Most religions, cultures, and philosophies contain stories or theories about human evil and its origins. Some, including Mormonism, place a major portion of the blame for moral evil on a fallen angel, Lucifer, and his followers, who after being ousted from heaven become devils whose only desire is to thwart God’s plans and make loathsome humans as miserable as possible. What many Latter-day Saints don’t realize is how much their version of the war in heaven and the role of Lucifer, who becomes known as Satan, differs from that of wider Christianity, Islam, and the hints of the story found in the Bible. What are these other stories? What are the major differences between the narratives? How much has the story or emphases changed within Mormonism since its earlier periods? Does Mormon theology contain starting points and theological angles for viewing the Satan story powerfully as mythos rather than literal history? Has a shift already begun in how most Latter-day Saints view the sources of temptation they face in their own lives? What principles within Mormon theology might an LDS person draw on to create room for also honoring insights about the nature of evil and human propensities toward sin from eastern religions or certain psychological schools?
In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, along with panelists Boyd Petersen, Charles Randall Paul, and Chelsea Shields Strayer explore all these questions, plus engage in a fascinating peek at how evil is seen in some non-Western cultures, including West Africa (where Chelsea has been doing anthropological fieldwork for the past decade) and its ideas of the very real powers that work in witchcraft, spirit possession, cursing, and other "occult" practices. Does Mormonism have theological explanations for these forces and the various ways they are manifest? Do West African Mormons still hold on to some of these ideas even after their conversion?
Please enjoy this fascinating discussion! It does not contain many “answers,” but the material it covers is very much worth wrestling with. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Most religions, cultures, and philosophies contain stories or theories about human evil and its origins. Some, including Mormonism, place a major portion of the blame for moral evil on a fallen angel, Lucifer, and his followers, who after being ousted from heaven become devils whose only desire is to thwart God’s plans and make loathsome humans as miserable as possible. What many Latter-day Saints don’t realize is how much their version of the war in heaven and the role of Lucifer, who becomes known as Satan, differs from that of wider Christianity, Islam, and the hints of the story found in the Bible. What are these other stories? What are the major differences between the narratives? How much has the story or emphases changed within Mormonism since its earlier periods? Does Mormon theology contain starting points and theological angles for viewing the Satan story powerfully as mythos rather than literal history? Has a shift already begun in how most Latter-day Saints view the sources of temptation they face in their own lives? What principles within Mormon theology might an LDS person draw on to create room for also honoring insights about the nature of evil and human propensities toward sin from eastern religions or certain psychological schools?
In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, along with panelists Boyd Petersen, Charles Randall Paul, and Chelsea Shields Strayer explore all these questions, plus engage in a fascinating peek at how evil is seen in some non-Western cultures, including West Africa (where Chelsea has been doing anthropological fieldwork for the past decade) and its ideas of the very real powers that work in witchcraft, spirit possession, cursing, and other "occult" practices. Does Mormonism have theological explanations for these forces and the various ways they are manifest? Do West African Mormons still hold on to some of these ideas even after their conversion?
Please enjoy this fascinating discussion! It does not contain many “answers,” but the material it covers is very much worth wrestling with. Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
This episode begins with a description of occasions in which one of our guests expresses feelings of anger over something only to be told one of two things (or both): (1) Be careful, as Satan is behind contention and will use your anger to lead you astray; and (2) We should only focus on positive thoughts and emotions, so count your blessings and these negative feelings will disappear. Many of you can relate to this, as these two responses are quite typical. Mormons generally do not like to talk about things like anger or sadness or loneliness or feelings of betrayal--and certainly not at church!
We are thrilled to have three great guests on this show discussing ways we can improve our understanding and discussions about anger: Cynthia Winward, Jordan Harmon, and Lisa Butterworth. In a lively and insightful conversation, the panelists speak about ways Latter-day Saint discussions often confuse the basic emotion of anger with ways that sometimes people will act out their anger--rage, intimidation, destructiveness, etc. They speak of the impossibility of fully suppressing anger and the negative consequences that follow from imagining one can and then trying to do so. They cover cultural views of anger with regards to men versus women feeling and expressing this emotion. They speak directly about way that ideas about Satan and his influence colors much Mormon discourse about anger. Are there alternative (read: better) ways to understanding the reasons we feel angry? They offer fundamental insights into not only anger but all basic emotions and the ways they can serve us positively (even the ones that are no fun to experience). The panel then shares possible ways to improve our discussions of anger at church. Following the end of the panel's conversation, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon shares a few thoughts about the role of anger as a featured emotion in the early aspect of many people's faith journey.
This episode begins with a description of occasions in which one of our guests expresses feelings of anger over something only to be told one of two things (or both): (1) Be careful, as Satan is behind contention and will use your anger to lead you astray; and (2) We should only focus on positive thoughts and emotions, so count your blessings and these negative feelings will disappear. Many of you can relate to this, as these two responses are quite typical. Mormons generally do not like to talk about things like anger or sadness or loneliness or feelings of betrayal--and certainly not at church!
We are thrilled to have three great guests on this show discussing ways we can improve our understanding and discussions about anger: Cynthia Winward, Jordan Harmon, and Lisa Butterworth. In a lively and insightful conversation, the panelists speak about ways Latter-day Saint discussions often confuse the basic emotion of anger with ways that sometimes people will act out their anger--rage, intimidation, destructiveness, etc. They speak of the impossibility of fully suppressing anger and the negative consequences that follow from imagining one can and then trying to do so. They cover cultural views of anger with regards to men versus women feeling and expressing this emotion. They speak directly about way that ideas about Satan and his influence colors much Mormon discourse about anger. Are there alternative (read: better) ways to understanding the reasons we feel angry? They offer fundamental insights into not only anger but all basic emotions and the ways they can serve us positively (even the ones that are no fun to experience). The panel then shares possible ways to improve our discussions of anger at church. Following the end of the panel's conversation, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon shares a few thoughts about the role of anger as a featured emotion in the early aspect of many people's faith journey.
Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks has over the past decade-plus become a leading voice in mental health, marriage and family, women's issues, and faith journey circles. As a therapist and clinician, she has worked with many people, most of them Latter-day Saints, and now supervises some fifteen other therapists. She is an author of two books, The Burnout Cure: An Emotional Survival Guide for Overwhelmed Women and The Assertiveness Guide: How to Communicate Your Needs, Set Healthy Boundaries, and Transform Your Relationships. She is a go-to person for many members of the media when they want to talk with someone about Mormon and/or women's issues, including very recently being featured many, many times in stories written in the wake of the MTC sexual abuse scandal and how it has been addressed by the LDS Church and within the community. But her earliest steps into a spotlight came through her musical gifts and a songwriter and singer, a career that led to many songs and albums, and that garnered her many awards in LDS and faith-based music circles. Julie seems to have led a charmed life, built always for a public life.
But, like all of us, life has not been without its challenges. She has faced heartbreak and sadness, loss of a sense of her own place within the universe and God's plan, difficulties navigating career and family and church and all it's pre-prescribed roles for women, and much more. All of these, however, have been essential in her becoming such an effective therapist and insightful and sought-after teacher and speaker. In this in-depth interview about her life and careers, and her family and church lives, as well, Julie allows us a glimpse into her own journey with faith and Mormonism and how, through many difficulties, she has come to the grounding she has found—a sense of calling to this particular life among these particular people. As you listen, I know that you'll be moved by her story, her emotion, her courage, and her emergence as a healer extraordinaire.
The April 2018 General Conference confirmed a trend that some have noticed in recent years that, as they speak about various policies, practices, and teachings, Church leaders have been using the terms "revelation" and "the will of the Lord" more often than they had in the past century or more. Why might that be? Are instances of powerful revelation occurring more often, or with greater intensity than before--i.e., as some would say, the Lord truly is "hastening His work" and therefore needs to convey things with a greater sense of urgency? Is it simply a trend that has caught on, or merely greater comfort with terms like these that has made Presidents Nelson and Oaks and various apostles use them more often? Are Church leaders expanding their view of what rises to the status of "revelation" versus "inspiration," or what it means to know "the Lord's will" versus having the Spirit "confirm" something to them? And so forth?
It's an interesting observation, and in this episode, frequent guest Mark Crego shares evidence for this trend and poses questions like this, while Mormon Awakenings podcast host Jack Naneek and Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon ask for clarifications and react to what he offers. If we are seeing a genuine trend emerging, what good benefits can follow from this sort of increased rhetorical punch? What cautions might we want to become alerted to? And in all things, how might we be vigilant in exercising our own rights to personal revelation and our role as church members in offering a check and balance to those who may be taking cues from this increased usage to warn or try to control others in ways that violate the principles of effective spiritual leadership laid out in D&C 121?
Please listen in and then share your ideas on these subjects in the comments section!
The April 2018 General Conference just closed. It was a monumental one, with many interesting features and announcements. From the Solemn Assembly that it led off with in which all church members, quorum by quorum and group by group had the chance to sustain Russell M. Nelson as the new prophet (and including a wonderful change in the order in which the groups sustained him), to the the calling of two new apostles that each represented a shift in the Quorum of the Twelve toward greater ethnic diversity, to the announcement of major changes in two long-standing practices (how Melchizedek Priesthood quorums meet, and to Visiting and Home Teaching), this was an action-packed and fascinating conference.
In this episode, Matt Jones and Sara Lake join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in offering their reactions to all that took place, as well as presenting ideas they have heard from others. It is a terrific, lively, spirit-and humor-filled conversation.
Listen in! Then please share your reactions to conference and/or this conversation in the comments section!
The April 2018 General Conference just closed. It was a monumental one, with many interesting features and announcements. From the Solemn Assembly that it led off with in which all church members, quorum by quorum and group by group had the chance to sustain Russell M. Nelson as the new prophet (and including a wonderful change in the order in which the groups sustained him), to the the calling of two new apostles that each represented a shift in the Quorum of the Twelve toward greater ethnic diversity, to the announcement of major changes in two long-standing practices (how Melchizedek Priesthood quorums meet, and to Visiting and Home Teaching), this was an action-packed and fascinating conference.
In this episode, Matt Jones and Sara Lake join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in offering their reactions to all that took place, as well as presenting ideas they have heard from others. It is a terrific, lively, spirit-and humor-filled conversation.
Listen in! Then please share your reactions to conference and/or this conversation in the comments section!