FAIR

Podcast

Best of FAIR 6: Adam in Ancient Texts and the Restoration

by

Podcast: Download (32.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

In the address from the 2006 FAIR Conference, Matthew Roper states: “Critics of Latter-day Saint Scripture and teachings have generally paid very little attention to the Book of Moses. Those who have condescended to comment on it have generally dismissed it as a shallow plagiarism of New Testament doctrines and themes if they do not ignore it altogether. Such dismissals show an unawareness on the part of these commentators of the often striking convergences between the Latter-day Saint scripture and the ancient world. Critics, skeptics and the disaffected have in my view greatly underestimated the revelations of Joseph Smith. Unfortunately, so have many members of the Church of Jesus Christ.”

The full text of this address can be found at here.

Matthew Roper (MS from Brigham Young University), is a resident scholar at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University.

FAIR Issues 13: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 13

by

Podcast: Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A prophet speaks the words of the Lord. But if a prophet is not always acting as a prophet, how are we supposed to know when the President of the Church or another Church leader is speaking as the mouthpiece of the Lord? Listen to this episode for a discussion of these issues. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore. Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Click the “like” buttton below to share a link on your Facebook page. Help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by subscribing, writing a review and rating this podcast in iTunes.

“FAIR Conversations,” Episode 10: John E. Sanders

by

If Jesus Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and no one can receive salvation except through Him, what happens to those who die without having heard of Him? What is the destiny of the “unevangelized”? The revelations of Joseph Smith articulate an impressive response to this question, a question which has confronted Christian thinkers for centuries.

In this episode of FAIR Conversations, Professor John E. Sanders joins host Blair Hodges to discuss how various Christians have sought to resolve this problem over time. Sanders is an American Christian theologian with an Evangelical background. He currently serves as chair of religious studies at Hendrix College in Arkansas. He is the author of No Other Name: The Destiny of the Unevangelized.

Sanders has provided a useful chart outlining the individuals and positions discussed in this podcast here.

Questions or comments about this episode can be sent to [email protected]. Or, join the conversation in the comments here at fairblog.org.

Runtime:

73:14

Download:

Podcast: Download (33.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

To download, right click the “Download” link above and select “Save link as…”
You can also download the episode or subscribe to all episodes of the FAIR Podcast in iTunes here.

Support FAIR:

FAIR relies on contributions from readers and listeners. To help support FAIR, make a donation today.

FAIR Issues 12: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 12

by

Podcast: Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

What constitutes “official” Mormon doctrine? Clearly, the scriptures contain official doctrine. But what counts as “scripture?” Are statements of the First Presidency official “doctrine?” What about statements of Joseph Smith, the Journal of Discourses or general conference addresses? Listen to this episode for a discussion of these issues. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore. Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast
by rating it in iTunes.

FAIR Issues 11: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 11

by

Podcast: Download (6.1MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Why would God allow prophets to make mistakes? Aren’t general authorities supposed to be perfect? Are there exceptions to the rules given by the prophets and apostles? How can we know if our personal circumstances justify an exception? These issues, and others are explored in this episode. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

FAIR Issues, 10: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 10

by

Podcast: Download (5.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Can prophets make mistakes? If so, then what does it mean that they won’t “lead the people of the church astray?” Do members of the Church have the power themselves to keep from being led astray? The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times. Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

FAIR Issues 9: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 9

by

Podcast: Download (5.9MB)

Subscribe: RSS

In this episode, Michael Ash asks, why are some intelligent and rational members negatively affected by critical claims, while others are not?  The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

FAIR Issues, 8: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 8

by

Podcast: Download (6.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Are those who leave the Church simply acting rationally? Is an LDS testimony based only on emotional “feelings?” Or do believers and non-believers alike base their positions on a combination of rational, irrational and extra-rational factors? Michael Ash discusses these issues in this episode.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the Mormon FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the Mormon FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.

Best of FAIR, 5: A Black Man in Zion: Reflections on Race in the Restored Gospel

by

Podcast: Download (22.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Marcus H. Martins was the first Black man to serve a full-time mission after the revelation that extended the priesthood to worthy men with Black African ancestry in 1978. He was also among the first to be ordained a high priest in 1981 and quite possibly–at least outside of Africa–may have been among the first to be ordained a bishop in 1987. Since 1994, he has been the first Black man to work as a religion professor in the Church’s universities: Brigham Young University; then Rick’s College; BYU-Idaho and BYU-Hawaii. In this 2006 FAIR Conference address, he speaks of the burden carried by Latter-day Saints with Black African ancestry, and how he has been able to reconcile the pain he has experienced with his faith in the Church.

Brother Martins is the author of the book Setting the Record Straight – Blacks and the Mormon Priesthood, which can be purchased at the FAIR Bookstore.

The full text of this address can be found at FAIR LDS.

FAIR Issues, 7: Challenging Issues and Keeping the Faith Pt 7

by

Podcast: Download (6.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

People can experience discomfort, and even distress, when they encounter new information that conflicts with deeply held beliefs. This is called “cognitive dissonance.”  When this happens, we either: (1) reject the new information as false; (2) reject the new information as unimportant; (3) reject old beliefs in favor of the new information; or (4) find new information to validate the original belief. These various ways of resolving cognitive dissonance can be rational, irrational, or extra-rational and are used by faithful members as well as by anti-Mormons alike. The full text of this article can be found at Mormon Times.

Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore.

Tell your friends about the FAIR-Cast. Share a link on your Facebook page and help increase the popularity of the FAIR-Cast by rating it in iTunes.