Y Religion
by BYU Religious Education
Each year, religion professors at Brigham Young University (BYU) produce hundreds of publications on subjects related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This podcast brings this research into one place to enlighten the everyday seeker of truth. Interviewing the author, we discuss why the study was done, why it matters, and why the professor chooses to be both a scholar, and a disciple. This is Y Religion.
Episodes
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Episode 12: Where Gender, Faith, and Family Meet (Goodman & Mansfield)
How do gender, faith, and family intersect in shaping identity and relationships? In this episode, Dr. Ty Mansfield and Dr. Michael Goodman dive into the complex intersection of gender, faith, and family, offering insight into how beliefs and LGBTQ+ lived experiences shape identity and strengthen...
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Episode 150: The Davidic Covenant and God's Hesed (Robbie Taggart)
What does God's covenant with David teach us about divine love? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture Robbie Taggart explores the Davidic Covenant and the powerful biblical concept of hesed—God's steadfast, covenant love. Through David's remarkable successes and profound failures,...
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Episode 149: How Beautiful Are The Feet? Discovering the Power of Footnotes (Scott L. Howell & Lauryn Wilde)
As General Conference approaches, this episode of Y Religion highlights an inspiring way to enrich your conference experience. Assistant teaching professor Scott L. Howell and project manager of BYU Research Technology Group Lauryn Wilde discuss their research on thousands of general conference...
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Episode 148: Seeing God's Love in Suffering (David B. Ridge)
If God loves His children, why does He allow suffering? In this episode, David B. Ridge, assistant professor of ancient scripture, explores one of the most difficult questions of mortality. Drawing on the book of Job, Professor Ridge explains that scripture does not offer easy answers but instead...
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Episode 147: The Wisdom of Proverbs (Michael J. Biggerstaff)
In this episode, Michael J. Biggerstaff, assistant professor of ancient scripture, invites listeners to see Proverbs as far more than a collection of memorable sayings. He explains how Proverbs serves as a practical guide to navigating life's hardest decisions, combining faith, reason…
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Episode 11: Finding Hope When Children Stray (Justin Dyer & Phil Allred)
How can parents find hope and resilience when children make difficult choices? In this episode, Dr. Justin Dyer and Dr. Philip Allred address the heartache parents feel when children take unexpected or contrary paths — and share faith‑centered principles that restore hope and strengthen families.
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Episode 10: Families in a Digital World (Padilla-Walker and Schramm)
How is technology shaping modern family relationships? In this episode, Dr. Laura Padilla-Walker and Dr. David Schramm tackle the impact of smartphones and social media on today's families, revealing the pitfalls, possibilities, and practical strategies for raising kids in a hyper‑digital world.
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Episode 9: The Divine Impact of Fatherhood
What impact do fathers have on children and family life in the world we live in today? In this episode, Dr. David Dollahite and Dr. Justin Dyer explore the meaningful and often underrecognized influence of fatherhood in emotional, spiritual, and social development.
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Episode 8: The Sacred Influence of Motherhood
What makes the influence of motherhood both unique and sacred, and how does it shape children, families, and society? In this episode, Dr. Jenet Erickson and Jennifer Thatcher explore the role of mothers in nurturing identity, fostering development, and strengthening both family and community life.
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Episode 7: Habits of Highly Effective Parents (Craig Hart & Stephanie Sorensen)
What do effective parents consistently do to help their children thrive? In this episode, Dr. Craig Hart and Dr. Stephanie Sorensen explore practical, research‑backed parenting habits that foster healthy development and strengthen family well‑being."
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Episode 6: How to Build a Great Marriage (Brian Mead & Gaylamarie Rosenberg)
What creates a strong and lasting marriage? In this episode, Dr. Brian Mead and Gaylamarie Rosenberg explore the habits, skills, and principles that contribute to healthy, enduring marital relationships.
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Episode 5: Founding a Marriage on Jesus Christ (David C. Dollahite & Loren D. Marks)
How does faith in Jesus Christ strengthen marriage and family life? In this episode, Dr. David Dollahite and Dr. Loren Marks discuss how discipleship and shared spiritual commitment create resilience and unity in marital and family relationships.
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Episode 4: Debunking Marriage Myths (Gaylamarie Rosenberg)
What misconceptions about marriage can lead to unrealistic expectations? In this episode, Gaylamarie Rosenberg addresses common myths and replaces them with research-based and experience-informed truths about lasting marriage.
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Episode 3: Preparing for a Successful Marriage (Barbara Morgan Gardner & Brian Willoughby)
How can individuals approach dating with intentionality and long-term purpose? In this episode, Dr. Brian Willoughby and Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner discuss how to prepare for marriage, overcome fear in dating, and practical skills for marriage.
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Episode 2: A Divine Blueprint for Families (Mike Goodman & Jenet Erickson)
How does "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" serve as a divine guide for understanding family life? In this episode, Dr. Michael Goodman and Dr. Jenet Erickson unpack the history and doctrine behind the family proclamation, revealing how it offers a powerful blueprint for creating…
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Episode 1: The Changing Family (Justin Dyer & Jennifer Thatcher)
How is the family changing, and what does that mean for society and faith today? In this episode, Dr. Justin Dyer and Jennifer Thatcher explore trends and challenges in family life and consider sources of hope for the future.
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Bonus Episode: Introducing Y Religion Presents - The Eternal Family (John Hilton III & Mark Ogletree)
Y Religion Presents: The Eternal Family is a limited-series podcast for summer 2026 that explores the doctrine, challenges, and lived realities of family life in today's world. Across thirteen episodes, leading scholars and teachers examine topics including the changing nature of families, the...
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Episode 146: God's Steadfast Love While Everyone Did What Was Right in Their Own Eyes (Aaron Schade)
How does God's love keep showing up for us, even when we struggle? In this episode Professor Aaron Schade reframes the book of Judges as more than a collection of heroic stories. Instead, he describes it as a sobering account of spiritual decline, broken covenants, and the consequences of living...
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Episode 145: "Thou Shalt Utterly Destroy" Understanding the Biblical Hērem in Scripture
What do we make of times in scripture where violence occurs, especially when the destruction comes because of God's commands? In this episode, Professor David M. Calabro discusses his article "'Thou Shalt Utterly Destroy': Understanding the Biblical Ḥērem", which grapples with the troubling and...
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Episode 144: Amplifying Prophetic Voices (Scott Esplin)
How can we better incorporate prophetic messages in our lives, while also using them to bless the lives of those we love? In this episode, Scott C. Esplin, dean of Religious Education at BYU, discusses his article "Department and Individual Efforts to Amplify Prophetic Messages," coauthored with...
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Episode 143: Picturing Christ (Daniel Becerra)
What did Jesus actually look like, and does it matter? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture Daniel Becerra discusses his new book Picturing Christ, co‑authored with Jennifer Champoux, Mark D. Ellison, and Matthew J. Grey. The book traces how Christians, Latter-day Saints and others…
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Episode 142: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours (John Hilton III)
How can sacred art help us feel closer to the Savior and more fully understand his Atonement? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture John Hilton III discusses his new book Behold the Lamb: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours, created with Anthony Sweat and J. Kirk Richards. The...
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Bonus Episode: Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ (Hilton, Erickson, Richardson, & Allred)
In June 2025, President D. Todd Christofferson gave a landmark address to Religious Educators titled "Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ." In this bonus episode, John Hilton visits with BYU Religious Education professors Jenet Erickson, Matthew Richardson, and Philip Allred to unpack its...
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Episode 141: The Ten Tests of Abraham and Sarah (David Seely & Jo Ann Seely)
Isaiah 51:1–2 instructs us to, "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you." In this episode, David and Jo Ann Seely unpack their article "The Ten Tests of Abraham and Sarah," uncovering how Abraham and Sarah emerge as models of covenant discipleship. The Seelys explore how these...
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Episode 140: You Are the God Who Sees Me (Amy Easton)
What if one of the most powerful testimonies of God's love in the scriptures comes from a woman whose story we often skip over? In this episode, BYU professor of ancient scripture Amy Easton discusses a compelling study of Hagar–the enslaved Egyptian woman who becomes the only person in the Old...
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Episode 139: Extending the Shelf Life of Faith (Jared Halverson)
Why do some people feel their shelf of unanswered questions eventually breaks? In this Y Religion episode, Professor Jared Halverson discusses his article "Broken Shelves or Continuing Revelation? Extending the Shelf Life of Faith" and reframes the idea of a faith shelf into three...
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Episode 138: Revelatory Reading–Learning and Teaching for Enduring Conversion (Phil Allred)
How can gospel teachers help students not only learn but experience revelation in the classroom? In this episode, we talk with professor of Church history and doctrine Phil Allred about his contribution to the article "Teaching That Leads to Enduring Conversion." Dr. Allred introduces the concept...
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Episode 137: A Modern Guide to an Old Testament (Joshua M. Sears)
How can the Old Testament feel relevant and approachable to us today? In this episode, Dr. Joshua M. Sears, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses his new book A Modern Guide to an Old Testament. Designed for everyday readers, this resource helps demystify the Old Testament by...
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Episode 136: Loving as Christ Taught–Using the Four Loves (Casey Griffiths)
In this episode, Church history and doctrine professor Casey Paul Griffiths discusses his book The Four Loves and the Latter-day Saints: The Nature of Love in All Facets of Our Lives. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's framework and restored gospel teachings, he explains the four forms of love—familial,...
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Episode 135: Recovering a Lost Woman in the New Testament: Lady Eclecte and 2 John (Lincoln Blumell)
What if the only letter in the New Testament addressed to a woman has been hiding in plain sight? As one of the shortest texts in the New Testament, Second John is often overlooked and dismissed as a condensed version of First John. Traditionally, its opening line has been read as addressed "to…
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Episode 134: "Thunder and Roar Out the Gospel"–The Brigham Young Journals (Gerrit Dirkmaat)
From the moment Brigham Young emerged from the waters of baptism in 1832, a fire burned within him to preach the restored gospel: "I wanted to thunder and roar out the Gospel to the nations. It burned in my bones like fire pent up…." That same passion drove him to keep detailed records of his...
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Episode 133: Wrestling with the Restoration–Learning to Think Slow So You Know How You Know What You Know (Steven C. Harper)
In a world obsessed with speed, what if the answers we need come only when we slow down and listen? In this episode, Professor Steven C. Harper invites us to pause, reflect deeply, and attune ourselves to the voice of God. Drawing from his book Wrestling with the Restoration: Why This Church...
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Episode 132: "Hosanna to Such Days to Come": The Adam-ondi-Ahman Revelation (Alex Baugh)
Shrouded in rumor and myth, the name of Adam-ondi-Ahman (mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 116) has sparked questions for two centuries. In this episode, Professor Alex Baugh clarifies what we know—and what we don't—about this location that holds great significance in both antiquity and early...
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Episode 131: Reconciling Our Expectations with God's Unfolding Plan (Derek Sainsbury)
How do we reconcile our expectations with God's unfolding plan? In this episode, Professor Derek Sainsbury explores the remarkable life of Nancy Naomi Tracy–a woman whose unwavering faith and bold defense of religious liberty and temple service helped shape the early Latter-day Saint experience....
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Episode 130: Are Latter-day Saints Prone to Perfectionism? (Justin Dyer)
Perfectionism in adolescence can be a heavy, even isolating, burden—shaped by social media, identity pressures, and the overwhelming number of choices youth face. Amid these challenges the Doctrine and Covenants offers a powerful reminder: "Remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight…
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Episode 129: Justification by Faith (Stephan Taeger)
How can educators help students stop fearing their sins and start trusting Christ? In this episode, Professor Stephan Taeger discusses his article "Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom." He explores how teaching justification by faith can transform our...
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Episode 11: Creating Relevance and Application (Susan Porter & Scott Esplin)
How do we help students take the gospel from the classroom and into their own lives? In this episode Sister Susan Porter and Dean of Religious Education Scott Esplin discuss ways teachers can help students take what they learn in class and apply it to their daily lives. Y Religion Presents…
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Episode 10: Teaching the One (Phil Allred & Camey Andersen)
How do we find meaningful ways to connect one-on-one with our students? Teaching the gospel means more than delivering lessons—it means ministering to individuals, just as Christ did. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, "We are to be our brother's keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by…
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Episode 9: Answering Difficult Questions (Jenet Erickson & Brian Mead)
How do we respond with grace when faced with questions that challenge our deepest beliefs? In this episode, Professors Jenet Erickson and Brian Mead offer valuable insights into how we can lean into and thoughtfully respond to difficult questions. They explore a variety of approaches that…
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Episode 8: Actively Engaging Learners (Tyler Griffin & Anthony Sweat)
What do we want learners to know, feel, and do with each lesson? In this episode professors Tyler Griffin and Anthony Sweat discuss strategies for incorporating active learning—ways to boost learning, motivation, and critical thinking by engaging participants in the educational process. By...
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Episode 7: Asking Good Questions (Jan Martin & Jared Halverson)
How can teachers transform their classrooms into collaborative learning spaces? In this episode professors Jan Martin and Jared Halverson discuss the power of guiding discussions with open-ended, scripture-anchored questions. Not only does this approach spark exploration, but it also invites...
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Episode 6: Amplifying Prophetic Voices (Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson)
How can prophetic voices shape our teaching? In this episode Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson explore how to teach with power by amplifying the words of prophets, seers, and revelators. They highlight how we can use the words of Church leaders to present key principles, explore…
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Episode 5: Teaching with the Scriptures (Gaye Strathearn & Joe Spencer)
The scriptures are our most powerful tools for teaching. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. explained that "[we] are to teach this Gospel using as [our] sources and authorities the Standard Works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days." In this...
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Episode 4: Teaching by the Spirit (Hank Smith & Ryan Sharp)
How does the Holy Ghost assist in our preparation and delivery of lessons? In this episode professors Hank Smith and Ryan Sharp demystify what it means to teach by the Spirit. They discuss ways to invite the Spirit to guide both teachers and learners. Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a...
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Episode 3: Organizing a Lesson (Mark L. Pace and Ken Alford)
The Lord has invited, "Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand" (Doctrine & Covenants...
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Episode 2: Knowing Your Audience (Emily Belle Freeman & Brad Wilcox)
How do you prepare and adjust a message to connect with those you are leading? What methods can teachers—from all backgrounds and experiences—use when preparing for different teaching moments? In this episode, sister Emily Belle Freeman and Professor Brad Wilcox discuss tips on knowing and...
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Episode 1: The Power of Teaching (Clark Gilbert & Chad Webb)
What makes powerful gospel teaching? What are the effective elements that any teacher— no matter their training, situation, or personality—can implement so that deepened faith and conversion can happen in the lives of learners? In this episode, brother Chad Webb and Elder Clark Gilbert highlight...
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Bonus Episode—Introducing "Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching" (John Hilton III and Casey Griffiths)
President Dallin H. Oaks has taught that "every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, or will be, a teacher. Each of us has a vital interest in the content and effectiveness of gospel teaching." How might we prepare ourselves to teach with clarity and the inspiration of…
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Episode 128: Following Prophets When We Have Questions (Travis Searle)
When some elders criticized the language of Joseph Smith's revelations in 1831, the Lord provided powerful truths in Doctrine and Covenants 67 to strengthen their faith—truths that remain vital for us today. In this podcast, Professor Searle outlines five key principles from the section that can...
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Episode 127: Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors (Shon Hopkin)
The John A. Widtsoe Foundation recently introduced the Understanding Our Neighbors series to "foster respect and interfaith dialogue." In this episode Professor Shon Hopkin, Department Chair of BYU Ancient Scripture, discusses the second book in this series Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors...
About this show
Each year, religion professors at Brigham Young University (BYU) produce hundreds of publications on subjects related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This podcast brings this research into one place to enlighten the everyday seeker of truth. Interviewing the author, we discuss why the study was done, why it matters, and why the professor chooses to be both a scholar, and a disciple. This is Y Religion.
Hosted by
BYU Religious Education
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