Summary
Mandy Davis shares how current social trends can be clearly understood through the lens of restored gospel doctrine, emphasizing the importance of prophetic guidance, eternal identity, and temple teachings.
This talk was given at the 2024 FAIR Annual Conference at the American Heritage School, Salt Lake City, Utah on August 9, 2024.
Mandy Davis, is a communications graduate from Utah State University. Drawing on her experiences attending United Nations meetings, she founded the Instagram account @ChristianOverCulture to help others view societal trends through a gospel lens.
Transcript
Mandy Davis
View Culture Through a Gospel Lens
Calcuated Efforts to Undermine God’s Plan
Amber gave a little bit of an introduction on why I chose to speak on this topic, and I am a big believer that it is so important to view today’s culture through the lens of the gospel. So nine years ago, I had the opportunity to start attending meetings at the United Nations.
After the very first time going, I knew that it was going to be a hinge point in my life; and that I would never be able to unsee just how calculated the efforts were to undermine and fight against God’s plan in many areas of society. I knew that I would have to get to a point in my life where it became a well-used habit to be able to view the culture and trends of the world with a gospel lens.
So each time, after coming home from the United Nations, I would discuss things with friends and family about my experience. I shared with them some of the things that we needed to watch for and that we would start seeing in society. And some of the people really took things to heart and believed what we were seeing, and others didn’t.
And I don’t blame them for this; but they just said, “there’s no way I need to worry about this. I am not going to see these things in my lifetime.” So I’m going to share with you a few things that we started to tell people were coming down the pipeline, based on what we witnessed and heard at the United Nations, and different meetings.
And I do this simply to show you that in just a few years, things that went from seeming like it would never happen to becoming quite commonplace, and that’s not even surprising anymore. So here’s just a few of the things.
LGBTQ ideologies would become prevalent in all areas of our lives and even become celebrated. We would see this in children’s movies, TV shows, in the classrooms at school. Department stores would carry LGBT apparel for toddlers, teens and adults. There would come a day when any and all gender identities would be recognized in most areas of society.
Children and teens would be able to start gender affirming care with the help of a school counselor or doctor, without the knowledge or consent of a parent—moving to the eventual removal of that child from the home to become better taken care of by the state if the parent did not affirm.
So within a short period of time, all of these things now are currently occurring or in the works in certain levels of government, in varying states. So, what I want to do now is point out that there are people in this room, quite possibly, who have friends or family members that agree and are completely fine with some of the things on this list.
But the interesting thing is, if you were to have asked those same people nine years ago, they would have said “not a chance”. I witnessed this time and time again with people I knew. Those things that we discussed have become so common and it is because of the methods that were used from ‘up top’. So how do we get to this point?
And I truly believe that we get to a place where something that used to be far out there and have it become mainstream in society is because we stop viewing the trends of the world through the lens of a gospel, and then we allow worldly ideologies to take precedence over gospel teachings.
People start to believe that a gospel lens is uneducated, closed minded, and even unloving. And this isn’t just specific to us as members of the church. It also applies to all faiths.
So a common tactic that is used from pretty high up is to slowly and ever so slightly change or modify or add bits of information that slowly blurs the lines just enough to get people confused enough to a point where they no longer know what is real or right or moral anymore.
Satan knows that blurred lines in sports, arts, politics, family, etc. is key in drawing people’s focus away from true sources. So of course, this tactic is going to be used from the highest level.
So if we are to survive spiritually in the coming days, we truly do need the constant guidance of the Holy Ghost. And I know that he will help us confidently get to a point where we can view every trend we come upon in society through a gospel lens, successfully.
But this does take work on our part. So I’m going to discuss how I feel like we can get to a place where we can ‘stand and be not moved’, no matter the shifts in society. I know this is possible when we practice using a very solid checks and balance system that was put in place by our Heavenly Father.
I’m going to discuss how I feel that what is said in Scripture, and what our living prophets have to say is so important and crucial.
That is the first thing we need to do. Anytime a social issue comes our way, we need to check it and see what has been said on this specific issue by our prophet and apostles, and see how it is in relation to doctrine.
So if you hear anything in society that you are unsure of, of how it relates to Christ teachings, just go straight to the sources. Scriptures and prophets are a very solid choice to go to first. I can assure you that there is (and always will be) enough gospel teachings and instructions to help you safely stay grounded on the Lord’s side.
Prophets See Around Corners
So I’m going to tell you a story that I hope, like I feel, helps reiterate the importance of prophets and apostles in our lives. So I grew up in Alberta, Canada, on the foothills of the base of the Rocky Mountains. And the Canadian Rockies are incredible.
When I was 16 at a girls camp, we had the opportunity one day to go to a popular waterfall that helped feed a river, and it had some great cliff jumping spots.
We spent the day jumping into the river, and when doing so, we would jump off the rock ledge and then we’d have to—as soon as we surfaced—we’d have to quickly swim to the shore because the current was quite strong and would take us away. And it was also pretty frigid ice water. So we wanted to get out of the water as quickly as we could.
So the setup of this scenario, in this situation, this day is really important. So I want you to notice the rock formations on both sides of the falls. You can see on one side the rocks are higher up. That is where some of my Young Woman leaders were watching and taking pictures.
So at one point in the day, I had just jumped and swam to shore when I heard one of my leaders, who also happened to be my high school basketball coach. So her voice was very distinctive to me and she yelled, “Mandy, look to the river!” And I immediately looked and saw a child being carried downstream.
I quickly jumped into the cold river and swam as quick and hard as I could to get to that child. I was able to get a hold of that child and swam safely back to shore. Only a few seconds later, I heard that same leader yell out to me again and she yelled that there was another child in the water. I headed right back in, knowing that I was the only one close enough and in that area that could make it to that child in time. So I was able to make it.
I swam as hard as I could against that current and was able to get that child back to shore. Now, we had found out that those two children had wandered away from a campsite, and they saw us all having fun jumping in the river and thought that they could do it. But they didn’t understand the current, and that they were not strong enough to swim through that current.
There was a good outcome to this story because of two key factors. Those are 1) the location of my leader and 2) how recognizable her voice was. Because of the location of my leader and where she was standing up higher across, you can see. And that gave her a clear view of the water. She had a perspective that none of us had, and was able to see the danger and immediately warn.
And the other thing being that I learned how to recognize and trust that leader’s voice from years of hearing her coaching on the sideline at noisy basketball games. So her voice was not washed out by the noise of the falls, the river, or people enjoying the falls that day.
I tell you that story because I liken it to our prophet. Our prophet has a clear view of what is going on around us. He is standing as our watchman on the tower, and can see the threats and dangers that we will be facing far before we can.
President Nelson has a clear view, and he will warn us of dangerous societal currents that can sweep us away if we do not diligently keep our Heavenly Father’s commandments.
The prophet will always view the culture of the world through a gospel lens and lead us to safety. And Sheri Dew has said “prophets see around corners” – and they truly do.
Understanding Babylon
Next, we have been told to be in the world, but not of the world. And the way to do this—really the only way to do this—is to view what the world is through a gospel lens.
Because when we learn how to do this, we will be able to stay out of Babylon. Meaning, ‘not being of the world’. And oftentimes we hear the word Babylon used simultaneously in reference to the world. And I think one of the best ways to help us be watchful and aware of the lure of Babylon is to actually understand what Babylon is.
One of the most insightful things that has helped me learn about Babylon is going to Peter in the Bible Dictionary, and in this, from his very first epistle, we learn that Peter was working in Babylon. And in the Bible dictionary it explains that this was, more than likely, a disguised name for Rome.
So his first epistle from Babylon was addressed to the Christians, and its objective was, “to encourage men who were in danger of being terrified into a denial of their Lord.”
How often do we see the shifts in society happening all around us? Because people were afraid to stand up for what they absolutely knew to be true—all because they didn’t want to come across as unloving and/or judgmental.
So, in essence, being terrified of how we may look to our neighbors, our friends, family, our society. Peter was encouraging those who were afraid to stand for Christ, to have the courage to do so – which in all actuality meant living a life that was counter-culture to Rome.
Another thing in the Bible Dictionary is it says Babylon probably denotes Rome—the great antagonist of the Messiah’s kingdom. I think “the great antagonist” is a pretty bold description. The definition of antagonist is ‘one that contends with or opposes another’.
So Rome, in Peter’s time, was viewed as anything that opposed or contended with the Messiah’s kingdom. All we have to do is open up our social media pages and turn on the TV to witness for ourselves so many things that would fit that description.
Fleeing Babylon and Viewing Through a Gospel Lens
So there are very apparent reasons why we have been counseled to flee Babylon. President Russell M. Nelson, in the October 2021 General Conference, said
“The voices and pressures of the world are engaging and numerous, but too many voices are deceptive and seductive and can pull us off the covenant path. Even saints who otherwise are faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon’s band.”
After our living prophet has said that even the faithful saints can be derailed by the call of Babylon, I feel me. Viewing today’s social trends through a gospel lens is crucial for our spiritual survival.
So what I’m going to do now is put the topic of my presentation to work for you. So we’re going to take a social issue, and then we are going to view it through the lens of a gospel.
And I want to remind you that every single social issue that we will face and have come upon us in society, we can view every single one of those through a gospel lens—whether it’s gender identity, LGBTQ scenarios, abortion, anything that is mainstream in the media.
All can be clearly answered in doctrine. Now, that doesn’t mean that we will immediately understand, but what it will do is help us gain clarity so that we can begin the path to understanding.
A Gospel Lens on Gender Identity
I’m going to specifically and briefly take the concept of gender identity. And I do this because it is at the forefront of our society right now. But it also has one of the most powerful and beautiful doctrinal truths that I feel we have in the Church.
When we think about identity, we have to think about the creation, which is central to our Heavenly Father’s plan. President Nelson said this about the creation:
Grand as it is, Planet Earth is part of something even grander- that great plan of God. Simply summarized: the Earth was created that families might be.
How beautiful is that teaching from a living prophet? The earth was created so families might be. Gender is crucial when it comes to creation. There are no variances that work.
Also, in the Church of Jesus Christ, we have a theology on the family that is based on the pillars of the gospel: the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. So the Creation created a place that families could live.
Also, every ordinance in the temple is family. Each ordinance is gendered. Our gender identity is so important to God’s plan.
Sheri Dew said something that I loved and I’ve never forgotten was in dealing with our identity. And she said:
It is the Spirit who reveals to us our identity, which isn’t just who we are, but who we have always been. And that when we know, our lives take on a sense of purpose so stunning that we can never be the same again.
Eternal Identity and the Temple
Our identity as a son or daughter of God was important before we came to earth. It plays a big role in who we are now, and it will continue into the eternities.
I’m going to broaden things up again and just say every possible social issue can be answered in the temple. So when—not if—any of these social issues hit your family or friends, remember to go to the temple.
Okay. In a recent Instagram post by Neil Anderson—I was really glad that he had said this, I felt it went perfectly with this topic. And he said:
In our ever changing world, the temple endowment and ordinance help us have a perspective that is timeless and eternal. We learn in the house of the Lord how to best follow Jesus, and how to prepare ourselves to live eternally with our Heavenly Father.
With the varying views that exist in our world today, the temple endowment allows us to clearly see God’s plan for His sons and daughters.
So bottom line, if you want undiluted truth and doctrine, go to the temple.
Benchmarks for Navigating Social Trends
And then here’s another benchmark in viewing and navigating social trends that we can use: The Family Proclamation to the World.
The Family Proclamation was written to reinforce that family is central to the Creator’s plan. Without family, there is no plan. There is no reason for mortal life.
So far in this presentation, we’ve been able to take a social issue—or you can kind of think about it as a whole—and we have checked it against prophets, apostles, scriptures, and temple ordinances.
And next, now knowing that, I want you guys to think about this next slide right here.
Everything hinges on your view of the gospel
It says: Everything hinges on your view of the gospel. Either the gospel—which is scriptures, living prophets, apostles, and ordinances—will be the lens through which you view the world, or the world—science, politics, media, etc.—will be the lens through which you view the gospel. Ultimately, one or the other will be your authority.
You have to decide what you want to be the guiding force in your life.
The Five R’s and the Role of Science
So my next slide is something that you can take a picture of that I feel is a great reference that you can have when you’re faced with any confusing topic. The five R’s.
So if you ever have something come your way, take that question and ask yourself:
- Is it rooted in creation?
- Is it reiterated throughout scripture—from Adam and Eve all the way to present-day modern revelation?
- Is it repeated by Jesus and prophets and apostles?
- Is it represented by Christ?
- And is it reinforced in every temple ordinance?
That is going to be an amazing reference for you anytime something comes your way.
And I want to say something that I believe firmly in, and it’s because I have witnessed this time and time again, and that is: Science will always catch up to God’s truth.
And I’ll repeat that one more time: science will always catch up to God’s truth. And that is because God’s plan ensures that this is inevitable.
Anything you see in society that may seem like it could make sense or cause you to kind of question some fundamentals of the gospel—just know that there is not a social scientist, a doctor, or so-called worldly expert that will ever be able to present a claim that runs counter culture to Christ that will stand the test of time.
God’s Plan and the Fall of Babylon’s Agenda
That is because anything that runs counter culture to Christ will eventually fail, because God’s plan and Babylon’s agenda do not align.
And I want you to think back to the scenario I went through with gender. So for a handful of years, there was a big push on gender affirming care. And many people around you could have very possibly been confused about the whole topic of gender identity.
And there was a lot of information brought by so-called medical experts. The narrative led people to believe that it was out of love, that you would need to support this care.
And it resulted—ultimately – in widespread confusion and people not saying anything because they were worried about offending or saying the wrong things. And those who did were looked at as maybe uneducated, behind the times, or simply unloving.
Reversals and Clarity
Now, I want you to think about what’s been happening lately. So over the last few years, there are countries who are far more progressive than we are here, that were leading the way with gender affirming care, and they started to pump the brakes on gender affirming care because the results were not positive.
And now, just a few months ago, top pediatric groups and government organizations in some of these countries have halted and even banned gender affirming care among minors because the majority of the results have been nothing short of disastrous—either physically, emotionally, or both.
So we would have to look at this with a gospel lens and say, of course, that would be the case. Widespread gender affirming care can never be the answer, knowing what we know about the importance of the doctrine taught on our eternal identities.
The Power of Eternal Truths
But Satan knows the powerful connection between Heavenly Father and His spirit sons and daughters of God. So he is going to do everything he can to attack that connection and cause confusion about who we really are in order to make people miserable like unto himself.
So please remember that eternal truths will always stand the test of time, despite any information that you may come across that runs counter to it.
And I testify to you that if you put the work in and test what the world says against what Christ actually taught in Scripture and has revealed through living prophets and apostles, those answers are always there—if you look through the lens of the gospel.
Thank you.
Audience Q&A
n/a
Endnotes & Summary
In “View Culture Through a Gospel Lens,” Mandy Davis shares how her experience attending meetings at the United Nations awakened her to the deliberate efforts in global institutions to undermine eternal truths—particularly about family, identity, and morality. She outlines how cultural trends that once seemed extreme have become normalized, and urges Latter-day Saints to proactively interpret these shifts through the filter of gospel doctrine, prophetic counsel, and temple truths. Using personal stories, scriptural anchors, and a simple framework (the Five R’s), Davis teaches listeners how to remain spiritually grounded and resist being swept up in societal confusion—especially around gender identity and moral relativism.
Apologetic Value:
While not a scholarly rebuttal to anti-Church arguments, this talk has significant pastoral-apologetic utility. It equips faithful members with a lens—a mental and spiritual framework—for discerning and resisting ideologies that directly conflict with restored doctrine. It offers a defense of prophetic authority, eternal identity, and divine law without needing to directly confront critics. Apologetically, it is most useful in responding to the emotional and cultural pressures that fuel faith crises, particularly in areas where members feel tension between their discipleship and dominant social narratives. Mandy’s message helps members answer, “Why does the Church take this position?” with conviction, compassion, and clarity.
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Talk Details
- Date Presented: August 9, 2024
- Duration: 23:40 minutes
- Event/Conference: 2024 FAIR Annual Conference
- Topics Covered: view culture through a gospel lens, LDS gender identity, prophetic guidance, Babylon and the last days, eternal identity, family proclamation, temple doctrine, LGBTQ and LDS Church, gospel worldview, Mandy Davis FAIR
Common Concerns Addressed
Topic: Faith crises caused by cultural shifts
Concern: As societal values rapidly change, many Latter-day Saints experience disorientation or doubt, wondering how to reconcile evolving public norms with gospel teachings.
Clarification: This talk equips listeners to interpret cultural trends through the lens of restored doctrine, emphasizing the importance of anchoring one’s worldview in scripture, prophets, and temple ordinances. Mandy Davis encourages deliberate spiritual framing as a safeguard against losing faith in times of moral confusion.
Topic: Confusion over gender identity and doctrinal clarity
Concern: In today’s culture, teachings about gender identity often conflict with the doctrine of eternal gender, leaving many unsure how to navigate this topic with both compassion and conviction.
Clarification: This talk affirms that gender is an essential, eternal characteristic central to God’s plan. It uses prophetic teachings and temple truths to clarify the divine nature of gender while modeling how to respond with love and doctrinal integrity.
Topic: Perception that the Church is out of touch or unloving
Concern: Some critics argue that gospel standards—especially on moral and social issues—are rigid, outdated, or even harmful, portraying Church teachings as unkind or uninformed.
Clarification: Mandy Davis addresses this misconception directly, explaining that divine law is not a rejection of love but an expression of it. She shows that prophetic warnings are based on foresight and care, not intolerance, and that gospel living is ultimately rooted in eternal compassion.
Topic: Influence of media, academia, and politics on personal beliefs
Concern: Many individuals struggle to discern spiritual truth in a world where media narratives, educational frameworks, and political ideologies often contradict gospel principles.
Clarification: This talk demonstrates how cultural ideas are often shaped gradually through strategic messaging and redefinition. Davis teaches that by using a gospel lens—checking societal messages against scripture, prophets, and temple covenants—members can avoid being spiritually derailed.
Topic: Youth and family vulnerability to social ideologies
Concern: Parents and Church leaders are increasingly concerned about children and teens being exposed to and influenced by ideologies that contradict the gospel.
Clarification: The talk explains how rapidly changing norms—particularly surrounding sexuality and identity—can infiltrate schools, media, and peer culture. It introduces a practical framework (the Five R’s) to help individuals and families spiritually assess ideas and remain grounded in truth.
Topic: The compatibility of science and faith
Concern: Some believe that scientific research—particularly in psychology, medicine, or gender studies—disproves or overrides Church teachings.
Clarification: Davis asserts that truth is ultimately unified, and that science, when it is true, will eventually align with God’s revealed word. She encourages trust in prophetic guidance and eternal identity even when secular consensus shifts, reminding listeners that gospel truths will endure.
Apologetic Focus
While not a scholarly rebuttal to anti-Church arguments, this talk has significant pastoral-apologetic utility. It equips faithful members with a lens—a mental and spiritual framework—for discerning and resisting ideologies that directly conflict with restored doctrine. It offers a defense of prophetic authority, eternal identity, and divine law without needing to directly confront critics. Apologetically, it is most useful in responding to the emotional and cultural pressures that fuel faith crises, particularly in areas where members feel tension between their discipleship and dominant social narratives. Mandy’s message helps members answer, “Why does the Church take this position?” with conviction, compassion, and clarity.
Topic: Doctrinal authority and prophetic guidance
Concern: Some individuals view modern prophets as outdated or fallible, questioning whether their counsel is still relevant in a modern world of science, inclusivity, and rapid social change.
Clarification: This talk defends prophetic authority by likening prophets to watchmen on a tower—those with an elevated, clearer view of spiritual danger. Mandy Davis uses a personal story to illustrate how recognizing and trusting the prophet’s voice can provide timely, even lifesaving, spiritual guidance amid chaotic cultural currents.
Topic: Eternal identity and gender in the plan of salvation
Concern: Contemporary views on gender identity often conflict with gospel teachings, leading some to feel that the Church’s doctrine is either too rigid or disconnected from modern understanding.
Clarification: Davis affirms that gender is not a social construct but a core element of eternal identity, revealed by the Spirit and reinforced in every temple ordinance. She ties this doctrine to the Creation, Fall, and Atonement—showing how eternal gender is foundational to God’s plan for families and salvation.
Topic: Temple doctrine as a response to modern issues
Concern: Critics argue that temple teachings are symbolic, disconnected, or irrelevant to real-world moral and social issues.
Clarification: This talk positions the temple as the most reliable source of undiluted truth in a shifting world. Davis explains how temple ordinances and symbols provide eternal perspective on gender, family, identity, and discipleship—giving members the clarity they need to navigate modern debates with spiritual confidence.
Topic: Moral relativism and shifting societal norms
Concern: In an age of moral relativism, people often struggle to define truth, goodness, or right and wrong without relying solely on cultural consensus.
Clarification: Davis explains how societal change often occurs incrementally, blurring lines and redefining moral language until individuals no longer recognize the shift. Her talk urges members to adopt a gospel lens as a permanent standard—to measure trends, not by popularity, but by divine truth.
Topic: Scriptural and apostolic teachings as moral anchors
Concern: Some question whether scripture and apostolic teachings can still serve as authoritative guides in a world full of competing ideologies and experts.
Clarification: Mandy Davis defends the enduring value of scripture and modern prophets as a spiritual compass. She invites listeners to test all messages against divine sources, affirming that gospel truths are consistent, eternal, and sufficient for today’s challenges.
Topic: Alignment between revealed doctrine and true science
Concern: A growing number of people feel torn between trusting science and maintaining faith—particularly when scientific claims seem to conflict with Church teachings.
Clarification: This talk asserts that true science and divine truth are never at odds in the long run. Davis emphasizes that while worldly theories may shift or fail, God’s plan is eternal, and science will ultimately “catch up” to revealed doctrine.
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