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28: "Plant This Word in Your Hearts" (July 13–19)

It's easy to think of "faith" as a super basic topic, but it can be much harder to figure out what it actually looks like IRL (in real life). In this week's study group, we're digging into some pretty well-known chapters on faith in Alma 32-35, and even if you think you know all the Sunday School answers, you might be surprised at all the different ways we can nourish and live our faith, especially during some of our darkest moments.

18: “A Light … That Can Never Be Darkened” (Mosiah 11-17)

Imagine you are going to teach someone who has never heard about Jesus Christ before. What would be the first thing that you would tell them? In this week’s study group, we dig into Mosiah 11-17, some of the most concentrated chapters in the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ's role in our salvation. We'll learn, from the prophet Abinadi's fervent efforts to bring King Noah and the wicked priests to a knowledge of Christ, how we can one day have an “endless happiness.”

Bonus: Natalie Bolles: Meeting, Loving, and Living Life with Garett

Shortly after meeting her husband, Garett, for the first time, Natalie Bolles googled his name and was surprised when a mug shot came up. Hear a brief interview with Natalie about how Garett’s candor and transparency about his past opened her heart.

24: "Enter into the Rest of the Lord" (Alma 13-16)

Sister Neill F. Marriott once said, “the priesthood is not the men of the Church.” In that case, what exactly is the priesthood, and how does priesthood power apply to women? Join us in this week’s exciting study group as we dig into Alma 13-16 with special guest Barbara Morgan Gardner to discuss what priesthood power is and learn how we can access that priesthood power in our everyday lives.

46: “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It Is by Obedience” (Doctrine and Covenants 129–132)

Albert Einstein once said "the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” Excluding our years as know-it-all teenagers, many of us can pinpoint a time when we’ve felt this way. Perhaps that time for you was when you began learning more about plural marriage and how it relates to the Restoration. You’re not alone. As we study Doctrine and Covenants 129–132 this week, we invited two Church historians to help us understand why plural marriage was practiced and what it has to do with the Restoration.

48: He “Has Sealed His Mission and His Works with His Own Blood” (Doctrine and Covenants 135–136)

Few things could have been more discouraging for the early Saints than the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. But although it was a somber time in Church history, the Saints showed remarkable perseverance and faith in the Lord. This week we dig into Doctrine and Covenants 135–136 to put the martyrdom in context as well as look at thoughts from early Saints that will help us see how we too can persevere through our darkest moments.

Brett and Kate McKay: Loving the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Second Half of Life

Various philosophers have often mused that there are two halves of our lives. What separates them is the period of time when we transition from a belief system to a humble inner knowing. This week’s guests, Brett and Kate McKay, are no strangers to the evolution of faith and say they have experienced significant moments of decision within their own faith. But they have also found that it is very possible to transition from the first half of life to the second with your faith intact. They believe faith shouldn’t be boring; instead, it’s very possible to stay passionate about the gospel after leaving young adulthood.

49: “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (Doctrine and Covenants 137–138)

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who die without a knowledge of the gospel? Or what about those who didn’t get a chance to accept it because of mental illness, physical disability, or other life circumstances? If these questions and others about the spirit world have weighed on your mind, Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 can help. These verses are filled with hope and information about what happens to our loved ones after they die and how everyone will have the opportunity to receive the gospel. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into these last two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.

J. David Pulsipher: Making Peace with Book of Mormon Violence

Millions around the world have found peace within the pages of the Book of Mormon; beautiful teachings about the Prince of Peace and His atoning sacrifice calm our fears and instill hope. But the Book of Mormon also covers a great deal of contention and violence. Why were such graphic events included and what are we supposed to learn from all the accounts of war and conflict? In this week’s episode, we talk with J. David Pulsipher, PhD, who has spent the last decade exploring the answer to this question.

Mary Holland McCann: Characteristics of the Mother of the Son of God

A National Geographic headline in 2015 read, “How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman.” Our world is full of people seeking power and influence, but two millennia ago it was a young girl’s choice to have faith in the Lord and become a mother that left the greatest everlasting impact on all mankind. Some may cheapen the value of a mother, but on this week’s episode, Mary Holland McCann helps us look closer at the characteristics that made Mary who she is and how the example she set for her son changed our world.