Leading Saints Podcast

When a woman taken in adultery—a capital crime under Mosaic law—was brought before the Savior, He didn’t condemn her. He said, “Go, and sin no more.” Why? BYU professor Breck Wightman joins us to explore how the Lord really responds to our sins, and why it may be different than you think. Breck Wightman is an Assistant Professor in the Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics at Brigham Young University, where he teaches human resource management, economics, and public policy in the MPA program. His research focuses on leadership, succession, hiring, and person-organization fit. In addition to his academic work, he owns a speaking and training company and is a regular presenter at BYU Education Week. Within the Church, Breck recently completed his service in a bishopric and currently serves on his stake high council. Links Breck Wightman’s PowerPoint Slides Share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available in the Zion Lab community Highlights In this conversation, Breck outlines a scriptural framework distinguishing willful rebellion and hypocrisy from mortal weakness, explaining how understanding divine mercy transforms personal discipleship and ecclesiastical leadership. 00:04:28 – Formulating the Topic: How God Responds to Weakness 00:05:22 – Scriptural Episode: The Woman Taken in Adultery 00:10:32 – Understanding Sin and Its Consequences 00:11:25 – Defining Sin: Law and Knowledge 00:12:32 – Accountability and Covenant Relationships 00:16:07 – The Nature of Weakness vs. Rebellion 00:22:10 – Exploring Rebellion: Active vs. Passive 00:25:33 – Consequences of Rebellion 00:26:04 – Sons of Perdition: The Worst Form of Rebellion 00:30:01 – The Complexity of Sin and Stigma 00:33:13 – Understanding Hypocrisy in Actions 00:40:05 – The Nature of Weakness and Its Implications 00:44:28 – The Lord’s Perspective on Weakness vs. Rebellion Key Insights Types of Sin: The discussion emphasizes that not all sins are equal. Sin can be categorized into rebellion, hypocrisy, and weakness, each eliciting different responses from God. Rebellion vs. Weakness: Rebellion involves a willful rejection of God’s commandments, while weakness reflects a sincere desire to do good but falling short due to human limitations. God responds to rebellion with consequences, whereas He approaches weakness with mercy. Intentions Matter: The motivations behind actions are crucial. Good actions with bad intentions lead to hypocrisy, while bad actions with good intentions indicate weakness. Understanding this distinction can help individuals and leaders navigate their spiritual journeys. Scriptural Examples: The episode references the story of the woman taken in adultery to illustrate how Jesus showed mercy to those who struggle with weakness, contrasting this with His condemnation of the hypocritical Pharisees. Grace and Accountability: The conversation highlights that accountability increases with knowledge of the law, but God’s grace allows for growth and learning over time. Leaders should recognize that individuals may be in different stages of understanding and repentance. Leadership Applications Fostering Compassion: Latter-day Saint leaders can cultivate a compassionate environment by recognizing the difference between weakness and rebellion in their congregants, offering support rather than condemnation. Encouraging Open Dialogue: Leaders should create spaces for honest discussions about struggles with sin, allowing members to express their weaknesses without fear of judgment, thereby promoting healing and growth. Tailoring Responses: Understanding the nuances of sin can help leaders tailor their counsel and support to meet the specific needs of individuals, focusing on mercy and encouragement rather than strict punitive measures. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

Todd Hillyard, a Latter-day Saint bishop and pediatric dentist, shares how youth feedback reshaped sacrament meeting in his Washington ward. They explore youth-led music, shorter talks, auxiliary-centered Sundays, testimony building, meaningful ushering roles, and ways to make speakers’ messages more relevant. Todd also reflects on special-needs fatherhood and the empathy it brings to serving young people.

A lively tour through community conversations on mental health, missionary appointment cancellations, teaching culture, and church administration. The discussion explores cultural awareness, more engaging lessons, the tension between grace and accountability, and how covenants deepen discipleship. It also highlights practical leadership tools, interactive Second Hour classes, and ways local leaders can strengthen relationships and commitment.

James Fletcher, an investment manager, financial literacy advocate, BYU finance professor, and Utah bishop, explores Christlike leadership. He discusses building inclusive communities, serving active and less-active members, empowering youth to teach, and replacing reports with real relationships. He also shares why leaders should widen their circle, export their strengths, and embrace the “holy inefficiency” of seeking one person at a time.

Christopher Blythe, a BYU professor and religious folklorist, explores revelation, mysticism, and lived faith in Latter-day Saint history. They discuss spiritual credibility, priestcraft, personal revelation, prophetic authority, and the risks of coercive or counterfeit claims. The conversation also examines online influencers, energy healing, discernment, and how to share sacred experiences wisely.

Shawn Vanderhoven, author of the USA Today bestseller Pause and an executive development leader who advises companies like Amazon and Microsoft, explores leadership in an always-on world. They discuss breaking cycles of urgency, choosing fewer priorities, protecting deep focus, and measuring meaningful spiritual impact. The conversation also covers clearing emotional distractions, thoughtful calling conversations, effective one-on-ones, and healthier communication boundaries.

Davis Smith, Cotopaxi founder, Yale leadership educator, and author of The Next Ten Years, explores life after missionary service. They discuss turning mission skills into career, relationship, and financial strengths; navigating the crucial first months home; building lifelong discipleship; supporting returned missionaries with compassion; and finding purpose through service, work, and faith.

Dave McCann, veteran sportscaster and BYU broadcaster, joins Mark Ogletree, BYU professor and counselor, to explore LaVell Edwards’s Christlike leadership legacy. They discuss how the legendary coach built belonging, mentored struggling players, recognized unseen potential, encouraged missions, delegated effectively, and shaped lives far beyond football. A thoughtful look at humility, faith, loyalty, and leadership that lasts.

Heidi Lee, a Latter-day Saint communication director and seasoned church leader, shares how “A Walk With Jesus” transformed a Las Vegas chapel into a 17-room Easter journey. She discusses coordinating five stakes, engaging youth, welcoming more than 7,000 visitors, funding and decorating the experience, and creating a replication guide so other communities can bring Christ’s story to life.

Robert Cornilles is an executive, author, and educator with a background in business leadership and community engagement. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Game Face, Inc., an executive training firm that has advised over 400 global brands, including more than 200 professional sports franchises. A bestselling author, he published The Sales Game Changer: How to Become the Salesperson People Love and Preparing Tomorrow’s Missionaries Today. He also shares his expertise as an adjunct professor teaching MBA candidates at the BYU Marriott School of Business. Rob served as a full-time missionary in Japan and has extensive experience in church leadership, having served in high councils, bishoprics, and various ward council roles. He currently serves as the bishop of the Lake Mountain Single Adult 5th Ward in the Saratoga Springs Utah Stake—a mid-singles unit he has led since it began in May 2023. In this role, he oversees a rapidly growing congregation drawn from multiple stakes, focusing on supporting mid-singles through their unique personal and spiritual journeys. Rob and his wife, Allison, oversaw the training of more than 40,000 volunteers for the 12-week long Saratoga Springs Utah Temple open house and dedication, the longest temple open house in Church history. They are the parents of three sons who have blessed them with three daughters-in-law and three granddaughters. Links Game Face, Inc. Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights The conversation focuses on the unique challenges and cultural dynamics faced by mid-singles in the Latter-day Saint community, particularly in Utah, and how leaders can better support this demographic. Key Insights Cultural Dynamics: Mid-singles often feel disconnected in family wards due to the predominance of married members in leadership roles, leading to feelings of exclusion and instability. Out-of-Unit Members: Many mid-singles attend their neighborhood wards while also participating in mid-singles wards, creating a challenge for leaders to maintain engagement and consistency. Family Influence: Family obligations can pull mid-singles away from ward activities, making it difficult for them to build connections within their ward family. Spiritual Focus: Rob emphasizes that the primary role of leaders is to connect members with Christ, rather than solely focusing on helping them get married. Meaningful Activities: Activities should be Christ-centered and relevant to the members’ lives, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Leadership Applications Encourage Engagement: Leaders should create an environment where mid-singles feel valued and included, recognizing their unique challenges and encouraging them to participate in ward activities. Foster Connections: Leaders can facilitate opportunities for mid-singles to connect with each other and with Christ through intentional, spiritually uplifting activities that focus on attributes of Jesus Christ. Communicate with Families: Leaders should engage with the families of mid-singles to help them understand the importance of allowing their loved ones the space to build their own lives and relationships within the ward community. 00:02:30 – Cultural Dynamics in Mid-Singles Wards 00:04:00 – Understanding the Mid-Singles Experience 00:04:30 – Interview with Bishop Robert Cornilles Begins 00:05:00 – Bishop Cornilles’s Calling Story 00:07:00 – Formation of the New Mid-Singles Ward 00:08:30 – Challenges of Serving a Mid-Singles Ward 00:10:00 – Selecting Counselors for the Bishopric 00:12:00 – Current Responsibilities as a Bishop 00:13:00 – Mid-Singles Bishops Councils in Utah 00:15:00 – The Need for Mid-Singles Wards 00:16:00 – Cultural Challenges for Mid-Singles 00:20:00 – Navigating Family Dynamics and Church Involvement 00:22:00 – The Dilemma of Out-of-Unit Members 00:25:00 – Building a Strong Ward Culture 00:28:00 – Encouraging Engagement in the Ward 00:30:00 – The Importance of Personal Relationships 00:32:00 – Respecting the Needs of Mid-Singles 00:34:00 – Connecting Members with Christ 00:37:00 – Creating Meaningful Activities 00:40:00 – Intentionality in Planning Activities 00:46:00 – Monthly Themes and Attributes of Christ The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.