Today on Mormon Stories News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes investigate an unexpected LDS connection to Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos fraud scandal, plus a returned missionary’s sentencing, Ronald Rasband’s claims, modern polygamy, BYU controversies, Ted Bundy, gambling, and a Deseret Industries closure.

ELIZABETH HOLMES’ MORMON DEFENDER

Before Holmes was sentenced, her partner’s mother, Susan Evans, wrote to the judge in her defense, citing her LDS faith and BYU education.

www.documentcloud.org/documents/23303975-elizabeth-holmes-su

RETURNED MISSIONARY SENTENCED

Krew Zaugg receives a sentence in an Idaho assault case involving a 15-year-old; the victim’s family speaks about harassment.

www.eastidahonews.com/2026/10/idaho-falls-man-who-sexually-a

RASBAND’S BIG CLAIMS

Ronald Rasband discusses missionary work and Church growth in a BYU devotional.

youtu.be/jzHI5-Gh2wc

AN OHIO PASTOR AND POLYGAMY

A pastor’s embrace of a second wife raises questions about religious justifications for plural marriage.

religionunplugged.com/news/2026/10/27/ohio-pastor-second-wif

BYU FOOTBALL AND RELIGION

UCF is fined after anti-Mormon chants, while a Deseret News essay explores faith and football.

apnews.com/article/ucf-byu-fine-mormon-church-2cae3a9aa8e195

www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/10/26/getting-off-the-rollercoa

TED BUNDY’S LDS CONNECTION

New DNA evidence connects Bundy, baptized LDS in 1975, to a Utah cold case.

www.cbsnews.com/news/ted-bundy-utah-teenager-cold-case-murde

BYU’S RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONTRAST

BYU Law announces a religious liberty clinic amid disputes over Indigenous braids and Black students’ locs.

www.deseret.com/faith/2026/10/27/byu-law-school-launches-rel

www.sltrib.com/news/education/2026/03/24/days-after-indigeno

dockets.justia.com/docket/utah/utdce/2%3A2026cv00226/163094

www.sltrib.com/news/education/2024/03/19/will-black-students

KALSHI, GAMBLING AND BYU

Utah sues prediction-market company Kalshi; an advertisement allegedly filmed at BYU adds another dimension.

www.deseret.com/utah/2026/10/20/utah-sues-kalshi-prediction-

www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1726493639477133

www.instagram.com/reel/DVMLDxOD6WZ/

PRESTON DESERET INDUSTRIES CLOSES

The Church plans to close its Preston, Idaho, location after 48 years, citing facility and investment concerns.

www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/preston-s-deseret-industries-t

Join John and Meggan for reporting and discussion of the week’s Mormon news.