Launching December 2011, “Matters of the Heart” is a series of short audio essays and reflective stories produced and shared in reaction to Mormon Matters podcast episodes or topics. If something in a segment has captured your imagination and you would like explore your reactions more deeply through writing or by preparing to share it with others in audio format, please go for it! Please create your own audio files in mp3 or some other standard audio format and submit them for consideration to Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon at mormonmatters@gmail.com. Write also if you’d like Dan to make editing suggestions ahead of time. Dan is also willing to assist you in recording your reflection through Skype (the method used to Mormon Matters episodes).
“Matters of the Heart” segments should be no more than 18 minutes in length (blatantly stealing that length from the TED format!) and well-written and/or practiced ahead of the recording session in order to give the messages included their best chance to make an impact.
“Matters of the Heart” content should, above all, have constructive intent. Just as with Mormon Matters podcast, no topic related to Mormon experience or thought is off limits, but “Matters of the Heart” reflections should aspire to that name. If you’re sharing about events that led to your coming to certain insights in your personal life or worldview, be sure to have your reflection make clear your intention to build others up. If you deal with something painful or difficult, share something of your peace–or at least where you sense it lies ahead–about it. Even if your journey has led you to no longer feel like you can associate formally with the Mormon church, share why you understand that this is the right choice for you while still honoring different choices others who have different temperaments or life stories might make.
We very much look forward to having your “voice” be part of Mormon Matters in this new way!