A Candid Portrait of Joseph Smith

Today, we’re really grateful to share a conversation with historian John Turner about the brand new biography he’s just published: Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.John is a professor of Religious Studies and History at George Mason University. While not a member of the the Latter-day Saint faith, he has had a particular fascination with the early history of Mormonism, and wrote an earlier biography of Brigham Young. Some of the interpretations and conclusions John draws in his book may differ from our own, but we found this new biography on Joseph to be meticulously researched and engagingly written.In this book, John doesn’t aim to settle all debates between Joseph Smith’s supporters and his detractors, but with more primary sources available than ever before, he hoped to provide a fuller picture of a figure who continues to shape who we are today. John says that while the question of “Whether God actually spoke to [Joseph] Smith is a matter of faith… there is no question about his prophetic self-conception.”We assume most listeners are familiar with the general contours of Joseph’s life, so in this conversation we talked with John about some topics we felt needed more exploration: his family’s early hardships and how they might have shaped his resilience as a spiritual leader; what the historical record tells us about the gold plates and Joseph’s visions; and whether Joseph truly instigated and lived plural marriage.What struck us most was John’s portrayal of Joseph’s constant evolution—his willingness to revise, to explore, and to ask better questions. It made us wonder if Joseph’s boldness and openness to change could serve as inspiration to us in today’s church.We know that talking openly about Joseph—his humanity, his complexity, even his mistakes—can be challenging. But we hope this episode helps create more space for recognizing the humanity of our leaders, both past and present.

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Doctrine and Covenants 76

D&C 76 is a spiritual rollercoaster—from darkness and doubt to visions of eternal glory. In this episode, we dive into the incredible promise that those who follow Christ with real intent aren’t just scraping by—they’re being prepared for something eternal. The Celestial Kingdom isn’t just a concept—it’s our potential. Let’s talk about hope, heaven, and how God’s rewards are way bigger than we can imagine.

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Redeeming the Relationship with Your Body

In this week’s episode, coach Kerri Nygard joins Heather to expose the spiritual, emotional, and cultural impact of diet mentality—and offers a healing path forward. With faith as a foundation, Kerri teaches how to move from battling your body to partnering with it. Together, they explore the power of divine identity, how societal messages distort self-worth, and the role our bodies play in God's plan. If you've ever felt stuck in the cycle of shame, comparison, or dieting, this episode offers hope, clarity, and truth.

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Holy Envy – David Butler at Restore

Today, we’re excited to bring you a special episode—a replay of one of our favorite sessions from last year’s Restore Gathering, featuring Dave Butler. We’re also thrilled to let you know that Restore 2025 is happening this September 25–27 in Orem, Utah, and this episode is a great preview of the kind of experience you can expect—thoughtful, joyful, expansive, and rooted in a deep desire to love and understand more fully.

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D&C 72

Have you ever been given a calling in the church that you felt like you haven’t measured up to?  If so, you’re normal!  Hopefully D&C 72 can help those who feel like they are inadequate when it comes to certain calling in the church.

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An Interview with Jasmin Rappeleye

" I think studying a little bit about a hard topic can be more dangerous than studying a lot about a hard topic because there's so much more under the iceberg that can help contextualize what's going on. And so I would definitely say if you're struggling, don't be afraid of the hard questions, but just do it with an approach of faith, hope, and charity. Take a deep breath, make sure you take your time and are doing it in a mindset where you are prepared to tackle these in a rational, reasonable, and faith filled way. But probably more importantly, I ultimately don't think that study and rational thinking is what really keeps people in the church. It really is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. It's those spiritual moments that make us realize that this is true, that this is good, that this is something that is going to bring so much meaning and beauty into my life and this is gonna bring me closer to God than anything else."

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Hope

Gather your family for great stories from great storytellers about holding onto hope in hard times, finding light in the darkest moments, and the small acts of courage that keep us moving forward.

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The Doctrine Related to Being Single or Married

This is a rebroadcast. The episode originally ran in September 2021. Michael A. Goodman has worked for the Church Educational System since 1989 and was the manager of CES College Curriculum before joining the Brigham Young University Church History and Doctrine department in 2007. He is a professor of Religious Education and serves as the RSC’s Associate Publications Director and the Editor of the Religious Educator journal. Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism with Public Relations, a master’s degree in Information Technology, and a PhD in Marriage, Family, and Human Development. He is a co-investigator on the Family Foundations of Youth Development longitudinal research project, focused on adolescent and family faith development and mental health outcomes with a special emphasis on suicidality. Michael is married to Tiina Anita Goodman.

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