For this week's Mormon News Podcast, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes look at Apostle D. Todd Christofferson's General Conference talk on gambling, a remarkably well-timed prediction from Latter-day Saint journalist McKay Coppins, a new documentary exploring the experiences of queer Christians, the latest development in the Bisbee abuse case, Dan McClellan, Flightless Bird and more.

Months before General Conference, Latter-day Saint journalist McKay Coppins spent a year immersed in America's rapidly expanding gambling industry for The Atlantic. Then, just weeks before conference, he appeared on the Mormon Land podcast and predicted that Church leaders might soon address gambling directly.

McKay Coppins on Mormon Land:

youtu.be/7sTp0_VcVjg

Then D. Todd Christofferson did exactly that. His October General Conference talk addressed sports betting, prediction markets, young people gambling, addiction, and even betting on the timing of the Second Coming. We compare his talk with Coppins' earlier reporting and look at just how much the two have in common.

D. Todd Christofferson, "The Harmful Effects of Gambling":

www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10

Christofferson's gambling talk also found an unexpected fan outside the usual General Conference audience. Political streamer Hasan Piker praised the Church's stance on gambling, saying, "It's hard for me not to give a shoutout to the Mormons on this one."

Hasan Piker praises the LDS Church's gambling message:

www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/10/06/socialist-streamer-hasan-

Kathy Baldock is on the scene exploring what happens when LGBTQ identity and Christian faith intersect, including the experiences of people trying to find belonging in religious communities while navigating teachings about sexuality and identity.

Kathy Baldock and The 1946 Bible Mistranslation Behind Anti-Gay Theology:

youtu.be/owkCObJR2wA

The Bisbee abuse case may be headed to the nation's highest court. Survivors are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case involving clergy confidentiality and the failure of LDS bishops to report abuse they learned about through confession.

Abuse survivors ask U.S. Supreme Court to hear clergy secrecy case:

www.azfamily.com/2026/09/30/abuse-survivors-ask-us-supreme-c

Biblical scholar Dan McClellan continues his work separating what biblical texts actually say from the assumptions and doctrines that have accumulated around them. We take a look at his latest conversation and what it adds to discussions about scripture and religious authority.

Dan McClellan on the Joe Rogan Experience:

youtu.be/GMwihA5jnhY

And finally, Flightless Bird enters the world of Mormonism, giving an outsider's perspective on Latter-day Saint beliefs, culture and the sometimes very unusual world surrounding the faith.

Flightless Bird:

youtu.be/obIbnJNwiBw