In this episode, the Mormon Matters "Genesis Team"--David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid--join host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of Genesis 24-33, which focus on the God-ordained meeting and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and the tales of their twin sons, Esau and Jacob--many of which focus on trickery and deception in order to fulfill Yahweh’s plans to continue the purity of the bloodline and the pass along the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. It also looks long and hard at Jacob and his journey from somewhat of a "Mama’s boy" to full-fledged prophet-hero--to a great extent aided by his mighty wrestle with Yahweh himself. The episode contains important insights into the text and its sources, various laws, customs, and folk magic that help explain some very strange actions--How does one create a lot of spotted, speckled, and ringstraked livestock? By putting similar things in front of them while they mate!--and the troubling presence of parental favoritism that plagues the families of many biblical prophets. It also gives the panel and host chances to reflect on powerful moments of forgiveness and the spiritual growth of many characters, growth that is, in many of our lives, aided by great physical and mental striving.

In this episode, the Mormon Matters "Genesis Team"--David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid--join host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of Genesis 24-33, which focus on the God-ordained meeting and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and the tales of their twin sons, Esau and Jacob--many of which focus on trickery and deception in order to fulfill Yahweh’s plans to continue the purity of the bloodline and the pass along the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. It also looks long and hard at Jacob and his journey from somewhat of a "Mama’s boy" to full-fledged prophet-hero--to a great extent aided by his mighty wrestle with Yahweh himself. The episode contains important insights into the text and its sources, various laws, customs, and folk magic that help explain some very strange actions--How does one create a lot of spotted, speckled, and ringstraked livestock? By putting similar things in front of them while they mate!--and the troubling presence of parental favoritism that plagues the families of many biblical prophets. It also gives the panel and host chances to reflect on powerful moments of forgiveness and the spiritual growth of many characters, growth that is, in many of our lives, aided by great physical and mental striving.

In this episode, the Mormon Matters "Genesis Team"--David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid--join host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of Genesis 24-33, which focus on the God-ordained meeting and marriage of Isaac and Rebekah, and the tales of their twin sons, Esau and Jacob--many of which focus on trickery and deception in order to fulfill Yahweh’s plans to continue the purity of the bloodline and the pass along the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant. It also looks long and hard at Jacob and his journey from somewhat of a "Mama’s boy" to full-fledged prophet-hero--to a great extent aided by his mighty wrestle with Yahweh himself. The episode contains important insights into the text and its sources, various laws, customs, and folk magic that help explain some very strange actions--How does one create a lot of spotted, speckled, and ringstraked livestock? By putting similar things in front of them while they mate!--and the troubling presence of parental favoritism that plagues the families of many biblical prophets. It also gives the panel and host chances to reflect on powerful moments of forgiveness and the spiritual growth of many characters, growth that is, in many of our lives, aided by great physical and mental striving.

We Latter-day Saints "talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . . . and write of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). But have we always been consistent in our understanding of Christ? What are the evolutions in thought about Christ that we have undergone in the nearly two centuries since the church’s founding? How did earlier Latter-day Saints understand certain terms in ways that are different from today’s views? We Mormons also speak regularly of the importance of "coming unto Christ," "taking his name upon us," "standing as a witness for Christ," and "becoming perfect in Christ." What do we mean by these terms? Do they have multiple layers that can reveal great richness when we examine them deeply? In this five-part episode, Charley Harrell, Jody England Hansen, and Phil McLemore join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in an extensive dive in both doctrinal and devotional aspects related to our Christian beliefs and experiences.

We Latter-day Saints "talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . . . and write of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). But have we always been consistent in our understanding of Christ? What are the evolutions in thought about Christ that we have undergone in the nearly two centuries since the church’s founding? How did earlier Latter-day Saints understand certain terms in ways that are different from today’s views? We Mormons also speak regularly of the importance of "coming unto Christ," "taking his name upon us," "standing as a witness for Christ," and "becoming perfect in Christ." What do we mean by these terms? Do they have multiple layers that can reveal great richness when we examine them deeply? In this five-part episode, Charley Harrell, Jody England Hansen, and Phil McLemore join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in an extensive dive in both doctrinal and devotional aspects related to our Christian beliefs and experiences.

We Latter-day Saints "talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . . . and write of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). But have we always been consistent in our understanding of Christ? What are the evolutions in thought about Christ that we have undergone in the nearly two centuries since the church’s founding? How did earlier Latter-day Saints understand certain terms in ways that are different from today’s views? We Mormons also speak regularly of the importance of "coming unto Christ," "taking his name upon us," "standing as a witness for Christ," and "becoming perfect in Christ." What do we mean by these terms? Do they have multiple layers that can reveal great richness when we examine them deeply? In this five-part episode, Charley Harrell, Jody England Hansen, and Phil McLemore join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in an extensive dive in both doctrinal and devotional aspects related to our Christian beliefs and experiences.

We Latter-day Saints "talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . . . and write of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). But have we always been consistent in our understanding of Christ? What are the evolutions in thought about Christ that we have undergone in the nearly two centuries since the church’s founding? How did earlier Latter-day Saints understand certain terms in ways that are different from today’s views? We Mormons also speak regularly of the importance of "coming unto Christ," "taking his name upon us," "standing as a witness for Christ," and "becoming perfect in Christ." What do we mean by these terms? Do they have multiple layers that can reveal great richness when we examine them deeply? In this five-part episode, Charley Harrell, Jody England Hansen, and Phil McLemore join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in an extensive dive in both doctrinal and devotional aspects related to our Christian beliefs and experiences.

We Latter-day Saints "talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . . . and write of Christ, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins" (2 Nephi 25:26). But have we always been consistent in our understanding of Christ? What are the evolutions in thought about Christ that we have undergone in the nearly two centuries since the church’s founding? How did earlier Latter-day Saints understand certain terms in ways that are different from today’s views? We Mormons also speak regularly of the importance of "coming unto Christ," "taking his name upon us," "standing as a witness for Christ," and "becoming perfect in Christ." What do we mean by these terms? Do they have multiple layers that can reveal great richness when we examine them deeply? In this five-part episode, Charley Harrell, Jody England Hansen, and Phil McLemore join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in an extensive dive in both doctrinal and devotional aspects related to our Christian beliefs and experiences.

As we in the LDS Bloggernacle continue to process and strive for healing and renewed hope during this time of unease and pain caused by the recent excommunication of Kate Kelly and pending disciplinary decisions for John Dehlin and several other public Mormon voices, it is important to hear helpful framings from experienced and wise friends. Moderated by Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, this episode features a conversation between Natasha Helfer Parker, Ronda Callister, Chelsea Shields Strayer, and Maxine Hanks. Our thanks to the Faith Again study group in Salt Lake City for the impetus to bring this panel together.

As we in the LDS Bloggernacle continue to process and strive for healing and renewed hope during this time of unease and pain caused by the recent excommunication of Kate Kelly and pending disciplinary decisions for John Dehlin and several other public Mormon voices, it is important to hear helpful framings from experienced and wise friends. Moderated by Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, this episode features a conversation between Natasha Helfer Parker, Ronda Callister, Chelsea Shields Strayer, and Maxine Hanks. Our thanks to the Faith Again study group in Salt Lake City for the impetus to bring this panel together.