Latter-day Saint Perspectives

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Sinopsis

Podcasts about Church History, Doctrine, and Culture

Episodios

  • Episode 29: Art in Sacred Spaces – Rita Wright

    29/03/2017 Duración: 32min

    Rita Wright is the curator for the Springville Museum of Art in Springfield, Utah. Formerly, she taught art at Brigham Young University and was the curator for the LDS Church History Museum. Currently she sits on the worldwide committee for art selection for the LDS Church. She joins Laura Harris Hales to discuss the function of art in sacred space, beginning with the first Christians. Together they discuss art found in the catacombs, through the dark ages, enduring symbols, and overlooked and creative use of art to create a sacred atmosphere. Through her years of teaching, Rita realized that sometimes members of the LDS Church have difficulty understanding the art of other religions because of bias and ignorance of the meaning of iconography. She describes some common symbols and architectural styles and how they strive to create a feeling of sacredness. While cathedrals may sometimes come off as garish and colorful to some, members can gain better understanding about these places if they learn more about t

  • Episode 28: The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon – Larry Morris

    22/03/2017 Duración: 29min

    By June 1829 Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer had verbalized a desire to be the special three witnesses alluded to in the Book of Mormon. D&C 17 records a revelation affirming their roles as witnesses and was given to Joseph Smith through a seer stone he apparently found while digging a well in 1822. As witnesses, the three were very different. Martin Harris was zealous, impetuous, and even a bit eccentric. Oliver Cowdery was an intellectual. And David Whitmer was regarded as clear-thinking, down-to-earth, and honest. David Whitmer was, perhaps, the strongest witness because he lived so long, never wavered in his testimony of the vision, and gave several newspaper interviews that give us additional details regarding the experience. David reported seeing several plates, the sword of Laban, the Liahona, and the Urim and Thummim. Joseph Smith was understandably relieved to have others to testify of the existence of the plates. Larry Morris concludes that the experience of the Three Witnesses

  • Episode 27: What is LDS Doctrine? – Michael Goodman

    15/03/2017 Duración: 38min

      If you haven’t taken the opportunity to read the LDS Church’s “Race and the Priesthood” essay, it would be worthwhile to do so. Not only does it articulate the church’s current position regarding race relations but also disavows past explanations given for the former priesthood ban. Most are pleased at this clarification because it is a good step toward clearing up incorrect teachings that have been perpetuated in the past. The essay emphasizes that all saving ordinances are available to all worthy individuals regardless of ethnic or racial distinctions. Because this essay may require a paradigm shift, it has naturally led to confusion for many. Some are asking: “If ideas that were once taught as doctrine are now disavowed, how can we trust that other doctrines now being taught won’t also change later?” Dr. Michael Goodman has studied the nature of doctrine in his capacities as co-chair of the committee that wrote The Eternal Family Teacher Manual, one of four cornerstone courses of the Church’s Insti

  • Episode 26: New Directions in Mormon Studies – Patrick Mason

    08/03/2017 Duración: 35min

    Historian, author, and educator Patrick Mason tells his students that Mormon studies is just a really fun place to play. It gets to the heart of the questions we have in 21st century society. By studying Mormonism, we can learn more about the world we live in as it touches on the following: Minority/majority relations; How we can organize a democratic society; The role of religion in the public sphere; Gender issues; Marriage; and Family. Mormonism, Mormon history, Mormon theology usually has something to say about these foundational issues. Host Russell Stevenson interviews Patrick about how the way historians do their business has changed over the last 100 years. In the 19th century, history tended to be bipolar with anti-Mormons on one end and church leaders, members, and historians offering their version from a faith-promoting perspective that acknowledged God's involvement in affairs. By the late 20th century, historians began to weigh truth claims in a more dispassionate manner. Their g

  • Episode 25: Another View of the Mormon Trail with Laura Allred Hurtado

    01/03/2017 Duración: 26min

    Artists Josh Clare, John Burton, and Bryan Mark Taylor worked for years on a project called Saints at Devil's Gate. It consists of landscapes capturing the Mormon Trail, the 1,300-mile route from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Salt Lake City, Utah, that mid-19th century pioneers traveled on their migration west. The artists' intention was to pair their paintings with excerpts from historical trail journals by Mormon immigrants, which would allow them to construct a singular persona that could stand for the whole of the pioneer experience. The paintings record the mundane trail that accompanied the pioneers' daily wanderings. Practical activities are detailed such as washing clothes, picking wildflowers, and playing music and dancing together in the evenings. Beyond picturesque beauty, the paintings also explore a sense of the sublime and also sometimes the horrific. LDS Church History Museum Curator Laura Allred Hurtado discusses with Laura Harris Hales how researching the history for the book that accompanies the

  • Episode 24: LDS Women at the Pulpit – Jenny Reeder and Kate Holbrook

    27/02/2017 Duración: 33min

    Editors Jenny Reeder and Kate Holbrook, respectively 19th- and 20th-century women’s historians, discuss their multi-year project to bring LDS women’s speeches together in At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women. This is the second book to come out of the Church Historian's Press in as many years with the goal of making LDS women's experiences, history, and discourses available to the mainstream membership. Before the reader even opens the book, the nostalgic cover art of At the Pulpit brings to mind its two opposing themes: change and familiarity. One glance at the over-sized corsage adorning Belle Spafford’s tailored dress may spawn a flood of memories. When was it that they stopped having women wear corsages at conference anyway? The scene is as familiar and comforting as it is foreign. Because women didn’t typically speak in conference settings before the mid-20th century, the definition of “discourse” is stretched a bit for this anthology. To Reeder and Holbrook's credit, this mak

  • Episode 23: Depression and Mental Health Myths – Brian Murdock

    22/02/2017 Duración: 36min

    Religious LDS culture has historically struggled to find a place for matters of mental health and depression as it dovetails with our mortal experience and our theology. As a result, many members may be unsure of how we as a people stand with respect to issues of depression, anxiety, and other common mental health issues. Elder Alexander B. Morrison writes: “I assure you that Latter-day Saints are in no way exempt from the burden of mental illness, either as victim, caregiver, family member, or friend. In every ward and stake, there are severely depressed men and women; elderly people with failing memories and reduced intellectual capacities; youth or adults struggling to escape the dark specter of suicide; persons of all ages, both sexes, and every walk of life, who exhibit aberrant, even bizarre behavior.” Using Elder Morrison’s book "Valley of Sorrows" as a backdrop resource, Brian Murdock, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and host Nick Galieti begin their discussion by debunking common myths a

  • Episode 22: In Brigham Young’s Words – Gerrit Dirkmaat and LaJean Carruth

    15/02/2017 Duración: 01h04min

    Download Transcript In our first doubleheader, we present an episode covering the discrepancies between the shorthand versions of speeches of early LDS Church leaders in Utah and their published versions. First, Russell Stevenson interviews Gerrit Dirkmaat about the research he and LaJean Carruth did comparing the shorthand notes of George Watt to some of the speeches in the Journal of Discourses. In their research, they examined hundreds of sermons, and sometimes the sermons and original transcriptions varied by hundreds of words. Dirkmaat points out that when one is talking about doctrine, words matter. While the essence of these speeches are similar in the shorthand and published versions, the words used vary greatly. The Journal of Discourses have historical and religious value, but Dirkmaat urges members to be careful quoting specific passages and to realize that in most cases, there is no way to know the specific words used. LaJean Purcell Carruth has an unusual skill: she can read the shorthand

  • Episode 21: Learning from Pakistan – Robert Eaton

    09/02/2017 Duración: 31min

    Several years ago a group of professors at BYU-Idaho designed an interdisciplinary course called "Global Hotspot: Pakistan at the Crossroad of Conflict." Students are asked to learn and analyze issues relating to Pakistan's history, geography, culture, languages, and religions. However, the real purpose of this course is to use Pakistan as a giant case study to help students develop skills and abilities that they can use in understanding people and countries that are quite different. Those skills include-- Recognizing and overcoming stereotypes in their own thinking; Understanding how factors such as history, geography, and religion influence countries and individuals; Identifying and appreciating strengths and weaknesses in other cultures and nations, and Understanding how the nations of the world are connected. Professor Eaton notes that we all sometimes engage in sloppy analytical thinking by casually accepting stereotypes or the assumptions of others, and we should challenge these notions. He

  • Episode 20: D&C 76, The Vision of the Resurrection – Matthew McBride

    01/02/2017 Duración: 26min

    In episode three of our Revelations in Context Series, host Nick Galieti interviews Matthew McBride of the Church History Department about his essay entitled "The Vision." In 1832 Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon reported receiving a vision at the John Johnson home. Apparently while working on a revision of the New Testament, Joseph had just completed "translating" John 5:29 when the vision commenced. The early nineteenth century culture was highly religious and most Christian sects believed that the Bible was all-sufficient. For Joseph Smith to revise what was already considered to be complete was radical. What he and Sidney saw in vision was even more surprising. The vision touched on matters dealing with one of the most contentious religious debates of the time: Who is saved? Surprisingly, the revelation confirmed the least popular position. Brigham Young, arguably one of Joseph's most loyal supporters, struggled with this Universalist-like vision of the afterlife for quite some time. Other members had d

  • Episode 19: The Book of Mormon as Literature – Grant Hardy

    25/01/2017 Duración: 51min

    Download Transcript Grant Hardy became intrigued with world religions, especially those of East Asia, as a young missionary. He has reasearched and written widely on various topics, but his study of the Book of Mormon led him to publish two landmark books that share important insights. In his brief overview to Understanding the Book of Mormon, Hardy gives us ten observations about the Book of Mormon: It is a long book. It is written in a somewhat awkward, repetitious form of English. It imitates the style of the King James Version. It claims to be history. It presents a complicated narrative. It is a religious text. It is basically a tragedy. It is very didactic. It is a human artifact. Its basic structure is derived from the three narrators. It is this last observation that forms the thesis for the majority of his work. Hardy contends that "If you're not seeing the narrators at every turn, you're not really reading the Book of Mormon--because that's how the book is constructed, regard

  • Episode 18: Of Governments and Laws (D&C 134) – Spencer W. McBride

    18/01/2017 Duración: 27min

    In November 2014, Smithsonian Magazine named Joseph Smith as the most influence American religious figure of all time. This founder of the Mormon religion also ran for president of the United States during the last year of his life. Though he left a much smaller imprint on the political scene than the religious one, there is one document in our current canonized scripture that is dedicated to enumerating LDS beliefs regarding governments and laws. Ironically, though Joseph Smith would refer to it during his lifetime, he didn't actually author it.  What is now D&C 134 was written in 1835 by Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon and was accepted by common consent in a conference held in Smith's absence. No leader then or now referred to it as direct revelation from God but rather a declaration of principles. The document proved highly adaptable as it was used to protest and support the US government. It was also used in petitions to the US Congress for redress from Missouri persecutions. As part of the Revelatio

  • Episode 17: Exploring Near Death Experiences – Brent Top

    11/01/2017 Duración: 29min

    In 1975, Dr. Raymond A. Moody coined the term "near-death experiences" in his bestselling book Life After Life. Mormons have latched on to this concept, which is not surprising, considering our unique doctrine regarding the afterlife. Dr. Brent Top has researched extensively near-death experiences, especially by those outside of the LDS community. He has identified several common elements to these experiences such as the "life review," encountering loved ones, and spirit communication. Far from fading as a fad, the topic is becoming more and more popular. While Dr. Top finds his studies interesting, he warns of the danger of trying to establish doctrine through experience. He emphasizes what the LDS doctrine is regarding the afterlife rather than anecdotal experiences. He also introduces a concept he coined as the "Apocraphal Principle" to help us evaluate these stories.

  • Episode 16: Joseph Smith’s Papyri – John Gee

    03/01/2017 Duración: 32min

    Laura Harris Hales interviews Dr. John Gee about the history of Joseph Smith's papyri. Dr. Gee has studied the papyri and the Book of Abraham for over thirty years, yet admits there are still many mysteries still to be unraveled. He shares with listeners fascinating details regarding what we know about Joseph Smith's purchase of the papyri in Ohio in 1835 to the Church's acquisition of its remaining fragments from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the late sixties. Along the way he shares some interesting stories about its translation, its teachings, and how Mother Smith used the papyri and mummies to provide for herself as a widow. He also sheds light on issues regarding the provenance (where it came from) of the Book of Abraham and how its teachings on the pre-existence proliferated throughout the Church in the years after Joseph Smith's death. Be sure to check the links to articles written by Dr. Gee on both of these topics. Download Transcript

  • Episode 15: Women’s Voices – Janiece Johnson and Jenny Reeder

    28/12/2016 Duración: 42min

    While working on her dissertation, Janiece Johnson came up with the idea to create a resource for members to use while preparing lessons. She felt there would be value in infusing women's voices into our gospel teaching. Women's stories have traditionally been shared in biographical format, but Janiece's idea was to piece these testimonies together in a more easily accessible format. Five years later, she and her coauthor, Jenny Reeder, have put together a collection of thoughts arranged topically that is now available through Deseret Book. Author Jenny Reeder points out that this format allows us to identify common themes. No two pioneer women lived the same experience. They approached the gospel in different ways. Like now, there was not one "right way." These differences should not only be noticed but also appreciated, validated, and understood. Knowing a bit about the lives of these women adds punch to their testimonies. Life wasn't perfect for these women. They had stuff going on in their lives simila

  • Episode 14: Curriculum and Correlation – David B. Marsh

    21/12/2016 Duración: 49min

    Russell Stevenson interviews David Marsh, who has worked developing curriculum for the LDS Church for decades. Together they discuss the nitty gritty details of taking a teaching concept from its inception stage to the classroom. Who hasn't found their mind wandering during a Sunday School lesson or wondering why the manuals repeatedly emphasize the same basic principles? And who writes these manuals? Are they scholars, professional teachers, or members who are called to the task? What is Correlation? The answers to these questions may surprise you. Dr. Marsh walks us through the process of curriculum creation, which includes the following steps: Concept Development Text Prototype Manuscript Creation Feedback Revision Full Prototype with Images Translation Publicity Printing Manuals are reviewed by hundreds of people before they are distributed, including the managers and directors of curriculum development, executive directors, the Priesthood and Executive Committees, the General Auxilia

  • Episode 13: When Was Jesus Born? – Jeffrey R. Chadwick

    14/12/2016 Duración: 40min

    Have you ever wondered why we celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25? Was it just a random date chosen by the early Christian fathers or is there more to it? Dr. Chadwick, an archaeologist and Herodian scholar, became interested in this question and thinks he has found an answer. Using Matthew, Luke, the Book of Mormon, and historical clues, he comes up with what he thinks to be a pretty sound theory on the dating of the birth of Christ. As he shares his research, we discuss old Jerusalem and LDS thought on the topic from Elders James Talmage, Reuben J. Clark, and Bruce R. McConkie. Join us in this fascinating discussion that brings into question how to approach scripture. Can it accurately pinpoint historical events? Listen in and let us know what you think. Download Transcript

  • Episode 12: Revelations in Context – “An Elect Lady” with Matthew Grow

    01/12/2016 Duración: 36min

    Laura Harris Hales sat down with Matthew Grow, the LDS Church History Department Director of Publications, to discuss the completion of an exciting project. The Revelations in Context essays, which have been added to LDS.org over the past four years, are now complete.  In addition to finding them on the Revelations in Context webpage, they can be accessed in booklet form or on the Gospel Library App. Links to the essays have also been integrated into the digital version of the Gospel Doctrine manual on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church history. The essays not only delve into the historical background of the revelations but also how the revelations were received by members at the time. These are not scriptural commentaries but rather stories about how these revelations affected the lives of individuals. They present the award-winning scholarship of the Joseph Smith Papers Project in an easy-to-read format. We also talk about an essay written by Matt entitled "Thou Art an Elect Lady," which discusses D&

  • Episode 11: Joseph, Mary, and Jesus – Eric Huntsman

    29/11/2016 Duración: 29min

    Several years ago Eric Huntsman sat down and asked himself a question: How can we take the celebration of Christmas and the texts that teach us about it and connect them with families?  His conclusion was that through celebrating Advent each year through devotional activities, he and his family could better enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Typically, he would delve into biblical commentaries. After one memorable Christmas, he decided that simpler was better. For over a decade, he and his family have celebrated the four weeks of Advent leading up to Christmas. Listen as Dr. Huntsman shares with Blake Dalton how he has been able to mesh biblical scholarship with family Christmas traditions. They also delve into what we can learn about Mary and Joseph from the birth narratives.  They discuss when Christians began to celebrate Christmas, which was first seen as soft idolatry, and the timing of the addition of the birth narratives into the Gospels. Check out the links in the show notes for Eric’s ideas for c

  • Episode 10: Book of Mormon Scholarship, Theories, and Folklore – Brant A. Gardner

    23/11/2016 Duración: 39min

    Download Transcript In this episode, Laura Harris Hales interviews Brant A. Gardner. He is the author of several books and articles discussing the text of the Book of Mormon and ancient Mesoamerica. The discussion covers the didactic model for translating the Book of Mormon and a possible setting for it. Brant describes how he became convinced that Mesoamerica could be a possible setting for Lehi to fit into the history of the American continent. He uses several examples from the text of the Book of Mormon that converge with the history of Mesoamerica at that specific time to support his theory. Then we have some fun chatting about how our understanding of Mesoamerican artifacts and their meaning has changed over the past fifty years. He also lists some false traditions that have hampered our understanding of the relationship between Lehites and indigenous cultures. According to Brant, his research is not presented to prove the Book of Mormon is true but rather to prove it interesting. I think you will ag

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