Summary: <br> <br> Please give a warm welcome (and hit the subscribe button in honor of said warm welcome) to none other than Al Doan, who has decided to check in on our operation. It's nice to have him back, even for a spell.<br> <br> There were a few big-ticket items in Latter-day Saint news this week. Arguably the largest, at least gauged by social media reaction, <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/08/church-clarifies-that-iced-tea-is-still-tea-frappuccinos-are-still-coffee-and-medical-marijuana-is-maybe-ok">was a clarification on the Word of Wisdom</a> first published in The New Era and later referenced in an official press release. The Word of Wisdom has a knack for sparking contention within our ranks, and we'll see if the clearer guidance—that iced tea is still tea of the prohibited variety—takes root among the saints.<br> <br> The week's other large story is <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/08/lds-church-launches-new-protection-training-for-leaders-of-youth-and-children-from-abuse">new required abuse prevention training</a> for ward and branch leaders. The Church continues to evolve in its approach to protecting youth and children from abuse and other dangerous situations. Whether it is proactive or even in reaction to the work of some like Sam Young, there's now an online resource as well as a link to the required training.<br> <br> Ed Smart, Elizabeth Smart's father, <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/08/ed-smart-elizabeth-smarts-father-comes-out-as-gay">came out as gay last week</a>, and some media outlets can't seem to get enough of it. Is the Salt Lake Tribune merely swimming in the calming waters of good SEO, or are we overreaching? After all, Ed is merely a somewhat prominent Mormon who has come out and decided to leave the Church. But Al and Geoff disagree on how much we, as everyday members of the Church, should bear any brunt of criticism for making one feel that they no longer belong?<br> <br> It was an article that made Al question is decision to return. Third Hour, the Buzzfeed of Mormonism, published an article containing 21 times Parks and Recreation, the NBC sitcom, perfectly reflected the Latter-day Saint experience. So yeah.<br> <br> BYU has a queer community. They need support. And to help support one another, on occasion they meet up to socialize and mobilize. This time out, <a href="https://www.kuer.org/post/latter-day-byus-growing-queer-community" target="_blank" rel="noopener">they hit that institution of institutions, Denny's</a>. Provo has so many options superior to Denny's, and yet, they chose Denny's.<br> <br> Have you seen the classic LDS video, “The Prodigal Son”? It's required viewing for any Latter-day Saint, and our own Jared Jones has a <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/08/latter-day-saint-video-vault-the-prodigal-son-reminds-all-can-come-home">breakdown of this classic</a> 1990s short video on Latter-day Saint Video Vault.<br> <br> Likewise, our own Jeff Borders <a href="http://thisweekinmormons.com/2019/08/bursting-the-musical-bubble-colby-ferrin-rapper">interviewed Colby Ferrin</a>, a rapper who is Mormon. Al has decided the setlist of his debut album is clearly only about drug addiction or masturbation. He has no proof.<br> <br> A Twitter user claims someone refused to interact with her because she said "<a href="https://www.facebook.com/thisweekinmormons/photos/a.182495891787813/2354489164588464/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAe89bFmhInScEucPnttMx76slkcaLYPGtjzRe3z5mD7mEqUHBRRAIWTS0nJ1n0N1APgmUpx2ni0Ki_spPVPAYAVbRboNvClmsdsoHQ_Iz6-MxrmFJ26u8dLnSmedMf2oe2k1kqgwgToBijVVI4dk2QIa1UszCxpKrrAZ60PeeXJEezqgXFKoVmeYJupIW-UDGMsDBVnGSwSmi80dKskZzUw9s_G_tFqVR0MwlCO6bOIXHohNHn-OjngcW6tu1lLjAoTT5Xke9iS4EMRgCxh2_UOsM0jk5uxLWnYvdYj8rtlpJx5Uaw6mSt5hBPNGoTT-ZjpWv8U9MotWaV8WA25IfzmQ&__tn__=-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the M word</a>," or "Mormon." And she's serious. If this happened.... geez.<br>
