The Cultural Hall Podcast

McKay Coppins McKay Coppins is a staff writer at The Atlantic where he covers politics, religion, and national affairs. He is the author of The Wilderness: Deep Inside the Republican Party’s Combative, Contentious, Chaotic Quest to Take Back the White House, a book about the battle for the future of the Republican Party, and he has been a visiting fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. He won the Aldo Beckman Award from the White House Correspondents Association for his coverage of the Trump presidency, and the Wilbur Award for religion journalism. He lives near Washington, DC, with his wife and children. (Simonandschuster.com)  He was previously a reporter for BuzzFeed News, where he covered two presidential campaigns, and Newsweek, where he co-authored a cover story on Mitt Romney and Mormonism. (isoj.org) About the Book Romney: A Reckoning: (GET IT HERE.) Few figures in American politics have seen more and said less than Mitt Romney. An outspoken dissident in Donald Trump’s GOP, he has made headlines in recent years for standing alone against the forces he believes are poisoning the party he once led. Romney was the first senator in history to vote to remove from office a president of his own party. When that president’s supporters went on to storm the U.S. Capitol, Romney delivered a thundering speech from the Senate floor accusing his fellow Republicans of stoking insurrection. Despite these moments of public courage, Romney has shared very little about what he’s witnessed behind the scenes over his three decades in politics—in GOP cloakrooms and caucus lunches, in his private meetings with Donald Trump and his family, in his dealings with John McCain, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Mitch McConnell, Joe Manchin, and Kyrsten Sinema. Now, exclusively for this biography, Romney has provided a window to his most private thoughts. Based on dozens of exclusive interviews with Romney, his family, and his inner circle as well as hundreds of pages of his personal journals and private emails, this in-depth portrait by award-winning journalist McKay Coppins shows a public servant authentically wrestling with the choices he has made over his career.  In lively, revelatory detail, the book traces Romney’s early life and rise through the ranks of a fast-transforming Republican Party, and exposes how a trail of seemingly small compromises by political leaders has led to a crisis in democracy.  Ultimately, Romney: A Reckoning is a redemptive story about a flawed politician who summoned his moral courage just as fear and divisiveness were overtaking American life. (mckayaldencoppins.com) Romney: A Reckoning by McKay Coppins McKay Coppins Ep. 384 Inside the tense exchange between Romney and  Santos Guy Mitt Smiley Romney Deseret News article on McKay’s book *This page may contain Amazon affiliate links.

Temple Dedication  Okinawa Japan Temple – #186 November 12, 2023 by Gary Stevenson One dedicatory Session in Japanese, one in English Stevenson has lived 9 years in Japan  2 years as missionary (Fukuoka and Okinawa)  3 Years as mission president (Nagoya) 4 years in Asia North Area Presidency (Tokyo) Smallest Temple District in the Church  One stake, one district (English) 12 congregations of 2000 regularly attending members (Total of 5,500 members – 36%) Members have visited the Temples in Laie, Tokyo, Fukuoka Focus on healing after WWII Stevenson Video: Culture of Temples in Japan  Open House and Rededication Announced  Manti Utah Temple Open House – March 14th to April 5, 2024 Media Day – March 11th  Rededication – April 21, 2024 Temple Groundbreaking  Kaohsiung Taiwan Temple November 25th presided by Benjamin M. Z. Tai, Asia Area president.  Mayor of the Niaosong District attended Second temple in Taiwan after Taipei in 1984 Temple Site Locations Announced  Toluca Mexico Temple 5 acre site at the corner of Calle Guadalupe Victoria and Uruapan in Metepec (Pueblo Magico)  Single Story Temple of 19,000 square feet. Next to TecMilenio University. First temple in the State of Mexico (largest state) Tabernacle Choir and Elder Bednar have visited Toluca this year.  João Pessoa Brazil Temple 4 acre site at corner of Rua Paulino Pinto and Avenida Ministro José Américo de Almeida in the Cabo Branco neighborhood. Adjacent to a River, surrounded by tall buildings,

Leah Sottile is the author of When the Moon Turns to Blood: Lori Vallow, Chad Daybell and a Story of Murder, Faith and End Times. As a freelance journalist, her features, profiles, investigations and essays have been published by the Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Outside, The Atlantic and High Country News. She is the host of the podcasts Burn Wild and Two Minutes Past Nine, produced with the BBC, and the National Magazine Award-nominated series Bundyville. Sottile’s National Magazine Award-nominated Bundyville podcast is paired with a textual longform journalism version at Longreads.com and was produced in collaboration with Longread and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Both the podcast and textual version of Bundyville investigate conflicts over public lands in the American West, federal jursidiction over them, the Bundy ranching family’s involvement in a 2014 armed standoff with federal officials in Nevada and the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, and the myriad cast of associated characters in the world of patriot, milita, anti-government, religious, and state-seperatist movements. Leah got her start the music editor for the Spokane Washington alt-weekly newspaper The Inlander, where she won the 2011-2012 Mental Health Reporting award. (Leah Sottile – Wikipedia)  She has since had her investigations and essays have been featured by the Washington Post, The New York Times Magazine, Playboy, Outside, The Atlantic, Vice and several others. She is currently the T. Anthony Pollner Distinguished Professor at the University of Montana School of Journalism. (reddcenter.byu.edu) Sign up for Leah Sottile’s newsletter at Leah Sottile.com Ammon Bundy Ep. 137 pt. 1 Ammon Bundy Ep. 137 pt. 2 Church statement on “The White Horse Prophecy” Join us on Patreon! LDS Avow—Another Voice of Warning website “Every week in church, I’m going, can I come out?” by Leah Sottile   *This page may contain Amazon affiliate links.

Opening Exercises * Email us! * Discussion connecting Elder Ballard and Tim Ballard * Latter-day Saint Chapels Around the World Daily Facebook page * Church denounces Tim Ballard’s “morally unacceptable” activities * John Buck Ep. 83 * Join us on Patreon! * Episode For The Lifers Ep.737 * Hidden True Crime on YouTube Lighter News * Missionaries help fight childhood hunger during Thanksgiving service project * “The Mansion” by Henry Van Dyke * The First Presidency’s 2023 Christmas message * What can you do at Temple Square while it’s under construction? * Tabernacle Choir Tabernacle Choir 2023 Christmas Concert * Tabernacle Choir 2022 Christmas Concert available for purchase * Bells at Temple Square holiday concert cancelled * Music & the Spoken Word schedule * Keith McMullin to retire as head of Deseret Management Corp. * 2023 Light the World initiative invites all to Let Your Light Shine (in) * Contribute to the daily conversation about Light the World on Facebook * Passing of Pres. Ballard ends 6th longest leadership tenure in church history * Jeffrey R. Holland called as new acting president of the quorum of the 12 apostles

Darin Scott is an American actor, writer, and director of English, Scottish, and German decent, born in the small town of Vernal, Utah. Most of his childhood and adolescence (12 years) was spent in Vancouver, Washington. A month before Scott’s seventeenth birthday, his father died of a heart attack. As the youngest and last of five children in the home, Scott became the man of the house. PrePurchase Tickets to The Oath The school stage is where Scott’s passion for acting began but he was also very into sports. After playing college football at Brigham Young University-Idaho, Scott finished his BA at the University of Utah. His football days led to his first acting role in the Disney film “Going To The Mat,” working with Khleo Thomas as the football jock, “Yardley”. The following year, Scott booked another role in Disney’s “Halloweentown High,” where he worked with Academy Award Nominated, Debbie Reynolds, as well as Teen Choice Nominated, Lucas Grabeel. Scott read for the role of Wylie in Disney’s “Buffalo Dreams” and had the director all but convinced until he was asked his age (being 25 at the time). Though Scott is typically cast in younger roles, in this case, the director took Scott’s age a bit too literally. Scott took a few roles in independent films and then landed a lead role in Discovery Channel’s “I Shouldn’t Be Alive.” In spite of his brewing film success, with a young family, Scott relocated to California to pursue a law degree. Shortly after moving, he booked a role in “127 Hours” where he worked with Golden Globe Winner (and Academy Award Nominated), James Franco. Although the role turned out to be smaller than anticipated, as the entire wedding scene was cut from the final edit, it did steer Scott from law school. He withdrew after one semester to attend Playhouse West Acting School in North Hollywood. While studying there, he booked roles in a number of films, including the title role of the mountain man scout Ephraim Hanks in “Ephraim’s Rescue,” where he showed his ability to carry a film. Later, Scott was also direct-cast as a younger character version of Emmy-Nominated, John Heard, in “Counting For Thunder.” Not letting his law background go to waste, Scott followed by landing a supporting role as the lead Defense Attorney in “Just Let Go,” where he worked opposite Emmy-Nominated Henry Ian Cusick and Sam Sorbo (Jenkins). Scott continued his success working opposite Teen Choice Winner, Josh Lucas, in Kevin Costner’s acclaimed, Emmy-Nominated and Golden Globe winning series, “Yellowstone”. Scott is also the writer and director of over 30 commercials and short films, including the third all-time highest crowdfunded short film on Kickstarter in 2017, “Reign of Judges: Title of Liberty.” In late 2021, Scott made his feature directorial debut, writing, directing, and starring in “The Oath,” based on his award-winning short film, “Reign of Judges: Title of Liberty,” also starring Billy Zane, Karina Lombard, and Eugene Brave Rock. “The Oath” is set to release in theaters in 2023. Let us know what you think about this or any episode! Check out The Oath’s Kickstarter launch video Join us on Patreon! Check out the trailer for The Oath at oathmovie.com

Stephen LeSueur is a former journalist, author and historian.  His book “The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri” won the John Whitmer Historical Association award for best book in 1987. Stephen worked for over five years as the editor of “Washington Technology,” and is a former journalist for “Deseret News,” covering national security issues and the defense industry. (SteveLesueurl.com) Stephen ‘s latest book “Life and Death on the Mormon Frontier: The Murders of Frank LeSueur and Gus Gibbons by the Wild Bunch” is now available. “The Wild Bunch was the largest and most notorious band of outlaws in the American West. Led by two gunmen better known by their aliases, Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker) and Kid Curry (Harvey Logan), the Wild Bunch was an informal trust of thieves and rustlers that preyed upon stagecoaches, small banks, and especially railroads from the late 1880s to the first decade of the twentieth century.”(Metmuseum.org, author unknown) Join us on Patreon! Find more about your family history at FamilySearch.org

* Hank Smith Ep. 427 and 474 * Listen to the Little Lessons podcast * McKay Coppins Eo, 384 * President M. Russell Ballard passes * Photo of the Ballard’s headstone * President Ballard funeral plans * 5 of the sweet stories from President Ballard’s ministry * Check out the Facebook discussion * How will a new apostle be chosen? * Mesa Temple Christmas lights 2023 * Jesus the Christ: Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant * Young Service Missionaries to be integrated into teaching missions * Mum of 16 children changes 9 of their names * Check out the Brigham Young Journals * BYU Women’s Soccer team ranked No. 1 * 3 BYU Women’s Cross Country team competing this Saturday * Growth and momentum of the Church Education System * Church donates $1 Million to hurricane relief in Acapulco * Church joins Muslim communities in peace-building in West Africa * Do you want to join a book club? contact us here!    

Gerrit Dirkmaat is an associate professor of Church History and doctrine at Brigham Young University. He has worked as a writer and historian for the church history department, working on the Joseph Smith Papers. In addition to his work for BYU and on various journals and academic boards, Gerrit hosts a church history podcast called “Standard of Truth,” Click here to read “The Standard of Truth” quote by Joseph Smith. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube or become a Patreon Saint to watch it on Facebook. Click here to read the Church of Jesus Christ’s statement regarding the Joseph Smith daguerreotype. Gerrit Dirkmaat and Michael Hubbard McKay authored “From Darkness Unto Light: Joseph Smith’s Transalation and Publication of the Book of Mormon”. Gerrit is well versed in The Council of Fifty; minutes from these meetings are included in The Joseph Smith Papers. Volume I of The Brigham Young Journals is now available. Check out “A Bunch of Richards” Episode 733 Read all about the Joseph Smith Papers at JosephSmithPapers.org  

* Follow us on YouTube! * Join us on Patreon! * American Night Writers Association * Check out our links on Linktr.ee * Rates of Syphilis have raised by 800% in Salt Lake County * Join us on the Back Row Facebook Group * Let us know your thoughts on today’s articles’ * The Behavior Panel on YouTube * The Behavior Panel on Shanna Gardner * Hidden True Crime on YouTube on Shanna Gardner Fernandez * Light the World 2023 Giving Machines * Follow us on Instagram! * Elder Ballard accused of sharing info with Tim Ballard * Church responds to Tim Ballard accusations * Russell Brunson on Patreon Saints Facebook Group * Russell Brunson Ep. 595 * Lynne M. Jackson to Keynote at Rootstech2024 * Register now for Rootstech 2024 * Church launches global effort to nourish (and strengthen)) children * Follow Camille N. Johnson on Instagram * Church statement on hunanitarian aid in the Middle East * BYU testing ways to prevent PTSD before it starts * Man behind AP African American studies * President Nelson shares health update * Update on Pres.

Dustin Grabau serves Wasatch County as the County Manager. After graduating from BYU with a master’s in public administration, Dustin was employed by Provo City. After completing a six-year tenure there ending as the Budget Officer, he joined Wasatch County in 2019 as the Assistant County Manager. After serving as the Interim County Manager for six months, he was appointed the County Manager in January 2022. Dustin and his wife are from Houston, Texas, and now reside in Heber City with their five children. Dustin’s email is DGrabau@wasatch.utah.gov.

New Missions Announced for 2024 36 Additional Missions to be organized Necessitated by an Increase in Missionaries since the Pandemic 2021 – 56,000 2022  – 62,500 2023 – 73,000 Largest increase of new missions since 2013 when 58 were announced Total of 405 missions (85,000 serving in 2014), 411 in 2015. Missions net decline from 2018 to 2020 Increase the total of missions to 450 – most at any time.  Average missionaries in Mission 210 (2014) to 160 (2024) 6 previously closed missions will be reopened  Modesto, Tallahassee, SLC East, Sendai, Hamburg, Porto Missions with Large Geographies being divided  Missoula, El Paso, Charleston, Manaus South, Cochabamba South, La Serena, Tecuman, Mexicali, Antananarivo  New Missions for Large Populations  Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Nairobi, Port Harcourt, Lima Northeast (7th mission), Dallas (4th), Henderson (3rd), Santo Domingo (3rd), Quito West (3rd), Puebla East (3rd), Accra (3rd), Kinshasa (3rd) Most new missions in Africa for one year, many in outlying areas Bo, Takoradi, Calabar, Kolwezi Utah county – at least 1 companionship per stake  Saratoga Spring, Spanish Fork 3 new in the Philippines (now 26 missions) Brazil up to 37, Mexico up to 34. Matt Martinich’s analysis of impact of birth rates on missionary numbers.  Mail Bag  Missoula Montana Temple Colorado Spring Colorado Temple Recommendation Angles and Seer Stones Podcast Episode 11: Jesus appears in the Temple Temple Open House  Lima Perú Los Olivos Temple Media day on November 6th  Open House November 10th to December 9th Third City in the World to have two temples in its boundaries After South Jordan and Provo. Will be followed by St George, Guatemala City, São Paulo, Mexico City, Santiago 49 Stakes in the Lima Metro Area First temple located in La Molina, this temple is in San Martín de Porres (not Los Olivos). But olive trees in gardens Temple Design  Two-story, 47k sq. ft, white granite, simple art deco design.  First large temple design to not have an angel Moroni in many decades.   At the time the lack of Moroni was attributed to the absence of a tower. There was no tower because the temple looked very tall next to the buildings around it (semiurban feel)  At the time it was described as harkening back to the Cardston/Laie/Mesa s...

Missing teen Blaze Thibaudeau has been found safe: A 16-year-old boy from Arizona was found safe with his mother, uncle, and sister in Alaska. READ: Ben Thibaudeau’s court filing to gain custody of his son Doomsday family from Arizona last seen in Idaho with teen

737 Episode for the Lifers The Cultural Hall

Temple Dedication  Bangkok Thailand Temple – #185 Dedicated on October 22nd by Ronald Rasband Used to make business trips to Thailand as an executive for Huntsman Chemical. First Temple in Southeast Asia, Rasband paid tribute to  President Hinckley, who in 2000 foretold of a temple;  President Thomas S. Monson, who officially announced the temple in 2015;  President Russell M. Nelson, who toured the temple site five years ago Brigham Young Sent Missionaries to “Siam” in 1852 only one made it, stayed a few months, and left not able to break the language barrier. English congregation in the 1950s, missionaries assigned in 1968.  Temple district spans from Vietnam to Pakistan and from Nepal to Indonesia 13 stakes, 22 districts  Dinner meeting with leaders from 11 countries before the dedication.  Temples planned for India, Cambodia, Singapore, and Indonesia  Temple Open House begins  Orem Utah Temple Media Day on October 23rd Reyna Aburto, Orem Resident and member of the open house committee.  Emphasis on Utah Valley University Students Interior Photos released The Williamson Family from Norway farmed the property from 1864 to 2004. Baptismal font and windows are themed after Utah Lake with cattails and birds. Marble wainscoting and coffered ceilings Cherry Trees: everything everywhere all at once, Stained glass and blossoms in flooring, carpets, walls, chandeliers, furniture, throughout the temple Cherry Colors: Reds and greens, with light-brown and pink accents Open House through December 16th, except Sundays and Thanksgiving Paves the Way for the Provo Temple to be demolished and rebuilt starting February 24th.  Temple Groundbreaking  Fort Worth Texas Temple in Burleson Texas Presided by Jose L. Alonzo Held in a nearby chapel due to rain. A group went to the site to turn the shovels.  83,000 members in the DFW in 214 congregations 2nd of 3 temples planned for the metroplex (Dallas/Prosper). Temple Sites revealed  Vienna Austria Temple 0.8 acre site in northwest Vienna at the site of a meetinghouse Meetinghouse for the Döbling (English) Ward

* General Conference Leadership Meeting resources now available * Church helps restore African American school house in Louisianna * BYU Senior looks to make memorial park after discovering infant graves * Missing teen found after being kidnapped by mother and uncle * Nate Eaton interview with Ben Thibodeau * Nate Eaton Ep 688 (2nd Block) * 2024 Youth Theme is “I Am a Disciple of Jesus Christ” * Church is developing a Build-to-Rent community * Church releases statement on hurricane Otis * What RHWOSLC fans should know about LDS church * Watch Music and the Spoke with Word with special Glee Club guests!!! * Funeral Service for Sister Kathleen Johnson Eyring * Remembering Sister Eyring * Lessons YW leader learned sheltering in place with teens * MTC power outages teaches about ‘the light’ * Church donates $1 million to Second Harvest * Nigerian Stake President named Eminent Ambassador of Peace *