Fight Them With Strudels and Chess

In this light-hearted but thoughtful episode, the panel kicks off with banter around the unusual title “Fight Them With Strudels.” Cardon Ellis asks Jonah Barnes to illuminate the meaning behind the phrase. Jonah Barnes narrates a real-life story involving his father, drawing from both Mormon history and personal experience, to demonstrate the idea: when faced with hostility, particularly anti-Mormon sentiment, responding with unexpected kindness like delivering a strudel instead of engaging in debate or confrontation can disarm animosity and build bridges.The episode digs into a specific example involving a tragic event in Michigan and a heated rant against Mormons by Larry Lawrence o', Donnell,, an outspoken commentator. Through these episodes, Jonah Barnes highlights how members of the faith have chosen compassion, such as fundraising for the family of a perpetrator, and the humorous strudel tradition that emerged: delivering baked goods to the homes of those who were critical or adversarial.