This is a wonderful sermon given by Richard D. Poll, given in his Palo Alto, California, home ward and then published in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought (Winter 1967). In it, Poll introduces the (now classic) metaphors of "Iron Rod" and "Liahona" Mormons, which he uses to describe two types of active, dedicated Latter-day Saints but who different from each other temperamentally. It is read for Matters of Perspective by Curt Bench

This classic essay by Eugene England makes the case for the Church being as (or even more) important than the gospel for our salvation because of its role as a "school of love." It serves us this way by forcing us to interact with and giving us opportunities to learn to love those we might otherwise never choose to associate with. The earliest version of this essay was presented at the 1985 Sunstone symposium in Salt Lake City and then later published in Sunstone 10:10 (March 1986). It is read for Matters of Perspective by the author's son, Mark England

Faith journeys are insanely difficult. Why? In this episode, Lindsay Hansen Park, Jon Grimes, Brian Whitney, and Emily Grover join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a spirited discussion of a few of the many factors that come into play when one’s faith and understandings about God, church, and ourselves are challenged. The group occasionally offers suggestions about possible approaches for mitigating some of the most painful aspects of our journeys, but mostly it just tries to stand in solidarity and empathy for the challenges.

Four talks in the October 2015 General Conference focused, at least to a significant degree, on the issues of doubt and faith, and also chose to warn church members about possible harm should they turn primarily to Internet sources when they are faced with questions about Church teachings, practice, or history. Many of us who participate in the kinds of online discussions take place in social media spaces that have grown up around various blogs and podcasts like this one have felt uneasy about some of these messages and their rhetoric. For us, doubt and skepticism feel second nature to us, part of our personalities and the way we approach life in general. Furthermore, these tools, as we work with them and see both their strengths and limitations, seem to us to be helpful as we try to grow into better rounded and more firmly centered spiritual adults. Were these talks nodding toward all forms of doubt and skepticism, or was their focus on more caustic types and the cynicism that often flows out of that? Were these talks casting dispersions on the kinds of conversations hosted here and/or in the more constructive and "spiritual journey" related groups? How can and does doubt relate to "faith"? What about to "truth"? In this two-part episode, Adam Miller, James Patterson, and Jordan Harmon join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of these topics and more. While focusing mostly on the subjects at hand, they also engage with parts of the four talks under consideration. How should we "hear" these talks? If we do so less defensively, what pieces of wisdom are there for us? Certainly we all have spiritual work to do. How can even difficult messages serve us well?

Four talks in the October 2015 General Conference focused, at least to a significant degree, on the issues of doubt and faith, and also chose to warn church members about possible harm should they turn primarily to Internet sources when they are faced with questions about Church teachings, practice, or history. Many of us who participate in the kinds of online discussions take place in social media spaces that have grown up around various blogs and podcasts like this one have felt uneasy about some of these messages and their rhetoric. For us, doubt and skepticism feel second nature to us, part of our personalities and the way we approach life in general. Furthermore, these tools, as we work with them and see both their strengths and limitations, seem to us to be helpful as we try to grow into better rounded and more firmly centered spiritual adults. Were these talks nodding toward all forms of doubt and skepticism, or was their focus on more caustic types and the cynicism that often flows out of that? Were these talks casting dispersions on the kinds of conversations hosted here and/or in the more constructive and "spiritual journey" related groups? How can and does doubt relate to "faith"? What about to "truth"? In this two-part episode, Adam Miller, James Patterson, and Jordan Harmon join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of these topics and more. While focusing mostly on the subjects at hand, they also engage with parts of the four talks under consideration. How should we "hear" these talks? If we do so less defensively, what pieces of wisdom are there for us? Certainly we all have spiritual work to do. How can even difficult messages serve us well?

In this two-part episode, Brian Dillman, Julienna Viegas-Haws, and Anna Smith, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a discussion about "being wrong!" Or make that _Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error_ by Kathryn Schulz (CCC, 2010). It’s a rich subject and wonderful book, and each of the panelists share favorite insights from their encounters with the things Schulz talks about and how those have helped them understand themselves, others, and many other areas of life much more clearly--as well as helpfully. Since this is Mormon Matters, after all, they also speak about the ways some of these ideas are in tension with certain ideas and various cultural habits (ways of thinking) in Mormonism. How does the material discussed impact their views of the methodology we’re taught in Mormonism’s D&C 9:8-9 ("study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right" along with burnings in bosoms and stupors of thought)? With Mormonism’s emphasis on and teachings about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how it is a sure guide to what is "true." With Alma 32 passages on faith as a seed and "experimenting upon the word" and coming to know that a seed is good? With emphases on the superiority of "knowing" over "believing" when it comes to one’s testimony. It’s a great discussion!

In this two-part episode, Brian Dillman, Julienna Viegas-Haws, and Anna Smith, join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a discussion about "being wrong!" Or make that _Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error_ by Kathryn Schulz (CCC, 2010). It’s a rich subject and wonderful book, and each of the panelists share favorite insights from their encounters with the things Schulz talks about and how those have helped them understand themselves, others, and many other areas of life much more clearly--as well as helpfully. Since this is Mormon Matters, after all, they also speak about the ways some of these ideas are in tension with certain ideas and various cultural habits (ways of thinking) in Mormonism. How does the material discussed impact their views of the methodology we’re taught in Mormonism’s D&C 9:8-9 ("study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right" along with burnings in bosoms and stupors of thought)? With Mormonism’s emphasis on and teachings about the Gift of the Holy Ghost and how it is a sure guide to what is "true." With Alma 32 passages on faith as a seed and "experimenting upon the word" and coming to know that a seed is good? With emphases on the superiority of "knowing" over "believing" when it comes to one’s testimony. It’s a great discussion!