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 …
539: Moving Beyond Toxic “Outrage”
This episode was conceived as a supplement to the previous one, the two-parter 537–538: Being “Good and Mad” within Mormonism, featuring Kristine Haglund. It certainly …
537–538: Being “Good and Mad” within Mormonism
In this two-part episode, a conversation between Kristine Haglund and host Dan Wotherspoon, Kristine shares insights and distillations from various sources and her own thinking …
536: God, Evil, Faith
The classic theological puzzle known as the “problem of evil” arises when we assert the existence of an all-powerful God who is also perfectly loving, …
534–535: “The Covenant Path”: Reflections and Extensions
No term to date has been more associated with the leadership tenure of President Russell M. Nelson than “Covenant Path.” It’s become ubiquitous in his …
532–533: What Is the “Good News” Jesus Taught?
As they begin to experience shifts of faith, many Latter-day Saints and others within the Christian tradition come to think of Jesus Christ differently than …
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 …
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 …
519–520: (Encore) The Living Nature of Mormon Covenants
This is an encore presentation of an important and still very relevant two-part episode first released on 24 April 2017. Covenanting is a huge feature …
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 …
514 –515: Thoughts on the October 2018 General Conference
The October 2018 General Conference has just ended, but certainly not the discussion of it! Not for many, many months in our wards, stakes, and …
512–513: Wrestling with the Obedience vs Conscience Dilemma
We’ve all heard statements such as, “Obedience is the first law of heaven.” We’ve also been charged to seek our own light and revelation on …
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 …
508–509: The LDS Church’s New Official History Volume, Saints: The Standard of Truth
Just two weeks ago, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the first volume of its long-awaited history of the church series, Saints: …
506 –507: What Do Latter-day Saints Consider Authoritative?: Wrestling with Scripture, Prophetic Utterance, Personal Conscience, and an Expanding and Changing Canon
At this moment, with the 2018 October General Conference just weeks away, many Latter-day Saints are—consciously and unconsciously—going through in their minds and hearts how …
505: The Heart and Depth of Father Tom Roberts: How the Things He Sees, Studies, and Shares Might Prove a Great Boon for Many Latter-day Saints
No one who has appeared on Mormon Matters has a more interesting, diverse, and ecumenical religious journey than Father Tom Roberts—one that also includes Mormonism from …
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 …
502: The New Push to Use the Church’s Official Name: An “Impression” Becomes an “Official Statement”— But What about “Implementation”?
On 16 August 2018, the Newsroom website for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an official statement that set off a significant …
501: Centering in God: Experiences and Insights from the Living School for Action and Contemplation
This episode features reflections on a wonderful experience the two panelists and I shared this past week in Albuquerque, NM. All three of us—Jana Spangler, …
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 …
498: Mormon Difference Makers
This episode arrives on the heels of the release of a marvelous short video, “Do Better, which features LGBT+ Latter-day Saints and allies sharing reflections …
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 …
494–495: “What Do We Do with All This?”: Sunstone and Today’s Uncorrelated Mormon Discussions
Most Mormon Matters listeners are, as consumers of LDS-related websites, blogs, podcasts, Reddits, Facebook groups, and other social media platforms, enmeshed in the world of …
492–493: Women’s Ordination and Congregational Leadership: Exploring New Research
On July 2nd, a terrific new book was released by Oxford University Press: She Preached the Word: Women’s Ordination in Modern America. Co-authored by Benjamin R. …
491: Mormonism and Depression, Suicide, and Medication: A Larger Context
In recent years, Mormonism has been doing much better when talking about depression and mental health struggles, helping destigmatize them and encouraging its members to …
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 …
485–486: An Open-Hearted Wrestle with Temples, Tithing, and Other Church and Personal Priorities
Every time a new temple is announced, especially when it is to be built in the developing world, it’s not very long before discussions begin …
484: Robert Kirby: Mormonism’s Lampoonist Extraordinaire
Were there an official calling within Mormonism of “Church and Culture Lampoonist” (and there should be!), Robert Kirby would be magnifying the heck out of …
483: The Prayer Wheel: “An Early Christian Handheld Device”
At Mormon Matters we will occasionally focus on the importance of sticking with (though often with changed forms) spiritual practices even while in the midst …
479–480: (Encore) Mormon Views on Satan and the Origins of Evil
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 …
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 …
475: “Revelation” and “The Will of the Lord”: Changing Rhetoric and Its Effects in Today’s Mormonism
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, …
473–474: First Reactions to the April 2018 General Conference and Its Big Announcements
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 …
471–472: Reflections on the Recently Revealed MTC Sexual Abuse Cases
Within the past ten days, Mormonism has been rocked by a recoding and transcript released through MormonLeaks that depicts the confessions of a former president …
470: Mormon Matters Events and Holy Week Resources
This very short episode features several announcements about an upcoming Mormon Matters one-day workshop that Dan Wotherspoon and Jana Spangler will be leading, as well …
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 …
465 –466: Deeper Readings of Misunderstood and Under-Appreciated Scriptures
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 …
464: Protecting Ourselves and Loved Ones in Ecclesiastical Situations
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 …
462–463: Lessons From the Historical Jesus
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 …
449–461: (Encore Releases) The Old Testament—Teaching and Study Resources
Links to the remaining episodes below _________ These episodes are encore releases of seven different Mormon Matters podcast shows from the last time the LDS …
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 …
446–447: What Does it Mean to “Sustain” Our Leaders and Fellow Church Members?
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 …
444–445: A New LDS First Presidency
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, …
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 …
436–437: New Temple Baptisms Announcements
On 14 December 2017, a new directive from the First Presidency was released outlining changes to certain things related to youth performing baptisms for the …
433–435: Revelation
Mormonism hangs its hat, so to speak, on the reality of revelation. It claims that God the Father and Jesus Christ visited a teenage boy …
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 …
428–429: Restoring a Lost Jesus and Beautiful Vision of God’s Work and Glory
Fiona Givens‘ and Terryl Givens‘ most recent book, The Christ Who Heals: How God Restored the Truth That Saves Us, is remarkable. But it’s not because very …
427: (Encore) “Living” Stories
This is an encore presentation of a fantastic May 2014 episode by the same name. In it, philosopher-theologian Adam Miller and narrative studies specialist Stephen Carter join Mormon Matters …
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 …
421–423: Examining Mormon Apologetics, Neo-Apologetics, and Informational Obligations to Church Members and Investigators
In this, the second installment in a series of co-hosted and co-released shows related to Mormon Apologetics, Mormon Matters and Mormon Stories hosts Dan Wotherspoon …
418–419: Exploring the Messages in and Responses to Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s Recent General Conference Talk
During the recent October 2017 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Council of Twelve …
416–417: Assessing the History and Value of Mormon Apologetics
Doing “apologetics,” which means to “speak in defense,” has been a longstanding tradition within Christianity, including Mormonism. Some forms of apologetics are often labeled “negative,” …
415: “That We May Be One”: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family
In his new book, That We May Be One: A Gay Mormon’s Perspective on Faith and Family (Published by Deseret Book), Tom Christofferson shares his story …
414: (Encore) Engaging Constructively with General Conference
The October 2017 General Conference season is upon us. Having started last weekend with the Women’s session, it continues September 30th and October 1st with four general …
413: The New Plan for Relief Society and Adult Priesthood Meetings
On 25 August, the Church announced a new plan for Relief Society and Priesthood meetings to begin January 2018. Instead of focusing two weeks each …
410–411: (Encore) Theologies of Nature: Mormon Resources for Thinking about Natural Disasters
This is an encore presentation of a podcast conversation we had in April 2011 on the heels of the then-recent Japanese earthquakes and tsunamis. With …
407-409: The Wilderness of Faith
This three-part episode features Kim Puzey and Lisa Scott, two brilliant and insightful people who are deeply familiar with both wilderness living and faith journeying. Drawing on their backgrounds as …
403–406: Revelations of Joseph Smith and Others: A Naturalistic Hypothesis
In her very important new book, Revelatory Events: Three Case Studies of the Emergence of New Spiritual Paths, historian and religion scholar Ann Taves offers a naturalistic framing for …
401–402: The Uncontrolling Love of God—Talking Theology and Community, and Meeting a Fellow Traveler in Thomas Jay Oord
This two-part episode features a wonderful conversation with Thomas Jay Oord, an author, teacher, theologian, and elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Jim McLachlan …
400: “Yep, We’re Fringe . . . and So Are You!”— Rejecting Toxic “Acceptability” Scripts Sunstone Style!
The 2017 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium convenes in two weeks (July 26–29), and this episode introduces some of its highlights. But far more than just …
398–399: Staying Actively Engaged in Mormonism
This two-part episode is a co-release with the Mormon Stories Podcast. It is a discussion that took place on 29 June 2017 in front of …
396–397: Spiritual Journeys Outside of Mormonism
This episode features two wonderful teachers, pastors, scholars, and clergy from non-Mormon faith traditions sharing their own spiritual journeys and the ways that God has …
393–394: Does “Certainty” Hinder Living Faith?
Living faith is a growing faith. It is faith in a living God. It is trust in a trustworthy being (or beings). It is striving …
390–392: Mormon Women Gaining Spiritual Confidence within a Patriarchal Church
The title of this three-part episode says quite a bit about it. Several weeks ago, Mormon Matters released a conversation, “Gaining Spiritual Confidence,” featuring three men sharing …
388–389: Our Brains and Faith
Our faith lives, including how we orient toward the world, God/Spirit (or whatever we consider the highest center(s) of value and power), and ourselves, are …
387: LDS Church Changes to Its Scouting Program
On May 11, 2017, the LDS Church announced it is dropping Varsity and Venturer Scouts as the primary program for its U.S. and Canadian young …
386: Announcing a July 2017 Mormon Matters Retreat!
A MORMON MATTERS RETREAT! “Understanding and Navigating Healthy Perspectives and Journeys within Mormonism” Led by Dan Wotherspoon, Ph.D. Natasha Helfer Parker, LCMFT, CST, Marty Erickson, …
384–385: Gaining Spiritual Confidence
All religions point adherents toward gaining knowledge and insights for themselves through their own spiritual dives. Religious cultures, however, often (overtly but more often subtly) …
382–383: The Living Nature of Mormon Covenants
Covenanting is a huge feature of Mormon theology and group life. Beginning at age eight with baptism, and extending through the temple endowment and sealing …
379–380: Effective Teaching in the Church
Mormonism provides numerous opportunities for us to teach each other. But, as we know, many times our Sunday classes fall short of being wonderful, too …
378: Engaging Constructively with General Conference
The April 2017 General Conference season is upon us. Having started last weekend on March 25th with the Women’s session, it continues April 1st and …
372: Jesus’ Abba: The God Who Has Not Failed
John B. Cobb is one of the world’s most renowned theologians and philosophers, noted especially for his Christological pluralism and work across many disciplines, and …
371: New Perspectives on Joseph Smith and Translation
As Richard Bushman mentions in this podcast episode, one of the very first things Joseph Smith did in announcing himself to the world was to …
369–370: Helping Children Plant Lasting Seeds of Faith
Every person is different, and this is completely true with children, as well. Often we as parents will assume our children are picking up ideas, …
367–368: Faith within a Mormonism that Points Beyond Itself
We all sort of “know” but still very often forget that God and religious and spiritual truths are couched in symbols, language, propositions, metaphors, stories, …
365: More on the Mormon God (with help from Process Theology)
In somewhat of a continuation of our previous episodes (363 & 364), Jim McLachlan and Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon are joined by David Ray Griffin, a world-renowned philosopher and theologian …
363–364: Mormonism’s Wonderful, Vulnerable God
For many who find themselves in the middle of a faith crisis, casting about for new footing and ways of orienting to life and others, …
362: Taking Jesus Seriously
Meet in this podcast two wonderful, active Latter-day Saints who are “alive in Christ,” Jesus focused, and modeling in their wards and circles a robust faith in …
361: Joy Amidst Sadness: Kim Puzey’s Journey to Peace
This episode continues a conversation with one of the panelists from the previous installment, Kim B Puzey. Picking up where we left off in his life …
360: Faith and Doubt: Balancing Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Doubting our long-held views of the world, especially if firm faith positions are part of it, is a high stakes matter. Not only do enter …
358–359: Improving Our Conversations about Important and Emotional Topics
How many times have we inadvertently offended a person or group of persons because we simply aren’t thinking about how the things we say might …
356–357: (Encore) A Christmas Primer: Exploring the Nativity in Scripture, Legend, History, and Hearts
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 …
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 …
353–354: Championing the “Addiction” Paradigm with Regard to Pornography/Sex Addiction
This two-part episode is a response to a panel of therapists and a neuroscientist who in an earlier episode (347–348) challenge the idea that pornography …
351-352: “The Policy”—One Year Later
On Thursday afternoon, November 5th, 2015, a leak of new directives regarding LGBT Latter-day Saints was made public, kicking off a tumultuous year within many Mormon …
Announcing a New Survey about LDS LGBT Policies
Let your views be heard about current LDS policies and teachings about LGBT persons and issues! Two social psychologists, Michael Nielsen and David Wulff, have …
350: The LDS Church’s New Mormon and Gay Website
On October 25, 2016, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a new website, “Mormon and Gay” (www.mormonandgay.lds.org) an update of its previous site …
347-348: Challenging the “Addiction” Paradigm with Regard to Pornography
The past two weeks featured two opposing Op-Eds in the Salt Lake Tribune (here and here) focusing on the issue of pornography, and especially if an “addiction” …
346: Intimacy in Mormon Marriages
Mormon theology, including temple covenants, along with pulpit and lesson rhetoric and cultural and community discourse place a strong emphasis on the family. It also …
345: Dialogue at Fifty!–Part 2: Present and Future
We are excited to continue our celebration of the 50thanniversary of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought through a conversation with its current editor, Boyd …
344: Dialogue at Fifty!—Part 1: History
Something wonderful with long-lasting effect on Mormonism began in 1966 with the publication of the inaugural issue of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Beginning …
343: An Exciting Approach to Scripture
A new book edited by Julie M. Smith, As Iron Sharpens Iron: Listening to the Various Voices of Scripture, does something wonderful. It takes something we …
342: Mormon Women’s Position and Organization Names and Titles
The Summer 2016 edition of the online journal SquareTwo features the results and a discussion of a recent poll of Mormon women about the ways …
341: Teachings about War in the Book of Mormon
As the LDS Sunday School Gospel Doctrine curriculum turns in coming weeks to the later chapters of the book of Alma and the stories they …
339-340: Mercy and the Atonement
This episode (in two parts) is a continuation of an earlier discussion of Mercy (Episode 332, March 2016) but also very different, focusing this time …
338: Mormons and Humor
Are Mormons funny? Do we Mormons have a good sense of humor—in general, or, more importantly, when it focuses on ourselves? In introducing Mormonism to those …
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 …
336: The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy
In this episode, author Carol Lynn Pearson joins Mormon Matters host, Dan Wotherspoon, for a one-on-one conversation about her new and extremely powerful book, The …
333: Mormonism and Future Generations
In a wonderful new book, Future Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology, Adam Miller sets his spirit and intellect loose on the important task of helping clear …
332: Mercy
Mercy is a fundamental tenet of the Christian gospel and its descriptions of the attributes of God, and it certainly is a topic familiar to …
331: Reflections on Two Recent Talks and the Online Reactions They Generated
Excerpts from two talks by prominent General Authorities (one by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and the other by Elder Richard J. Maynes) have in the …
330: Mormonism’s Jesus
John G. Turner’s recent book, The Mormon Jesus: A Biography (Harvard University Press, 2016) presents a wonderful overview of the various ways Mormon scripture, leaders, …
329: Addiction and Recovery Series—Part 4: Being an Addict and Mormon
This episode, the fourth in the Mormon Matters series on Addiction and Recovery, features the stories and insights of two wonderful people, James Cottrell and …
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 …
326: Addiction and Recovery Series—Part 3: One Family’s Story of Overcoming Pornography Addiction and Its Negative Effects
This episode, the third in our Mormon Matters Addiction and Recovery series, features another hopeful story, though it takes us through some very dark times …
325: Addiction and Recovery Series—Part 2: Effects on an Addict’s Family
This episode contains a hopeful story, though one difficult to hear in all of its details. Ultimately the marriage of Christian and Kelle Smith has …
323–324: New/Old Wisdom from Mormonism and Other Traditions for Facing the End of the World
Charles Shiro Inouye has just written a fantastic book, The End of the World, Plan B: A Guide for the Future (Greg Kofford Books, 2016). …
322: How Does Apocalyptic Thinking Factor into the Recent LGBT Policy Change and Reactions to It?
In the three months since the Church announced its new policy regarding LGBT persons and their children, we seem to increasingly encounter talk among LDS …
320–321: Addiction and Recovery—Part 1: Personal, Family, and Spiritual Dynamics
In this two-part episode, the first in a Mormon Matters podcast series on the many dynamics of addiction and the processes of recovery, often including …
319: Is There Good News for Faith in Today’s Mormon Crises?—Part 2
This episode is the second part of a co-released (with Gina Colvin and A Thoughtful Faith podcast) podcast discussion with Patrick Mason and Boyd Petersen …
318: Are There Fresh and Productive Ways to View the New LGBT Policy/Revelation?
For many of us, the discovery and confirmation in early November 2015 of a new Church policy regarding LGBT couples and their children have led …
317: Is There Good News for Faith in Today’s Mormon Crises?—Part 1
In his recent book, Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt, Patrick Q. Mason offers an optimistic vision for the future of Mormonism, …
316: Reflections on the New Mormon Gender Survey
A long-awaited survey of LDS attitudes toward gender relationships and women’s ordination has begun to yield intriguing snapshots of just where we are within Mormonism …
314–315: Sex-positivity in Mormonism
Mormonism, like most religions, has many teachings about sex and intimacy. But, like everything else, teachings interact with persons, each with her or his own …
312–313: The Positive Spiritual Effects of Disenchantment and Demythologizing
Throughout our life cycle, we are all called to reexamine the truths, values, beliefs, and stories that suggest key purposes for living and give meaning …
310–311: Making Sense of the Research on Homosexuality—Parts 3 & 4: Social and Psychological Factors
With the renewed conversation in Mormonism about homosexuality initiated by the November 6th policy changes, it has become clear that many Latter-day Saints have never …
308–309: Making Sense of the Research on Homosexuality—Parts 1 & 2: Biological Factors
With the renewed conversation in Mormonism about homosexuality initiated by the November 6th policy changes, it has become clear that many Latter-day Saints have never …
307: Church Handbook Change Regarding LGBT Men and Women and their Children. Part 3—“Yes, and . . .” Activism and Renewal in a Tragic World
We all recognize that there is a significant distance between the “real” world we live in and the “ideal” one we’d love to see instantiated. …
306: Church Handbook Change Regarding LGBT Men and Women and their Children. Part 2—Why? Why Now? Analyses and Possibilities
In this second episode examining the new policies regarding LGBT women and men and children, Brad Kramer, Nancy Ross, and Rob Vox join Mormon Matters …
305: Church Handbook Change Regarding LGBT Men and Women and their Children. Part 1—Thoughts on How to Move Forward with Faith and Hope
On Thursday, November 5th, we learned of several new additions to the Church Handbook of Instructions, Volume 1, which guides members of stake presidencies and …
304: Mormon History and Lying
On October 21st, Brian Whitney wrote a post for the “Worlds Without End” blog in which he offers a contextual framing of LDS Church history …
Matters of Perspective 4: “What the Church Means to People Like Me”
This classic sermon by former BYU history professor Richard D. Poll, read here for Matters of Perspective by Curt Bench, introduces themetaphors of “Iron Rod” …
Matters of Perspective 3: “Why the Church Is As True As the Gospel”
This essay by Eugene England, read here for Matters of Perspective by his son, Mark England, articulates better than any other writing a strongcase for …
303: Why Is This All So Hard?
Faith journeys are insanely difficult. Why? In this episode, Lindsay Hansen Park, Jon Grimes, Brian Whitney, and Emily Grover join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon …
301–302: Doubt and Faith as Discussed in the October 2015 General Conference
Four talks in the October 2015 General Conference focused, at least to a significant degree, on the issues of doubt and faith, and also chose …
299–300: Being Wrong (in a Church and Culture that Emphasizes Being Right)
In this two-part episode, Brian Dillman, Julienna Viegas-Haws, and Anna Smith join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon in a discussion about “being wrong!” Or make …
297–298: The State of Public History in Today’s Mormonism
In this two-part episode, Lindsay Hansen Park, Brian Whitney, and Jon Grimes join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of how Mormon history …
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 …
292: The Landscape of Mormon Theology: Terryl Givens at the Rockwell Museum
On 7 March 2015, Terryl Givens gave a wonderful lecture and was interviewed at the Rockwell Museum in Corning, New York. The occasion was a …
290–291: Past, Present, and Possible Futures of Mormon Studies
The academic study of religion has been around for a long time. And although there are many examples of books and articles that have used …
289: The Gift of the Holy Ghost
This episode on the gift of the Holy Ghost is the fourth in a series discussing what the Articles of Faith refer to as the …
287–288: Joseph Smith’s Use of a Seer Stone in Bringing Forth the Book of Mormon
On Tuesday, August 4th, the LDS Church in conjunction with the Community of Christ held a press conference announcing the newest volume in the ongoing …
286: Sunstone 2015
Sunstone is a unique organization within the Mormon intellectual world. For more than forty years it has published a magazine and annually convened symposiums of …
284–285: Worthiness
“Worthiness” is a word that pops up quite often in LDS circles. It is as prominent as it is primarily because it is invoked when …
283: Being an Ally
Every group that struggles for greater voice, rights, and fairness welcomes and draws strength from “allies,” people who are not a member of that group yet …
282: Baptism
What seem to be very simple rituals and teachings become, under sustained reflection and a reflective spiritual walk, immensely rich. This is the case with this …
281: LDS Film: Present, Future, Roles, Tensions
This episode features a fantastic conversation on film and the many roles it plays in human lives and communities, especially religious ones. Along the way …
279–280: Mutual Respect: Creating Healthy Relationships When Loved Ones Choose a Different Faith Path
For more than a decade, Chelsea Shields Strayer and her parents, Eric and Heidi Shields, have held very difficult but ultimately fruitful conversations regarding her …
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 …
277: Does Powerful Faith Require Scriptural Literalism?
In speaking at the April 2015 General Conference about the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland boldly stated that “the simple …
276: Being Heard in Today’s Church
At the April 2015 General Conference, several church members took the unusual step of voicing opposition during the sustaining of the First Presidency and Quorum …
274–275: Beyond Belief and Unbelief
We bring our faith crises to word most often through expressions about our no longer “believing” this or that teaching. We’ve been confronted with evidence …
273: The Passion (Final Week of Jesus’s Life)
On 29 March 2015, the Christian world will celebrate Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem for what turned out to be the final …
272: Paul’s Theology of Grace
The Apostle Paul’s theology can be difficult to grasp–and, in a few ways, especially so for Mormons. Some challenges arise from Latter-day Saints’ primary use …
271: Speaking with Loved Ones about Faith Differences
In this episode, co-released with Mormon Stories, Wendy Williams Montgomery, John Dehlin, and Dan Wotherspoon speak about the difficult dynamics at play in discussing with …
270: “Yes, and . . .”: Activism and Renewal in a Tragic World
We all recognize that there is a significant distance between the “real” world we live in and the “ideal” one we’d love to see instantiated. …
269: The Effects of Excommunication on All of Us: Healing Perspectives
This week’s excommunication from the LDS Church of John Dehlin, and its making fresher the memory of Kate Kelly’s excommunication last summer as well as …
267–268: The Gospels
In this two-part Mormon Matters episode, Taylor Petrey and Eric Huntsman join host Dan Wotherspoon to help ground the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and …
265–266: Mormonism as a “Religion”
Of course Mormonism is a religion. But do we always think about it through the lenses of such a big and diverse category? Among those …
263–264: Ordinances
In the Doctrine and Covenants, we read that it is through ordinances that “the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:20). There are many ways …
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 …
261: Faith and Repentance
Because they come up so often in gospel lessons and are indeed the “first principles” of the gospel (Article of Faith 4), we might think …
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 …
258: Question 7
In the LDS temple recommend interview, Question 7 reads: “Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices …
257: Negotiating Adult Faith within a Developing Institution
Just as many theorists understand individual human maturation through developmental stages, a great deal of literature suggests that institutions (churches, corporations, governments) as well as …
256: The Church’s New Articles on Plural Marriage
The LDS Church has just released via its website, LDS.org, several new essays under the heading “Plural Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of …
255: New Church Video on LDS Temple Clothing and Garments
Through its Newsroom website, the LDS Church recently released a new video and essay that depicts Mormonism’s sacred temple clothing, along with the garments worn …
254: Meet the Mormons–Is It Signaling a Shift in Mormon Identity?
Meet the Mormons was filmed for use in LDS visitor centers, but in a surprising move it was released in U.S. theaters on October 10th, …
253: Supporting Missionary Work During or After a Faith Transition
The importance of actively participating in sharing the gospel is a prominent topic in contemporary Mormonism. For youth, there are big pushes to prepare for …
251-252: Mormonism’s Apostasy Narrative
No story differentiates Mormonism from other Christian traditions more than its claim to be the restoration of the church Jesus Christ set up while on …
249–250: Being Authentic within Mormonism
Mormonism is a powerful tradition, presenting a worldview and truth claims that are extremely potent, but also creating a culture that can be, for many …
248: Approaching Scriptural Texts with Fresh Eyes
Scripture is not its own genre. Some scriptural texts are letters, some are songs or descriptions of rituals and liturgies, some poetry. Many sections are …
247: The “Best Thing” About Mormonism—2
This episode features four one-on-one conversations between Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon and wonderful friends of his—Jeff Krey, Chelsi Archibald, Jim Smithson, and Becky Linford—who he asked …
244–246: Genesis, Part 6—Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and the Transformation of Jacob
In this episode, the Mormon Matters “Genesis Team”—David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid—join host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of Genesis 24–33, which focus …
239–243: Jesus Christ within Mormonism
We Latter-day Saints “talk of Christ . . . rejoice in Christ . . . preach of Christ . . . prophesy of Christ . …
237–238: Hope and Healing in the Face of LDS Current Events
As we in the LDS Bloggernacle continue to process and strive for healing and renewed hope during this time of unease and pain caused by …
236: Encountering Other Traditions, Part 1: Freemasonry
Mormon Matters is launching a new series that focuses on Latter-day Saints who, in addition to their Mormonism, are intimately familiar with another religion or …
235: Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists, Part 5
June 11 brought news that Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, and John Dehlin, prominent public LDS voice through Mormon Stories and other podcasts andvenues, …
234: Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists, Part 4
June 11 brought news that Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, and John Dehlin, prominent public LDS voice through Mormon Stories and other podcasts and …
233: Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists, Part 3
June 11 brought news that Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, and John Dehlin, prominent public LDS voice through Mormon Stories and other podcasts and …
232: Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists, Part 2
June 11 brought news that Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, and John Dehlin, prominent public LDS voice through Mormon Stories and other podcasts and …
231: Perspectives on News of Possible Excommunications of LDS Activists, Part 1
June 11 brought news that Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, and John Dehlin, prominent public LDS voice through Mormon Stories and other podcasts and …
230: The Mormon God
Mormons have several quite distinctive views of God, but do most Mormons realize it? In almost every theological area, ranging from the nature of God …
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 …
227: “Living” Stories
In this episode, philosopher-theologian Adam Miller and narrative studies specialist Stephen Carter join Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon to explore the many and varied ways …
226: The “Best Thing” About Mormonism
This episode strays from Mormon Matters’ typical panel discussion format, featuring instead four one-on-one conversations between host Dan Wotherspoon and wonderful friends of his who …
225: Wrestling with Prophets and Scripture
Among the most important and difficult wrestles in a faith transition are the struggles to move into new, better nuanced, and richer understandings of previously …
224: Genesis, Part 5—Entertaining Angels; Sodom and Gomorrah
In this episode, the Mormon Matters “Genesis Team”–David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid–join host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of Genesis 18 and 19, …
222–223: Becoming Like God
The most recent entry in the Gospel Topics series at lds.org, “Becoming Like God,” represents the LDS church’s newest attempt to help clarify (for members, …
217–221: (Encore) An Easter Primer
Encore presentation of a great discussion of all things Easter first released 12 March 2013. With a forty-day Lenten season that flows to a conclusion …
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, …
215: Mormonism’s Modesty and Sexuality Discourse
The cover of the March 2014 Ensign highlights an article, “The Lord’s Standard of Morality” by Elder Tad R. Callister, that has been the subject …
212: A Fresh Look at Mitt Romney
Beginning shortly after the close of his 2012 presidential bid, Mitt Romney has kept a pretty low profile. However, the recent Sundance Film Festival has …
211: Genesis, Part 4—Abraham
In this episode, members of the Mormon Matters “Genesis Team”—David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid—discuss and give textual and theological analyses of the Genesis …
210: Genesis, Part 3–Cursing of Canaan and the Tower of Babel
In this episode, the Mormon Matters “Genesis Team”–David Bokovoy, Tom Roberts, and Brian Hauglid–share good, fair, and scholarly framings of two difficult biblical stories: (1) …
209: New LDS Statement on Book of Mormon Translation
The LDS Church has recently published on its website, lds.org, a short article titled “Book of Mormon Translation” that lays out in greater detail than …
208: Who Was/Is Jesus?
In this episode that was co-produced with the Mormon Sunday School and Feminist Mormon Housewives podcasts, Eric Huntsman, Jared Anderson, and Lindsay Hansen Park join …
207: Teaching the Old Testament to Latter-day Saints
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 …
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