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In this episode, David Snell and special guest Terryl Givens talk about perhaps the most controversial divide between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (colloquially, Mormons) and mainstream Christianity: The nature of God. Buckle up!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@keystoneldsInsta: https://www.instagram.com/keystonelds/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keystoneldsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/keystonelds/Website: https://www.keystonelds.com
This week, we're excited to share a special live episode recorded at the Compass Gallery in Provo, as part of our Big Questions series with Terryl Givens. Each month, Terryl is joined by a guest for a conversation about some of our biggest theological and historical questions.In this episode, he's joined by scholar and teacher Jared Halverson. Together, Terryl and Jared explore the question: can doubt be a spiritual gift? They consider how doubt might play a meaningful role in our spiritual development, and ask whether we can reclaim faith as something relational, built on loyalty, trust, and love — rather than a list of things we intellectually agree to.One of the most powerful ideas that emerges is that faith and doubt aren't opposites — in fact, they may need to coexist. It's often in the tension between the two that deeper discipleship takes root. Terryl and Jared also explore how the Restoration, at its core, invites us into a life of ongoing seeking and expanding, not one of perfect certainty.So if you've ever felt some fear, guilt, or shame around your questions — or worried that doubt means you're falling behind, out of reach, or off the path, this conversation is for you. We hope it offers a hopeful reframe: that the wrestle is sacred, that you're in good company, and that sometimes, this is exactly what spiritual growth looks like.And with that, here's Terryl Givens and Jared Halverson.
We're finishing The God Who Weeps by Terryl Givens and Fiona Givens. This is the first book in a trilogy of Mormon theology and we want to leave room in the year to get through it all. What does today hold for us? We start with a long discussion on the pre-mortal existence, transitioning into existence, then ascending to perfection thanks to Mormon beliefs. We didn't realize until pretty late in the project that the 5 chapters of the book are structured around the different stages of the Mormon Plan of Salvation (PoS), but it become clear pretty early on in our discussion. All told, the book is a marker of modern orthodox Mormon belief: pray, pay, and obey. They even have an ultra-conservative take on abortion that makes the official stance of the church seem like bleeding-heart liberals in comparison. Then we talk about The Meaning of Life, a Monty Python movie from 1983 that has a much more healthy way of looking at the random cosmic soup that led to human existence. We wrap with some happy news about the success of a slightly higher tax in Massachusetts that raised a bunch of money for all the things for which taxes are used. We round out by going through some delightful listener mail from the April Fools episode! MOGP: Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Happy News: https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/04/28/massachusetts-millionaires-tax-institute-policy-studies-newsletter Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here's the most recent episode on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/ Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
Polygamy, Racism and Indian affairs. These stories dominated Chapter 3 of American Zion by Benjamin E. Park, “Of empires and wars, 1846-69”. Come for the historical controversy but stay for the good vibes at the end! Link to our Face in Hat discord server! https://discord.gg/MnSMvKHvwh YouTube channel! Thanks Eric! https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat https://www.youtube.com/@FaceinHat/playlists Dialogue Podcast Network https://www.dialoguejournal.com/podcasts/ American Zion: A New History of Mormonism, by Benjamin E. Park https://www.amazon.com/American-Zion-New-History-Mormonism/dp/1631498657 Pioneer Children sang as they walk, words and music by: Elizabeth Fetzer Bates https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/songs/pioneer-children-sang-as-they-walked Legacy (1993) https://youtu.be/TZALT-fK9Ao?si=vN-6uAZMRRW485dD Walker Lewis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walker_Lewis Chief Walkara https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walkara The Angel (2024), directed by Barrett Burgin, Jess Burgin https://letterboxd.com/film/the-angel-2024/ Episode 1.8 Polygamy's Ghost https://faceinhat.podbean.com/e/episode-8-polygamy-s-ghost/ Commentary: New LDS curriculum flops in teaching eternal polygamy to children, by Carol Lynn Pearson https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2025/01/13/new-lds-curriculum-flops-teaching/ Emmeline B. Wells https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmeline_B._Wells (Aaron) Note the comment on Emmeline changing her mind was actually in relation to Emily Dow Partridge (note the redirects if you click on this link) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily%20Dow%20Partridge?redirect=no Phoebe Pendleton Woodbury: not a lot of her online. Dr. Park is citing letters to her children Into the Headwinds: Why Belief Has Always Been Hard―and Still Is, by Terryl Givens and Nathaniel Givens https://a.co/d/59qRjS1 (Aaron) Couldn't find the tiger roar/rattlesnake article :) You are Two, by CGP Grey https://youtu.be/wfYbgdo8e-8?si=Z1qkIrKNMLMJL3K_ Episode 5.4 Agency and its opposition https://faceinhat.podbean.com/e/54-agency-and-its-opposition/ Moroni: a brief theological introduction (The Book of Mormon: Brief Theological Introductions 12), by David F Holland https://a.co/d/7lkNflh After transcribing 1.2 million of his words, this researcher has something to say about Brigham Young, by Jacob Hess, about LaJean Purcell Carruth https://www.deseret.com/faith/2024/10/10/new-discoveries-about-brigham-young/ Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-brigham-young Latest issue of Dialogue (Volume 57, No. 3) which includes works by Eric Jepson and William Morris (former guest of the show) https://www.dialoguejournal.com/issues/fall-2024/
This week, we are thrilled to welcome back Terryl Givens—one of our all-time favorite guests and collaborators and someone we always have a running list of topics for. This time, we're finally diving deep into the topic of agency and free will: it's something that has come up in many of our past conversations but never had its own dedicated discussion. Terryl's new book, Agency, is part of the Maxwell Institute's Doctrine & Covenants theological series, and it explores some of the most profound and challenging questions about what it truly means to have agency. For centuries, theologians and philosophers have debated whether free will truly exists or if what we call agency is merely an illusion— our choices predetermined by the unfolding of the universe, or so shaped by our biology and past that we don't have real choice. Terryl's work in this book finds that Mormonism has some compelling and unique insights on that central question, and explores some others: what role does community and authority play in expanding—or limiting—our agency? And how do we navigate the tension between obedience and authentic personal choice?In this conversation, we explore the dangers of turning scripture or prophets into idols, how our perception of God can sometimes become so skewed that it's actually a “false God,” and why Terryl doesn't believe that we'll ever be judged based on our beliefs alone. We also get into some fascinating intersections between agency, neuropsychology, philosophy, and even Darwinian evolution.This discussion left us with so much to think about, and we hope it does the same for you. So with that, let's dive in!
It's time to start a new year and new book for our long-form deep dive reviews of terrible Mormon books. And this one is… not terrible? The Givens present a form of Mormon theology which tries to “make sense of life” and we're here for any Mormon theology that doesn't include discrimination, sexism, and anything holding it over from its past. We dive into the introduction and first chapter of the book. But, what would a book review be without some due diligence about the authors? We spend the first portion talking about Terryl and Fiona Givens, their histories, publishing careers, and try to get a sense for what we can expect throughout this book. Terryl and Fiona Givens: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiona_Givens https://www.fionagivens.com/about https://www.patheos.com/topics/2014-religious-trends/mormon/joseph-smith-on-mormon-women-and-the-priesthood-fiona-givens-071014?p=2 https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/the-perfect-union-of-man-and-womanreclamation-and-collaboration-in-joseph-smiths-theology-making/ https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/missing-and-restoring-meaning/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terryl_Givens https://www.terrylgivens.com/about https://web.archive.org/web/20110827023337/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705385222/Daniel-Peterson-Terryl-Givens-making-his-mark-in-Mormon-writing.html https://www.google.com/books/edition/By_the_Hand_of_Mormon/cC_RCwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA3&printsec=frontcover https://www.deseret.com/2012/11/15/20509757/scholars-terryl-and-fiona-givens-discuss-life-love-and-their-new-book-the-god-who-weeps/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA7kdkzW09c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yecCget_CNM Sword of Laman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhoeffer https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euthyphro_dilemma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-suvkwNYSQo Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/ Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com Venmo: Shannon-Grover-10
Welcome back to the Maxwell Institute Podcast! We are thrilled to be back with you for another series of conversations on "The Questions We Should Be Asking." When–and only when–we ask the right questions can we find the answers we need.In 2025, we'll return to a broader focus for our interviews–but never fear, we'll have plenty of discussion about the Doctrine and Covenants as we study it together in the global Church.Today, I talk with Terryl Givens, author of Agency in our new series, Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants. We'll get into all the knotty questions about agency: what actually is it, does free will really exist, and what does it mean to say that agency is relational?Purchase at the links below.https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6075134.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo1ejtN94I-MqlDGGmGETf1eKBIrNwWcLaUQYnHnvx_Yg6ReZkohttps://www.amazon.com/Agency-Doctrine-Covenants-Terryl-Givens/dp/0842501339
Want to know how Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon? Well in this episode of Mormonism Live we take at face value what Terryl Givens, one of the LDS Church’s most renowned apologists, says about that very thing. Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a… Read More »How Joseph Smith Created Mormonism [Mormonism Live 213]
Want to know how Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon? Well in this episode of Mormonism Live we take at face value what Terryl Givens, one of the LDS Church’s most renowned apologists, says about that very thing. Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a… Read More »How Joseph Smith Created Mormonism [Mormonism Live 213] The post How Joseph Smith Created Mormonism [Mormonism Live 213] appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
Want to know how Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon? Well in this episode of Mormonism Live we take at face value what Terryl Givens, one of the LDS Church's most renowned apologists, says about that very thing. Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a… Read More »How Joseph Smith Created Mormonism [Mormonism Live 213]
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Book of Mormon Studies Podcast. For this episode, Rosalynde Welch, Associate Director of the Maxwell Institute and Host of the podcast talks with Terryl Givens, a Senior Research Fellow at the Maxwell InstituteIn this episode, they discuss the scholarship of the book of Mormon, giving it context for readers of the Come, Follow Me curriculum for 2024.
This is a rebroadcast of our interview with Dr Terryl Givens. Back in 2022, we discussed several atonement theories in connection with Gene England, who wasn't a fan of penal substitution. With this being Holy Week, this is a good intro to atonement theology as we get ready to discuss Dr Diedre Green & Dr Eric Huntsman's book called "Latter-day Perspectives of Atonement." Why did Jesus die for us? Was he a moral teacher, or did his death substitute for our sins? Why does God require someone to die for sin? We're going to dive into atonement theology with Dr. Terryl Givens. Were Gene England's views of the atonement heretical? Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/4lf-LUOPvnU Don't miss our other conversations about atonement: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/atonement/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission transcript to follow Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved
Originally Recorded October 19th, 2023 About Professor Terryl Givens: https://www.terrylgivens.com/ Check out Professor Givens's short introduction to the Book of Mormon: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Very-Short-Introduction/dp/0195369319 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit musicallyspeaking.substack.com
In this profound four-part series, Nathan and Valerie delve into some of the most formative ideas that they have learned on their faith reconstruction journey with the help of Father Richard Rohr. In this episode they talk about the nature of God and how this basic concept impacts EVERYTHING else in one's spiritual journey. They riff on ideas from Julian of Norwich, Richard Rohr, John Calvin, and current LDS scholars and theologians Fiona and Terryl Givens as formative in their reconfiguration of a compassionate and universalist God, challenging traditional perspectives of a conditionally-loving God demanding performance and repentance to achieve "worthiness" and present or eternal blessings. This conversation also paves the way for upcoming discussions on the prophetic wisdom of Richard Rohr which includes topics around why patriarchy is so harmful, the excavation of the True Self, and the importance of honoring brave voices of dissent. Info on how to subscribe to listen to Friday's episode is directly below. See you there! —————————————————————————————————————SUBSCRIBE: All Friday episodes of Latter Day Struggles can be accessed through a paid subscription ($9.99/month). Thank you for supporting Valerie's professional commitment to your LDS Faith expansion journey! https://tinyurl.com/bddk8ak7 Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to support the podcast and subscribe https://valeriehamaker.com/how-to-subscribe/ ——————————————————————————————————————SUPPORT: Like what you're hearing at Latter Day Struggles Podcast? You can support Valerie's efforts by becoming a recurring donor on https://www.patreon.com/LatterDayStruggles ——————————————————————————————————————SUPPORT GROUPS: You are invited to join one of Valerie's space-limited Faith Crisis and Expansion Support and Processing Groups! As a trauma therapist, she continues to help our LDS faith expansion community become psychologically healthier and spiritually well in and around the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Details about availability on latterdaystruggles.com. These groups ALWAYS FILL UP, so jump in asap! https://valeriehamaker.com/latter-day-struggles/support-groups/ —————————————————————————————————————— LATTER DAY SOLUTIONS ONLINE CLASSES: Now available! “Mixed-Faith Parenting in the LDS Faith” parts 1-3. See what else is offered on latterdaystruggles.com https://valerie-hamaker-s-school1.teachable.com/courses/ ——————————————————————————————————————CONSULTING: Interested in doing individual or couples work with Valerie or a member of her trained team? Time-limited packages with Valerie and extended work with her team of coaches and therapists are available! https://valerie-hamaker-s-school1.teachable.com/p/1-1-consultations
This week, we're sharing another session from our Restore conference, this time featuring a scholar most of you will be familiar with: our long time friend and advisor Terryl Givens.Terryl's heartfelt session explores what he finds to be the “peaceable things” of Christ, referred to in scripture. An unsettling experience at the age of sixteen led Terryl to confront the inherent risk and uncertainty of our choices in life. And while life may not always be “peaceful,” Terryl says, we can always access “peaceable things”, which he anchors in the Restoration's understanding of God.If you know Terryl's work, you know of his gift for illuminating gospel truths gleaming quietly throughout Christian history. Terryl guides us through three names of Christ–Creator, Emmanuel, and Paraclete–that show God to be relational, loving, and open-hearted. This God doesn't seek to judge or condemn, but to invite us at their table as peers and mutual witnesses of each other's inherent goodness.We hope you enjoy this hopeful message that cuts straight to the heart of the fear and uncertainty that so many of us feel, day to day.
Filming this episode with Terryl Givens was both humbling and remarkable. Terryl Givens is a leading LDS academic who has written some of our favorite books on many religious topics. Today, Terryl talks about his book, Let's Talk About Faith and Intellect. Prior to filming this episode, we noted our favorite quotes from his book and asked him to expound on the quotes mentioned. He addresses many topics including the following: - The issue with social media and religion - How people become mad with reason alone (and how faith and intellect are both necessary to thrive) - How logic is found in faith and religion - How the natural world directs us to God Terryl also shares his testimony. He talks about the deep and beauty of the restored gospel. If you haven't considered the depth of the gospel, try to find those questions in your soul and do the correct research necessary.
For this week's episode, we're sharing a conversation we had originally released almost three years ago — before many of you had started listening to the podcast! It's the discussion we had with Fiona and Terryl Givens about the ground-shifting book they published in 2020 through Faith Matters Publishing, called All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between.When this book was first published, we knew it had the potential to truly change lives, and change how Latter-day Saints see the world. It certainly did for us. The book starts by tracing the roots of our religious vocabulary and shows how many fundamental gospel concepts and words have become unmoored from their original foundations and in many cases, can get us stuck in a gospel of fear that places limits on God's love and grace.Fiona and Terryl show us how we can renovate that vocabulary to embrace a gospel of hope where there is no final buzzer or sad heaven, because in their words, "Salvation and heaven are not rewards that God can dispense, or that we can earn. Relationships are forged. Life is the school of love, and our growing capacity for love constitutes the bricks out of which the heavenly Zion will be constructed."In the book, and in our conversation, Terryl and Fiona address everything from our concepts of heaven, sin, salvation, exaltation, and family togetherness in the eternities. We found the work they do in this important book to be immensely healing and hopeful.
In this episode we talk to the inimitable Terryl Givens, considered to be one of this generation's greatest thinkers, authors and theologians within the Latter-day Saint faith tradition. He answers questions our listeners have sent us, and we cover a whole spectrum of themes; from the Problem of Evil, to the false dichotomy of religion vs. science or Intellect vs. Faith - and lots in between. (The Norwegian intro lasts about a minute - so you can skip it to get to the conversation.) Følg/follow TROlig på/on Facebook, Instagram og Twitter Abonnèr på nyhetsbrevet/Subscribe to our newsletter: "Mer enn TROlig" HER Foreslå gjester eller emner på mail/suggest guests or topics via email: troligpodkast@gmail.com
This week we're sharing something really special — it's Terryl Givens' talk that opened last year's Restore gathering. In it, Terryl gets more personal than we've ever heard him, telling a dramatic story about nearly drowning off the West coast of Africa and how the experience has helped him frame key aspects of his faith.Terryl also shares some other really meaningful moments from his life and career. In one of our favorite moments, he says "I have come to know the love of God as it is manifest in a community of people working to keep one another from drowning."We imagine that almost all of you know Terryl by now, but as a reminder, he's a Neal A. Maxwell Senior Research Fellow at BYU's Maxwell Institute. He formerly held the Jabez A. Bostwick Chair of English and was Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond. He is the author of many books about Latter-day Saint history and culture, including, along with his wife Fiona, All Things New, which was published by Faith Matters in 2020.
This conversation with author, mother, grandmother, scholar, and kind soul Fiona Givens, was healing. If you have not read the books she co-authored with her husband, Terryl Givens, you are missing out on some beautiful and poetic explorations of theology within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their most recent work, All Things New: Rethinking Sin and Salvation and Everything in Between, explores early christian history to see where some truths became hidden or distorted over time, and how some truths continue to emerge in the restoration of the gospel as we give renewed breath to words that merit new definitions. We will talk of God, both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, who in drafting the plan of salvation, provided us with a healer, Jesus Christ. In our woundedness, often caused by inherited trauma or conditions, he is the Christ who heals infermities--be they mental, physical, spiritual, or emotional.
Today's guest is Terryl Givens, a prolific LDS author and scholar. Givens is a senior research fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship and joins us to discuss faith, studying the scriptures, and on being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Please give this podcast a thumbs up and tap the subscribe button. When you subscribe and share comments, it increases the show's rating and makes it easier for people to find. If you have any comments or would like to request to be a guest on the podcast, feel free to email me. Additionally, please let me know if you have someone in mind who would make a great guest. To receive updates on the Gospel Library and news about the podcast, be sure to add your email l to my website. Rest assured that your email will not be sold. The music for this show is used with permission by Marvin Goldstein. Click here for more information about Marvin and his music. 3:04 - Family 3:53- Early years 4:20 - A whirlwind romance 5:10 - Teaching comparative literature 8:11 - The author 8:47 - Having faith 22:31 - Being a true disciple 25:15 - Being a witting disciple 27:29 - Believing all the right things for the wrong reason 30:01 - The Crucible of Doubt 31:34 - Being intimate with the gospel 35:13 - Drinking deeply from the scriptures 42:18 - Struggling with the scriptures 44:23 - How he studies the scriptures 48:45 - Note-taking 53:54 - Testimony The expressions and opinions shared on this podcast are those of the individuals speaking and do not reflect or necessarily coincide with those of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A few weeks ago, we released a conversation with Terryl Givens about the life of Eugene England. England's work on atonement theology had felt like it necessitated another conversation, but it was too big to fit into the first one. So this week, we brought Terryl back to talk not just about England's views, but about atonement generally.The conversation starts with the fascinating premise that our faith doesn't actually have an official theology of Atonement. What is clear, doctrinally, is that Christ brought about something of universal importance: as the Book of Mormon says, "we talk of Christ, rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, (and) we prophesy of Christ." (2nd Nephi 25:26) We accept Christ as both savior and healer — but that doesn't mean that we've achieved a consensus understanding of how Christ's atonement actually accomplished those goals of “saving” and “healing.”So in this conversation with Terryl, we discussed various atonement theories — what some of the greatest Christian and Latter-day Saint thinkers have posited over the years about how the atonement works; why it's necessary, and how it can apply in real life. It seemed to us that there was something to value in nearly all of these explorations, and it was fascinating to see how those views have evolved over time.And, as it always does, conversation with Terryl brought us back to what's really important: how Christ's atonement can bring less retribution and more healing to society, and how we can participate in that work. Terryl reminded us that Atonement is about reintegration into loving relationship — not just vertically with God, but horizontally with those around us.
For today's episode, we were honored as always to bring back one of our favorite people and conversation partners, and likely one of yours: Terryl Givens.We spoke with Terryl about a book he released in 2021, a biography called Stretching the Heavens: The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism.Terryl's work on this biography led to a fascinating portrait of a man many of us look up to, and someone we truly wish we could have met (England died in 2001 at the age of 68). His legacy has proven to be both broad and enduring — in addition to a long and storied career in academia, he was a founder of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and of the Association for Mormon Letters. His writing continues to move and inspire Latter-day Saints today, including through essays that have become classics like Why the Church is as True as the Gospel.In our interview with Terryl, we talked not just about the arc of Eugene England's life, but about the principles that arose from the insights he shared and some of the struggles he faced. In particular, we talked through some of the issues that came up for him as a man striving to be both true to his own conscience and to the authority of an institution he fully believed in and loved, when the two didn't fully align. In many ways, this seems to be the conflict at the heart of discipleship and even of Christianity's creation story. Regardless, we felt like exploring it through the lens of Eugene England's life was both relevant and poignant.This book, Stretching the Heavens, was published by UNC Press and is available on Amazon and Audible.
In today's interview we are joined by one of the foremost scholars in the church, Terryl Givens. Terryl Givens is the author or coauthor of 23 books and is a senior research fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University. In this interview we discuss Terryl's journey as a Latter-day Saint, the topic of faith crisis, doctrines he finds particularly beautiful, and his view on what faith is. Use this link: https://www.terrylgivens.com/books to check out the books that he has written.
There are books you must read in 2023. The Book of Mormon, The Bible, and "Into the Headwinds" by Nathaniel and Terryl Givens. In this video we interview the author Nathaniel Givens about his book and cover everything from Jonathan Haidt, to the secularization hypothesis, to why it's so hard to believe, to the Mandalorian. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wardradio/support
This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in January 2018. Terryl L. Givens, PhD, did graduate work in Intellectual History at Cornell and studied Comparative Literature at UNC Chapel Hill. He taught courses in Romanticism, nineteenth century cultural studies, and the Bible and Literature and was the Jabez A. Bostwick Professor of English at the University of Richmond. Currently, he is a Neal L. Maxwell Senior Fellow at Brigham Young University. He has published in literary theory, British and European Romanticism, Mormon studies, and intellectual history. Terryl has authored or edited 20+ books, and some of his favorites include his collaborations with his wife, Fiona. Together they are the authors of The God Who Weeps, The Crucible of Doubt, The Christ Who Heals, and All Things New. Baptized initially in the Presbyterian faith by his minister grandfather, Terryl and his family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Terryl was eight or nine. He served as a missionary in Brazil and has served as a bishop. Whether hosting insightful podcasts for Faith Matters or speaking to saints the world over at intimate firesides, Terryl's mission is to help everyone–no matter where they are in their journey of faith–come closer to Jesus Christ. Highlights 4:30 Terryl's background and work experience. 6:20 Religious background and faith development. 10:20 How Terryl met his wife, Fiona. The early years of marriage and having kids. 13:45 Terryl's unlikely journey to becoming an author and his father's collection of 19th-century anti-LDS literature. The impact of learning The Book of Mormon was the most widely-produced book, other than the Bible 16:50 Books are no longer the primary vehicle for disseminating information. Terryl's podcast is about his desire to celebrate intellectual and theological richness of Mormonism. 19:20 There is not one typical Mormon testimony; finding one's own path in coming to Christ. 20:30 Called as bishop in Richmond the week of 9/11. 21:30 Advice Terryl received when he got called as bishop. As a bishop, you occupy a position with enormous ability to make a difference in people's lives. Be aware of the power of the mantle you wear. One small look or gesture can completely change someone's Sabbath experience. 22:45 Terryl and his counselors focused on personal interaction as a bishopric. No one left the chapel without encountering the bishop or one of the counselors. They made visits to everyone in the ward in the first year. He made appointments with every single young person. 24:30 Dealing with faith and emotional crises.Terryl didn't always know how to help people but the number one thing he learned to do as a bishop was to be empathetic. Stop trying to fix it. Just listen and validate them. 30:00 Helping people with difficult faith questions. Listen to the questions people have without interjecting yourself with your own faith position. Terryl shares personal experiences he has had helping people with faith crises. 35:15 As a leader, have the courage to refer someone to a person with more expertise. Be careful about trying to shut off sources of intellectual inquiry. 38:00 Many in the church criminalize doubt. Elder Hugh B. Brown says, “We all have to serve an apprenticeship in doubt on the way to discipleship.” Doubt is a phase on the way to finding something richer. However, people shouldn't stay in that attitude of doubt. 39:35 Faithful trust instead of certain knowledge. Believe vs know. 44:15 Scriptural examples of individuals having faith without absolute knowledge. It's ok to say I don't know. 46:35 Asking genuine questions in adult Sunday school classes. The importance of truly-spiritual gospel doctrine class teachers. 50:30 Is there resistance to addressing questions head-on? In the long run, how will church members be fortified? Terryl shares his experience about being “shut down” in the U.K.
For today's episode, we were honored to bring back the inimitable Terryl Givens. Terryl and his son Nathaniel have recently released a new book, called Into the Headwinds: Why Belief Has Always Been Hard — And Still Is.This is a remarkable book and addresses some of life's most profound questions, especially as they pertain to the modern world. Terryl and Nathaniel argue that though many of us see faith as “hard” in our scientific and rational age — but the reality is that for many years faith may have been too easy. People of faith, and Christians in particular, have long benefited from being a part of the in-crowd—since Rome adopted Christianity as its official religion, it's been quite comfortable to call oneself a Christian. But Terryl and Nathaniel say that that may have produced a more fragile discipleship, and one that focused more on how we believe than on how we live.So in this conversation, we dived into all of this with Terryl — including how he defines faith, the limits of agency, how reckoning with our own biases is key to our own spiritual life, and how we can look well outside our own tradition to find examples of true discipleship.We're sure that most of you know Terryl, but just in case: Terryl Givens is a Neal L. Maxwell Senior Fellow at Brigham Young University. He formerly held the University of Richmond's Jabez A. Bostwick Chair of English, where he was professor of literature and religion. He is the author and coauthor of numerous books, including All Things New, The God Who Weeps, and The Crucible of Doubt.Nathaniel Givens, Terryl's co-author on this book, has been published in First Things, the Deseret News, and RealClearReligion on the topics of faith and politics. With graduate degrees in economics and systems engineering, Nathaniel works as a data analyst and entrepreneur.
Come, Follow Me | January 30–February 5 | Matthew 4; Luke 4-5 | “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me” | Guests Tyler Griffin, Associate Dean, BYU Religious Education, and Terryl Givens, author and Neal A. Maxwell Senior Fellow at BYU.
Such A Great Discussion! When do we really know what we believe? Is our belief what we say or even think? Or is what we believe revealed when our intuition is running our behavior? Using the metaphor of the Rider and the Elephant, many think their "self" is simply the Rider. But the Elephant is actually running your life. Reason can only take us so far. According to Terryl Givens and Nathaniel Givens, an overemphasis on rationality detracts us from discovering our true beliefs. Does faith require evidence? Purchase Into The Headwinds here - https://amzn.to/3P8tvOc Website - www.cwicmedia.com
Join this wide ranging discussion with acclaimed authors Terryl and Fiona Givens as they chat with Ganel-Lyn & John about the following topics:- Reframing how we view the Restoration and Christ's true gospel, the loss of the plain and precious things in Christianity- Disciples of the “Second Sort”: Joseph Smith laid the seeds of the Restoration, but we are responsible for expanding, developing, enriching, and reframing Christianity - The various versions of the First Vision and the invitation for our own Sacred Grove experiences for revelation (individual faith journeys)- Understanding who God is and the common misconceptions about Him, and our relationship with Him- How the Atonement is more about HEALING us from our mortal woundedness rather than saving us from our wickedness - How theology impacts mental, emotional, and spiritual health - Healing from mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and scrupulosity - Viewing this mortal life as a test (pass/fail) vs. a classroom/educative process with God as a mentor with whom love NEVER ceases- How to respond when loved ones (or ourselves) wrestle with organized religion and/or when faith feels ambiguous, when it's not based in love - Ideas for continuing the conversion process on a daily basis About Dr. Terryl Givens (https://www.terrylgivens.com/about): Terryl L. Givens was born in upstate New York, raised in the American southwest, and did graduate work in Intellectual History (Cornell) and Comparative Literature (Ph.D. UNC Chapel Hill, 1988), working with Greek, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and English languages and literatures. As Professor of Literature and Religion and the Jabez A. Bostwick Professor of English at the University of Richmond he taught courses in Romanticism, nineteenth century cultural studies, and the Bible and Literature. Currently, he is a Neal L. Maxwell Senior Fellow at Brigham Young University. Dr. Givens has authored or edited 21 books, primarily through Oxford University Press and Deseret Book. During non-pandemic times, he travels extensively with his wife, Fiona, to give firesides and strengthen the faith of members worldwide. About Fiona Givens (https://www.fionagivens.com/about): Fiona Anne Givens (née Bulbeck) was born in Nairobi, Kenya as the oldest of three children. She grew up in Nairobi, Tanzania, and the Seychelles and was educated in British convent schools. She converted to the LDS church in Frankfurt am Main. She graduated phi kappa beta from the University of Richmond with degrees in French and German, then earned an M.A. in European History while co-raising the last of her six children. She has published essays and articles in Exponent II, Sunstone, LDS Living, Journal of Mormon History, Dialogue, and Kofford Books. A longtime collaborator in the books of her husband, Terryl Givens, she is the co-author of The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life; Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest for Faith; The Christ Who Heals: How God Restored the Truth that Saves Us; and All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between. You can find Terryl and Fiona's latest books here: https://www.terrylgivens.com/fiona-and-terryl
Terryl Givens, winner of the 2022 Evans Biography Award from the Mountain West Center for Regional Studies in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Utah State University, for his new book Stretching the Heavens: The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism.
"When the dust settles the only question that really arises to the forefront of my mind is: Does the restoration make God present to me? Do I see God's hand in evidence in the good that the church does, in the good that the gospel accomplishes in the lives of individuals and the access that it gives me to the gifts of the spirit and to the beauties and the truths of eternity? Well, then all the rest is just secondary to that." Join us with guests Lauren Rose and Alba Lucia as we discuss October's Book Club "The Crucible of Doubt" with author Terryl Givens. To date, Terryl has written and edited over 20 books, and has many more on the horizon. Some of his favorite include his collaborations with his wife, Fiona. Terryl has spent much of the last 20 years tracing the history and theology of the Latter-day Saints, but for most of his career, he taught Romantic literature (think more Shelley than Sparks). Whether its hosting insightful podcasts on Faith Matters or speaking to Saints the world over at intimate firesides, Terryl's mission is to help everyone–no matter where they are in their journey of faith–come closer to Jesus Christ.
The Restoration occurred in a fascinating and complex religious and historical moment in American history, and knowing more about that context can help us more deeply appreciate the blessings and beauty of the Restored Gospel.One person at the forefront of expanding our knowledge of early American religious history is David Holland, a professor at Harvard Divinity School and also the son of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. In today's episode Zach Davis and Terryl Givens visited David in his Cambridge office to discuss a range of topics, including how to discern the hand of God in history, whether there's something about Calvinist theology worth celebrating, and how the experience of being a parent might be the best insight of all into the nature of God. David Holland is a Professor of New England Church History at Harvard Divinity School and a renowned scholar of American religious history. He earned a BA in history from BYU and a PhD from Stanford University. He is the author of Moroni: A Brief Theological Introduction, published by the Maxwell Institute and Sacred Borders: Continuing Revelation and Canonical Restraint in Early America, published by Oxford University Press in 2011.
My friend Jody England Hansen (married mother of three, active Latter-day Saint) shares her story growing up in family that valued critical thinking, activism, looking out for the most marginalized and moving forward with the complexities/beauties of being a Latter-day Saints. Jody also shares insights about her father, Eugene England, who was one of the most influential Latter-day Saints in our lifetime. Two biographies about Eugene England were published in 2021: Eugene England: A Mormon Liberal by Kristine Haglund: https://www.amazon.com/Eugene-England-Liberal-Introductions-Thought/dp/0252086007 Stretching the Heavens: The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism by Terryl Givens: https://www.amazon.com/Stretching-Heavens-Eugene-England-Mormonism/dp/B09NMQ43M3/ You can read more about Eugene England and his work at https://www.eugeneengland.org/ If you are looking for tools to move forward as a Latter-day Saint with the dissonance/paradox that can be part of your journey, please listen to Jody's insights. She has a long view of being on this road and has remarkable insights to help you. Thank you, Jody, for being on the podcast. Your soft heart, gospel insights, and love for all of our Heavenly Parents' children is deeply moving to me. Thank you for your beautiful life ministry.
In the past few decades, scholarship on the New Testament has opened up exciting new ways of understanding the context of the early followers of Jesus and has enabled new interpretations of the texts they wrote. One of the leading scholars advancing our knowledge of early Christianity is Laura Nasrallah, a professor at Yale who specializes in New Testament texts and archaeology. In this conversation, Zach Davis and Terryl Givens visited Laura in her New Haven office to discuss topics like the role of women in the early Christian church, how to discern God's hand in the messy complexity of history, and New Testament practices like speaking in tongues and baptism for the dead. Laura Nasrallah is a Professor of New Testament Criticism and Interpretation at Yale University. Her research and teaching engage issues of gender, race, colonialism, status, and power and bring together New Testament and early Christian literature with the archaeological remains of the Mediterranean world. She is the author of the book Archaeology and the Letters of Paul.Register for Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering.
The Faith Matters family lost a dear friend this week. Kate Holbrook passed away after a long battle with cancer. Kate was a graceful light in our lives. Her strength, her courage, her wisdom, her intelligence and her gentle manner will be with us forever. Our thoughts, prayers and determined support go out to our good friend Sam Brown, Kate's forever companion, and to their three daughters.In Kate's memory and honor, we're sharing this conversation that she had with Terryl Givens in 2018. The video was called “extraordinary women in Mormon history,” and Kate, of course, is one of them.As managing historian of women's history at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints history department, Kate wrote, studied, and interpreted history full-time. Her major research interests were religion, gender, and food. Her primary professional activity was to discover, encourage, and celebrate women's flourishing in the scholarly and spiritual realms.We'd encourage everyone who'd like to honor and further Kate's legacy to donate to a scholarship fund that has been set up in her honor, and that was established by her, together with her family. It was Kate's wish as she departed mortality that these funds serve to help the women of the Church to flourish in their scholarly and spiritual lives. Kate herself benefited from a similar gift (from Ruth Silver of Denver, Colorado) early in her scholarly career, when she and Sam had minimal financial resources, and she needed time and money to devote to the study of women and religion. She hoped that such giving would become more and more common over time.To contribute, please head to kateholbrook.org/scholarship.We love you, Kate, and we miss you.
For decades, our understanding of how the brain works has advanced dramatically. Using new theories, methods and tools, like fMRI technology, scientists are beginning to reveal the mysteries of this truly remarkable and complex organ.One scientist on the cutting edge of this research is Michael Ferguson, a BYU grad who is now researching and teaching at Harvard. For Michael, the most exciting result of all this new knowledge of the brain is how it might transform our spiritual lives and help us connect more fully to the divine. He is a pioneer in a field called neurospirituality and his research has been in part inspired by Latter-day Saint theology, in particular the idea that spirit and matter are on a continuum, not radically different substances. In this episode, Michael was interviewed by Zach Davis and Terryl Givens about these fascinating subjects, and the most important insights he's gained from his research.Michael is an Instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School, a Lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, and a neuroscientist at the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He earned his Doctorate in Bioengineering at the University of Utah, after which he completed post-doctoral fellowships at Cornell University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.Join us for Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering on October 7-8 in Salt Lake City. Learn more and register here.
Eugene England seemed to one of those crossing the brethren's line with some of theological musings. Recently, Fiona Givens did as well with her discussion of Heavenly Mother. I asked Dr Terryl Givens if it was easy to unintentionally cross the brethren's line. GT: Well, now it feels like the Church just kind of vacillates […]
Why did Jesus die for us? Was he a moral teacher, or did his death substitute for our sins? Why does God require someone to die for sin? We're going to dive into atonement theories with Dr. Terryl Givens. Atonement Theories Terryl: The early church, the first couple of centuries didn't seem to concern themselves […]
With all the exciting things happening at Faith Matters, we thought it would be a good time to step back, take stock of what we've done, and share more about where we're going. So in this episode, Tim and Aubrey were joined by one of Faith Matters' founders, Bill Turnbull, as well as Faith Matters' new Executive Director, Zach Davis, to discuss how our organization began, answer common questions we get from listeners, and share more about our purpose and approach. This episode was also a chance to announce Restore: A Faith Matters Gathering. Occurring over two days on October 7-8 in Salt Lake City. Restore brings together the best minds exploring the biggest questions as we look forward to the Restoration's third century. Featuring speakers such as Terryl Givens, Jody Moore, Brian McLaren, Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, and Patrick Mason and musical performances from groups such as the Debra Bonner Unity Gospel Choir, our hope is that this gathering will restore your hope, your curiosity, your connection and your faith. We have been so grateful to you for listening and reading and supporting the work we do at Faith Matters and we are excited to have the chance to gather and connect with you in person. We really hope you can join us. To learn more and register, visit https://www.faithmatters.org/restore
Gene England was one who liked to ask the hard questions at Church. It definitely caused Gene trouble with Church leaders. Has it gotten any better since Gene died? Dr. Terryl Givens is going to answer. Hard Questions at Church GT: Is it okay to ask hard questions in the LDS Church? Terryl: I think […]
Following a stint at St. Olaf's College in Minnesota, Eugene England sought employment at BYU. He also helped start a Mormon history magazine called Dialogue. Was that magazine a problem for his employment at BYU? Dr. Terryl Givens answers. Terryl: [Gene] was desperate. He had a wife. He had several children by this point. He […]
I just finished a biography of Eugene England called “Stretching the Heavens” by Dr. Terryl Givens. I loved it and felt a real kinship to Dr. England, despite having never met him. I'm excited to talk to Dr. Terryl Givens to discuss Gene's life. I was surprised to learn that Terryl at first turned down […]
Noah Feldman is one of the most fascinating and engaging public intellectuals in the world. He's also had a long and rich relationship with the Latter-day Saint tradition. Terryl Givens and Zachary Davis recently stopped by Noah's office in Cambridge for a wide-ranging conversation on faith and religion. Some of the topics discussed include: how young people are experiencing religion and spirituality today; why living a life of faith helps make sense and meaning of life; and Noah's thoughts about the unique gifts Latter-day Saints can offer the world.Noah Feldman is a Harvard law professor, ethical philosopher & advisor, religious scholar and historian. He is host of the Deep Background podcast, writes a column on policy and public affairs for Bloomberg, and is the author of 10 books on a variety of topics. You can learn more about Noah's work at noah-feldman.com.
Confidence is synonymous with faith. It is faith that moves mountains. It is confidence that provides the peace, certainty, and trust to be able to move forward and try new things. I'm excited to share just the tiniest snippets from Dr. Givens and his book, The Doors of Faith and share ideas, concepts, and tools to help you live a life of quiet confidence. Tune in!
#044 - Let's Talk About "All Things New" by Fiona and Terryl GivensLanguage is important. The meanings of words are important. This book by the Givens explains how many of the words we use at church do not mean what we traditionally think they mean. The words we use are wounding many members, especially our children as the words they are hearing at church do not feel spiritually in alignment for them. Let's get back to the true meanings of words like: forgiveness, sin, atonement, heaven, salvation, obedience, repentance, and many more. “All Things New” is an essential book to become familiar with if you are struggling at church, or if someone you love is struggling at church (which probably captures 99% of you).Get on my email list CLICK HEREMy website: tinagosney.comPurchase "All Things New" on AmazonEpisode 5, “How to Approach Your LGBTQ Child with Love and Understanding"Episode 41, “What the Heck is Trauma at Church?! A Conversation with Lindsay Poelman”
Moses 7 features Enoch, a figure that receives scant attention in Genesis, but has an overwhelming impact on the Pearl of Great Price. Importantly, Enoch's experience with God also shapes how we view the Father, His relationship to us, and recognize his character and disposition. In today's episode of Abide, we discuss Moses 7 and how it contributes to Latter-day Saint ideas. My name is Joseph Stuart, I'm the public communications specialist at the Maxwell Institute. Kristian Heal is a Research Fellow at the Institute, and each week we will be discussing the week's block of reading from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' “Come, Follow Me” curriculum. We aren't here to present a lesson, but rather to hit on a few key themes from the scripture block, so as to help fulfill the Maxwell Institute's mission to “inspire and fortify Latter-day Saints in their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and engage the world of religious ideas.” Today we are joined by special guest Terryl Givens, who with Fiona Givens has written The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life and, recently, The Doors of Faith from the Maxwell Institute's Living Faith series and Deseret Book. The post Abide: Moses 7 appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.
Eugene England was many things: a scholar, a theologian, an essayist, a husband, father, and teacher. But, above all, he defined himself as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Today, we speak with Terryl Givens, a Senior Research Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute, to discuss his biography of Gene England, entitled Stretching the Heavens: The Life of Eugene England and the Crisis of Modern Mormonism (UNC Press, 2021). We discuss Gene's approach to discipleship, scholarship, and how he wouldn't have separated his pursuit of knowledge and bridgebuilding from his very core beliefs in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Could you do us a favor and review, rate, and subscribe to the Maxwell Institute Podcast wherever you find podcasts? Thank you! Now, without any further do, let's start our conversation with Terryl Givens. The post Maxwell Institute Podcast #130: Stretching the Heavens with Eugene England appeared first on Neal A. Maxwell Institute | BYU.
Terryl L. Givens is a Neal A. Maxwell Institute Senior Research Fellow and Fiona Givens is a member of the Institute's research staff. Together and individually they are the authors of many books about Latter-day Saint history and culture. Their latest book, All Things New, explores the roots and flawed inheritance of our religious vocabulary and suggests healthy ways of reformulating our language. Fiona and Terryl have co-authored three other books: The God Who Weeps, The Christ Who Heals, and The Crucible of Doubt. In this podcast they discuss examining our religious vocabulary and relearning pure doctrine. Highlights 3:30 About writing a book together 4:30 Where it started: going back to the beginning and pulling together concepts from their other books; a celebratory hymn to the Restoration 6:00 Examination of our religious vocabulary and its Protestant roots; example of repentance 8:00 The idea of a wrathful God compared to the weeping God of Moses 7 and recuperating a theology of love 11:45 Trying to put words and concepts together that don't fit together, creating a rift between us and God, making us feel less worthy and lovable 14:30 The Restoration is telling a different story; example of "the fall" 20:00 Precious doctrines are easily understood; reverting the vocabulary to a clearer definition empowers us and turns our focus outward to others 22:45 Misreading of the earth being consumed with fire 25:30 The tragedy of the tribalism of politics being mirrored in the church culture: the early Christians were diverse but renowned for loving each other 29:40 Guarding against creating idols and keeping Christ front and center; not taking religious texts completely factually 32:45 Dealing with discordance in scripture 37:00 Recognizing our woundedness and psychological traumas; returning to the love of God 41:30 The Book of Mormon as a bridge from the 19th century sensibilities to today 42:50 George Q. Cannon quote 44:20 God is our father, not our sovereign 45:20 Mormon was a general in a war of genocide and this influenced his voice 46:45 Christ healing a wounded world, changing hearts and minds; growth of our understanding of trauma and generational trauma 49:50 Paradigm shift from sin to woundedness 52:50 The rite of Atonement is a healing ritual; stuck on the concept of death rather than the miracle of healing 55:00 "No soul will be saved in isolation": the community of Zion 56:45 The American church and the focus on the individual; spirituality compared to religion 58:20 Community-building and Zion-building; the baptismal covenants and the godhead 1:01:10 Slow paradigm shift transitioning to an ability to speak of our own woundedness; authenticity in bearing testimony 1:06:00 Going back to the Restoration church solidified a testimony of Christ 1:07:15 Traversing the field of voices brings a familiar voice Links All Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between, by Terryl and Fiona Givens Restoration: God's Call to the 21st Century World, by Patrick Mason Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Note: This transcript was machine-produced. We would be grateful for help correcting errors. You can help! Simply copy/paste the transcript text into a document, make the corrections, and then copy/paste the corrected text into a comment on the page (below) and we will get the corrected text published!