The time has come for a new apostle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Clark G. Gilbert; time for your podcast hosts to rise to the occasion with another Apostolic Profile episode. He escaped the religious persecution Mormons often suffer growing up in Scottsdale, AZ, to go to BYU. Then off to Harvard for business, to acquire more useful skills for his forthcoming career in the Church Education System (CES). Before CES, however, Gilbert was responsible for trimming all the fat at Deseret News, which amounted to firing 40% of the workforce and shifting it to an unabashedly apologetic mission statement defending the church. Once appointed to CES, Gilbert instituted a series of Orwellian surveillance systems at BYU to punish thought crime; Ernest Wilkinson would be proud and Jeffrey Holland finally has a man to fire some muskets. Now Gilbert joins as the youngest apostle, securing his future position as prophet circa 2050s-70s. This “disruptive innovator” has a lot of new ideas to keep the church as extremist-conservative as is legally permissible heading into the 22nd century. This call to the Apostleship by Dallin Oaks ensures Oaks’ legacy remains long after he’s become a shepherd of worms. Patrons get a bonus segment comparing Gilbert’s interviews at Deseret News and SL Tribune immediately after his ordination, which tangentially serves as a case study for the deterioration of journalism at Deseret Media, due to Gilbert himself. After that, it’s our next installment of Oaks’ book, Pure in Heart, where he discusses the importance of mindset and intentionality when rendering service, especially for the church. We end with happy news about a potential future cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
Show Notes:
Clark Gilbert https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_G._Gilbert
Gilbert’s likely tenure as future prophet https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/1r8c74x/on_his_first_day_in_the_q15_clark_g_gilbert/
Official press release https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/clark-gilbert-called-quorum-of-the-twelve-apostles
Gilbert Op-ed for ChurchNewsroom
The Parable of the Slope https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/10/16gilbert?lang=eng
Disruptive Technologies: Catching the Wave
https://hbr.org/1995/01/disruptive-technologies-catching-the-wave
The Disruption Machine by Jill Lepore
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/06/23/the-disruption-machine
Gilbert’s profile on BYU Law and Wheatley Institute with law-focused talks
https://www.religiousfreedomlibrary.org/authors/clark-g-gilbert
Gilbert: Stewardship of Our First Freedom
https://www.religiousfreedomlibrary.org/documents/the-stewardship-of-our-first-freedom#note-30
Gilbert: The Courage of Our Convictions
Gilbert: Dare to be Different
American Disestablishment: The Conclusion by Miles Smith
https://davenantinstitute.org/american-disestablishment-the-conclusion/
Disestablishmentarianism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disestablishmentarianism
Governance and the Religion Question: Voluntaryism, Disestablishment, and America’s Church-State Proposition by Carl H. Esbeck
https://scholarship.law.missouri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1156&context=facpubs
Becket Foundation “Religious Liberty” SCOTUS victories
https://becketfund.org/cases/?fwp_case_court=us-supreme-court&fwp_case_status=past
Hosanna-Tabor
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/565/171/
Trinity Lutheran
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/582/15-577/
Our Lady of Guadalupe
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/591/19-267/
Carson v. Makin
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/596/20-1088/
How SCOTUS is Dismantling the Separation of Church and State
American Council of Education
https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/american-council-on-education/
Becoming BYU
https://aims.byu.edu/becoming-byu
LDS Education Boss Touts BYU’s Commitment to Religious Freedom by Peggy Fletcher Stack
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/01/24/byu-will-never-back-away-its/
Spiritual Crackdown at BYU? By RadioWest
BYU New Employment Policy
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/03/10/new-employment-policy/
BYU employment questionnaire
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/ecclesiastical-leader-questions-new-ces-hires
Fine Print: The Deseret News Spins its Circulation Numbers by Rachel Piper
https://www.cityweekly.net/news/fine-print-the-deseret-news-spins-its-circulation-numbers-2207487
Dallin Oaks and Clark Gilbert: Stand Fast with Love in Proclaiming Truth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6IXLufuAAQ
Gilbert Deseret News interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORUY06HPmfM
Gilbert SL Trib interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPwhJhBJ-A
Ben Park video on Gilbert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTXXNeydptg
Gordon Monson: Clark Gilbert has been called as an LDS apostle. Now, we’ll see if he’s chosen.
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/02/13/maybe-clark-gilbert-will-be/
Gordon Monson: LDS Church education boss should put down the hammer at BYU and pick up an olive branch: https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/01/06/byu-there-is-too-much-fear-too/
Dark days: New rules have BYU professors running scared https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/01/05/byu-blue-why-these-are-dark-days/
Sword of Laman: Pure In Heart, by Dallin H. Oaks
The Mansion, by Henry Van Dyke: https://americanliterature.com/author/henry-van-dyke/short-story/the-mansion
Happy News:
A bold new plan could finally cure Type 1 diabetes: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/03/260302030648.htm
Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything by Lydia Kang and Nate Pedersen
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on The Unpaid Army of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de543-d9tME
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
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We
It’s February and that means it is Black History Month. And since we are in the middle of the 2026 Winter Olympics, we are going to talk about one of THE most famous African-American Olympic athletes of all time, Jesse Owens. We then discuss the movie 42, the story of Jackie Robinson’s first year in the white baseball league in 1947. After that, we’ll round out the episode with happy news about a peace march from Texas to DC. Happy Black History month!
Next Live Show: Monday February 23, 6:00 PM (MT) We will talk about the newest apostle. We look forward to seeing you!
Show Notes:
Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics, By Jeremy Schaap
American Legends: The Life of Jesse Owens, by Charles Rivers Editors
Jesse Owens: A Life in American History (Black History Lives), by F. Erik Brooks and Kevin M. Jones Sr.
Jesse Owens official website: https://jesseowens.com/
Biography on Olympics website; https://www.olympics.com/en/athletes/jesse-owens
Black U.S. Olympians won in Nazi Germany only to be overlooked at home: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorch/2016/08/13/489773389/black-u-s-olympians-won-in-nazi-germany-only-to-be-overlooked-at-home
Race and Sports_ Exposing the hypocrisy of the 1936 Olympics: https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/education/educator-resources/teaching-guides/exposing-the-hypocrisy-of-the-1936-berlin-olympics/
Obama Rights Historic Racial Wrong for Olympic Heroes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji-9PimDLRQ&t=142s
Documentary about the other 17 black athletes, Olympic Pride, American Prejudice: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5068938/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_7_nm_1_in_0_q_olympic%2520pride%2520
Where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/olympic-pride-american-prejudice
American Experience: Jesse Owens (2012 Documentary): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2122879/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_accord_1_cdt_epp_sm_1
Where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/jesse-owens
1968 Olympics Black Power Salute: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute
MOGP:
42: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/?ref_=fn_t_1
Where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/42-the-jackie-robinson-story
Happy News:
https://gleam.news/stories/monks-complete-2-300-mile-walk-for-peace-to-washington
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on The Unpaid Army of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de543-d9tME
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
Ready for more Dallin Oaks stuff? First we talk about a letter Joseph Smith wrote to W.W. Phelps. Then we discuss the law review article “Ethics, Mortality, and Professional Responsibility”, by Dallin Oaks published October 1975 in the BYU Law Review. For the Sword of Laman, we take a look at the first two chapters of Oaks’ book Pure In Heart. We finish it off with some happy news about a judge overturning Trump’s block of an off-shore wind project that could power 600,000 homes. Enjoy!
Show Notes:
Letter to W. W. Phelps Jan 11, 1833
Modern D&C 52
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-6-june-1831-dc-52/2
Ethics, Morality, and Professional Responsibility by Dallin Oaks
http://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=lawreview
Wickersham Commission
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/law/wickersham-commission
Criminal Justice in U.S. History
https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/criminal-justice-us-history
Sword of Laman: Pure In Heart, by Dallin H. Oaks
Woes of the Pharisees: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woes_of_the_Pharisees
Cleansing the Inner Vessel by Ezra Taft Benson (April 1986 GenCon): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/04/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng
Inspiring Music, Worthy Thoughts by Boyd K Packer (GenCon 1973): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1973/10/inspiring-music-worthy-thoughts?lang=eng
Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts (1976 filmstrip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ5Z6AoEKuY
Richard G Scott in April GenCon 1992: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1992/04/healing-the-tragic-scars-of-abuse?lang=eng
Happy News: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/02/trump-halted-offshore-wind-project-to-proceed
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on The Unpaid Army of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de543-d9tME
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
Well, it’s time. Let’s talk about President Dallin Harris Oaks, the Hoaks man, the Mormon Gollum. First, we cover the biography In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks by Richard Turley. Then we take a look at Hoaks’ book The Carthage Conspiracy, as well as a presentation from 2021 where he actually uttered a prophecy! And after all that, we share some amazing science news. Researchers at Johns Hopkins have uncovered a surprising new way to influence brain activity by targeting a long-mysterious class of proteins linked to anxiety, schizophrenia, and movement disorders. Enjoy!
Show Notes:
Cyrus Dallin Sculptor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_Edwin_Dallin
Cyrus Dallin: https://dallin.org/about-cyrus-dallin/
Stella Oaks Foundation: https://www.stellahoaks.org/
Law Review: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_review
Supreme Court case 1957-1958: https://www.oyez.org/cases/1957
Chief Justice Earl Warren: https://www.oyez.org/justices/earl_warren
The Sit-In: 40 years later: https://chicagomaroon.com/22887/grey-city/the-sit-in-40-years-later/
Studying the Exclusionary Rule in Search and Seizure: https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/studying-exclusionary-rule-search-and-seizure
Why Dress and Grooming Standards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56pD3WMPQao
Talk of the Month: Standards of Dress and Grooming: https://bhroberts.org/records/0spyAV-0Dx8uN/dallin_h_oaks_explains_byu_grooming_standards_in_the_new_era
Internal Revenue Service Investigations of Unidentified Persons, Denver Law Review: chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2923&context=dlr
United States vs Brigham Young University: https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/485/534/1377372/
The Wall Between Church and State: https://archive.org/details/wallbetweenchurc0000oaks/page/n5/mode/2up
MoGP:
Carthage Conspiracy by Dallin Oaks and Marvin Hill
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p007620
Dallin Oaks Lecture Nov 12, 2021 @ University of Virginia Mormon Studies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0r2YIAsOQs
Happy News: A “dormant” brain protein turns out to be a powerful switch: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260118233607.htm
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism on his Speaking of Cults series. Our most recent discussion was on the Mountain Meadows Massacre: https://youtu.be/iJWirjCyWdk
He has had MANY different fascinating people on so go take a look! Here is the whole playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGuS7GcsgA&list=PLGrPM1Pg2h72ADIuv8eYmzrJ-ppLOlw_g
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10