Latter-day Faith

In this episode, LDF host Dan Wotherspoon shares something he delivered at the most recent Salt Lake City Sunstone Symposium. He spoke as part of a panel in a long-running Sunstone session titled, "Why I Stay." Instead of giving the "why" of his decision to stay actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Mormon life, he spoke about "how" he manages it. Ultimately, it is because he has figured out the way to be himself at church and in other LDS gatherings. But it was a long and rocky journey from faith crash to rebuilding to confidence, which he shares in this episode.  We hope you will listen!

In this wonderful podcast episode, LDF board member Terri Peterson interviews author and podcaster Noah Rasheta about Buddhist teachings that transcend faith boundaries and can help people live with greater clarity and equanimity whether they are formally religious or not.  With Terri's prompting, Noah shares his journey as a Latter-day Saint on through his introduction to Buddhism and how well it fit his seeker's temperament. What really stands out in this exchange is Noah's ability to brilliantly and in a plain-spoken way outline the key concepts that underpin Buddhism. The conversation is chock full of "aha" moments, and shows us the value of asking questions that we likely would have never thought about if we live and think only within one religious system. Listen in! You will be very glad you did!

Most people who come to this podcast have likely, at some time in their life, wondered what their lives would be like were they to step away from Mormonism--and not just the church but, perhaps, everything else that one might call "religious" in nature. What if there is no God? What if there is no need for saving ordinances? What would it be like to not feel pressure to assent to specific beliefs?  In her new book, No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools, No Faith Required (SacraSage Press, 2024) Brittney Hartley walks us through her own journey that included the total deconstruction of her LDS worldview before she was able to find a beautiful and fulfilling way to live again. Hers is a life without God, Ordinances, Specific (prescribed) Beliefs, or Formal Church structure, but it is in no way bleak or void of meaning, personal ethics, family and individual rituals, contemplative practices. Nor does it reject the importance of feelings of awe or a sense of the transcendent. As she leads us through the book, we can see that she is definitely spiritual but secular. In this episode, Brittney joins LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about her journey and how she, as an athiest, came to be grateful again for the various tools that we typically associate with religion. Some chapters teach us about secular spirituality, the importance of "order" in a chaotic world, finding meaning and purpose, community and love, sacred stories, and human flourishing. It's a great discussion that allows anyone who is convinced of the need for formal religion and all it entails to expand their vision. The beautiful things they will find in Brittney and how she lives and centers her life can serve as a counter narrative they might keep in their minds when they or others around them start to claim that authoritative voices, specific beliefs, certain ordinances, etc. are necessary in one's life now and for their hopes for the eternities. If "salvation" is really "transformation" into more loving, kind, patient, and joyful beings, we should consider what Brittney has to say. Listen in! 

In this wonderful conversation, Latter-day Faith board member Mark Crego talks with Chris Kimball, the author of Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide (By Common Consent Press, 2023) about his experiences with the LDS temple recommend processes. Their focus is on the notion of "worthiness," which most Latter-day Saints view as the purpose of the recommend interview. Should it be? Are their other ways to understand it that do not automatically place the bishop in the judgment seat of another's ability to worship in the temple? What might that look like?  During his time as an LDS bishop, Chris became increasingly uncomfortable in these interviews--so much so that he was traumatized by it and no longer seeks a recommend. Listen to his story and more about his choices in this regard. (He also writes about it at length in his wonderful book noted above.) Mark and Chris focus on different notions about worthiness, as well as tools within LDS scripture and teaching for assessing one's own "fit" for the temple. Also, how might we approach the matter of our own sense of "worthiness" in the eyes of God, as well as in the church, which are definitely not the same thing! Listen in to this fantastic, expansive episode! 

This episode, co-hosted by Dan Wotherspoon and Terri Petersen, brings to the forefront once again the insights and helpful ideas in Jon Ogden's 2017 book, When Mormons Doubt: A Way to Save Relationships and Seek a Quality Life. Jon joins the hosts to discuss his approach to saving relationships through understanding the primary things that we and others choose to focus on in our lives. Are we driven primarily by the search for what is "true"; is he focusing on what is "good"; is she motivated by the search for spiritual health?  When we come to understand these focuses and are able to recognize another's highest values as valid and do, indeed, represent something that is worthy to pursue. When we can see the internal calculus by which we all weigh our decisions and approaches to the world, the things that we thought we were in conflict about lose their power to destroy our relationships with others. In the discussion, Jon points out what happens should we pursue  our highest values in an unbalanced way, helping us see common pitfalls so we might better avoid them. This discussion is high-level but approachable. Its jargon-free. And the things it highlights are important and wise. Listen in!

As someone is experiencing a shift of faith, it is very common to find a need to change their prayer practices. Likely, their view of God has changed, which leads to confusion about how to approach this new Being or Source. What used to be simple and connective no longer feels the same. Should they stop praying altogether? Many do. In this episode, Terri Petersen and Mark Crego join LDF host Dan Wotherspoon for a discussion of these shifts, as well as how their forms of prayer and experiences in prayer have changed? They discuss common understandings of prayer and how "blessings" or "answers" that come after prayer are often shared--in many cases in ways that discourage others who have not had their prayers answered. They talk about "public" prayers and "private" ones, and the functions of each. If personal prayer is intended to draw us closer to God/Spirit/Creative Energies, how have they found their deeper connections with divinity? What are their past and present prayer practices? What experiences have they had in prayer? This is a great episode! Listen in!

In this wonderful episode, Faith Journey Foundation board member and great friend of the show Terri Petersen speaks with her friend, Christy (pseudonym) about her church life as a active woman with children, who also happens to be divorced. As you can imagine, in a church that touts the vital importance of families, it is not always a comfortable experience when one's family is now differently configured. Christy shares powerfully about both her internal wrestlings with a change from the "plan" she had thought she'd follow for the rest of her life (and in the eternities), as well as the struggles the Church as an institution has in speaking to and including divorce women.  She is a wise, articulate, open, and insightful soul, whose words here will pierce every person's heart—man or woman, divorced or married. How should we speak to or interact with someone who is going through a divorce, or who already has one finalized? What should we say and NOT say? How can we help them feel more included and welcomed in our wards? How might Primary and YM/YW leaders tailor what they say when children of divorced parents are in their classes?  Can we learn to see these families as still whole, just different? What messaging do or should we give by the way we act around them? Might we learn to invite them to sit with us? Because of certain realities of men's ministering to single women and their families, how can men still be involved with the children, modeling for them what gospel maturity looks like? You will find discussions of all these matters, plus many others, in this episode. We highly recommend it to everyone. There is so much to learn, and in the specificity of Christy's life, it somehow feels more universally applicable. Listen in!

The podcast explores the profound teachings of grace and mercy in the Book of Mormon, challenging traditional interpretations. It emphasizes the transformative power of God's mercy on characters like Lehi, Enos, and King Benjamin, highlighting the importance of belief and communication with God for personal growth. The chapter also discusses the role of mercy in leadership, the significance of seeking the right message in scriptures, and the notion of yielding and revealing in spiritual practices.

Delving into the profound teachings of Grace and Mercy in the Book of Mormon, this podcast challenges traditional interpretations and explores a more experiential spirituality. From transformational experiences to embracing inner intentions in religious practices, the discussion highlights the importance of heart change and reflecting God's love for personal growth. Drawing parallels with faith development and artistic progression, the podcast also touches on the transformative power of improvisation in music and the beauty of turning dissonance into harmony.

Terri Petersen interviews Dan and Mark from the Latter-day Faith Podcast about engaging with Mormonism, disagreeing with leaders while sustaining them, views on scripture, and their perspectives of God. The conversation dives into practical aspects of faith journeys within the Latter-day Faith community.