Why is Mormonism Producing So Many Star Athletes Right Now?

Cardon Ellis and Michael Mairano explore why athletes from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are often overrepresented in high-level sports.Drawing from Michael’s experience as a former D1 athlete at Brigham Young University and Utah State University, the discussion looks at how discipline, faith, and strong community culture may create an environment where athletes thrive. They also highlight standout competitors like Kenneth Rooks and Jane Hennegren, whose success reflects the powerful combination of purpose, resilience, and support found in Mormon culture.

Cardon Ellis and Michael take a deep dive into the often misunderstood place of the early Christian creeds especially the Nicene Creed within Mormon thought and broader Christianity.The conversation begins with Michael making it clear that "the Creeds were not an abomination," immediately challenging a common LDS perspective. Cardon Ellis admits to expecting this take and brings up the notion that Greco-Roman philosophy heavily influenced Christian creeds, which altered original Christian beliefs about the nature of God. He expresses concern over religious councils "voting on" doctrine such as the Trinity, seeing this as a departure from what early Christians actually believed.

This episode of WARD RADIO dives deep into the remarkable growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) across South Africa and the broader Africa South region. Cardon Ellis alongside guest Austin Falter, discuss staggering statistics that highlight both rapid expansion and genuine engagement among new members.

Cardon Ellis, Jonah Barnes, and Ryland dive deep into the tension between intellectualism and faith within the context of Latter-day Saint (LDS) culture. The conversation kicks off with the provocative premise that "intellectualism is the new false god," questioning why so many intellectuals are moving away from the Church.

Did you know some argue that Latter-day Saints essentially believe in the Immaculate Conception? In this episode of Ward Radio, Cardon and Michael dive into a lively theological discussion connecting Catholic doctrine, Mormon theology, and the legacy of Vatican II.

This episode dives into the pressing issue of “dead” Elders Quorums men’s groups within the Latter-day Saint church that have lost their sense of purpose, connection, and vitality. Cardon Ellis opens by highlighting the widespread disengagement and struggles men face in these quorums, including isolation, higher risks for suicide and other life challenges, especially in Utah. The conversation aims to identify solutions beyond merely acknowledging problems.

In this lively and thoughtful episode of Ward Radio, host Cardon Ellis is joined by guest Austin Falter (of Falter Media) and podcaster/author Jonah Barnes for an in-depth discussion about the frequently quoted biblical verse, Galatians 1:8, especially in the context of debates surrounding Mormonism.

Cardon Ellis sits down with Michael—a former Anglican from a family of priests and a successful steeplechase athlete—alongside Baylor, to explore Michael’s remarkable spiritual journey from sincere skeptic to dedicated convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The episode opens with light banter, friendly jokes, and an introduction to Michael’s background. We quickly learn that Michael grew up deeply immersed in the Anglican faith. Both his parents had theological training—his father an ordained priest, his mother a youth minister—which laid a thoughtful, spiritually robust foundation for his upbringing. Despite this, Michael was eventually drawn into discussions with his largely Latter-day Saint (LDS or Mormon) friend group during high school, convinced at the time that Mormonism was, at best, misguided, and at worst, a cult.

Cardon Ellis (the host) and Jonah Barnes (an associate professor and expert in apocryphal studies) dive into a fascinating literary discovery from the Book of Mormon—what Jonah Barnes describes as a "double chiasm" or concentric chiasms in Alma chapter 24, specifically in the speech of King Anti-Nephi-Lehi.The duo starts on a light note, joking about seeing chiasms everywhere (even in sandwiches), before digging into the structure and thematic relevance of chiasmus—a literary pattern often associated with Hebrew texts. Jonah Barnes explains that while chiasms are known in the Book of Mormon, he discovered two overlapping or concentric chiasms centering around key verses involving the words “stain” and “brethren.”

Cardon Ellis and Dalton Williams dive into a practical and lively tutorial on leveraging Scripture Notes a powerful scripture study tool especially for crafting talks, lessons, or deep personal study. The conversation is energetic and fun, with both speakers frequently riffing off each other’s questions and observations.