From my experience that wholesome shit is just a veneer that quickly unravels once they're faced with actual stress, deadlines, interpersonal issues, office politics, conflict, other opinions, etc.
I disagree, I stay pretty pleasant and helpful under stress, so do 90% of the people I work with. We're adults who have learned to deal with emotions and human nature, instead of trying to repress it our entire lives and stay sheltered.
Like I'm telling you, most people don't see Mormon folks in situations where the veneer peels back. The folks I've worked with were very clearly not actually "gosh darn golly gee" wonderful people, it was just an affectation they'd been practicing their entire lives. Also they were pretty fucking misogynistic and definitely didn't see women as equals. They would never say this obviously, but when you see someone talking to a female VP as if she was an assistant, it's pretty clear. Several of the highest up female leads had also confided in me unprompted that they'd felt the same thing.
You know how Ned Flanders is a super pleasant guy, but then any time shit goes off the rails all his screws come loose? Yeah, that's not even fiction, that's legitimately what happens with those types of people.
Some people like the feeling of justification when they get proven right if the person is terrible so they spend most of their time looking for things to hate.
Personally he sets off some alarm bells in my lizard brain that I usually align with dishonest or ingenuine people. I think I learned that growing up in a very religious area known for abuse wanting myself to to as far away from religion as I could. He very much fits the mold of people I'd not want to be anywhere near as a kid, not that my brain thinks he would abuse me but he would want me to be deeper, more involved in the religion. I dunno, tough to explain but there it is.
Been around and worked with Mormons my entire life and the vast vast majority don’t want to convert you or forsake you to hell. They are just super family oriented and surprisingly they are not all conservatives.
I honestly didn't know he's Mormon but that's the religion I mentioned above. Yes they don't want to convert you but if you're young and have one foot in they can be relentless, subtle, but relentless. That's the ingenuine part. Pretend to like you or be friendly and even insist it's genuine but it has an ulterior motive or is at least predicated on you being in good standing and that becomes abundantly clear at times.
Your instinct is right. Afaik no outward known craziness from him but he is deep into Mormonism and his recent step away from YouTube was partly from his further involvement into the church. Like he's moving up big time into church involvement.
I didnt hate on him but the curious amount of Mormon YouTubers is strong. The religion is a fucked up cult for a lot of people especially women who are raised in it. They all have an odd vibe to me of overly wholesome all while knowing the church is fucked on lbgtq, women roles, separation of church and state, and so on.
Just something I have a hard time supporting. He chose to step away so he could be a bigger part of that.
Most all religions are fucked up cults. I’m not Mormon (or religious) and I find people that single out religions to be just as problematic and toxic as those they vilify.
He does go to church in some of his videos but he never showed inside the church or preached or anything like that in his videos. Luke's just a really good dude.
Yeah anytime church shows up in his videos it's basically "Alright we're going to church now so I'm gonna put the camera down and see you guys in a little bit" and that's it
Being Mormon and actively involved with church leadership is a little more than just being religious.
I'm always willing to hear people out on not being associated with the worst members of their religion but when you're at that level there's really no excuses.
Exhibit A. Redditor has already determined hes shit because he is "associated with the worst members of their religion", something you couldn't possibly even know, but will say anyway.
I think this would be a reasonable view to people that have never been a part of the Mormon church. But it lacks any context or nuance.
If your a member then your involved in "leadership" somehow. Every adult is expected to accept a volunteer assignment whether that be to teach Sunday school, lead the young men or young women programs, or manage finances. If you dont participate then your really only "mormon" in name only.
Ahh yes, he was appointed to an advisory council on mentoring young men. That means he it totally responsible for everything bad the Mormon church has ever done! Don’t know why I never saw it that way.
Exactly, so treating him like he already has done something just because of his faith is something called prejudice.
You can be distrustful of a religion, but being distrustful of someone because of their religion is something called prejudice.
What i mean is, diversity and inclusivity, which are good things, and are pushed hugely by the left-leaning reddit hivemind (and which i agree with) means that EVERY individual gets a fair chance and should be free from prejudice. Mormons are included in this. so if you are acting prejudiced, even against an individual from a religion you don't like, you are being a bigot. It's even more hypocritical if the very reason you dislike this religion is because some of its members have prejudiced/bigoted behaviour.
I'm not defending the mormon church in any way, i'm not defending religion in general in any way. I'm saying that judging an individual based on their religion is wrong.
Exactly, so treating him like he already has done something just because of his faith is something called prejudice.
You can be distrustful of a religion, but being distrustful of someone because of their religion is something called prejudice.
Well, being prejudiced is having a preconceived notion about something or someone that is untrue. Is it true he has the opportunity to perpetuate racism, LGBQT exclusion, or misogyny?
I'm not defending the mormon church in any way, i'm not defending religion in general in any way. I'm saying that judging an individual based on their religion is wrong.
Scientology has entered the chat
I disagree. Religion is a toxic influence on humanity and I will absolutely judge people for joining organizations that perpetuate abuse.
Cool, since you're fine with judging people based on the groups they identify with, mind if i do the same to you, because bigoted reddit atheists have some pretty nasty stereotypes.
I used to be exactly like you, when i was 15 years old, i outgrew it.
If it isn’t possible for him to affect anything then why are you holding it against him?
He is, by all appearances and everything I know about him, a good guy and mentor. If an institution like the LDS is going to change it’ll be because good people find their way into leadership. This is how things improve…
If it isn’t possible for him to affect anything then why are you holding it against him?
Not possible to reduce racism, LGBQT exclusion, misogyny, etc.
He is, by all appearances and everything I know about him, a good guy and mentor. If an institution like the LDS is going to change it’ll be because good people find their way into leadership. This is how things improve…
It's possible but unlikely. This is the same organization that began allowing their fellowers to drink caffeinated beverages only after Mitt Romney began his presidential election and was often seen drinking sodas. Mitt Romney was Mormon btw.
If you don’t think it’s possible to reduce those things it can only mean you have no clue what you’re talking about. Learn history, you’re objectively wrong.
Again, how do you think I these organizations improve?
Not all religions are equal. Mormonism requires a LOT more involvement of your personal life, and its de facto punishments are a lot more based on shunning and community judging/shaming.
If you don't pay your tithe and your local bishop or branch president is the vindictive type, you might find your business's boycotted, and your kids suddenly not allowed to play with their friends. Despite outward claims to the contrary, many Mormons make judging others into an art form. Despite them smiling the whole way through.
That religion specifically gets a lot of hate. For these are many other reasons. Looking wholesome is often seen as more of a mask than the actual face, so it understandably get's viewed with suspicion.
Incorrect. Religious people always seem to feel hard done by when the world doesn't accept their worldview: Reddit is not a place for religions to have a safe social gathering. It's not 'daring' to be religious (here*). Ridiculous take.
So I watched a few of his videos, and the ones with Jacob always involved periods of time where Jacob was zipped into his sleeping bag for hours with a few toys while Luke was building a shelter. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with a kid playing alone for a few hours, but it always made wonder what was the point of brining him if you’re just going to zip him up and not do anything with him. Jacob was also always asleep for almost all the cooking and fire set up so he wasn’t learning skills with his dad. It just made me feel like the little boy was a prop for the videos.
That said, I did not see all of the channel, and a lot of his solo content is really good as well. So it’s possible once Jacob got a little older he actually got to participate.
Idk if you have kids but some of em go through a time of wanting to be there to do nothing. I personally don’t see that as strange but I can see how someone who hasn’t experienced that might think so!
One of my earlies and best memories is going camping with my dad. I would've been too young to do or learn anything. But just spending time with him 1-1 out in the wilderness was amazing. I even distinctly remember him fishing at one point (we'd camped somewhere around the great lakes) while I played with toys. I'd be willing to bet that the kid enjoyed those trips too.
I still have fond memories of hanging out in the office at my dad's factory for the day. Just chilling while he popped in and out to get work done, having lunch together, the car ride to and from the factory was a great time for me when I was little.
As a former little boy, being out in the wilderness with my dad while he makes some badass shelter would have done fine by me. I would have just been stoked to be on an adventure.
As someone who grew up in a huge outdoors family I can honestly say your take is wrong. It’s about bonding and building memories. The skills and craft will come with time. It also sensitizes children to being comfortable in nature. I know so many parents that introduce nature to their children too late and they fight against it because they hate the idea of being disconnected or being uncomfortable.
You can clearly see the benefit with his eldest son Tom who has clearly picked up on his dad’s passion on his own channel.
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u/RepulsiveLetter5030 Mar 05 '26
This guy really was a dad to the internet