LDS podcasts

There are many faithful LDS podcasts out there.  I’ll list a few:

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1)  Laura Hales is a great host at LDS Perspectives.  She regularly introduces extremely faithful and authoritative guests on a huge range of topics:

List of Episodes

A recent LDS Perspectives podcast:

Episode 103: The Need for Historicity of the Book of Mormon with Stephen Smoot

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2)  FAIR Mormon has been producing podcasts and other materials for many, many years.

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3)  The Maxwell Institute is very scholarly, and produces another great podcast.

The current MI podcast:  #89–‘Sister Saints,” with Colleen McDannell 

4) Gospel Tangents is a very active and informative YouTube channel.

From the “About” section on their YouTube channel:

Here at Gospel Tangents, we explore Mormon History, Science, and Theology. We don’t shy away from anything: polygamy, the racial ban, Mountain Meadows Massacre, the Mark Hoffman bombings, Masonry, DNA & the Book of Mormon, multiple First Vision accounts. It’s all fair game. If you want us to talk about something, please let us know!

We welcome all flavors of Mormons: active, inactive, former Mormons, the Community of Christ–anyone who has an interest in the restoration of the gospel that Joseph Smith restored in 1830. We want a 360 degree view of Mormonism. Of course we’ll talk to LDS Scholars, Brian Hales, Paul Reeve, Mark Staker, and Ugo Perego but we’ll also talk to people like Lach MacKay, an apostle for the Community of Christ, Jim Vun Cannon, a counselor in the First Presidency of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Anne Wilde, David Rosenvall who has an unusual geography theory. Please subscribe and tell us what you’d like to learn more about!

5.  Exploring Mormon Thought by Blake Ostler.   Blake is a SLC attorney who has long engaged in philosophy and religion.

Extremely bright thinker and wonderful human being.

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6)  The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MST) on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

Call in to 801-254-1640 with your questions and comments during the live show.

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7)  Van Hale has been defending the Church for over 30 years on his radio program Mormon Miscellaneous.

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Faith Crisis Prevention and Testimony

Wonderful story with lots of wisdom.  Dan Conway in the UK shares his experiences:

 

The first non-Mormon speaker at a FAIR conference:

“Seeing the Light: Parallels in Mormon Conversion and De-Conversions Stories – Rosemary Avance”

 

Thoughts about anti-Mormon approaches by Martin Tanner:

Michael Ash discusses what is and what is not an anti-Mormon:

Michael Ash discusses the different impact of anti-Mormon arguments on various people:

Preparation and prevention is important.  Some problems in life are unavoidable.  But some are preventable.

According to this blogger, consider reviewing 15 books before (not after) having a faith crisis. Probably everyone reading this has a friend or family struggling with these issues. Many with the Church’s position on LGBT issues.

I personally wouldn’t buy all 15 books. Mostly because I’m frugal. But I would suggest watching lots of free YouTube videos on these same topics.

 

I own 1-3 and #7 from the linked list. I think book #3 will give you the quickest snapshot of the major issues. In-context answers are provided by the LDS-faithful authorities in that field.

#7 is huge cuz it defends the Book of Mormon witnesses. Critics always seize on 4-6 people:  very angry ex-Mormons or other critics with axes to grind.   All the witnesses stayed true to their testimony and themselves gave 200+ first-hand accounts.

I wrote another blog on Same-Sex Attraction here.

All of the 15 books listed have authors I’ve watched on YouTube (for free) on their topics.  The book list points to the most controversial topics.  Virtually all of the controversies dissolve away, once you see all the context.

I’ve long wondered what would have happened to a few people I know (now inactive atheist/agnostics) if they had studied these issues in a faithful way before their crisis. I imagine crisis would have been averted…

 

Great resources:

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FAIR MORMON is a great place to go for content.   LDS scholars provide insight on topics from blacks to polygamy and everything in between.

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I think getting good information is key. The LDS Perspectives Podcast is a wonderful and effective way to do that.

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LDS Truth Claims YouTube channel is another wonderful source for faithful content.  Brett McDonald does a great job!

Blake Ostler

Blake Ostler is another awesome source.  You can read his book or listen to his podcasts here.

Blake further discusses the topic of testimony: spiritual experiences as the basis for belief and commitment.

 

Is a testimony based purely on feelings?  Nope.

Michael Ash discusses faith and doubt:

More from Michael Ash:

Cognitive dissonance:

David Ostler shares his insight:

YouTube Channel: LDS Truth Claims

I’ve watched 100s, probably 1000s of hours, of YouTube videos during the last 3-4 years.  Some of my favorites involve John Lennox, William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, Richard Bushman, and the many past speakers at FAIR Mormon conferences (click here).  This bright LDS guy has created a YouTube channel onto which he uploads hours and hours of videos, defending the LDS church against all the contemporary critical claims.

I just found this guy’s videos 3-4 days ago.   You can search on YouTube by searching for “LDS Truth Claims”.  He also posts his presentations on Sway (click here).  After watching #1 last night it looks like he meets in his LDS chapel somewhere in greater Seattle on Tuesday evenings.  This Seattle-area Latter-day Saint is well prepared and extremely organized.

I believe in having faith.  I also believe in supporting faith with understanding.   Many who don’t believe in our faith (especially many who have left) will often distort our positions and history.  You might as well get to know your church, its teachings, and history better.