By Gary James Bergera “I never aspired to be a popular president. I did aspire to get things done, and the two were not always compatible.” Click here to download the audio file: Wilkinson the Man Read the original article here.
Category: Podcasts
The Swearing Elders: The First Generation of Modern Mormon Intellectuals
By Thomas A. Blakely Or click to download the audio file: The Swearing Elders: The First Generation of Modern Mormon Intellectuals. Read the text here.
Taking Off the Nametag: Why Some Missionaries Leave the LDS Church for Good
As a returned missionary, what does it mean to leave the LDS Church? Some struggle to reconcile leaving behind the doctrines of the Church without leaving behind their loved ones. While some family members assume that it’s “a phase” that will pass, others feel a deep sense of loss. Grief is felt on all sides …
Coffee, Alcohol, Cannabis, Psilocybin, Ayahuasca: Navigating Substance Use after Mormonism
When transitioning Mormons begin to question the validity of the Word of Wisdom, many begin to explore and experiment with previously forbidden substances. Some have positive experiences, but not all. This presentation will address substance use from a mental health perspective, addressing common pitfalls, and offering strategies for exploring the use of coffee, alcohol, cannabis, …
Gratitude, and Some Grief, about Temple Changes
When I heard last year about the changes in the temple ceremony, I was very happy that negative images and language about women had been removed. These changes eliminate the oppressive overlay that has made women feel like eternal second-class citizens. While these changes are mostly positive, they neither alter the underlying power structure of …
Mormons like me? Identity as Problem and Solution
Who do we belong to and how does identification motivate and shape our lives? Identification with our ego and our groups is inevitable and yet presents sticky problems. This session proposses that perpetual loss of identity is congruent with both spiritual and secular frameworks. A radical reading of Christ’s identity points us toward identifying with …
Nauvoo Polygamy and the RLDS Church
Community of Christ (a.k.a. the RLDS Church) has a long and complicated relationship with Nauvoo polygamy. Although consistent in its opposition to the practice, the understandings of members and leaders regarding the introduction of plural marriage have evolved in surprising ways through the years, and the response to that evolution mirrors the Kübler-Ross model of …
Mormon Women in Art: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
Mormon art sometimes places women in submissive, peripheral, secondary roles. The explosion of art by Mormon women in the last decade has changed that. This session will address how social media has made space for women without traditional representation or financial backing to form successful careers in the arts. We will discuss how Mormon women …
Conversations with Charlotte England
In honor of Gene England’s 88th birthday on the 22nd of this month, this session will honor Gene’s life and teachings with interviews between his widow, Charlotte England, and several of her close friends and longtime peers of Gene’s. One conversation will discuss an evening Jim McConkie spent with Charlotte when he apologized for his …
A Faith Journey through the Music of Mumford and Sons
Come experience the highs and lows of a faith journey through the music and lyrics of Mumford and Sons. Some songs capture the feelings of a relationship that works for a time, as you purely hold on to your truth. Others talk about something that calls you away from this first truth, and you become …