Sheriff Sex Scandal, Stake Pres. Fraud, Church Stocks Lose Billions - Mormon News 5/29/26 | Ep. 2154

From Mormon Stories Podcast by Dr. John Dehlin

May 29, 2026 · 2h 34m

About this episode

The episode discusses recent scandals and financial issues within the Mormon community, including a sheriff's misconduct and a stake president's fraud case.

This week on Mormon Stories News, John Dehlin and Meggan Hayes break down some of the biggest stories making headlines in Mormonism.We begin with the growing scandal surrounding former Pinal County Sheriff and congressional candidate Mark Lamb. Recent reporting from The Arizona Republic details allegations involving explicit messages, secret relationships, and accusations that raise serious questions about image management, accountability, and whether Mormon leaders around Lamb have helped to protect him from consequences. We also examine the case of former LDS stake president Patrick Bucknum , who has been accused by federal authorities of orchestrating a years-long fraud scheme involving millions of dollars.We take a look at the newest reports from Ensign Peak Advisors , the investment arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With the church's investment portfolio recently losing billions, we discuss what the latest filings reveal, where the money is being invested, and why church finances remain one of the most debated topics among members and former members alike.We also cover the arrest of William Scott Messer at BYU-Idaho . The case has generated significant…

People in this episode

Host: John Dehlin

Guest: Meggan Hayes

Topics covered

Mormon news
scandals
fraud
church finances
youth engagement
accountability

Keywords

Mormonism
scandal
fraud scheme
church stocks
investments
ecclesiastical endorsement
young single adults
Mark Lamb
Patrick Bucknum
William Scott Messer

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Places: BYU-Idaho, Auckland, Rexburg