FAIR

Testimonies

The Eternal Gift of Testimony

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In his October 2025 General Conference address, “The Eternal Gift of Testimony,” Elder Kevin G. Brown taught that testimony is a divine gift from God—one that is meant to endure opposition, grow through effort, and be strengthened by righteous choice. Drawing on personal experience and prophetic teaching, he emphasized that testimony is not something we passively receive and then permanently possess, but something we must actively choose, nurture, and defend.

This addresses an important question many wrestle with: If testimony truly comes from God, shouldn’t it come effortlessly—and remain without effort? [Read more…] about The Eternal Gift of Testimony

The Lord Is Hastening His Work

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In his October 2025 General Conference address, Elder Quentin L. Cook taught that while the Lord is hastening His work across the world, discipleship remains deeply personal: it is a covenant journey built on steady effort, not flawless performance. He emphasized that even as converts and longtime members feel inadequate or underprepared, the Lord invites all to progress along the covenant path with faith and patience.

A common misconception arises here: If I don’t understand everything or live flawlessly, am I really ready for temple covenants? [Read more…] about The Lord Is Hastening His Work

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

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Nine Years: Why God Lets Good People Wait for Answers

by Autumn Dickson

This is a message for anyone who feels that they have found God and love Him, but also carry around a doctrine or policy that doesn’t make sense to them; this is for anyone who is having a difficult time reconciling the idea of a loving God (with whom they’ve had good experiences) with doctrines that don’t seem loving to them. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 – Part 2 – Autumn Dickson

Classic FAIR – I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church – Davis Bitton, 2004

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“I Don’t Have a Testimony of the History of the Church” by Davis Bitton at the 2004 FAIR Conference

I don’t have a testimony of the history of the Church. That is why I can be a historian and also a believing Latter-day Saint. I will expand on this idea, but first let me address some related questions.

Do all well-informed historians become anti-Mormons?

The critics would have you believe that they are disinterested pursuers of the truth. There they were, minding their own business, going about their conscientious study of Church history and–shock and dismay!–they came across this, whatever this is, that blew them away. As hurtful as it is for them, they can no longer believe in the Church and, out of love for you, they now want to help you see the light of day.

Let’s get one thing clear: There is nothing in Church history that leads inevitably to the conclusion that the Church is false. There is nothing that requires the conclusion that Joseph Smith was a fraud. How can I say this with such confidence? For the simple reason that the historians who know most about our Church history have been and are faithful, committed members of the Church. Or, to restate the situation more precisely, there are faithful Latter-day Saint historians who know as much about this subject as any anti-Mormon or as anyone who writes on the subject from an outside perspective. With few exceptions, they know much, much more. They have not been blown away. They have not gnashed their teeth and abandoned their faith. To repeat, they have found nothing that forces the extreme conclusion our enemies like to promote.

CONTINUED HERE

Classic FAIR – Faith and Cognitive Dissonance – Wendy Ulrich, 2005

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“‘Believest thou…?’: Faith, Cognitive Dissonance, and the Psychology of Religious Experience” by Wendy Ulrich at the 2005 FAIR Conference

It’s an old and frequent spiritual question, and it shows up in many forms. It is the question Jesus asks the disciples who hear his troubling and offending discourse on being someone whose flesh must be eaten and whose blood drunk by those who would have eternal life. The discourse confuses many, who turn back and follow him no more, and then, to those who remain Jesus asks the question, “Will ye also go away?” To the man who seeks out Jesus to heal his deeply troubled son, the question is implied, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” To Nephi, approached by an angel after he is carried away to the top of a high mountain, the question is more direct: “Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?” And to the brother of Jared, who asks to see the premortal Jesus after hearing his voice and seeing his hand, the question is perhaps most clearly stated, “Believest thou the words which I shall speak?”

Believest thou? I am increasingly impressed by the implications of this simple question, and by how often it is at the heart of my mortal dilemmas. Do I believe God’s commandments and teachings, or do I find other explanations of reality more credible for getting what I want or keeping me safe? Do I trust him to tell me the truth, even when it includes improbable and invisible things? Do I trust him to have the love, the will, and the power to save me despite the ways I am not worthy? Do I trust him to keep his promises? Do I believe?

CONTINUED HERE

 

The Cause for Christ Episode 2: Scrupulosity (moral and religious OCD) with Dr. Debra McClendon

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In this episode, Ryan sits down with Debra McClendon to discuss religious OCD, also known as Scrupulosity. Debra shares valuable advice for those navigating Scrupulosity while striving to stay faithful within the church. They explore what approaches tend to be effective, what often falls short, and dive into topics like consecration, burnout, and finding balance. If you or someone you know struggles with Scrupulosity, anxiety, or toxic perfectionism, we hope this conversation offers insight and support.

Debra Theobald McClendon, PhD is a licensed psychologist in the state of Utah and has interjurisdictional authorization to work with clients in most U.S. states. She specializes in treating those with scrupulosity, a religious and moral subtype of OCD. She is the owner of The OCD & Scrupulosity Clinic (ocdscrupulosityclinic.com) and is a member of the International OCD Foundation. She has been interviewed on podcasts, published articles, and published the book: “Freedom from Scrupulosity: Reclaiming Your Religious Experience from Anxiety and OCD.”

Ryan Sorensen is a native of Cache Valley, Utah. He earned his Bachelor’s degree at BYU-Idaho and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at Abilene Christian University, with plans to become a chaplain after graduation. Ryan previously hosted a podcast called The Whom Shall We Go? Podcast. In his spare time, he enjoys being involved in interfaith work, reading about Latter-day Saint theology and history, training for triathlons, and spending time with friends and family.

Trusting God’s Boundaries: Faithfully Navigating Modern Challenges

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Can faith and trust in God’s guidance coexist with personal doubts?

Elder David P. Homer’s recent General Conference address, “Trusting Our Father,” explores a fundamental question: How can we fully trust God’s will, even when it challenges our own understanding? Drawing on historical and scriptural examples, Elder Homer emphasizes that God’s boundaries are eternal and defined by His love for us. As we seek to understand these divine truths, this talk offers valuable insights for those facing doubts or challenges to their faith. [Read more…] about Trusting God’s Boundaries: Faithfully Navigating Modern Challenges

Consider Conference: Pillars and Rays

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2024 April General Conference, Sunday Morning Session

Pillars and Rays

Elder Alexander Dushku
Of the Seventy

Main Points

  • We too can have our own pillar of light—one ray at a time.
  • No two people experience God’s light and truth in exactly the same way.
  • Most of us receive truth line upon line, not in one big revelation

[Read more…] about Consider Conference: Pillars and Rays

Consider Conference: Think Celestial!

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2023 October General Conference, Sunday Afternoon Session
Think Celestial!
Russell M. Nelson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Main Points

“Thinking Celestial” means to view our choices and the circumstances of our lives with an eternal perspective. [Read more…] about Consider Conference: Think Celestial!