The Stick of Joseph brothers talk about building faith through questions and lessons learned by overcoming personal challenges.
Nov 3, 2024
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The hosts dive deep into their personal faith journeys, illustrating how questioning beliefs can lead to greater conviction. They draw fascinating parallels between faith and combat marksmanship, emphasizing the importance of an open perspective. The discussion shifts to theological differences in views on creation, touching on divine nature and human agency. Navigating sensitive topics like pornography addiction, they highlight the need for open dialogues to foster understanding and healing in communities.
The importance of questioning one's faith is emphasized, illustrating how personal exploration can lead to deeper conviction and understanding.
Engaging with multiple perspectives on faith, including criticisms and support, helps cultivate a well-rounded and resilient belief system.
Personal spiritual experiences should take precedence over historical criticisms, encouraging individuals to seek divine confirmation for their faith.
Deep dives
The Journey of Faith and Doubt
The episode highlights the personal journey of one guest as he navigates his faith while dating someone from a different religious background. This relationship prompts him to question core beliefs about historical figures and texts central to his faith, including Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He emphasizes the significance of treating this exploration with an open mind, akin to an investigator wanting to understand the claims of the church deeply. Ultimately, this period of questioning serves as a catalyst for his growth and commitment to his faith.
The Importance of Dual Perspectives
A major insight discussed is the analogy of keeping both eyes open while aiming in a marksmanship context, which translates to studying faith from multiple viewpoints. This approach is critical in avoiding a narrow focus that might lead to missing broader truths and important context. By exploring both pro-church materials and criticisms, particularly in the context of church history, individuals can gain a more nuanced understanding of their faith. This balanced perspective is presented as essential for maintaining a well-rounded and resilient belief system.
Personal Experiences Over Historical Evidence
The discussion emphasizes the heaviness of relying solely on historical evidence to validate spiritual beliefs, particularly around contentious figures like Joseph Smith. The guests argue that personal spiritual experiences should play a more significant role in one’s faith than historical criticisms that can vary greatly in interpretation. By sharing contrasting accounts from historical figures regarding Joseph Smith, they illustrate how subjective interpretations can skew understanding. They conclude that rather than hinging faith on flawed historical accounts, it's crucial to seek divine confirmation through personal revelation.
Navigating Complex Church Issues
The conversation addresses the complexities of church doctrines, such as polygamy and the nature of God, emphasizing the necessity for personal exploration and understanding. By recognizing the difference in teachings and personal interpretations within the church, individuals can approach these sensitive issues with compassion and clarity. The guests encourage listeners to engage with these complexities rather than avoiding or simplifying them. They advocate for a culture of repentance, providing a more constructive approach for discussing challenging aspects of faith.
Coping with Criticism and Personal Growth
The episode acknowledges the difficulties individuals face when dealing with the criticism directed at their faith, especially in the age of social media. The guests recount their experiences with critics and emphasize the importance of fostering open dialogues instead of shutting down conversations. They convey that growth in faith often comes from grappling with difficult questions rather than shying away from them. By engaging with both supporters and detractors, one can develop a more robust understanding of their beliefs and how to articulate them effectively.
"It was interesting to see where Hayden was in high school to where he was when I came back from my mission and how big of a change that was. I was able to see this with the conversations we were having about the gospel. I saw so much more conviction in him after he put his beliefs on the table and dissected them and then to finding those pillars in which he had to stake his faith on. It allowed me to see his conviction and also to trust him more as a source to go to with the questions I still had - even after serving a mission."
Come Back Team:
Director, Founder & Host: Ashly Stone
Producer and Senior Editor: Lauren Rose
Outreach Manager: Jenna Carlson
Editor: Michelle Berger
Art Director: Jeremy Garcia
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