Many long-time Mormon Matters listeners will recognize the name Charles Randall Paul (or, as host Dan Wotherspoon calls him 90 percent of the time, “Randy" Paul). He has been a wonderful and engaged panelist on various episodes that have explored topics in which he is fluent, but most often references to him and his thinking are more personal than that, as Randy is the friend who first became a mentor and lively discussion partner of Dan's when he was in his first year or so of deep questioning about Mormon teachings, scripture, and claims, and, most intently, if he could ever find a true "home" in Mormonism again now that he had begun to see its narratives and theological tenets in much more complicated ways. Randy was that pivotal person who came into Dan's life at this time and offered him a glimpse at the kind of animated and questing spiritual life of someone who was also enjoying his associations in his ward and other Mormon circles. Their friendship and collaborations on various projects have now been going on for 29 years. Hence, Dan has decided it’s time he took the opportunity to really offer Mormon Matters listeners a fuller dose of Charles Randall Paul and a chance for them to sense for themselves why he served Dan so well by modeling for him a kind of spirituality that might one day, if he kept leaning into the complexity, might unfold within him, too.

At a time in many Mormon "faith undergoing challenges" discussions when much of the focus is on the problems Mormonism has with certain claims (if taken literally) and the ways it has told its story, and when many conversations are caught up in endless loops that involve listing troubling issues and how Mormon apologetics fails to offer satisfying responses, or when they focus on how certain LDS voices that are gaining traction don't seem to be concerned that the "versions" of Mormonism or the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they share are not actually what is instantiated in Mormon wards and manuals (nor very often put forth in General Conference addresses), this Mormon Matters episode reverses the trend by featuring a conversation between two old friends who, in many ways, live and engage in a kind of "post-apologetic" Mormonism. It explores what it is in Mormonism that offers them the "roominess" they enjoy? What gives them hope for the future? What does it feel like to have found a genuine peace even in the midst of difficult dynamics and tensions at work in the LDS church and their local communities?  Perhaps the biggest gift that Randy gives in this conversation is sharing with us how he came to be who he is (in the world and in relation to Mormonism), how he came to hold the views he does and why he is willing to keep following certain hunches about God and humans and the experiment of mortality to see what additional treasures might be there.

Part 1 focuses on Randy's upbringing, temperament, and certain experiences that marked new insights or offered him greater confidence. In these tellings, it also discusses many Mormon ideas, practices, and pressures.

Part 2 is a more focused examination of what it truly means to be "at peace" in oneself and with things that are external to you. (Hint: It absolutely doesn't mean one is living a tensionless existence!) It also explores some of the social and psychological dynamics of "intra-religious" conflict, and why disagreements within religious communities can be so difficult to navigate. He offers great insights that are relevant at the larger, group level, but which can also transfer into our more personal relationships with those whom we find ourselves at odds with (at least for now!)

Many long-time Mormon Matters listeners will recognize the name Charles Randall Paul (or, as host Dan Wotherspoon calls him 90 percent of the time, “Randy" Paul). He has been a wonderful and engaged panelist on various episodes that have explored topics in which he is fluent, but most often references to him and his thinking are more personal than that, as Randy is the friend who first became a mentor and lively discussion partner of Dan's when he was in his first year or so of deep questioning about Mormon teachings, scripture, and claims, and, most intently, if he could ever find a true "home" in Mormonism again now that he had begun to see its narratives and theological tenets in much more complicated ways. Randy was that pivotal person who came into Dan's life at this time and offered him a glimpse at the kind of animated and questing spiritual life of someone who was also enjoying his associations in his ward and other Mormon circles. Their friendship and collaborations on various projects have now been going on for 29 years. Hence, Dan has decided it’s time he took the opportunity to really offer Mormon Matters listeners a fuller dose of Charles Randall Paul and a chance for them to sense for themselves why he served Dan so well by modeling for him a kind of spirituality that might one day, if he kept leaning into the complexity, might unfold within him, too.

At a time in many Mormon "faith undergoing challenges" discussions when much of the focus is on the problems Mormonism has with certain claims (if taken literally) and the ways it has told its story, and when many conversations are caught up in endless loops that involve listing troubling issues and how Mormon apologetics fails to offer satisfying responses, or when they focus on how certain LDS voices that are gaining traction don't seem to be concerned that the "versions" of Mormonism or the Gospel of Jesus Christ that they share are not actually what is instantiated in Mormon wards and manuals (nor very often put forth in General Conference addresses), this Mormon Matters episode reverses the trend by featuring a conversation between two old friends who, in many ways, live and engage in a kind of "post-apologetic" Mormonism. It explores what it is in Mormonism that offers them the "roominess" they enjoy? What gives them hope for the future? What does it feel like to have found a genuine peace even in the midst of difficult dynamics and tensions at work in the LDS church and their local communities?  Perhaps the biggest gift that Randy gives in this conversation is sharing with us how he came to be who he is (in the world and in relation to Mormonism), how he came to hold the views he does and why he is willing to keep following certain hunches about God and humans and the experiment of mortality to see what additional treasures might be there.

Part 1 focuses on Randy's upbringing, temperament, and certain experiences that marked new insights or offered him greater confidence. In these tellings, it also discusses many Mormon ideas, practices, and pressures.

Part 2 is a more focused examination of what it truly means to be "at peace" in oneself and with things that are external to you. (Hint: It absolutely doesn't mean one is living a tensionless existence!) It also explores some of the social and psychological dynamics of "intra-religious" conflict, and why discussions and disagreements within religious communities can be so difficult to navigate. He offers great insights that are relevant at the larger, group level, but which can also transfer into our more personal relationships with those whom we find ourselves at odds with (at least for now!)

Very few of us give deep consideration to the nature of scripture and how it should be read and understood. We grow up (or come to it during a conversion process) primarily with the idea that these are sacred texts that are inspired in a different way than any other writings, that God has gotten involved in their production to a special degree so that there is a high degree of reliability in what they they say. We have favorite ones, or others that we like because they sing to our hearts more than the rest. We enter into a religion and culture that already has a long history of interpretive readings of many scriptural passages and stories, and unless something really jars or fails to sit well with us, we hardly ever dive into interpretations that other traditions favor, and even less often do we look into the original languages in which the scriptures were written to see if the English (or whatever language we speak and read) misses certain things present to those native to that language. In short, while we may not be lazy in following the urging of leaders and teachers to read our scriptures, we are generally pretty lazy when it comes to thinking about scripture in general, and certain (sometimes troubling) passages in particular.

In this episode, the first of several we hope to record and release in a series, we examine to some degree scripture as a whole, but then do deep dives into certain verses and passages that are often misread and misunderstood (or under-understood: they are far richer than we imagined!). With Mark Crego and Margaret Toscano as guides, along with Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, the discussions here focus on several scriptures familiar to Latter-day Saints (and some to other Christians, as well), and examine them from many different angles, each of them leading to richer, deeper understandings of the passages themselves, but also the ideas underlying them. The panel was surprised to discover how all of the ones they had chosen to talk about in this first episode ultimately converged into a wonderful theme: understanding better the nature of the love of God.

Hear for yourself how they get to that topic every time, even as they are discussing scriptures that don’t on the surface or at least in LDS interpretive schemas usually center on the love of God. The scriptures talked about directly in this discussion are:

John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

D&C 82:10, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect.”

Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Plus tie-ins to many other scriptural passages.

Very few of us give deep consideration to the nature of scripture and how it should be read and understood. We grow up (or come to it during a conversion process) primarily with the idea that these are sacred texts that are inspired in a different way than any other writings, that God has gotten involved in their production to a special degree so that there is a high degree of reliability in what they they say. We have favorite ones, or others that we like because they sing to our hearts more than the rest. We enter into a religion and culture that already has a long history of interpretive readings of many scriptural passages and stories, and unless something really jars or fails to sit well with us, we hardly ever dive into interpretations that other traditions favor, and even less often do we look into the original languages in which the scriptures were written to see if the English (or whatever language we speak and read) misses certain things present to those native to that language. In short, while we may not be lazy in following the urging of leaders and teachers to read our scriptures, we are generally pretty lazy when it comes to thinking about scripture in general, and certain (sometimes troubling) passages in particular.

In this episode, the first of several we hope to record and release in a series, we examine to some degree scripture as a whole, but then do deep dives into certain verses and passages that are often misread and misunderstood (or under-understood: they are far richer than we imagined!). With Mark Crego and Margaret Toscano as guides, along with Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, the discussions here focus on several scriptures familiar to Latter-day Saints (and some to other Christians, as well), and examine them from many different angles, each of them leading to richer, deeper understandings of the passages themselves, but also the ideas underlying them. The panel was surprised to discover how all of the ones they had chosen to talk about in this first episode ultimately converged into a wonderful theme: understanding better the nature of the love of God.

Hear for yourself how they get to that topic every time, even as they are discussing scriptures that don’t on the surface or at least in LDS interpretive schemas usually center on the love of God. The scriptures talked about directly in this discussion are:

John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

D&C 82:10, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect.”

Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Plus tie-ins to many other scriptural passages.

Issues surrounding sexual, physical, and emotional harassment and abuse, or persons not feeling safe in certain institutional environments, have achieved fresh attention in the past several months through the bravery of women and others sharing their stories. Neither the White House nor Mormonism has been exempt from new attention to these ugly accusations, as former staff secretary Rob Porter, a Latter-day Saint, was forced to resign over claims of emotional and physical abuse leveled by his two ex-wives. Tying Mormonism into this arena even further, each stated that they had counseled with their Mormon bishops about Porter's treatment of them in their marriage and received less-than-helpful counsel. They didn't feel safe and only after a while did one of the women's bishop encourage her to file for a temporary retraining order against Porter.

Issues surrounding sexual, physical, and emotional harassment and abuse, or of persons not feeling safe in certain institutional environments, have received fresh attention in the past several months because of the bravery of women and others sharing their stories, leading to protests and the rise of several movements designed to educate about and mitigate future harm. Neither the United States government nor Mormonism has been exempt from new attention to these ugly accusations, as former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, a Latter-day Saint, was forced to resign over claims by his two ex-wives that he emotionally and physically abused the. Tying Mormonism into this arena even deeper, each stated that she had counseled with her Mormon bishop about Porter's treatment of her in their marriage and received less-than-helpful counsel. They didn't feel safe, and yet only after a while did one of the women's bishop encourage her to file for a temporary retraining order against Porter.

These issues of harassment, intimidation, and abuse are pervasive, with Mormonism being no exception. And stories and examples of Latter-day Saints reporting abuse and working to influence structural changes in Church policies and procedures are getting increasing attention. Mormonism puts bishops and other leaders in closed-door rooms with children, teens, and adults, girls and boys, women and men. It instructs them to interview members for various reasons: do they meet requirements (spiritual and moral) for participation in ordinances, are they worthy to receive certain advancements or callings, and more. Members are also encouraged to seek out these leaders when they want to talk about troubling situations in their lives, ranging from spiritual malaise or crisis, to interpersonal differences with others, to issues in family life, to feeling a need to confess and repent of certain behaviors/sins they may have fallen into. All of these types of interaction have the potential to become very personal in nature. And there are many accounts in which such personal situations have gone badly. At times leaders pry and ask about details that go beyond what they are instructed to do, resulting in the interview and counseling situations to move into unhelpful and potentially quite harmful areas. The structure of these meetings is ripe for trouble, and it often is found. What can we as Latter-day Saints do to mitigate against these problems and the harm that can follow from them? What can the church do, structurally and via training of leaders and members, to help lessen the chances for damaging interactions? 

In this episode, three engaged, informed, and experienced Latter-day Saints—Julie de Azevedo Hanks, Ronda Callister, and Tim Birt—join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of the larger issues surrounding abuse and its prevalence, the systemic and personal causes that often feed into its occurrences, and, most of all, what we as individuals, parents, teachers, leaders, and church members can do to become informed and more alert to situations before or very early on as they begin to go wrong. This issue must come into our consciousness more than it ever has before. How can we be proactive in keeping ourselves and others, as well as the institution of the LDS Church, safe from these dangers and the harm they bring about?

Listen in! Take notes! There is much in this episode that will be helpful for you as you accept responsibility to be change agents in your own lives and within the structures and practices of the church.

James and Judith McConkie have taken a deep dive into something relatively few Mormon scholars and teachers have researched: the historical Jesus. Latter-day Saints have been doing scripture studies for years, and are in the past few decades beginning to contribute their own studies to the growing body of work on the Bible, but only a handful have attempted to dive into the vast literature on the subject of just who Jesus of Nazareth was in his time and setting, studies that seek to understand his life and teachings in the context of his ministry in what is now Palestine and among a colonized people ruled from Rome through the cooperation of many Jewish leaders. One result of their many years of study to discover for themselves and, initially, their family, is a new book, Whom Say Ye That I Am?: Lessons from the Jesus of Nazareth (Greg Kofford Books, 2018).

In this episode, the McConkies join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of the book, literature on Jesus within Mormonism, discoveries they made that surprised or inspired them, and much more. Specifically, they focus on several areas discussed within the work: Jesus and his interactions with women and (with and about) family, his teachings and views on suffering in this world, the systematic injustice during his time and teachings about the "kingdom of God" he was attempting to usher into being, and finally discipleship and covenanting. Be warned: This is a terrific discussion that is sure to tease you into buying this book and many others mentioned herein! This is fascinating literature and a rich and wonderful area to dive into ourselves, one that yields many good dividends for our own spiritual walks.

James and Judith McConkie have taken a deep dive into something relatively few Mormon scholars and teachers have researched: the historical Jesus. Latter-day Saints have been doing scripture studies for years, and are in the past few decades beginning to contribute their own studies to the growing body of work on the Bible, but only a handful have attempted to dive into the vast literature on the subject of just who Jesus of Nazareth was in his time and setting, studies that seek to understand his life and teachings in the context of his ministry in what is now Palestine and among a colonized people ruled from Rome through the cooperation of many Jewish leaders. One result of their many years of study to discover for themselves and, initially, their family, is a new book, Whom Say Ye That I Am?: Lessons from the Jesus of Nazareth (Greg Kofford Books, 2018).

In this episode, the McConkies join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of the book, literature on Jesus within Mormonism, discoveries they made that surprised or inspired them, and much more. Specifically, they focus on several areas discussed within the work: Jesus and his interactions with women and (with and about) family, his teachings and views on suffering in this world, the systematic injustice during his time and teachings about the "kingdom of God" he was attempting to usher into being, and finally discipleship and covenanting. Be warned: This is a terrific discussion that is sure to tease you into buying this book and many others mentioned herein! This is fascinating literature and a rich and wonderful area to dive into ourselves, one that yields many good dividends for our own spiritual walks.

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

449–461: Old Testament--Teaching and Study Resources

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode (#449) about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast show from the last time the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum covered the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. We're late in putting these in front of you again. So sorry, but better late than never? I hope you'll feel so!

These releases consist of an overview episode about teaching this text within the church, and features Jana Riess, Philip Barlow, and Carrie Mills.

The others are a group of six different episodes (some multi-part) with panelists who we came to call "The Genesis Team." In them, David Bokovoy, Brian Hauglid, and Father Tom Roberts take us through in depth discussions of the key stories in the first 25 chapters of Genesis: the creation, flood, tower of Babel, Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, Binding of Isaac, and the saga of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the transformation of Jacob. 

Whether you're a Gospel Doctrine teacher, active class participant, or simply an interested reader hoping for more insight into this most interesting and mischaracterized set of scriptures, this series is a great resource! Enjoy them (maybe it will be again)!

This episode is a supplement to the previous two-parter on "sustaining" within Mormonism--concentrating especially on times when we find ourselves in some sort of tension with leaders or those in callings whose ideas, teaching style, demeanor, or general approach to the gospel fail to connect positively with us. It features the powerful spiritual teacher Thomas Wirthlin McConkie introducing and leading us through a "shadow practice" exercise. Shadow work is a path to self-discovery as well as loving kindness and compassion, but it begins in disturbance, tension, something unsettled, the appearance of negative emotions whenever we encounter a certain person or situation. Because we typically don't want to feel such things, we will often supress them or attempt to ignore them. Shadow work takes the opposite approach. We lean into the feelings, the negative energy, explore and name them, hone in on the exact things that trigger this negativity and let our minds and emotions have have free rein for a while. And then we take a final step.

Find out what it is.

Shadow work is a practice that will help us see others and ourselves much more clearly, allowing wonderful things begin to unfold. 

One of Mormonism's most attractive features is the wonderful chance all members are given to both formally and informally "sustain" each other as we play various roles within the community. We officially (and for church records) sustain by the raise of our hand various persons in their callings, but more importantly in that way also pledge on our part to be supportive of this sister or brother as they serve in these capacities. Hopefully we whole-heartedly mean this as we "signify by the uplifted hand" and truly feel comfortable with them in their new position and will do our best to support them in ways they may ask of us, and that when it comes up for us to do so to also offer prayers or other forms of encouragement that might strengthen them. Difficulties can arise at times, however, especially when persons are called to leadership positions that affect our communal lives in sometimes dramatic ways. For many of us, there are high stakes involved when members of bishoprics or various presidencies and other positions of leadership are called. Perhaps this person now tasked to serve in this way is someone we've had past conflicts with, someone who feels too rigid or too . . . (fill in the blank here), or someone whose personal conduct has led us to question the inspiration behind their calling. What should we do then? How can we "sustain" them? Does it mean we have to agree with this person? Obey her or his directives? Be loyal and supportive in all things she or he might ask? Can "sustaining" also mean letting them know of our feelings of discomfort with them or something they are teaching or asking?

With the recent changes in the Church's First Presidency and reassignments within the Council of Twelve Apostles, many persons within the church have had to wrestle fresh with how they might sustain President Nelson and President Oaks, especially, in their new (and more prominent) capacities given certain controversial teachings or programs or policies that have been given or spearheaded by them in the past. At their next temple recommend interview or call during a ward conference for sustaining votes for the church's top leadership, how can those who feel these hesitations about those called act with integrity as they are asked if they sustain them as "prophets, seers, and revelators"? Can they "sustain" them while also speaking up in church meetings or other circles about their disagreements with their ideas or directives?

"Sustaining" is an interesting topic within Mormonism, for sure! Thankfully, four wonderful Latter-day Saints agreed to come on Mormon Matters to talk about many of the complexities of sustaining, supporting, and conscientiously acting with regard to leaders and others with whom we may disagree or not enjoy. Caleb Jones follows up his participation in the previous episode on the new church leadership changes by being on again, and he is joined by the wonderful Claudia Bushman, Jenne Alderks, and Christian Harrison. All contribute terrific insights on the topic at many levels, including their own personal experiences wrestling with "What does it mean, exactly, to sustain?" 

One of Mormonism's most attractive features is the wonderful chance all members are given to both formally and informally "sustain" each other as we play various roles within the community. We officially (and for church records) sustain by the raise of our hand various persons in their callings, but more importantly in that way also pledge on our part to be supportive of this sister or brother as they serve in these capacities. Hopefully we whole-heartedly mean this as we "signify by the uplifted hand" and truly feel comfortable with them in their new position and will do our best to support them in ways they may ask of us, and that when it comes up for us to do so to also offer prayers or other forms of encouragement that might strengthen them. Difficulties can arise at times, however, especially when persons are called to leadership positions that affect our communal lives in sometimes dramatic ways. For many of us, there are high stakes involved when members of bishoprics or various presidencies and other positions of leadership are called. Perhaps this person now tasked to serve in this way is someone we've had past conflicts with, someone who feels too rigid or too . . . (fill in the blank here), or someone whose personal conduct has led us to question the inspiration behind their calling. What should we do then? How can we "sustain" them? Does it mean we have to agree with this person? Obey her or his directives? Be loyal and supportive in all things she or he might ask? Can "sustaining" also mean letting them know of our feelings of discomfort with them or something they are teaching or asking?

With the recent changes in the Church's First Presidency and reassignments within the Council of Twelve Apostles, many persons within the church have had to wrestle fresh with how they might sustain President Nelson and President Oaks, especially, in their new (and more prominent) capacities given certain controversial teachings or programs or policies that have been given or spearheaded by them in the past. At their next temple recommend interview or call during a ward conference for sustaining votes for the church's top leadership, how can those who feel these hesitations about those called act with integrity as they are asked if they sustain them as "prophets, seers, and revelators"? Can they "sustain" them while also speaking up in church meetings or other circles about their disagreements with their ideas or directives?

"Sustaining" is an interesting topic within Mormonism, for sure! Thankfully, four wonderful Latter-day Saints agreed to come on Mormon Matters to talk about many of the complexities of sustaining, supporting, and conscientiously acting with regard to leaders and others with whom we may disagree or not enjoy. Caleb Jones follows up his participation in the previous episode on the new church leadership changes by being on again, and he is joined by the wonderful Claudia Bushman, Jenne Alderks, and Christian Harrison. All contribute terrific insights on the topic at many levels, including their own personal experiences wrestling with "What does it mean, exactly, to sustain?" 

On 14 January 2018, twelve days after the passing of Thomas S. Monson, the long-serving prophet-president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the remaining members of the church's highest quorums met together to set apart a new prophet-president, Russell M. Nelson, and to reorganize the First Presidency. In a move that surprised many, President Nelson selected Dallin H. Oaks as his first counselor and Henry B. Eyring as his second counselor. Eyring had previously been first counselor in the First Presidency under President Monson, and served alongside Dieter F. Uchtdorf as second counselor, who, with this change now moves back into his seniority slot within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which is currently a quorum of ten following president Monson's passing along with that of Elder Robert D. Hales a couple of months before.) Two days after the shuffle in the First Presidency, the three members of the First Presidency, with the apostles in the room but (except for one conducting a meeting) not speaking, appeared in front of television cameras, first within the Salt Lake Temple where each shared prepared remarks, and then thirty or so minutes later where they took part in a press conference.

In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, is joined by good friends and fellow church watchers Walt Wood, Rosalynde Welch, and Caleb Jones in a discussion of this new prophet, First Presidency, and role changes within the Quorum of the Twelve. What are their impressions of the two public events? The changes in assignments? This new leadership in terms of what they said and didn't say in their messaging about what had happened and how the church might move in response to certain areas of concern (as prompted by questions from the press)? The panelists share personal reactions to the news and news conference as well as speak to what they have been hearing among the various church constituencies of which they are a part--most particularly with regard to the reassignment of Elder Uchtdorf and its potential effects on the church, both external and internal. New leadership takes time to get to know, and the panelists share their intentions to be patient and attentive and thoughtful as they hear and sustain these leaders in their new roles. In what resources or impressions are they finding optimism and strength?

On 14 January 2018, twelve days after the passing of Thomas S. Monson, the long-serving prophet-president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the remaining members of the church's highest quorums met together to set apart a new prophet-president, Russell M. Nelson, and to reorganize the First Presidency. In a move that surprised many, President Nelson selected Dallin H. Oaks as his first counselor and Henry B. Eyring as his second counselor. Eyring had previously been first counselor in the First Presidency under President Monson, and served alongside Dieter F. Uchtdorf as second counselor, who, with this change now moves back into his seniority slot within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (which is currently a quorum of ten following president Monson's passing along with that of Elder Robert D. Hales a couple of months before.) Two days after the shuffle in the First Presidency, the three members of the First Presidency, with the apostles in the room but (except for one conducting a meeting) not speaking, appeared in front of television cameras, first within the Salt Lake Temple where each shared prepared remarks, and then thirty or so minutes later where they took part in a press conference.

In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon, is joined by good friends and fellow church watchers Walt Wood, Rosalynde Welch, and Caleb Jones in a discussion of this new prophet, First Presidency, and role changes within the Quorum of the Twelve. What are their impressions of the two public events? The changes in assignments? This new leadership in terms of what they said and didn't say in their messaging about what had happened and how the church might move in response to certain areas of concern (as prompted by questions from the press)? The panelists share personal reactions to the news and news conference as well as speak to what they have been hearing among the various church constituencies of which they are a part--most particularly with regard to the reassignment of Elder Uchtdorf and its potential effects on the church, both external and internal. New leadership takes time to get to know, and the panelists share their intentions to be patient and attentive and thoughtful as they hear and sustain these leaders in their new roles. In what resources or impressions are they finding optimism and strength?