Summary: <br> <br> [dropcap]W[/dropcap]e're pleased to welcome back erstwhile Sunday School Bonanza host, Jared Gillins, as he sits with Geoff to talk all things Latter-day Saint News. Jared and his brother recently started the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jean-luc-picodcast/id1461719967" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jean-Luc Picodcast</a>, a podcast examining personal stories of how fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation have been impacted by the show, and of course, by Jean-Luc Picard.<br> <br> It appears the Church has commissioned <a href="https://kutv.com/news/local/lds-church-considering-lowering-age-for-youth-interviews-with-clergy-from-12-to-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a survey to gauge Latter-day Saints' feelings on lowering the age for "youth" interviews all the way down to eight years old</a>. Naturally, this ruffles some feathers. It's worth noting that the survey asks who should conduct such hypothetical interviews, including the primary president, but it does not contain an option for a respondent to state simply that he or she disapproves of the entire premise. Bad survey writing there. And strange timing, too. In the wake of Sam Young, is the Church exploring the issue more, or is this just clunky timing and Public Affairs is asleep at the wheel (again)?<br> <br> President M. Russell Ballard spoke recently at mission president training (new mission presidents enter the field in the beginning of July) where he <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/07/president-ballard-dissuades-premature-baptism-invitations/">denounced the practice of hasty or premature baptism invitations</a>. This is something of a watershed moment, as too often we've leaned on intensity, urgency, boldness, etc., with missionaries without encouraging them to be patient with the spirit. When we bring people into the Church before they are ready, we can risk hurting them and the ward into which they are baptized.<br> <br> Keeping with the missionary theme, <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/06/latter-day-saint-missionaries-to-pay-25-more-per-month/">missionaries serving in 18 countries will now be asked to pay 25% more per month</a>, up to $500 from $400. But that amount still tracks under what the inflated "cost" of a mission is, so... count your blessings?<br> <br> Hey! The <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/06/acclaimed-guest-artists-to-perform-for-president-nelsons-95th-birthday-celebration/">guests have been announced</a> for President <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/03/save-the-date-everyone-is-invited-to-president-nelsons-95th-birthday-soiree/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russell M. Nelsons' 95th birthday soiree</a>! That's all well and good, but it causes us to pause and ask a question: Why are we throwing this huge parties for the Prophets and when did they start? How do events like these help us with our embattled narrative that we don't worship Joseph Smith, for example, when we elevate the president of the Church to mythic status?<br> <br> Brigham Young University's Honor Code office is in the news again, but this time <a href="https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/07/10/byu-makes-more-changes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">because it is updating some of its policies and guidelines</a>, notable that the, erm, "accused" are now innocent until proven guilty. Yes, prior to this change, if a roommate ratted you out, the Honor Code office just took that at face value and brought down the boom. Now it will actually take time to do some due diligence. Go figure! Who knew we could live in a world with such basic rights?!<br> <br> Normally excellent tech site The Verge writes a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/1/18759587/mormon-church-quitmormon-exmormon-jesus-christ-internet-seo-lds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weak and biased piece</a> about the website that helps Mormons resign their membership in the Church.
