Things I Wish I Could Say in Sunday School

Topics: 1) David and Goliath; 2) Jonathan; 3) Abigail; and 4) Michal. The host critiques David's emphasis on Goliath as an "uncircumcised Philistine," explores the deep bond between Jonathan and David, reads Abigail's actions as pragmatic survival rather than idealized virtue, and examines Michal's fractured marriage with David and his dismissive response. The episode invites thoughtful discussion...

Topics: 1) The beginning of kings; 2) "To obey is better than sacrifice;" and 3) "The Lord looketh on the heart." We’re heading into the saga of Saul and David. Samuel’s sons prove unfit, the people demand a king, and God grants their request though He feels rejected. Saul is chosen, wins early victories, but power goes to his head. He disobeys God in the campaign against the Amalekites, keeping s...

Topics: 1) Ruth and 2) Hannah and Eli. This is Things I Wish I Could Say in Sunday School. I share honest thoughts and ideas that differ from usual teachings, aiming to spark discussion with friends, family, or classes. Please enjoy. Lesson for June 1–7 covering Ruth and 1 Samuel 1–7: reflections on Ruth and Naomi’s story and the limits of blind loyalty, plus Hannah and Eli’s story emphasizing par...

Topics: 1) Deborah; 2) Gideon; and 3) Samson. This episode explores Judges with a candid, non-traditional take on Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. It questions traditional authority structures, highlights Deborah's leadership as both judge and prophetess, examines Gideon's refusal of kingship and its consequences, and reads Samson's story as a tragic escalation of violence and pressure rather than a s...

Topics: 1) Puzzle pieces; 2) Rahab and the fall of Jericho; and 3) Choose you this day. This episode examines the book of Joshua, focusing on a critique of the “puzzle piece” scripture analogy, Rahab and the fall of Jericho, and Joshua’s call to “choose you this day.” We reflect on Rahab’s dignity and lineage, question purity narratives, and urge listeners to choose consistent kindness over instit...

Topic: Moses working for a future he’ll never see. This episode reflects on Moses spending his life leading the Israelites toward a promised land he would never enter, and how that example inspires choosing a modest present to secure a freer future for our children. Sharing practical priorities—financial saving, health, relationships, and teaching resilience—and explains how those choices create l...

Topics: 1) Manna and Quail; 2) Moses was the most meek; 3) The Brazen serpent; and 4) Balaam.   Includes a personal, humorous story about manna, reflections on gratitude and leadership, and an invitation to spark honest discussions with friends and family.

Topics: 1) The Tabernacle; 2) Animal sacrifice; and 3) Leviticus. This episode focuses on the Tabernacle, animal sacrifice, and the laws in Leviticus. We question priestly barriers to God, the necessity of blood or other rituals for forgiveness from sin, and the origins of temple practices. With candid reflection, the episode critiques religious hypocrisy, highlights Leviticus' calls to care for t...

Topics: 1) Honor thy father and thy mother; and 2) Idol worship. This episode offers an honest, questioning look at the Ten Commandments — especially "honor thy father and thy mother" — and the Golden Calf and idol worship. We critique how the parent-honoring commandment can be harmful when parents are abusive or unworthy, and explore why people create idols, offering a sympathetic reading of the...

Topics: 1) Hard and soft hearts; 2) God's miracles; 3) Strict rules; and 4) Symbols. This is things I wish I could say in Sunday School. I share honest, critical reflections on Exodus 7–18 (lessons for April 6–19), exploring hard and soft hearts, supposed miracles, strict religious rules, and the power of symbols. I question literal readings of the plagues and the parting of the sea, examine how s...

Topic: How much does God control us and what happens to us? This episode explores the beginning of Moses' story (Exodus 1–6) and questions how much God controls our lives. We discuss the view that God may be powerful but not constantly intervening, arguing for human agency and thoughtful independence from institutional dependence. This episode challenges common interpretations that present believe...

Topics: 1) Joseph’s brothers betray him; 2) Potiphar’s wife; 3) The Lord was with him; and 4) Joseph reconciles with his family. We critique parental favoritism, toxic group dynamics, and prosperity gospel readings of the story. We highlight how abuse of power and victim consequences are too often overlooked, and emphasize that reconciliation is a personal choice that requires work and boundaries.

Topics: 1) Covenant marriage; 2) Dishonest leadership; and 3) Complicated family relationships. A candid episode covering Genesis 24–33 that questions how church lessons frame covenant marriage, calling out awkward examples like incestuous unions and subtle anti–race-mixing vibes, and noting a shift toward the term "covenant marriage." It examines dishonest leadership through Laban’s repeated betr...

Topics: 1) The Abrahamic Covenant;  2) Unfulfilled desires; and 3) Sacrificing Isaac. This episode offers a candid, critical reading of Genesis 12–23 and Abraham chapters 1–2, focusing on the Abrahamic covenant, Abraham and Sarah's struggle with infertility, and the near-sacrifice of Isaac. We challenge the covenant’s modern application and elitist implications, highlight the mistreatment of Hagar...

Topics: 1) The flood as a baptism for the Earth; 2) The feasibility of the flood and the ark; 3) The flood was mercy?; and 4) Prophets then and now. We discuss the idea of the flood as a baptism for the earth, practical doubts about the ark and a global flood, arguments that the flood was an act of mercy, and a critique of how ancient prophets compare to modern church leaders. The goal is to encou...

Topics: 1) Enoch and the Gulf of Mexico; 2) What Joseph Smith might have been thinking; and 3) Zion. A candid episode exploring Genesis 5 and Moses 6–7 with a fresh look at Enoch, the claim that Zion became the Gulf of Mexico, and how Joseph Smith may have drawn on utopian and transcendental ideas. We reflect on what Zion means, contrasting conformity with expanding belonging, while considering we...

Topics: 1) The Fall was a choice; 2) Adam presiding; 3) Nudity; and 4) Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Topics: 1) Unique Creation doctrine; 2) Male and female; and 3) Adam and Eve's marriage. We discuss Brigham Young's Adam-God doctrine, how the church came to teach that Jesus was Jehovah, sexism in the creation story, and some alternative perspectives on marriage with Adam and Eve.

Topics: 1) The Books of Moses and Abraham; and 2) The preexistence. This episode examines the Book of Moses and the Book of Abraham, how Joseph Smith produced these texts, and the historical questions around the so‑called translation of Egyptian papyri. It also explores the doctrine of the pre‑existence, personal doubts about chosenness and favoring among spirit children, and a candid reflection o...

This episode introduces the Old Testament year with a candid, non‑promotional take on scripture and teaching. We look forward to learning from classic stories (David and Goliath, Noah, Ruth, Daniel) and approach learning from ancient texts rather than twisting the text to fit modern theology.

This episode of "Things I Wish I Could Say in Sunday School" gives a candid overview of difficult moments in LDS history: the 1978 revelation extending the priesthood to Black members, failure to share historical teachings about polygamy and race to new converts, and the 1995 Family Proclamation. It calls for informed consent for converts, criticizes lingering racist ideas and weak institutional a...

Topics: 1) Joseph Smith's presidential campaign; 2) Joseph Smith's death; and 3) The succession crisis of the church. We discuss some lesser known aspects of LDS Church history including Joseph Smith's 1844 U.S. presidential campaign, the real circumstances surround his murder in June 1844, and the controversies involved in the leadership of his church after Joseph Smith's death.

Topics: 1) My understanding of polygamy when I was young; 2) Misconceptions about polygamy; 3) The story of polygamy the church tries to sell now; 4) The real story of Joseph Smith’s polygamy; 5) Polygamy after Joseph Smith's death; 6) The legacy of polygamy; and 7) My thoughts about Joseph Smith and polygamy. Links: Year of Polygamy podcast https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/ https://podcasts.apple.c...

Topics: 1) Angel handshakes; 2) Bodies of God and the Holy Ghost; 3) Intelligence in the afterlife; 4) Blessings are NOT predicated; and 5) Beliefs about government. This episode examines Doctrine and Covenants sections 129–134. Topics include identifying angels, the nature of God and the Holy Ghost, eternal intelligence and growth, the claim that blessings are tied to obedience, and beliefs about...

Topics: 1) Nauvoo; 2) Patriarchal blessings; 3) Relief Society; 4) Baptisms for the dead; and 5) Joseph Smith and Masons. We discuss the Nauvoo settlement, patriarchal blessings, the origins and role of the Relief Society, baptisms for the dead, and Joseph Smith's ties to Freemasonry, aiming for honest reflection. Designed to spark conversation with friends, family, or classes, this episode blends...