Face in Hat

‘Tis the season for a show about politics!  Join us as we look at political polarization in the 50s and 60s and trace its effects all the way forward to 2020. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 The Law of Consecration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_consecration The Un...

Ever heard of the baseball baptisms?  Missionary Work during David O’Mckay’s presidency has some swings!  Come for the crazy stories and stay for the embarrassing ones. We continue reading “David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism,” this time chapter 10, “Missionary Work”. Whence the Early Baptismal Challenges, by Angela C. https://bycommonconsent.com/2019/08/06/whence-the-early-baptismal-c...

During President McKay’s tenure, the church tripled its membership.  The reorganization of the church to handle this unprecedented growth was known as ‘correlation’.  How did this process affect the church, its quorums and auxiliaries? What were some of the side effects?  We again use David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism as a reference for today, focusing on chapter 7, “Correlation and...

Welcome to season 3!  We introduce our themes for the year, and after that take a deep dive on baptism. This year we’ll be focusing on change in the church, and how our expectations of true doctrine clash with the realities of a people-led church. Notes: “I’m coming to the conclusion that 1933 was the hinge upon which modern Mormonism pivoted: It was the year BH Roberts died and J Reuben Clark joi...

The second season of Face in Hat concluded with the previous episode regarding Christopher Columbus and Black Lives Matter.  We'll be starting our third season this fall with more episodes, continuing as part of the Dialogue podcasting network.   In the meantime, enjoy Eric’s lecture, "Triangulating God: Eighty-seven Angles on the First Vision."  In it, Eric approaches the question of "how to expl...

“Bioshock Infinite can make you feel uncomfortable.” - Kevin VanOrd.  So will 2020.  We talk about civic religion in the video game Bioshock Infinite and how it relates to the apotheosis of Christopher Columbus and racism in the church. We end with a discussion of the current nationwide protests and affirm that #BlackLivesMatter. We thank @BenjaminEPark for two twitter threads that inspired this e...

We love the Fall. Adam, Eve, fruit, the whole thing.  Today we talk about the LDS perspective on the Fall, including what LDS scriptures bring to understanding this monumental event. Nifty poetry too! A Harmony of the Creation Accounts, from the Pearl of Great Price Student Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-pearl-of-great-price-student-manual-2018/a-harmony-of-the-creatio...

We take a break from our LDS miscellany to discuss the current pandemic using the recent conference as a backdrop. Please note the upcoming world-wide fast on Good Friday. “We will conquer the coronavirus, apostle Holland says” https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/04/05/latest-sundays-lds/ April 2020 World Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSqT1bPmYb8 Mosiah 4:16-19 https://www.churchofjesusc...

Spoilers ahead!  We welcome David, a fellow Berkeley Wardian, as guest to the show today to talk about the final episode of the Good Place and its parallels with LDS views on redemption and exaltation The Good Place https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place Sacred time vs. profine time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_return_(Eliade) The Seven Deadly Heresies, by Bruce R. McConkie https://speeches.b...

He was lookin’ for a podcast to steal. He was in a bind, ‘cause he was way behind, but we wouldn’t accept him as a sponsor for this episode, so neener neener. Here’s some references! Gospel topics article https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/satan Wiki! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan Recency bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases LDS General Conf...

Doubt and skepticism is a recurring theme on Face in Hat. Today we look at President Uchtdorf’s 2013 talk, “Come, Join with Us”, which includes the now famous phrase “doubt your doubts.”  What does this mean and how do different people in the church interpret it? “Come, Join with Us”, by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct 2013 General Conference session https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/gen...

Mormons have interesting proscriptions. Some are more open to interpretation than others, and how they are interpreted has changed over our history. We look at the Word of Wisdom, rated R movies, and the Sabbath day as three examples. D&C 89: The Word of Wisdom https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89 Word of Wisdom gospel topic https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/st...

Albert Einstein, C. S. Lewis, Carl Sagan, Paul.  Talking about evolution, Adam and Eve, death, and the March of Progress takes us on quite the journey! Wiki on Mormon views on evolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_views_on_evolution Meanwhile, in Ohio… https://local12.com/news/local/ohio-house-passes-bill-allowing-student-answers-to-be-scientifically-wrong-due-to-religion Paul’s teaching...

How do LDS works get canonized?  Should the King Follet Discourse be scripture?  What about other teachings of Joseph Smith or more recent prophets?  Lots of references in the show notes for this one. Check them out! The King Follett Discourse http://mldb.byu.edu/follett.htm Mormon Literature Online Anthology Sampler, Selections from various genres and periods of Mormon Literature http://mldb.byu....

For the start of season 2, Aaron and Eric chat about the Millenium, signs of the second coming, transhumanism, and what % of the world is going to what % of hell in what % of a handbasket :) Gospel topics second coming/millennium https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/second-coming-of-jesus-christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/millennium 5 m...

What do mummies, papyrus, and a great fire have to do with modern scripture? Join us as we look at the broad meaning of the word translation and how it can be applied to Joseph Smith’s work and the Pearl of Great Price. Changes to the Lord’s Prayer https://www.ucatholic.com/news/pope-francis-approves-changes-to-lords-prayer-gloria-of-italian-missal/ Joseph Smith’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer...

Let’s talk about aliens! Our hosts discuss the Fermi paradox, Drake’s equation and SETI, and then cover how Mormon doctrines about many worlds relate to the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Wiki links! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_cosmology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_discourse Kurz...

Our hosts discuss the book “The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy,” by Carol Lynn Pearson. The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy: Haunting the Hearts and Heaven of Mormon Women and Men, by Carol Lynn Pearson: https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Eternal-Polygamy-Haunting-Hearts/dp/0997458208 Eric’s literary works: The Widower: https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V42N02_137.pdf The Pro...

The 2019 Association for Mormon Letters conference was excellent. Our hosts use some of the panels as a means to discuss Mormon literature in general, focusing on the work of Carol Lynn Pearson, and on the new church history book, Saints. Authors mentioned: Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and DJ Butler.  Favorite books by them: Mistborn: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mistborn Ender’s Game: ht...

Heavenly Mother is one of the most interesting Latter-Day Saint doctrines!  We don't know a lot, but what we do know is awesome. Enjoy! Oh My Father https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/o-my-father LDS topics, Mother in Heaven https://www.lds.org/topics/mother-in-heaven "A Mother There": A Survey of Historical Teachings about Mother in Heaven, by Author David L. Paulsen, Author Martin Pulido ht...

Do we have free will?  Is your neighbor a philosophical zombie?  Are we living in a simulation? Our hosts hit scriptures, sci fi, and neurobiology to discuss agency and determinism in religion and science. References https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-4-freedom-to-choose Arcadia from Tom Stoppard (mentioned in passing) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia_(play) JST as an anti-d...

Secret or sacred?  Taboo or simply uncomfortable?  Important or trivial? With the temple ceremony changes in the news lately, our hosts discuss why Mormons don’t go into the ceremony specifics, what kinds of venues are appropriate for difficult subjects, and when it’s appropriate to espouse the virtue of silence.  Also, awesome 80’s comics apparently helped change the church? First Presidency Stat...

Our hosts look at how money moves through the church and some of the fascinating history behind its finances. Church’s statement on its finances from 2018: https://www.lds.org/church/news/read-a-summary-of-the-financial-information-released-by-the-church Wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finances_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints LDS Inc article from By Common Consent: h...

Aaron and Eric introduce the podcast!  Our hosts discuss critical thinking and its application to LDS miscellany and they describe their Berkeley influences.  Also a magic card comes up, but it feels natural. Magic card! http://www.magicspoiler.com/mtg-spoiler/skewer-the-critics Wikipedia on critical thinking https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_thinking Eric’s reviews of the two books mentioned...

In which Aaron and Eric grapple with theodicy, aka the problem of evil given a benevolent God, as presented by Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal.  After going over some feedback from our pilot episode, we tackle theodicy and how it relates to DNA replication, Euclidean geometry and evolution. SMBC comic on which the episode is based, by Zach Weinersmith: https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2011-06-3...