One of the most difficult but important things we can do as Mormons who are alerted to the complexities of cultural differences and sacred writings …
206: At Peace with Human Prophets–Personal Journeys
The recent official statement on Race and the Priesthood has highlighted in a fresh way the difficult issue of prophets and apostles who are subject …
204–205: The New Statement on Race and the Priesthood
On 6 December 2013, the LDS Church posted on its website, LDS.org, a new document titled, “Race and the Priesthood,” along with videos and other …
202–203: Genesis, Part 2—The Flood
In this two-part episode, we continue our series on the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible by examining one of scripture’s most difficult stories–God choosing to unleash a …
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 …
199: Untangling Faith, Belief, and the Expectation to “Know”
We think we know what it means to “believe” or to “have faith.” But do we? Has the current ways we use these terms remained …
198: Engaging Mormonism from Outside the Fold
Over the course of its run, Mormon Matters has received emails from non-LDS persons who have become regular listeners to the podcast, as well as …
194–197: Genesis, Part 1—Creation, Garden, Expulsion, Cursing
The texts that Latter-day Saints and other Christians call the Old Testament (differing from scholars, who use Hebrew Bible or Tanakh) is both wonderfully rich …
193: Ordain Women and Renewed Conversations about Priesthood
On 5 October, a group of women (and some male supporters) will, either through tickets granted by LDS leaders (they have petitioned leaders for them) …
192: The Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell spent a lifetime studying myths and stories from around the world, especially the ones that related to life’s biggest questions: Where did everything …
190–191: The Institutional Church and the Individual
Are we made for the Sabbath, or is the Sabbath made for us? Likewise, are we here primarily to serve the Church, or does the …
188–189: Hugh Nibley—Part 3: Prophet of Zion
In this third and final installment of our Hugh Nibley series, we look at Nibley’s powerful, far-ranging, and definitely direct/hard-hitting/deliciously skewering social critiques. Ranging from …
186–187: Hugh Nibley—Part 2: Scholar and Defender of the Faith
These episodes (186 & 187) constitute the second of our three-part series on Hugh Nibley (1910–2005), focusing this time on Nibley as scholar of the …
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 …
182–183: Is Mormonism’s God Worthy of Worship?
Mormonism has a distinctive view of God that differs quite a bit from that of traditional theism. And though we as Latter-day Saints recognize and …
181: Grieving (and Can We Do it Better?)
The death of loved ones and other difficult transitions really shake us up, and it is very natural for us to want and need to …
180: Mormon Missions Take to Facebook!
On Sunday, June 23, 2013, LDS leaders announced changes to the LDS missionary program, with most of the new focus directed to decreasing door-to-door contacting, …
178–179: Tolerance
Tolerance is a tricky virtue. In a list of ways one might interact with others, it’s certainly better than active persecution but falls far short …
176–177: The Adam-God Doctrine: What? When? Still?
When Brigham Young first taught in initial outlines of what is now known as the “Adam-God Doctrine” (or the “Adam-God Theory”—the preferred term by those …
174–175: The Chaplains on . . . Suffering
When we meet someone who is suffering, whether physically or emotionally, we naturally want to be of service to them. Sometimes our fears overcome us, …
172–173: Proactive LDS Parenting
Most Latter-day Saints who are negotiating a faith transition, including developing a new relationship with God and the church in which they were nurtured, naturally …
170–171: Toward Expanding and Improving LDS Discourse about Sexuality
So often in Mormon discourse, the term “virtue” is treated almost exclusively as relating to sexual purity, chastity, and virginity, completely missing its much broader …
166–169: The Couplet (and Teachings about Theosis) in Today’s Mormonism
The 2013 LDS Priesthood and Relief Society manual, Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow, features a lesson, “The Grand Destiny of the Faithful” …
164: New Version of the LDS Scriptures
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has just announced the online release of a new edition of the LDS scriptures, with physical copies …
159–163: An Easter Primer
One of Mormon Matters podcast’s most popular episodes explored Christmas through a close examination of scriptural narratives and traditions related to the Nativity as they …
157–158: C.S. Lewis and Mormonism
C.S. Lewis is a towering twentieth-century figure, known especially as an author of fiction and meditations on Christianity and the work of God in human …
155–156: LDS Military Chaplains
This two-part episode offers a wonderful peek into military chaplaincy, a career unlike any other, and, in particular, experiences of LDS chaplains. Two active duty …
153–154: Integrity with Self and Family: Parents on Sharing Their Faith Transitions with Their Children
This episode continues a series of conversations about parents and children communicating about changes in faith perspectives. Episode 146 featured faithful, committed Latter-day Saint parents …
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 …
147–148: LDS and Pacific Islander Layers of the Manti Te’o Saga
Very little coverage of the story of the cruel hoax perpetrated on Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o has focused on aspects of the Mormon …
146: Relationships First: Mormon Parents Face Their Child’s Faith Transition
In this important episode that affirms love and clear vision, three LDS parents—Jeralee, Jim, and Teri—share their experiences in meeting the challenging situation of an …
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 …
142–143: Process Theology and Mormonism
The term “process theology” refers to a system of thought that emerged in the early twentieth century and is based primarily upon the reflections of …
140–141: A Christmas Primer: Exploring the Nativity in Scripture, Legend, History, and Hearts (Encore Presentation)
This is an encore presentation of a December 2011 podcast episode examining the Christmas story as it traditionally gets told—looking closely at what the scriptures …
139: A Beautiful Vision of Mormonism
This episode was planned to be an exploration of the joys and perils of being a public face of Mormonism, especially as a woman, and …
137–138: Science and Religion
What is science? What is religion? What are the methods/disciplines and underlying assumptions that animate each? What does each investigate? What practices and institutions does …
135–136: Racism and the Book of Mormon
This episode examines the status of the claim that the Book of Mormon teaches that dark skin is a curse from God, that because of …
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 …
131–132: The Word of Wisdom
The Word of Wisdom has been in the news again, triggered by a claim about caffeine made on a network news show, which led to …
129–130: New Missionary Age
The LDS Church recently announced changes in the ages that young men and women can now serve missions. Will this announcement usher in a new …
Matters of the Heart 3: A New Story for Mormon Women
A NEW STORY FOR MORMON WOMEN By Joanna Brooks In this episode of Matters of the Heart, Joanna Brooks reads an excerpted version of her …
128: The One True Church
One of the most difficult things for many who have begun to think deeply about religion—their own as well as others and the relationship between …
127: Grace
Grace is one of the central concepts in all of Christianity, yet also one of its most contested. What is it? How does it work? …
125–126: Mormonism and Politics: Historical Perspectives
Too often today’s political discourse reduces politics to partisanship, whether one affiliates with this or that political party. It’s a much broader topic, however, encompassing …
Matters of Perspective 2: The Sacred Secret Open to All: Ye Are Gods
In this second episode of the “Matters of Perspective” series, Charles Randall Paul reads his May 2009 Sunstone article, “The Sacred Secret Open to All: …
123–124: Emergence Christianity and Mormonism
It goes without saying that religion is intricately entwined with culture. And since this is so, when we find that the various ways of thinking …
122: Challenges in Making Church “Work” For Everyone
In this episode, sociologist Jim Smithson talks of the LDS Church and all of its programs and organizational systems as a vehicle for delivering the …
119–121: The Problem of Evil and Suffering
One of the most prominent and difficult issues in philosophy of religion addresses the dilemma that arises when one asserts the existence of an all-powerful …
117–118: Truth in Revelation and Scripture
What does it mean to still claim that scripture is “true” or “inspired” when we fully recognize that much of it is fictional (parable, allegory, …
114–116: Brazilian Mormonism
This three-part episode features a wonderful discussion about some of the peculiarities about the LDS Mormon experience inBrazil, as well as the many ways that …
113: Mormonism and Environmentalism
How “green” is Mormonism? What is holding the tradition and culture back from becoming more environmentally sensitive—or even overtly activist? What theological and practical resources …
112: Imagining New Ways to Think and Teach about Mormon Pioneers
On the verge of another Pioneer Day (July 24th), this one marking the 165th anniversary of the first Mormon pioneer wagon train reaching the Salt Lake …
111: Healthy Approaches to Supporting LGBT Latter-day Saints and Family Members
This podcast episode is timed to coincide with recent activism among many faithful straight, gay, and allied Latter-day Saints who marched and will march in …
110: Abuse and the Forgiveness Dilemma
The April 2012 General Conference featured a terrific talk by President Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” that reinforces the importance of being forgiving and non-judgmental. …
107–109: LDS Salvation Theology and Practices
“Am I saved?” “Is this idea or that practice ‘pertinent to my salvation’?” Many Mormons and other Christians focus quite a lot of energy on …
105–106: Mormon “Doctrine” and Other Fuzzy Things
Are there statements about God, humans, the universe, and any other thing that a Latter-day Saint “must” believe to be considered a “Mormon”? And, if …
104: Growing Up Mormon—and Fearless
The three guests in this Mormon Matters episode grew up in faithful, committed Mormon homes. In important ways, however, these panelists’ homes were different than …
102–103: Pragmatism, William James, and Mormon Sensibilities
Pragmatism is the name of a philosophical approach for judging between competing truth claims. It essentially says that if you are presented with two ideas …
100–101: Mormon Missions
This two-part episode focuses on the unique experience of Mormon missions–their wonderful, powerful, light aspects, as well as those elements that can lead things to …
98–99: “Middle Way” Mormonism and Women
Mormon Matters episodes 85–86 featured a panel consisting of four men discussing “Middle Way Mormonism,” a term that has been gaining traction as a way …
96–97: Mormonism and Its History—Past, Present, and Future
Every religion has many dilemmas when it comes to its history. How does a group incorporate the idea of a God or Universal force or …
94–95: Suicide
Suicide affects all of us, and involves so many devastating emotions. Grief (as one of the panelists refers to it, a very “complicated” form of …
92–93: Can Mormon Theology Affirm Homosexual Relationships Now and in the Eternities?
Like many other religious traditions today, Mormonism is wrestling with questions raised by homosexuality. And while both LDS rhetoric and many members’ affirmation of homosexuals …
91: Cleanflix and What Its Story Reveals about Mormon Culture
The documentary film Cleanflix tells the story of the dramatic rise and fall of businesses (based primarily in Utah) that rented and sold versions of …
89–90: Latter-day Saint “Mid-Singles” Experience
The LDS Church recently restructured its “singles” wards, effectively shutting them off to unmarried people who are 31 years old or above. In many ways, …
87–88: Pacific Island Mormon Identities
This two-part episode features a fascinating, dynamic, and soaring discussion that takes us into the experiences, cultures, and elements of the worldviews of Latter-day Saints …
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 …
Matters of the Heart 2: On “Masturbatory Rage”: A Theatrical Call to Repentance
ON “MASTURBATORY RAGE”: A THEATRICAL CALL TO REPENTANCE By Allan Davis In this episode of Matters of the Heart, Allan Davis shares a short meditation …
83-84: Creating Spaces for Non-Traditional Latter-day Saints
This episode explores both the difficulties of creating more comfortable spaces for unorthodox Mormons in wards, stakes, and families, as well as the benefits. What …
81-82: Mormonism and Transhumanism
Technological advancements in recent decades have drastically altered human experience, with computing power and many other technologies growing at exponential rates. Our lives will continue …
79-80: How Can We Truly Confront Racism within Mormon Thought and Culture?
A recent Washington Post article that discussed the origins and history of Mormonism’s racialized teachings and policies has caused quite a stir, launching important conversations. …
77-78: Recognizing “the Spirit”
Most of us were raised with the idea that even amidst all of life’s confusion, if we live in a certain way and follow clear …
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