139: A Beautiful Vision of Mormonism
This episode was planned to be an exploration of the joys and perils of being a public face of Mormonism, especially as a woman, and in particular as women who write and speak about Mormon theology. What it ended up being is a rich, wise, affectionate, celebratory, pragmatic exploration of LDS theology, community life, and connections with ideas and people that truly are among the lovely and of good report in wider religious discourse. Using the jumping off point of Fiona and Terryl Givens’ new book, The God Who Weeps: How Mormons Make Sense of Life, Fiona Givens, Joanna Brooks, Jana Riess, and Mormon Matters host Dan Wotherspoon go deep, laugh, commiserate, but mostly celebrate the depth and richness of the Mormon vision of God, life, purposes, and possibilities.
We know you will love listening in. Tell us how much—and, okay, where we missed something—in the comments section below!
139: A Beautiful Vision of Mormonism [ 1:24:35 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadTags: Divine Nature, God, LDS, mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Pre-mortality, spirituality, theology, Universal salvation, Zion
Subscribe to Podcast
How to Support
This is so wonderful! Thanks Dan for putting together this all star cast. Fiona thank you for your wonderful book!
Hi Guys. Just finished the podcast. So beautiful. And inspiring. I’m midway through the book. I love it. And I think I have a Mormon crush on Fiona (I already have one on Jana and Joanna—sorry Dan).
This idea of God sending the best minds during the apostasy stood out to me. Aren’t these the same minds that shaped Christianity in ways that makes Catholic theology distinct from Mormon theology?
Great discussion! This is what every Relief Society should sound like and feel like. Bravo! And I hope we will be hearing a lot more from Fiona, she is like a breath of fresh air. I’m on my way to buy her book now.
“History is the unfolding of a revelation.” Brilliant.
This is one of the most wonderful, inspiring, and inspired things I have ever heard.
I would that all of the Lord’s people were prophets indeed! These are three of my personal favorites. Dan, is there any way we can get every single Mormon everywhere to listen to this podcast?
I guess I will just have to keep talking up Mormon Matters!
This is one of my favorite podcasts so far. Makes me feel optimistic about Mormonism, optimistic about how I want to engage in my Mormonism and optimistic about Deseret Book *grin*.
Just when I think I can’t put up with things any longer (My disaffected wife and I just finished discussing this past General Conference…) something like this comes up. Thank you all for your strength and intellect! I’m really glad we have folks like you around to balance what sometimes seems unbalanceable!
Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant! I feel so encouraged when I hear these types of discussions. It makes me want to take greater ownership of my religion and faith. Sometimes it is good to be reminded that I am just as capable of understanding and interpreting the scriptures for my life as anyone else. THIS type of discussion makes me a better disciple of Christ! Thanks Dan for a great discussion and thank you Fiona for writing such a beautiful book!
I am dying to hear Fiona talk about the Divine Feminine in the Old Testament. Her syllabus and sources, how she incorporates the information with correlated material. I would LOVE (x20) to hear more about this.
Re: Should we speak up? I taught EQ for several years and gave what I thought were insightful and provocative lessons. In fact, several quorum members would only come to class when I was the teacher. I received lots of thanks and comments for my views. During one lesson a student said “that is not inspirational, we should not talk about that.” I was shocked. It hit me for the first time in 46 years in the church (Including a mission and 5 years @ BYU!) that there are many people who do not come to church to have interesting discussions–they come to parrot back the answers they find comforting. For every person who really enjoyed my lessons, there were probably three sitting there rolling their eyes! It was a rather disheartening realization. I was released shortly thereafter and now lead the music in Primary! In Primary, the kids always enjoy my insights!
Wow thank you for the post.
Pingback: A Book Review - The God Who Weeps: How Mormonism Makes Sense of Life - Rational Faiths
I just finished this beautiful, thoughtful, and rich podcast and immediately started it over again! Can’t get enough. I could listen to Fiona all.day.long! Joanna, and Jana, what a incredible team of women you are, all in one discussion! This podcast will be a reference point for me that I know I will visit again and again when everything around me seems a little gray. So uplifting and full of beautiful hope! Thank you ladies, and my dear friend Dan for all of you positive and loving thoughts! May you each know life’s blessings and beauty for all that you share with so many! So.much.gratitude!
I hate to rain on everyone’s parade but I find Joanna Brooks to be incredibly elitist and condescending towards the unwashed masses of ignorant Mormons that she so valiantly endures. I suppose I should feel greatly blessed that she deigns to share her vast, modern understanding about what Mormonism really means. And don’t we all wish that “The Brethren” would hurry and catch up with her true understanding of God and recognize her preeminence.