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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
Send us a textAnother experience of meditation from Thomas McConkie's podcast One Heart One Mind. "Episode 2: The Prayer of Quiet"Father Thomas Keating said in his book Open Mind Open Heart, “My conviction is that if people are never exposed to some kind of non-conceptual prayer, it may never develop at all because of the overly intellectual bias of western culture and the anti-contemplative trend of Christian teaching in recent centuries.”What happens if you take your foot off the gas?What would it look like for you to introduce more quiet into your relationship with your child?Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife's Strengthening Your Relationship courseYou found me! If what you heard on the No Empty Chairs podcast gives you hope for more help, please schedule a free Conversation with Candice. You can also visit candiceclarkcoaching.com for more information about how coaching tools can help you keep your relationship with your children and your faith. While you're there, be sure to pull up a chair and sign up with your email to be the first to know about news and events for moms whose kids don't come to church. It's going to be okay, and even better!
Send us a textA few thoughts on Thomas McConkie's new podcast One Heart One Mind.Moses 7:18 "And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."Thomas's book Atonement: Embodying the Fullness of Human DivinityHoward Thurman quote from Disciplines of the Spirit:“The experience of prayer can be nurtured and cultivated. It can create a climate in which a man's life moves and functions. Indeed, it may become a way of living for the individual. Indeed, it is ever possible that the time may come when a man may carry such an atmosphere around with him and gives its quality to all that he does and communicates its spirit to all who cross his path. This is the most remarkable impact of the life of the Master on those He encountered. It was this that stilled the ragings of the madman, that called little children to Him, that made sinners know that their sins were forgiven. His whole countenance glowed with the glory of the Father. And the secret? A great while before day, he withdrew to a solitary place and prayed as was His custom.”Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed."You found me! If what you heard on the No Empty Chairs podcast gives you hope for more help, please schedule a free Conversation with Candice. You can also visit candiceclarkcoaching.com for more information about how coaching tools can help you keep your relationship with your children and your faith. While you're there, be sure to pull up a chair and sign up with your email to be the first to know about news and events for moms whose kids don't come to church. It's going to be okay, and even better!
We have been waiting a long time for this episode with our friend Thomas McConkie. As many of you know, Thomas is an incredibly skilled meditation teacher and guide on the path of spiritual awakening. Faith Matters produced his very popular online course Transformations of Faith and also published his incredible book At-One-Ment, which has deeply impacted so many readers. For the last several years, Thomas has been doing graduate work at Harvard Divinity School. All the while, we have been exploring with Thomas the possibility of creating a podcast to help us all hit the pause button in our busy daily lives and give time to a rich meditation and prayer practice. As Thomas is coming to the end of his program at Harvard, the time seemed right to launch this series. And so we are excited to share with you today the first episode of this new podcast, named One Heart, One Mind. Thomas is a teacher and researcher who is fascinated by consciousness, growth and transformation. He is especially interested in Christian contemplation and what it means to re-embody Christ's teachings in new and unique ways for these challenging times–ways that will lead to deeper connection to God and to those around us. In One Heart One Mind, we will join Thomas in searching Christianity and the world's Wisdom traditions for gems and insights into awakening, transformation, and the soul's journey Home. The episodes are designed to be relatively brief, 15 to 30 minutes or so, and will generally include a teaching followed by a guided meditation.So, if you've been intending to cultivate a more regular spiritual practice of meditation and prayer, this might be the perfect place to start. You can subscribe to One Heart, One Mind on whatever podcast platform you use. We think you're going to love this journey with Thomas McConkie.
In this inaugural episode, Thomas McConkie introduces the lost jewel of contemplation in the Christian tradition. He shares a brief spiritual autobiography, invites the listener to come see for themselves, then dives right in with a wisdom bomb from Howard Thurman: on cultivating atmosphere and spiritual presence. Upcoming workshop: Thomas will be in Salt Lake City May 15-17 to guide students through practices from his recent book, At-One-Ment. Scholarships and financial aid always available.
The sun is setting on Mindfulness+. She lived a good, full life. But don't fret! Where there is a sunset, there is always a sunrise. Look for a new podcast, One Heart One Mind, by Thomas McConkie on this same feed in the coming days.
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and just stopped with one word they said? It either stopped you in your tracks, caused you to pause or think a little, gave you a reason to ask more questions, or taught you something. One word can make all the difference in the trajectory of a conversation, decisions, and day. When one of our kids went running into the parking lot at the grocery store with incoming cars…One word….Stop When we went to Olive Garden this weekend the waitress asked for soup or salad? Salad. Again, one word. As parents, the one word we use often, No. No your not staying out past curfew No, we don't need that extra item at Walmart No, we don't need drinks with our meals, just water will do. I'm sure you could think of a list of No's! When Jarred asked me to marry him, I said, one word…..Yes On the day we were married, again, that same word….Yes Words are powerful, and just one word can sometimes be more powerful than a phrase. Every year, I pick a word for the year, and this year, my word is "Heart." Why pick a word? Because it gives you focus for the year. It takes out the overwhelm of goals and lists, and gives you just one simple focus, a word, to learn about. You can take this word and grow, learn, create, study, and become. Listen in to this podcast as we talk about a word for the year and I tell you about my word! Heart! At One Ment by Thomas McConkie
Hey Family Brand! It's Melissa here, joined by Chris, and today we're celebrating a huge milestone: four years of the Family Brand Podcast! We can hardly believe it ourselves, and we couldn't have done it without YOU—our incredible listeners. In this episode, we're looking back at the conversations that have shaped us, the lessons we've learned, and why consistency has been our secret sauce. Plus, we're giving you a sneak peek at an exciting New Year's resource we've created just for you and your family! We kicked things off with some behind-the-scenes fun—recording this episode on a school bus! Yes, you heard that right. Chris pulled up in the bus after coaching our daughter's basketball team, and it felt fitting to mark this adventure-filled journey with a little spontaneity. Reflecting on these past four years, we're amazed at how the podcast has grown and the impact it's had on families worldwide. Your support, shares, and reviews keep us going, so thank you for being part of this mission! Melissa shared her “why” behind the podcast—what keeps her showing up every week (almost without fail!). It started as a personal challenge to find her voice and has since transformed into a platform for meaningful conversations that uplift families. For Chris, one key takeaway has been the power of consistency. Whether it's a podcast, a family tradition, or building a strong marriage, consistency trumps everything. We also revisited some of our favorite episodes, like Thomas McConkie's conversation on navigating faith crises within families and our deeply personal episode on why your marriage is worth fighting for. Each one reminded us of the transformative power of honest, vulnerable conversations. And here's the big news: We're launching a free New Year's resource to help you close out this year intentionally and start the next one with purpose. It's designed for families to reflect together, celebrate your wins, and set meaningful goals as a team. Head over to familybrand.com/best to grab your copy and get a head start on making 2024 your most intentional year yet! LINKS: All Links Family Brand! stan.store/familybrand Links For This Episode: familybrand.com/best https://familybrand.com/finding-identity-through-navigating-a-faith-crisis-with-thomas-mcconkie https://familybrand.libsyn.com/17-why-your-marriage-is-worth-fighting-for Episode Minute By Minute: 0:00 – Celebrating four years of the Family Brand Podcast 2:00 – Recording on a school bus (because why not?) 5:00 – Melissa's motivation to keep showing up weekly 8:00 – The lessons consistency has taught us 10:00 – Favorite episodes and unforgettable conversations 14:00 – Sneak peek: Our free New Year's download for families Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Here's to building strong families, creating intentional traditions, and making the next year our best one yet! We love you, Family Brand!
In the last episode of the year, we reflect on the meaning of peace during the Christmas season. Patrick asks a thought-provoking question about the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2: Did the heavenly host's proclamation of "peace on earth" truly hold meaning, given that Jesus's birth did not end wars or family conflicts? Tune in to hear excerpts from this year's podcast guests answering this question and prepare for a season of reflection and hope. We'll take a short break for the holidays and return in January with new episodes.[00:02:56] Julie Rose on Christ as the prince of peace.[00:05:47] Thomas McConkie on Christ's love as an omega point.[00:8:50] Annie Waddoups on grace for our imperfect actions.[00:10:19] Emile Kayitare on forgiveness and reconciliation in Rwanda.[00:13:32] Michalyn Steele on finding peace in weekly practices.[00:15:18] David Pulsipher on finding hope in Christ.[00:16:27] Sarah Perkins on friendship across intractable divides.[00:20:25] Chad Ford on active peace building with Jesus.For more show notes and transcript, visit https://www.mormonwomenforethicalgovernment.org/proclaim-peace
We're excited to share something special with you. Today we're featuring an episode from the Proclaim Peace Podcast because we were so touched by this powerful conversation that feels especially meaningful right now—with an election right around the corner. In this episode, Patrick Mason, Jennifer Thomas, and their guest Thomas McConkie, explore how meaningful action doesn't come from this energy of frantic box-checking or a striving for perfection, but from a heart transformed by grace. Instead of trying to engineer a life of perfection to earn grace, grace comes first- it changes us from the inside—and the goodness that follows, flows naturally. As Thomas puts it, “It's a sequencing problem.” Reflecting on the story of Alma, they explore how prioritizing this spiritual inner work can help us align with love and find deep peace that can become both the fuel and the foundation of the meaningful work we do in the world. This conversation is full of insight and encouragement, and we're so excited for you to hear it. And with that, here's Proclaimed Peace with Jennifer Thomas, Patrick Mason, and Thomas McConkie.
In this episode of the Proclaim Peace Podcast, hosts Jennifer Thomas and Patrick Mason are joined by Thomas McConkie to discuss the urgent need for healing and peacemaking within ourselves in light of recent global conflicts. The conversation delves into ways we can use mindfulness, connection to God, and principles of inner peace to cultivate peace within as we try to create it in our outer world. Tune in as they explore the principles of the gospel and the teachings of the Book of Mormon to inspire listeners to become better peacemakers.[00:02:49] Becoming people of peace.[00:05:15] Tethering yourself to Christ.[00:07:30] Cultivating inner peace.[00:11:01] Defining peace and tension.[00:15:40] Meditation and inner peace journey.[00:22:00] Trusting our inherent worthiness.[00:23:28] Right relationship with God.[00:28:45] Alma's mighty change of heart.[00:31:48] Changed hearts and grace.[00:35:54] Inner peace amidst global conflict.[00:39:34] Contemplation vs. Action Balance.[00:45:29] Retreat to advance in life.[00:49:21] Mothering the World.[00:52:12] Collective trauma and time perception.[00:58:19] Omega Point of Divine Love.[01:00:11] The heart as an antenna.To find full show notes and transcript, visit https://www.mormonwomenforethicalgovernment.org/proclaim-peace
THE DESCRIPTION: Episode 23 - Elle & Camille: We were able to attend an incredible conference put on by Thomas McConkie (a past, beloved guest on the podcast - see his episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT8673PYPvI) and friends, going real deep on the practice of IPP (Integral Polarity Practice). We met amazing people and scored some awesome wisdom we wanted to share with you today. We can't build community around discovering and nurturing our spiritual gifts without YOU, our community. So thank you for being here and sharing our podcast with your friends. We would love to meet you at our monthly FREE meet ups, and be friends! Are you in?? Let us know in the comments!Want to listen instead? We're on...Spotify: @through-the-veil-podcastor Apple PodcastsWant to drop us a line, book a session, or get into Elle or Camille's group classes?: https://throughtheveilpodcast.comWant to join our private Facebook group to meet like-minded friends interested in discussing spiritual gifts?: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255541367482301Music by: Music by: Born Twice // Eyal Raz#spiritualgifts #spiritwork #integralpolaritypractice #medium
Thomas McConkie: Wow, friends. Buckle up for a mind blowing episode that we promise will have you thinking, and re-thinking your views on time, eternity, spirit communication, and so much more. Our guest, Thomas, who is an author, speaker, and facilitator with a personal mission of helping people shift their perception, joins us to discuss how the foundation of any intuitive practice is simply: awareness. Thomas also shares his own personal, incredible stories through the veil - one involving a visit to Winter Quarters where he had a profound interaction with his ancestors that is still teaching and influencing him today. Join the discussion by giving us your feedback and thoughts in the comments below! We love to hear from you. Want to listen instead? We're on... Spotify: @through-the-veil-podcast or Apple Podcasts Want to learn more about Thomas McConkie's work?: https://lowerlightswisdom.org Want to drop us a line, book a session, or get into Elle's next Spirit Communication Class?: https://throughtheveilpodcast.com Want to join our private Facebook group?: https://www.facebook.com/groups/255541367482301 Music by: Music by: Born Twice // Eyal Raz #awareness #ancestors #intuitionpractice #meditation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/through-the-veil-podcast/message
My friend Haymitch St. Stephen (BYU degree, Stanford graduate degree, mid 30s, SLC native, Latter-day Saint) joins us to talk about his new book called “Friend of the Devil: A Story of Mental Health, Mistakes, and Self-Forgiveness”. This book is the story of Haymitch's lifelong friend Cameron White, who—at age 17 in 2007—was the drunken driver of a car that killed four members of a Salt Lake City family (Michelle Williams and her unborn baby, her son Ben, and daughter Anna). Michelle's husband Chris Willams (and a son) survived the accident. Chris wrote about this experience in his book called “Let It Go”. Haymitch, working closely with Cameron White for 6 years, writes the book with insights from Cameron's perspective of his long journey to find peace, hope, and self-forgiveness. It is a powerful story realizing the life-altering/shattering impact on the Williams family, spending time in jail, meeting Chris, and working to find hope and self-forgiveness—even when he doesn't feel he deserves it. Haymitch, a gifted creative writer and mindful/spiritual big thinker, masterfully weaves in teachings from others (Jesus, Lisa Miller, Thomas McConkie, Adam Miller) to this real-life story to create hope, peace and healing for everyone that seeks to forgive themselves. It is a book that is helpful to all of us to find peace and joy in the realities of an often wounding world. I was so moved reading this book and listening to Haymitch. This is a powerful book that I encourage everyone to read. Thank you Haymitch (and Chris and Cameron) for sharing this story to help bring us together as the same human family. Links: Order Haymitch's book: www.stillpoint.life Learn about the June 7, 2024 book launch event: www.stillpoint.life Contact Haymitch: www.stillpoint.life Chris Williams “Let It Go” book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609071271
Thomas McConkie, founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and author At-One-Ment, joins us today to share his wisdom about learning to love himself and in turn, learning to love those around him. Thomas is an active Latter-day Saint and has nearly 25 years of Buddhist practice. His wisdom in mindfulness, meditation, and mental work is expansive and powerful. In this interview, expect to hear important lessons about finding one-ness and becoming more at peace with yourself and those around you. Thank you, Thomas!! Follow Thomas: Lower Lights: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/ At-One-Ment: https://www.amazon.com/At-One-Ment-Human-Divinity-Thomas-Wirthlin-McConkie/dp/1953677169
This week we're joined by our good friend and contributor to Faith Matters, Thomas McConkie, along with his longtime mentor and friend, John Kesler.In many ways, Thomas and John's paths were mirror images of each other until they eventually collided. John Kesler developed an awareness and life practice called IPP or Integral Polarity Practice that has had a profound impact on Thomas's life. You're going hear a little about polarities or fundamental tensions of human development and how in finding the "still points" in these seeming opposites, we can experience a real relief of that tension and a transcendent peace. Both Thomas and John believe that one of the gifts of our tradition is that it has the structure and scaffolding that creates rich, fertile ground for genuine development. And at the same time, they see that at different seasons of our lives we experience struggle, even struggle around belief. And yet, as John says, in those experiences, we learn that "there's something down deep that's there that can hold us and nurture us." And that these depths can bring us not beyond belief but to the source of belief.This conversation felt so abundant. It felt like a starting place. Thomas and John will be hosting a handful of retreats and events this summer so if you are interested in learning more, you can check out all of those opportunities in the links below.Transformations of Faith CourseAt One Ment: Embodying the Fullness of Human-Divinity, by Thomas McConkie
When we focus on our breath, we reduce stress and lay the foundation for additional meditation techniques. In this episode, we talk about ways to engage kids in meditative techniques — even without ever using the word "meditation." If you're interested in exploring a meditative practice of your own, we recommend the checking out the podcast Mindfulness+ by meditation teacher Thomas McConkie.
Philosopher, thought leader, teacher, and author Thomas McConkie is one of my favorite people to learn from. He's led an interesting life, becoming an expert in all things meditation and mindfulness. Tune in this week for a conversation with Thomas about oneness, embodiment, self-esteem, and the invitation to become more in our lives. I'm asking Thomas about embracing vulnerability, the link between oneness and God, and how we can all experience more At-One-Ment in our lives. Get full show notes and more information here: https://jodymoore.com/441
Several weeks ago, Dr. Finlayson-Fife invited Thomas McConkie to join her and Room for Two annual subscribers for an interactive discussion about embodiment, vulnerability, and the power of mindfulness. This week, we are publishing the recording of this rich and meaningful conversation for ALL to enjoy.
This episode celebrates Thomas McConkie's incredible new book, At-One-Ment--Embodying the Fullness of Human-Divinity, and dives into several of its topic areas that LDF Host Dan Wotherspoon chose as potentially helpful to this listening audience. In both a personal and descriptive tone they discuss the importance of training our minds to "concentrate," for it is the primary key that can unlock our ability to live in a state of endless energy, depth, beauty, love, and connection. Tom also talks about "transfiguration." In another important section of the conversation, Tom describes for us certain "energy centers" in our bodies (such as our needs for safety/security, pleasure, esteem/affection, and to experience power within situations) and how these centers often get activated (with negative effects) within our daily lives. He also discusses ways to mitigate in healthy ways the discomfort they create within us. Another topic here is ways to convey what we can expect as we step more fully into a life as a "human-divine." What is it like? What kinds of experiences await? How does yielding to the transfiguring power of the Sacred World affect us? Throughout, both Tom and Dan share from their own personal experiences as travelers stumbling through adolescence before being captured by Spirit and drawn into these kinds of lives. Listen in! And rush to purchase, At-One-Ment--Embodying the Fullness of Human-Divinity!
Our guest today is a long-time friend and collaborator, and an incredibly unique voice in the Latter-day Saint tradition: Thomas McConkie. Thomas is an author, developmental researcher and meditation teacher who has been practicing under masters in the traditions of Sufism, Buddhism and Christian contemplation, among others for over 25 years. Thomas is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom, and is is currently researching and writing on transformative spiritual practice at Harvard Divinity School.He's also the author of a brand new book published by Faith Matters Publishing called At-One-Ment: Embodying the Fullness of Human-Divinity. This is, in our opinion, a monumentally important work, and one that has the capacity to powerfully change the way we see the world.The book reminds us that much of Christianity has spent centuries focusing on what to believe. Thomas redirects this conversation to the simple but potent practices we can engage in body, heart, mind and spirit to awaken us to a greater measure of the Sacred right here and now. “At-one-ment” becomes a spiritual reality in which we can all participate, not just a historical event in which a select few believe.In our conversation, we covered some important themes of the book, including how we can all at once seek transformation and already feel whole; how we are both individuals and yet deeply connected to everything and everyone around us, and how the mind, while indispensable and so prominent in our modern society, is far from the only way of knowing.We really encourage you to pick up this book — it's available now on Amazon and we think it makes a great gift as well.And, as a note for those interested: Thomas will also be leading a 3-day retreat in Salt Lake City in May 2024, diving deeper into the concepts of At-one-ment. Additional details can be found here:https://lowerlightswisdom.org/classes/the-art-and-practice-of-becoming-one-retreat-may-2024
In this episode of the Family Brand Podcast, we're tackling a topic that's especially relevant as the holidays draw near: navigating family dynamics and creating a thriving space for all family members despite their differences. In this episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Matt, a people development specialist with a rich background in studying organizational health and culture. Matt grew up in a large family on a farm in southern Arizona, and his passion for human connection has been a driving force in his life and career. Now, as a father of three (with one more on the way!) and a husband to his lovely wife Kelsey, Matt is taking his expertise to the next level by helping individuals and organizations unlock their potential through identity-driven leadership and language. As the holidays approach, many of us may be feeling a sense of dread or worry about upcoming family gatherings. Will old tensions resurface? Will differing opinions lead to a blow-up? Matt knows these feelings all too well, and in this episode, he opens up about his own experiences with extended family dynamics and shares how he decided to address these challenges head-on. Through his work with Chris and The Campfire Effect, Matt has gained valuable insights into the power of language and leadership in shaping healthy, thriving relationships. He believes that by creating a space where family members feel seen, heard, and valued, we can foster a sense of belonging and connection that transcends our differences. So, if you're looking for ways to navigate the complexities of family life and create a harmonious environment this holiday season, you won't want to miss this episode. Matt's story is a testament to the transformative power of intentional communication and leadership, and his practical tips and strategies are sure to leave you feeling inspired and equipped to handle whatever family gatherings come your way. Ready to dive in and learn more? Hit play to hear the full conversation and discover how you can create a space where every family member can thrive. Trust us, this is one episode you won't want to miss! LINKS: Website: familybrand.com Social: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand NEW: What Culture are You Creating In Your Family? Take the Quiz Now! https://familybrand.com/quiz Links from this Episode: Finding Identity Through Navigating A Faith Crisis with Thomas McConkie: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-brand/id1536495798?i=1000540847056 The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups: https://amzn.to/408TXgg LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-herrington-%F0%9F%A4%B2%F0%9F%8F%BB-741644122 Episode Minute By Minute: 00:42 Introduction to the show and special guest, Matt Herrington 02:04 Matt shares more about himself and his passion for family culture 03:33 Matt talks about a family experiment that his extended family tried recently 06:34 The moment Matt realized that their needed to be a shift in the family 08:35 Matt talks about how his family agreed to growing in connection with each other 11:36 Matt talks about the boxes of identity that we put each other in and how to eliminate them 12:38 The importance of family agreeing on what they should be known for 13:54 Learning how to push past judgment and learning to love, even when you don't agree 18:32 Advice to those who are wanting to experience deeper connection with their family 19:46 How to follow Matt and learn more about improving your culture in business and in life 20:09 Matt talks about Culture Operating System and what they are achieving
Today I explore the question ‘Is there a connection between trusting your inner voice & allowing questions and doubts?' and why it's important. References: https://laurenciesco.com/; Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis, Thomas McConkie, pg 30; BTSOD Episode 12; Richard Rohr quote here. The Beyond the Shadow of Doubt™ podcast is a proud member of the Dialogue Podcast Network found at DialogueJournal.com/podcastnetwork. The Dialogue Podcast Network is a part of the Dialogue Journal. Founder Eugene England was a Mormon writer, teacher and scholar. “My faith encourages my curiosity and awe,” Gene wrote in the very first issue of the journal. “It thrusts me out into relationship with all creation” and “encourages me to enter into dialogue.” My hope is that this podcast is an extension of his vision. Read more at diagloguejournal.com. Hopeful Spaces is a Dallas Hope Charities component of Hopeful Discussions, which is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA. Hopeful Spaces is a parent support group facilitated by Meagan Skidmore Coaching. To join Hopeful Spaces is free; send an email to chc@dallashopecharities.org. If you are ready to get the care and attention you deserve through 1:1 coaching invite you to reach out. Connect with me at meaganskidmorecoaching.com where you can subscribe to get my free Pronouns 101 guide and download my free 20+ page LGBTQ+ Resource Guide for families. Questions/comments about this episode? Shoot me an email hello@meaganskidmorecoaching.com Please help the podcast grow by following, leaving a 5 star review on Apple podcasts and sharing with friends.
Life is busy and sometimes it feels like it won't get any easier. In the midst of so many things it's easy to get overwhelmed. When that happens the last thing we can find time for is for relaxation. So how can we find time to relax when we are so busy with everything going on in our lives? And what does relaxation looks like in those circumstances? Lisa convenes with the Council of Moms and talks to Thomas McConkie, host of the Mindfulness+ podcast, to find out.
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised Latter-day Saint, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City and has been featured on NPR, Religion News Service, Tricycle Magazine, and the 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris. Check out Thomas's Gospel Meets Dharma course: https://courses.lowerlightswisdom.org/p/gospelmeetsdharma And view his general courses here:https://courses.lowerlightswisdom.org/
Join us this week as Thomas shares how both lineages of gospel and Dharma influenced his life, and why these two traditions ultimately enhanced one another for him. He's sharing his thoughts on faith and wisdom traditions, and he's giving us a sneak peek into what you can expect from his course. Get full show notes and more information here: https://jodymoore.com/344
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised Latter-day Saint, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City and has been featured on NPR, Religion News Service, Tricycle Magazine and the 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris. Find him HERE Ashlynn Mitchell kicks divorce & betrayal in the teeth. With her real world example of what's possible after betrayal & how to live boldly with compassion & forgiveness while being boundaried & free from the past. She is an advocate for women who want to live a life full of adventure & freedom. Come listen to her perspectives while she has conversations with those she loves & respects who share their #bethebuffalo moments that may just help you shift your own journey in a beautiful way. Join her on her new podcast HERE Follow her on social media at HERE Mentor with her at HERE
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised Latter-day Saint, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City and has been featured on NPR, Religion News Service, Tricycle Magazine and the 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris. Find him HERE Ashlynn Mitchell kicks divorce & betrayal in the teeth. With her real world example of what's possible after betrayal & how to live boldly with compassion & forgiveness while being boundaried & free from the past. She is an advocate for women who want to live a life full of adventure & freedom. Come listen to her perspectives while she has conversations with those she loves & respects who share their #bethebuffalo moments that may just help you shift your own journey in a beautiful way. Join her on her new podcast HERE Follow her on social media at HERE Mentor with her at HERE
Many of you are familiar with Thomas Wirthlin McConkie. For those of you who are not, here's a very cursory thumbnail sketch of his story:Coming from a very prominent Latter-day Saint family (with apostles on both sides of the family), Thomas left the Latter-day Saint faith as a teenager, eventually moved to China and for two decades deeply immersed himself in Buddhism. Eventually, he found his way back to the his native Latter-day Saint faith, and today finds himself integrating ideas and practices from both traditions in remarkable and important ways.If you'd like to hear the story of Thomas's journey in more detail, you can listen to a fascinating multi-episode deep dive on the Faith Matters podcast starting in episode 15.Thomas has just created a truly beautiful online course called Gospel Meets Dharma. The course description says it this way: “Gospel Meets Dharma represents a sacred encounter between Christianity and Buddhism, two traditions that have shaped and formed countless millions of minds and souls over the millennia. In this ‘interspiritual dialogue', the unique fruits of each path come into clear relief, while also giving rise to a Beauty that transcends and includes them both.”We invited Thomas back to our studio this week to talk about what inspired him to create this course and to explore some of its key themes. As always, we loved our conversation with Thomas and imagine you will as well.By the way, you can find the course at gospelmeetsdharma.com. Thomas is offering a 20% discount on the course to the Faith Matters audience. Just type the code LAUNCH20 when you enroll.
Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here, we're bringing you a really big conversation today. One that is difficult for many families to navigate. According to research, one component that makes up a strong family is shared spirituality. But what happens when a family member steps away from your faith? Research shows that last year, for the first time ever, Gallup reported America's membership in houses of worship dropped to 47%. A significant difference from the 50% reported in 2018 and even farther from 70% in 1999. This is more than just numbers. For individuals and families, this can be a really challenging dynamic.Today we have a thought-provoking conversation with Thomas McConkie. Thomas teaches courses on mindfulness and adult development through the Lower Lights organization in Salt Lake City. Where seekers of diverse faith orientations can discover new depths and heights in their evolving identity. Thomas takes us on his journey of developing his faith by leaning into the doubt he felt at a young age. From Christianity to Buddhism and back to Christianity 20 years later, Thomas has unique insight into the root of a faith crisis. Listen in as Thomas talks about the importance of identity and how it's the questions we ask that lead us to who we really are. He talks about the transformational power that doubt has and how it can help you find a deeper quality of faith (if you let it). You'll get practical tips and practices for navigating doubt in your own life, as well as what you can do if there is a faith struggle within your family. Join us as we discuss the healthy ways your family can grow together and how you can bring a deeper sense of belonging to your kids even if they've strayed from the path. To find the resources we talked about in this episode, check out the links below! More Of What's Inside: The reason behind a faith crisis Finding the balance between stability and change Exercising caution when navigating an identity crisis Allowing yourself to be uncomfortable Embracing your change to understand others better Leaning into doubt as an indicator of growth Transformational doubt vs. dangerous doubt Practical tips to handling your doubt Finding the wisdom in doubt Why doubt is important for faith How mindfulness can help your family And much more! GUEST LINKS: Book: https://www.amazon.com/Navigating-Mormon-Faith-Crisis-Developmental Podcast: https://www.mindfulnessplus.org/ Website: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/ Website: familybrand.com Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:02 - What we cover today! 0:42 - Introducing Thomas McConkie 2:37 - Why a faith crisis happens 7:46 - Understanding the nature of humans 11:38 - What questions can reveal about ourselves 16:24 - Connecting to discomfort in a deeper way 20:59 - How to help others who may be doubting 23:41 - Red flag indicators for dangerous doubt 28:16 - How doubt has played a role in Thomas' life 32:33 - Creating space for people on a journey 35:58 - Meditation benefits in the home 41:34 - Uniting as a family past beliefs 48:04 - The importance of wanting each other
In a time that is rife with divisiveness in the exterior, how do we consciously integrate polarities within ourselves? In this conversation with mindfulness teacher Thomas McConkie we dive into the foundations of Integral Polarity Practice, its origins and applications, ascending versus descending streams, the value of voice dialogue, the deeper workings of polarity and the pitfalls of the construct-aware stage. Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City, Utah with the intention of creating a generative environment where seekers of diverse faith orientations can discover new depths and heights in their evolving personhood. Thomas is the host of the Mindfulness+ podcast and the author of the book, Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis.
Thomas McConkie is a beautiful soul! Thomas is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's wisdom traditions. Raised LDS, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. Thomas is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for helping people. He is a new pioneer and author of the book, “Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis. He has been a mindfulness teacher now for over 20 years. A researcher and teacher in the field of adult development. Tune in and listen to his inspiring story where he talks about why so many people suffer and how to find peace again. You will love Thomas! … #light #love #energy #faith #glory #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalfitness #mindset #mindsetmatters #faithcrisis #overcome #inspiring #peace #now #present #buddism #LDS #beliefcast #tsinspires ………. You can connect with Thomas here: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/ @tommyomega …. Special thanks to our sponsors: Siegfried & Jensen @siegfriedandjensen Wasatch Recovery @wasatchrecovery Veracity Networks I Heal Institute @rebeccadeaz
Today we’re doing something a little different, and sharing a really fascinating conversation between Thomas McConkie and Adam Miller, a popular author and professor of philosophy. It’s taken from Thomas’s online course, Transformations of Faith. As a part of the course, Thomas and Adam recorded a series of conversations that take a deeper dive on several of the ideas and principles Thomas teaches in the course, and each of the conversations is really enlightening in its own way.In this particular conversation, Thomas and Adam explore the idea of repentance and forgiveness in the context of spiritual growth and transformation, and it’s a very different take than you might expect in a typical “gospel doctrine class” discussion.We hope it provides a unique perspective on this subject that we spend quite a bit of time thinking about and talking about as Latter-day Saints. And of course, to hear all of the conversations, or to learn more about the course, you can head to transformationsoffaith.org to sign up.
Preaching: Thomas McConkieThroughout the Season After the Epiphany the church basks in the light of Christ revealed to us. Yet simultaneously we live in a world divided by religious difference. To our surprise, the light of God shines upon us from the other, as God is made manifest through a diversity of mediums. This sermon series situates us as attentive listeners to other religious traditions. After declaring the light of God upon all people and laying a theological framework for particularity amidst plurality, we will train our attention on three particular sacred stories—Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism. Each sacred story will be expressed by a religious leader who will speak to us out of their own tradition while making connections to values we at Pearl hold dear—gratitude, inclusion, integration, peace, renewal, and transformation. Our hope for this series is to encourage understanding, empathy, appreciation, and connection to our religious neighbors who, alongside us, seek out the light of the Divine. This week’s guest speaker is Thomas McConkie. Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised LDS, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City, Utah with the intention of creating a generative environment where seekers of diverse faith orientations can discover new depths and heights in their evolving personhood.Pearl Church exists to express a sacred story and to extend a common table that animate life by love. A primary expression of our sacred story is the weekly sermon. If our sermons inspire you to ponder the sacred, to consider the mystery and love of God, and to live bountifully, would you consider supporting our work? You can donate easily and securely at our website: pearlchurch.org. Thank you for partnering with us in expressing this sacred story.
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, at age 18 he discovered meditation, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. Thomas is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the intention of supporting seekers of diverse faith orientations to become all they are meant to become. Highlights 5:40 Transformations of Faith: participating willingly in the process of becoming as Christ is 7:30 Talking and listening is relationship and our relationship with God can also reach a level of profound intimacy 9:40 Our lives are moving at a frenetic pace and we have an opportunity to make space for stillness, opening up to connection and to the blessings God has waiting for us 15:00 Presence: the Kingdom of Heaven is among us and the more we open ourselves up, the more we understand that there are no ordinary moments 17:45 Why we need to practice being present in our lives: example of being in the grocery line 21:20 The more we connect with ourselves, the more we realize that all we are doing is offering our state of being to others: our quality of being is our service 24:35 Defining presence: being fully present in the body with both the physical, emotions, and thoughts Part of being present is forgiving the conditions of life: Thy will be done 31:00 Metaphor of digestion 33:00 Experience with a coworker who explained his environment to explain any loss of presence 35:10 Fakeness: I'm overwhelmed and I don't know how to be more present so I'm going to fake it Recognizing this in others 37:30 Stillness isn't about quiet but about being fully human 40:00 Connecting this to the first principles and ordinances 41:10 Repentance and creating space Making space for the suffering of others is a first step toward healing Helping someone begin a practice of mindfulness as a step toward repentance Divine confidence: presence is a divine attribute Getting out of the way so the Atonement can work in us 50:40 The pain of others resonates in us, and a commitment to practicing kindness within ourselves helps with the overwhelm The more committed we are, the more people realize they can be themselves with us Recognizing the pain body in others 58:45 Awareness that we are often defended against God: Can we notice the ways we keep the light out as a defense against the uncomfortable? Links transformationsoffaith.org (Use code LEADINGSAINTS25 for 25% off the course) Where to Start When Members Doubt | An Interview With Thomas Wirthlin McConkie Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast 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!
Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, at age 18 he discovered meditation, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. Thomas is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Lights Sangha in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the intention of supporting seekers of diverse faith orientations to become all they are meant to become. Highlights 5:40 Transformations of Faith: participating willingly in the process of becoming as Christ is 7:30 Talking and listening is relationship and our relationship with God can also reach a level of profound intimacy 9:40 Our lives are moving at a frenetic pace and we have an opportunity to make space for stillness, opening up to connection and to the blessings God has waiting for us 15:00 Presence: the Kingdom of Heaven is among us and the more we open ourselves up, the more we understand that there are no ordinary moments 17:45 Why we need to practice being present in our lives: example of being in the grocery line 21:20 The more we connect with ourselves, the more we realize that all we are doing is offering our state of being to others: our quality of being is our service 24:35 Defining presence: being fully present in the body with both the physical, emotions, and thoughts Part of being present is forgiving the conditions of life: Thy will be done 31:00 Metaphor of digestion 33:00 Experience with a coworker who explained his environment to explain any loss of presence 35:10 Fakeness: I'm overwhelmed and I don't know how to be more present so I'm going to fake it Recognizing this in others 37:30 Stillness isn't about quiet but about being fully human 40:00 Connecting this to the first principles and ordinances 41:10 Repentance and creating space Making space for the suffering of others is a first step toward healing Helping someone begin a practice of mindfulness as a step toward repentance Divine confidence: presence is a divine attribute Getting out of the way so the Atonement can work in us 50:40 The pain of others resonates in us, and a commitment to practicing kindness within ourselves helps with the overwhelm The more committed we are, the more people realize they can be themselves with us Recognizing the pain body in others 58:45 Awareness that we are often defended against God: Can we notice the ways we keep the light out as a defense against the uncomfortable? Links transformationsoffaith.org (Use code LEADINGSAINTS25 for 25% off the course) Where to Start When Members Doubt | An Interview With Thomas Wirthlin McConkie Transcript 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! 00:00:00 - 00:05:01 Welcome back to another episode of the leading saints. Podcast if you've enjoyed content on this podcast. It's important that. I tell you about the leading saints newsletter that we send out every week this newsletter keeps you up to date on all the current leading saints content releases including podcasts articles online events and even live events. That might be happening in your own area in this newsletter. We also recommend some past episodes and written articles that you don't want to miss each week. We include additional leadership perspectives and thoughts. That you can only find in the weekly newsletter. So you definitely don't want to miss out to subscribe to the weekly newsletter simply text. The word lead to four seven four seven four seven or visit leading saints dot org slash. Subscribe again text. The word l. e. a. d. two four seven four seven four seven or visit leading saints do...
My friend Thomas McConkie joins us to talk about his new online course called “Transformations of Faith”—a contemporary expression of timeless Wisdom as understood through the lens of the Restored Gospel. The course was jointly developed by two non-profits: Faith Matters (https://faithmatters.org/) and Lower Lights (https://lowerlightswisdom.org/) In the podcast Thomas explains why he developed the course, who the course is for, the nature of the content, and how it brings hope and healing. He even walks us through some practices in the conversation! I encourage our listeners to enroll in this course. It will give you tools to better activate the possibilities of our gospel (especially around healing and finding peace) in your life. Please go to transformationsoffaith.org to learn more or enroll. Use the discount code HOLIDAYS for 25% off. Thank you, our friend Thomas, for being on the podcast and your unique and needed life work to bring hope, healing, love, peace and unity.
Today I talk with my cousin Thomas McConkie, founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom in SLC, UT. Tom's passion for meditation has led him to help many people discover meaningful work. Listen to hear his advice about finding your dream job, how embracing the thing you fear can lead to progress, and what he did to move from rock bottom to success. Links: www.transformationsoffaith.org www.lowerlightswisdom.org Tom's book—https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0996852603/ref=dbs_a_w_dp_0996852603 Instagram—@lowerlightswisdom Follow me on Instagram! @careerchatpod
Join Thomas and I today as we dive into his new course, Transformations of Faith. Thomas believes we all have a deep intuition about how we’re individually called to grow in our spirituality, and he’s here to share his insight on accessing our own wisdom and to encourage you to go on a journey of discovering your own path to spiritual development. Get full show notes and more information here: https://jodymoore.com/274
*** Find out more at transformationsoffaith.org ***In this episode, we spoke with Thomas McConkie about something really exciting that he’s been working on over the past year in partnership with Faith Matters.Thomas has created an online course called Transformations of Faith. Many of our listeners are familiar with Thomas’s unique story. He’s a mindfulness teacher and practitioner of over 20 years, a committed and thoughtful Latter-day Saint, and a researcher and teacher in the field of adult development. In Transformations of Faith, Thomas draws on all three of these perspectives to create some truly transformative insights and practices.It’s an extraordinarily rich course with over 10 hours of teaching and guided meditations by Thomas, plus some fascinating conversations between Thomas and Adam Miller in which they dive deeper into the ideas in the course. Faith Matters is a non-profit organization, but we’ve made a substantial investment to produce this course because we believe what Thomas has to share will be life-changing for many people. For that reason, the course is the first product we’ve made available for purchase through Faith Matters. We’re offering a discounted price of $98 for the first 100 purchasers. We’ve also decided to make financial aid available for those who can’t currently afford it — we don’t want money to be the reason anyone misses out on the course.Subscribers will also be able to access an audio-only version of the course on a private podcast channel.For those of us who have taken the course, it’s been a subject of constant conversation. Many of the ideas and practices Thomas shared have truly been life-changing and opened up new awareness for both of us about ourselves and others around us that we simply couldn’t see before. We expect we’ll be back to it over and over again to process and uncover new layers of meaning. We think it could be particularly helpful if you feel spiritually or emotionally stuck or stagnant, or if you struggle with anxiety.You can head to transformationsoffaith.org in order to see more detail about the course, watch a sample video, and enroll. We had a ton of fun talking with Thomas about some of the most interesting and impactful moments in the course for this episode of the podcast. We can’t wait for you to listen and hope you enjoy the conversation.
Thomas has such an incredible story. After dealing with severe anxiety and depression, he found his solace through deep levels of meditation. This journey took him to incredible roads where he saw that human rights issues could never be resolved until the human heart was made right. Diving deep within and finding his purpose, he created the Lower Lights Online course, a series of lessons intended to help us find rest in the present moment. Hope you enjoy the podcast!
The Betrayed, The Addicted, and the Expert is a podcast that started out as an opportunity to open up the discussion of how to move forward after infidelity, or an affair. We discuss the heavy stuff and share Coby and Ashlynn's real-life experience of recovery after sex addiction and betrayal trauma. All this is done alongside an expert in sex addiction Brannon Patrick. Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised LDS, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. Influenced profoundly in his twenties by world travel and the study of adult development, over time he began to ask the question of what spiritual flourishing will look like in the 21st century. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Light Sangha with the intention of providing a supportive environment where seekers of any kind can discover new depths and heights in their evolving faith journey. Website: Lower Lights Wisdom Podcast: Mindfulness+ with Thomas McConkie We are glad you found our season 3 episodes where we share some of our most advanced learnings and bring amazing experts on when it comes to relationships, and the challenges of healing both sides of the relationship after sex addiction and infidelity. Our journey has taken us a long ways from the time we recorded these episodes, but many have still found help and hope for healing in the information. We hope you always seek healing first for yourself, and where possible for the relationship, though staying together or choosing divorce or separation can occur at the point of betrayal and at times even after healing from betrayal and addictions. If you would like support in healing from betrayal we'd invite you to look at our program https://www.beyond-enough.com/beyondbetrayal It is not a program about staying together or leaving your partner, but rather finding the healing we need as an individual who has been made aware of our partner cheating. If you would like support from a licensed therapist contact Brannon's office at www.utahtherapy.org To find out about Ashlynn's groups https://www.thisisashlynn.com/mentoring To get support from Coby check out www.growwithcoby.com Thanks for your continued support for the podcast throughout all of our journey.
The Betrayed, The Addicted, and the Expert is a podcast that started out as an opportunity to open up the discussion of how to move forward after infidelity, or an affair. We discuss the heavy stuff and share Coby and Ashlynn's real-life experience of recovery after sex addiction and betrayal trauma. All this is done alongside an expert in sex addiction Brannon Patrick. Thomas McConkie is the founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom and has a passion for the world's Wisdom traditions. Raised LDS, at 18 years old he discovered Buddhism, which remains a wellspring of inspiration over 20 years later. Influenced profoundly in his twenties by world travel and the study of adult development, over time he began to ask the question of what spiritual flourishing will look like in the 21st century. He is trained as a developmental researcher, facilitator, and mindfulness teacher. He hosts the Lower Light Sangha with the intention of providing a supportive environment where seekers of any kind can discover new depths and heights in their evolving faith journey. Website: Lower Lights Wisdom Podcast: Mindfulness+ with Thomas McConkie Check out our Course Shattered Trust to Thriving Intimacy here... www.shatteredtothriving.com Subscribe to the podcast here... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Connect with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/betrayedaddi... Connect with us on instagram https://www.instagram.com/recovery_co... https://www.instagram.com/brannon_pat... https://www.instagram.com/ashlynnandcoby
We know it’s been an eventful, and uncertain, and even scary couple of weeks for everybody. We’ve been grappling with our “new normal,” just like everyone else, and have been feeling the anxiety, uncertainty, and isolation that we know a lot of people are. We asked Thomas McConkie to come on the podcast and share the way he’s thinking about what’s been happening; Thomas always seems to have an ability to find the calm in the middle of a storm, and we think everyone that takes a moment to listen will really benefit from what he shares. As we spoke with him, he really helped us gain some insights that we think are transcendent but also practical.Thomas is continuing his community mindfulness practice at Lower Lights School of Wisdom, which normally meets in person but has moved online — you can see the upcoming event dates at lowerlightswisdom.org. He’ll also be starting the upcoming season of his podcast, Mindfulness+, a bit early in light of our current situation, and is anticipating releasing his first episode on Wednesday, April 1, so make sure to go subscribe if you’re interested in hearing more insights from ThomasLower Lights: https://lowerlightswisdom.org/Mindfulness+: https://mindfulnessplus.org/02:36 What is Alembic?08:16 Getting on the path we would like to be on13:27 Dealing with the anxious mind22:42 A mindfulness exercise led by Thomas39:18 Finding the gold in mindfulness practice
This episode is packed with goodness from Preach’s first ever live show, including: Mindfulness expert Thomas McConkie on why he ran away from home as a teen. The founders of The Emerald Project on training FBI agents to combat Islamophobia. Millennial Rabbi Samuel Spector on leading Utah’s largest Jewish congregation. Comedian Stacey Harkey on navigating being black, gay and Mormon in Utah. Hosted by Lee Hale. From KUER and PRX.
In this episode, we speak with Thomas McConkie on the subject of prayer.Thomas brings a unique perspective, one that fuses a traditional idea of prayer with a more contemplative practice. He shares his insights on finding real connection to God through prayer, on the intersection of acceptance and seeking for specific outcomes, and perhaps most importantly, on how contemplative connection with God can help us rid ourselves of the "wrong ideas" that cause us pain. We hope you enjoy this conversation!12:38 Prayers, Now and Then18:10 Intentionality in Prayer26:06 How to Develop Spiritual Habits34:56 Prayer as Conversation40:30 Thoughts on Fasting46:13 The Role of Prayer in Faith Crisis
A common refrain we hear in Christianity today is someone claiming something like this: "There are those who think of Jesus is merely a great teacher of morals or wisdom. But we know he is actually the Son of God and Savior of the world!" It is a binary, either/or proposition intended to discourage people from exploring the deeper, wisdom teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. Well, in this episode, Jana Spangler, Thomas McConkie, and LDF host Dan Wotherspoon turn their attention to those sayings and parables and types of consciousness that are, indeed, best read and understood through wisdom and contemplative lenses. Each panelist tells her or his own "Jesus story," and also talks about various scriptural passages and insights that only come truly alive when approaching Jesus in this way. It's a wonderful conversation, followed by beautiful centering exercise led by Thomas. Listen in! Be ready to re-embrace a powerful and even more compelling Jesus!
“While we can easily plateau in our adult development, we don’t have to. In fact, there seems to be no upper limit to how much we can grow. The latest stages of human development remain a Mystery waiting to be lived.” … so says Thomas McConkie, founder of Lower Lights, a spiritual community that is […] The post Pioneering an Integral Spiritual Tradition appeared first on The Daily Evolver.
Listen in on our discussion today as Thomas shares how he left the church and went on a journey of self-development that, in the end, brought him closer to God than he could have ever seen coming. Thomas has some incredible insights about our development through adulthood, as well as the power of combining mindfulness and faith. Get full show notes and more information here: https://jodymoore.com/221
Despite being born into a family with strong Latter-day Saint roots, Thomas McConkie stopped attending church at the age of 13. However, a spiritual journey, which spanned nearly two decades and included becoming proficient in Buddhist meditation, brought him back to an unlikely destination: The faith of his youth. "I'm really comfortable with the definition of meditation as remembrance. And that feels very much like a gospel principle to me, like when we remember what are we remembering? Well, let me just riff a little bit: We remember that we are sons and daughters, that we're children of a living God. And when we remember that, the quality of our whole life in this very moment changes." Show Notes 3:08- Leaving the Church at 13 years old 4:51- Discovering Meditation 5:46- Redemption in Stillness 12:26- Power to Heal a Generation 16:49- The Meaning of Meditation 19:34- Stillness Among Saints 25:34- Changing a Culture 28:15- Home-centered Church's Opportunity 31:49- Ministering and Meditation 33:05- Creating a Community 35:56- Message to a Teenager Struggling With Faith 37:50- If You Love Someone Struggling With Faith 39:29- A Grandfather's Love 42:36- What Does It Mean To Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?
Father Thomas Keating (1923–2018) was a uniquely gifted human being and great Soul. In this episode, Thomas McConkie reflects on Father Thomas’s legacy, as well as invites listeners into a direct experience of the Silence that in Keating’s words, is “God’s first language.”
My friend Thomas McConkie shares his story stepping away from the LDS faith for about 20 years (age 13 – 32) and then returning. While away Thomas lived around the world and developed a deep spirituality as he connected with and learned from the good in other faiths. About 7 years ago while in Salt Lake City, Thomas shares spiritual experiences that led him back into the LDS faith. Thomas started a nonprofit called Lower Lights to heal and bring hope to others. Check out: https://lowerlightsslc.org/ On a personal note when I went through my mini-faith crisis while serving as a YSA Bishop, Thomas’ book was one of the three books that I read that helped get through that time (which I’m now glad occurred) helping me to stay a committed member of the Church. Thomas’ book is at: https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Wirthlin-McConkie/e/B0164TIIJK%3Fref Thank you for being on the podcast, Thomas. You have a unique and beautiful life ministry. Bringing all your experiences, gifts and insights to bring hope and healing to others.
I am SO FREAKING excited for you to have this episode in your life! If you have been feeling lost, disconnected, or like you’re coming to a new place in your life...this will be SO HELPFUL! In this episode I talk to adult development, mindfulness and meditation expert Thomas McConkie. We’re not talking about religion, we are talking about faith, spirituality, and what happens when you’ve got tough questions! What happens in your brain, in your relationships, in your LIFE and how to navigate the tough stuff! We cover a lot of ground and I’m positive it will relieve some suffering in your life or help you connect with someone who is suffering. It’s so important and I’m so grateful for us all to have this! Enjoy! Eric's closing song is "Modern Beasts" from the brand new EDGY ATMOS collection at Pleasant Pictures Music Club. pleasantpictures.club Use code AWESOMEWITHERIC for 20% off!
We sit down today with my good friend Thomas McConkie. Thomas has so much to offer us. Deeply grounded in Buddhism and meditation and an expert in explaining development and Thomas has a unique perspective on Jesus having chosen intentionally to live out his spiritual life in this moment in a fundamentalist sect of Christianity.… Read More »Mythical Jesus: 028: Thomas McConkie – Soul Changing Work The post Mythical Jesus: 028: Thomas McConkie – Soul Changing Work appeared first on Christ of Faith.
We sit down today with my good friend Thomas McConkie. Thomas has so much to offer us. Deeply grounded in Buddhism and meditation and an expert in explaining development and Thomas has a unique perspective on Jesus having chosen intentionally to live out his spiritual life in this moment in a fundamentalist sect of Christianity. […] The post Mythical Jesus: Thomas McConkie – Soul Changing Work appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.
Thomas Wirthlin McConkie was born into a prominent American Latter-day Saint family, but the faith didn't resonate with him as a teenager. He disconnected from the Church and began exploring the wider world's faith traditions. He followed a thread through eastern religion and philosophy, and was surprised when that thread guided him all the way back to the faith of his youth. As a specialist in meditation and adult psychological development, Thomas Wirthlin McConkie appreciates how connecting with his past opens a new vision of the future.
In Part 7, Bill’s final interview gives voice to how his native religion has “become new” for Thomas, and how it might become new for all of us. Thomas gives detailed examples of how his study in Buddhism and travels around the world offer a connection to greater wholeness, and magnifies simple practices in Mormon tradition. He shares his observation of specific gifts the Mormon tradition offers from an “outsiders” perspective, and how each one of us can reconnect to something we may have lost. Their conversation helps one to see the worth of Mormonism’s concrete call to action, and how this action can shift to create true healing in one another’s lives. They talk about how we might create greater space in our communities for people to show up as their whole selves, and the possibility of accepting people in their growth, rather than drawing stark lines of where they “should” be, giving room for imaginations to grow together and create a genuine Zion community.
Thomas and Bill explore the question “Is Mormonism a good place to grow?” How well does our faith community nurture individual growth across the whole spectrum of development? They discuss the value of staying grounded in concrete practices as we grow spiritually. Their conversation explores a developmentally-informed understanding of things like restoration, testimony and commandments.
This conversation centers around the cultivation of creativity and imagination, and how this cultivation improves our ability to “transcend and include” as we grow. Thomas and Bill talk about our instinctive movement towards higher meaning as human beings, and what roadblocks might halt this instinct. Thomas shares his “return to Jesus” after distancing himself from Christianity for many years. Through his story, he teaches how practices within the LDS tradition can move from concrete to symbolic to transcendent. His explanation offers generous permission to our changing faith and testimony as we develop through life.
In this episode, Thomas shares more about his life story, describing his experience as an outlier to his devout Mormon family. Sharing intimate encounters with his grandfather (and Apostle) Thomas B. Wirthlin, he illustrates how important it is to trust in each other’s goodness and give space for our own unique paths. Bill and Thomas explore how stagEs of development are reflected in the evolution of a religious community, particularly the LDS church and culture.
Thomas and Bill share a deeper discussion around mindfulness and meditation, and how this practice can help us connect with our true nature. This is a discussion about “waking up.” They explore how we can experience gospel principles such as obedience, service and charity in a mindful, integrated way. When we can move from “achievement” to “embodiment”; from checklists, to presence, we have the opportunity to bring our full selves. To this episode, Thomas lets us experience meditation through a guided experience.
Bill and Thomas dive into the field of adult development, explaining the potential perspectives one might experience as a growing Latter-day Saint. Through the lens and insight of "adult developmental psychology," the restored gospel of Jesus Christ can take on new meaning and depth, supporting healthy progress while steering away from shame or division. To quote Thomas, "The world we will create will be informed by the perspectives we’re able to take, and the possibilities that come from that...which helps us be more creative in a very deep way."
Thomas shares significant experiences from adolescence which caused a fracture with his family and native faith and began his exploration beyond his family’s devout Mormon heritage. He gives an overview of his 18-year spiritual pilgrimage and his ultimate return to the faith of his youth, bearing gifts from his journey. Weaving what he had learned about eastern philosophy, mindfulness and adult developmental psychology into his LDS faith, Thomas explores ways to inhabit new perspectives with compassion and curiosity.
This episode is a live recording of the ZION2.0 launch party. I play some silly music, give a brief history of how the podcast came about, and settle in for an expansive conversation with Thomas McConkie. Thomas is a Salt Lake City native with deep wisdom to share. He tells his story on leaving the Mormon church at an early age, moving to China to study Buddhism, and eventually returning to Salt Lake to launch Lower Lights Sangha, a non profit that teaches mindfulness, meditation, and developmental psychology to curious seekers. Thomas offers us a window into what the future of religion could look like- organizations that celebrate the wholeness of all human beings, regardless of where they stand in their own development. While his context deals with Mormonism, this conversation is relevant for anyone who has ever felt exiled from family, culture, society, or religion.
As they begin to experience shifts of faith, many Latter-day Saints and others within the Christian tradition come to think of Jesus Christ differently than what they did when they were younger, and for most who undergo these shifts, the transition from one understanding to another is fraught with a great deal of angst. It takes time to "unlearn" traditional stories and to formulate new ones based upon our own experiences and encounters with Jesus over and against what we had "received" from others. It's confusing. It feels transgressive as we come to gain new sensibilities from those we see in our communities. But, even with this wrestling and searching and the disorientation of the period in which we are changing, it is vital that we take it on. Jesus and his teachings really come alive when not seen primarily through institutional lenses that often emphasize actions and beliefs that are geared toward conveying how much we "need" them in order to be saved. In this two-part episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon has brought together separate recordings he made with nine different friends over a ten-day period in which they shared their journeys and the fresh views they have gained, or are now moving toward, in response to the following question: "What do you believe is the "good news" of the gospel as taught by Jesus of Nazareth?" What they shared is wonderful! Some played with similar themes ("kingdom of God within us" or "losing one's life in order to find it") but each with their own unique emphases and flavoring unique to them. We think you will very much enjoy what you find here! In Episode 532 (Part 1), you'll hear from Susan Hinckley, Barbara Roberts, Tom Roberts, Scott Turley, and JoDee Baird. In Episode 533 (Part 2), those sharing are Thomas McConkie, Cynthia Winward, Matt Jones, Jana Spangler, and Dan Wotherspoon.
As they begin to experience shifts of faith, many Latter-day Saints and others within the Christian tradition come to think of Jesus Christ differently than what they did when they were younger, and for most who undergo these shifts, the transition from one understanding to another is fraught with a great deal of angst. It takes time to "unlearn" traditional stories and to formulate new ones based upon our own experiences and encounters with Jesus over and against what we had "received" from others. It's confusing. It feels transgressive as we come to gain new sensibilities from those we see in our communities. But, even with this wrestling and searching and the disorientation of the period in which we are changing, it is vital that we take it on. Jesus and his teachings really come alive when not seen primarily through institutional lenses that often emphasize actions and beliefs that are geared toward conveying how much we "need" them in order to be saved. In this two-part episode, Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon has brought together separate recordings he made with nine different friends over a ten-day period in which they shared their journeys and the fresh views they have gained, or are now moving toward, in response to the following question: "What do you believe is the "good news" of the gospel as taught by Jesus of Nazareth?" What they shared is wonderful! Some played with similar themes ("kingdom of God within us" or "losing one's life in order to find it") but each with their own unique emphases and flavoring unique to them. We think you will very much enjoy what you find here! In Episode 532 (Part 1), you'll hear from Susan Hinckley, Barbara Roberts, Tom Roberts, Scott Turley, and JoDee Baird. In Episode 533 (Part 2), those sharing are Thomas McConkie, Cynthia Winward, Matt Jones, Jana Spangler, and Dan Wotherspoon.
Mindfulness is all the rage right now, but many people may be over-complicating it. Learn how to implement the benefits of mindfulness effortlessly into your daily regimen with mindfulness master Thomas McConkie. Thomas McConkie is an author, public speaker, and mindfulness teacher. He is the Founder of Lower Lights School of Wisdom where he teaches principles of developmental psychology and incorporates his 20 years of experience practicing mindfulness. He is the creator of the podcast, Mindfulness+ and has been featured on NPR, Religious News Service and Tricycle Magazine. See the show notes, links and resources at https://dirobi.com
A lot of people loved their mission. But for others, it's more complicated. Listen to Thomas McConkie's podcast Mindfulness+: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mindfulness-with-thomas-mcconkie/id1281666719?mt=2
Having been raised in the Mormon faith, Thomas McConkie was feeling a little lost after he had a falling out with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his family and his faith-based community. When he started going to a Zen meditation center in Salt Lake City, Utah, a daily practice became "a lifeline," McConkie said, and it eventually helped him make his was back to Mormonism, start a meditation center called Lower Lights School of Wisdom and launch his "Mindfulness+" podcast.
Thomas is an author, public speaker, and active voice in the conversation on the role of religion in the 21st century, he is also a facilitator at Pacific Integral. What does emotional pain and wounding look like as we move up into higher stages of development? Is there an aspect of you that you could more fully include and integrate into the wholeness of who you are right now? Thomas speaks from his own experience to explore how, as we move into higher stages, we develop a capacity to be with painful parts of ourselves rather than seek to escape from them. This allows us to integrate all parts of ourselves in order to feel whole. As a special practice just for our listeners, Thomas walks us through a guided meditation to explore the gift of light that is within all of us, to help us find a place where we can be held no matter what is going on in our world.
Mindfulness teacher; author of ‘Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis'; and Founder of the Lower Lights Sangha, Thomas McConkie, joins Gina to discuss contemplative Mormonism and some of the spiritual practices that are attached to the contemplative traditions. Thomas also offers January 2018's guided meditation on ‘Healing', and we chat about some of the resources available that support the Mormon contemplative community.
Thomas McConkie offers a healing meditation.
Thomas McConkie, has been practicing meditation for 20 years, studying developmental psychology for 10, is an author, fellow podcaster (Mindfulness+), and faculty member at Pacific Integral. His study and practice has allowed him to create safe spaces for what he calls generative listening. This type of listening actually allows individuals to generate and share experiences otherwise inaccessible. As a community often trying to do generative research, this is an invaluable skill.
Thomas McConkie, the host of Mindfulness+ on the KSL Newsradio app and website, grew up a devout Mormon. He shares his faith journey, and how mindfulness practice informed and transformed his beliefs. He describes how a childhood illness and a blessing from his grandfather put him on the path to spiritual growth in the LDS Church, even with a period of questioning and doubt in his teens. He wanted to know why members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints could be so imperfect - and looking for the answer to that question led him to learn more about adult development, meditation, and mindfulness.
Thomas McConkie, the host of Mindfulness+ on the KSL Newsradio app and website, grew up a devout Mormon. He shares his faith journey, and how mindfulness practice informed and transformed his beliefs. He describes how a childhood illness and a blessing from his grandfather put him on the path to spiritual growth in the LDS Church, even with a period of questioning and doubt in his teens. He wanted to know why members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints could be so imperfect - and looking for the answer to that question led him to learn more about adult development, meditation, and mindfulness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fellow KSL News Radio podcaster Thomas McConkie joins host Heather Kelly to discuss how to change the inner conversation you have with yourself about money. Thomas uses meditation to change his relationship with eating, sleeping, and stress. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mindfulness+/id1156618440?mt=2 Thomas and Heather talk about how stress over money affects your health and how Mindfulness+ can be used to improve your self worth and reduce the need to overspend. When stress levels are reduced it leads to reduced health care costs and lower credit card bills and leaves a fatter wallet in your possession. https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingSense/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Tom Tolman teaches leadership to future military officers as the director of the Army ROTC program at James Madison University. He has served in two branch presidencies, as an elders quorum president and as a missionary in Japan. During his military career he has led and served in a variety of units including the 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Special Operations Command, British Army Headquarters and the United States Military Academy at West Point. He has deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Tom lives in Harrisonburg, VA with his wife Erin and four kids - Emma, Mary, Bennett, and Connor. Be sure to listen to the attached interview where Tom and Kurt talk in detail about what led up to Tom giving this talk in sacrament meeting. Enter Tom... I like to run. A few years ago I was training for a marathon. Every Saturday I’d go for a long run - sometimes as long as 20 miles. After the run, I had a particular craving for and would usually eat a large bowl of ramen soup. After one run, a friend pointed out that the raman soup I was eating was terrible and contained high levels of sodium increasing my risk of high blood pressure and other problems. I stopped eating the soup. As it turns out, because of the long runs and the physical activity, my body actually needed the extra salt. Thomas McConkie, author of Navigating a Mormon Faith Crisis, used a similar metaphor to talk about our spiritual needs. He wrote: We have similar cravings spiritually. They feel counter-intuitive because in our mind, we know what we need for spiritual nourishment. Our culture has taught us what a proper diet looks like: read scriptures, go to church, pray, lose yourself in service to others. Repeat. Of course there is true sustenance in this formula. In Mormonism, it’s a bit like the spiritual food pyramid. And yet, we know more about developmental nutrition now than ever before. There are modifications in our diet that can lead to exhilarating growth spurts. There are different kinds of nutrients that we crave during different phases of our spiritual becoming. There are foods we need that we might not realize just how much we need. We all need different food. We all know members of the Church who aren’t attending regularly. Or at all. A close friend. A family member. Well over half the members of our branch don’t attend and that’s pretty normal across the Church. Why is this? Sometimes we are quick to propose reasons - perhaps they were offended; maybe they wanted to sin; maybe they were misled by some anti-mormon material or they just weren’t diligent enough in their scripture study and prayer. Perhaps, in some cases, despite our best efforts, everyone doesn’t find the spiritual nourishment they need at church. When we, in well-meaning ways, attempt to force others to follow the diet that has always worked for us sometimes the consequences aren’t what we hoped. Now, I’m not speaking in some hypothetical or theoretical sense. I’m going to be very candid. About two years ago I had what we often call a crisis of faith. Many of the things that I had regarded with great certainty I was no longer able to view the same way. I had questions about seer stones and polygamy. And dozens of others. Nothing seemed to quite make sense. In the midst of my questioning, I felt alone and like I was suffocating. Although I sat on the stand each week and was surrounded by loving and well-meaning friends and family I felt like my questions weren’t appropriate. That my questions might be contagious and cause others to doubt - an outcome I didn’t want to inflict on anyone. That my questions, if verbalized, would cause others to question my dedication or worthiness. That my questions would be viewed as a threat. So, I remained silent. By November last year my questions were getting in the way of my service and I asked to be released from my calling. Although I loved everything about serving in the branch presidency,
In this episode Gina Colvin, Ph.D., Dan Wotherspoon, Ph.D., and Thomas McConkie explore the path of staying active in the LDS Church as an unorthodox member. This episode was recorded live at Studio at 50 West in Salt Lake City on June 15, 2016.
A further conversation with Thomas McConkie, author of Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis: A Simple Development Map about developing a compassionate response in hard spiritual times.