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.”Order That We Might Have Joy anywhere books are sold! Available as a paperback, ebook, or audiobook.

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.

Jared Halverson, an enthusiastic scholar of the Latter-day Saint canon, talks about gaining something from engaging with the Book of Mormon regardless of faith. They discuss the ongoing relevance of scriptures and the importance of balancing perspectives and embracing faith. Additionally, they address doubt, apathy, and faith crisis while emphasizing empathy. They explore the world in front of the text, the power of scripture, and the value of teaching.

We’ve been thinking and talking a lot recently about a phenomenon that sometimes happens and that we’ve occasionally felt ourselves — something you might call a “spiritual whiplash.” It can happen when we’re really uplifted by something: maybe a book we’ve read, an inspiring group of people we’ve been around, or even a transcendental experience in nature. We’re feeling fed, and our cup is full… but then, we come back down to earth. We’re faced with the realities of the mundane, and the imperfections and humanity of the people all around us, including ourselves. So — what are we supposed to do when this happens? Is it realistic to expect to stay in this spiritually uplifted state all the time? What about when even our Church meetings don’t feel like they’re recharging our batteries, but instead are draining them? When we’re feeling fed by something, how do we take that feeling with us to share in our everyday settings and communities, rather than resenting the contrast between them? How can we look at members of our communities as God might, rather than judging them for not meeting our standards — or even judging them for what we perceive as them judging us?To discuss these issues, we brought back a trusted friend and mentor, Patrick Mason. Patrick is the Leonard Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, and a frequent guest on this show and advisor to Faith Matters. He’s spoken and written quite a bit on this topic, including in his book Planted. He was an amazing conversation partner as we worked our way through some of these questions. We can’t thank him enough for coming back on.As a note, we referenced our recent Restore gathering several times in the conversation, including presentations that were given by Brian McLaren, Jared Halverson, and Jody Moore. We also reference a few faith development frameworks that you’ll hear, including Brian’s which you can learn more about in his book Faith After Doubt.Order That We Might Have Joy anywhere books are sold! Available as a paperback, ebook, or audiobook.

Jan Martin, an adjunct faculty member at BYU with a PhD in English Bible translation, and Jared Halverson, an associate professor of ancient scripture specializing in faith loss, dive into the art of engaging classroom discussions. They explore the revolutionary power of open-ended questions, emphasizing how these can foster collaborative learning. The duo advocates for students as co-teachers, sharing insights that bridge academic and personal reflections, ultimately transforming educational environments into vibrant discussions guided by mutual exploration and scripture.

Jared Halverson, a historian and scholar at BYU, dives into the transformative power of faith crises. He emphasizes that Jesus can take our brokenness and doubts, turning them into something beautiful when we offer them to God. Jared discusses the importance of approaching faith with compassion, comparing it to a judge weighing evidence instead of a lawyer in combat. He shares personal stories of struggle and recovery, illustrating how those who return from faith tangents often contribute profound insights to their communities.

Jared Halverson, an associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU and host of the Unshaken YouTube channel, dives deep into The Book of Mormon and discipleship. He discusses the importance of diverse perspectives, especially from the LGBTQ community and ex-Latter-day Saints. The conversation highlights the transformative power of faith crises, the nuances of scriptural interpretation, and the essential balance of love and law in fostering inclusivity within religious contexts. Halverson passionately emphasizes understanding as a key to unity in Christ.