PODCAST
Engaging Gospel Doctrine
Constructive approaches to Latter-day Saint Sunday School
Episodes
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411: Looking Back and Looking Forward
I can’t believe we have been producing Engaging Gospel Doctrine for ten years! This special episode discusses the purpose and past of the podcast as well as milestones in my own journey and process. I also discuss the future of the podcast and the Olam Institute and its projects. Olam…
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410: Judging Judges (June 5; Come Follow Me OT Week 19, Reissued)
The Reign of the Judges Judges is one of the most memorable books of the Bible, but also one of the darkest. We must first grapple with the moral ambiguity of these stories before we can learn from the power and courage of Deborah, the vulnerability and trust of Gideon, and appreciate Samson for...
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409: Deliverance and Resurrection (April 17; Old Testament Lesson 16)
Covering the Old Testament this year in Sunday School means that we get to study the Exodus, Passover, and Easter at the same time. This striking alignment invites us to explore where in our lives we are in need of Liberation (Exodus), Commemoration (Passover/Sacrament), and Resurrection…
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408: Reversals and Fortunes (Old Testament Week 12; March 20)
While Joseph seems tricky and somewhat annoying, a deeper reading of Genesis 37-50 reveals themes of accountability and reconciliation. These chapters invite us to reflect on how we can remain true to ourselves and make the best of difficult situations, and how we can live in such a way that we…
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407: Finding Your Fit (Old Testament Lesson 10; March 6)
In these chapters we read about the inter-generational machinations and drama around the family of Rebekah and her twin sons Jacob and Esau. We are invited to reflect on marriage and family, culture, mindset, relationships, and reconciliation. Class Reading: Genesis 24-27; 28-33 Related Episodes
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406: The World Who Weeps (Old Testament Lesson 6; February 6)
How do we move forward when the world feels like it is ending? How do we bear the pain of feeling the pain of the world? We learn from Noah and Enoch in this episode, who teach us lessons of preparation and compassion. Reading: Genesis 5-11; Moses 6-8 You can access my Reading Notes hereYou…...
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405: Fall and Freedom (Old Testament Lesson 3; January 16)
This episode grapples with the fundamental questions of human nature and purpose. How do we increase and responsibly use our agency, given human limitations? Reading: January 16: Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5 January 9: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5 You can access my Reading Notes hereYou can…
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404: Perspective and Potential (Old Testament Lesson 1; January 2)
We have our greatest chance to progress toward our divine potential when we take seriously our human nature. This introductory episode for Come Follow Me 2022 reviews the schedule and approach of the podcast for next year, reviews the nature and approaches to scripture, explores the Old Testament...
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403: Easter (Reissued)
Celebrating Easter and resurrection is incomplete if we do not also celebrate the Holy Week, which is full of not just life and resurrection, but also disappointment, betrayal, and death. Easter invites us to increase our acceptance of death, which allows us to increase our engagement with life....
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402: Easter (Come Follow Me D&C Week 14)
This is a time to celebrate renewal and resurrection. In this bonus episode I explain the purpose and contribution of Engaging Gospel Doctrine, comparing its approach to other Sunday School podcasts. There are so many great resources out there! I also reread Carol Lynn Pearson’s Holy Week, which...
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401: March 7; True and Living Church (Come Follow Me Week 10, Reissued)
It is a shame we shorten this phrase to “The only true Church”, because I think “living” is a very important part of the statement. What does it mean to say the LDS Church is the “only true and living Church”? How do our Heavenly Parents interact with their children? What is the relationship...
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400: Re-Engaging Gospel Doctrine (Come Follow Me Bonus Episode)
Thank you to all of you who have continued to support the podcast! My goal is to create a library of content indexed to scripture sections so that the podcast will be useful for the foreseeable future. That said, I will also continue to produce the podcast while you continue to support it! This...
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399: Dec 20; Faith, Hope, Love (Come Follow Me Week 50)
So much to discuss as we conclude our study of the Book of Mormon this year. Points we will explore this lesson: Mormon’s sublime letter on faith, hope, and charity in Moroni 7 Moroni’s promise in chapter 10–perhaps the most read section of the Book of Mormon. How do we know what is true? What...
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398: Dec. 6; Remembered and Nourished (Come Follow Me Week 48)
These chapters are straightforward–Moroni, shocked he hasn’t been killed yet, shares information about the organization of the church. He introduces: The Gift of the Holy Ghost Ordination of priests and teachers The sacrament prayers Baptism and Church order This is an ideal time to discuss the...
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397: Nov 22-29; An Eye of Faith (BoM Come Follow Me Week 46)
This lesson contains one of the crown jewels of the Book of Mormon–the sublime verse on weakness and strength in 12:27. There are other gems worthy of study, discussion, and application in this chapter. We have the idea that we can be the angels whom God uses to answer prayers, and Moroni…
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396: Journey to the Promised Land (BoM Come Follow Me Week 45)
In this lesson we get to discuss the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon (which made up the bulk of the plates as Joseph described them)! What is contained in the sealed portion? What can we learn from the instructions regarding how to access them? We are going to examine these chapters on...
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395: Last Nephite Standing (BoM Come Follow Me Week 44)
After Mormon’s final plea to the House of Israel, Moroni takes over the record. His despair and loneliness is palpable and touching in the beginning of Mormon 8. There are several thought provoking gems in these chapters about weakness, pride, caring for the needy, and theological points about…
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394: The Problem of Evil (BoM Come Follow Me Week 43)
Poignantly placed after the description of the Lehite utopia, these are the darkest, most disturbing chapters in the Book of Mormon. It seems a fitting time to wrestle with the human potential for evil, the reality of the terrible things we do to each other, almost as a rule. And after reading…
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393: Utopia and Collapse (Come Follow Me, BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42)
These chapters include an account of the happiest, most righteous, productive years in all of Book of Mormon history, the model utopian society that endured almost two hundred years after Jesus’ appearance. Unfortunately, we only read about that time period (which surpasses the time covered by...
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392.2: All Things Revealed (Come Follow Me, BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 41, Part 2)
These chapters function as a sermon and reflection about the scriptures. Jesus quotes from Isaiah 54 and Malachi 3-4. He recommends the writings of Isaiah and urges Nephi to supplement his own records. Then in a bittersweet twist, we are excluded from the climax of the story–Mormon tells us that...
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392: Gathering and Scattering (Come Follow Me, BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 41)
Am I correct in concluding that these chapters fall in that category of scripture that most members read without comprehension? When we think “Isaiah chapters” 2 Nephi comes to mind, but 3 Nephi has its share as well, with some Micah thrown in. These chapters in brief talk about how in the latter...
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391: One by One (Come Follow Me BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 40)
These chapters of the Book of Mormon contain some of the most moving and tender moments in all of scripture. Jesus heals the sick, one by one. The crowd weeps with joy. Jesus blesses little children and the scene becomes ineffable. Angels minister to the children and Jesus weeps. All take the...
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390: All Things New (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 39)
These chapters give a literal chance to “feast upon the words of Christ” since they consist almost exclusively of Jesus’ teachings. Chapters 12-14 parallel the Sermon on the Mount and focus on issues of the happy life (Beatitudes), discipleship, the relationship of Jesus to the Law of Moses, and...
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389: A Broken Heart and Contrite Spirit (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 38)
Nephi 11 is one of the most familiar chapters in Mormon scripture, shared by missionaries daily in countless languages. 3 Nephi 11-28 recount the personal ministry of Christ to the Lehites. Some of the most touching and powerful chapters in the Book of Mormon are found in this section. But before...
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388: From Unity to Collapse (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 36)
The beginning of 3 Nephi overflows with intense extremes as it describes the decades leading up to the appearance of Jesus to the Lehites. The sign of Jesus’ birth is given; people believe then disbelieve. A protracted war with the Gadianton robbers forces the people to prepare and unite. Society...
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387: Insiders and Outsiders (Come Follow Me BoM Week 36, Reissued)
These chapters are about Samuel the Lamanite posting to his wall (I know, bad joke, but some of us can relate to the stones and arrows). Samuel’s wall top preaching alternates between predictions of destruction, contrasting the Lamanite reaction to the truth, and prophesying concerning the coming...
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386: The Limitations of Human Nature (Come Follow Me BoM Week 35, Reissued)
Pretty much everyone is depressed in these chapters. The prophet Nephi and editor Mormon both complain about human nature and the state of wickedness of the people at this time. This is where the Lamanites become more righteous than the Nephites. Highlights will include Lessons from Lamanite and...
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385: Aug 24; The Beginning of the End (Come Follow Me BoM 34, Reissued)
Even with the impending ministry of Christ among the Nephites, Mormon sees this section as the beginning of the end (Hel. 2:13). Helaman is a dark book with powerful highlights. This is a bad time to be a chief judge, and a bad time for the Nephites. The Nephites expand their territory, but wars...
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384.2: Aug 9; Ethics and War (Come Follow Me BoM Week 33, Reissued)
The Book of Alma concludes with a bang as we read of wars of multiple fronts and severe internal turmoil and dissent. We can learn a great deal from the behavior of Moroni, Helaman, and their armies. And of course we can’t forget the 2000 stripling warriors and their mothers! There are several...
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383.2: Aug 9; Freedom and War (Come Follow Me BoM Week 32, Reissued)
With this lesson we march into the “War chapters” of Alma. Sometimes it seems readers of the Book of Mormon don’t know quite what to do with these twenty odd chapters, but there are many important lessons and intriguing details we can glean. Reading: Alma 43-52 Highlights of this lesson include:...
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383: August 16; Alma (Come Follow Me Catch Up!)
For my next trick, I will work through the entirety of Alma in one episode! It was a rewarding experience to look through the longest book of the Book of Mormon in one sitting, and I saw details and patterns that I had missed before. Alma is a rich and complex book that reveals some… Continue...
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382.2: Laws of Reality (Come Follow Me BoM Week 31, Reissued)
This core episode puts the provocative idea of God losing godhood in the context of the Plan of Happiness and its opposite, the Plan of Damnation. Reading: Alma 39-42 You can access my Lesson Notes here.
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382.1: Laws of Reality (Come Follow Me BoM Week 31, Reissued)
These chapters are chock full of doctrinal substance touching upon the “Great Plan of Happiness”. We will explore: Resurrection and Spirit World Justice and mercy Role of this life The nature of God, including the unusual and compelling idea of a “limited God”. Reading: Alma 39-42 Look forward to...
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381: Challenge and be Challenged by the Scriptures (Bonus Episode)
In this bonus episode, I describe my process of preparing for the podcast and reading the scriptures, as well as make recommendations for scripture reading in general. I discuss literary, personal, intertextual, and historical approaches, and send scripture reading down the rabbit hole. The...
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380.2: July 26; Atonement and Character (Come Follow Me BoM Week 30)
Alma’s intimate words to his sons model a way to use honest sharing about the past to better the present and future. This core episode covers Alma’s path to peace, the principle that we cannot feel greater joy than we have experienced pain, the underappreciated figure of Shiblon, and finally,...
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380.1: July 26; Atonement and Character (Come Follow Me BoM Week 30)
This lesson and the next provide a precious and intimate window in the family life of Alma, one of the great Book of Mormon prophets. These chapters fit into the genre of “Testament”, which records the wisdom and blessings imparted by the patriarch of a family (unfortunately, we don’t have any...
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379.2: July 19; Experiment upon the Word (Come Follow Me Week 29, Reissued)
This reading proves not only interesting for discussion, but can be life changing. This core episode discusses the power and importance of experimenting on the word, the distinction between belief, knowledge, and faith, and how we can experience heaven on earth. Reading: Alma 32-35 You can access...
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379.1: July 19; Experiment upon the Word (Come Follow Me Week 29, Reissued)
Plant this Word in your Hearts How many superstars of theology can we fit into a few chapters? Truth. Prayer. Atonement. These chapters contain some of the most memorable lessons and gems in the Book of Mormon. The “experiment upon the word” in Alma 32, Amulek’s powerful sermon on the Atonement…
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378.2: Conversations about God (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 27, Reissued)
“All Things Denote There Is a God” One of the problems with our beliefs is that they are obvious–to us. The familiar is so self-evident that often we can’t even imagine how anyone could believe anything different. Further, even if “all things denote there is a God”, we as humans are not equipped…
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378.1: Conversations about God (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 27, Reissued)
“All Things Denote There Is a God” I jokingly call this lesson “Apostates week”. The key exchanges this lesson are Alma vs. Korihor and then Alma and his companions vs. the Zoramites. We are going to push a bit in approach with this lesson, use these scriptures to challenge us a touch. Kind of...
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377.2: Burying Our Weapons of War (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26, Core Reissued)
These chapters tell of conversions through miraculous and even troubling means, inspiring devotion to principle, and overwhelming joy. We also have angel-wannabe Alma teaching us a powerful truth about God calling prophets among all people. Class Member Reading: Alma 23-29 You can access my...
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377.1: Burying Our Weapons of War (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26, Reissued)
“Converted unto the Lord” Here is the full episode on Lesson 26. These chapters tell of conversions through miraculous and even troubling means, inspiring devotion to principle, and overwhelming joy. We also have angel-wannabe Alma teaching us a powerful truth about God calling prophets among all...
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376.2: Mission of the Sons of Mosiah (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 25, Updated)
The sons of Mosiah are not the only powerful characters in these chapters–or even the main characters. We learn much from Lamanite kings, queens, and servants. This new core episode returns to Alma 17-22 and focuses on vulnerability and authenticity, meeting and serving people where they are, and...
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376.1: Mission of the Sons of Mosiah (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 25, Reissued)
“They Taught with Power and Authority of God” These chapters begin the story of the missionary efforts of the sons of Mosiah. Ammon and Lamoni take center stage, but the Lamanite woman Abish and her queen play key roles and Mormon emphasizes the contrasts between missionary and conversion...
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375.1: Theodicy of the Unbearable (Come Follow Me Week 23, Reissued)
“Give Us Strength According to Our Faith … in Christ” This lesson confronts us with hard, perhaps impossible questions. We read about a God who intervenes sometimes, but not others. Alma and Amulek are saved, but only after an extended time in prison. And the worst atrocity is not prevented at...
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374: Sustainable Sunday School (Bonus Episode)
It’s time to talk about podcast support! Funny how we don’t like talking about money details. The podcast is not currently sustainable, so please contribute how you can. And if you want to join the inner quorum of supporters, please email me at [email protected]
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373.1: On Knowing and Sharing (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 23)
“More Than One Witness” Alma and Amulek’s tag-team preaching raises profound questions about how we with our limitations can know anything. Truly we have need of “more than one witness.” Class Member Reading: Alma 8-12 You can access the Annotated Reading here. You can access the Lesson Notes…
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372.1: Introspection and Atonement (BoM Gospel Doctrine Week 22, Reissued)
“Have Ye Received His Image in Your Countenances?” Alma has some impressive rhetorical skills on display in his interrogative sermon in chapter 5. He encourages his audience to access their past selves, future selves, ideal selves, and imagine dying and standing accountable before God. Class…
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371.2: May 31; Us vs. Them (Come Follow Me Book of Mormon Week 20)
More chapters about good guys vs. bad guys! Or is there more to the story? A careful reading of these chapters invite questions about Nephite power and conflict, as well as the nature of motivation, reform, and healthy communities. Who are the “good guys” and “bad guys”, insiders and outsiders?...
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371.1: Kings, Judges, and War (BoM Gospel Doctrine Week 20)
“Alma … Did Judge Righteous Judgments” Reading: Mosiah 29-Alma 4 In these chapters, we need to challenge the narrator. Mormon assures us that Alma is right and Nehor is wrong, that the Nephites are just and the Amlicites are wicked. But a closer reading challenges, or at least nuances these…
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Constructive approaches to Latter-day Saint Sunday School
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Constructive approaches to Latter-day Saint Sunday School
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