Z, the team breaks down current events through a unique cultural lens. What We Discuss in This Episode: The Mailbag: Correcting the false dichotomy in political rhetoric surrounding abortion and shifting accountability to men.Gen Z & Livi...
Jul 15
1 hr 1 min
Episode 175: Trump’s Crypto Billions, Socialist Shifts & The Future of AI Voting
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter-day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and guest host Marc tackle a fascinating slate of highly debated political topics through a unique cultural and ideological lens. The team dives deep into the ethics of elected officials profiting from cryptocurrency projects like World Liberty Financial, examining whether the President should face stricter business regulation while in office. Next, they pivot to global geopolitics to unpack the humanitarian crisis in Venez...
Jul 8
50 min
Episode 174: Should Government Shape Morality? Post-Roe Abortion Trends, Blind Patriotism, and the Therapeutic Church Myth
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Latter Day Lens, hosts Matt, Shawn, and Levi dive deep into the cultural data and political friction shaping modern society. They unpack fresh 2026 Gallup polling data regarding the state’s influence on personal ethics, trace the real-world statistical fallout four years after the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and evaluate contrasting definitions of patriotism as America marks its 250th anniversary. Finally, the team pushes back against a controversial Fa...
Jul 1
1 hr 1 min
Episode 173: Predestination vs Agency: What Do Latter-day Saints Believe?  Iran, Sports & Religious Freedom
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Latter Day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and Melanie tackle a wide range of topics—from religious expression in sports to international diplomacy and one of the biggest theological questions in Christianity. The conversation begins with athletes expressing their faith on the world stage and whether professional sports organizations should allow religious messages on uniforms. The discussion then shifts to the latest agreement with Iran and whether American leaders con...
Jun 24
59 min
Episode 172: Are LDS Members Christian? Switzerland's Immigration Cap, Hegseth's Military Purge, and Can Ukraine Win?
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Latter Day Lens — your home for unscripted, faith-promoting discussion of current events, culture, and political science through a gospel lens. This week, Matt and Shawn go one-on-one with no guests, digging into a packed mailbag before working through some of the most provocative thought-provokers of the season. Mailbag: Are Latter-day Saints Christian? A listener asks about the Pentagon's recent reclassification of LDS military personnel — moving members...
Jun 17
1 hr 5 min
Episode 171: Voting for Character in Texas & California, Trusting the Zoomers, and Celebrating America's 250th
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Latter-day Lens, your home for unscripted, faith-promoting discussions analyzing current events, culture, and political science through a gospel lens. First this week, the hosts look ahead to next month’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Most people are unaware that there are two distinct organizational frameworks competing for this national celebration: America250, the bipartisan, non-political commission established by...
Jun 10
50 min
Episode 170: What the First Presidency Really Said About Voting | AI Lawyers, Virtue, and Political Accountability
Send us Fan Mail This week on Latter-day Lens, Matt and Shawn begin by responding to listener feedback about the housing crisis and explore how the 2008 financial crash, starter-home shortages, Airbnb, and government regulations have shaped today's housing market. The conversation then turns to education and whether schools should focus primarily on academics, virtue, character formation, or teaching students how to become lifelong learners. Shawn introduces the concept of the "autodidact" wh...
Jun 3
56 min
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