According to a 2023 U.S. News & World Report, Utah’s economy continuously ranks first across all 50 states. Experts have even deemed the state’s noteworthy economic growth, strong business climates, and high rates of economic mobility a miracle. But what are the major contributing factors for this “Utah economic miracle”? In this episode Dr. Jenet Erickson, associate professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine, and Dr. Jason Carroll, family initiative director of the Wheatly Institute and a professor in the School of Family Life, discuss one of the strongest predictors of state economic success: strong families. In examining the “Utah family miracle,” they detail the foundation of strong, resilient relationships and highlight which factors make relationships more fragile. They emphasize how the blessings of religion help us develop the characteristics and virtues to strengthen relationships and marriages.    Click here to learn more about Jenet Erickson and here to learn more about Jason Carroll   Jenet Erickson Publications: ·      “The Utah Family Miracle: Five Policy Ideas to Keep Utah Families Strong and Stable” (Sutherland Institute & Institute for Family Studies Policy Publication, 2023) ·      “The Complementary Nature of Mothers and Fathers” (Y Religion, episode 48, year) ·      “Motherhood: Restoring Clarity and Vision in a World of Confusing Messages” (in By Divine Design, Religious Studies Center, 2014) ·      “Homeward Bound: The Work-Family Resent in Post-Covid America” (Institute for Family Studies, 2021)   Jason Carroll Publications ·       “The Soulmate Trap: Why Embracing Agency-Based Love is the Surest Path to Creating a Flourishing Marriage” (Wheatley Institute, 2024) ·       “A Not-So-Good Faith Estimate: Why Many Studies Underestimate the Full Benefits of Religion” (Wheatley Institute, 2022) ·       “A True Temple Marriage” (BYU-Idaho Devotional, BYU-Idaho Speeches, 19 March 2024) ·       The Marriage Compass (BYU Academic Publishing, 2018)

The word anxiety (or anxious) is used nine times in the Book of Mormon, and it appears in both positive and negative forms. In the positive form it refers to something more akin to “eagerness” (see Mosiah 29:38 and 3 Nephi 3:3), whereas the negative refers more to “uncertainty” or “troubling fear” (see 2 Nephi 1:16 and Mosiah 28:12). Of the seven negative references, four are penned by the prophet Jacob, including one in which he couples “great anxiety” with the counterbalancing attribute of “faith” (see Jacob 1:5). In this episode Dr. Jared Halverson, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses the mental, emotional, and spiritual issues related to anxiety as explained in the life and teachings of Jacob. Professor Halverson closely examines Jacob’s writings on the anxiety born of adversity (trauma), anxiety due to responsibility (pastoral perfectionism), and anxiety over one’s standing before God (scrupulosity). In analyzing Jacob’s words, we can find counsel and compassion, whether we struggle with anxiety or are anxious to support those who do.   Click here to learn more about Jared Halverson   Publications: ·      “‘Because of Faith and Great Anxiety’: Jacob and the Challenges of Mental Health” (in Jacob: Faith and Great Anxiety, Religious Studies Center, 2024) ·      “Protecting Our Strengths: Alma’s Counsel to Shiblon” (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024) ·      “The Way, the Truth, and the Way to Truth: Harmony in Pursuit of Orthodoxy” (in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2024) ·      “Swine’s Blood and Broken Serpents: The Rejection and Rehabilitation of Worship in the Old Testament” (in Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2013) ·      “Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision as Apocalyptic Literature” (in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision, Religious Studies Center, 2011) ·      “Of Soils and Souls: The Parable of the Sower” (in Religious Educator, 9.3, 2008)

As we prepare for the Easter season and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we often sing the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” But what if we temporarily shift our focus from rejoicing that the Redeemer lives to rejoicing in how he lived for us? In this episode Professor Tyler J. Griffin, associate dean of Religious Education, discusses his article “I Know That My Redeemer Lived” from The Power of Christ’s Deliverance. He emphasizes how everything the Savior did and said in his day-to-day life was focused on helping others and doing God’s will. In recounting Christ’s service and miracles, trials and tribulations, and Crucifixion and Resurrection, Professor Griffin illustrates how the Savior chose to live each day for us. Ultimately, knowing how Christ lived for us can empower us to emulate his example and become more like him.   Click here to learn more about Tyler J. Griffin   Publications: ·      “I Know That My Redeemer Lived” (in The Power of Christ’s Deliverance, Religious Studies Center, 2022) ·      “Matthew’s Portrayal of Jesus: Son of David, a New Moses, and Son of God” (in The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2018) ·      “The Great Plan of Happiness: A Christ-Centered Visual Approach” (Religious Educator, 18.1, 2017) ·      “Nephi: An Ideal Teacher of Less-Than-Ideal Students” (Religious Educator, 13.2, 2012) ·      “Jerusalem, the Holy City: A Virtual Tour of the City in the New Testament Period” (in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2019) ·      “Visualizing the People, Places, and Plates of the Book of Mormon” (BYU Religious Education Review, Fall 2019) ·      “The Jaredite Journey: A Symbolic Reflection of Our Own Journey along the Covenant Path” (in Illuminating the Jaredite Records, Religious Studies Center, 2020)

Hank R. Smith discusses mourning with hope in the context of Jesus Christ's resurrection, emphasizing faith and hope. The episode explores how faith can bring solace in grief, traditions that celebrate life, and the guest's personal journey and passion for teaching religious education.

Exploring the unique voices in the Book of Mormon, the podcast dives into the linguistic characteristics of major speakers and their teachings. The discussion highlights how voices speak in harmony, offering insights into principles relevant to our lives today. Delving into individualistic word choices and distinctive writing styles, the episode emphasizes the significance of studying these voices to strengthen beliefs in the scripture and Jesus Christ.

Delve into the power of stillness and mindfulness with Ty Mansfield as he discusses how embracing stillness can deepen our connection with God and enhance spiritual growth. Explore the benefits of quiet reflection, finding joy in Jesus Christ, and the transformative effects of reconnecting with oneself through meditation and self-awareness.

Amid nationwide calls for increasing mental health services for students, researchers recommend increasing teacher training to support student mental well-being in the classroom. In his book Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom, coauthored with Steven V. Hunsaker and Bonnie Moon, Professor Rob Eaton offers practical tips for teachers to design courses and teach students in ways that reduce unnecessary stress while boosting learning for all students. These techniques allow teachers–without adding to their workloads or duplicating campus services—to better support the unique needs of each student and maintain the academic rigor of the course. Professor Eaton explains that such small, deliberate changes to our course design can enhance the learning environment, increase student retention, and strengthen participation for all students. In taking such actions, we move forward measures to destigmatize mental health challenges, provide students with an environment to thrive, and enhance our abilities to teach in the Savior’s way.   Publications: Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom (West Virginia University Press, 2023) “What Happens When Students Have More Chances to Master Concepts” (Inspiring Minds Newsletter, Harvard University, 2024) “Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” (Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast, Episode 422, 2022) “Improving Learning and Mental Health” (Tea for Teaching Podcast, Episode 275, 2023) “A Look at Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” (Social Learning Amplified Podcast, Episode 13, 2023) I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring (Deseret Book, 2013) Extremes: How to Keep Your Virtues from Becoming Vices (Deseret Book, 2008) “The Case for Student Participation” (Religious Educator, 9.2, 2008)   Click here to learn more about Rob Eaton

Gerrit Dirkmaat, associate professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses the translation of the Book of Mormon, conflicting theories, witness and scribe accounts, and Joseph Smith's depiction of the miraculous translation. Topics include the historical significance, existence of the gold plates, importance of the Book of Mormon, translation process and the Urim and Thummim, as well as belief in Joseph Smith and his teachings.

Frank Judd Jr., Professor discusses Samuel the Lamanite's prophecies of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. They delve into the relevance of these prophecies today and the need for faith in uncertain times. The chapter also explores the purpose of writing in the Book of Mormon, the translation process, and the guest speaker's journey from accounting to religion professor.

While most church history sites provide guided tours or historical markers for visitors, some contain little to no information. Yet where might we turn for more insight on these locations? How can we engage with these living sites and gain a witness of the Restoration? Dr. Mary Jane Woodger and her colleagues answer such questions in the book series Search, Ponder, and Pray: A Guide for Travel and Studies. In this episode, Dr. Woodger discusses the power that comes from being in church history sites. She shares how to use mini devotionals to think, talk, and learn about these locations like a church historian, and she details how such works can complement the resources and activities provided at each of these holy places.   Publications: ·      “The London Missionary Society in the Cook Island: Restricting Religious Freedom” (in Religious Liberty and Latter-day Saints: Historical and Global Perspectives, Religious Studies Center, 2023) ·      “Time and Intensity: Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Greece” (Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022) ·      “Praying a Mission into Existence: Frantiska ‘Mamousek’ Vesela Brodilova” (Religious Educator, 18.2, 2017) ·      “Abraham Lincoln and the Mormons” (in Civil War Saints, Religious Studies Center, 2012) ·      “Building the One Hundredth Temple: A Test Case of Religious Freedom in New England” (in Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: The New England States, Religious Studies Center, 2004) Search, Ponder, and Pray: Missouri Church History Travel Guide (Cedar Fort, 2023) Search, Ponder, and Pray: New England Church History Travel Guide (Cedar Fort, 2023)   Click here to learn more about Professor Mary Jane Woodger