Levi Peterson is one of Mormondom's most celebrated authors and writing teachers who, in this episode chats with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon shortly after the release of his latest collection of short stories, Losing a Bit of Eden. His most famous novel is The Backslider, and he has written, among many other things, a celebrated biography of LDS historian Juanita Brooks (who was the first to document in a scholarly way the events of the Mountain Meadow Massacre) and a wonderful autobiography, A Rascal By Nature; A Christian by Yearning. In their conversation, Levi shares a bit about his writing process and the ideas that launched several of his works, his upbringing as a faithful Mormon for whom the church and certain teachings never quite fit but how and why he continued to regularly attend church and gather with fellow Latter-day Saints. He shares about his encounters with Juanita Brooks and how he became fascinated by her and knew that she deserved a thoughtful and scholarly biography, as well as about longtime friendships with Mormon writers and scholars and their impact on his life, especially Lavina Fielding Anderson and Eugene England. Finally, he speaks about the arc of Mormonism and Mormon culture during his lifetime and reflects on certain LDS leaders.  This is a fun, wide-ranging conversation that you will enjoy immensely as you come to get a feel for Levi, now 87 years old, and his personality and charisma. He and his works truly deserve celebration and continued reading. Listen in!

Latter-day Faith

102: Mormonism's Rascal—Levi Peterson

In this departure from our usual type of show, this episode takes a short look at the evolution of from the founding of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought to the beginnings of Sunstone and its symposiums. Featuring Sunstone's director of publishing, Stephen Carter, he and LDF host Dan Wotherspoon (a former editor and executive director of Sunstone) then talk about the 2021 Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium that runs from July 28th to the 31st.  Listen in to see if attending it this year, in person or virtually, is something you are interested in. Plus learn of the most excellent opening session in the evening of the 28th! We'll make you listen to find out what that is! (Or, if you want to be that way, you can go to Sunstone.org and find out.) Ha ha!

101: Sunstone and It's Upcoming Symposium

For our 100th Latter-day Faith episode, my good and wise friend, Mark Crego, who is also my partner in making this show and our many events and gatherings possible, get together to reflect on what we started a bit over two years ago. How well does it match with what we started out to do? How have things shifted, and what has brought these on? And, ultimately, how do we see LDF and the Faith Journey Foundation going forward? It's a bit of navel gazing to be sure but still a worthwhile discussion. Hope you will listen in!

100: Our 100th Episode! Reflections and Moving Forward

For many, the way the sacrament is practiced within Mormonism can feel stale and perfunctory rather than spiritually fulfilling. The LDS practice is very simple, beginning with a hymn, followed by the reading of set prayers (but very rarely feeling like prayer and supplication, an attempt to unite us in common purpose), then being followed by boys and men (only) passing the emblems--plain bread and tap water--to the congregation. It concludes with thanks from the pulpit for those who administered the ordinance, and then the regular flow of sacrament begins again. (Of course, during the pandemic, the sacrament has been moved to the end, following the end of the meeting being streamed to those watching from home.) In this episode, Jody England Hansen and LDF host Dan Wotherspoon, two people who often speak and teach together about ritual and religious practice, offer perspectives that they hope will help everyone deepen their experiences during and surrounding the sacrament. Following their sharing pieces of their own journeys to where they are now in their thinking and practice of the sacrament, they turn the focus toward the sacrament as a "communal meal," a time of sharing and building community among those who choose to unite within God's love and "Way" of being. They speak of the deep yearning we all feel to be connected, to be included, to live with purpose that allows the free flow of that love, that grace. Along the way, they reflect on the ideas that often obscure us from moving into the ritual’s true purpose, the power of simplicity in this ordinance, and much more. The episode contains stories, reflections, and rich insights. It is definitely one to listen to--perhaps again and again!  

099: The Sacrament: A Communion of Love

Mormonism's theology is "queer" in the sense of peculiar, different, and unique in its connections between ideas and the particularity of spirit and matter, along with various practices. Blaire Ostler, in her new book Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction (By Common Consent Press, 2021) plays on that meaning, while also laying out how in many ways that queer theology has a lot of room for "queer" people: those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, pansexual, or in other ways than simply cis-gendered and heterosexual. She takes a very expansive view of scriptural and other teachings about God, Jesus, Christ, Families and more and paints a very open, graceful gospel, while acknowledging that institutional and cultural Mormonism is currently anti-queer and harmful for those who so identify. But does that always need to be the case? In this episode, Blaire joins Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon for a far-ranging discussion of aspects of the book and her thinking, as well as her own personal journey to understand and embrace her sexual identities as both bisexual and intersex and how her life has brought her to a place from which she can stand both as a Latter-day Saint and a queer person and write propose such beautiful theology. Please listen in! You'll find this a very mind- and heart-expanding episode.

098: Queer Mormon Theology

In this special Father's Day episode, LDF host Dan Wotherspoon interviews his dad, Jim. James Richard Wotherspoon has lived a remarkable life. Born blind (as was his brother, Robert), Jim has  achieved quite a lot in his 87-plus years. He became one of the first (if not the first) blind person to earn the rank of Eagle scout. He and his brother both mainstreamed at Berkeley High School, where he excelled in his courses, as well as music and chess. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his doctorate in history (as well as met his wife, Beverly, and started a family). They then all moved to Sacramento, California, where he taught history at American River College for 43 years. In addition to his life triumphs, he faced many setbacks as well, including a heartbreaking divorce and reactions from church leaders, ultimately staying away from activity for 35 years. He is fully back and involved now, and most impressive of all is his attitude and the spirit of grace and forgiveness that radiate from him. You'll be glad you listened in!

097: Meet My Dad, Jim Wotherspoon

Samuel Brown lives the life of a physician-scientist whose life journey has brought him step by step and new experience by new experience from rebellion, rationalism, and atheism to a place where, as he says, "[that] we might make sense of our thinking within a world charged by the presence of God." He is not naturally social or comfortable with others but through the decades has come to appreciate the importance of community bonded through commitment to a shared path, open-hearted sharing, and service, as well as the people themselves. But it is a forty-year story that brings him to where he is now: "all in." Sam shares this story in a new book of essays, Where the Soul Hungers: One Doctor's Journey from Atheism to Faith, (Neal A Maxwell Center and Deseret Book, 2021), which he discusses here with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon. In it, they discuss the arc of Sam's life, as well as many interesting takes he has arrived at through his medical and also gospel studies (leaving many more un-noted here but in the book). Among the things he speaks on his why how we frame things is more important than the questions we ask, if there is more to learn from the story of Solomon's wisdom and judgment in the case of the contested baby, from David and Goliath, from baking bread, from ritual and empowering our senses to take us to wonderful views and understanding.  Here we are celebrating a wonderful book and the journey of an even more remarkable man. Join us!

096: Where the Soul Hungers

There is no question that we are living during a time in the world that is unlike any other. Brought on by the dawning of the information age, and especially the rise of the Internet and ever-increasing access to it and all the social media and other technologies it has hatched, it is no wonder that societies, cultures, religions, and we ourselves have been thrust into major growing pains--some of which are here ahead of our collective and individual maturity to manage easily as all of it has disrupted our previous comfort levels. Luckily, we have the records of previous major societal upheavals that we can gather lessons from them, with one of them being the good news of major shifts in consciousness that follow in the decades after. In this episode, Caleb Jones, an information engineer, joins LDF host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about many aspects of this time of flux. Caleb keys in on the "Second Great Awakening" that brought forth so much societal change, including the birthing of many religions such a Mormonism. He draws parallels from it and other "Awakenings" to help elucidate the present, especially regarding trends in Mormonism and individual Latter-day Saint lives. In all of this, he and Dan raise questions (and propose tentative thoughts) that can be important guides for our own soul work. May it serve you well in this way as you listen in!

095: Disruptive Change and Inner Work

1 Corinthians 13 is one of the best known and most powerful chapters in the Bible. At the end of the chapter before it, Paul says he is going to talk to the people of Corinth about a "more excellent way," and he then launches into his famous discourse on love (translated as "charity" by the King James authors) and its transcendence above all other gifts and qualities. The chapter also contains a gorgeous section about spiritual growth and where it can lead. In this episode, Mark Crego takes us through the many things Paul is saying by highlighting our attention on the Greek words and phrasings in the original text and that expand our understanding of so many new things that English translations simply miss. Things we assumed we already grasped in the chapter are opened to view. The qualities of love Paul describes take on a new vitality, his litany of things that Love does not do opens to subtleties that show the apostle's awareness of the temptations that we too often yield to while showing our love to others. Mark's unpacking of this chapter reveals a Paul at his best, and our appreciation for what he'd come to know through his experiences with God and people grows exponentially.  It is difficult to describe her just how interesting and empowering this episode is. Be ready to take notes! And please share this with others!  

094: 1 Corinthians 13--What is Love?

Sean McKee is a wonderful member of the Latter-day Faith community, and is someone with a wonderfully diverse spiritual background. In this episode, LDF host Dan Wotherspoon draws Sean out on his life and religious journey. In his telling, we learn a lot about other traditions he's been part of, gain insights on the development of religion more generally, and come to understand what elements of Mormonism ultimately drew him to throw in with the Latter-day Saints.  Sean's Mormonism also involves spiritual supplementing with several other groups, personal contemplative practices, and he also "makes things happen" within his ward and stake. Throughout we experience a strong sense of his goodness, his energy and quest to understand and to grow, as well as his brilliant mind. Listen in! Get to know, as the LDF episode introduction says, a true "fellow traveler."

093: A Spiritual Traveler Finds a Home in Mormonism

There are aspects of Mormon culture and emphases among Latter-day Saint teachings that make it very difficult to for many to understand, let alone, experience true Grace. Katie Langston was one of these people, constantly worrying if she was "doing enough," if she was "worthy" in the eyes of God, if she were innately evil. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with "scrupulosity," a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that zeros in on such thoughts. As she reached the end of her rope, she began to experience hints of Grace in the form of people in her lives, and then, ultimately, through a powerful, direct experience of God's love. God let her know, in no uncertain terms, that she was loved unconditionally, and has always been and always will be. There is nothing that she could ever do to cause God to cease loving her. She continued to journey within Mormonism for many years before ultimately receiving a "call" to ministry, one that she has chosen to live out within the Lutheran tradition. She has written a memoir about her many experiences along the way, Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace, which was just recently published. A long-time friend and collaborator with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon, this episodes celebrates Katie's book and the powerful and powerfully written story of her life up until now which has brought her to the cusp of ordination. It is honest, wise, gut-wrenching, humorous at times, and provides a wonderful introduction to a Grace-filled world. Don't miss out!

092: A Journey into Grace

This past week, the wonderful Mormon mental, spiritual, and sex therapist Natasha Helfer Parker was scheduled to defend herself in a membership council called by the stake presidency in her former stake in Kansas (even though she had moved to Salt Lake City sixteen months earlier). Six friends, including Jana Spangler and Jody England Hansen, two of the women in this podcast episode, were also scheduled to testify on her behalf, and many more were holding a support vigil in a pavilion on the stake center's property, including our other panelist, Shandra Harris. Many things went haywire that evening--as well as in the weeks leading up to that scheduled council--and this podcast shares those stories here. Ultimately, neither Natasha, Jana, Jody, nor four others who had been approved to give testimony before the stake presidency were allowed to participate as promised. It was an emotionally and spiritually painful evening for all there as well as for many others who witnessed it vicariously. The toll from this devastatingly wrong-headed and massively mis-executed council is yet to be measured. In addition to going through the events herein, we have chosen to focus on the vital spiritual role of witnessing, even when it's witnessing the abuse of others.  Being witnessed is a big part of what allows someone to stay strong and, perhaps, eventually find comfort and peace. Witnessing involves, as Jody shares in this episode, the ability to stay in the present moment even in times of great suffering. Witnessing also extends past the event(s) as continued care for others' well being, especially as they experience the inevitable ups and downs that come with continued processing of their grief and anger.  No one wishes that any of the events that occurred around Natasha's council ever happened. It was unfair and abusive from the very beginning. But we all also know that for our own physical, mental, and spiritual well-being that we must ultimatelyfind our way to healing, for it is in these processes that we discover our own true strength, along with a new, larger, more magnificent God than our old paradigms had ever allowed us to imagine. May this discussion be a stepping stone on the healing journeys for all who choose to listen.

091: Witnessing Even When Things Hurt So Badly, Part 2

090: Witnessing Even When Things Hurt So Badly, Part 1

Matt Jones has been a faithful Latter-day Saint his entire life, recently serving as a bishop. Yet in the years leading up and into his calling, he struggled with his beliefs regarding Jesus. What he had previously thought about Jesus as son of God and all that follows from that stance, he could no longer affirm. Ultimately, he relaxed and simply let his worries and doubts fall from the front of his eyes and soul--and served. And, guess what? He found Jesus again. A much better, richer, more experiential understanding of Jesus as Christ, one that brings peace to his soul. Please listen in as Matt tells his story in conversation with LDF host Dan Wotherspoon. There's a good spirit in their exchanges, plus a bit of teasing between two old friends. 

089: Jesus Lost and Found

In this brief but powerful discussion, LDF host Dan Wotherspoon is joined by the wonderful Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi for a discussion of Easter, as especially the idea of how we can lean more deeply and intently into the cycle of dying and rebirthing that this holiday features. There are many wonderful teachings around Easter, and the participants honor those and the focuses that are typically presented in church settings. This episode focuses more on the big picture, which (not coincidentally) also takes us inward and toward intimacy with Christ. How can we have more life before death? Can each day, each moment, be a resurrection? 

088: Resurrection Now

Latter-day Faith is a weekly podcast hosted by Dan Wotherspoon, PhD, that explores faith and its realities for this time in human history. Although each discussion maintains awareness of its primarily Latter-day Saint audience, the conversations, sensibilities, and variety of guests featured are drawn from many religious traditions.

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Latter-day Faith

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