LDS Church Claims Record 88,500 Missionaries. Is It True? - Mormon News 7.17.26 | Ep. 2172

On today's episode of Mormon News, Nemo the Mormon and Meggan Hayes break down another busy week of headlines involving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We begin with the Church's announcement that more than 88,500 missionaries are now serving worldwide, which leaders say is an all-time record. We'll examine whether today's LDS missionary statistics are truly comparable to previous Church records. Links: Deseret News: https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/07... 2014 Statistical Report: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s... Additional Missionary Statistics: https://news-pacific.churchofjesuschr... We'll also discuss new research on how lowering the missionary age has affected sister missionaries and their educational outcomes. Link: https://www.abc4.com/news/religion/si... Next, we'll cover new developments involving former LDS bishop Leo Lopshire and former Cache County teacher Patrick Alan Green, including investigators' requests for additional victims to come forward. Links: https://floodlit.org/a/b755/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/article... https://www.hjnews.com/news/local/for...   / brian-duncan-a404b3b0   We'll examine BYU's connection to Monster Energy and how attitudes toward energy drinks have changed within Latter-day Saint culture. Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-chu... Timecodes: 00:00:00 - Introduction to stories 00:02:20 - (Clip) Record number of missionaries 00:06:40 - Statistical reports 00:10:50 - Women can now serve missions at age 18 00:15:59 - Record number is supposedly 88,500 00:18:45 - (Clip) Missions affecting women in college 00:22:06 - Child abuse case 00:25:45 - Former elementary teacher arrested 00:26:56 - (Clip) Elementary teacher arrested 00:34:30 - BYU Football teaming up with Monster 00:39:00 - Teachings against energy drinks 00:47:50 - Ownership of the Martin’s Cove 00:59:42 - Men and Women in the Church 01:01:06 - (Clip) Men speaking/Women speaking 01:07:00 - (Clip) Diversity 01:12:00 - (Clip) Blessings are available to all 01:15:44 - (Clip) Audiobook narrated by John Dehlin 01:18:00 - Come to Sunstone 2026! Link: https://www.ksl.com/article/51594995/... We'll also discuss a proposed Martin's Cove land swap and why it has become a controversial issue in Wyoming. Link:   / nonprofit_seeks_ownership_of_martins_cove   We'll examine recent comments from Amy A. Wright about women in the Church. Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DavXVQ... Finally, we'll share a new short with a fun announcement involving Mormon Stories host Dr. John Dehlin. Link:    • John Dehlin narrates audio book  “No Man K...   Join us live as we provide context behind the headlines, separate fact from speculation, and discuss what these stories reveal about Mormonism today.