Episode 283

Is the LDS Church Using an MLM Playbook?

Have you noticed the overwhelming number of ads for the LDS church lately? Ads that don't indicate they are from the LDS church up front? There's a reason for this. In this episode, Mormonish Podcast is joined by Dr. Glen Randy Bell to explore the similarities between and MLM and the LDS church.

The LDS Church uses advertising tactics similar to those seen in multi-level marketing (MLM) by promoting an idealized lifestyle and emphasizing personal transformation and community belonging.

Its ads often showcase happy families, clean living, and emotional fulfillment—selling a vision rather than a doctrine. Like MLMs, the Church leverages personal stories and testimonials to create emotional appeal and social proof, subtly encouraging viewers to “join the fold” for personal and spiritual rewards.

This approach prioritizes connection over theology, drawing people in through relatable, aspirational messaging rather than direct religious instruction.

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About your hosts

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Rebecca Bibliotheca

Rebecca Bibliotheca is a mother or three boys, co-founder of "The Good Book Club," a virtual reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, cohost of "Mormon Media Reviews," and leader of the "Mormon Stories Book Club." She has a Masters of Library and Information Science from BYU and worked for many years at the BYU Library. She and her husband, Tom, also founded a youth theater program that is in its 19th year. Rebecca loves the theater, reading, film, spending times outdoors, church watching and iced coffee!
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Landon Brophy

Landon Brophy is the proud father of four children, two grandchildren, three ATVs and a boat. He's a former military officer, the co-founder of The Good Book Club, a reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, ann international manager for a global defense contractor, and a worldwide traveler. He and his wife founded "Utah Wanderers," an online travel guide to exploring Utah. Landon loves the outdoors, ATVing, boating, flying, reading, observing the "ongoing restoration" and second Saturdays!