Faith Matters

Join John Gustav-Wrathall, a gay Latter-day Saint in a fulfilling 25-year marriage, and Allison Dayton, founder of Lift+Love and a devoted mother to a gay son, as they explore faith and identity. John shares his heartfelt journey of acceptance and trust in the Spirit amid challenges within the LDS church. Together, they emphasize the importance of love, family support, and the healing power of community for LGBTQ individuals. Their candid conversation is a beacon of hope for navigating faith with empathy and understanding.

Anna Lott, host of the Solo Saints podcast and a fierce advocate for those navigating divorce, shares her heartfelt insights on faith and family. She discusses the stigma surrounding divorce in family-focused churches and calls for greater empathy within communities. Anna candidly explores her own journey of grief and growth, challenging traditional narratives about marriage and emphasizing personal agency. Her reflections on reclaiming one’s identity as a daughter of God inspire deeper joy and belonging, urging listeners to foster compassionate conversations around divorce.

In this discussion, Matthew Harris, the author of Second-Class Saints, dives into the pivotal moments leading to the 1978 revelation that lifted the priesthood ban for Black members. He unearths previously unavailable documents, revealing a process of dialogue and personal growth rather than a sudden command. Topics include the evolving definitions of doctrine, the significant role of progressive activists, and the necessity for reconciliation within faith institutions. Harris emphasizes the importance of understanding this history to foster inclusivity and healing.

This engaging discussion highlights the importance of rebuilding trust in communities. Guests share insights on the necessity of shared responsibilities within families, schools, and other institutions. They explore how unlikely friendships between political opposites can foster understanding. The conversation also emphasizes the pivotal role of strong family ties and personal connections in transforming society. Ultimately, it promotes grassroots efforts to bridge divides and fosters a sense of mutual civic responsibility in an increasingly polarized world.

In a vibrant conversation, Steven Sharp Nelson, known as “The Cello Guy” from The Piano Guys, shares how his journey with ADHD transformed from confusion to a spiritual gift. He highlights the energy and sensitivity that comes with ADHD and how it fuels his creativity and connection to God. With personal anecdotes, he emphasizes viewing ADHD as a 'superpower' and discusses the importance of embracing both challenges and joys. Steve also offers insights on nurturing creativity and the role of faith in transforming perceived weaknesses into blessings.

Phil Barlow, author of 'A Thoughtful Faith for the 21st Century' and a prominent scholar on faith and intellect within the Latter-day Saint tradition, shares insights from his new book. He discusses the evolution of faith since 1986, emphasizing inclusivity and community. Reflecting on personal faith journeys, he addresses the importance of embracing uncertainty and confronting historical truths. Barlow advocates for compassion in navigating differing perspectives and highlights how love and creativity can connect human experiences to the divine.

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.

With Mother’s Day coming up, we’re so honored to bring you this conversation with McArthur Krishna about her new book, Mother in Heaven: A Gospel Topics Essay Study Guide.The doctrine of Heavenly Mother is one of the most beautiful and distinctive Latter-Day Saint teachings—but for many, it’s still unfamiliar territory. McArthur and her co-authors created this study guide as an invitation to engage with this doctrine more deeply. Drawing on the church’s Gospel Topics essay, the book explores each point through art, rich personal reflections, and theological insights with contributions from many people whose names you may recognize- Patrick and Melissa Mason, Tom Christofferson, and Bethany Brady Spalding to name a few. What emerges is a beautiful tapestry of reverence, curiosity, and lived faith.In this conversation, we explore how the simple truth that we are “beloved spirit children of Heavenly Parents” carries profound implications for how we understand the nature of God. It suggests that divinity isn’t solitary or hierarchical—it’s relational, that we’re not subjects of a distant king but members of a divine family. And that shift transforms the way we see God, one another, and ourselves.McArthur highlights how essential it is for women to have a divine role model and that becoming like Her means learning to use our agency with wisdom and courage. It means aligning with God, trusting the revelation we receive, and standing by it—even when it’s hard. As McArthur puts it, “sovereignty is how we begin to practice godhood.”We hope that as you celebrate Mother’s Day this year, this conversation invites you to remember and honor our Heavenly Mother and embrace the truth that we are Her daughters and sons too, born with the divine potential to become like Her.We’re so grateful to McArthur for her courage, vision, and voice. And with that, here’s our conversation with McArthur Krishna.https://bookshop.org/a/108982/9781734228724https://amzn.to/3RG0USG 

This week, we’re so glad to be sharing a conversation with our friend Chad Ford.Chad is a conflict mediator, peace educator, and associate professor of religious studies at Utah State University. He’s spent decades working in some of the most entrenched conflict zones in the world—from the Middle East to South Africa to Northern Ireland. He’s also the author of a new book called Seventy Times Seven: Jesus’s Path to Conflict Transformation, published by Deseret Book. The book explores a question that feels more urgent than ever: how do we follow Jesus as peacemakers in a world so often shaped by fear, division, and violence?Our conversation with Chad moved from the personal to the global—from tensions in families and faith communities to the devastating conflicts we see on the world stage. And through all of it, Chad points back to Jesus as a radical model for how to live, engage, and help transform the world around us.Chad reminds us that Jesus’s path is anything but passive. It doesn’t mean disengaging or avoiding hard conversations. It means choosing to engage with both courage and compassion. It means refusing to meet harm with more harm, and instead walking a path that invites healing, reconciliation, and transformation.That kind of peace doesn’t come quickly—or easily—but it’s the kind of peace that can change lives and communities. Chad offers a vision of Christianity rooted in Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation—not in dominance or defensiveness, but in the slow, often difficult work of restoring wholeness.He helped us see that the peace Jesus offers isn’t always the peace we want—but it’s the peace we need. And when the way forward feels impossible, he reminds us that part of discipleship is learning to make a way out of no way.And with that, here’s our conversation with ChadSeventy Time Seven

Amanda Suarez, a school psychologist and conscious parenting coach, and Jon Ogden, a writer and author, co-founded Uplift Kids to help families explore spirituality and emotional health. They share a refreshing view of Easter, intertwining the resurrection story with chocolate bunnies and deep questions. Their approach honors each child's stage and invites diverse family beliefs, promoting open dialogue and connection. Through relatable analogies, they emphasize hope and transformation, encouraging families to embrace all layers of the Easter narrative.