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In this episode of The Latter Day Lens, Matt, Shawn, and special guest Porter dive into listener mailbag questions and examine today's pressing societal and religious questions through a Latter-day Saint perspective.

Topics Covered in This Episode:

• Listener Mailbag: A lighthearted debate on favorite taxes, tithing, and common misconceptions surrounding plural marriage (polygamy) and D&C 132.
• The 3 P's of Youth Retention: Analyzing Jana Reese and Benjamin Knoll's research regarding why young women leave the Church (politics, purity culture, powerlessness) vs. individual faith journeys.
• Radical Immigration Reform: Porter shares insight from working at an immigration law firm to analyze current enforcement, Senator John Curtis's proposed state-level worker visa bill, and a free-market approach to open borders vs. federalism.
• Public Trust vs. Accountability: Evaluating public figures in high-trust positions—including Ohio Representative Max Miller and broadcaster Tony Romo—and discussing when accountability, leave, or termination is warranted.
• Government Authority & Property: Debating scriptural precedents (from Old Testament kings to D&C 134) regarding taxation, eminent domain, and government's legitimate role in resource allocation.

Chapter Markers

00:00 - Introduction & Welcoming Guest Porter
01:04 - Post-Grad Plans: Work, Law School & Roosevelt
01:33 - Mailbag: What Is Shawn’s Favorite Tax?
03:36 - Tithing vs. Taxes: Matt’s Alternative Proposal
04:39 - Mailbag: Plural Marriage, D&C 132 & President Hinckley
07:24 - Accountability, Law of Consecration & Cultural Misconceptions
09:40 - Jana Reese Study: Why Young Women Leave the Church
10:43 - Data Skepticism, Sample Bias & Sociological Approaches
13:33 - The Individual Nature of Faith Journeys & Exit Reasons
15:51 - Scriptural Foundations vs. Modern Distractions
17:24 - Immigration Policy: Deportations & Sen. John Curtis’s State Visa Bill
18:21 - Porter’s Legal Perspective: Laissez-Faire Borders & State Dept. Barriers
23:07 - Matt’s Perspective: Abolishing Citizenship & Border Realities
25:02 - Shawn’s Pragmatic View: Infrastructure, Federalism & Border Chaos
33:42 - Public Trust & Morality: Rep. Max Miller Allegations & Ethics Investigation
34:18 - Driving Inebriated: Tony Romo Leave & Stephen A. Smith Comments
43:15 - The Big Question: Scriptural Authority on Property Rights & Government Taxes
48:32 - D&C 134, Individual Choice & Final Takeaways

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