We have all inherited things from our parents: everything from genetics to family values. But how do parents pass on religious belief and faith to their children? Church history and doctrine professor Byran Korth talks about his research on religion and families, the parenting styles that help parents to transmit their faith to the next generation—and why this understanding is so crucial in our modern world. 

Publications:

“The how and what of modern religious transmission and its implications for families,” (Journal of Family Psychology, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor Byran Korth

As we seek truth, we are asked to harmonize seeming paradoxes: balance the mind and the heart; learn by study and faith; be in the world but not of the world. How do we do this? In this episode, Dr. Casey Griffiths introduces us to the fascinating life of a scientist, educator, and apostle who exemplified this approach—Joseph F. Merrill—and why his work continues to influence Church members today.  

Publications:

Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle (RSC, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor Casey Griffiths

It is easy to assume that the records of the early Christians fall silent after the end of the New Testament.  However, abundant information exists describing the lives, faith, and sacrifices of these earliest believers, details which are often overlooked by Latter-day Saints. In this episode, Jason Combs explores the world and worship of the ancient Christians in the centuries after the New Testament, helping us to learn from their experiences and to recognize them as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Publications:

Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints (BYU Maxwell Institute, 2022)

Click here to learn more about professor Jason Combs

Joseph Smith once said, “It is the love of liberty which inspires my soul, civil and religious liberty to the whole human race.” This sentiment is equally relevant today. Dr. Robert Smith has dedicated much of his professional life to the study of religious liberty and the law. In this episode he discusses the campaign for religious liberty in our modern day—and why it is crucial to keep it.

Publications:

Religious Organizations and the Law, 2d (Thompson Reuters, updated 2021)

Click here to read the Church Newsroom article referenced about Church leaders speaking on Religious Liberty

Click here to learn more about professor Robert Smith

In 1841, after years of sacrifice and travel, Orson Hyde arrived in Jerusalem. His brief but impactful mission had innumerable effects on the Church in the Holy Land. In this episode, Professor of Ancient Scripture David Whitchurch takes us through Orson Hyde’s journey, which paved the way for the miraculous opening of the BYU Jerusalem Center. Professor Whitchurch also reflects on his own journey of learning about this spiritual giant—and shows why Orson Hyde’s story is such an important example to us all. 

Publications:

“The Restored Church of Jesus Christ and the Holy Land” (BYU Studies, 2020)

Click here to watch David Whitchurch’s BYU Devotional, “Orson Hyde, the Holy Land, and Brigham Young University”

Click here to learn more about professor David Whitchurch

America’s history with slavery is complicated and controversial, especially when considered in a religious context. On this episode, Professor Jordan Watkins takes us into antebellum America, showing how views over slavery were shaped by interpretations of the Bible and the country’s founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He also examines ways these nineteenth-century interpretations continue to influence people today.  

Publications:

Slavery and Sacred Texts: The Bible, the Constitution, and Historical Consciousness in Antebellum America (Cambridge University Press, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor Jordan Watkins

Some Latter-day Saints believe that the oath and covenant of the priesthood only applies to men. But in this episode, Professor Barbara Morgan Gardner uses Doctrine and Covenants 84 and the words of prophets and apostles to share an important truth: priesthood power and promises are available to all who receive the blessings of the temple. She also speaks on what the oath and covenant of D&C 84 means to her as a wife, a mother, and a daughter of God.

Publications:

“Using Section 84 to Emphasize the Priesthood Power of Women,” (Religious Educator, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor Barbara Morgan Gardner

Netflix’s 2021 docuseries Murder Among the Mormons reached #2 on the most-viewed list in the week it came out. But how much did the documentary actually get right? In this episode, Professor J. B. Haws gives his perspective as a Church historian, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the docuseries as well as the theological implications of the Mark Hoffman murders—and the reason why this story still matters.

Publications:

“Murder among the Mormons: Reflections on the Docuseries—and on Its Historical and Theological Implications” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 2022)

Click here to learn more about professor J.B. Haws

In 1903, Latter-day Saint Apostle Reed Smoot was elected by Utah to become a United States senator.  However, many in the country and Senate did not want to seat Elder Smoot due to his leadership position in the Church and because of the Church’s practice of polygamy.  In this episode, Dr. Carter Charles recounts this history and President Theodore Roosevelt’s defense of Reed Smoot and the Latter-day Saints.   

Publications:

“Theodore Roosevelt’s Defense of the Latter-day Saints” in Latter-day Saints in Washington, DC: History, People, and Places (RSC/Deseret Book, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor Carter Charles

Although its stories took place thousands of years ago, the Old Testament provides potent lessons to help confront contemporary challenges, including the world’s growing refugee crisis. In this episode, Dr. George Pierce shares research insights about ancient Israel to help us care for the displaced and marginalized in our midst.

Publications:

“The Experience of Israelite Refugees” in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament (RSC, 2021)

Click here to learn more about professor George Pierce