Gospel Chats

The scriptures clearly emphasize our need for “a mighty change of heart,” but they also highlight the Savior’s power to grant us “a mighty change of mind.” In this episode we explore the concept of developing the mind of Christ; what that means, how we do it, and what changes when we do. 

Throughout scripture Jesus is referred to as “The Lord of Hosts”. In this episode we chat about heavenly hosts, mortal hosts, becoming one of His soldiers, and more. 

Jesus said He was The Truth. In this episode we wrestle with the concept of Truth being a Person not a thing or idea. What changes when we view Truth as something dynamic that loves, adapts and understands? 

In John 10, Jesus describes Himself as both the Good Shepherd and The Door. In this episode we chat about both of those titles, how they are two sides of the same coin, and how understanding Jesus as “The Door” can strengthen our faith. 

One of the titles of Jesus Christ is “the rock”, but the scriptures actually describe Him as several different types of rock. In this episode we probe four of the rocks and what they can teach us about His Atonement and how we come unto Him. 

It wouldn’t be hard to think that the church is meant for extroverts, and that introverts need to change, but that would be a huge mistake. In this episode we chat about making space for all personalities and focusing more on Christ-like character as the goal. 

Those who believe in the Restoration of the Gospel boldly claim that God’s Priesthood has been restored to the earth, but are we accessing the power of that priesthood enough? In this episode we chat about relying too little and too much on priesthood blessings, the role of faith, and importance of understanding God’s will. 

The history of the temple garment is fascinating, the promises connected to the garment are breathtaking, and the lack of understanding surrounding this topic is real. In this episode we explore some of the reasons to love and honor the Garment of the Holy Priesthood. 

A choice to ignore the counsel of older people led to the separation of the House of Israel. In this episode we chat about the wisdom that can come with age, the benefits of having mentors with experience, and how we can better bridge spiritual generation gaps. 

Two hundred years of history and thousands of lives were affected by something called “the sin of Jeroboam.” At the heart of that sin was a group of people who chose convenience over consecration. In this episode we explore the consequences and blessings of that choice. 

Belonging is a beautiful thing, but in some ways we were never meant to belong in this fallen world. In this chat we wrestle with the scriptural concept of “pilgrims” and their journey not to belong. 

Inspired teachers do some things before, during, and after class that can make a huge difference. We continue to share a few principles that have profoundly affected our teaching. 

People want to feel inspired and motivated in gospel classrooms, so how do we teach in a way that is real, powerful, and relevant? That’s our wrestle in this episode. 

For our 100th episode we wanted to talk about 100 different sheep. We wrestle with who the real Shepherd is, the Lord’s awareness of the 99 and the one, and how we really gather other sheep. 

How does the Jesus we read about in scripture become, as Nephi once wrote, “my Jesus”? In this episode we chat about bridging the gap between believing in Jesus Christ and really having an intimate connection to Him. 

Understanding the doctrine of the Light of Christ can and should change us. This universal influence gives life, light and law to the universe. 

The is a difference between worthiness and godliness. In this episode we chat about the danger in thinking some sins are not a big deal, and how we can more fully in live in a way where we deeply need Jesus Christ. 

Discomfort can feel like anything but a gift; but the Lord seems to do some of His best work in our discomfort. So how do we embrace the idea of discomfort in a humble and positive way? 

In this episode we discuss the gift of discernment and how it helps us detect hidden evil and hidden good within others and within ourselves. 

Words matter…a lot! In this episode we wrestle with the topics of vulgarity, gossip, and the spiritual gift of speaking with the tongue of angels. 

Must of us know that charity is extremely important, but struggle to show “the pure love of Christ” in all that we do. In this episode we explore charity as love we feel FROM Christ, love we develop FOR Christ, and then a gift we receive to love others LIKE Christ. When charity flows in that order everything starts to change. 

In this episode we wrestle with a question from the parable of the ten virgins: Do we know both “the bride” (Christ’s church) and “the bridegroom” (Jesus Christ)? Coming to know the Savior seems to be the major point of the parable, and the Church is meant to serve that purpose. 

Revelation is beautiful, and, revelation can be tricky. In this episode we chat about deceptive spirits, emotions being mistaken as revelation, and overinterpreting promptings. If we’ll ask the right questions, we can find our way through these pitfalls and into God’s light. 

In a fast-paced world, and in a Church that wants to help “hasten the work,” it’s hard to slow down, be still and rest. But in this episode we chat about the divine principle of rest and how it can enhance our ability to connect with God. 

The Liahona was a miraculous tool God used to guide, bless, and teach Lehi’s family. In this episode we chat about how we could more fully use a Patriarchal Blessing just like the Liahona to receive guidance, confidence, and understanding throughout our entire lives. 

Because God loves us, He asks us to let go of things, and some of those things are not necessarily sins. In this episode we chat about the souvenirs from hell, reality, joy, and really coming to know God. 

Elder Uchtdorf said that “faith is our loyalty to Jesus Christ”. In this episode we lean into that definition more fully to try and discover what changes when faith is about faithfulness and loyalty not just beliefs. 

There is so much going on in Abraham and Sarah’s story that we could almost miss the messy and beautiful story of Hagar. In this episode we chat about a woman who is broken, covenants available to all, and The God Who Sees

Restoration scripture like the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon add so much to our understanding of the Spirit World, yet, there is still so much we don’t know. In this episode we wrestle with what we know, what we don’t know, and how the Spirit World testifies of God’s perfect, relentless love. 

Throughout scripture we encounter references to God’s wrath and anger. In this episode we wrestle with questions about the meaning of “righteous anger” and how it applies to both God and us. 

Is temptation a bad thing? How should I feel about being tempted? What can a perfect Savior teach me about temptation? Could temptation be a catalyst to turn me to Christ? These were some of our questions in this episode about temptation and fire. 

The spiritual and emotional wounds we experience in mortality can be filled with bitterness and anger or healed by the balm of Christ’s grace. In this episode we try to better understand the healing and compensating grace of Jesus Christ. 

So many of our struggles in life come in the form of weakness—not sin—but the limitations and frustrations that come with being mortal. In this episode we explore the strengthening and enabling grace of Jesus Christ, and how to better access it day by day. 

The justifying grace of Jesus Christ saves us from sin, and His sanctifying grace can then purify us of sinfulness. The Savior doesn’t just want to SAVE us, He also wants to CHANGE us. To access this dimension of grace we need “to offer our whole souls” piece by piece. 

This is the first episode in a four-part series on the Grace of Jesus Christ. We start with justifying grace which allows us to be clean, forgiven, worthy, and perfect IN Christ every single day IF make and remain in the baptismal covenant. 

It’s easy to feel like we are failing at school, at work, in callings, in our families, etc. In this episode we chat about the gift that failure can be if we view it through the perspective of God’s Fabulous Plan. Maybe we’re not failing and falling, we’re just learning and progressing. 

More than ever, traditional Christians are asking members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints whether they believe Jesus is God. In this episode we give the scriptural answer to that question and discuss how important it is that we both believe and understand the answer. 

In this chat we wrestle with two complimentary truths; 1. God wants us to experience divine discontent AND 2. God wants us to experience a perfect brightness of hope. How do we hold these two truths together, what happens when we only focus on one, and what does it feel like live in the middle of both? 

Sometimes we get this picture in our heads that God lives in a constant state of happiness and doesn’t experience any pain, grief, or sadness. In this episode we explore what we know doctrinally about God’s range of emotions and what it can teach us about Him and ourselves. 

In this episode we address questions like: Why do some scriptures classify coveting as a sin, while others urge us to covet? What does coveting look like in our lives? How does obeying the tenth commandment keep us safe from hurting ourselves? 

The eighth and ninth commandments seem to be linked together by the principle of honesty. In this episode we chat about the slippery, satanic slope of selfish dishonesty, and the higher, holier journey to loving truth the way God loves it. 

In this episode we chat about the consequences of adultery, the protection of the Law of Chastity, cleaving to our spouses and none else, being fiercely loyal, and much more. 

In this episode we dive into the sixth commandment including the difference between murder and killing, the Savior’s teaching about avoiding anger, cherishing life, abortion, and more.

What does it mean to “honor” our father and mother? What if parents aren’t living worthy of honor? And how does this 5th commandment connect with the larger vision of eternal families and Eternal Life? These are a few of the questions we wrestle with in this episode. 

In this chat we share thoughts about the Creation, the Passover, and Christ’s Atonement, and how each of those events are connected to the Sabbath Day. We also wrestle with how to really make the Sabbath a delight in our lives. 

How we take the Lord’s name on our lips matters, and “taking His name” entails much more than words. In today’s chat we wrestle with the concepts of profanity, shallow covenant making, and irreverent “discipleship”—all things connected to the third commandment. 

The first commandment seems to be first for a reason. In this episode we wrestle with the God’s purpose for the first and second commandments, how we can keep them today, and what happens in our lives when we do. 

What are our beliefs regarding the symbol of the cross? And could  certain feelings about the symbol of the cross keep us away from a deeper and fuller appreciation of Jesus Christ’s Atonement? These are some of the questions we wrestle with in this episode. 

What is appropriate when it comes to physical intimacy in a dating relationship? In this episode we chat about that, the doctrine of the soul, connections between physical and emotional intimacy, and a lot more. 

The Sacrament can be, and should be, such a sacred ritual in our lives. In this chat we probe scriptural insights and prophetic teachings that can increase the power of the Lord’s Supper in our lives. 

Most people have heard the parable of the wheat and the tares but is there more there than we think? In this episode, we chat about God’s reasons for leaving the tares and what that might mean for us collectively and individually. 

Peacemaking seems to mean more than merely avoiding contention. In this episode we chat about our natural tendency to choose either “fight or flight” when we encounter conflict, and a pattern of choosing a morally creative third option instead. 

The Savior and church leaders have warned about foolishness, but why? Is foolishness really a big deal? In this chat we wrestle with what foolishness means, what it looks like, why it’s an important topic, and how to gain the gift of true wisdom. 

We can run into some serious issues when we confuse our worth with our worthiness. In this chat we try to define both worth and worthiness, how they’re different, and how we can understand both in more hopeful ways. 

*This is a repost because this episode got deleted by accident*

D&C 19 is one of the most fascinating passages we have in scripture. We use that section as the backdrop for this episode as we wrestle with questions about repentance, God’s nature, Christ’s suffering, Eternal punishment and whether or not God really “punishes” sinners. 

Who, when, and where to marry are some of the most important decisions we’ll ever make. In this chat we wrestle with principles related to dating, marriage, revelation and agency. 

In this episode we chat about what we know from scripture about temple sealings and how to make a marriage truly celestial. 

Anciently, and in our day, the temple symbolically represents a journey back into God’s presence. In this chat we discuss The Day of Atonement, symbols of the tabernacle, praying with uplifted hands, conversing with the Lord at the veil, and being encircled in His arms.  

In this episode we chat about the sacred, ritual clothing worn by temple priests and what it really meant to be “consecrated” in their service. Hopefully this conversation unlocks powerful truths for those who have been endowed in the House of the Lord, and excites those who are preparing for that experience. 

In this chat we explore the initiation rites of old testament priests in an effort to better understand the washing, anointing, and clothing rituals in the modern-day temple endowment. 

One of the most profound, yet misunderstood, blessings of the Savior’s gospel is the Temple Endowment. In this episode we chat about different themes that can dramatically increase our understanding and appreciation of the endowment ceremony. 

Could something we see as a curse actually be a gift? Can we develop spiritual gifts that are not natural to us? Are spiritual gifts different than talents? These are some of the questions we wrestle with as we explore the topic of spiritual gifts. 

Believing in a Heavenly Mother is a “distinctive and cherished doctrine” in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the gospel topic essay, but is it a doctrine we could cherish more? In this chat we explore what we know about our Mother in Heaven and why it matters. 

Is singing in the church a cultural thing or something more? In this episode we dive into the scriptures to uncover the purposes and power of music in our worship.  

So much of our culture is built on competition—but is competition a good thing? Is it something a disciple of Christ should embrace? In this episode we wrestle with competition, stories in the scriptures that always link competition with pride, and the possibility of replacing all competitive frameworks with a spirit of cooperation. 

What do we mean when we say “the Lord’s timing” and how do we patiently and faithfully embrace that principle? In this episode we wrestle with timing, agency, faith, and active waiting. 

We often pit “the letter of the law” against “the spirit of the law”. Doing this causes contention, judgment, rationalization, and a host of other problems. What if one is not better than the other, what if the key to discipleship is holding on to BOTH?! 

Some of our conversations about modesty become pretty narrow, and we argue about hemlines and bare midriffs, but modesty entails much more than our clothing. In this episode we wrestle with the deeper issue of modesty and how to applies to how we talk, think, act, and dress. 

President Nelson spoke to the young adults about understanding their divine identity and three key identifiers that should never be displaced or replaced. In this chat we lean into those three identifiers and the clarity they bring into our lives in this confusing world. 

Complaining about life, and situations, and people can come so naturally, but maybe that’s the problem. In this episode we wrestle with the roots and fruits of complaining, discuss the possibility of “righteous complaining,” and try to understand how to not give our precious agency away. 

Is self-confidence essential to a happy and successful life? In this episode we dive into the scriptures and words of church leaders to learn more about confidence, where we place it, and how to receive more of it. 

Sometimes we limit our spiritual understanding based off of our definition of a word. In this episode we wrestle with the word “prophet” and explore the gifts all covenant-keepers can access to prophecy. 

The terms “blind faith” and “blind obedience” are used as pejoratives by non-believers, and at times by other believers. In this episode we wrestle with the concept of faith and whether it springs out of blindness or actually seeing evidence that others dismiss. 

A lot of Word of Wisdom conversations center around what is and isn’t good for our bodies, but in this episode we wrestle with maybe more important spiritual principles connected to this commandment. 

Many are convinced that they, and most others, won’t ever be righteous enough to live in God’s presence. But our Heavenly Father’s plan is more hopeful and effective than most people realize. In this episode we chat about what we know about exaltation and God’s intent for each of His children. 

President Howard W. Hunter said that “the doctrine of the Resurrection is the single most fundamental and crucial doctrine in the Christian religion. It cannot be overemphasized.” Do we undervalue the Resurrection? In this episode we wrestle with that question, and what happens when we focus on the Resurrection now and in the future. 

It’s one thing to believe that God can bless us, but what do we do when it doesn’t seem like those blessings are coming? In today’s chat we wrestle with topics of faith, trust, trials, and enduring well. 

In today’s conversation we chat about bodies. Too often we either view our bodies as negative things to despise or as an idols to worship. What does our doctrine teach us that should transform the way we view and engage with our bodies? 

Is there is difference between giving service and being a servant? Is there a way that being a slave could be a faith-strengthening thing? In today’s chat we wrestle with these questions. 

There is a common saying that “faith and fear cannot exist in the same person at the same time.” We wrestle with that statement in this chat, and discuss healthy fear, destructive fear, and how “perfect love casts out fear.” 

When God inspires prophets, it seems like He often gives them the vision of “what” needs to be accomplished, but allows them a lot of agency to figure out “how” to accomplish it. In today’s chat we wrestle with the beauty and messiness of ordained, inspired, mortal prophets. 

The title for this episode might sound like an oxymoron, but in the D&C, Jesus Christ connects fasting with joy and rejoicing. So how do we fast in a more joyful way—in the Lord’s way? And could true fasting be the key to overcoming any bad habit, addiction, or obstacle in our life? 

Satan is not our favorite thing to talk about, but it is important that we understand who he is, how he works, and what his true desires are. In today’s chat we wrestle with the differences between our Accuser (Satan) and our Advocate (Jesus Christ). 

We believe that the Godhead is comprised of three, distinct individuals, but sometimes it is hard to know how to connect with each of Them. Today we wrestle with ways we can experience blessings from each member of the Godhead. 

The Priesthood is bigger, better than either of us realize. In today’s chat, we share some things we are learning about the Priesthood, and things we are still trying to understand.

Why does God choose to speak in symbols? In this episode we wrestle with symbolism; how to unlock it, and what happens when we embrace it. 

We talk a lot about aligning with and submitting to God’s will, but what does “God’s will” even mean? And what if His will has more to do with His heart and His desires than it does to some preset, master plan He has for our lives? Those are some of the questions we wrestle with in this episode. 

In the previous episode we wrestled with the idea of control. In today’s chat we continue that conversation and try to better understand what it really means to “be submissive.” Maybe a key to embracing submissiveness is to practice the principle of “watch and pray” more. 

So much of life is out of our control, and our desire to remain in control can often cause stress and frustration. In this chat we wrestle with what is in our control, what is not, and how to trust God more. 

So much of the gospel of Jesus Christ is about developing personal, and individual relationships with God and Jesus Christ, but can we actually develop those relationships isolated from other people? Today we wrestle with the idea of communal salvation and why it is so important that we gather, struggle, and learn together in groups. 

In today’s chat we share favorite insights from both the Bible and the Book of Mormon about Christmas and what it means for us personally. We talk about trees, fish, stars, and a baby who changed all of our lives forever. 

In today’s chat we wrestle with another word that can mean a lot of different things—grace. What is the grace of Jesus Christ and is it something we get “after all we can do,” or is it a gift that is given to us for free? Our answer to that question makes a big difference! 

In today’s chat we look at the word “ordinances” in a couple of different ways. What changes when we view ordinances as laws? And what else changes when we connect the word ordinance with the definition “to engrave”? 

When the scriptures talk about hope it is sure, firm, and unwavering. In today’s chat we try to understand scriptural hope better—what it is, how it comes, and the difference it can make in our lives. 

Elder Kearon encouraged church members recently to live the gospel in a joyful way. In today’s chat we discuss the nature of joy and how to experience it more often in our worship and in our every day lives. 

Sometimes we condemn ourselves for being exactly what God made us—human. In today’s chat we wrestle with the differences between sin and weakness, and how treating those two things differently can help us be more patient, humble, and joyful. 

A primary song poses the question “If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?” Well, in today’s chat we look more closely at the scriptures and wrestle with the truth that the Savior doesn’t want to “stand beside us,” He wants to LIVE INSIDE OF US! 

In the most recent LDS General Conference we were warned about “doing things our way,” “doing what works for me” and trying to live “my truth”. In today’s chat we wrestle with the societal and personal dangers that come when we rationalize away eternal truths. 

What do we mean when we say that the Church is “true”? In this episode we chat about the danger of thinking we have all truth, and the opposite danger of believing that all roads lead to heaven.