Latter-day Faith

This episode and the next one features the third and fourth discussions on the topic of Evil by a panel that features Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon and the wonderful and brilliant Kathryn Sonntag and Danny Kofoed. Part 3: The focus in this section is turning back to the scriptures, Jesus's time, the language he spoke, and the agrarian society he taught to open ourselves up to new definitio...

This episode features the second of a four-part discussion on the topic of Evil. In it, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon is joined by the wonderful Kathryn Sontag and Danny Kofoed to talk about several topic areas in regard to evil. The first two parts are being released the week of June 7th, with Parts 3 and 4 the following week. Part 1: The focus is the nature of evil itself. Is it somethin...

This episode features the first of a four-part discussion on the topic of Evil. In it, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon is joined by the wonderful Kathryn Sontag and Danny Kofoed to talk about several topic areas in regard to evil. The first two parts are being released the week of June 7th, with Parts 3 and 4 the following week. Part 1: The focus is the nature of evil itself. Is it something...

Last week's killing of George Floyd has affected all of our lives. For those who have decided to tune in deeply, we understand that his slaying by the knee of a warped and indifferent police officer is just one of hundreds of similar incidents, such as the police slaying of Breonna Taylor while she laid in bed in her own apartment, and of the long-delayed justice (only know starting its wheels) fo...

This episode features a discussion between LDF host Dan Wotherspoon and the wise and engaging Lyndsay Pulsipher . In it, they talk about Lyndsay's upbringing and fascinating background that features life in different locales with experiences and insights gained from each, a blending of two sets of children into one family, along with Lyndsay's career and general sense of the world. They then focus...

This episode features the magnificent poet, playwright, author and "wise woman elder" of Mormonism, Carol Lynn Pearson !  It's always a pleasure to be exposed to her writing and thinking and hard-won insights about life, God, core values, and so much more. Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon took the opportunity provided by the recent release of her new children's book (that has incredible messa...

Four years ago, Danny Kofoed made discoveries in the Book of Mormon that have radically changed his views about it. As he re-read the book from cover to cover in preparation for lessons he would teach in Gospel Doctrine class, he found in there much greater richness, especially with regard to what it says about God and the type of relationship God is calling us to, than he had ever imagined. In th...

Four years ago, Danny Kofoed made discoveries in the Book of Mormon that have radically changed his views about it. As he re-read the book from cover to cover in preparation for lessons he would teach in Gospel Doctrine class, he found in there much greater richness, especially with regard to what it says about God and the type of relationship God is calling us to, than he had ever imagined. In th...

The title of this episode plays of the name of a new and wonderful podcast, A t Last She Said It , co-hosted by Susan Hinckley and Cynthia Winward and produced with help from their wonderful friend Jeralee Renshaw . In it, Susan and Cynthia join LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about women's experiences in the church and how they are often so very different from those of men. It is a terrific disc...

By titling this episode, "Living Atonement," LDF host Dan Wotherspoon signals that the discussion herein focuses on the Atonement as a process rather than an event, and how "at-one-ment" is a life stance for transformation rather than a name for something Jesus performed/did/completed that we somehow "take advantage of" should we "qualify" for its benefits. The very thoughtful Bob Sonntag  joins D...

This episode focuses on one person's journey though Mormonism that formed for him a wonderful foundation from which he learned to explore more deeply not only into its teachings but also those of eastern spirituality, especially through Hinduism and Kriya Yoga. It is designed to invite listeners into it as a way to discover touchstones and spiritual shifts that likely resonate with their own journ...

It is easy to say we "belong" to a group, even a church or a religious tradition, but what does that really mean? How many times have we said or thought to ourselves, "Sure, I belong," but yet we've still kept one foot pointing toward the door in case this belonging thing starts getting really difficult? In this Latter-day Faith podcast episode, host Dan Wotherspoon welcomes his longtime friend Ja...

In this second part of the discussion of prayer and additional types of prayer practices, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon along with JoDee Baird , Julie Keanaaina , and Marianne Pond . Featured in this episode is introducing the practice of "centering prayer" and discussing its various elements. The panel introduces other wonderful stances that are especially helpful in spiritual lives, espe...

The practice of prayer is fundamental in most of the world's faith traditions. And yet within most of these faiths, one finds that there are many forms this practice can take. Mormonism, still less than 200 years old, hasn't yet developed names and clear ways of referencing types of prayers and stances before God that are contained in its scriptures and other texts that have emerged from it. We be...

It's LDS General Conference week, and in this episode Ian Thomson and Stephanie Dix join Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon in discussing the ways each of them prepare for it. As God- and Church-wrestlers, these semi-annual gatherings (and this time virtually only!) sometimes are greeted with less-than-enthusiastic attitudes, perhaps fear of the possibility of hurtful or tone-deaf messages, per...

In this episode, Latter-day Saint historian Ron Barney joins LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about the actual historical records related to Joseph Smith's "First Vision." And the documents show that how we generally talk about this event now is far from how it was seen and spoken and written about in the early days of the church, and by Smith himself. Today's assumptions about a clean history of...

In this really insightful episode, LDF host Dan Wotherspoon turns loose his wonderful guest, Jordan Harmon , a Latter-day Saint therapist who brings a wide variety of insights to his work with clients and who has developed specialties in therapeutic practices based on behavioral science. What's especially interesting is Jordan's journey that began with a very low opinion of behavioral therapies fo...

Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon is joined by his two Faith Journey Foundation partners, Mark Crego and Susan Hinckley , for this episode reflecting on the times we are now facing vis a vis covid-19/coronavirus. We are all very likely undergoing big shifts in our daily routines, as well as being hindered in various plans for travel, certain kinds of recreation, and dealing with shut down scho...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has recently released policies (and made policy reversals) regarding LGBTQ+ persons that have brought on protests, with activists staging events on the Brigham Young University campus, near the Church Office Building in downtown Salt Lake City, as well as across from the LDS temple in New York City. And there are no signs that these gatherings and ex...

In this terrific episode, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon brings on his good friend and a Jungian analyst, Christine Chao , to talk about the psychological insights of Carl Jung and, especially, how they relate to good mental, social, and spiritual health. In their conversation, Christine introduces us to Jungian terms and ideas, many of which we likely already heard of yet don't really unde...

In this terrific episode, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon is joined by Dr. Lisa Tensmeyer Hansen , a psycho-therapist and longtime friend, to talk about the nuts and bolts of our brains, our conscious and subconscious minds, our theological notions about God and the meaning of our lives, and the overlay of spirituality upon it all (or is it the underpinning of it?). Lisa takes us into the br...

In this episode (Part 2 of 2), we continue our discussion of the divine feminine with panelists Kristen Rogers-Iversen , Kathryn Knight Sonntag , and Brittney Lowe Hartley . Whereas the first segment featured each participant's search for and journey with the feminine divine, as well wide-ranging conversations about goddesses in faith traditions besides Mormonism, various other female deities or a...

Goddess figures have abounded world wide and at every stage in history. Many are tied to creative and generative powers, Wisdom, accessibility, Presence, and more. In all cultures, the prominence of Mother or the Goddess waxes and wanes depending on group needs, and especially when authoritative, declarative, military, masculine powers take the fore. Yet, even during these times, each culture feat...

In this episode, the brilliant Stephen Carter joins with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about two types of stories that don't easily play well with each other, yet are both very much needed. How might we learn to hold these in a healthy tension? Stephen's doctorate is in narrative studies and he is always on the look out to notice the types of stories that capture imaginations and direct lives....

After listening to last week's podcast on the Book of Mormon, longtime Latter-day Faith collaborator Mark Crego suggested we record a follow up that deals more directly with how to engage with the book within our own hearts (including the things in the text that trigger us!) and communities. If it is the "word of God" and most folks take that concept to mean that practically everything in the book...