I can’t believe we have been producing Engaging Gospel Doctrine for ten years! This special episode discusses the purpose and past of the podcast as well as milestones in my own journey and process. I also discuss the future of the podcast and the Olam Institute and its projects.

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Olam Site
Workplace Wellness Presentation

The Reign of the Judges

Judges is one of the most memorable books of the Bible, but also one of the darkest. We must first grapple with the moral ambiguity of these stories before we can learn from the power and courage of Deborah, the vulnerability and trust of Gideon, and appreciate Samson for the antihero he is portrayed to be.

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Class Member Reading: Judges 2, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 16

Additional Reading: “Judges, The” and “Judges, Book of,” Bible Dictionary

Other Reading: rest of the book of Judges

You can access my Lesson Notes here.
You can access the Annotated Reading here.

Related Episodes
288.2: Judging Judges (OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 19, Sunday School)
288.3: Judging Judges (OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 19, Study Notes)

Covering the Old Testament this year in Sunday School means that we get to study the Exodus, Passover, and Easter at the same time. This striking alignment invites us to explore where in our lives we are in need of Liberation (Exodus), Commemoration (Passover/Sacrament), and Resurrection (Easter).

Reading: Exodus 1-17; Easter

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You can access my Lesson Notes here
Literary analysis of Exodus 14

Related Episodes
282.1: Deliverance; Bondage, Passover, Exodus (Updated)
282.2: Deliverance; Bondage, Passover, Exodus (Sunday School)
282.3: Deliverance; Bondage, Passover, Exodus (Study Notes)
328: Easter

While Joseph seems tricky and somewhat annoying, a deeper reading of Genesis 37-50 reveals themes of accountability and reconciliation. These chapters invite us to reflect on how we can remain true to ourselves and make the best of difficult situations, and how we can live in such a way that we are ready for whatever may come.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here

Related Episodes

In these chapters we read about the inter-generational machinations and drama around the family of Rebekah and her twin sons Jacob and Esau. We are invited to reflect on marriage and family, culture, mindset, relationships, and reconciliation.

Class Reading: Genesis 24-27; 28-33

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Related Episodes

How do we move forward when the world feels like it is ending? How do we bear the pain of feeling the pain of the world? We learn from Noah and Enoch in this episode, who teach us lessons of preparation and compassion.

Reading: Genesis 5-11; Moses 6-8

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You can access my Reading Notes here
You can access my Lesson Notes here

Related Episodes

This episode grapples with the fundamental questions of human nature and purpose. How do we increase and responsibly use our agency, given human limitations?

Reading:
January 16: Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5   
January 9: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5    

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You can access my Reading Notes here
You can access my Lesson Notes here

Related Episodes

We have our greatest chance to progress toward our divine potential when we take seriously our human nature.

This introductory episode for Come Follow Me 2022 reviews the schedule and approach of the podcast for next year, reviews the nature and approaches to scripture, explores the Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price.

Class Reading: Moses 1; Abraham 3

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Sooo many links to past episodes

269.1 Introduction to the Old Testament (updated)
269.2 Introduction to the Old Testament
270.1 Of God and Humans (Moses 1; Updated)
270.2 Of God and Humans (Moses 1; Sunday School)
270.3 Of God and Humans (Moses 1; Study Notes)
271.1 Pre-Existence and Book of Abraham (Updated; Abraham 3; D&C 138; Moses 4:1–4)
271.2 Pre-Existence and Book of Abraham (OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 2, Sunday School)
272.3 Pre-Existence and Book of Abraham (OT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 2, Study Notes)

Celebrating Easter and resurrection is incomplete if we do not also celebrate the Holy Week, which is full of not just life and resurrection, but also disappointment, betrayal, and death. Easter invites us to increase our acceptance of death, which allows us to increase our engagement with life. We, like the women at the tomb, must learn to prepare both for death and for new life that can come powerfully and unexpectedly.

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You can access my Lesson Notes here.

Resources and Related Episodes
328: Easter (New Testament Week 16)
Holy Week, Carol Lynn Pearson
The Journey, David Whyte

This is a time to celebrate renewal and resurrection. In this bonus episode I explain the purpose and contribution of Engaging Gospel Doctrine, comparing its approach to other Sunday School podcasts. There are so many great resources out there!

I also reread Carol Lynn Pearson’s Holy Week, which applies the Easter message to our every day lives, our “little deaths”, as well as the larger message of Resurrection.

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You can access my notes here

Resources
Holy Week, Carol Lynn Pearson
Mediation Mormonism, my “Religion Better than True” approach

Teaching with Power
Beyond the Block
Faithful Feminists
wHoly Human
Dialogue Sunday School
Book of Mormon Central
Unshaken
Follow Him
Beyond Come Follow Me
Talking Scripture
Latter-day Peace Studies Presents
Saints in the South

It is a shame we shorten this phrase to “The only true Church”, because I think “living” is a very important part of the statement. What does it mean to say the LDS Church is the “only true and living Church”? How do our Heavenly Parents interact with their children? What is the relationship between the different religions of the world? Why does it matter if we are a member of one religion rather than another?

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Come Follow Me Reading: Doctrine & Covenants 20-22

Join a rich and inspiring discussion with Geoff, Mike, and Amber.

You can access my Lesson Notes here.

You can access my Reading Notes here.

Resources:

Updated post here

• A Church-produced podcast on the topic.
• Mormon Matters episode on the One True Church
• Don Bradley, The Grand Fundamental Principles of Mormonism
• 1978 First Presidency Message, God’s Love for All Mankind
• Terry and Fiona Givens, The God Who Weeps (see Chapter 4, “None of them is lost”)
• Mormonism as the Most True Church 
• Usage of “only true Church”