The Big Questions
Big Questions with Terryl Givens videos
January - How “Great” Was the Great Apostasy? with Ariel Bybee Laughton
The Big Questions
What other Big Questions would you like to see resources on? Is there a perspective we’re missing that we should include? Write to us! info@faithmatters.org.
What do we know about Heavenly Mother?
The doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints. The Church’s essay on the topic can be found here. Based on that essay, we have published the following videos, podcast episodes, and articles you can peruse as you study this cherished doctrine:
In the past, church leaders have made some significant mistakes. How much should I rely on pronouncements and teachings of our leaders today?
It’s difficult to think of another religious organization that holds its leaders in higher esteem and trust. For millions of church members, the witness and ministry of prophets and apostles are living waters. They are experienced as a source of frequent inspiration in good times and a light of hope to the soul in dark times.
Do we misunderstand Christ’s atonement?
The Christian world generally is struggling to understand Christ’s atonement. The old doctrines and explanations sound primitive and do not ring true to many would-be believers today.
I’m going through a period of serious doubt. Does doubt ever lead to greater faith, or is this likely my new normal?
Do we have a dysfunctional relationship with doubt?
How can I make sense of our history of denying priesthood and temple blessings to our Black brothers and sisters?
There is no tidy or pretty answer to this question. But it is a question that, if openly engaged, can teach us a great deal.
Our history with plural marriage is really hard to accept. Shouldn't we just renounce it in the past, present and future and move on?
We asked two intelligent and articulate women and one couple to respond to this big question.
Why do people leave the church and how should we engage with friends or family members who leave?
It’s easy to see why this is a Big Question. This is an age of widespread disaffiliation from religion, especially among younger people. And most of us have a loved one or friend who has decided to step away from the church. It’s important to understand why. It’s important to understand how this transition feels from their point of view. It’s important to understand what part we might play, for good or ill.
How do we reconcile Book of Mormon “problems” with the claim that it is the “most correct” scriptural text?
What did Joseph Smith mean when he declared the Book of Mormon “the most correct of any book on earth”? What did he mean by “correct?” Factually correct? Historically correct? Theologically correct? Did “correct” in Joseph’s mind mean the same as “true?” (Note that “most correct” implies that the book falls short of total “correctness”—i.e. neither Joseph nor the book’s purported authors considered the book flawless).
What about our LGBT brothers and sisters?
This is one of the most painful and controversial issues facing the Church of Jesus Christ.