LDS Church Lawyer Speaks on Trademark Lawsuit vs. Mormon Stories - Mormon News 9.25.26 | Ep. 2199
Description: Today on Mormon Stories News, John and Meggan examine the LDS Church attorney’s response to claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit, new Pew data on Mormon retention, the Church’s opposition to Idaho Proposition 1, questions surrounding David McConkie’s employment at BYU, a response from Suzie Greco, Elizabeth Smart’s Survivor Files, and Colorado State’s apology following anti-Mormon chants at a BYU football game.
LDS CHURCH LAWYER RESPONDS
An attorney for the LDS Church responds to John Dehlin’s claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit. We compare his account with the original correspondence, court filings, mediation claims, and the Church’s earlier Bad Mormon trademark dispute with Heather Gay.
https://youtu.be/eW0XiaJ0yA4
https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2023/2/8/23590017/bad-mormon-court-fight-church-of-jesus-christ-heather-gay-real-housewives-salt-lake/
https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-lawsuit/
ARE MORMONS STAYING?
New Pew data gives us another look at LDS retention in the United States. We compare the new findings with Church-focused retention research released earlier this year.
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/06/05/latter-day-saint-faith-retention-united-states/
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/09/22/tradition-and-change-among-latter-day-saints-in-the-us/
CHURCH OPPOSES IDAHO PROP 1
The LDS Church has asked Idaho members to oppose Proposition 1, a reproductive freedom ballot initiative. We look at what has transpired since.
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/09/read-letter-from-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saint-leaders-on-idaho-abortion-prop-1-initiative/
DAVID McCONKIE AT BYU
Questions are being raised about BYU’s employment of David G. McConkie, who appears on a public offender registry. We look at the available records and what is being reported about his work at BYU.
https://www.nsopw.gov/search-public-sex-offender-registries?search=
https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=31038418&AgencyID=54438
https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1wj58fx/byu_employs_convicted_sex_offender_david_g/
SUZIE GRECO RESPONDS
Survivor advocate and researcher Suzie Greco responds following our previous coverage of the warning she says she received from LDS leaders.
ELIZABETH SMART: SURVIVOR FILES
Elizabeth Smart is sharing a new series, Survivor Files, centered on survivor stories and experiences.
https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smart_official/reels/
COLORADO STATE APOLOGIZES TO BYU
Colorado State apologized after fans directed derogatory chants at BYU during their football game.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49986309/colorado-st-apologizes-byu-derogatory-chants-fans
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-lawyer-speaks-on-trademark-lawsuit/
Timecodes:
00:00:00 - Introduction to stories
00:04:55 Church speaks out
00:10:11 - (Clip) Introducing David Jordan
00:11:50 - (Clip) History of the lawsuit
00:13:05 - What was originally requested
00:19:00 - Why did this go to mediation?
00:24:29 - (Clip) Negotiation
00:32:50 - (Clip) Control the word “Mormon”
00:41:55 - (Clip) Changing the title
00:51:53 - (Clip) Disclaimer
00:58:55 - Putting up a disclaimer
01:12:40 - (Clip) Answer to counterclaim
01:18:45 - (Clip) Actual band confusion
01:25:55 - (Clip) Common Sense
01:31:31 - (Clip) Heather Gay on her lawsuit
01:35:57 - (Clip) Couldn’t pick John out of a crowd
01:45:40 - (Clip) Brian Hales on lying
01:55:43 - Closing remarks Close description
LDS CHURCH LAWYER RESPONDS
An attorney for the LDS Church responds to John Dehlin’s claims about the Mormon Stories lawsuit. We compare his account with the original correspondence, court filings, mediation claims, and the Church’s earlier Bad Mormon trademark dispute with Heather Gay.
https://youtu.be/eW0XiaJ0yA4
https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2023/2/8/23590017/bad-mormon-court-fight-church-of-jesus-christ-heather-gay-real-housewives-salt-lake/
https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-lawsuit/
ARE MORMONS STAYING?
New Pew data gives us another look at LDS retention in the United States. We compare the new findings with Church-focused retention research released earlier this year.
https://www.deseret.com/faith/2026/06/05/latter-day-saint-faith-retention-united-states/
https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/09/22/tradition-and-change-among-latter-day-saints-in-the-us/
CHURCH OPPOSES IDAHO PROP 1
The LDS Church has asked Idaho members to oppose Proposition 1, a reproductive freedom ballot initiative. We look at what has transpired since.
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/09/read-letter-from-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saint-leaders-on-idaho-abortion-prop-1-initiative/
DAVID McCONKIE AT BYU
Questions are being raised about BYU’s employment of David G. McConkie, who appears on a public offender registry. We look at the available records and what is being reported about his work at BYU.
https://www.nsopw.gov/search-public-sex-offender-registries?search=
https://www.icrimewatch.net/offenderdetails.php?OfndrID=31038418&AgencyID=54438
https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1wj58fx/byu_employs_convicted_sex_offender_david_g/
SUZIE GRECO RESPONDS
Survivor advocate and researcher Suzie Greco responds following our previous coverage of the warning she says she received from LDS leaders.
ELIZABETH SMART: SURVIVOR FILES
Elizabeth Smart is sharing a new series, Survivor Files, centered on survivor stories and experiences.
https://www.instagram.com/elizabeth_smart_official/reels/
COLORADO STATE APOLOGIZES TO BYU
Colorado State apologized after fans directed derogatory chants at BYU during their football game.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49986309/colorado-st-apologizes-byu-derogatory-chants-fans
Show notes can be found on the Mormon Stories blog here: https://www.mormonstories.org/lds-church-lawyer-speaks-on-trademark-lawsuit/
Timecodes:
00:00:00 - Introduction to stories
00:04:55 Church speaks out
00:10:11 - (Clip) Introducing David Jordan
00:11:50 - (Clip) History of the lawsuit
00:13:05 - What was originally requested
00:19:00 - Why did this go to mediation?
00:24:29 - (Clip) Negotiation
00:32:50 - (Clip) Control the word “Mormon”
00:41:55 - (Clip) Changing the title
00:51:53 - (Clip) Disclaimer
00:58:55 - Putting up a disclaimer
01:12:40 - (Clip) Answer to counterclaim
01:18:45 - (Clip) Actual band confusion
01:25:55 - (Clip) Common Sense
01:31:31 - (Clip) Heather Gay on her lawsuit
01:35:57 - (Clip) Couldn’t pick John out of a crowd
01:45:40 - (Clip) Brian Hales on lying
01:55:43 - Closing remarks Close description