Y Religion

Perfectionism in adolescence can be a heavy, even isolating, burden—shaped by social media, identity pressures, and the overwhelming number of choices youth face. Amid these challenges the Doctrine and Covenants offers a powerful reminder: “Remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (18:10). This eternal truth stands out in contrast to the feeling standards of the world. In this episode Professor Justin Dyer explains how such expectations contribute to rising perfectionism among our youth. Drawing from BYU’s Foundations data, he offers advice on how parents, teachers, and leaders can help youth navigate these pressures and find peace in eternal truths. By helping young people anchor their self-worth in truth, we can guide them away from toxic perfectionism and toward a life of purpose, peace, and resilience.   Publications: “Perfectionism Across Adolescence,” BYU Studies Quarterly, 63.4 (2024) “The Family Proclamation: The Secular and Spiritual Context,” co-authored with Michael A. Goodman, Religious Educator, 24.2 (2023) “Family Foundations of Youth Development: Research Update,” Review Magazine, Winter 2023 “Adolescents, Mental Health, and the Benefits of Private Religious Worship,”, co-authored with Mark D. Ogletree and Lindsay Cowdin, Religious Educator, 22.3 (2021) Family Foundations of Youth Development data website   Click here to learn more about Justin Dyer

How can educators help students stop fearing their sins and start trusting Christ? In this episode, Professor Stephan Taeger discusses his article “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom.” He explores how teaching justification by faith can transform our classrooms. Addressing both guilt-ridden and morally indifferent students, he clarifies the doctrine using scripture, prophetic teachings, and scholarly insights. Taeger explains how understanding grace and justification fosters peace, inspires obedience, and strengthens discipleship. He offers practical teaching models that help students internalize their justified state and live with hope, love, and purpose. This episode empowers gospel educators to teach grace with clarity and conviction.   Publications: “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom,” Religious Educator, 25.2, 2024 Joseph Smith as a Visionary: Heavenly Manifestations in the Latter Days, Religious Studies Center, 2025 “By Our Own Transgressions: Understanding God’s Punishment,” in This Great and Lasting War: Studies in Alma 45–63, Religious Studies Center, 2025 “The Word Made Flesh: Teaching the Gospel Concretely,” Religious Educator, 18.1, 2017 “Using Elements of Narrative to Engage Students,” Religious Educator, 16.3, 2015   Click here to learn more about Stephan Taeger

How do we help students take the gospel from the classroom and into their own lives? In this episode Sister Susan Porter and Dean of Religious Education Scott Esplin discuss ways teachers can help students take what they learn in class and apply it to their daily lives.   Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching. 

How do we find meaningful ways to connect one-on-one with our students? Teaching the gospel means more than delivering lessons—it means ministering to individuals, just as Christ did. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, “We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.” In this episode, professors Phil Allred and Camey Andersen explore how gospel teachers can fulfill this sacred charge. By reaching out with compassion, adapting their teaching to individual needs, and creating a space where everyone feels valued, teachers can help individuals feel the Savior’s love, foster belonging, and inspire personal growth in the gospel. When we teach the one, we reflect the Savior’s love, and that love can change lives.   Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

Join Brian Mead, a PhD in applied social psychology focused on mental health, and Jenet Erickson, an associate professor at BYU, as they delve into responding to challenging questions about faith with empathy and grace. They discuss practical strategies for navigating sensitive topics like sexuality and loss, emphasizing the importance of creating supportive environments. Their insights on fostering connections while upholding core teachings highlight the transformative power of love and understanding in the face of adversity.

What do we want learners to know, feel, and do with each lesson? In this episode professors Tyler Griffin and Anthony Sweat discuss strategies for incorporating active learning—ways to boost learning, motivation, and critical thinking by engaging participants in the educational process. By incorporating a variety of active learning techniques, teachers can lead students to intentional and meaningful ways of learning and participation.   Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

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.

How can prophetic voices shape our teaching? In this episode Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson explore how to teach with power by amplifying the words of prophets, seers, and revelators. They highlight how we can use the words of Church leaders to present key principles, explore prophetic invitations, and realize promised blessings. Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

The scriptures are our most powerful tools for teaching. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. explained that "[we] are to teach this Gospel using as [our] sources and authorities the Standard Works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days." In this episode Professors Gaye Strathearn and Joe Spencer discuss the power of teaching with the scriptures. They highlight ways teachers can draw knowledge from and incorporate the scriptures into their teaching.  Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

How does the Holy Ghost assist in our preparation and delivery of lessons? In this episode professors Hank Smith and Ryan Sharp demystify what it means to teach by the Spirit. They discuss ways to invite the Spirit to guide both teachers and learners.    Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.