Y Religion

Latest Episodes:

Episode 6: Amplifying Prophetic Voices (Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson) Jul 13, 2025

Show notes

How can prophetic voices shape our teaching? In this episode Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson explore how to teach with power by amplifying the words of prophets, seers, and revelators. They highlight how we can use the words of Church leaders to present key principles, explore prophetic invitations, and realize promised blessings.

Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

Episode 5: Teaching with the Scriptures (Gaye Strathearn & Joe Spencer) Jul 06, 2025

Show notes

The scriptures are our most powerful tools for teaching. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. explained that "[we] are to teach this Gospel using as [our] sources and authorities the Standard Works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days." In this episode Professors Gaye Strathearn and Joe Spencer discuss the power of teaching with the scriptures. They highlight ways teachers can draw knowledge from and incorporate the scriptures into their teaching.

Episode 4: Teaching by the Spirit (Hank Smith & Ryan Sharp) Jun 29, 2025

Show notes

How does the Holy Ghost assist in our preparation and delivery of lessons? In this episode professors Hank Smith and Ryan Sharp demystify what it means to teach by the Spirit. They discuss ways to invite the Spirit to guide both teachers and learners.

Episode 3: Organizing a Lesson (Mark L. Pace and Ken Alford) Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

The Lord has invited, "Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand" (Doctrine & Covenants 88:78, emphasis added). In this episode President Mark L. Pace and Professor Ken Alford discuss resources and methods for organizing ourselves and preparing to teach a lesson.

Resources

Episode 2: Knowing Your Audience (Emily Belle Freeman & Brad Wilcox) Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

How do you prepare and adjust a message to connect with those you are leading? What methods can teachers—from all backgrounds and experiences—use when preparing for different teaching moments? In this episode, sister Emily Belle Freeman and Professor Brad Wilcox discuss tips on knowing and connecting with your audience when preparing and leading lessons.

Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.

Episode 1: The Power of Teaching (Clark Gilbert & Chad Webb) Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

What makes powerful gospel teaching? What are the effective elements that any teacher— no matter their training, situation, or personality—can implement so that deepened faith and conversion can happen in the lives of learners? In this episode, brother Chad Webb and Elder Clark Gilbert highlight essential principles and practices that invite the influence of the Spirit of God to foster powerful gospel teaching.

Bonus Episode—Introducing "Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching" (John Hilton III and Casey Griffiths) Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

President Dallin H. Oaks has taught that "every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, or will be, a teacher. Each of us has a vital interest in the content and effectiveness of gospel teaching." How might we prepare ourselves to teach with clarity and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost? In this episode professors John Hilton III and Casey Griffiths introduce "Y Religion Presents," a special series of weekly episodes on a common theme. The 2025 motif focuses on gospel teaching. In the following eleven episodes, leading experts discuss a variety of approaches, skills, and techniques for teaching—at home or in church—in the Savior's way. Each episode is intercut with perspectives from two presenters, providing diverse voices, multiple applications, and more holistic approaches to touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of students. Listeners preparing to teach in any capacity can take away new approaches and perspectives as they continue to hone their craft of teaching.

Episode 128: Following Prophets When We Have Questions (Travis Searle) May 15, 2025

Show notes

When some elders criticized the language of Joseph Smith's revelations in 1831, the Lord provided powerful truths in Doctrine and Covenants 67 to strengthen their faith—truths that remain vital for us today. In this podcast, Professor Searle outlines five key principles from the section that can help us build greater trust in prophetic counsel: (1) act on the prophet's invitations, (2) recognize righteousness within revelations, (3) sincerely seek Jesus Christ, (4) follow the guidance of the Spirit, and (5) move forward in faith. Trusting prophets is crucial for spiritual growth and navigating uncertainty, and learning from the challenges of past can give us greater power to follow the prophet in our day.

Publications:

· "Following Prophets When We Have Questions (Section 67)" in Doctrine and Covenants Insights (Religious Studies Center, 2025).

Click here to learn more about Travis Searle

Episode 127: Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors (Shon Hopkin) May 01, 2025

Show notes

The John A. Widtsoe Foundation recently introduced the Understanding Our Neighbors series to "foster respect and interfaith dialogue." In this episode Professor Shon Hopkin, Department Chair of BYU Ancient Scripture, discusses the second book in this series Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors co-written with Rabbi Mark S. Diamond. The book presents guide to understanding the similarities and differences between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and leading Jewish traditions. Professor Hopkin explains how listeners can take away a succinct understanding, reverence, and appreciation for both faiths, their traditions, and their members.

Publications:

Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors by Rabbi Mark S. Diamond & Professor Shon D. Hopkin, Cedar Fort, 2024
John A. Widtsoe Foundation website

"Teaching That Leads to Enduring Conversion," Religious Educator, 25.3, 2024

"The Covenant among Covenants: The Abrahamic Covenant and Biblical Covenant Making," Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022

"Supersessionism and Latter-day Saint Thought: An Appraisal," Jared W. Ludlow, Andrew C. Reed, and Shon D. Hopkin, in Understanding Covenants and Communities: Jews and Latter-day Saints in Dialogue, Mark S. Diamond and Andrew C. Reed, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2020

Opening Isaiah: A Harmony, with Ann N. Madsen, Religious Studies Center, 2018

Abinadi: He Came Among Them in Disguise, Religious Studies Center, 2018

Click here to learn more about Shon Hopkin

Episode 126: Women Witnesses of the Easter Events (Gaye Strathearn) Apr 15, 2025

Show notes

The first witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ were some of his female disciples. Mary Magdalene witnessed the empty tomb and was the first to encounter the risen Savior. Additionally, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other unnamed women, who had come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, saw the empty tomb and reported it to the apostles. In this episode, Professor Gaye Strathearn explores the profound impact of the Easter events through the experiences of the women who witnessed the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. She explains how Luke's narrative, with support from the other Gospels, connects these women to Jesus's ministry in Galilee and portrays them as dedicated disciples who ministered to Jesus and followed him to Jerusalem. Further, the discussion underscores the women's loyalty and sacrifice, emphasizing their presence at the Crucifixion and their discovery of the empty tomb. In exploring these narratives, we can increase our knowledge of the enduring hope and faith that the Easter events inspire and add our own witness that "he is risen" (Mark 16:6).

Publications:

"Women Witnesses of the Easter Events" in He Was Seen: Witnessing the Risen Christ, David M. Calabro and George A. Pierce, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2024.
"The Chosen's Amplification of Women's Voices in Scripture," in Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Biblical Interpretation, Robert K. Gtarcia, Paul Gondreau, Patrick Gray, and Douglas F. Huffman, ed., Eerdmans, 2025.
"Experiencing the Doctrine of Christ," Religious Educator, 25.3, 2024.
Sacred Time: The Sabbath as a Perpetual Covenant, Religious Studies Center, 2023.
"Discipleship in the Olivet Discourse in Mark's Gospel," in "Behold the Lamb of God": An Easter Celebration, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Frank F. Judd Jr. , and Thomas A. Wayment, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2008.
"'Holiness to the Lord' and Personal Temple Worship," Religious Educator, 23.1, 2022.

Click here to learn more about Gaye Strathearn

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