Maxwell Institute Podcast

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Exodus 15 and the Practice of Praise Apr 13, 2026

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What does it mean to praise God—and why does it matter? In this episode, Rosalynde Welch explores the powerful poetry of Exodus 15, the “Song of the Sea,” where Moses, Miriam, and the Israelites respond to deliverance with music, dance, and exultant praise. Drawing on scripture, poetry, and theology, she suggests that praise is more than a commandment or a ritual—it is a way of seeing the world. From the chaos of the sea to the quiet rhythms of modern worship, this reflection invites listeners to reconsider praise as the natural response to divine glory—something woven into creation itself and into our daily lives.

“And when your children ask you”: Reflections on Exodus 12:26 Apr 06, 2026

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In this week’s Old Testament Reflection, Kristian Heal explores the meaning and power of the question posed in Exodus 12:26: “And when your children ask you…” Drawing on the Exodus story, Heal reflects on what he calls the Bible’s tradition of prophetic audacity—the insistence that God is mightier than any empire, obstacle, or fear. This episode considers how story and ritual work together to sustain faith across generations. In Exodus 12, narrative gives way to law, memory becomes embodied in ritual, and parents are charged with passing on the reasons for hope through a culture of questions and answers. From Passover to Christian worship, Heal shows how sacred time, liturgy, and memory keep the mighty acts of God present and real. This audio essay invites listeners to consider how remembering—and retelling—God’s saving work shapes resilient faith in both ancient Israel and contemporary discipleship.

From End Times to Sacred Time: Holy Week and the Latter-day Saint Liturgical Year (Easter) Mar 30, 2026

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What happens when children ask, “Why do we do this?” In this reflective episode, Kristian Heal explores Exodus 12:26 and the powerful relationship between story, ritual, and memory in the life of faith. From the dramatic deliverance of Israel in the Exodus to the quiet, repeated practices that keep that story alive across generations, this episode considers how sacred traditions are designed not just to remember the past—but to shape the future. Heal examines how narrative and ritual work together to sustain hope, especially in moments of uncertainty, and how a culture of questioning and answering becomes essential to passing faith from one generation to the next. As ancient Israel marked time through Passover and sacred observance, so too do modern believers find meaning through practices that connect them to God’s saving work. Ultimately, this episode invites listeners to consider how the most prophetically audacious story of all—the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ—continues to be remembered, reenacted, and lived today.

Saviors before Sinai: Lessons from the Childhood of a Prophet in Exodus 1–6 Mar 23, 2026

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The story of the Exodus begins not with miracles or plagues, but with acts of quiet courage. In this Old Testament Reflection on Exodus 1–6, Rosalynde Welch explores the network of women who ensure the survival of the infant Moses—midwives, a mother, a sister, a princess, and a wife—each acting at great personal risk to preserve a life that will one day help liberate a people. Welch reflects on how these early chapters of Exodus reveal a deeper pattern in sacred history: God’s saving work often unfolds through “small-s saviors,” ordinary men and women who cooperate to protect life, resist injustice, and prepare the way for deliverance. Drawing connections from ancient Israel to the abolitionist work of Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, she invites us to consider how quiet acts of courage and partnership can shape the course of history.

Chosenness, Recognition, and Reconciliation: Reflections on Genesis 42–50 Mar 16, 2026

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In this study of Genesis 42–50, Kristian Heal explores themes of chosenness, favoritism, recognition, and reconciliation in the Joseph narrative, examining how hidden identity, repentance, and divine providence shape the theological meaning of the story.

Maxwell Institute Podcast #202: Book of Mormon Ethics, featuring Dr. Courtney Campbell Mar 12, 2026

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What if your daily scripture study is actually ethical training? In this episode Rosalynde Welch sits down with editor and scholar Dr. Courtney Campbell to unpack Moral Visions: Ethics and the Book of Mormon (edited with Kelly Sorensen). They take the Book of Mormon seriously as an ethical text: not just a list of dos and don’ts, but a set of moral visions that shape who we are, how we live together, and what kind of communities we build.

Campbell and Welch walk through three big moves in the book: how the Book of Mormon teaches (the “scene of instruction”), what it says about everyday ethics (from clothing and conspicuous consumption to prosperity), and why those moral teachings matter — prophecy as moral memory and social criticism aimed at creating flourishing, covenantal communities.

What you’ll take away:

A fresh lens for reading the Book of Mormon: ethics as vision, not only rule-following.
How narrative, memory, and prophecy function as tools for communal moral formation.
Concrete ethical concerns the book raises for the 21st century: social cohesion, economic justice, and peacemaking.
A new appreciation for why the Book of Mormon’s stories still matter—because they aim to shape communities that last.

Four Readings from Genesis 37–41 Mar 09, 2026

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How should we read the story of Joseph in Genesis 37–41? This essay examines four distinct approaches—ancient Jewish narrative expansions, early Christian typology, Latter-day Saint restoration readings, and contemporary biblical scholarship—to reveal the richness and complexity of scripture across time.

Maxwell Institute Podcast #200: Interfaith Friendship, featuring Dr. Andrew Reed Mar 05, 2026

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In this interview, Rosalynde Welch and Andy Reed explore the impact of the information age on religious understanding, the importance of religious literacy, and how interfaith engagement can foster mutual respect and reduce conflict. Andy Reed shares insights on navigating religious diversity, the role of authentic sources, and practical steps for fostering deeper interfaith relationships.

Key Topics

Impact of the information age on religious understanding
Krister Stendahl's three rules of interfaith engagement
The importance of authentic sources and insider voices
Moving beyond religious tolerance to mutual encouragement
The role of religious literacy in reducing conflict

Limping into the Dawn: Reflections on Genesis 32 by Kim Matheson Mar 02, 2026

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Jacob’s nighttime wrestle in Genesis 32 ends not in triumph, but in a limp—and a blessing that changes everything. Kim Matheson explores how weakness, ambiguity, and encounter with God prepare Jacob for reconciliation in ways his cleverness never could.

Abide: Moses 7 (Maxwell Classics) Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

This rereleased 2022 episode of Abide revisits Moses 7—a chapter that expands the brief biblical mention of Enoch into a rich, prophetic narrative. In the Pearl of Great Price, Enoch’s visionary experiences with God profoundly influence Latter-day Saint understandings of the Father’s compassion, character, and relationship to humanity. This conversation explores how Moses 7 shapes key themes within Latter-day Saint thought. At the time of the original recording, the discussion was hosted by Joseph Stuart, then the public communications specialist at the Maxwell Institute, alongside Research Fellow Kristian Heal. Together, they examined each week’s Come, Follow Me scripture block—not to offer a full lesson, but to highlight meaningful ideas that support the Maxwell Institute’s mission to “inspire and fortify Latter-day Saints in their testimonies of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and engage the world of religious ideas.” The episode features special guest Terryl Givens, coauthor with Fiona Givens of The God Who Weeps and, more recently, The Doors of Faith in the Maxwell Institute’s Living Faith series with Deseret Book.

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