LDS, Mormon, Scripture, Dialogue, Suffering, Faith and Doubt, Complaint, Atonement, women’s issues

A new book edited by Julie M. Smith, As Iron Sharpens Iron: Listening to the Various Voices of Scripture, does something wonderful. It takes something we all "kind of" know--that not every verse of scripture fits together in perfect harmony with others; that every writer whose words eventually became "scripture" agrees with every other writer--and in the interesting and entertaining format of imagined dialogues between scripture writers illustrates some of those divergent voices and viewpoints. Joining Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for this discussion are book contributors Julie M. Smith, Michael Austin, and Mark Decker.

In the book, you can hear, among others, Abraham and Job in dialogue about suffering and God's killing of children (Austin's piece), Jacob from the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith debating polygamy and God's laws and their exceptions (Decker's), and Gospel writers Mark and Luke in conversation about women's values and roles and the best way to honor them in Christ's kingdom (Smith's contribution). These stand alongside others such as John the Evangelist and John the Revelator (treating these as different individuals) on the Divinity of Jesus by Nicholas J. Frederick, Job and John on The Satans by Ronan James Head, Tamar and David on Personal Morality by Jason A. Kerr, Abraham and Thomas on Doubt by Steven L. Peck, Amulek and Alma on the Atonement by Joseph M. Spencer, Hannah and Sariah on Complaint, plus eight other fascinating dialogues. As Michael Austin notes within the conversation in this episode, we as Latter-day Saints too often think of and focus on scripture at the "verse" level versus the chapter and/or "book" level, and in so doing miss so much richness. This book and this discussion begins to show the new and complex and robust worlds that can open when we step back and view what has ended up in our scriptures as the writings of good people wrestling with God and life's big questions, and who are sharing about their experiences and/or the events that shaped their peoples and giving their best takes on these subjects. It's then up to us to give their words our consideration and make them springboards into our own spiritual explorations.

The Summer 2016 edition of the online journal SquareTwo features the results and a discussion of a recent poll of Mormon women about the ways that LDS women’s organizations are referred to, and about the names and titles of women’s groups, as well as women who are referred to primarily through their relationship to their husband's titled calling: the “bishop’s wife,” the “mission president’s wife.” It also asked for reactions to a proposal to change the wording of the Young Women’s Theme plus the name of the "Young Womanhood" Award (currently the name of the recognition that is the equivalent to young men's "Duty to God" award. Respondents who thought that discussions of these things or changes were in order were then given a chance to make suggestions for those new names and titles. Following a Salt Lake Tribune blog post about the survey, discussion really took off, netting an large number of comments both supportive of and quite dismissive of the survey and issues it raises.

This Mormon Matters episode, featuring SquareTwo board member and one of the writers of the article analyzing the survey’s results, Neylan McBaine, and Mormon therapist and writer about women’s issues and group dynamics, Julie de Azevedo Hanks, examines the survey and its findings, but also the interesting feedback it has received. What do these responses say about today’s Mormonism, especially in relation to non-correlated, non-official efforts to open up discussions about and propose potential solutions to issues that negatively affect many LDS women?

As the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum turns in coming weeks to the later chapters of the book of Alma and the stories there about Captain Moroni, the Stripling Warriors, along with various wars and war strategies, assassinations, and other accounts of events that unfolded between the Nephites and Lamanites, we are pleased to host this discussion that aims to assist with in-class experiences. Joining Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon are wonderful scholars and thinkers, and also current Gospel Doctrine teachers, Patrick Mason and David Pulsipher as they examine various ways to better understand some the messages about war within the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. How can we separate what is merely “descriptive” of events that took place within the history of the Book of Mormon peoples from that which are “prescriptive” attitudes and actions that God endorses? How might understanding Mormon as the primary narrator of these sections give us a better sense of why certain things are present? In what ways might Mormon's accounting for the events that take place (including accounts of the way the Anti-Nephi-Lehies approached those who sought to destroy them) also be evidence of his own journey that led by the time of his death to different attitudes toward war? How should we as Latter-day Saints engage teachings about war and when violence is justified against one’s enemies found in D&C 98 in concert with the messages found within these sections of the Book of Mormon? And there's so much more!

This is a fantastic discussion with great richness and wisdom for approaching these scriptures and setting up conditions for possibly very rich discussions within our upcoming Sunday School classes! 

This episode (in two parts) is a continuation of an earlier discussion of Mercy (episode 332, March 2016) but also very different, focusing this time on “mercy” as it functions for so many as a theological concept rather than the way it should: as something transformative in our spiritual lives. The conversation starts out a bit nerdy, with host Dan Wotherspoon laying out some framings about mercy that he senses are very much in play within Mormonism, but it soon turns into a very approachable and insightful discussion of far more powerful understandings of God and the plan of salvation, and especially the concept of “sin,” than one typically encounters. Joining us again are wonderful scholars, authors, and conversationalists Mat Schmalz, Fiona Givens, and Alonzo Gaskill.

This episode represents very well the wideness of views possible within Mormonism and wider Christianity, in this case Catholicism, as well as their power. If in the past you’ve been turned off by “thin” discussions of religion and the way it is presented, I think this is an episode that could help you reconsider the richness that is present but that only needs a bit of prodding to burst forth.

This episode (in two parts) is a continuation of an earlier discussion of Mercy (episode 332, March 2016) but also very different, focusing this time on “mercy” as it functions for so many as a theological concept rather than the way it should: as something transformative in our spiritual lives. The conversation starts out a bit nerdy, with host Dan Wotherspoon laying out some framings about mercy that he senses are very much in play within Mormonism, but it soon turns into a very approachable and insightful discussion of far more powerful understandings of God and the plan of salvation, and especially the concept of “sin,” than one typically encounters. Joining us again are wonderful scholars, authors, and conversationalists Mat Schmalz, Fiona Givens, and Alonzo Gaskill.

This episode represents very well the wideness of views possible within Mormonism and wider Christianity, in this case Catholicism, as well as their power. If in the past you’ve been turned off by “thin” discussions of religion and the way it is presented, I think this is an episode that could help you reconsider the richness that is present but that only needs a bit of prodding to burst forth.

Mormon Matters is hosting a 2.5-day retreat, 26 - 28 August. What will it be like? Who are we hoping will join in? How does this retreat differ from other one hosted under the auspices of the Open Stories Foundation? Will this retreat not only be informative, restorative, connective--but also FUN?

Even if you cannot make it to this Mormon Matters retreat, "Navigating a Healthy Mormon Journey," in August, perhaps you will want to learn about them in general in anticipation of joining in the experience another time. (Plans will be announced soon for quarterly Mormon Matters and other OSF retreats or events.) Perhaps you know of friends or family members who are really struggling right now with relationships in their lives that have been strained by their entrances into faith journeys that are leading them to territory that is scary for them and those who love them--and you sense they might benefit from this retreat. Perhaps you know that you or they might be strengthened from making friends who are on similar journeys, who are also struggling with communication, who could benefit from new and enriching ways to understand what they are going through, and who want tips for interacting with others as their authentic selves, including on Sundays and in other church settings. There are lots of reasons to listen to this short conversation between Mormon Matters host and convener of this retreat, Dan Wotherspoon, Ph.D., and the retreat leader, Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST.

See links on the website for details about how and where to register and who to contact with questions. We hope to hear from you and then see you beginning on the 26th!