This three-part episode consists of a recording of a live event held Sunday evening, March 24, 2019 in Salt Lake City. It is an interview …
540: Millennial Mormons—Beliefs, Practices, and Authority Structures
In the brilliant and fascinating new book, The Next Mormons: How Millennials Are Changing the LDS Church, Jana Riess, with collaboration from Benjamin Knoll shares …
530: Impressions and Reflections on Changes to LDS Temple Ceremonies
This is a quick turnaround podcast episode that was both recorded and released on the day after LDS temples around the world implemented and offered …
527–528: (Encore) A Christmas Primer: Exploring the Nativity in Scripture, Legend, History, and Hearts
This is an encore presentation of a December 2011 two-part Mormon Matters podcast episode examining the Christmas story as it traditionally gets told—looking closely at …
526: Reigniting My Christmas Fire
In this episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon shares his experiences with the Christmas Nativity stories presented in the New Testament, moving from literal belief, …
525: “Table Manners”: In What Manner Ought We Engage with Others this Holiday Season?
This episode, “Table Manners” is a short reflection by Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon about ways we might interact with others during this season of …
521–524: The Enneagram for Mormons
The Enneagram is a powerful tool for coming to know ourselves and others. Emerging in the mid-twentieth century and refined during the ensuing years, interest …
518: Looking at Joseph Smith through Fresh Eyes
This episode features two wonderful and creative thinkers and religious souls whose lives have been deeply influenced by Joseph Smith. But here is the kicker: …
516–517: Becoming Powerful: Dr. LaShawn Williams on Her Faith Journey and Path to Spiritual Confidence
TW: Brief mentions of sexual assault in this conversation Dr. LaShawn Williams (EdD., LCSW, MPA) is on the faculty at Utah Valley University, where she …
510 – 511: Upcoming General Conference–Rumors, Hopes, Worries, and Preparing Ourselves for Whatever Unfolds
In just over a week after the release of this podcast episode, millions of Latter-day Saints from around the world will gather in person or …
503–504: Reflecting on Major Themes in 500-plus Mormon Matters Episodes
Earlier this month, Mormon Matters released its 500th episode. In this two-part podcast, host Dan Wotherspoon speaks about the show’s evolution, but mostly he re-introduces …
499: Faith Journeying with Matt Jones — Rambunctious Youth to LDS Bishop and Wise Soul
Just two weeks ago, Matt Jones was released as an LDS bishop. How he came to be someone who might be called to that position …
496-497: (Encore) Mormonism As a “Religion”
This is an encore presentation of a two-part Mormon Matters episode first recorded in March 2015. Of course, we all know that Mormonism is a …
488–490: Resurrecting Atonement
The concept of “atonement” is powerful: being “at one” with God, others, and ourselves. But the panelists on this episode, Mark Crego and George Andrew …
487: Exclusivism
This episode wrestles with exclusivist claims in religion, including Mormonism, as well as in our psyches. How does the idea of chosenness, specialness, uniqueness, and …
481–482: Mental and Spiritual Gymnastics: Might Something Deeper Be Going On?
We all have different temperaments, and there are many combinations of elements that affect our spiritual journeys—including how recently we’ve entered into a time of …
477–478: Improving the Way Mormons Discuss Anger
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 …
476: A Healer’s Healing Journey: An Interview with Dr. Julie de Azevedo Hanks
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 …
469: Human Development and Parenting
Understanding human development—its tremendous scope, typical progressions, and reasons for its slowdowns or ways various forms of harm can hinder our growth—has many benefits. Because …
467–468: The Work of Peace in Mormonism and the Religious World: An Interview with Charles Randall Paul
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 …
448: Shadow Practice
This episode is a supplement to the previous two-parter on “sustaining” within Mormonism—which concentrated especially on times when we find ourselves in some sort of …
443: Seeking a Good Death: Spiritual Practice and Framings to Help Us Prepare Now for Our Eventual Deaths
In this follow-up episode to our early December shows titled “Mormons Encountering Death”(MM 430–432), former hospice chaplain and meditation and contemplation teacher Phil McLemore joins …
441–442: Living in (and Growing through) Tension: An Interview with Bill Reel
Bill Reel is widely known within the Mormon podcast world as a fellow traveler on the road many of us have found ourselves on—often quite …
430–432: Mormons Encountering Death
“People tend to die the way they’ve lived.” So say two of the guests from different segments of this podcast. Both Dr. Samuel Brown, a …
424-426: Celebrating the Different Spiritualities in the Two Halves of Life
The four people on this three-part podcast episode love Richard Rohr’s book, Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. If you find …
355: Personal and Spiritual Renewal Following a Difficult Election Season
Many people are feeling beat-up emotionally and spiritually right now on the heels of such a difficult and ugly election season. Regardless of whether “our” preferred candidate …
337: The Next Mormons
Standout Mormon author, scholar, and commentator Jana Riess is working on her next book, which will focus on Mormonism’s “Millennial” generation (those now between ages …
327–328: Explorations in Depth—The Two Lost Sons and Growing in God
This episode departs from the typical Mormon Matters pattern in that it features a conversation with just one guest rather than a panel. But what …
295–296: John Dehlin Interviewed by Dan Wotherspoon about His Beliefs, Spiritual Path, and Upcoming Projects
Co-released with Mormon Stories podcast, this two-part episode features Dan Wotherspoon interviewing Mormon Stories host John Dehlin about his life within Mormonism and role as …
293–294: Dan Wotherspoon Interview by John Dehlin about Helping People Find Rich Spirituality within Mormonism
Co-released with Mormon Stories podcast, this two-part episode features John Dehlin interviewing Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon about his life within Mormonism and role as a …
278: Encountering Other Traditions, Part 2: Roman Catholicism
This episode is the second installment in the Mormon Matters “Encountering Other Traditions” series that explores the fruits that come from bringing Mormonism into dialogue …
262: Gospel Burn-Out
Ever feel worn down, your spiritual life lagging, feeling like all you are doing is going through the motions, and church engagement is feeling more …
260: Introversion and the Mormon Experience
No two individuals are exactly alike, and no schema can fully capture our particular essence or personality. Yet it is sometimes helpful to speak about …
228–229: Mapping LDS Faith Transitions (with help from James Fowler)
Many Mormon Matters listeners find their way to the podcast and other online communities and discussion groups because they recognize that they are experiencing some …
216: Preserving and Strengthening Relationships During Faith Transitions
Most listeners to Mormon Matters, like all seekers, are undergoing a faith transition—hopefully one of continuous deepening into greater richness of experience and peace. Often, …
201: Good Shepherds
My recent call for stories of LDS leaders who through their vision and love and ways of inhabiting their pastoral roles have made a wonderful …
184–185: Hugh Nibley—Part 1: A Fascinating Life
These episodes launch a three-part series on Hugh Nibley (1910–2005), a towering figure in twentieth-century Mormonism who every Latter-day Saint deserves to know better. Most …
151–152: Short Takes—Adventures in Spirit
We are experimenting with a different type of show this time. Instead of diving into a single huge topic, this show features short takes: thoughts, …
149–150: Near-Death Experiences
Near-Death Experiences (NDEs) fascinate. Most share similar features that suggest the existence of a spirit or consciousness separate from the body that can continue to …
144–145: The Kingdom of God is Within You—Believing It, Trusting It, Accessing It
As we mature spiritually and are ready for deeper and more expansive experience, so much that religion focuses on—propositional statements of belief and messaging that …
133–134: LDS Spiritual Supplementing
Studies are showing a huge increase in the number of people who claim hybrid spiritual identities, in which their religious lives include a combination of …
85–86: “Middle Way” Mormonism
For many Mormons, their faith and relationship to the LDS Church has forever changed from what they were growing up. And this is how it …
67–68: The Happiness Puzzle
What seems like something very simple to answer–“What is happiness?” or even, “What makes me happy?”–turns out to be anything but easy. How much do …
64: Mormons and Prayer
Mormons pray . . . a lot! Latter-day Saints are encouraged to have daily (twice or more) personal prayer, family prayer including children (in addition …