Jared Halverson

Dr. Jared Halverson, a religious educator and scholar, dives into the importance of priesthood ordinances and their connections to the Book of Mormon. He discusses how both men and women can engage in these spiritual practices and the collective role of the church in missionary work. The conversation emphasizes adapting spiritual discussions to connect with diverse audiences, the urgent call to share messages of love, and the significance of compassionate outreach in faith communities. Ultimately, it’s about nurturing relationships and finding unity through shared beliefs.

Dr. Jared Halverson, an expert in religious history and an advocate for interfaith dialogue, shares fascinating insights about Doctrine and Covenants 84. They delve into the significance of priesthood ordinances within God's restoration. The discussion highlights historical context, the differences between Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, and the role of Zion in contemporary faith practices. Halverson also shares personal stories and reflections on the transformative power of communal spirituality, emphasizing the importance of embracing divine encounters fearlessly.

This week, we’re excited to share with you another presentation from our Restore conference, and one that we think was super memorable to everyone who attended. It was given by our friend Jared Halverson, and called “Don’t Let a Good Faith Crisis Go to Waste.”In it, Jared shares his experiences as a scholar, teacher, mentor, and person of faith who’s been through — and helped others work through — faith crises and faith journeys of all types. And what we loved about it was he completely removes “fear” from the experience of faith crisis — for Jared, not only is faith crisis “ok,” it’s actually a sacred space that many people have even found necessary for their own continued progress on the path of faith.While honoring many of the developmental faith frameworks that have helped so many, Jared brings his own to the table: a simple 3-stage model that he calls “creation, fall, atonement.” As you listen, you’ll hear the depth of this framework and understand why it can be such a useful map for many people as they experience shifts in their faith. Tim and I really related to what Jared had to say here, especially because we consider our own faith crises gifts we wouldn’t give up for anything — and Jared honors the “crisis” part of it while pointing to something even more beautiful on the other side.Jared is an associate professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, and has taught religion courses at the high school and college level since 1998. He studied history and religious education at BYU and earned a PhD in American religious history at Vanderbilt University, focusing on secularization, faith loss, and anti-religious rhetoric. He is frequently involved with interfaith dialogue, has been a featured speaker in both devotional and academic settings across the country. He also hosts a popular YouTube channel and podcast called “Unshaken.”

Jared Halverson, a scholar adept at navigating faith challenges, and Terryl Givens, a noted religious scholar, engage in a thought-provoking discussion on whether doubt can serve as a spiritual gift. They propose that faith and doubt are not opposites, but rather coexist to foster deeper spiritual growth. The conversation highlights the importance of embracing uncertainties and the evolution of personal spirituality in today's context. Ultimately, they argue that the journey of belief should embrace both faith and doubt as allies in spiritual development.

In this session, Jared Halverson, a dynamic speaker known for his insights on faith paradoxes, explores the intersection of loving God and loving others. He emphasizes that true discipleship balances a connection with the divine and genuine outreach to neighbors. Highlighting the power of paradoxes, he challenges listeners to embrace differences and find unity amid tensions. With compelling anecdotes, he illustrates the necessity of unconditional love and the complexities of navigating faith's contradictions, all while reminding us that our means must reflect our ends.