To Whom Shall We Go? Podcast (Ryan Sorensen)

Our guest for today's interview is Marcus Martins. Marcus is currently a religion professor at BYU-Hawaii and was the first black missionary after the 1978 priesthood restriction was lifted. We discuss Marcus's father's conversion story, some of the events that led up to him serving a mission, advice for those that find themselves in a faith crisis, and his convictions of the gospel.

Here is a link to an article about him:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/1978-revelation-dramatically-changed-lives-of-black-members-in-brazil?lang=eng

Here is a link to his YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/DrMHMartins/videos

Today we are joined by Christopher Cunningham. Christopher has a lot of experience writing about religious issues and is one of the co-founders of Public Square Magazine. In this interview, we discuss the topic of "belief," discuss a blog article he wrote a couple of years ago called "The God Who Changes His Mind," and briefly discuss prophetic fallibility.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christopherdcunningham/2019/04/the-god-who-changes-his-mind/

https://publicsquaremag.org/

For today's episode, we have Don Bradley joining us. Don is the author of a book titled The Lost 116 Pages. In this episode, Don shares his story of leaving the church and completely abandoning his belief in God. He shares how focusing on gratitude and the insights he learned in his study of church history led to his return to faith.

Below are some links for some of the research that Don has done.

https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2013/the-original-context-of-the-first-vision-narrative-1820s-or-1830s

https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2012/piercing-the-veil-temple-worship-in-the-lost-116-pages

In this interview, we are once again joined by Brian Hales. Back when Brian was digging deep into the topic of polygamy some would ask him if he was worried he would find something that would cause him to lose his belief in Joseph Smith being a prophet? He wasn't worried and the main reason he wasn't worried is that he didn't believe Joseph Smith could have written the Book of Mormon. After diving deep into the topic of polygamy he decided to test his assumption that Joseph Smith couldn't have written the Book of Mormon. In this interview, we discuss Brian's findings. We discuss the complexity of the Book of Mormon and the writing/oratory skills Joseph would have needed.

Book of Mormon Author Gap Document: https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/The-BofM-Author-GAP-FINAL.pdf

How the Book of Mormon can save testimonies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmWYgmm8i0I

In today's interview, we are joined by Scott Gordon. Scott is the President of FAIR. FAIR stands for Faithful Answers Informed Responses and is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of Latter-Day Saint doctrine, belief, and practice. In this interview, we talk about FAIR and how it can be helpful for those struggling with the church.

https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/

https://www.youtube.com/user/fairldsorg

In this interview, we are joined by Ross Baron. Ross teaches Religion and Philosophy at BYU-Idaho. Ross grew up Jewish and spent time investigating many different religions before he found the restored gospel. In the early 2000s while living in Southern California, there was a strong anti-Latter-Day Saint influence in his community. As a way of responding to this, local leaders organized community firesides. In these firesides Ross would cover topics such as "Are Mormons Christian?" and would close the meetings with a Q&A session where any questions were welcomed. As a result of these firesides, many people were baptized and reactivated. In this interview, we discuss Ross's conversion story, the community firesides he took part in, frameworks for approaching controversial issues, and what the gospel means to him.

Ross also has a great podcast called "Faithful Conversations" that I'd recommend looking into, below are some links to it.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/faithful-conversations/id1486595182

https://open.spotify.com/show/5uP0GRuFhaNKICWcaTZUXU

https://anchor.fm/ross-baron/episodes/Ross-Baron-Conversion-Full-Story-e8gd0q

To learn more about his firesides check out:

https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2001/feeding-the-multitudes-being-fishers-of-men

Today we are joined by Brian Whitney. In the interview, Brian shares his roller coaster ride of a journey in the church. At about 33:38 (timestamp) Brian talks about the experience he had interning at the Church History Department and some of the different things he learned from the church historians there. Brian has a lot of great advice for anyone that might be struggling with their testimony.

Today we are joined by Valerie Hudson Cassler. She is currently a University Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at Texas A&M and is the co-founder of SquareTwo.org. In 2010 Valerie gave a groundbreaking talk at the FAIR Mormon conference called "The Two Trees" that discusses issues such as: how Eve didn't sin in the garden, a deeper symbolism behind what the two trees in the garden represent, Heavenly Mother, and the meanings of Patriarchy and Matriarchy. In this interview, we discuss her conversion story, the talk she gave at the FAIR Mormon conference, the meaning of Patriarchy and Matriarchy in the church, and what the gospel of Jesus Christ means to her.

Here is a link to the talk she gave at the FAIR Mormon Conference:

https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2010/the-two-trees

I'm so grateful to have Brian Hales join me on the Podcast. Brian is a co-founder of https://josephsmithspolygamy.org/ and has authored numerous books on Joseph Smith and Polygamy. In this episode, we address the controversial issue of polygamy by asking Brian a list of questions.

Today we are joined by Tarik LaCour. In this conversation with Tarik, we discuss Evolution. Some view evolution as incompatible with the gospel, we disagree. President Nelson has taught, “There is no conflict between science and religion,” he said. “Conflict only arises from an incomplete knowledge of either science or religion, or both. … Whether truth comes from a scientific laboratory or by revelation from the Lord, it is compatible.” I (your host Ryan) don't know how to fit evolution and gospel teachings relating to Adam and the garden together but I have faith that eventually, whether through increased understanding through the Lord's prophets or through increased breakthroughs in science things will eventually make sense. In this interview Tarik shares where some of the anti-evolution rhetoric has come from, shares some examples of prominent church leaders who believed in evolution, and talks about what scriptural fundamentalism is.

Below is a great article on the church website about reconciling science and religion.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2016/07/science-and-our-search-for-truth?lang=eng

In this interview, we are joined by Jacob Hess. Jacob is one of the Authors of "The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints," and is one of the co-founders of Public Square Magazine. In today's interview, we discuss mindfulness and how it can be relevant for those struggling with the church.

To check out his book:

https://deseretbook.com/p/power-of-stillness-mindful-living-for-latter-day-saints-ppr?variant_id=176725-paperback

For some helpful videos Jacob has put out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDiFO1OHC3w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUKnqD1EgyE

Today we are joined by Ben Diamond. Ben is a teacher at the Logan Institute of Religion. At the Institute he teaches a class that he calls the "Issues Class." In this class young adults have the opportunity to look for answers to different questions relating to the church. In this interview, we discuss Ben's conversion story, talk about the "Issues Class," and discuss things he's learned from teaching that class.

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.

I'm honored to have Jeff Lindsay join me on the podcast. Jeff has spent about 30 years writing in defense of the church and about 20 years defending the church with his blog. In this episode we discuss how he got interested in apologetics, his approach to looking for answers, and some of the evidences for the church.

https://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/

If you have any questions feel free to ask him at jeff@jefflindsay.com

For today's interview, we have Leo Winegar on. Leo Winegar is the founder of a Facebook group called Uplift Community of Faith. Leo talks about his faith crisis. He shares great advice for anyone with doubts and questions and shares how we can minister to those struggling with the church.

If you're struggling with the faith and need help Leo would love to speak with you. You can email him at leowinegar@gmail.com 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oPeKD7Zwym_VeAIfM566K7HYqvqbAaxIGqMZxQ9QIC0/edit

Today we are joined by Steven Harper for a discussion on the Law of Consecration.

If you have ever asked yourself questions about the Law of Concecration such as: what exactly is it?—are we living it fully today or will that not happen until the Millennium?—what is the difference between it and the United Order?—or what does living it look like today? than this is the interview for you.

For deeper look into the Law of Consecration make sure to check out Steven's book, "Let's Talk about the Law of Consecration" which can be found at Deseret Book or Amazon.

https://deseretbook.com/p/let-s-talk-about-the-law-of-consecration?variant_id=199275-paperback

Today we are joined by Roseanne Service. Roseanne writes for Public Square Magazine and is the Program Director for the Uplift Community of Faith.

There are many reasons people have a faith crisis. Sometimes it's highly tied to Church History, sometimes it's tied to social issues, and sometimes it's tied to what we might call "theodicy." By theodicy, I mean a long journey full of hardships and searching where one might be lead to the question why a loving God is allowing so much evil and hardship to exist. Roseanne has had quite the journey, it includes a brain tumor, childhood sexual abuse, and a double aneurysm. This is a very inspiring story that I hope will be beneficial to anyone listening.

For today's episode, we have Jennifer Roach sharing her conversion story with us. Jennifer is a former Anglican Minister and was baptized a few years ago. After sharing her story she talks about Bishop youth interviews, which her background as a Therapist and as a victim of abuse by a Youth Pastor make her very qualified to talk about that. Jennifer is a true disciple of our Savior and I hope that as you listen you'll be able to feel the spirit of her message.

Today we are joined by John Hilton. John is a religion professor at BYU and is the author of numerous books. In this interview, we'll discuss two of his more recent books, The Founder of Our Peace and Considering the Cross. In particular, our discussion will focus on Jesus Christ, healthy ways of looking at the gospel, the crucifixion, and why there's kind of a stigma around the cross in Latter-Day Saint Culture.

In today's interview, we are joined by Neal and Jasmin Rappleye. In this interview, we'll discuss a non-profit organization called "Book of Mormon Central" and some of it's many great resources available. We'll also take some time to discuss topics such as the Hill Cumorah and Book of Mormon Anachronisms.

To check out "Book of Mormon Central" and some of their many great resources check out the links below:

https://bookofmormoncentral.org/

https://scriptureplus.org/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSsrx8lFpeuBjNIE7FNm2CQ

Today we are joined by Amanda Freebairn. Amanda is currently an admin at Uplift Community of Faith, she's an editor for the Latter-Day Saint Women Project, and she writes at Public Square Magazine. In this interview, we discuss faith crisis, the role that mental health often plays in faith crisis, and the important role of women in the church.

Below is a link to a great article that Amanda co-wrote with Hanna Seariac on the witness of women in the church:

https://publicsquaremag.org/editorials/the-witness-of-women/?fbclid=IwAR1gaL-B9h880IxPceU4z1ibR2rW_cRyCHKgpdFEcgJgTe9BGkFmrjqxtf0

Below here is a link to the Latter-day Women Podcast:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/latter-day-saints-channel/listen/series/latter-day-saint-women?lang=eng

Hello! This is your host Ryan Sorensen. In this podcast episode, I'll introduce myself, explain why I'm passionate about this topic, and explain the reason for the podcast's name. My prayer is that anyone listening to this podcast can be strengthened as they face doubts and questions, and as they try to help others who may be struggling with their testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

For today's interview, we are joined by Dan Ellsworth. Dan is an admin for the "Uplift Community of Faith" Facebook Group. In this interview, we discuss faith crisis, mindfulness, focusing our faith on Christ, and what the gospel means to Dan.

Below are some links to some great articles on mindfulness that Dan helped to co-write:

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/a-mindful-way-through-faith-crisis/

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/a-mindful-way-through-faith-crisis-part-ii-five-heartening-possibilities/

Today we are joined by Steven Harper. Steven is a professor of church history and doctrine at BYU. He has worked on the Joseph Smith Papers Project, has worked on the "Saints" church history book series, has published a couple of books on the first vision, and has authored numerous articles on church history. In today's interview, we do a first vision question and answer session. If the various first vision accounts have been a difficult issue for you, I think this interview will be very helpful.

Below is the blog article that Steven talked about in the episode and below that is a link to some more articles about the first vision on his blog:

https://stevencraigharper.com/one-being-or-two/

https://stevencraigharper.com/category/joseph-smith-first-vision/

In today's interview, we're joined by Paul Reeve. Paul Reeve is the Simmons Chair of Mormon Studies in the History Department at the University of Utah where he teaches courses on Utah history, Mormon history, and the history of the American West. His book, "Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness" gives us an in-depth analysis of the church's history relating to the topic of race. In this interview, we discuss the racial context in which the church was restored, give a brief historical overview of events relating to the priesthood/temple ban, and give advice for those struggling with this topic.

https://exhibits.lib.utah.edu/s/century-of-black-mormons/page/welcome

Today we are joined by Steve Densley. In this interview, we discuss a talk he gave at the FAIR Conference in 2018 titled "Barriers to Belief: Mental Distress and Disaffection from the Church." There are many different things that may factor into why people may struggle with the church and eventually leave, but one reason that isn't often talked about is how mental health factors may play a role in all this. I hope that this interview can be helpful to church leaders, friends, and family of those with mental health issues, as well as individuals dealing with these kinds of issues.

The below links are the video and text of Steve's talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3irFCZPfCnc

https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/barriers-to-belief-mental-distress-and-disaffection-from-the-church/

Today we are joined by Joseph Lawal. Joseph is currently studying Philosophy at Indiana University and has a great YouTube Channel called "LDSPhilosophy." In this interview, we discuss Latter-Day Saint Epistemology.

To check out his YouTube Channel, check out the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD9dBPDSDvwkajmC0fPW3CQ

In today's interview we are joined by BJ Spurlock. BJ Spurlock runs a blog called, "Things As They Really Are." In today's interview we discuss an article he wrote a few years ago called, "The Holy Ghost: Culture Vs Verity, Sincerity Vs Certitude." We talk about some of the cultural myths relating to the spirit and give an explanation of the true doctrine.

To read this blog article, check out the link below:

- https://www.thingsastheyreallyare.com/2018/12/the-holy-ghost-culture-vs-verity.html

Today we are joined by Jared Halverson. Jared is an Institute Teacher at the University of Utah, he has spent time doing postgraduate work studying American Religious History (specifically studying Anti-religious rhetoric) at Vanderbilt University, and has a YouTube Channel called "Unshaken." In this interview, we discuss a variety of "contraries." We talk about how to balance giving validity to our spiritual experiences while being open to the fact that there's a lot we don't know. We also discuss finding the balance between Divinity and Humanity when it comes to the way we look at prophets. 

If you'd like to check out his YouTube Channel check out the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpumfWNEXE5YbL5QMjg5agA

Today we are joined by Ugo Perego for a discussion on the issue of DNA Studies and the Book of Mormon.

Ugo A. Perego received a BS and a MS in Health Sciences from Brigham Young University and a PhD in Genetics and Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Pavia (Pavia, Italy) under the mentorship of Professor Antonio Torroni. During the past decade, he has given nearly 200 lectures on DNA topics relating to population migrations, ancestry, forensics, and history (including LDS history).

To learn more about this topic check out the link below:

Book of Mormon and DNA Studies (churchofjesuschrist.org)

For today's episode, we have Jeffrey Thayne on. Jeffrey is one of the co-authors of the book Who Is Truth? In the interview, we discuss the difference between "idea truth" and "person truth." We discuss how the idea of "person truth" can lead to richer faith and can lead us to change the way that we ask questions.

Below are links to some articles that Jeffrey has written:

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/3-ways-to-fortify-our-faith-against-times-of-doubt/

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/9-things-i-consider-when-prophets-disagree-with-my-politics/

In today's interview, we are joined by Robert Boylan for a discussion on Sola Scriptura.

Robert's blog:

scripturalmormonism.blogspot.com

Robert's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@ScripturalMormonism

Robert's book on Sola Scriptura:

https://www.amazon.com/Not-Scripture-Alone-Latter-day-Refutation/dp/1548311804

Also, make sure to check out https://mormonr.org/

For an attempt to understand Sola Scriptura from a protestant perspective: https://www.amazon.com/Shape-Sola-Scriptura-Keith-Mathison/dp/1885767749

Today we are joined by Keith Erekson. Keith has spent the last seven years as the director of the church history library. Not long ago he published a book called "Real Vs. Rumor" that talks about how to think about History. In this interview, he discusses some points from his book that would be helpful for those experiencing a crisis of faith.

To check out his website: https://www.keitherekson.com/

To get his book: https://deseretbook.com/p/real-vs-rumor-how-to-dispel-latterday-myths-ppr?variant_id=191601-paperback

Today we are joined by Tember Harward. In this interview, Tember shares his journey as a Latter-day Saint with Same-Sex Attraction.

To learn more about the organization that Tember started check out: https://www.facebook.com/BeaconSSA

Today we are once again joined by Jasmin Rappleye. In this episode we discuss a missionary preparation YouTube Channel she started called, "Temple Light." In particular, we discuss why the temple is so secretive, what we can and cannot talk about in the temple, the purpose of temple ordinances, priesthood for women, and how to cope with the changes in the temple.

Temple Light: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu92CJ0MCI6c7OhXfKF66Tw

Today we are joined by Sky Sorensen. Sky shares part of his journey as a gay Latter-day Saint and talks about a podcast he started called, "Sit Down with Sky & Preston." In his podcast they "approach common, controversial topics such as LGBTQ issues, sex and intimacy, and church history in a tactful, loving, but firm way."

To follow them on Facebook: Sit Down with Sky and Preston | Facebook

To follow them on Twitter: Sit Down with Sky & Preston (@sitdownwithsky) / Twitter

To follow them on Instagram: Sit Down With Sky & Preston (@sitdownwithsky) • Instagram photos and videos

To check out the book that Preston wrote:

This Boy and His Mother: Healing from Trauma as a Gay Latter-day Saint: Jenkins, Preston, Jenkins, Cheri, Holland, David: 9798838191045: Amazon.com: Books

For today's episode, we have Mike Ash joining us. Mike is the author of Shaken Faith Syndrome and is a regular speaker and contributor for FAIR Mormon. In this interview, Mike discusses how he got interested in apologetics and shares insights from his book.

To buy his book:

https://www.fairmormon.org/store/product/shaken-faith-syndrome

https://www.amazon.com/Shaken-Faith-Syndrome-Strengthening-Testimony/dp/1893036146

To read some articles by Mike check out:

https://www.fairmormon.org/blog/author/mash

Today we are joined by Stephen Smoot. Stephen Smoot graduated from the University of Toronto with a master’s degree in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations. He previously graduated cum laude from Brigham Young University with bachelor’s degrees in Ancient Near Eastern Studies and German Studies. In today's interview, we discuss the Pearl of Great Price. In particular, we discuss a brief overview of the history and production of the Pearl of Great Price, the Pearl of Great Price's relationship with the book of Enoch, and some significant things that the Pearl of Great Price teaches us.

Check out Stephen's blog at: https://www.plonialmonimormon.com

Check out Pearl of Great Price Central at: https://www.pearlofgreatpricecentral.org/

For one of the books, Stephen mentioned on 1 Enoch check out: https://www.amazon.com/Enoch-Hermeneia-Translation-George-Nickelsburg/dp/0800699106/ref=asc_df_0800699106/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312029822325&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15808085023088533221&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029499&hvtargid=pla-527458280855&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61316180319&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312029822325&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15808085023088533221&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9029499&hvtargid=pla-527458280855

Today we are joined by Susan Black and Eliza Allen. Susan was a Professor of Church History and Doctrine for 38 years and has written around 170 books. Eliza is a student at BYU and works as a Research Assistant for Susan. In this interview, we discuss Susan's recent book "Glorious Truths about Women of the Restoration," advice for looking into church history, and what the gospel means to them.

If you'd be interested in getting her book check out the link below:

https://deseretbook.com/p/glorious-truths-about-women-of-the-restoration?ref=detailed-card-1&variant_id=191263-paperback

Today we're joined by Ryan Dahle. Ryan is the project manager for Evidence Central. In this interview, Ryan talks about Evidence Central and how it can be helpful to Latter-day Saints.

Check out this amazing resource with the link below:

https://evidencecentral.org/recency

For today's guest, we have Hyrum Lewis on. Hyrum is the author of There is a God: How to Respond to Atheism in the Last Days. In this interview, we talk about some of the arguments that atheism puts forth and discuss how Latter-Day Saint Doctrine can help us respond to these arguments.

Here's an interview he did on C-span: https://www.c-span.org/video/?462927-2/interview-hyrum-lewis

Below are some articles he has written:

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/responding-to-atheism-with-mormonism/

https://latterdaysaintmag.com/why-the-arguments-of-new-atheism-may-sound-familiar/

In today's interview we are joined by Jacob Hansen. Jacob Hansen is the host of the popular YouTube channel, "Thoughtful Faith."

In today's interview we talk about Jacob's faith remodeling (including the three levels of the faith discussion), how to sustain fallible leaders (who in theory have the potential to at times be wrong), and why institutional integrity matters.

For a deeper look into Jacob's faith remodeling and the three levels of the faith discussion, check out the videos below:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_SB33fHXms

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpOMVxvU3Vo

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lD4qujGZiLw

For a quick video on Jacob's collective witness model and how it relates to the issue of prophetic fallibility check out this video:

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omi6rKpWfoQ

For today's interview, we are joined by Jeff Roundy. Jeff has a really great YouTube Channel called "Latter-day Saints’ Q&A" where he responds to the criticisms of the church and shares some of the evidences for the restoration. In this interview Jeff shares some of these evidences with us. Whether you're struggling with the church or just want to be better prepared to help others, I'd recommend checking out his channel. Below is a link.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJgEls1xaRLC-np8xiwI1yA

We're honored to have Hanna Seariac on for the first interview episode of this podcast. Hanna is the host of FAIR Mormon's "FAIR Voice Podcast." In this episode, Hanna will share her conversion story, share some issues that were bothersome to her, share how she's dealt with these issues, and give advice to those with doubts and questions.

https://www.fairmormon.org/

https://www.fairmormon.org/blog/category/podcast/fair-voice

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng

Today we are joined by Brett McDonald for a discussion on Masonry and its relationship with the Endowment. We discuss some of the history of the Masons, Joseph Smith's relationship with Masonry, why some critics claim Joseph got the Endowment from the Masons and some of the ancient evidence in favor of the Endowment.

*Note that because of their sacred nature, some similarities between the Endowment and Masonry are not discussed.

For a deeper look into this topic check out the below two videos from Brett's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGRwxUub4XI&t=18s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBqPV7JKt4g

So honored to have Dusty Smith join me on the podcast. Dusty's story is summed up quite well in the title of his book, Trial of Faith, Why a Lawyer Abandoned His Mormon Faith, Argued Against It, and Returned to Defend It. This is a story of redemption. This is the story of the Lord not giving up on someone.

Dusty shares great advice for people with doubts and advice for those that want to minister to those that are struggling with their testimony.

You can follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/IrishDusty

Today we are joined by Kerry Muhlestein for a discussion on the Book of Abraham's translation process. We discuss some of the historical background, some of the assumptions we bring forth, what we know and don't know, and some different translation theories.

For a deeper look, check out Kerry's new book, "Let's Talk about the Book of Abraham:"

https://deseretbook.com/p/lets-talk-about-the-book-of-abraham-ppr?variant_id=196208-paperback

To check out Kerry's Bio:

https://religion.byu.edu/directory/kerry-muhlestein

In today's interview, we're joined by Darren Parry. Darren Parry is the former chairman of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation. In this interview, we discuss the Bear River Massacre. This was the largest massacre of Native Americans in the history of the United States (around 400-450). This is a difficult story but I think there's a lot we can learn from it.

Darren's mission is to bring a voice to these people. He tells of the good they did, the injustices they received, and how they converted to the church. You can learn more about and donate to the Interpretive Center at https://boaogoi.org/

To buy his book check out this link: https://deseretbook.com/p/bear-river-massacre-a-shoshone-history?variant_id=184999-paperback

For today's episode, we have David Snell on. David is a writer for Third Hour and is the host of Saints Unscripted's "Faith and Beliefs" segment. In his youtube segment, many Latter-Day Saints Beliefs, as well as controversial issues, are talked about in a faithful and humorous way.

With this podcast, I plan to have various controversial issues addressed in an open and faithful way. I think eventually people are going to learn about these issues and I think it's better to learn them from a faithful source than from somebody who hates the church. In this episode, David and I address Brigham Young's teachings on Blood Atonement and Adam God. 

Here are some of David's videos addressing these issues:

Blood Atonement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poMERlofOcM&list=PL_VwunTjPjRFlbRY_HRMDpXLU8u1EnEMu&index=3

Adam God Theory: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3DEojfACqY

For more on Blood Atonement check out:

https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/EoM/id/5525/

https://www.deseret.com/2010/6/18/20122138/mormon-church-statement-on-blood-atonement

https://www.fairmormon.org/archive/publications/dead-men-tell-no-tales

For more on Adam God Theory check out:

https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Mormonism_and_doctrine/Repudiated_concepts/Adam-God_theory

Today we are joined by Brant Gardner. Brant is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon., and Traditions of the Fathers: The Book of Mormon as History. In today's interview, we discuss the Book of Mormon translation process.

Today we are joined by Jeff Bennion. Jeff shares part of his journey as a Latter-Day Saint with Same-Sex Attraction and talks about an organization he co-founded called North Star International. The North Star website states that, "North Star is a faith-affirming resource for Latter-day Saints addressing sexual orientation and gender identity, and who desire to live in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." This week North Star is having a conference. On Thursday, June 10 at 6:30 PM they'll have an opening social that's free and open to anyone, following that on Friday and Saturday they'll have different things going on from 7:30 AM to around 5:00 PM, and then on Sunday, they'll have a testimony meeting. A few of the different speakers will include Nik Day, Michael Mclean, and Carol McConkie (former member of the Young Women general presidency). At the conference, they'll have different breakout sessions, some specific for youth, some for spouses, some for individuals with SSA, some for transgender individuals, and some church leaders.

To register for the conference: https://www.northstarlds.org/conference2021

To check out their website: https://www.northstarlds.org/

To check out their YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NorthStarLDS

Hey y'all! Sorry I haven't posted for a while! Life has been busy and I got behind on some things. This will be the last episode of season 1. After this episode, I'll be releasing episodes weekly again starting May 2nd! I'm releasing this short episode to share some personal thoughts on some things including my personal outlook on how to approach the topic of prophets. Some members have a very idealistic view of prophets that makes them really vulnerable to a faith crisis. Other members have destructed their old idealistic view of prophets so much that they no longer trust prophets. I hope to share some faithful principles that acknowledge both fallibility and trustworthiness in our prophets.

If you're struggling and need someone to turn to some great resources are:

- FAIR (Faithful Answers Informed Responses). On this website, they have a wiki page full of answers to the various criticisms of the church. You can also message one of their volunteers if you're having a hard time finding an answer to your question. https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/find-answers

- Uplift Community of Faith Facebook Group. A faithful online community coming together to support each other in their journeys of faith. https://www.facebook.com/groups/UpliftCOF

- Latter-day Saints Q&A. A great resource full of answers to criticisms as well as evidences of the restoration. You could also message Jeff Roundy on this page and I'm sure he'd be happy to help. https://latterdaysaintsqa.com/