“The Great Plan of Happiness”   This core episode puts the provocative idea of God losing godhood in the context of the Plan of Happiness and its opposite, the Plan of Damnation. I also discuss two possible additional projects, covering the Youth Sunday School lessons and the Gospel Topics essays. $5   $10   $25   $50 One… Continue Reading

“Give Ear to My Words”   This lesson and the next provide a precious and intimate window in the family life of Alma, one of the great Book of Mormon prophets. These chapters fit into the genre of “Testament”, which records the wisdom and blessings imparted by the patriarch of a family (unfortunately, we don’t… Continue Reading

“Give Ear to My Words”   Alma’s intimate words to his sons model a way to use honest sharing about the past to better the present and future. This core episode covers Alma’s path to peace, the principle that we cannot feel greater joy than we have experienced pain, the underappreciated figure of Shiblon, and… Continue Reading

“The Word Is in Christ unto Salvation”   How many superstars of theology can we fit into a few chapters? Truth. Prayer. Atonement. These chapters contain some of the most memorable lessons and gems in the Book of Mormon. The “experiment upon the word” in Alma 32, Amulek’s powerful sermon on the Atonement and role… Continue Reading

“The Word Is in Christ unto Salvation”   This reading proves not only interesting for discussion, but can be life changing. This core episode discusses the power and importance of experimenting on the word, the distinction between belief, knowledge, and faith, and how we can experience heaven on earth.   Class member reading: Alma 32-35… Continue Reading

“All Things Denote There Is a God”   I jokingly call this lesson “Apostates week”. The key exchanges this lesson are Alma vs. Korihor and then Alma and his companions vs. the Zoramites. We are going to push a bit in approach with this lesson, use these scriptures to challenge us a touch. Kind of… Continue Reading

“All Things Denote There Is a God”   One of the problems with our beliefs is that they are obvious–to us. The familiar is so self-evident that often we can’t even imagine how anyone could believe anything different. Further, even if “all things denote there is a God”, we as humans are not equipped to… Continue Reading

“Converted unto the Lord” Here is the full episode on Lesson 26. These chapters tell of conversions through miraculous and even troubling means, inspiring devotion to principle, and overwhelming joy. We also have angel-wannabe Alma teaching us a powerful truth about God calling prophets among all people. Debbie, Whitney, Adam and Jason join the class.… Continue Reading

“Converted unto the Lord”   These chapters tell of conversions through miraculous and even troubling means, inspiring devotion to principle, and overwhelming joy. We also have angel-wannabe Alma teaching us a powerful truth about God calling prophets among all people.   Class Member Reading: Alma 23-29   Recurring Donation: $5   $10   $25   $50 One Time… Continue Reading