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PODCAST · religion

Sunday Musings

by Connor Boyack

Author Connor Boyack, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), shares provoking questions and thoughtful analysis of scripture on issues ranging from agency and liberty to idolatry, secret combinations, culture, freedom, and more.

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Episodes

  1. The Protestantization of Mormonism

    A new analysis highlights a growing trend to move the LDS Church in a direction more appealing to mainstream Christians.

  2. Have We Stopped Talking About the Second Coming?

    How has our focus on the Second Coming shifted over the centuries, and can we actually say that we are meaningfully preparing for that event?

  3. New Data on Mormon "Tradition and Change"

    A new report analyzing Mormon demographics and beliefs is out, but does it differ from what official sources show?

  4. The Deniability Doctrine: Outsourcing Apologetics

    A 2019 video highlights how the Church quietly partners with surrogates to engage in the vast majority of online conversations regarding the faith.

  5. 25 Minute Classes: The TikTokification of Church?

    Does the new schedule change discourage depth of discussion, or is there something to be gained from reducing class time so significantly?

  6. 9/11, 25 Years Later

    What obvious conspiracy can we identify in what happened, and what relevance does it have a quarter of a century later?

  7. Isaiah's Most Stinging Prophecies

    With Come Follow Me's focus on Isaiah in the coming weeks, what are the messages we ought to pay attention to that few people actually do?

  8. The Superficial Statements of Leftist Latter-day Saints

    As more Mormons move to the political left, how are they reconciling their political and religious views?

  9. Why I Oppose the Death Penalty (and Why You Should Too)

    How has the Church's position on capital punishment changed over time, and what scriptures (if any) support it?

  10. Ten Changes Joseph Smith Made to the Bible

    Whether gruesome or glorified, Joseph made a wide range of edits to the King James Version. Here are ten worth mentioning.

  11. The Nemenhah Record: True or False?

    Is it possible that new scripture has been revealed sharing additional evidence about the people described in the Book of Mormon?

  12. Ten Threats to Religious Freedom

    For all the talk of its importance, how are we actually doing in defending religious freedom?

  13. Changing Definitions of Apostasy

    A review of nearly a century of Church manuals highlights how fluid the definition of apostasy has been over time. What does that mean for us today?

  14. Are Women Excessively Validated?

    The subjective experiences of Latter-day Saint women reveal a deep contrast in how they experience the Church. But could part of the problem stem from a slow stain of feminist opposition to accountability?

  15. Tim Ballard's Bad History

    When faith-promoting stories of history turn into political pornography, what is the effect on the testimony and knowledge of those consuming this material?

  16. How the Church Celebrated America's Birthday… 50 Years Ago

    How does this year's focus on America by the Church compare to what happened half a century ago? The answer may surprise you.

  17. Why I'm Not Fasting for Religious Freedom

    Do American Latter-day Saints even understand the religious liberty they're being asked by leaders to fast and pray for? (Not really.)

  18. "Torn" and Leaving Latter-day Saints

    A new dataset has been compiled aiming to cast light on why some Mormons struggle with their faith. As it turns out, many of them may have been placing their trust in the wrong things.

  19. Anti-War Missionary Work?

    Are pro-war Mormons impeding the spread of the gospel of peace?

  20. The Church's Stumbling Block Slowing Growth

    What if the thing slowing the restored gospel's growth isn't outside forces, but inside ones?

  21. The Moral Decay of Society's Institutions

    Relentless vigilance is the only price of institutional fidelity, and most of us are failing the test right now…

  22. In Defense of (Some?) Billionaires

    Leftist Christians attempt to wrest the scriptures to attack wealth, yet Jesus rejects their redistribution schemes in the Parable of Talents. What does this mean for today's wealth creators?

  23. The Secular Experiment Is Cracking

    If secularism promised liberation, why has it left so many people more disconnected, uncertain, and spiritually hungry than ever?

  24. Mormon Women Have Been Silenced

    Where are the defenders of motherhood among Latter-day Saint women in leadership, when children need them most?

  25. Young Women: What's in a name?

    If the newly announced names for Young Women aren't accompanied by substantive reform in what girls are taught, then what good will they do?

  26. Are We "Sounding a Trumpet" Before Our Alms?

    Jesus said to do our alms in secret, not to be seen of men. So why does the Church issue press releases, hire influencers, and create social media campaigns around its charitable efforts?

  27. General Conference: Inspiring or Just Inoffensive?

    A new analysis of scriptures and talks shares an interesting contrast in how boldly past and present prophets preach repentance.

  28. Christ's Response to Toxic Masculinity

    What if an old Presbyterian hymn contains the formula bearers of the priesthood need to follow to usher in God's kingdom?

  29. Is repentance a "process"?

    When someone is guilty of a serious sin, does their repentance of that action require a process of any kind—or is their sincere repentance effective instantly?

  30. Concubines: Past, Present, and… Eternally?

    Section 132 purports to authorize not just polygamy, but concubinage. What exactly is that, and how has it worked throughout history?

  31. Shut Down Deseret Book

    From promoting controversial political titles to hiring DEI activists, it's worth asking whether Deseret Book is compatible with Church standards and values.

  32. Is Disagreeing with Church Leaders a Sin?

    Some members have weaponized words by President Oaks to suggest that any criticism of Church leaders (or their statements) is wrong. Is that right?

  33. Is the Book of Abraham a Fraud?

    Critics call it a fraud, but what if the Book of Abraham's "missing scrolls" hold the key to its divine truth?

  34. Rewind the Church 20 years?

    Have the sweeping changes of the Nelson era helped the Church thrive, or quietly hollowed out key parts of its culture?

  35. The Prophet Poo-Poos Podcasters?

    At a recent BYU Devotional, President Oaks warned of an "abundance of speculation and false information in podcasts and on social media." But are the sources he suggested immune from these problems?

  36. Isaiah Would Be Stoned If He Walked Salt Lake Streets

    We roast past generations' spiritual blind spots, yet dodge the beam in our eye. Who's really the modern Pharisee?

  37. Why do we continue to lose this fight?

    Lucifer's war continues today, yet few seem to understand his methods and therefore remain vulnerable to them. Why do more Latter-day Saints not see?

  38. Is there nepotism in the Church?

    When Church leaders are often blood relatives of other leaders, is that cause for concern or scripturally supported?

  39. Why did Joseph Smith Alter the Bible?

    LDS scripture only contains a portion of Joseph Smith's alterations to the King James Version of the Bible. What about the rest?

  40. Should the Church have a paid ministry?

    Top leaders of the Church are provided financial support for their full time service. What do the scriptures say about such a practice?

  41. Did Joseph Smith Use a Seer Stone?

    Competing claims disagree on whether Joseph Smith had a seer stone separate from the Urim and Thummim to translate the Book of Mormon. What's true?

  42. What would a modern Samuel the Lamanite sound like?

    Prophetic rebukes in times past were seemingly much more bold and direct than what happens today. Why the change, and what might it mean?

  43. Move Over, King James Version…

    A new Church policy opens the door to newer Bible translations but raises yet more questions about how they will be used.

  44. Interracial Marriage Policy, Past and Present

    A new Church article says that interracial marriages are fine, but fails to acknowledge that that wasn't always the case. What changed and why?

  45. Agreeing with Our Adversaries

    Did Jesus command us to go along to get along — or is there more to the story we might be missing?

  46. President vs. Prophet — conflating two titles?

    Starting around the 1950s, Church leaders and members began calling their president 'the prophet.' But what caused the shift and what does it mean today?

  47. Should Mormons abstain from meat?

    You couldn't tell from the dishes served at a ward potluck, but Mormons are under obligation to cut down their meat consumption. Or… are they?

  48. Criticism of the Church: Public vs. Private

    Some viewers of Sunday Musings feel uncomfortable with the approach I take. Should my concerns and ideas be kept quiet, or is there room for a more open discussion?

  49. Superficial Sunday School: more milk than meat?

    Many people seem to recall a Church policy discouraging informal study groups as they may lead to apostasy. What's the policy today?

  50. Joseph Smith's Last Dream (or Nightmare…?)

    Prior to being murdered, the Prophet had several dreams seeming to portray the troubles the Church would face in his absence. What might the interpretations of these dreams mean for us today?

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Author Connor Boyack, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), shares provoking questions and thoughtful analysis of scripture on issues ranging from agency and liberty to idolatry, secret combinations, culture, freedom, and more.

HOSTED BY

Connor Boyack

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Sunday Musings have?

Sunday Musings currently has 247 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Sunday Musings about?

Author Connor Boyack, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the "Mormons"), shares provoking questions and thoughtful analysis of scripture on issues ranging from agency and liberty to idolatry, secret combinations, culture, freedom, and more.

How often does Sunday Musings release new episodes?

Sunday Musings publishes regularly with 247 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to Sunday Musings?

You can listen to Sunday Musings on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Sunday Musings?

Sunday Musings is created and hosted by Connor Boyack.
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