Latter-Day Laymen

Writer Michael Perrone Discusses Lay Leadership, Raising Sons, and Embracing the Ordinary

and

May 24, 2024

This week,

and

are joined by

, author of

, a publication about building community beyond mainstream institutions.

I came across Michael through his engagement with Aaron Renn’s cultural commentary, but as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (Michael wrote this review of Renn’s recent book, Life in the Negative World.)

In my judgment, the LDS church is an interesting example of a church that has already adjusted to “the negative world,” i.e., adopted a minority mindset and practiced a kind of large-scale Benedict Option for over a century.

Our conversation explores the topic of building Christian community and the role of individual initiative within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and how this can be replicated for evangelicals.

We also discussed the importance of intentional parenting and the role of fathers in passing on faith and values to their children. We had an excursus on the creation of culture and music within the Christian community. We concluded with a discussion on the need for rites of passage and intentional guidance for boys as they transition into adulthood.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

Takeaways

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasizes strong social fabric and tight-knit community, with members actively supporting and serving one another.
Lay leadership and individual initiative play a significant role in the LDS Church, with members taking on responsibilities and actively participating in the community.
There is a need for churches to bridge the gap between young people and older generations, creating shared experiences and connections outside of traditional church assignments.
Churches should offer unique experiences and opportunities for youth, providing them with something distinctive and appealing that aligns with their interests and values.
Fathers play a crucial role in passing on faith and values to their children, and their emotional warmth and closeness have a significant impact on faith persistence.
Rites of passage and intentional guidance for boys are essential in preparing them for adulthood and teaching them the skills and values necessary for a successful life.
The church and community should provide opportunities for men to interact, lead, and debate, allowing boys to witness and learn from these experiences. Separate yourself from the unhealthy homeschool culture to foster independence.
Create a vision of family life that goes beyond negotiating roles and responsibilities.
Find meaning in ordinary life and prioritize everyday tasks.
Cultivate a sense of human flourishing and train children for their future roles.
De-optimize your life to prioritize family and home.
Take an intentional and customized approach to family life.

Sound Bites

"Latter-day Saints have a strong culture of individual initiative and proactive service within the community."
"Lay leadership in the LDS Church allows for a sense of shared responsibility and reduces the burden on the bishop."
"The transition from youth to adulthood can be challenging, and more can be done to support young men during this critical period."
"When the adults in the room take their own cultural making responsibilities seriously and together offer the youth of the church an experience, the youth are generally gonna respond well to that."