Unveiling Grace Podcast

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UGP 270 - Richard Heard, “Of Course It Isn’t True” – Richard Dutcher – Part 3 Dec 09, 2023

Show notes

Hailed as the father of Mormon Cinema, Richard Dutcher released his independent film God’s Army in 2000. It was a critical success heralded by Larry King Live, loved by the New York Times, so his second LDS film, Brigham City, was easy to fund. For the first time, these movies showed the words of the LDS Sacrament prayer, blessing for the sick, and other LDS practices right on screen depicting Richard’s own experiences as a Latter-day Saint. Next, he intended to write/produce a film about the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, so he commenced a serious study of Joseph’s life and early church history. Larry Miller, a wealthy LDS businessman who owned the Utah Jazz, committed to partially back the film. Richard’s success in LDS films begot other LDS film makers. One day after months of exhaustive study of all things Joseph Smith—finding things that bothered him but not yet questioning his faith—Richard went to his knees beside his bed to pray. Arising to sit on his bed in a meditative state, he says God spoke to him so clearly from the deepest, truest part of him; he knew it was God. He heard, “Of course it isn’t true.” Richard’s feelings changed in seconds from peaceful to terrifying. Everything he believed wasn’t true. A final LDS movie, God’s Army 2: States of Grace, became his farewell to Mormonism. The theme was sin, forgiveness, and God’s amazing grace. Many LDS were not ready to accept the Christian view of grace nor the Christian cross seen in the movie. It was a financial failure. Soon after, Richard went public with the news that he was leaving the LDS church. All his LDS investors disappeared. His marriage dissolved; they have 7 children. Richard says knowing what he now knew, he just couldn’t stay. He didn’t have a choice.

UGP 269 - “Build Your Own Kingdom” Father of LDS Film – Richard Dutcher – Part 2 Dec 02, 2023

Show notes

At age 7, Richard went to his first movie in a theatre, the 1920s art deco Granada Theatre in Mt. Vernon, IL. He immediately knew he wanted to be involved with filmmaking. After high school, he attended one year at Brigham Young University. During a Star Wars movie, seeing the battle between good and evil, Richard chose to serve an LDS mission and delay his film career. He went to Mexico where he was thrown in jail for proselytizing. At the end of his LDS mission, his mission president advised him to go home and “build your own kingdom.” In an effort to begin his own kingdom, Richard married an LDS wife headed to Hollywood where he decided to create independent films. His first film caused him to re-evaluated his life and re-dedicate himself to his LDS faith. Grilling burgers for his family, he suddenly got the idea to blend his independent filmmaking with his Mormon religion. As he became the father of Mormon cinema, God worked on his heart.

UGP 268 - Making Sense of Spiritual Experiences Inside and Outside of Mormonism – Richard Dutcher – Part 1 Nov 25, 2023

Show notes

A devout member of the LDS church, he had known from childhood that his passion was to make films. When he got the idea to meld his cinema training with his LDS faith, he thought he had found his purpose in life. Check out his early movies God’s Army and Brigham City. Yet, in the midst of his initial success, he had a spiritual experience that rocked his world. He tells us what happened and how everything changed in that moment.

UGP 267 - Responding to the Mormon Missionary Plan of Salvation – Dr. Matthew Eklund – Part 5 Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

We discuss the very complicated LDS plan of salvation. Pre-existent spirits in heaven with Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, literal parents of spirits. Then the second estate or earth life. After earth, LDS go to paradise; everyone else to spirit prison to be taught the LDS gospel. If one accepts the LDS gospel in the next life, they can be released from spirit prison and advance to paradise to await the judgment. Dr. Eklund explains what the LDS missionaries teach about this LDS plan of salvation and gives a biblical response. See this information in the fifth chapter of the book Responding to the Mormon Missionary Message.

UGP 266 - Is it Possible to be LDS and Born Again? Dr. Matthew Eklund – Part 4 Nov 11, 2023

Show notes

How and when did Dr. Eklund become born again? Blue pill or red pill? Matt asks himself, “When I die, do I want Joseph Smith on my side or the Bible on my side?” Can one be born again and remain in the LDS church? These are questions we explore in this episode. When Matt decided he could no longer remain LDS, his LDS fiancé left him. But, he knew a peace he had never experienced before.

UGP 265 - Immiscibility of the Bible and LDS Gospel: Oil and Water – Dr. Matthew Eklund – Part 3 Nov 04, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Eklund describes the truths that broke his LDS shelf as he read the Bible and explored church history. He mentions Ephesians 2:8-9, Matthew 22:31, John 6, and the book of Romans as being impactful. He discovers fundamental biblical ideas are incompatible with essential teachings in Mormonism; some are: (1) the nature of the Trinitarian God, (2) there is only One God and He is unchangeable, (3) Salvation comes by grace through faith and not by our works, (4) justification – one is made right before God by Christ’s righteousness, like putting on a cloak, again, not by our works, and (5) LDS priesthood functions like a mediator between one and Jesus – there is no mediator but Jesus. As a scientist, he likens Bible truths and LDS gospel essentials to immiscible fluids. They are incompatible.

UGP 264 - Serving an LDS Mission is Hard; Ordinance of the Second Anointing? – Dr. Matthew Eklund – Part 2 Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Matt discusses how isolating and difficult an LDS mission can be for a missionary who endures rejection many times a day. We encourage Christians to befriend missionaries and engage in respectful and critical conversation. He alludes to some odd happenings in his LDS mission before his time there (the same mission Mitt Romney served in) when several missionaries eventually followed a counselor to the French Mission president into the LeBaron polygamy group in Mexico.

UGP 263 - Dr. Matthew Eklund Feels Peace While Praying about the Book of Mormon – Part 1 Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

The Wilders interview Dr. Matthew Eklund, raised LDS in northern Utah. He was baptized at age 10, active on and off during his teen years, Matt eventually desired to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He decided that if he received one, he would serve an LDS mission. The LDS prophet challenged all church members to read the Book of Mormon in 2005. Matt took the challenge, felt a kind of peace, believing this to mean the Book of Mormon was true, so Joseph Smith must have been a prophet of God, and the LDS Church must be the one true church. He served an LDS mission in Belgium, never really questioning his LDS faith. Listen to the next episodes to find out how and why Matt left Mormonism and found Jesus. Dr. Eklund holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and Science.

UGP 262 - From Mormon Romance to Jesus – Anna’s Story Part 2 Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

Anna continues to share her story of validating and highlighting the concerns she began to have about the Mormon faith. She compared verses from the Bible and Mormon scripture, did internet research, and dug into apologetics. Struggling with what to believe, where true faith was, and holding on to the romantic relationship that she longed for, she continued to study. Rejoice with Anna as she shares answers to prayer and the peace and joy she has finally found in Jesus!

UGP 261 - Drawn by Romance - Anna's Story Part 1 Oct 07, 2023

Show notes

Anna Banister was raised in a biblical Christian family but drawn away from her faith to Mormonism through a relationship with an LDS man and his family. The Latter-day Saints taught her that the more persecution she received for pursuing Mormonism, the more she could know that she was choosing the right path. Opposition from biblical Christians was a confirmation Mormonism was true.

Anna says she thought Mormonism was giving her control over her own salvation. She was searching, hoping that Mormonism would be true and she was excited about having a forever family. Most of her questions were answered by the LDS missionaries and she was told that the more that she believed the more would be revealed to her.

Podcast co-host Joel Groat reminds us that faith is having Jesus as the object of your faith. Faith may have you go beyond reason but will never have you go against reason.

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