The New False God: Why ‘Intellectuals’ Are Leaving the Church

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.

Cardon Ellis is joined by Dalton Williams of Unashamed Truth, a former MMA fighter and firefighter for a deep, thoughtful conversation about the differences between peacemaking and peacekeeping, especially through the lens of faith, scripture, and real-world experience.

Cardon is joined by Adam and Madeline Packer for a candid conversation exploring how Adam used an Excel spreadsheet as part of his decision-making process when choosing his wife.The story launches with some classic Ward Radio banter and playful jokes, but quickly turns to Adam’s unique approach to relationships. While taking an advanced Excel modeling class for his finance degree, Adam realized he could repurpose a weighted averages project—originally meant for evaluating job opportunities after college—to help him decide who to seriously pursue in his dating life. Factors he ranked included being strong in the gospel, desire for a temple marriage, family compatibility, and, openly, attractiveness (“hotness” getting a high weight on the spreadsheet!).