Podcast appearances and mentions of melissa inouye

This week, we're sharing a conversation with Phil Barlow about his new book, published by Faith Matters, called A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century. If that sounds familiar, it may be because Phil published the first volume back in 1986. That original collection included essays by Eugene England, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, Francine Bennion, Richard Bushman, and others—each exploring what it means to live a spiritually and intellectually honest life within the Latter-day Saint tradition.As Phil points out, challenges to faith are not new. Thoughtful people were wrestling with difficult questions decades ago in ways that still have power today. But, as he says, “the world has turned some” since then. The 2025 edition brings in a new generation of scholars and voices—Thomas McConkie, Melissa Inouye, Fiona Givens, Ben Schilaty, among others—who speak to today's distinctive challenges while honoring the wisdom and foundation of those who came before.At the heart of both volumes is an urgent and beautiful question: How can we hold together the integrities of our minds and our hearts and our spirits? That question—its weight, complexity, and quiet hope—sits at the center of this conversation today.Phil brings so much humility and clarity, and in this episode we get to hear a little about what's changed in his own faith, about the wisdom of surrendering the need to know, and why he still finds the Latter-day Saint tradition compelling, human, and a spiritual home he continues to choose with both heart and mind.We're so grateful to Phil for this conversation, and we hope you love it as much as we did. With that, here's Phil Barlow.Links for the show notes:Purchase the book through Bookshop.org (https://bookshop.org/a/108982/9781953677242) Amazon (https://amzn.to/4mgJsCf) or anywhere you get your books. Get a free look inside the book on our website: https://www.faithmatters.org/s/a-thoughtful-faith-vol-2

I really appreciated the writings of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye, as she was such a powerful women scholar and writer in the Church. A few months before her passing, I read her final book, titled “Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance.” I was profoundly impacted by the book and Melissa's vulnerability in her writing. I never met her personally but read her work on women and religion. She passed away in April of 2024 at 44 years of age. When I read hard copies of books, I highlight them and have an assistant type them up, so I have 12 pages of notes! I thought I would share some of the passages I really appreciate. Link to Melissa's book.

Throughout her study of the love and encouragement of God to the early Saints, Dr. Ford explores how we can encourage divorced Saints and the beginnings of the restoration of the work for the dead.SHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastDC206ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastDC206FRGerman: https://tinyurl.com/podcastDC206DEPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastDC206PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastDC206ESYOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/jn7R2u0_xqsALL EPISODES/SHOW NOTESfollowHIM website: https://www.followHIMpodcast.comFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookWEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletterSOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE00:00 - Part 2 - Dr. Taunalyn Ford05:02 D&C 8 - The spirit of revelation07:11 Susquehanna River important to Korean Church History09:32 Dr. Melissa Inouye and Mosiah 1814:26 Fear not an embrace revelation18:46 The Lord speaks to us in our language21:41 D&C 8:2-11 - It will make sense in our mind23:18 D&C 9:1-3 - Surprising gifts30:46 D&C 9:11-14 - Heavenly Parents masters of damage control33:19 Elizabeth Ann Whitmer and discipleship37:43 Being a divorced member of the Church44:11 Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India and dating Jesus48:08 “Peacemakers Wanted” by President Russell M Nelson50:17 Redeeming the dead and redeeming the past58:09 The Lord's work is in every clime.1:01:22  End of Part 2 - Dr. Taunalyn FordThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsAmelia Kabwika : Portuguese Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com

Today, we're resharing an interview we loved with Astrid Tuminez, who we're excited to be hosting as a speaker at Restore this year. Astrid is the President of Utah Valley University and an absolute delight to talk with and listen to. She's full of stories, humor, and deep insights that made our time with her pass way too quickly.This interview actually came about because Astrid wrote an essay in Melissa Inouye and Kate Holbrook's new book Every Needful Thing. We loved Astrid's essay and knew we wanted to get to know her better.Astrid has an absolutely fascinating and unique story. She grew up in the slums of the Philippines, but along with her siblings, was discovered to have an exceedingly bright intellect and was offered a free place at one of the most prestigious and expensive Catholic schools in the area. As a child, she was, religiously, a Catholic, but felt that she was always brimming with questions that were being hushed. When she eventually met the Latter-day Saint missionaries, it was a different experience — they gave her a new framework to think about the world, and weren't afraid to at least try to answer her questions.Astrid's pursuit of education eventually took her to the United States, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in international relations and Russian literature from Brigham Young University. She later earned a master's degree from Harvard University in Soviet Studies and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science. Before becoming President of UVU, Astrid spent many years in leadership in the corporate, non-profit, and academic worlds.What we maybe loved most about Astrid was that her unique perspectives make the world of faith and intellect seem expansive, exciting, and adventurous — even full of mystery. She's found spiritual insight and even practice well outside of Mormonism while simultaneously keeping that “fixed foot,” in the Restored Gospel. In a real way, she's living Joseph Smith's injunction to “receive truth, let it come from whence it may.”We want to send Astrid a huge thanks for coming on the show, and we really think you're going to love this one. And with that, we'll jump right in.

Dr. Melissa Inouye expounds upon accepting the difficult path, shouldering burdens, and accepting the Lord's will.GOFUNDME LINK FOR MELISSA'S FAMILYhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/7zjjr-help-melissas-familySHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21FRPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21ESYOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/luW1POvrzZwALL EPISODES/SHOW NOTESfollowHIM website: https://www.followHIMpodcast.comFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookWEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletterSOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE00:00 Part II–Dr. Melissa Inouye01:04 Mosiah 18:30 - Conversion and beautiful places 03:10 President Nelson” and Elder Wirthlin's Heroes of the Book of Mormon 04:40 Elder Eyring's “Our Hearts Knit as One”06:38 Mosiah 18:32 - Religious freedom and Kenya09:26 How do we help in a global church?10:53 Come into the fold of God12:26 Mosiah 19:7 - Wicked kings have feelings14:57 Mosiah 19:12 - Family loyalty15:57 Mosiah 21:1-5, 14 - Nephite afflictions17:06 Mosiah 21:14-15 - Humility and God's mercy19:36 Mosiah 21:13-14 - Accepting hard things & Kate Holbrook21:42 Mosiah 24:15 - Chris Clark and accepting the path before you23:06 Mosiah 21:16-17, 33- By degrees and patience25:50 Mosiah 21:14 Prayers answered through others27:23 Dr Inouye's Chinese family in Utah29:25 President Jones and acting on a prompting31:30 Mosiah 24:8-15 Why does this happen to me?36:09 Mosiah 24:17-19 Suffering40:25 Write your own history41:48 Saints in India44:19 Mosiah 24:24-25 - Keep going46:08 Dr. Inouye's testimony 50:32 End of Part II– Dr. Melissa InouyeThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.comSend us a comment.

Why does Mosiah 18 hold such significance? Dr. Melissa Inouye's profound insights of Saints around the world keeping their baptismal covenants.GOFUNDME LINK FOR MELISSA'S FAMILYhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/7zjjr-help-melissas-familySHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21FRPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastBM21ESYOUTUBEhttps://youtu.be/rG_Aofvyea0ALL EPISODES/SHOW NOTESfollowHIM website: https://www.followHIMpodcast.comFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookWEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletterSOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcast00:00 Special Announcement - Dr. Melissa Inouye - Part 100:42 Background to this week's reading02:40 Introduction of Dr. Melissa Inouye05:21 Covenants with God07:26 Mosiah 18:8-10 - Abinadi's words coming to fruition 09:14 Saints making baptismal covenants in Nigeria11:47 Elder Chrisofferson's “Why the Church?”13:19 John attends a ward that speaks Spanish15:32 President Hinckley in Honduras16:46 Church History Department's 500-word stories 18:31 A Saint in Guatemala21:06 Saints in the Democratic Republic of the Congo23:30 A Saint in Angola 27:55 John's house burns29:54 Dr. Inouye's ward and cancer34:04 A Saint in Rwanda35:58 Mosiah 18:9 - Personal redemption37:19 God never abandons us40:50 Dr. Inouye's Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance43:39 Nine things to fix our culture46:58 Mosiah 18:20 - How do we create a global church?49:14 It is always 1830 somewhere51:27 The Soweto Branch57:01 End of Part 1 - Dr. Melissa InouyeThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.comSend us a comment.

Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye, our longtime associate at the Maxwell Institute, died on April 23rd, 2024. We join with many in mourning her loss and celebrating the remarkable legacy she left in the form of books, articles, and lots and lots of podcasts and videos. Melissa was a gifted speaker, warm, funny, faithful, and so smart.We wanted to re-release some of the Maxwell Institute interviews and lectures she delivered over the years. We are delighted to re-release her 2019 Living Faith Lecture, which she titled Making Zion. Melissa delivered this lecture here at BYU to celebrate the recent publication of her memoir, entitled Crossings. I hope you'll be as moved by Melissa's words in this lecture as I was.

Melissa Wei-Sing Inouye, our longtime associate at the Maxwell Institute, died on April 23rd, 2024. We join with many in mourning her loss and celebrating the remarkable legacy she left in the form of books, articles, and lots and lots of podcasts and videos. Melissa was a gifted speaker, warm, funny, faithful, and so smart.We wanted to re-release some of the Maxwell Institute interviews and lectures she delivered over the years. In this 2023 interview on her book, Sacred Struggle, Finding Christ on the Path of Most Resistance, Melissa and I talked about the ways that our collective struggles to build Zion can help us grow toward our divine potential. I especially loved her insight that over the course of history, many people have had visions and seen angels. What's remarkable about our faith tradition is not only its supernatural origins, but the fact that our church has held together over generations. We've somehow figured out how to get along well enough to survive and grow. And that is remarkable. Melissa attributes this strength to our doctrine of Zion, and she invites us to update our idea of service to include listening carefully to our brothers and sisters who may be different from us. I hope you enjoy this interview with our beloved friend, the one of a kind, Melissa Inouye.

Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye, our longtime associate at the Maxwell Institute, died on April 23rd, 2024. We join with many in mourning her loss and celebrating her remarkable legacy. Melissa was a gifted speaker, warm, funny, faithful, and so smart. We wanted to re-release some of the Maxwell Institute interviews and lectures she delivered over the years.In this 2019 interview hosted by Blair Hodges, Melissa talks about her book, Crossings, a bald Asian American Latter-day Saint woman scholar's ventures through life, death, cancer, and motherhood, not necessarily in that order. Crossings is my personal favorite of Melissa's many writings. As you'll hear in this interview, Melissa combined a scholar's understanding of how institutions work.With the believer's experience of the trust and belonging in a Latter-day Saint ward, to me, this is what made Melissa's perspective on our religious life together so powerful. I hope you enjoy this interview with a consummate disciple-scholar, Melissa Inouye.

Melissa Inouye Ep. 326 The Cultural Hall With her unique mix of humor and candor, empathy and idealism, Inouye draws upon her academic training in Chinese history and religious studies, her rich cultural heritage, her experiences raising a family in... The post ***Rebroadcast*** In Memorian Episode 326 Melissa Inouye appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Identity, creating understanding, covenants, a worldwide Church, faith crises, change in the Church—these are topics Melissa Inouye, a scholar, addresses in an effort to explain how she has “found the fruits of this life (the life of a Latter-day Saint) to be worthwhile—costly, to be sure, but also rich and nourishing, a source of deep joy.” To honor the life of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye we are revisiting this episode from the All In archives. This episode originally aired on July 10, 2019. 1:51- A Latter-day Saint Seven Days a Week2:56- The Church Influencing Worldview6:38- Lessons Learned From Being a Missionary12:14- Belonging and Identity18:44- Wins and Losses20:57- Creating Unity in the Church23:41- Helping Amidst Faith Crises29:56- An Evolving Church34:48- Cancer36:47- What Does It Mean to Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ? “I believe that Christ is here in the Church and I've felt the power of God. And so, having had those experiences, I am absolutely committed to being where I am.” —Melissa Wei-Tsing InouyeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have been invited by senior Church leaders (and continuously in scripture by our Savior, Jesus Christ) to build Zion by creating communities of unity and belonging. On the podcast today, guest Jared Harding joins me to discuss how male allyship is critical to building Zion. Jared, who holds a master's degree in leadership and organizational behavior, shares how his interest in allyship began as he more fully understood the doctrine of Heavenly Mother and women's divine potential. We then discuss how men can move from avoiding or even accomodating gender issues to creatively advancing women's standing in the Church by sharing power, influence, and decision-making ability.    Challenge: Share this episode with the male leaders in your Zion community.    Resources: “Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance” by Melissa Inouye  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1639931872/ref=ewc_pr_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1  “At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women” edited by Kate Holbrook and Jennifer Reeder (great resource for quotes by women throughout Church history)  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/church-historians-press/at-the-pulpit?lang=eng  Learn More:   Learn more about Dr. Susan Madsen at ⁠⁠www.susanrmadsen.com⁠⁠    Sign up to receive monthly emails from Dr. Madsen about updated research, resources, and events at www.utwomen.org. These can be helpful whether you are in Utah or beyond.    Follow Unleashing Sister Saints on social media:    Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/UnleashingSisterSaints⁠⁠    Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unleashingsistersaints/⁠⁠    Contact Me:   I love hearing from listeners! Email me with questions, comments, or suggestions at ⁠⁠⁠unleashingsistersaints@gmail.com.⁠⁠⁠ 

Buy Melissa's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Struggle-Seeking-Christ-Resistance/dp/1639931872/As we've gotten to know her over the past few years, we've noticed that Melissa Inouye, in any group, has a remarkable way of reorienting a conversation. She tends to be the one with the eyes to see “the least of these.” She has a profound and sincere empathy for those who are in deep struggle, those on the edges, the marginalized, the looked-over, the passed-by. When these people and their difficulties are invisible to others, she gently call others' attention to them as well. That uniquely empathetic perspective she brings has found a beautiful expression in her new book Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance. It's a “treatise on trials” — one in which Melissa asks the deepest, most difficult questions without shying away from them, including those around her own experience with cancer.The book, and the conversation we had with Melissa, deal with struggle itself, but also with its second-order effects: how can struggle be alchemized into connectedness — into Zion — instead of driving us apart? Who gets to assign meaning to struggle? Is there a way to avoid pain in a community, or is it built into the experience?Melissa received her Ph.D. from Harvard in 2011 and became a Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She's now working as a historian for the Church History department.We were grateful, as we always are, to benefit from her deep wisdom born of lived experience.

Life's resistance is the topic of my guest Melissa Inouye's new book, Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance. Dr. Inouye works in the Church History Department, where she specializes in global Christianity and the global Latter-day Saint tradition. Her new book draws on both her professional expertise and her personal experience to think about why and how and what to do when life is just … hard. The book is divided into three sections: struggles that result from human bodies and agency, the sacredness of our fellow creatures, and the imperative to build Zion. In each case, Melissa shows how sources of resistance can transform us into beings more like our Heavenly Parents--wiser, more loving, and more aware of the entire human family. At the same time, she manages never to romanticize or minimize suffering. She's honest about anguish, but she's tenacious in clinging to our vision of Zion. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is Dr. Inouye's love of the scriptures. She turns often to scripture for truth and encouragement, and she has a way of finding new meaning in familiar words. I decided to organize our conversation around a few of the most interesting scripture discussions in the book, and I think you'll be surprised and enlightened at what she's found.

No one likes pain or poverty, bigotry or war, frustration or failure, disease or doubt, joblessness or homelessness or loneliness. That includes this week's “Mormon Land” guest, Melissa Inouye. The Latter-day Saint scholar has endured more than her share of heartache. She inexplicably lost her hair at a young age and then, at 37, the marathon-running mother of four, was diagnosed with colon cancer, an affliction she has been suffering from and through ever since. But as Inouye reminds herself and Latter-day Saints in her new book, “Sacred Struggle: Seeking Christ on the Path of Most Resistance,” a carefree, trouble-free world is not what humanity signed up for. An easy earthly existence, under Mormon theology, was Satan's plan, not God's. Divine design, Inouye writes, calls instead for agency, personal growth, compassion and caring for others, and “living a life full of life” — the good and the bad, the ups and the downs, the hopes and the hopelessness — as God's children learn to be more like their Heavenly Parents by following and finding Jesus. On this week's show, Inouye discusses this “sacred struggle” — including how she approaches the sometimes-problematic past found in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, her hopes for women in the faith's still-present patriarchy, and how she and other members find joy in imperfect lives, imperfect bodies, imperfect families, imperfect communities, an imperfect church and an imperfect world.

Trigger Warning: this episode has mild discussion of suicide. In this episode, Kelsie and Brooke learn from Dr. Melissa Inouye, a historian of modern China and global Christianity about a woman named "True Way" whose life story crossed through Imperial China to the Cultural Revolution through three distinct and unique periods of Chinese history. Inouye's research focuses on the history of global charismatic Christian movements, including the True Jesus Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her recent book, China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church (Oxford 2019) explores the relationship between miraculous power and bureaucratic power in the history of a Chinese Christian Pentecostal church. In addition to publications on the history of modern China, she has also published on topics such as global Mormonism and women's participation in religious movements. This episode is so fascinating. Let's dive in! Get ⁠⁠FREE Learning Materials⁠⁠ Support the ⁠⁠Remedial Herstory Project⁠⁠ Enroll in our ⁠⁠Master Classes⁠⁠ Register for our ⁠⁠Summer Educator's Retreat⁠⁠ SHOP ⁠⁠Remedial Herstory Gear

We've been really excited to share this week's interview with you. Our guest was Astrid Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University. Astrid is an absolute delight to talk with and listen to. She's full of stories, humor, and deep insights that made our time with her pass way too quickly.This interview actually came about because Astrid wrote an essay in Melissa Inouye and Kate Holbrook's new book Every Needful Thing. We loved Astrid's essay and knew we wanted to get to know her better.Astrid has an absolutely fascinating and unique story. She grew up in the slums of the Philippines, but along with her siblings, was discovered to have an exceedingly bright intellect and was offered a free place at one of the most prestigious and expensive Catholic schools in the area. As a child, she was, religiously, a Catholic, but felt that she was always brimming with questions that were being hushed. When she eventually met the Latter-day Saint missionaries, it was a different experience — they gave her a new framework to think about the world, and weren't afraid to at least try to answer her questions.Astrid's pursuit of education eventually took her to the United States, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in international relations and Russian literature from Brigham Young University. She later earned a master's degree from Harvard University in Soviet Studies and a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in political science. Before becoming President of UVU, Astrid spent many years in leadership in the corporate, non-profit, and academic worlds.What we maybe loved most about Astrid was that her unique perspectives make the world of faith and intellect seem expansive, exciting, and adventurous — even full of mystery. She's found spiritual insight and even practice well outside of Mormonism while simultaneously keeping that “fixed foot” in the Restored Gospel. In a real way, she's living Joseph Smith's injunction to “receive truth, let it come from whence it may.”

In the 1830s, Mormonism's founder, Joseph Smith, offered Latter-day Saints an expansive view of education. In his mind, temple (a religious space) and school (a secular place) were linked in a joint spiritual and intellectual venture. Smith urged followers in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint to gather “every needful thing” to further that kind of learning. Now, writer/editor Melissa Inouye and the late Kate Holbrook, who directed women's history for the church, have gathered two dozen essays by Latter-day Saint women wrestling with what it means to “flourish in a world of complexity and abundance.” The book is titled “Every Needful Thing: Essays on the Life of the Mind and the Heart.” On this week's show, two of the authors, Farina King of the University of Oklahoma, and Tanya Wendt Samu of New Zealand's University of Auckland, discuss their views of the Book of Mormon, seen by some as an exploration of racism, and their identities as Indigenous scholars and Latter-day Saints as they navigate a life of learning and a life of faith.

Dr. Melissa Inouye, someone I deeply admire and respect, joins us to talk about a new book she and Kate Holbook (who died in August 2022) edited called “Every Needful Thing: Essays on the Life of the Mind and the Heart.” The book is a collection of twenty-two essays from accomplished academic and professional Latter-day Saint women. Melissa talks about why she and Kate decided to create this book, why this book is needed, and who is the audience. Melissa talks about gospel principles of belonging, learning, extending the stakes of Zion, and the systematic societal imbalances that work against us hearing and valuing women's stories. The book is published by Deseret Book and BYU Maxwell Institute. Melissa also talks about how the School of the Prophets is a living framework for the restoration and how D&C 88 is bases for this book. Melissa also shares some of her personal story from a feeling in High School of being drawn to academia—and how that became a reality of her life—a story that gives perspective and hope to others starting their journey. Melissa also talks directly to those working to stay in the Church who have honest concerns about historical and/or current issues. This was a powerful part of the podcast. I encourage all Latter-day Saints to listen to this podcast and read this book. It helps us create Zion. Thank you, Melissa, Kate, and all the Latter-day Saint women, involved in the book and all your combined efforts throughout our Church. Your work is needed and appreciated. Podcast Links Kate Holbrook's obituary: https://www.larkinmortuary.com/obituary/view/kate-holbrook--94/ Book Links: Deseret Book: https://deseretbook.com/p/every-needful-thing Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1639931260 Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar's Ventures Through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood: https://www.amazon.com//dp/194439480X

Today, you're going to hear a really special episode. It's a conversation with Melissa Inouye and Kate Holbrook that took place last summer, not long before Kate's passing in August 2022. We spoke with Kate and Melissa about an amazing new book that they co-edited called Every Needful Thing: Essays on the Life of the Mind and the Heart.In their book, Kate and Melissa gathered so many remarkable Latter-day Saint women who are true leaders in their fields, including academics, psychology, medicine, law, and many more. These women also represent countries around the world; it's a truly diverse book and gives wonderful insight into how broad the definition of “Latter-day Saint” can be.Kate and Melissa talked through so many important questions with us, including how we can belong exactly as we are and how we may have more choice in the matter of belonging than we think we do; how it's important to be thoughtful as we think about change and progress in a global Church; and perhaps most importantly, how we can reconcile both mind and spirit as we live our lives. As the book's description puts it: “Instead of pushing us to choose between faith and reason, love and law, truth within the restored gospel and truth in the wider world of God's children, these writers urge us to seek ‘anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report' and learn to live in a world of complexity and abundance.”Melissa received AB and PhD degrees from Harvard University. She is a senior lecturer in Asian studies at the University of Auckland and a historian at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kate received a BA from Brigham Young University, an MTS from Harvard Divinity School, and a PhD from Boston University. At the time of her death, Kate was the Academic Outreach Director at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she focused on women's history.We're really grateful that we got to hold this conversation with these two, especially at the time we did. Kate was an influence for beauty, truth, and goodness wherever she went, including on us at Faith Matters. And for those interested in furthering Kate's work — when she passed away, a scholarship was set up in her honor, which anyone can donate to at  https://www.kateholbrook.org/scholarship/This new book, Every Needful Thing is available on Amazon and at Deseret Book.

In this third episode, Kim Landeen and Carolina Allen discuss the biodiversity of faith with Melissa Inouye. “If people have described religion as trying to keep lighting in a bottle, charisma is the lightning and organization is the bottle. Kind of a balance between the two: if you have too much bottle, you can't see the lightning, and if you have too much lightning you break the bottle.” – Melissa Inouye “I believe that God created the world, and I believe that … we can draw from the natural world, created by God, some principles, and just looking at the world it seems pretty significant that we have biodiversity that seems to be the key to making a lot of things work.” – Melissa Inouye “I believe that God has also created us with spiritual biodiversity.” – Melissa Inouye “One of the ways we start becoming better as people is … developing our understanding of our fellow beings and becoming a little more mature in being able to understand goodness in other people  and faith and to see that goodness and to learn from other people. I think that God has … nudged us toward that trajectory through creating a world with incredible spiritual and physical biodiversity.” – Melissa Inouye “Everyone has a lot to learn, and we can learn so much from people who teach us in different ways.” – Melissa Inouye “Lean in to the ways that religion holds together the fabric of societies.” – Melissa Inouye “Religion is a motive source in many ways for a lot of social change and social cohesion.” – Melissa Inouye The Way of Openness: https://civicfriendship.org/the-way-of-oppenness/ The Ten Conventions for Dialogue:       Be Honest       Be Kind       Listen Well       Share the Floor       Presume Goodwill       Acknowledge Differences       Answer the Tough Questions       Give Credit Where Credit is Due       Speak Only For Yourself   Keep Private Things Private “My faith has literally saved my life. I had a really scary diagnosis… I think one of the reasons why I've been able to beat really bad odds for such a long time is because even when I myself didn't have faith or hope in myself, there were other people that I could rely on who did and I think that the body responds to that.” – Melissa Inouye BioDiversity Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QsPERjmBH0 Every needful Thing; Book preorder: https://deseretbook.com/p/every-needful-thing?variant_id=200906-paperback   Melissa Inouye works as a historian at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is also an honorary Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Auckland. She is currently researching the life of Chieko Okazaki, a Japanese American Latter-day Saint who was the first person of color to hold a prominent general-level position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Carolina Allen is the founder and leader of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Carolina holds a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Utah with an emphasis in cultural religions and philosophy of science. Her inspirational and philosophical work has been presented at various international U.N. conferences. She is a native of Brazil, and a fluent trilingual. She and her husband Kawika are parents to 7 children. She is an avid soccer fan and had a brief career as a semi-professional player.   Kim Landeen is a founding member and a Global Team Director of Big Ocean Women, the international maternal feminist organization representing perspectives of faith, family, and motherhood throughout civil society. Kim has a deep love for the natural world. She lives in Alaska with her family where she enjoys spending the slower paced life with her children combing the beach for treasures, gardening, picking wild berries, and spending rainy lazy days making bread, reading books, and watching movies. She is an ecotour captain in Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where she helps educate her clients on the relationship between humanity and the larger eco-environment. In addition to her love of nature, she also enjoys studying theology and the inner workings of the soul as well as tracking global political and social movements. Her love for God, people, and this world drives her to continually seek to improve her own circumstances and the circumstances of all those with whom she comes in contact.   

This week we are joined by Alan Parrish, an emeritus professor of religious education at Brigham Young University, and Melissa Inouye, an historian in the Church History Department. First we discuss Clemencia Pivaral's journey to the Mesa Arizona Temple from her native home in Guatemala and the significance of such a journey. We then talk about John A. Widtsoe, a prominent recurring character in the book and his role in facilitating a temple for Europe.

Angela Hallstrom, a writer and former member of the Saints team, and Melissa Inouye, a historian in the Church History Department, join us to discuss the lives of two Latter-day Saint women in the years after the Second World War. We also discuss the different ways that Saints is used by readers and why we need a history such as this.

"He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guest Brad Wilcox, BYU professor of ancient scripture, to discuss parts of Isaiah in the Old Testament. Also discussed is Jesus Christ who took upon himself our sins and sorrows and how we can make room for our brothers and sisters in Christ. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Comfort Ye My People." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guest Michelle Craig, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, to discuss parts of Isiah in the Old Testament. Also discussed is the hope of Israel and how we can be God's servants. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guests Aubrey and Tim Chaves, Faith Matters Executive Team Members, to discuss Proverbs and Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. Also discussed is the value in listening to wisdom and pondering the path we travel. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guest Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to discuss the end of Psalms in the Old Testament. Also discussed sacred music in our lives related to praising the Lord. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Yet Will I Trust in Him." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guests Traci Rampton, Public Management/Consultant & Photographer, and Bret Bowcutt, Seminary Teacher/Principal at Northridge High School, to discuss Job in the Old Testament. Also discussed is When God hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold and what covenant to mourn? These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Thou Art Come...for Such a Time as This." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye as well as special guests Jean B. Bingham, Relief Society General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to discuss Esther in the Old Testament. Also discussed is how fasting demonstrates our dependence on the Lord. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye, as well as special guest Erin Holmes, to discuss how we can be healed spiritually by looking to Jesus Christ, as well as how we can seek wisdom in our wanderings. Also discussed are the reasons for the forty-year sojourn of the Israelites, and the functions of personal and prophetic revelation. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Holiness to the Lord." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye, as well as special guests Dana Pike and Ben Hammond, to discuss the Lord's desire for us to become holy, as well as how we can understand the ancient tabernacle. Also discussed are the heavy presence of symbolism in ancient Israel, and the consecration of resources toward the building of sacred places. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"Surely the Lord Is in This Place." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye, as well as special guests Alex Boyé and Jennifer Reeder, to discuss how the temple connects us to heaven, as well as how the Savior can help us overcome discord in our families. Also discussed are personal sacred places and the phenomenon of polygamy in the Old Testament. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"The Covenant Is Renewed." Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Melissa Inouye, as well as special guest Shayne Anderson, to discuss the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah and its relevance to us, as well as how we can choose between immediate gratification and things of greater value. Also discussed are the importance of marriage as a covenant, and the story of Jacob, Esau, and the selling of the birthright. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth." Come Follow Up host, Ben Lomu, meets with our guests, Melissa Inouye, Andrew Skinner, and Dr. Jamie Jensen, to discuss the roles of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the creation and why the Old Testament matters today. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

"This Is My Work and My Glory." Come Follow Up host, Ben Lomu, meets with our guests, Melissa Inouye and Brent L. Top, to discuss the importance of the books of Abraham and Moses and God's work and glory. These discussions correlate with the weekly Come, Follow Me resource from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With participation from the live studio audience and engagement via social media for viewers at home, Come Follow Up complements your personal and family scripture study.

There are some books you read that change the way you see the world. That was my experience reading the amazing recent memoirs by these two scholars and authors, who happen to be uncle and niece. Join us for a conversation about Mormonism, Zen Buddhism, raking, and cancer. Charles Shirō Inouye is Professor of Japanese Literature and Visual Culture at Tufts University and the author of the new memoir Zion Earth Zen Sky (Maxwell Institute, 2021). Melissa Inouye is a historian in the LDS Church History Department and the author of Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar's Ventures through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood (Maxwell Institute, 2019).

The season 2 finale is here! Jenna looks back and highlights the greatest hits from the Safe or Out segment, where each guest gives their hot takes on all things softball - from bat flips to game day style, rules of the game, softball culture, and more. Plus, she breaks down the year in review and shares the last Foul Tip of the Week to help us get better. See you in season 3!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can you name five women from Church History? In this episode, Church historian and Harvard PhD Melissa Inouye shares the intentional effort to include Latter-day Saint women in the Church's Global Histories project, with a goal that more will know and learn their names and stories. She reminds listeners that because the majority of Church members live outside the United States, most of our history as a Church is also outside the United States. Sharing the stories of six faithful Latter-day Saint women from Nigeria, Mongolia, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Honduras, and South Korea, Melissa offers her perspective on how we can be strengthened and unified as we see “their” stories as “our” stories. Resources: Global Histories https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/landing/global-histories?lang=eng Latter-day Saint Women Podcast episode: Ryan Saltzgiver | Women of Faith: Stories from Global Histories https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/latter-day-saints-channel/listen/series/latter-day-saint-women/ryan-saltzgiver-women-of-faith-stories-from-global-histories?lang=eng Church History blog: Global Histories https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/global-histories?lang=eng

In this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez, and Victor Anderson react to the news that the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals sites will be predetermined. Eric talks with Fordham Head Coach Melissa Inouye about the Ram's great season thus far. Eric also talks with former Baylor great and current SEC Network plus color commentator Megan Turk. The two discuss the great season the Arkansas Razorbacks are having, and the two preview the big Arkansas and Alabama series coming up.

In this edition of In The Circle, Eric Lopez, and Victor Anderson react to the news that the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals sites will be predetermined. Eric talks with Fordham Head Coach Melissa Inouye about the Ram's great season thus far. Eric also talks with former Baylor great and current SEC Network plus color commentator Megan Turk. The two discuss the great season the Arkansas Razorbacks are having, and the two preview the big Arkansas and Alabama series coming up.

Jenna is joined by Fordham Head Coach, 2019 Atlantic 10 champion and Coach of the Year, and UNLV alum, Melissa Inouye! They talk about the ins and outs of running a Division I softball program - her coaching philosophy, recruiting tips and insight, supporting players’ mental health and well-being, the importance of alumni, plus the must-knows about her home state of Hawaii.

In this episode we introduce you to a story about a man who was seeking for the true church of Christ. A man who prayed and then reported miraculous visitations. He recorded revelations about the true nature of God and how the true church should be built up, ultimately inspiring a large body of converts. If all of this sounds familiar, here's the surprising part: This man started this particular movement in China in 1917. Melissa Inouye joins us to talk about a restorationist Christian movement in China, which continues to exist today despite strict Chinese control of religion. We're talking about her book, China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church. About the Guest Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye is author of the new book, China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church, from Oxford University Press. She received her Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University in 2011 and served as a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Auckland. She now works for the Church History Department with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The post China and the True Jesus Church, with Melissa Inouye [MIPodcast #114] appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.

The post MIPodcast—China and the True Jesus Church, with Melissa Inouye [MIPodcast #114] appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.

This episode is part 2 of our mini-series we’re calling “The New Normal.”We spoke in Part 1 with Ashley Mae Hoiland a few weeks back. For this episode, we spoke with Melissa Inouye.Melissa’s been on our podcast before, and is one of our very favorite guests and people. After receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard in 2011, Melissa became a Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She’s now working for the Church History Department, and last year published a new book called “Crossings."In this conversation, Melissa shared with us her reflections on the crazy year we’ve had so far. The discussion we had was wide-ranging, and includes reflections on lockdown, home church, parenting, and even how we can use a lack of stability as a transformative experience.We’re really grateful Melissa came on the podcast and are excited to share her insights. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

This episode features Melissa Inouye, a self-proclaimed “bald Asian American Latter-day Saint woman scholar,” talking all about her “ventures through life, death, cancer and motherhood (not necessarily in that order)”—which happens to be the subtitle of her latest book, Crossings. It's part of the Maxwell Institute's Living Faith book series. About the Guest Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye received her Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University in 2011 and served as a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies at the University of Auckland. She previously served as an associate editor of the Mormon Studies Review and now works for the Church History Department with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is author of two books: China and the True Jesus: Charisma and Organization in a Chinese Christian Church (Oxford University Press) and the imposibly-titled Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar's Ventures through Life, Death, Cancer & Motherhood (Not Necessarily in that Order). The post Latter-day Saint scholar Melissa Inouye reflects on her many crossings [MIPodcast #111] appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.

The post MIPodcast—Latter-day Saint scholar Melissa Inouye reflects on her many crossings appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.

How do LDS works get canonized?  Should the King Follet Discourse be scripture?  What about other teachings of Joseph Smith or more recent prophets?  Lots of references in the show notes for this one. Check them out! The King Follett Discourse http://mldb.byu.edu/follett.htm Mormon Literature Online Anthology Sampler, Selections from various genres and periods of Mormon Literature http://mldb.byu.edu/mlitsamp.htm Wiki for the King Follett Discourse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_discourse Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith (1938) https://scriptures.byu.edu/tpjs/STPJS.pdf Gospel Principles, Ch. 47 Exaltation https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-47-exaltation Wiki standard works https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_works Wiki common consent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_consent Proclamations, declarations clarify, reaffirm LDS doctrine, by Julie Dockstader (includes quote from Edward J. Brandt) https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/1999-11-06/proclamations-declarations-clarify-reaffirm-lds-doctrine-121422 Proclamations of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, by Robert J. Matthews https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Proclamations_of_the_First_Presidency_and_the_Quorum_of_the_Twelve_Apostles Closing Remarks, by President Russell M. Nelson, Sunday Afternoon session, October 2019 General Conference (includes information about upcoming Spring 2020 General Conference) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/57nelson The Family, A Proclamation to the World https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family:_A_Proclamation_to_the_World Women across the globe hope to follow and change LDS Church, their families as they unleash their influence, by Karissa Neely (includes quotes by Melissa Inouye) https://www.heraldextra.com/special-section/lds/fall2019/the-global-power-of-women-in-the-lds-church/article_80c77d5f-8712-5011-b255-db29a6473dd4.html More by Melissa Inouye: Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar's Ventures Through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood (2019) https://amzn.to/32BKVJp David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory Prince and Wm. Robert Wright (2005) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_O._McKay_and_the_Rise_of_Modern_Mormonism “The perfect union of man and woman”: reclamation and collaboration in Joseph Smith’s theology making, by Fiona Givens https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V49N01_99.pdf Female Ritual Healing in Mormonism, by Jonathan A. Stapley and Kristine Wright.  Journal of Mormon History Vol. 37, No. 1, Winter 2011, pp 1-85 (see page 57) https://mormonhistoryassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Journal-of-Mormon-History-Vol.-37-Issue-1-2011.pdf

Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye chats with Meredith Nelson about her recent book, Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar's Ventures Through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood (Not Necessarily In That Order), published as part of the BYU Maxwell Institute's Living Faith series. Her book is a compilation of contemplative and scholarly essays on faith and the Church organization, of family newsletters, song lyrics, and playful doodles, and of letters to her still-young children. All of this blends together to form a picture of one bright and mighty Latter-day Saint life, refined to its current state by her discipline, by discipleship, and by a faith community that has challenged her, brought her casseroles, and taught her the holiness of humans. Melissa is currently on leave from her position at the University of Auckland to return to the United States with her husband and four children, as she continues her fight with cancer. She is now working at the Church History Department, documenting the global history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

The Interview:  “Dear Reader,” Melissa Inouye opens her memoir, “I’ve always been fuzzy about deadlines, but in May 2017 when I was diagnosed with colon cancer, everything snapped into focus: ‘Oh shoot!’ I’m going to die.’ Suddenly thinking about the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything seemed terribly urgent. To be more precise, the project of writing about life and its conundrums seemed terribly urgent, because my children are young. … When one contemplates the possibility of being entirely absent, a few letters do not seem enough. This is why I began to think about writing a book: a literary form of food storage. … a stash of thoughts. …” In this episode join Laura Harris Hales as she interviews Melissa Inouye about her perspectives on lived religion, the purpose of life, and what she has learned from studying global religious studies. She also discusses how to approach difficult topics with youth. Below are some pointers from Dr. Inouye: “Five Ways to Respond When the Youth [and Others] Ask Tough Questions” In many parts of our worldwide church, we are struggling to retain young people. The urgency of the issue can be seen in the numerous church-sponsored fora and addresses on issues like doubt and faith crisis.[1] Part of this difficulty is related to the global problem of accommodating fast-paced cultural change and generational shifts; part of it is related to the advent of the Information Age; and part of it may have to do with a fondness for certainty and aversion to questions in our local church cultures. Here I suggest that increased willingness to engage tough questions, as well as to be innovative and energetic in our responses, will create a renewed church culture in which young people—and indeed all who wrestle with hard questions—find the power and beauty of our collective church endeavor in today’s world Don’t dismiss them; take them seriously. The youth are the real investigators at church. They deserve thoughtful, respectful, loving answers. Remember, as Dieter F. Uchtdorf pointed out, the whole Church project started with a young person asking hard questions. As he put it, “I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions.” Hard questions open the door to inspiration and divine guidance. Be enthusiastic: “That’s a great question! I’m impressed that you asked!” We are trying to raise thoughtful, reflective young people, not robots. Help the youth see that the complexities and contradictions of the gospel can withstand rigorous exploration. We are not the Wizard of Oz. Things that are real and true can bear scrutiny. Remember that we are in the Information Age. As Elder Ballard says, “every possible point of view” on the Church, negative and positive, is available to the youth in a few clicks on their phone or computer. Educate yourself about hot-button topics by reading the Gospel Topics Essays, reading Saints, and checking out nuanced but faithful conversations such as the Big Questions Project at the Faith Matters Foundation. If you encounter new information or alternative views that make you uncomfortable, don’t panic. Give yourself time to develop a sense for evaluating which sources are reliable and also to develop empathy for people in their diverse situations. Information leads to knowledge which leads to understanding, though processes of sorting and refining require considerable effort. Understand that today’s youth are used to counting and comparing as a way to define equity and fairness. Take, for example, the awesome US women’s soccer team that has won numerous Olympic gold medals and World Cup championships. Everyone knows they rock. Everyone thinks it’s lame that the women are paid less than the men, who don’t win nearly as much. As observant youth sit in your congregation on Sunday and count how long women speak compared to how long men speak, or compare the roles of women and girls to the roles of men and boys within the service,

Identity, creating understanding, covenants, a worldwide Church, faith crises, change in the Church—these are topics Melissa Inouye, a scholar, addresses in an effort to explain how she has “found the fruits of this life (the life of a Latter-day Saint) to be worthwhile—costly, to be sure, but also rich and nourishing, a source of deep joy.” "I believe that Christ is here in the Church and I've felt the power of God. And so, having had those experiences, I am absolutely committed to being where I am." Show Notes: 1:51- A Latter-day Saint Seven Days a Week 2:56- The Church Influencing Worldview 6:38- Lessons Learned From Being a Missionary 12:14- Belonging and Identity 18:44- Wins and Losses 20:57- Creating Unity in the Church 23:41- Helping Amidst Faith Crises 29:56- An Evolving Church 34:48- Cancer 36:47- What Does It Mean to Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?

With her unique mix of humor and candor, empathy and idealism, Inouye draws upon her academic training in Chinese history and religious studies, her rich cultural heritage, her experiences raising a family in an international setting, her tangle with cancer,... The post Melissa Inouye Ep. 326 The Cultural Hall appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 16.3 million members worldwide, but it still is seen by many as an American, even Utah, religion. How does the faith become truly global and allow cultural differences in its congregations and worship while still maintaining unity? Latter-day Saint scholar Melissa Inouye not only thinks and writes a lot about that challenge, she has lived it as well. A teacher of Asian studies at the University of Auckland, Inouye has lived in Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Southern California, Boston, Utah and, of course, now, New Zealand, so she knows a thing or two firsthand about how Mormonism functions in the world. She addresses that topic, the place of women in the patriarchal faith, church as a “safe setting,” LGBTQ issues and more in this week’s “Mormon Land” and in her new book, “Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar’s Ventures Through Life, Death, Cancer and Motherhood (Not Necessarily in That Order).”

In this episode, Melissa Inouye talks with David Ostler about why people leave the Church, and the role members have to play when loved ones leave.David Ostler has lived and served on four continents as a bishop, stake president, mission president, and as a director of a Church historical site and visitors’ center. He has served three full-time and two church service missions, most recently in his home stake working with ward and stake leadership to understand why people no longer believe or no longer attend. With his wife, they have six wonderful children—some of whom no longer hold basic Latter-day Saint beliefs. He has written Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question, a book about how to minister to those who question which will be released in July 2019. He is a contributor to Faith Matters and Leading Saints.Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye is a scholar of Chinese history and global religious movements at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University. Her book, Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar’s Ventures through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood (not necessarily in that order), is forthcoming from Deseret Book in June 2019.

In this episode, Melissa Inouye and Jana Riess discuss what research and experience have taught them about why young Latter-day Saints become disaffected from the church, either temporarily or permanently, and how we might best respond to and support them during this process. Jana Riess is an independent researcher and author — her latest book, The Next Mormons, explores this big question. Melissa Inouye is a professor of Asian Studies at Auckland University in New Zealand.Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye is a scholar of Chinese history and global religious movements at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University. Her book, Crossings: A Bald Asian American Latter-day Saint Woman Scholar’s Ventures through Life, Death, Cancer, and Motherhood (not necessarily in that order), is available from Amazon and Deseret Book.

On the podcast so far we have often discussed events and their place in history and how they are remembered, however in today's podcast, we discussed a place. Tiananmen Square is well-known for the 1989 protest that ended tragically due to government intervention. Melissa Inouye, lecturer in Asian and Chinese Studies, places this event in the context of protests in Tiananmen Square and discusses the different ways this event has been remembered and forgotten in different parts of the world. Music by: Makeshift Locale. More information at www.tahuhukorero.com

Melissa Inouye is Chinese, Japanese American and grew up as a Mormon in California, aware of her cultural and ethnic differences from the general LDS population. Melissa reflects on the experience of being Asian in the LDS Church along with other reflections on Mormonism and God and spirituality in the religious margins.