Engaging Gospel Doctrine

Latest Episodes:

383: August 16; Alma (Come Follow Me Catch Up!) Aug 03, 2020

Show notes

For my next trick, I will work through the entirety of Alma in one episode! It was a rewarding experience to look through the longest book of the Book of Mormon in one sitting, and I saw details and patterns that I had missed before. Alma is a rich and complex book that reveals some unexpected facets of Nephite society. More importantly, Alma has a great deal to teach us about life, relationships, and communication.

Reading: For August 9, Alma 43-52. For August 16, Alma 53-63.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Thanks to Trent for doing audio post-production on the episode!

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

382.2: Laws of Reality (Come Follow Me BoM Week 31, Reissued) Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

This core episode puts the provocative idea of God losing godhood in the context of the Plan of Happiness and its opposite, the Plan of Damnation.
Reading: Alma 39-42

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

382.1: Laws of Reality (Come Follow Me BoM Week 31, Reissued) Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

These chapters are chock full of doctrinal substance touching upon the “Great Plan of Happiness”. We will explore:

Resurrection and Spirit World
Justice and mercy
Role of this life
The nature of God, including the unusual and compelling idea of a “limited God”.

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Reading: Alma 39-42
Look forward to an engaging discussion with Jennifer, Stefanie, Keith and Dan.

You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

381: Challenge and be Challenged by the Scriptures (Bonus Episode) Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

In this bonus episode, I describe my process of preparing for the podcast and reading the scriptures, as well as make recommendations for scripture reading in general. I discuss literary, personal, intertextual, and historical approaches, and send scripture reading down the rabbit hole. The takeaway is that we can both find personal scripture that nourishes and speaks to us, as well as joining a community of scripture readers that stretches back millennia and covers the world.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Resources

Reader’s Edition of the Book of Mormon

Understanding the Book of Mormon, Grant Hardy

Step by Step through the Book of Mormon, Alan Miner

Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants, Steven Harper

Harper Collins Study Bible

ESV Study Bible

Podcast Episodes

Introduction to the Book of Mormon

Introduction to the Doctrine & Covenants

Introduction to the Book of Moses

Introduction to the Book of Abraham

Introduction to the Old Testament

Introduction to the New Testament

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

380.2: July 26; Atonement and Character (Come Follow Me BoM Week 30) Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

Alma’s intimate words to his sons model a way to use honest sharing about the past to better the present and future. This core episode covers Alma’s path to peace, the principle that we cannot feel greater joy than we have experienced pain, the underappreciated figure of Shiblon, and finally, challenge to the unhealthy idea that all sexual sin is comparable to murder.

Class Member Reading: Alma 36-39

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Art: Rolando Duartes, Counsel

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

380.1: July 26; Atonement and Character (Come Follow Me BoM Week 30) Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

This lesson and the next provide a precious and intimate window in the family life of Alma, one of the great Book of Mormon prophets. These chapters fit into the genre of “Testament”, which records the wisdom and blessings imparted by the patriarch of a family (unfortunately, we don’t have any records of a matriarch sharing her wisdom or blessings that I know of). Alma’s counsel to his sons Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton provide us some of his final words in the Book of Mormon (before he gives his final blessings and mysteriously disappears in Alma 45).

Highlights of this lesson include

Alma’s reflections on conversion and the Atonement in poetic form (the strongest example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon)
Gems on patience and trust, self-discipline, and humility
Tackling head on the idea that sexual sin is ranked “next to murder”.

Look forward to an engaging discussion with Carey, Joseph, Danielle and Jessica.

Reading: Alma 36-39

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Art: Rolando Duartes, Counsel

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

379.2: July 19; Experiment upon the Word (Come Follow Me Week 29, Reissued) Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

This reading proves not only interesting for discussion, but can be life changing. This core episode discusses the power and importance of experimenting on the word, the distinction between belief, knowledge, and faith, and how we can experience heaven on earth.

Reading: Alma 32-35

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You can access the Lesson Notes here.

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

379.1: July 19; Experiment upon the Word (Come Follow Me Week 29, Reissued) Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

Plant this Word in your Hearts

How many superstars of theology can we fit into a few chapters? Truth. Prayer. Atonement. These chapters contain some of the most memorable lessons and gems in the Book of Mormon. The “experiment upon the word” in Alma 32, Amulek’s powerful sermon on the Atonement and role of this life, as well as some overlooked treasures about prayer and mercy.

Highlights of the lesson will include:

Detailed exploration of the idea of Alma’s “experiment upon the word”. What are reliable ways to know a principle is true? What does “true” mean in this instance?
Discussion of prayer, worship, and mercy
Engagement with Amulek’s sermon as we discuss human nature, the Atonement, and role of this life

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Look forward to an engaging discussion with Kristine, Matthew, KC and Greg.
After you listen to the lesson and class discussion, please post your comments and questions here on the blog and continue the conversation!

You can access the Lesson Notes here.

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

378.2: Conversations about God (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 27, Reissued) Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

“All Things Denote There Is a God”

One of the problems with our beliefs is that they are obvious–to us. The familiar is so self-evident that often we can’t even imagine how anyone could believe anything different. Further, even if “all things denote there is a God”, we as humans are not equipped to understand God.

Class Member Reading: Alma 30-31

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You can Access the Lesson Notes here.

Resources

All Things Testify of Christ, Mormon Channel

All Things Denote There Is a God, BYU Religious Studies Center

The Blessings of an Unknown God

Revelation according to our Language

Revelation according to our Expectations

Arguments for the Existence of God

Pragmatic Arguments and Belief in God, Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Moral Arguments and Belief in God, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Engaging Gospel Doctrine is made with Jetpack Podcast. Full show notes and every episode at https://engaginggospeldoctrine.org/

378.1: Conversations about God (BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 27, Reissued) Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

“All Things Denote There Is a God”

I jokingly call this lesson “Apostates week”. The key exchanges this lesson are Alma vs. Korihor and then Alma and his companions vs. the Zoramites. We are going to push a bit in approach with this lesson, use these scriptures to challenge us a touch. Kind of like how so many enjoy likening ourselves to Nephi, but what can we learn by likening ourselves to Laman and Lemuel?

Key points in this lesson include:

What compelling evidence is there for the existence of God? Is there anything that might be problematic about God debates?
Sure it is easy to write off Korihor and Mormon wants us to, but what are the elements of his worldview?
What are the Zoramites’ shortcomings? Is there anything we can learn from them, perhaps even see elements familiar in our own Church culture?
What *is* the most productive way to interact with those who disbelieve?

Look forward to an engaging discussion with Jessica, Meredith, Sterling and Chris.

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You can Access the Lesson Notes here.