FAIRLDS Warns of Satan, Girl Bishops?, BYU Marriage Decline - Mormon News 8.14.26 | Ep. 2181

On today’s episode of Mormon News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FAIR Warns: Satan Wants You to Leave The 2026 FAIR Conference brought together LDS apologists and defenders of the Church for three days of presentations. We look at FAIR president Scott Gordon’s warning about the strategies he believes Satan uses to lead members away, including distrust of faithful sources and criticism of Church leaders. FAIR Conference 2026: https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/c... “Are There Any Girl Bishops?” The Friend Sparks a Debate A simple question in The Friend, the Church’s magazine for children, has sparked a much bigger conversation about women, priesthood authority, and why women cannot serve as bishops in the LDS Church. The Friend Creates Unexpected Stir Over a Simple Question: LDS Magazine 'The Friend' Creates Unexpect... Marriage Rates Are Falling at BYU Fewer BYU students are getting married, and the university is taking steps to help students meet and date. We look at the declining numbers and what they may reveal about changing expectations among young Latter-day Saints. BYU Steps In as Student Marriage Rates Decline: https://www.sltrib.com/news/education... Former Miss North Carolina USA Says Her Title Was Taken Over Her Beliefs Brittany Boltinhouse says her Miss North Carolina USA title was “ripped” from her because of her religious beliefs, while pageant officials dispute her account. We look at the controversy and the competing claims. Former Miss NC USA Says Title Was Taken Because of Her Beliefs: https://abc11.com/post/brittany-bolti... LDS Podcaster Chandler Hendry Dies at 27 Chandler Hendry, founder of the Restored Truth podcast, died following a multi-vehicle crash in Lehi, Utah. We discuss his unexpected death and his presence in the Latter-day Saint online community. Religious Podcaster Chandler Hendry Dies in Lehi Crash: https://www.ksl.com/article/51607762/... Latter-day Saints React to New Church and Sunday Meeting Initiatives Two Reddit discussions are raising questions about changes in LDS Sunday meetings and a new “Christ-Centered Latter-day Saints” initiative. We look at what is being reported and how former members are responding. Is the Schedule Change About Reducing Doctrinal Discussions? Reddit: schedule_change_is_to_reduce_doctrinal_discussions The “Christ-Centered Latter-day Saints” Initiative: Reddit: a_new_church_initiative_the_christ_centered Dallin H. Oaks Heads Abroad at 94 President Dallin H. Oaks is preparing for his first international trip as president of the LDS Church as he turns 94. We discuss the trip and the extraordinary age of the Church’s current leadership. At 94, Dallin Oaks Takes His First Trip Abroad as Church President: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/... Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: https://www.mormonstories.org/fair-ld... Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Introduction to stories 00:03:31 - Mormon News website 00:15:13 - (Clip) Scott Gordon 00:23:53 - (Clip) FAIR avoids debates 00:32:38 - (Clip) Gordon B. Hinckley on doctrine 00:42:25 - Mindset of top Mormon leadership 00:45:24 - (Clip) Debate won’t win anyone over 00:49:16 - (Clip) Dishonest in history 01:08:06 - (Clip) CES Letter 01:15:06 - (Clip) Don’t criticise the Brethren 01:26:04 - (Clip) Treasure hunting 01:36:35 - (Clip) Words appearing on a stone 01:44:33 - Thought stopping 01:54:30 - Girl bishops? 01:58:36 - Message to Jackson 02:00:15 - (Clip) Jackson and Austin 02:02:21 - (Clip) Why not just answer the question? 02:08:23 - (Clip) Jackson on no girl bishops 02:18:18 - (Clip) Jackson comments on equality 02:33:01 - Marriage rates at BYU declining 02:36:29 - Thought experiment on women 02:48:07 - Church leaders want more babies 02:52:07 - BYU date nights 03:00:24 - Mormon beauty queen 03:01:01 - (Clip) Miss Carolina stripped of her title 03:06:40 - Death of Chandler David Hendry 03:08:12 - (Clip) Chandler not wearing seatbelt 03:15:51 - Sunday School schedule change 03:25:15 - Dallin Oaks turns 94, travels abroad 03:30:18 - Final remarks