Maxwell Institute Podcast

In this author-read episode, Steven C. Harper explores the creation accounts found in Genesis, the Book of Moses, and the Book of Abraham, using the idea of “noise” in communication to explain why scripture can be difficult to interpret. He introduces a Restoration-based hermeneutic—the tools and practices Joseph Smith used to read the Bible with reverence, honesty about its limits, and openness to revelation.Listeners will be guided through:How language and culture affect our reading of GenesisWhy Genesis includes more than one creation accountWhat the Books of Moses and Abraham add to our understanding of creationHow restored scripture clarifies God’s purposes without claiming to explain every detail of how creation occurredRather than resolving every question, this episode offers perspective, context, and hope. It invites listeners to approach the Old Testament thoughtfully, combining careful study with spiritual inquiry, and to trust that God revealed enough about creation to help us understand who we are and why we are here.

In this episode, Philip Barlow explores one of the most profound verses in Restoration scripture: Moses 1:39. What does it mean for God’s “work and glory” to center on the immortality and eternal life of humanity? Barlow reflects on the context of this declaration, its theological depth, and the layered meaning of the word “glory” throughout scripture. Drawing on historical interpretation, comparative theology, and personal insight, this discussion invites listeners to see beyond familiarity and rediscover the transformative beauty of God’s purpose.

What do fast and testimony meetings and the Old Testament have in common? Both invite us to listen to a rich diversity of voices—each with its own perspective on God and life. In this episode, Joshua Sears explores how the varied experiences shared in Latter-day Saint worship mirror the multiplicity of viewpoints found in scripture. From contrasting creation accounts to differing attitudes toward foreign nations, the Old Testament challenges us to expand our understanding of God through the lens of others.

Join Rosalynde Welch for an interview with Dr. Kristian Heal. Reading scripture is one of the fundamental spiritual practices of Latter-day Saints. Dr. Heal shows how scholarship on the Bible can enrich our understanding of the ancient book that connects us to other faith traditions across the globe. We talk about what biblical studies is and is not; its gifts and its challenges for believing readers of the Bible; and what Latter-day Saints scholars, with our understanding of the Book of Mormon and modern scripture, can add to the discussion. These are the kinds of questions we hope to advance in coming years with the Institute’s Bible initiative.

Join Rosalynde Welch for an interview with Dr. Katie Paxman, BYU professor of philosophy visiting the Maxwell Institute to work on a book tentatively titled More to Question, More to Believe. Questions and belief aren't opposites, but partners that expand and build on each other. Dr. Paxman explores the difference between doubt and questioning: doubt is a disposition, while questioning is a tool for seeking knowledge. And she offers a fresh take on Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s famous admonition to “doubt your doubts.”

Join Rosalynde Welch for an interview with Dr. Steven Peck, a professor of biology at BYU, a naturalist, and a novelist. Steve is at the Maxwell Institute to work on a project that explores relationship between beauty, nature, science, and faith. He argues that our universe possesses an excess of beauty over and above what is strictly necessary for its operation, and that an understanding of evolution can point to God's presence in the universe. In fact, Steve goes so far as to say that we live in an aesthetic universe, and that beauty is God’s signature. Join me for this surprising conversation with the brilliant Steven L. Peck.

In this conversation, we talk about what it means for a revelation to become scripture--a topic theologians call “canonization.” Steve shares a view of canonization that is less a single historical event and more a social process driven by countless individuals--men and women, adults and children--who return again and again to the text as a place to hear the voice of Christ. We talk about the Restoration’s unique view of revelation and scripture: for Latter-day Saints, it’s not the earliest divine word that is privileged, but the most current--and how this changes things for historians and believers. We talk about the future of the Doctrine and Covenants in our rapidly globalizing church, where the historical context of Joseph Smith’s revelations becomes ever more remote. And Professor Harper shares some thoughts on section 132, perhaps the most difficult of sections in the Doctrine and Covenants, and how frustration can be a gateway to revelation.

In this special episode, Rosalynde Welch converses with Dr. Justin Collings on the ministry of President Russell M. Nelson. Dr. Collings is the academic vice president of Brigham Young University, and the author of the volume Divine Law in our Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series. We invited him on the podcast in the wake of the prophet’s passing to reflect on what the Nelson ministry meant to him and what it will mean going forward. Join us for his thoughtful perspective on prophetic revelation and the life of President Russell M. Nelson. 

Church bells still ring across the United Kingdom—often to thinner congregations. In this episode, host Rosalynde Welch speaks with filmmaker and BYU media-arts professor Tom Russell, the Maxwell Institute’s newest associate and a two-year fellow, about his mini-series Congregation—a thoughtful portrait of worship in the UK. Rather than tallying decline, Russell turns the camera toward those who still choose to gather: students and vicars, parish choirs and families.Together they ask: Why do people still come? What do they find here that’s hard to find elsewhere? Along the way, they explore how art, nature, and beauty—from green fields to stained glass—can deepen our connection with God and renew covenant-shaped community. The fellowship, purpose, and hope many discover at church remain vibrantly alive.

Do we really need to forgive our enemies? Take a deep dive into the topic of forgiveness, with Dr. Chad Ford, the author of 70x7: Jesus's Path to Conflict Transformation. Learn how forgiveness can transform your life and bring you peace, as you heed Jesus's call to forgive.As a professor of peacebuilding, Dr. Ford offers valuable perspectives on how to avoid or reconcile contention when life's inevitable disagreements arise, repair relationships, and transform destructive conflict into constructive peace.