Salty Saints

Hayden Holm

Inspiring Latter-day Saint content, without the spirit voice or green jell-o, to strengthen your faith, family, and community. Join us as we navigate staying faithful in spite of the world, the culture, and social media. Tune in for debunkings, discussions on gospel topics, missionary stories, cultural callouts, and navigating questions faithfully.

  1. 4d ago

    Ep. 150 - 5 Steps to Run an Unbeatable 25-Min Elders Quorum

    With the upcoming shift to 25-minute Elders Quorum and Relief Society meetings, many leaders are making a critical mistake: trying to rush through traditional 45-minute lectures in half the time. But this schedule change isn't meant for faster talking—it’s designed to eliminate filler, increase fellowship, and refocus our gatherings on Jesus Christ.In this episode, we sit down with Justin Keate, a Utah high school principal and experienced educator, to unpack how to transform 25-minute quorum meetings into dynamic, life-changing councils. We trace the history of the early Elders Quorums as true brotherhoods of ministers, compare it to modern handbook guidance, and break down a practical 5-step blueprint that any presidency can implement immediately.In this episode, we cover:The Lecture Trap: Why talking faster to "get through the material" destroys engagement and connection.The Stated Purpose: Aligning your quorum with official Church guidance to deepen faith, home learning, and community.The Historical Brotherhood: How early Elders Quorums operated as circles of trust, ministering, and mutual support.The 5-Step Unbeatable Model: Actionable strategies—from pre-meeting feedback to small-group seating—that rebuild trust in 25 minutes.Resources & CommunityJoin our community of fathers, husbands, and leaders dedicated to building strong homes and brotherhoods:🌐 Website: https://strengthofdads.comChapters00:00 Introduction and episode overview02:01 Justin Keat's background and the focus on Elders Quorum03:21 Discussion on millennial dads and parenting time08:08 The spiritual strategy of just showing up at church10:24 Adapting to new formats and short meetings13:35 Step 1: Using anonymous forms to identify needs20:44 Step 2: Group seating and discussion dynamics22:45 Step 3: The power of snacks and informal bonding28:33 Step 4: Group discussion leaders and rules34:01 Step 5: Using conference talks and addressing concerns43:50 Historical context: Elders Quorum as a brotherhood of ministers45:14 Reviving the original purpose of Elders Quorum49:17 Summary of five steps and practical takeaways

  2. Aug 22

    Ep. 149 - Does the Church Struggle with Therapists? Male LDS Therapist Responds

    When a professional therapist asks why the Church "struggles with mental health professionals," it raises a critical question: Where is the line between legitimate clinical care and ideological activism?In this episode, we are joined by a licensed male therapist to break down why so many Latter-day Saint families, parents, and leaders feel guarded around modern therapy culture. From therapists leveraging their professional credentials to target church history on social media, to high-profile cases like the Hamakers using mental health platforms during their exit from the faith, we expose how clinical authority is sometimes weaponized against family covenants.In this episode, we cover:The "Therapy vs. Activism" Divide: How to tell if a clinician is helping you heal or actively deconstructing your faith.The Weaponization of Credentials: Why therapists targeting Church doctrine online destroys trust for faithful practitioners.The High-Profile Shift: Examining how media outlets and online figures leverage mental health narratives during faith transitions.The Leader & Parent Playbook: Practical questions to vet a therapist so you can protect your marriage, home, and spiritual grounding.Resources & CommunityJoin our community of fathers and leaders dedicated to building strong, resilient homes:🌐 Website: https://strengthofdads.comChapters00:00 Introduction and episode overview02:01 Panel introduction and topic setup04:07 Mom's bathroom ice therapy trend discussion07:37 Critique of anti-religious social media content10:04 Church's relationship with mental health professionals14:30 Analysis of anti-LDS activism online15:27 How to evaluate therapists' credentials and motives20:27 Finding trustworthy therapists in the digital age27:09 The role of neutrality and bias in therapy37:00 Addressing religious trauma and faith deconstruction44:32 The importance of family and community support52:35 Practical advice for vetting therapists and supporting faith54:59 Closing remarks and resources for families

  3. Aug 19

    Ep. 148 - The Shocking Stats and Spiritual Dangers Behind AI Relationships

    🚨 Is synthetic intimacy replacing real-world family, faith, and friendship?Recent studies reveal a shocking trend: nearly 30% of young people now say they prefer interacting with AI chatbots over real human friends. But this isn't just a screen-time issue for kids. From teens relying on digital companion tools to husbands confessing in counseling that they feel more emotional support from an LLM than their spouse, artificial intimacy is rapidly infiltrating our homes.In this livestream, we are joined by Austin Falter from  @SmallSimpleScreens  to break down the psychological hooks behind AI companions, the hidden spiritual dangers of non-judgmental digital validation, and—most importantly—the practical playbook fathers and ward leaders must use to restore real, unshakeable human connection in our homes.Chapters00:00 Introduction to AI's Impact on Youth03:56 Cultural Context of Breastfeeding in Public11:36 Rise of AI Companions and Their Market12:34 AI as a Source of Comfort and Support13:38 Risks of Dangerous AI Support and Support for Self-Harm23:32 Risks of AI in Social and Identity Development32:36 Parental Responsibilities in the Age of AI36:57 The Need for Resistance and Hard Things44:28 Trek and the Value of Hardship50:17 Building Self-Identity and Overcoming AI Dependency54:41 Creating Phone-Free Zones and Boundaries55:14 Future Solutions and Guardrails for AI Use56:27 Teaching Kids About AI and Its Limitations57:37 Guest Austin Falter and His Projects🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES📊 Children and Screens Research Report: https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/ai-social-companions-and-youth-what-parents-need-to-know/📸 Children and Screens Summary Reel: https://www.instagram.com/p/DZNcw9kRNHN/🧂 Dash of Salt Opening Clip: https://www.instagram.com/p/Db1hg2gBRiV/🎬 Small & Simple Screens (Austin Falter):  @SmallSimpleScreens  🛡️ Strength of Dads Community: https://strengthofdads.com 🏔️ Register for the Upcoming November Retreat: https://strengthofdads.com/retreat

  4. Aug 8

    Ep. 147 - 🚨NEW Data Shows LDS Retention Rates Are Slipping Sharply for Younger Generations

    🚨 New data published today reveals a sharp drop in religious retention among younger generations—and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not immune.In this episode, data scientist Rylan Fowers (Ether’s Elephant) joins us to break down Ryan Burge’s latest report from Graphs About Religion. We dive deep into the numbers: Why is weekly church attendance no longer guaranteeing adult faith retention? What is driving Gen Z and young adults away? And most importantly, what must fathers and leaders do inside the home to build unshakeable, lifelong conviction in our youth?Join our community of Dads:https://strengthofdads.com/ Check out our upcoming retreat:https://strengthofdads.com/event-retreat Follow: @EthersElephant  Chapters00:00 Introduction and episode overview02:01 Meet the guests and episode context04:42 Discussion on sacrament tradition and cultural signals08:22 Introduction to the graph about LDS retention problem09:14 Analysis of retention data by faith tradition10:40 Initial thoughts on retention and graph interpretation13:14 Discussion on the meaning of membership and activity17:00 The styrofoam cup metaphor for religious retention18:36 Trends in retention across different faiths and generations22:21 Impact of social media algorithms on faith and retention28:15 Patterns of leaving the church and spiritual progression34:56 Attendance patterns and their implications44:00 Parental influence and childhood attendance50:12 Correlation between childhood attendance and retention55:10 Potential solutions: Elders' quorums and engagement56:38 Closing remarks and guest introductions#lds

  5. Aug 6

    Ep. 146 - How LDS Dads Build Great-Souled Men: Aristotle’s Virtue Playbook

    Young men today are facing an unprecedented crisis. From screen addiction and isolation to young men checking out of education, faith, and duty entirely—the statistics are staggering: 1 in 4 young men report having NO close friends, 80% of suicides are men, and average daily screen time has reached 8 hours. In this episode, we sit down with Boad Swanson, author of "Great-Souled Men: Reclaiming Aristotle’s Vision for Building Character and Virtue." We unpack why what young men are missing isn't a diagnosis, but a direction—and how Aristotle’s classical 12 virtues provide the exact framework LDS fathers need to raise resilient, covenant-keeping sons in a digital world.Chapters00:00 Introduction and guest background02:26 The state of young men today and the need for virtue04:25 Boad's personal journey and turning point06:56 The importance of direction and virtue for young men08:53 Aristotle's 12 virtues and their relevance10:25 Courage: Types and stories of moral courage14:29 The courage to be a man in today's society20:21 Virtue of temperance and self-control23:17 The virtue of ambition and purpose26:51 The role of achievement and confidence33:21 The importance of virtue in education and society36:20 Living for something greater: Magnificence and legacy44:01 Moral authority and integrity48:03 Society's need for strong, virtuous men50:52 Practical steps for fathers and young men52:52 Closing thoughts and resourcesFollow:https://www.instagram.com/greatsouledmen/🤝 JOIN THE BROTHERHOOD:Don't fight the battle of fatherhood alone. Join our online community of men dedicated to building real brotherhood, standing strong, and leading their families:👉 https://strengthofdads.com🔥 UPCOMING EVENT (NOVEMBER):Ready to step away from the noise and build deep, lasting strength alongside other men? Register now for our upcoming November Men's Retreat:👉 https://strengthofdads.com/event-retreat📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED:• "Great-Souled Men" by Boad Swanson (Available September 1st)If this conversation brought value to you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another dad or leader who needs to hear this. #lds

  6. Aug 1

    Ep. 145 - The #1 Reason Youth Leave the LDS Church (New BYU Study) And What Parents Can Do About It

    A landmark new study from BYU researchers reveals alarming trends regarding LDS youth retention, smartphone ownership, and daily faith. Youth with smartphones are nearly 3X more likely to deidentify with the Church, and watching short video clips drastically increases faith decline—but the root cause might not be what you think.In this episode, we break down the latest data from "Latter-day Saint Trends in the United States" and explore why "not feeling God's presence in daily life" is the ultimate predictor of youth walking away. More importantly, we outline a practical playbook for fathers to reclaim their homes, protect their kids' quiet bandwidth, and foster deep, lasting conversion in a digital age.Join our community of dads: https://strengthofdads.com/Grab tickets to our upcoming retreat: https://strengthofdads.com/event-retreat📌 REFUGE & RESOURCES:• Read the full 56-page report: "Latter-day Saint Trends in the United States: Religiousness, Well-Being, and Retention" (Dyer et al., BYU Studies)If this conversation brought value to you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with another dad or leader who needs to hear this. Let's build real brotherhood and raise resilient kids together.Chapters00:00 Introduction and episode overview02:05 Justin Keat introduces himself and his background in education04:04 The Utah church fire incident as a humorous 'Dash of Salt'07:23 Key findings from the BYU study on smartphones and de-identification14:31 Impact of screen time on religious commitment and faith17:14 The influence of social media and short-form videos21:06 The importance of stillness, silence, and meditation25:30 Quotes from President Nelson on social media and spiritual risk30:36 Strategies for parents to manage device use at home44:36 The debate over no phones vs. training kids to use technology responsibly54:48 The importance of teaching kids self-control and digital literacy#LDS #Fatherhood #Parenting #BYUData #LDSYouth #ChristianParenting #DigitalWellness #Dads

  7. Jul 17

    Ep. 143 - When LDS Wives Mother Their Husbands — Male Therapist Explains Why It Backfires

    A wife asks her husband to butter the toast. He agrees. Five seconds pass. She sighs, takes over, and calls him lazy and a child.That video is going viral. And tonight a licensed male LDS therapist sits down with us to explain what just happened — not to the toast, but to the marriage.Because that moment isn't about toast. It's the beginning of a cycle that researchers call demand-withdraw — one of the most well-documented patterns in couples therapy. One partner controls, the other retreats. The control increases. The retreat deepens. And the wife who took over the toast ends up with exactly the husband she was afraid of: checked out, disengaged, and going through the motions.We also get into the term "weaponized incompetence" — why it describes a real phenomenon, why it's being misapplied to ordinary male behaviour, and why framing your husband as someone attacking you with a weapon may be the fastest way to guarantee the marriage gets worse.This isn't a blame-the-wife conversation. It's a help-the-marriage conversation.Topics covered:— What the toast video reveals about the demand-withdraw cycle— What it does to a man when his wife treats him like a child in his own home— Why the control cycle produces the exact husband wives are afraid of— What "weaponized incompetence" gets wrong — and what it gets right— How to break the cycle — practical steps for both wives and husbands— What LDS couples specifically need to hear about this patternJoin the brotherhood at For The Strength of Dads:strengthofdads.comChapters00:00 Introduction and guest introduction02:01 Hayden Holm introduces the episode and guest Logan Bleazard04:26 Reaction to social media video about marriage dynamics07:12 Logan Bleazard discusses common patterns in marriage10:05 The importance of understanding control and agency11:57 Cycle of control and withdrawal in LDS marriages13:00 Breaking the cycle: practical advice for men and women18:40 Attachment panic and its effects on behavior22:21 Communication strategies and bids for connection30:42 How to avoid escalation and shame in conflicts43:19 Breaking the mothering cycle and fostering leadership50:50 The importance of small daily acts and appreciation55:02 Resources and where to find Logan Bleazard#lds

About

Inspiring Latter-day Saint content, without the spirit voice or green jell-o, to strengthen your faith, family, and community. Join us as we navigate staying faithful in spite of the world, the culture, and social media. Tune in for debunkings, discussions on gospel topics, missionary stories, cultural callouts, and navigating questions faithfully.