Podcasts about LDS

Started the week by talking about t he big protests in Iran, and talked about the ballistic missile Russia launched in to Ukraine. Plus the Minneapolis ICE shooting, France hypnotherapist rape trial, Yemen secessionists disband, and LDS churches in Idaho adding security after suffering a series of break-ins by burglars who film themselves having sex. Music: Fetty Wap/"I Wonder"

Week 3 - Jan 12-18 - Gen 1-2, Moses 2-3, Abraham 4-5; "The Father and the Son have a special plan for each one of you."

Welcome to episode 27 of the Joseph Smith Podcast with Dr. John G. Turner! In this episode, we take a deep dive into Joseph Smith's early practice of polygamy in Nauvoo, tracing how it began, how it expanded so rapidly, and what it reveals about power, belief, and risk.We examine the first plural marriages, the people Joseph trusted to introduce the practice, and the recurring patterns that emerge as polygamy spreads among church leadership. Along the way, we ask difficult questions about revelation, consent, secrecy, scripture, and whether Joseph believed his actions were divinely required –or something else entirely.This discussion also situates polygamy within the broader political and social pressures Joseph faced in the early 1840s, including legal threats, growing opposition, and his increasing confidence and recklessness as Nauvoo flourished. Ultimately, we explore whether Joseph's polygamy can be understood as sincere belief, institutional experimentation, abuse of authority, or some combination of all three.If you find this series valuable, consider liking, subscribing, and sharing. More episodes in this series are coming next!Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

Bea and Dee take your calls!Love the girls? Get more of their cringey, awesome content at Patreon.com/realitytvcringe!Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/realitytvcringeSubscribe to see our raccoon faces on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2CgqXLWjIEKV9PCtH3Kjw?sub_confirmation=1Leave a message for us on SpeakPipe: https://speakpipe.com/realitytvcringeSupport the pod by leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Thank you so much

//The Wire//2300Z January 8, 2026////ROUTINE////BLUF: PROTESTS CONTINUE IN MINNEAPOLIS AS GOV. WALZ ISSUES WARNING ORDER TO NATIONAL GUARD TO PREPARE FOR DEPLOYMENT AGAINST FEDERAL FORCES. CIVIL UNREST INTENSIFIES IN TEHRAN. SHOOTING AT LDS CHURCH IN UTAH REVEALS TRANSNATIONAL CRIME SYNDICATE.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------International Events-Middle East: The situation in Iran is heating up as demonstrations have shifted to riots and a general state of uprising in many cities around the country. This morning internet access to the outside world was cut for most of the country, and flights have allegedly been halted at Tabriz International Airport.Analyst Comment: Right now it's too soon to tell if this is the real-deal, simply due to the extremely significant amount of deception surrounding events in Tehran. A lot of older or misleading footage has circulated, so it's hard to determine what's real and what isn't. The Iranian government shutting off the internet in an attempt to halt communications out of the country is a common tactic, but also strongly indicates that government forces are concerned with the growing level of uprising. How far this will go is anyone's guess, but this will be something to monitor for the next few days.-HomeFront-Minnesota: Overnight various protest events continued in Minneapolis, along with serious developments on the political front. In a press statement yesterday Gov. Tim Walz stated that he has given the WARNO (warning order) for Minnesota National Guard troops to deploy in a policing role, against federal agents. During this press conference, a reporter directly asked Walz if these troops would be used to defend the state from federal forces. In response, Walz stated that Minnesota has "never been at war with the Federal government", before directly stating that these troops will be used to "protect the people of Minnesota" from a "rogue federal agent".Utah: Yesterday evening a mass shooting was reported at an LDS church in Salt Lake City. Local authorities state that a shooting broke out in the parking lot of the LDS church on Redwood Road. At the time of the shooting, a crowd was gathered in the parking lot for a funeral/memorial service being held inside the church. The shooting reportedly took place as a result of mutual combat between two suspects, both of which are currently at large. Concerning casualties, 2x were killed and 6x others wounded during the engagement.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Shootings involving churches or other places of worship are worth dedicating more attention to, as these are more vulnerable sites that are easy targets for malign actors and terrorists. However, a brief investigation into this shooting indicates that this incident is not what many may think at first.The church itself is a front...this facility is really a safehouse/community center for the Tongan Crip Gang (TCG). The facility is indeed a real LDS church, however this particular ward has been taken over by the gang, which have declared this church (and the surrounding terrain) to be their turf.Photo and video evidence from inside the Church on the night of the shooting confirm a heavy TCG presence, with various Lieutenants and their footsoldiers manning security by all of the doors.Videos of the memorial service confirm nearly everyone was wearing the "colors" of the TCG (which are blue bandanas), with some people even showing up to the service wearing ski masks, drinking alcohol, and flashing gang signs to the police officers in the church after the shooting.Additional investigation indicates that this was not a one-off event. Per the website of this church, services at this facility are only held in the Tongan language. No English services are held at this location, which indicates both the demographic of the alleged congregation and also provi

Hey there! Today, Episode 238 – Fear + Christ = Change is a deeply meaningful conversation I had with my friend Erin Ropelato from the Seek This Jesus Summit, and it's been sitting with my heart for a while. In this episode, we explore a simple but powerful truth I've been teaching missionaries, missionary moms, and leaders for years: fear plus fear only creates more fear, but fear plus Christ creates change. We talk about anxiety, sadness, shame, self-doubt, and discouragement—and why the real struggle often isn't the emotion itself, but what we add to it. We walk through how Jesus Christ consistently brought something different to human suffering—compassion instead of judgment, love instead of shame, confidence instead of fear—and how that shift created healing, miracles, and transformation. I share real missionary coaching examples, gospel stories, and practical emotional tools that help you stop fighting your feelings and instead partner with Christ to transform them. This episode is especially powerful for missionaries navigating anxiety, missionary moms supporting struggling kids, and anyone who feels stuck in emotional overwhelm. If you've ever wondered why trying harder, fixing yourself, or judging your emotions hasn't brought peace, this episode will offer a new framework rooted in Christlike compassion, awareness, and emotional maturity. Episode 238 – Fear + Christ = Change is an invitation to meet yourself where you are, add what Christ would add, and allow real change to unfold. Erin Ropelato is the owner of Seek This Jesus Study and host of the Seeking Jesus Summit. A former kindergarten teacher, Erin helps women discover their unique learning styles and use them to study the scriptures in simple, grace-filled ways. She loves teaching that connecting with Jesus Christ can look different for everyone, one small and simple step at a time. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends. Learn more from Erin: Website | Instagram | Facebook Learn more from Jennie: Website | Instagram | Facebook   Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE   Free PDF Download:  Podcast Roadmap   Free PDF Download:  Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet   My Free Training for Preparing Missionaries:  Change Your Mission with this One Tool   RM Transition Free Video Series:  3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home   Free Guide:  5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary   Schedule a Free Strategy Call:   Click Here  

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus gave a conference talk in October 2025 about the importance of following the leaders of the LDS Church. For many, the leaders are just giving their opinion, but not according to Spannaus, who says complete devotion must be given to them. MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the talk and discuss why Mormonism's doctrines should still be obtained by the teachings of the LDS scripture and leaders, not from members' personal opinions.

Nick Shirley is an American independent journalist, YouTuber, and content creator known for on-the-ground investigative videos and street interviews. Starting with prank and shock content as a teenager, including a 2019 video about flying to New York without parental permission at age 16, Shirley transitioned to political and cultural commentary, gaining prominence for covering protests, immigration issues, and government accountability. A former high school student from Utah who served a two-year LDS mission in Santiago, Chile, he has amassed over 1 million YouTube subscribers and hundreds of millions of views across platforms. In December 2025, his viral video investigating alleged fraud in Minnesota's government-funded childcare programs—claiming over $100 million in misused funds—garnered more than 100 million views on Xl, prompting renewed scrutiny and FBI comments. Shirley participated in a White House roundtable on antifa in October 2025 and advocates for transparency in government spending, immigration enforcement, and exposing perceived corruption, often aligning with conservative viewpoints while conducting direct, minimalist on-location reporting. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://polymarket.com Go to https://shopbeam.com/SRS and use code SRS to get up to 50% off Beam Dream, their nighttime cocoa for better sleep. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at https://shopify.com/srs Join thousands of parents who trust Fabric to help protect their family—apply today in just minutes at https://meetfabric.com/SHAWN. Try ZipRecruiter for free at https://www.ziprecruiter.com/SRS to find the best people for all your roles. Nick Shirley Links: YT - https://youtube.com/@nickshirley IG - https://www.instagram.com/nickshirley X - https://x.com/nickshirleyy Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/4fm9G0i6lyDZ3XE5fz3Lb9 Hoodie - https://shirleydefense.com/collections/all Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two people are dead and several are injured after a shooting outside an LDS church in Salt Lake City Wednesday evening. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means share what we know so far.  Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You'll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.  Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137 Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus gave a conference talk in October 2025 about the importance of following the leaders of the LDS Church. For many, the leaders are just giving their opinion, but not according to Spannaus, who says complete devotion must be given to them. MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the talk and discuss why Mormonism's doctrines should still be obtained by the teachings of the LDS scripture and leaders, not from members' personal opinions.

Award-winning authors Katie Rich and Heather Sundahl explore 2 controversies: Ordain Women & Equal Rights Amendment in the sometimes turbulent history of Exponent II during the late 20th century and its evolution into the digital age. The discussion centers on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and how it marked a “watershed moment” for Mormon feminism. While many LDS women initially supported the ERA, the Church’s stance shifted after Phyllis Schlafly convinced leadership that the amendment was a threat to the family. This led to a massive, coordinated effort where the church deployed 13,000 women to the 1977 International Women's Year meeting in Salt Lake City to vote against nearly every proposal, including protections for victims of rape and childhood education. https://youtu.be/fW6UiSJehCo Don't miss our other conversations about Mormon feminism: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/feminism/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved A central figure in this era was Sonia Johnson, a “firebrand” who founded Mormons for ERA and publicly challenged the church’s covert lobbying efforts. Her excommunication in 1979 was particularly shocking because it was based on her political activism and public reach rather than moral failings. The authors note that the Church often distinguishes between private belief and public dissent; while many shared Sonia’s views, her large platform made her a target for disciplinary action. The conversation also highlights how Exponent II has navigated these tensions by prioritizing “community over ideological purity”. Unlike more direct activist groups like Ordained Women, Exponent II provides a platform for a wide spectrum of voices, from those seeking ordination to those who find power in traditional roles. This is exemplified in their “priesthood issue,” which contrasted the experiences of women who felt marginalized by their inability to give blessings with those who, like Diane Pritchette, believe women already possess inherent spiritual power. The authors conclude by discussing the historical precedent of Mormon women giving blessings by the laying on of hands—a practice that was common until the 1930s and continues in private settings today, despite official discouragement. We highlighted the distinction between direct activist movements and the platform-based approach of Exponent II. While the two share common threads, Exponent 2 remaines a space for diverse perspectives rather than an organization that took an official stance on the ordination of women. The authors describe Ordain Women as a movement focused on direct activism, whereas Exponent II is a feminist platform that hosts a “Mormon continuum” of voices, including those who are active, inactive, ex-Mormon, or never Mormon. Many early profiles for the Ordain Women movement, which utilized a style similar to the “I'm a Mormon” campaign, were actually Exponent II bloggers. Kate Kelly, the founder of Ordain Women, participated in Exponent II retreats. She was featured on a panel that specifically discussed women and the priesthood, showcasing how the organization fostered dialogue on controversial topics without mandating a “universal stance”. A specific quarterly issue of the Exponent 2 magazine was dedicated to the priesthood to explore the topic’s complexity67. This issue highlighted two contrasting viewpoints: ◦ Abby Hansen, a member of Ordain Women, shared the pain of feeling disconnected from spiritual power, specifically the difficulty of needing to seek blessings from “random” home teachers while her husband was away in the military. ◦ A Relief Society president in Boston, recounted an instance where she laid her hands on a woman’s head to give a blessing during a crisis, operating under the belief that women already possess inherent spiritual power and do not need to “agitate” for others to give it to them. The desire for ordination is often linked to the lost history of Mormon women giving blessings. Women historically performed healings by the laying on of hands until the 1930s, as mentioned by Jonathan Stapley and Kristine Wright. The practice still occurs in private, “unauthorized” settings today among both feminists and traditionalists who feel a spiritual confidence to act in moments of crisis. Don't miss our other conversations about Mormon feminism: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/feminism/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

Stories of encounters with the Three Nephites, immortal saint-like figures, dominate the folklore of the Latter-day Saint tradition. The authors of this volume use hundreds of legends collected by the renowned folklorist William A. Wilson from across a lifetime of research, study, and interviews to focus on the different themes exhibited by the Three Nephites and show that LDS culture, beliefs, and values are embodied by and through the Three Nephites. Each chapter focuses on a different theme from Three Nephites lore. “Vanishing Hitchhiker Nephites” addresses stories of the Nephites' travels. “The Worldwide End of the World” considers the Nephites as harbingers of the Second Coming. “Proclaiming-the-Gospel Stories” examines the interactions of the Three Nephites with missionaries. “Mix-ups, High Jinks, and Jokes” explores Nephite stories aimed at getting laughs. “That Your Joy Might Be Full” analyzes the types of service the Three Nephites render and reflects on the connection to the Church's injunction to serve others. A one-of-a-kind collection, The Three Nephites allows readers to see the extent that this supernatural legend has played in Latter-day Saint lore. The post The Three Nephites – Jill Terry Rudy, Eric A. Eliason, Julie Swallow, Christopher James Blythe 999.9 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

This season 20 finale was a bit of a dud, but to us it was still some delicious trash! Janelle is granted her Spiritual Release, Meri goes on a cringey but cute date with Ron, and Kody crashes his ATV. Can't wait for more tell-nothings with Sukyana Krishnan! Love the girls? Get more of their cringey, awesome content at Patreon.com/realitytvcringe!Follow us on IG https://instagram.com/realitytvcringeSubscribe to see our raccoon faces on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_2CgqXLWjIEKV9PCtH3Kjw?sub_confirmation=1Leave a message for us on SpeakPipe: https://speakpipe.com/realitytvcringeSupport the pod by leaving a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Thank you so much

Now that the KJV version of the bible is not the only version sanctioned by the LDS church, this opens the door to dropping the Shakespearean language of the Book of Mormon too. Many of us wonder if we will see a new version of The Book of Mormon soon. Other versions of The Book of Mormon already exist and on this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are joined by the guy behind a unique interpretation of the Book of Mormon that's making everyone spit out their coffee. Working from a suggestion from a Reddit post by Lucifers_Lantern, John-Michael Holahan reimagined the Book of Mormon by replacing "And it came to pass" with "I sh** you not!" I dare you to read these passages and not laugh out loud! John-Michael tells us more about how the idea originated and his process to create this very creative modernized version of the Book of Mormon. Also a shout out to Lucifers_Lantern on Reddit for making the suggestion! This episode originally aired in March 2024. Thank you so much for watching and supporting Mormonish Podcast! ***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you'd like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast! Contact Mormonish Podcast: mormonishpodcast@gmail.com #mormonish #lds #mormon #exmormon #postmormon #religion #news, #ldschurch #comeuntochrist #churchofjesuschrist #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #byu #byui #josephsmith #comefollowme #polygamy #bookofmormon #becauseofhim #hearhim #ldstemple

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus gave a conference talk in October 2025 about the importance of following the leaders of the LDS Church. For many, the leaders are just giving their opinion, but not according to Spannaus, who says complete devotion must be given to them. MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the talk and discuss why Mormonism's doctrines should still be obtained by the teachings of the LDS scripture and leaders, not from members' personal opinions.

Lani Hilton is a dedicated enthusiast of the Easter Season. She has lived a Christ-centered Easter season with her family for 20 years and has been teaching about it in settings like BYU Education Week and firesides since 2015. She published a book called Celebrate Sunday and has written articles for the Liahona and LDS living. Along with her husband, John, she is the proud parent of six children, four currently at Brigham Young University. Lani finds great joy in the simplicity and beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Links lanihilton.com/easter A Christ-Centered Easter: Day-By-Day Activities to Celebrate Easter Week Easter-themed resources from Deseret Book Connecting Others to Jesus Through the Cross at Calvary | An Interview with John Hilton III Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights Lani Hilton talks about the importance of making Easter a season rather than just a single day of celebration. Lani shares her journey of creating meaningful Easter traditions and how she has implemented these ideas at both home and community levels, particularly focusing on Palm Sunday. 00:04:04 – Lonnie’s Journey to Celebrating Easter 00:05:24 – Simplifying Traditions as a Busy Mom 00:06:08 – Church’s Focus on Easter as a Season 00:06:40 – Elder Stevenson’s Call for a Christ-Centered Easter 00:09:51 – Expanding the Easter Celebration Timeline 00:10:57 – Encouragement to Start Early with Planning 00:12:44 – Involving Youth in Easter Activities 00:13:57 – Lonnie’s Experience with Stake Activities 00:15:41 – The Importance of Creating Meaningful Experiences 00:17:16 – Organizing a Palm Sunday Celebration 00:20:24 – Keeping the Celebration Engaging and Short 00:22:07 – Community Involvement and Outreach 00:25:06 – The Joy of Praising the Savior 00:27:16 – The Impact of a Large Gathering 00:29:03 – Advertising the Palm Sunday Event 00:31:01 – Encouraging Family Participation 00:32:24 – Resources for Planning Easter Activities 00:35:35 – Reflection on the Success of the Event 00:39:15 – Looking Ahead to Future Celebrations Key Insights Easter as a Season: Lani emphasizes the need to extend the celebration of Easter beyond just Easter Sunday, suggesting that it can encompass a period of reflection and worship leading up to and following the holiday. Inspiration from Church Leaders: Elder Stevenson's talks have encouraged members to recognize Palm Sunday and the Easter season more thoughtfully, prompting a shift in how Latter-day Saints approach these celebrations. Community Involvement: Lani highlights the importance of involving the entire community in Easter celebrations, suggesting that events should be inclusive and accessible to all, not just church members. Simple Traditions: She advocates for simple, Christ-centered traditions that can be easily integrated into family life, making it possible for busy families to participate without feeling overwhelmed. Worshipful Experiences: The focus should be on creating worshipful experiences that allow participants to praise and adore Jesus Christ, fostering a deeper connection to the Savior during this holy time. Leadership Applications Planning Ahead: Leaders should begin discussions about Easter celebrations in January to allow ample time for planning and community involvement, ensuring that activities are well-organized and meaningful. Encouraging Participation: Leaders can facilitate events that invite participation from all ages, such as a Palm Sunday celebration, which can help foster a sense of community and shared worship. Flexibility in Activities: Leaders are encouraged to adapt ideas and resources to fit their local context, recognizing that not every ward or stake will have the same capabilities or traditions, but all can create impactful experiences centered on Christ. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

After Joe’s debate with LDS apologist Jacob Hansen, there’s been a lot of chatter on the topic of the Great Apostasy. Joe breaks down why this can’t be true from both an LDS and a Protestant perspective. Transcript: Joe: Welcome back to Shameless Popery. I’m Joe Heschmeyer. And since my recent debate with LDS apologist Jacob Hansen, there’s been a lot of great conversation on this idea of whether the church built by Jesus Christ fell into an apostasy. But today I don’t want to talk about the global church. I want to get very particular. Did the church in Rom...

The Hebrew Bible is hard for modern Latter-day Saints to read and understand. Not only was it written thousands of years ago in a world foreign to the modernity we live in, but we also read it through two thousand years of accumulated Christian understanding and two hundred years of LDS understanding. But even if we can’t read it as it was originally written, in Hope and Healing in the Hebrew Bible: What Ancient Texts Can Teach Modern Readers, Michael Huston shows us how to capture and understand the power and awe of the Hebrew Bible. After reading this book, I’m excited to reread the Bible. I have new tools for seeing the parts I’m familiar with with new eyes and finding value in the parts I’m less familiar with. The post Hope and Healing in the Hebrew Bible – Michael Huston – 999.8 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus gave a conference talk in October 2025 about the importance of following the leaders of the LDS Church. For many, the leaders are just giving their opinion, but not according to Spannaus, who says complete devotion must be given to them. MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the talk and discuss why Mormonism's doctrines should still be obtained by the teachings of the LDS scripture and leaders, not from members' personal opinions.

Last year brought many challenges for Christian fantasy fans. From flops at the theaters now threatened by streaming slop, to creators making more events for Christian storytelling, to the continued growth of biblical fiction as the top genre of Christian-made entertainment—let's survey the top ten fantasy-related headlines from last year. Episode sponsors Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queen The Case of the Heart Stone by Tulli Cole Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett Mission update New at Lorehaven: many features over the holidays! We announced our new book quest in the Lorehaven Guild: Taliesin Onscreen: ‘Stranger Things' Season Five Gives Weight to Parents' Fears, A. D. Sheehan Onscreen: ‘David' Creators Answer all Your Questions About the Animated Hit Movie, Josh Shepherd Engage: Alleged ‘Rock and Roll' Soundtrack Incites Suspicion of Netflix's Narnia Movie, newcomer Sierra Simopoulos Sierra Simopoulos also reviewed Sons of Day and Night My own article: Why Christians Need Fantastical Stories Subscribe free to get updates and join the Lorehaven Guild Stop by the homepage for many upgrades, especially the Library. Soon: discover the Guild's new wing, the Lorehaven Authorship. 10. Superheroes failed to save ailing cinema Marvel movies, despite their strengths, all flopped at the box office. Personally I did like Fantastic Four: First Steps, but didn't love it. Lorehaven folks were generally positive about some hero movies. ‘Captain America: Brave New World' Labors to Save a Struggling MCU, Marian A. Jacobs The Antiheroes of Thunderbolts* Preach to Marvel Itself, Daniel Whyte IV ‘Superman' (2025) Will Make You Believe a Man Can Be Earnest, Josiah DeGraaf However, audiences were tepid; none of these films broke even. The greatest foe of superheroes? Flippancy. Next: lack of family. MCU reached its apex with creators who at least feigned sincerity. DC's nobledark tone was winning fans, until the studio freaked out. 9. Disney's ‘Snow White' remake bombed Sticking with cinemas, this one might be the year's greatest fail. ‘Snow White' (2025) Isn't the Fairest of Adaptations, Parker J. Cole I didn't see it. Few people did. More people saw YouTube roasts. This whole nonsense was an ugly reflection of three terrible trends ruining films: “woke” checkboxes, cynicism, and corporate gloss. 8. Fans abandoned legacy sci-fi franchises Once a Doctor Who hero, Russell T. Davies has ruined that series. Star Trek is adrift, desperately trying to hail imaginary “new fans.” Of course, Star Wars keeps failing to please its own alienated fans. The greatest culprit here: Godless, sex-obsessed progressivism. One can't correct from this without visibly rejecting “woke” politics. 7. K-Pop Demon Hunters owned the summer We haven't had a genuine pop-culture movie phenomenon in ages. Then along comes this little giant animated movie on Netflix. ‘K-Pop Demon Hunters' Pits Singing Heroines vs. Monster Idols, Marian A. Jacobs Kids sang catchy songs. Adults found deeper themes to explore. YouTube reactions and covers on Instagram/TikTok exploded. For the first time, Netflix had a true four-quadrant hit on its hands. And dear Lord, may they learn only the right lessons from this, and not turn this into another streaming slop like so much other stuff. 6. ‘Woke' stories stepped back, yet persisted 251. Could a Cultural ‘Vibe Shift' Advance Christian-Made Fiction? Due to political events we won't detail, that agenda is on the wane. At least the Sexualityism religion is seen as stale and unstable. Many are still trying to figure out what, if any, ideas will replace it. A. D. Sheehan had to critique Brandon Sanderson, a late arrival to the “woke” content scene: Brandon Sanderson's New Fantasy ‘Wind and Truth' Summons a Postmodern Cringestorm. Oddly enough, we keep seeing Christian parents posting about the random books they find, after which they ask “Is it woke?” Pro tip: yeah, it's probably woke, especially with a cover like that. By now we surely have enough Christian-made novels to help? 5. Corporate slop threatens human stories 274. Why Shouldn't AI-Generated Content Replace Human Stories? This is partly about AI-generated slop, but not always. Skeptical fans now refer to anything bad with “this looks AI.” Why? Because the problem goes deeper than technology amok. Long before AI, corporate studios began relying on algorithms. I believe that's when these stories began feeling less, well, human. 272. Can We Save Cinema from Sloppy Stories? Instead of human hunches, stories get greenlit by metallic minds. Reference: the short-lived run of Robert Zemekis mocap movies. At first people express curiosity, but eventually they get bored. Prediction: this too shall pass. We'll see a lot of forced “firsts,” like “the first fully AI-generated movie.” They may even succeed. But the novelty will quickly wear off as it did before Mars Needs Moms. Still, Christian creators must dig deeper to defend organic human stories with philosophies deeper than “AI destroys the Earth.” 4. Conservative TV is trying more fantasy We greatly anticipate the DailyWire+ show The Pendragon Cycle. Based on Stephen Lawhead's novels, seven episodes drop Jan. 22. Christian showrunner Jeremy Boreing actually stepped down from being Daily Wire co-CEO, it seems, to ensure finishing this series. Political hot takes scarcely outlast the day. Great stories last long. Alas, there's the constantly controversial Magician's Nephew movie Marketing for this is dreadful, with publicly floated nonsense about an actress playing Aslan or the movie featuring “rock and roll.” 257. By Aslan's Mane, is Netflix Really Casting a Lady as the Lion? Meanwhile, platforms like Angel (run by LDS members, yet with freedom for Christians) released The Wingfeather Saga season 2. We also saw a new angel-heroes show, Gabriel and the Guardians. ‘Gabriel and the Guardians' Echoes a Golden Era of Saturday Morning Cartoons, Jenneth Leed Alas, any sci-fi-ish efforts seem restricted to dystopian dramas. We need higher budgets and risks to widen those genre limits. 3. Realm Makers unites Christian creators 265. How Can We Shine the Gospel at the Realm Makers Expo? 266. How Do You Assemble a New Expo for Christian Fandoms? | with Scott Minor Last year's conference in Grand Rapids marked an experiment. Can this organization blend creator training with a public expo? Results were mixed-positive, mainly because of the venue choice. For me, a debut sci-fi novelist, results may have skewed better. Yet our primary audience must be Christian fans and families. A semi-major downtown is difficult for these folks to access. Next year's new venue in St. Louis looks much more promising! And it sounds like the public Expo will be easier for fans to access. For Christian fantasy to grow, we must unite over common interest. Yet this unity must be based on love for the true Jesus, our Author. 2. Biblical fiction is the top Christian genre There's no contest. Amish and historical fiction is dethroned. Christian fantasy (mostly romantasy) remains confined to books. Amazon's ‘House of David' Anoints an Intriguing Biblical Epic, Michael Allen ‘House of David' Is Crowned King of Amazon Prime, Jenneth Leed 1. Fantasy for teen/YA women continues to rule the Christian-made fantastical worlds This might well be the repeat headline from previous years. Facts are facts. Teen girls and women outread everyone else. When they like fantasy, they prefer female heroes/relationships. Romantasy is the queen. And her handmaiden is royal drama. 249. What is ‘Romantasy'? | with Parker J. Cole And the new princess on the block? Time-travel romance, for sure. 263. What is Time-Travel Romance? | Every Hour Until Then with Gabrielle Meyer These books get the most attention on Instagram and elsewhere. Is it true that “men don't read”? Not necessarily. Men do read. But they tend to read nonfiction about culture, theology, history. And for fantastical fiction, these readers have unique expectations. Christians here favor proven legacies, especially Lewis/Tolkien. One can't complain about the reality. Instead, meet the standard. Frankly, that's my hope for Above the Circle of Earth and beyond. Of course I support teen/YA female-focused fantasy stories! Yet that's not my genre; it doesn't help me, personally, grow in joy. Surely there are more readers who favor other kinds of stories, maybe deeper, maybe in underdog genres like sci-fi and horror. Christians must expect a true joyous sci-fi future under King Jesus. And we uniquely understand supernatural realities/horror today. But making new stories isn't enough. We must cultivate readers. That's our mission at Lorehaven with our new mission statement: Escape bad books. Find the best Christian fantasy and sci-fi! Watch this space for more about bad books, reader cultivation, and new resolutions to avoid scroll traps and level up your imagination. Com station Top question for listeners What was your top fantasy story or least-liked story in 2025? Next on Fantastical Truth “In one cataclysmic moment, millions around the world disappear.” Jesus returned thirty years ago. Or rather, He sort of pre-returned, the warm-up act, if you will. Many faithful Christians believe in this kind of “rapture.” And in December 1995, two authors teamed up and used this idea to create the most successful biblical end-times thriller we've yet seen. Last summer, we overviewed the series. Yet now we'll ask how that first Left Behind novel has aged, thirty years after its release.

What happens when a Mormon woman becomes the primary provider for her family –inside a religion that teaches her highest purpose is in the home?In this deeply personal and honest conversation, Cate Smith shares her journey growing up Mormon, internalizing the Family Proclamation, and believing her eternal destiny was marriage, motherhood, and supporting her husband. From being voted “most likely to be mom” as a teenager to entering the temple and covenanting to hearken to her husband, Cate explains how clearly her path seemed laid out for her.But life didn't unfold the way Mormonism promised.After earning a degree in accounting “as a backup,” Cate unexpectedly became the breadwinner, while her husband stepped into a more nurturing, stay-at-home role. What followed was grief, identity loss, social pressure, depression, and eventually therapy –along with the realization that the only thing wrong with being a working mom was being Mormon.As Cate began questioning gender roles, authority, and worth, those questions expanded into a full faith crisis –sparked by therapy, church culture, the Family Proclamation, Ensign Peak and SEC fraud revelations, racism in church history, and the fear-based framework of Mormon belief. She shares how integrity ultimately mattered more than certainty, and why she chose to resign from the Church before she even fully believed it wasn't true.Cate's story is raw, thoughtful, and deeply relatable –especially for women navigating faith, motherhood, careers, and self-trust after leaving a high-demand religion.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

In the first part of our conversation, artist, podcaster, and former Mormon Shelise Ann Sola joins us to talk about growing up in a devout Latter-day Saint (LDS) family. She internalized “perfect girl” expectations and slowly deconstructed the high-demand beliefs that shaped her identity and relationships. Shelise shares how modesty culture, purity messaging, temple worthiness interviews, and the LDS obsession with eternal marriage impacted her mental health, sexuality, and sense of self, and how leaving the church meant losing community, certainty, and family approval all at once. We also got into her creative life after Mormonism, why she started talking publicly about high-control religion and religious trauma, and how she now uses humor, art, and storytelling to help other ex-Mormons and faith-questioners feel less alone while they untangle what was spiritual from what was spiritual abuse.Follow Shelise's podcast, Cults to Consciousness, on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, and Shelise at sheliseannsola.com and on Instagram @sheliseann.Also…let it be known that:The views and opinions expressed on A Little Bit Culty do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, group, club, organization, business, individual, anyone or anything. Nobody's mad at you, just don't be a culty fuckwad.**PRE-ORDER Sarah and Nippy's newest book hereCheck out our amazing sponsorsJoin A Little Bit Culty on PatreonGet poppin' fresh ALBC SwagSupport the pod and smash this linkCheck out our cult awareness and recovery resourcesWatch Sarah's TED Talk and buy her memoir, ScarredCREDITS:Executive Producers: Sarah Edmondson & Anthony AmesProduction Partner: Citizens of SoundCo-Creator: Jess TardyAudio production: Will RetherfordProduction Coordinator: Lesli DinsmoreWriter: Sandra NomotoSocial media team: Eric Skwarzynski and Brooke KeaneTheme Song: “Cultivated” by Jon Bryant co-written with Nygel AsselinSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS:Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Don't wait. Go to Quince.com/culty for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/culty.Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at RocketMoney.com/culty.Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every style. Every home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andrea Muñoz Spannaus gave a conference talk in October 2025 about the importance of following the leaders of the LDS Church. For many, the leaders are just giving their opinion, but not according to Spannaus, who says complete devotion must be given to them. MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the talk and discuss why Mormonism's doctrines should still be obtained by the teachings of the LDS scripture and leaders, not from members' personal opinions.

Mormon women led by Claudia Bushman started the Exponent II organization in Boston while her husband Richard Bushman was stake president. Claudia caused waves when she spoke about Mormon feminism and black priesthood ordination in the 1970s before the Equal Rights Amendment & black ordination became bigger issues in the LDS Church. Salt Lake City sent an apostle to shut down the organization. Award winning authors Katie Rich & Heather Sundahl detail these early days of Exponent II in their history of 50 years in the organization. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/CGUWDGlv87I 0:00 Meet the Authors 5:06 Living History 19:46 Bushmans in Boston Don't miss our other conversations about Mormon feminism: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/feminism/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Award-winning authors Katie Rich and Heather Sundal chronicled the five-decade history of the organization in their book, 50 Years of Exponent II. The story began in July 1974, when a group of LDS women in Boston felt inspired to create a new platform for women's voices. This inspiration was sparked by the discovery of the original Woman's Exponent (1872–1914) in Harvard’s Widener Library—a suffragist paper that showcased the complex lives of early Mormon women who balanced faith with activism. The organization grew out of a successful community project: a guidebook titled Beginners’ Boston. While the local Elders Quorum dismissed the guidebook as a “stinker of an idea,” the Relief Society took it on, eventually selling 23,000 copies! This success provided the women with both the confidence and the funds to launch a more ambitious project: Exponent II. The timing was critical, as the official Relief Society Magazine had been shuttered in 1970 due to the church’s correlation movement, leaving women without an official outlet for their unique perspectives. Claudia Bushman However, the publication quickly faced tension with Church leadership in Salt Lake City. In 1975, Area Authority Robert D. Hales met with founder Claudia Bushman, specifically requesting that the paper cease publication because he believed it would “come to no good”. Leadership was particularly concerned about the paper’s hand-drawn art, which they felt looked “subversive,” and Claudia’s public comments in the Boston Globe regarding racial policies in the Church. Later, Apostle L. Tom Perry met with the staff, strongly suggesting they shut down and explicitly stating that Claudia Bushman must resign as editor to avoid the appearance that the paper was an official church publication, given that her husband, Richard Bushman, was the Stake President. Despite these pressures, the women chose to continue, prioritizing community over ideological purity. When Claudia Bushman eventually resigned, the organization avoided collapse by shifting from a model based on a charismatic leader to a collective, decentralized effort. By focusing on personal narratives rather than a “one-size-fits-all” perspective, Exponent II has remained a vital lifeline for women seeking to explore the complexities of their lives and faith for over fifty years. Don't miss our other conversations with Mormon feminism: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/feminism/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

From Project Genesis of the White House, which held a special meeting with 33 technology heads in late 2025, to the Quantum Genesys music event in Egypt and Henry Kissinger's book titled “Genesis”; and from the Big Beautiful Bill's AI moratorium to Samsung's 6G Project and a recent White House report on “Winning the 6G Race,” the sudden explosion of an AI arms race has largely been obscured by the very people who once attempted to expose its dangers. Elon Musk and his desire to have a legion of children is suddenly acceptable because he crossed the political dividing line. Now if the richest man in the world wants to run the same breeding program Jeffrey Epstein was working on, or take away employment and money in exchange for automation and UBI, he is cheered a hero of team-humanity. Perhaps Musk wants you to have more children for the data, or perhaps the goal is to replace older generations with a new, and final, human generation that will be subservient to the technocratic monarchy of Curtis Yarvin, JD Vance, and Peter Thiel. Interestingly, Yarvin said the Trump administration had failed in its goals after the invasion of Venezuela, mostly was the president wasn't authoritarian enough; he fell into the trappings of checks and balances and allowed Democrats to remain in power. This is precisely the same argument Alex Jones made to “dismantle the deepstate.” Under the guise of defeating Democrats, the entire system must be collapsed so that it can be replaced by technocracy while people's minds are hijacked by Musk's brain implants. The goal seems to be a rebranding of the ultimate conspiracy, including the media, great resetting of society, secret societies, etc., and the production of a new man in the Omega generation. From Alpha to Omega, Revelation to Genesis. It's therefore no coincidence that the biggest names in genetics, including 23 and me and ancestry.com, are so connected to the church of Latter-day Saints, synagogues, and the Catholic Church along with companies like Google and Blackstone. The eschatological component of the new world and new man are as religious as they are anti-human, spiritual as they are dark occult. Andrew Clinton from 6G Agenda stops by for a chat.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.WEBSITEFREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVE-X / TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMYOUTUBERUMBLE-BUY ME A COFFEECashApp: $rdgable PAYPAL: rdgable1991@gmail.comRyan's Books: https://thesecretteachings.info - EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / rdgable1991@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

Text Me Here!!!Hello!!! Welcome into 2026, I've got a great talk to go over with you, and surprisngly, a lot of ideas for New Years Goals if you're needing any!This talk actually opened up for me more as I went in to record, so I apologize for being a little all over the place but I hope the main message still stands.I probably will never be looking at altars the same way again, and that's such a good thing! I hope you as well find altars looking just a little bit more impactful that before. (;********Links:Elder Jaggi's Conference Address: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/23jaggi?lang=engElder Jaggi's 2020 Conference Address: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/52jaggi?lang=engBiography: https://www.thechurchnews.com/2020/5/7/23216241/elder-jeremy-r-jaggi-new-general-authority-seventy-2020-april-joy-family/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20way%20we%20look%20at,him%20monthly%2C%E2%80%9D%20he%20said. E-mail: munchandminglepodcast@gmail.com Insta: @munchandminglepodcast

Week 2- January 5-11; Moses 1; Abraham 3:  "Moses, thou art My son."

Send us a textVideo Podcast HereEternal Marriage is one of the leading doctrines of the LDS church.   Joseph Smith also touched on this subject.  We do not discuss in detail whether Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and eternal marriage or not but rather look at what the scriptures actually say about marriage and it's purpose.  Included is a brief history of Jewish or Hebrew marriage traditions and how they relate to scripture as well as Restoration history and how the idea of Eternal Marriage was introduced.     Finally we look at the purpose of marriage at about the 1 hour mark.   Scripture search and study herehttp://www.restoredgospel.com/Scriptures1/Main_study.php Restored Gospel - Scripture Search and Study Resources Contact us:restoredgospelpodcast@gmail.comMusic by Michael Barrett

In episode 389 of the Words of the Prophets podcast, Todd, Burke, Rivka and Alia discuss the talk “Remembering the Sheep” by Elder Jackson from the October 2025 general conference.#wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodnesshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophetsFind us on twitter, instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.comFind us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

When depression shapes the life of the person you love the most, will your faith hold—or begin to break under the pressure?In this week's episode of Latter-Day Lights, Scott and Emily sit down with Amanda Harms — a counselor, mother of six, and newly minted PhD in social psychology — to share her personal journey through supporting a spouse living with chronic depression.With mental illness and frayed communication leading to years of financial hardship, cross-country moves, spiritual denial, and seasons of uncertainty in her marriage, Amanda reflects on how compassion, understanding, and Christlike love slowly transformed the way she perceived her husband and herself.Through stories of resilience, motherhood, and the concept of “eternal perspective,” Amanda's journey invites listeners to consider what long-term endurance really looks like — not as a single turning point, but as years of small choices to remain faithful, present, and compassionate. It's a reminder that while answers don't always come quickly, the Lord walks with us through the slow, sacred process of becoming.*** Please SHARE Amanda's story and help us spread hope and light to others. ***To WATCH this episode on YouTube, visit: https://youtu.be/GukEY_jB1-k -----To READ Amanda's book, "Breaking Free from the Shame of Addiction," visit: https://a.co/d/jawXlJTTo READ Scott's new book “Faith to Stay” for free, visit: https://www.faithtostay.com/-----Keep updated with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latter.day.lights/Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/latterdaylightsAlso, if you have a faith-promoting or inspiring story, or know someone who does, please let us know by going to https://www.latterdaylights.com and reaching out to us.

Do Mormons have special revealed knowledge about the actual date Jesus was actually born? We just celebrated Christmas, but like the rest of Christianity, do members of the LDS church really think December 25th is Jesus's birthday? On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are joined by the wonderful Charles Harrell to discuss his new research into the history of the LDS belief that Jesus was born on April 6th, not December 25th. To most of us growing up, the idea of the April 6th birthday was a fact that Mormons knew and the rest of the world didn't. We had special knowledge. But where did this special knowledge come from? And why don't we hear this date mentioned at all anymore? Charley shows us the origins of the April 6th claim and how it became gospel truth only to slowly slip out of use in recent decades. This is a microcosm for many teachings that were gospel truth in a different era and have now disappeared. This episode was originally aired in April 2025. Thank you so much for watching and supporting Mormonish Podcast! ***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you'd like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast! Contact Mormonish Podcast: mormonishpodcast@gmail.com #mormonish #lds #mormon #exmormon #postmormon #religion #news, #ldschurch #comeuntochrist #churchofjesuschrist #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #byu #byui #josephsmith #comefollowme #polygamy #bookofmormon #becauseofhim #hearhim #ldstemple FAIR USE DISCLAIMER All Media in this video (including the thumbnail) is used for the purpose of review and critique. The images in the thumbnail are used as the primary means of visually identifying the subject matter of the video.

Here is each link in the format you requested: article title – URL. President Jeffrey R. Holland dies at age 85 – https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2025/12/27/president-jeffrey-r-holland-dies-at-age-85/? LDS Church President Dallin Oaks? Here's who could be the next Latter-day Saint apostle – https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/12/28/lds-church-president-dallin-oaks/? Gordon Monson: Who's the next Latter-day Saint apostle? – https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2026/01/02/gordon-monson-next-latter-day/? General and Area Leadership (General Handbook 5.1.1.1) – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/5-general-and-area-leadership?lang=eng#title_number4? Tips for Teaching the Old Testament in 2026: An Interview with Joshua Sears – https://leadingsaints.org/tips-for-teaching-the-old-testament-in-2026-an-interview-with-joshua-sears/? Countries, provinces and states with new missions in 2026 – https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/12/30/countries-provinces-states-new-mission-2026/? 6 highlights from missionary work in 2025 – https://www.thechurchnews.com/living-faith/2025/12/29/6-highights-missionary-work-2025-growth-sisters-18-mtc/? Shifting Horizons: The Globalization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – https://latterdaysaintmag.com/shifting-horizons-the-globalization-of-the-lds-church/? Acting president appointed to BYU–Hawaii as President Kauwe takes temporary leave – https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/acting-president-appointed-to-byu-hawaii-as-president-kauwe-takes-temporary-leave? Sophia Callahan on balancing an LDS mission and her collegiate volleyball career – https://universe.byu.edu/sports/sophia-callahan-on-balancing-an-lds-mission-and-her-collegiate-volleyball-career? Mr. Beast lists the Church of Jesus Christ as a ‘major sponsor' – https://www.moronichannel.org/newsroom/mr-beast-lists-church-of-jesus-christ-as-major-sponsor/? Ruby Franke's ex-husband Kevin remarries in photo posted by daughter Shari – https://people.com/ruby-frankes-ex-husband-kevin-remarries-in-photo-posted-by-daughter-shari-11874381? Nick Shirley – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Shirley? The surprising Mormon complexity in ‘Stranger Things' – https://religionnews.com/2025/11/25/the-surprising-mormon-complexity-in-stranger-things/? Popular Christian music is having a moment. 2026 might be its big year. – https://www.deseret.com/entertainment/2025/12/31/popular-christian-music-forrest-frank-brandon-lake/? How ‘the father of Mormon cinema' lost his faith and found it again outside the LDS Church – https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/12/how-the-father-of-mormon-cinema-lost-his-faith-and-found-it-again-outside-the-lds-church/? 50 years ago today – Jan 1, 1976 – http://www.todayinmormonhistory.com/2026/01/50-years-ago-today-jan-1-1976.html? 35 years ago today – Jan 1, 1991 – http://www.todayinmormonhistory.com/2026/01/35-years-ago-today-jan-1-1991.html? 10 years ago today – 2016 January 2 – http://www.todayinmormonhistory.com/2026/01/10-years-ago-today-2016-january-2.html?? This Week in Latter-days – http://thisweekinlatterdays.com/?

Jeremy Jeremiah, Cloud of Witnesses, reacts to and answers the call from: bayliebelieves, Baylie Clarke, (https://www.tiktok.com/@bayliebelieves) viral video.Jeremy quotes directly from 19th Century documents, original source, discourses by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young to demonstrate that the LDS faith is anything but Christian (by any stretch of the imagination).  Joseph Smith and Brigham Young taught that God the Father was once finite, and was once "a man" just like you or me.  The conversation turns on a single hinge: does Latter-day Saint theology align with historic, orthodox Christianity? We explore this by defining terms, citing primary sources, and testing claims against scripture. The starting point is the Trinity, not as a word-game, but as a boundary-setting confession about who God is. Classical Christianity says God is one being in three persons, sharing one divine essence, without confusion of persons. That means the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, yet each is fully and eternally God. This guardrail matters because it protects both God's oneness and the real distinction among Father, Son, and Spirit, and it anchors the meaning of the incarnation as God the Son taking on human nature without ceasing to be what he eternally is.From there, the critique of LDS claims comes into focus: the Mormon teaching that God the Father was once a man who progressed to godhood, and that humans may likewise be exalted as gods as taught clearly for years by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (Mormonism's first two so called prophets). The episode reads from Joseph Smith's King Follett Discourse and Brigham Young's Journal of Discourses to show how these ideas are presented within early LDS leadership. The claim is not a stray footnote; it is a thread that runs through the sources. If God was once finite, then divine eternality and aseity are compromised. Historic Christianity insists that God is uncreated, without beginning, dependent on nothing beyond himself. If deity is an achievement, the word “God” loses its unique, absolute meaning and turns into a rank one can attain.The discussion then tests LDS proof texts. Stephen's vision in Acts 7 is cited and corrected: Stephen sees the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, which fits the Christian confession that no one has seen the Father in his essence, yet the Son reveals the Father. The host clarifies essence and person using simple analogies: two humans share humanity yet remain distinct persons; similarly, the divine persons share one divine essence while remaining truly distinct. This is not modalism and not three gods; it is the mystery of one God in three persons, confessed in the creeds and rooted in scripture.A second axis is the incarnation. Jesus did not “become God”; he became man. The eternal Son took on flesh through Mary, remaining what he was while assuming what he was not. If one imports the idea that the Father once gained godhood, the logic pressures the incarnation into a story of divine ascent rather than divine condescension. Historic Christianity resists this inversion: salvation is not climbing into deity by degrees, but being united to Christ by grace, participating in God's life without becoming gods by nature. The difference between deification in classical theology and exaltation in LDS teaching is not semantic; it concerns whether God is eternally God and whether creaturely nature can ever cross the Creator–creature line.Questions about Orthodoxy? Please check out our friends at Ghost of Byzantium Discord server: https://discord.gg/JDJDQw6tdhPlease prayerfully consider supporting Cloud of Witnesses: https://www.patreon.com/c/CloudofWitnessesFind Cloud of Witnesses on Instagram, X.com, Facebook, and TikTok.Please leave a comment with your thoughts!

In this podcast, I analyze the recent debate between Catholic apologist Joe Heschmeyer and Mormon apologist Jacob Hansen, and show how his central LDS argument for a "Great Apostasy" commits a fatal logical fallacy: if not Catholicism, therefore Mormonism. I explain why this reasoning collapses, why the burden of proof is on the one claiming the Church disappeared, and how the historical record actually ends up pointing straight back to Catholicism.

In this 3-part series:Part 1: Dan Wotherspoon and Tom Kimball outline the basics of Fowler's “Stages of Faith.”Part 2: Tom Kimball (with support from Dan Wotherspoon) takes us through the “Stages of Faith” from an LDS perspective, andPart 3: Tom and Dan both share with us a bit about their journeys into stage 4, including their attempts to work with their respective bishops to baptize (Tom) and ordain (Dan) their sons while in stage 4.

A University of Oklahoma instructor gave a student a failing grade — and lost their job over it. The reason? Religion entered the chat. We unpack how a routine college assignment turned into a culture-war flashpoint, why academic standards suddenly became optional, and how religious grievance keeps getting rewarded when it collides with higher education. Also this week: Trump administration officials decide government social media accounts are a fine place to preach Christianity, Sarah Huckabee Sanders issues a Christmas proclamation that sounds more like a sermon, and a Colorado megachurch leans hard into child-trafficking panic to push anti-trans ballot initiatives. Plus new Pew numbers on religion in America, a rare LDS feel-good story, listener mail, and yet another reminder that moral panic never really goes away — it just finds new targets.

Send us a Positive Review!As we begin 2026 and the fourth year of the Latter Day Struggles Podcast, we wanted to say THANK YOU to ALL supporters of the podcast and platform! So please enjoy this Office Hours recording and a podcast episode that is one that is a must-listen! In this timely conversation Valerie tackles Elder Anderson's recent general conference talk on abortion. In one hour she goes from the macro issue of abortion itself and offers some thought-provoking concepts about NOT focusing on abortion and instead focusing on how abortion is the prevailing solution to unwanted pregnancy only because we live in a patriarchal society. She also proposes that LDS women have valid reasons to feel unique and acute transgenerational pain connected to marriage, s*exual misconduct, power, and self sacrifice.Timestamps:00:00 – Listener Appreciation and Office Hours Format02:17 – Elder Anderson's Address on Abortion05:01 – Developmental Stages and Vulnerability07:00 – Weaponization of Authority and Internalized Harm12:56 – Masculine vs. Feminine Worldviews on Abortion15:00 – Societal Support and Resource Gaps17:00 – Upstream vs. Downstream Solutions21:00 – Deeply Embedded Patriarchal Assumptions25:00 – Legal and Economic Disparities29:54 – Critique of Elder Anderson's Address34:00 – Theological Shadows and Generational Trauma36:00 – Recommendations for Healthy Spirituality45:20 – Listener Reactions and Broader Church Issues50:00 – The Importance of Individual Discernment53:00 – Reflections on Church History and Patriarchy56:00 – Calls for Healing and Inclusion59:05 – Final Thoughts and Encouragement59:54 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action60:14 – Podcast Network AcknowledgmentSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie's Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Episode 237 – I'm Not Good at Change is a compassionate, empowering conversation about what's actually happening in your brain when change feels overwhelming—especially on the mission, after the mission, or in any major life transition. In this episode, I break down why "I'm bad at change" isn't a personality flaw or spiritual weakness, but a normal human brain response rooted in survival, predictability, and energy conservation. We talk about how fear of change can quietly take away our sense of power—and how to gently take that power back. I share a real missionary coaching example and walk you through how resisting change keeps your brain stuck, while accepting discomfort actually creates clarity, confidence, and momentum. You'll learn how to calm your nervous system, stop reinforcing fear-based beliefs, and access your problem-solving brain so you can feel more capable, adaptable, and resilient. We also explore how traits we often judge—like wanting control, structure, or preparation—can actually be leadership strengths when used intentionally. If transfers, new callings, new semesters, new relationships, or new seasons of life feel heavy right now, this episode will help you reframe change as the pathway to growth rather than proof that something is wrong with you. Episode 237 – I'm Not Good at Change will remind you that you are not broken, you are human—and you already have what it takes to move forward with courage, trust, and self-compassion. As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.     Website | Instagram | Facebook   5 Ways to Process Any Less-Than Happy Mission Memories Article: HERE   Get the Full Show Notes and Text/PDF Transcripts: HERE   Free PDF Download:  Podcast Roadmap   Free PDF Download:  Preparing Missionary Cheat Sheet   Free Training for Preparing Missionaries:  Change Your Mission with this One Tool   RM Transition Free Video Series:  3 Tools to Help RMs in Their Transition Home   Free Guide:  5 Tips to Help Any Returning Missionary   Schedule a Free Strategy Call:   Click Here

For several decades, the LDS First Presidency gave away copies of books written by general authorities as Christmas presents. These books were produced in leather bindings and gilded pages. For the next 3 days, MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the book titled Teachings of Harold B. Lee, which includes the writings and talks given by 11th President Harold B. Lee.

How to Fall in Love With the Old Testament This Year by Autumn Dickson This week is an introduction to the Old Testament rather than any specific group of scripture. With my last post for this scripture block, I testified of the value of studying the Old Testament. With this post, I want to talk about a couple of things we can do to maximize what we take out of it. The first way is to let go of the need to read everything listed for the week. When I was in seminary in high school, we were encouraged to read the book of scripture that we were studying for that year. I am Type A, and so I read it all in order. There was a whole lot that was unhelpful to me at that period in time, and I walked away from the Old Testament with reinforced ideas that it was difficult. You don't have to push yourself to read everything for the week. Scripture study is not about finishing an assignment; it's about drawing closer to God. Reading each and every line in high school didn't draw me closer to God; it just gave my intense personality the satisfaction of saying I was able to complete the whole thing. Instead of reading everything through, consider finding one story to study throughout the week, and then observe that story through multiple resources and angles. Summarize it so you understand what's going on; you can actually also ask AI for a summary of the chapters from an LDS perspective. Make sure you understand where it is in the timeline as a whole. Ask AI about culturally significant points, Israeli history, and symbols to study. This is helpful because even though AI isn't perfect, it can give you something to follow along so you're not completely lost in the thick of it. It's a game changer. On top of using AI, utilize other Christian resources. We may not have everything in common, but Christians know their bible. I frequently utilize websites from other churches, including other translations of the bible, to help me understand what is going on in what I'm reading. Even if the King James version of the bible is the closest translation, other translations can help me understand what the King James version is trying to say. None of these translations are perfect, but that doesn't mean they can't add layers of understanding. Another tip. Learn about the characters, and then ask yourself what they might have been feeling. Learn about the world they were born into and ask yourself how you might have been if you were born into the same world. Learn who they are and what makes them like or unlike Christ. Find modern day examples of their choices and learn how Christ might react in our day. Which is my next practical tip. This one is found in the Come Follow Me manual, but I wanted to share my personal experience with it. Find Christ. Try to find Christ in a way that you haven't seen before. Find Christ in the people and symbols. Find Christ for them. If they didn't turn to Christ, ponder how things might have been different if they had chosen Him. Then take a minute to observe your own life and whether you're rejecting Him in the same ways that they did. Ask yourself the question, “What decisions did Christ make in relation to His people? Why did He make that decision? How does it show His love? What is He trying to teach them?” Whenever I've gotten stuck trying to pull something out of a scripture block, it is helpful to look for Christ. I've learned that there is always something there. My last practical tip is simple. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to ignore the words completely and let the Spirit speak. This is not an example with the scriptures, but it is an example with the word of God. As I'm working on this, the October General Conference has just been completed. I didn't have many questions written down. I didn't try setting up my entire house so that my kids would be distracted and occupied so I could focus (that hasn't worked in the past). At one point during the conference, I sent a picture of four kids climbing on my lap. I didn't even know my lap was big enough to have four kids sitting on it, let alone climbing. I sent the caption, “If you ask me what I got out of conference, the answer is nothing.” And honestly, conference ended up being exactly what I thought it would be. I was always putting out small fires like giant bloody noses from my two year old or messes from our new puppy. My goal for this past conference was low. I just wanted it on in my house, even if it was just background noise. I've learned that if I strive for more than that, I usually just end up angry with my kids for being kids. So rather, I wanted it on so it could invite the Spirit and if the Lord really needed to tell me something, then the Spirit would be there. As I found myself watching my two year old in the bathtub (the bloody nose really was gnarly), I found peace with my computer sitting up on the counter playing conference on YouTube. I learned that even if I couldn't sit at Christ's feet like Mary, I could still feel the Spirit when my family needed me to be Martha. You were not created for the scriptures. The scriptures were created for you. Utilize them for you. You don't have to beat yourself over the head for imperfection. I testify of scripture study, but I also testify that studying can look like the scriptures playing in the background of whatever fire you're putting out. It can look like carrying one of the people in your heart while you're going throughout your day. It can look like completely missing the words of what you're reading or listening to and simply leaning on Christ when you take a few moments to catch your breath. I testify of studying the scriptures in the exact way that they bring you closer to Christ. Don't put pressure on yourself to make it look like someone else's study. Let Christ show you how to draw closer to Him by utilizing the Old Testament this year. I testify that the Old Testament is worth it, and I testify that it's possible to get something out of the Old Testament. I testify that we live in a world where scripture study doesn't have to look traditional; it just has to bring you closer to Christ. I testify that you can read words on a page and have the Spirit tell you something completely different. I always testify that Christ wants to draw closer to you, and I testify that He can do so through the Old Testament if you simply let Him know you're willing to let it happen. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Introduction to the Old Testament – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

For several decades, the LDS First Presidency gave away copies of books written by general authorities as Christmas presents. These books were produced in leather bindings and gilded pages. For the next 3 days, MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the book titled Teachings of Harold B. Lee, which includes the writings and talks given by 11th President Harold B. Lee.

In episode 388 of the Words of the Prophets podcast Todd,Burke, Lawson and Alia discuss the talk "Lovest Thou Me?” by Elder Barlow from the October 2025 general conference.#wordsoftheprophets #generalconference #conference #ldsconference #LDS #ldspodcast #podcast #sharegoodnesshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/words-of-the-prophetsFind us on instagram or email us at wordsoftheprophetspodcast@gmail.comFind us at youtube.com/wordsoftheprophetspodcast

Fathom The Good High School and Adult Courses - https://fathomthegood.com/ Backlash on LDS reporter Nick Shirley and more Minnesota fraud. Previous indictments and more programs flagged. A recent study shows liberal men and women ages 25 - 35 are not having kids. Severe drops since 1980. Cwic Media Website: http://www.cwicmedia.com

For several decades, the LDS First Presidency gave away copies of books written by general authorities as Christmas presents. These books were produced in leather bindings and gilded pages. For the next 3 days, MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson take a closer look at the book titled Teachings of Harold B. Lee, which includes the writings and talks given by 11th President Harold B. Lee.

Pastors Luke Simmons, John Kronwald, Matthew Braselton, and Seth Troutt come together for our yearly "Ask Anything" service to address your pressing questions about faith, life, and theology.During this engaging session, our pastoral team tackles a wide range of topics, providing thoughtful answers rooted in biblical wisdom. Whether you're curious about how to navigate difficult relationships, understand complex theological concepts, or seek practical advice for daily Christian living, this Q&A session offers valuable insights.Join us as we explore the depths of faith and seek to grow together in understanding and love for God and each other.00:00:00 - 8:30am Service - Introduction00:04:12 - How do we reconcile Jesus' call to love our enemies with very real anger and hurt?  Is it wrong to feel anger toward someone who has caused deep harm?00:07:04 - How can I witness to my LDS friends?00:10:37 - What is your favorite Bible story?00:13:06 - How do you cultivate an enjoyable marriage?00:15:42 - Can you offer any encouragement to someone whose unanswered prayers have caused deep discouragement and borderline unbelief that God cares for them?00:20:22 - How do you reconcile God's love for his chosen people of Israel, with the seemingly evil nature of those in power in Israel?  How are we to view everything happening in Israel right now?00:24:37 - My son wants me to ask you… what would happen if Satan said sorry?00:26:39 - Do we have any idea when we will be able to “break ground” for the new building?00:28:37 - What are a few of the cool things you saw God do in/through Ironwood Church in 2025?00:31:51 - How can we retain our “small church feel” and relationships as UNTIL helps us grow significantly?00:35:02 - How do you balance wanting to keep your kids protected & sheltered in a bubble vs wanting them to understand the world so they can deal with things later in life?00:37:37 - 10:00am service:  What is your favorite fiction book?00:40:05 - How do we tithe when we are struggling with meeting our financial obligations?00:41:35 - Thoughts on burial vs. cremation?00:46:29 - Why does God allow suffering?00:51:06 - How does Seth keep his white sneakers so clean all year around?  If that's not a miracle I don't know what is.00:51:42 - What are your thoughts on music that doesn't glorify God?00:55:09 - What advice do you have for young women who want to embrace their femininity in a Godly way?00:59:45 - Are members of the LDS Church Christians?01:02:13 - Tell me about the dinosaurs01:04:57 - How would you naviage an invite to an LGBTQ wedding of a longtime friend?01:09:31 - What was Ironwood's biggest accomplishment in 2025 and what is the biggest goal/mission for 2026?01:12:09 - 11:30am service:  How should I start my independent journey with Christ as a college student?  Especially after moving far away from home.01:14:02 - For those who have come from church hurt experiences and may be wary of trust, what processes do the elders have in place to protect the church from various kinds of scandal?01:20:44 - How do you think the Church as an institution should interact with politics, and what consideration do you make in when to bring it up as a ‘pastor' and how to speak of it in a formal capacity?01:25:30 - Can free will and predestination co-exist?01:28:07 - What does 6 7 mean?01:28:38 - I want to read my Bible to grow in my knowledge of and love for God, but I have no clue where to start…where should I start?01:30:41 - A family member has started bringing their same sex partner to family events.  How do we explain this to our young kids?01:37:09 - Why should we read the whole Bible and not just the New Testament books?01:39:03 - When dealing with pain from the past, what's the best way to deal with resentment?01:42:37 - How should Christians think about and respond to the current administration's policies surrounding the vulerable? (ie: immigration, public subsidies, SNAP, etc.)01:48:00 - I feel very stagnant in my relationship with Jesus and don't know how to fix it.  Any advice?**HOW TO FIND US*** SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YouTube CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@IronwoodChurchAZFACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/ironwoodchurchaz/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/ironwood.church/WEBSITE https://www.ironwoodchurch.org/

For several decades, the LDS First Presidency gave away copies of books written by general authorities as Christmas presents. These books were produced in leather bindings and gilded pages. Today MRM's Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson will take a quick look at House of the Lord by Apostle James Talmage.

Send us a textTonight we welcome Heidi Luv as she takes us down the rabbit hole of conspiracies, unusual ideas, esoteric exploration and occult decoding. Heidi started her podcast The Unfiltered Rise to help share her exit journey out of the LDS/Mormon church after 34 years. On her fight to freedom she became quite the researcher and found the Occult beginning of the LDS church. She now has a true love for Christ and she declares that religion is not the answer, God is the answer.Heidi's linktree: https://linktr.ee/unfilteredrisepodHeidi's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4pzqktZNcGNZhzAeF9Zd3Q?nd=1SUPPORT THE SHOWBuy Me A Coffee http://buymeacoffee.com/DangerousinfopodcastSubscribeStar http://bit.ly/42Y0qM8Super Chat Tip https://bit.ly/42W7iZHBuzzsprout https://bit.ly/3m50hFTPaypal http://bit.ly/3Gv3ZjpPatreon http://bit.ly/3G3Visit our affiliate, GrubTerra to get 20% off your next order of pet treats: https://bit.ly/436YLVZ SMART is the acronym that was created by technocrats that have setup the "internet of things" that will eventually enslave humanity to their needs. Support the showLeave Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/DangerousInfoWebsite https://www.dangerousinfopodcast.com/Discord chatroom: https://discord.gg/8feGHQQmwgEmail the show dangerousinfopodcast@protonmail.comJoin mailing list http://bit.ly/3Kku5Yt GrubTerra Pet Treats https://bit.ly/436YLVZ Watch LiveYouTube https://www.youtube.com/@DANGEROUSINFOPODCASTRumble https://bit.ly/4q1Mg7Z Twitch https://www.twitch.tv/dangerousinfopodcastPilled.net https://pilled.net/profile/144176Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DangerousInfoPodcast/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dangerousinfo/Twitter https://twitter.com/jaymz_jesseYouTube https://bit.ly/436VExnFacebook https://bit.ly/4gZbjVa Send stuff: Jesse Jaymz, PO Box 541, Clarkston, MI 48347

Send us a Positive Review!Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part II of III]In today's episode Valerie and guest researcher Jeff Strong explore why people in the same LDS congregation can experience church so differently, depending on where they are in their faith journey. They introduce Jeff's model of six faith mindsets—seekers, cultivators, protectors, avoiders, connectors, and explorers—each representing valid and meaningful ways of engaging faith. The problem? That many of these healthy and normal ways of engaging with one's faith journey are pathologized within the LDS culture at both local and general levels. Valerie and Jeff hope that research like Jeff's and platforms like Latter Day Struggles will place growth where it actually belongs--as normal, natural, and precisely what each of us are here on this earth to do. Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and Welcome00:22 – Series Overview and Jeff's Background01:18 – Exploring Church Demographics and Tensions02:45 – Review of Previous Episode04:00 – Cultural Causes of Tension05:30 – The Weight of Disaffiliation07:00 – Research Methodology and Data Collection07:58 – Strengths of LDS Culture09:45 – Personal Reflections on Community11:35 – Weaknesses of LDS Culture13:20 – The Soil Metaphor for Culture15:00 – The River Metaphor: Rigidity vs. Chaos17:10 – The Impact of Cultural Rigidity18:45 – The Struggle for Belonging20:09 – Stages of Faith Development22:00 – Simplicity and Complexity Explained23:45 – Perplexity and Harmony Explained25:30 – Faith Journeys and Community Reactions27:00 – The Pain of Being Misunderstood28:22 – Personal Faith Journeys29:47 – The Garden of Eden Metaphor30:47 – Pathologizing Growth in Faith32:00 – The Need for Community Support33:09 – Community and Belonging33:52 – Brian McLaren's Model in Scriptures35:30 – The Arc of Human Spiritual Growth37:25 – Understanding Different Faith Mindsets39:00 – Disparities in Perceptions of Christ-Centeredness40:30 – The Loneliness of Nonconformity42:04 – Introducing the Six Segments44:00 – Descriptions of Each Segment46:00 – The Dynamic Nature of Faith Mindsets47:00 – Encouragement for Self-Reflection48:24 – Conclusion and Next StepsSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie's Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

Welcome to Part 26 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series! In this episode, we continue our deep dive into Chapter 22 of John Turner's new biography, Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet, as the story moves to the founding of Nauvoo, Illinois in 1840 –a fresh start for the Latter-day Saints and a turning point in Joseph Smith's theology and authority.We explore the emergence of baptism for the dead, one of the most distinctive doctrines introduced in Nauvoo, and how Joseph Smith framed proxy ordinances as answers to grief, death, and eternal family bonds. From New Testament passages to Adam Clarke's biblical commentary, we examine how this doctrine developed, why the Saints embraced it so enthusiastically, and how it eventually became tied to the temple.This episode also covers the doctrine of re-baptism, a ritual that allowed faithful members to recommit repeatedly, and what this reveals about early Mormon ideas of salvation, renewal, and belonging. We also introduce one of the most controversial figures of the Nauvoo period: John C. Bennett –a charismatic leader with a scandalous past whose rise and fall would have lasting consequences for Nauvoo, Joseph Smith, and the Church's political and legal standing.Along the way, we discuss Nauvoo's utopian hopes, strange theological ideas, spiritual experimentation, the growing power of the Nauvoo militia (and Joseph Smith), and the seeds of opposition that will eventually lead to Joseph Smith's death. Join us in the next episode for our discussion on Polygamy!Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Appio Hunter, whose early life as a Portuguese-speaking Mormon kid, his journey through conversion therapy, and his eventual path to love, self-acceptance, and healing make for one of the most profound LGBTQ+ Mormon Stories ever shared on this channel.Raised between Southern California and Utah by a Brazilian mother and a father with deep pioneer-era lineage, Appio knew from age four that he was different. By adolescence, he recognized he was gay –just as he was absorbing the harsh anti-gay rhetoric embedded in Mormon culture of the era. What followed was years of masking, spiritual turmoil, self-hatred, and the crushing belief that he needed to be “fixed.”Appio was eventually ushered into LDS-supported Reparative Therapy, including talk therapy, group sessions, “baseball therapy,” and even a type of 12-step program designed to eliminate same-sex attraction. This path led him all the way to the early 1990s offices of senior LDS General Authorities –including Russell M. Nelson and Henry B. Eyring –where he was held up as a "success story" of conversion therapy.Beneath the surface of being the “poster boy” for Reparative Therapy, the cost was devastating: self-loathing, loneliness, suicidal ideation, and the tragic loss of peers who didn't survive the program. Ultimately, Appio's journey brought him toward authenticity and real love.This is a story of survival, identity, love, and liberation –a must-watch for anyone navigating faith transitions, LGBTQ+ issues, or the legacy of Mormon conversion therapy.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions