Practical Pastoring: Empathy Before Explanation

Brandon Bennett currently serves as a Professor of Religious Education at Brigham Young University–Idaho. He previously worked for more than a decade in Seminaries and Institutes of Religion in Utah and Texas, where he was blessed to teach the restored gospel to many remarkable youth and young adults. Throughout much of his adult life, he has held callings working with the rising generation, focusing on strengthening their faith in Jesus Christ and helping them build a firm spiritual foundation.

His experiences as a religious educator and youth leader have reinforced the importance of teaching truth “in plainness” (2 Nephi 31:3). Teaching doctrine with clarity and simplicity has, therefore, become one of his great priorities and convictions. He believes that as we seek to clearly understand and faithfully apply the principles taught in the scriptures and the words of the prophets—free from false assumptions—we place ourselves in a position to more fully receive the Savior’s power, peace, and direction in our lives.

Brandon shares faith-filled thoughts on finding purpose in pain through Jesus Christ. This livestream explores why trials come—from our own choices, mortality, others’ actions, or divine tutoring—and how the Savior’s touch can give any experience meaning. Rather than saying “everything happens for a reason,” Brandon reframes the idea: through Jesus Christ, everything can have a reason and purpose. Drawing on scripture, doctrine, and the story of the man born blind, this discussion offers hope, perspective, and practical faith for anyone navigating hardship—and for leaders counseling others through it.

Links

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Highlights

00:02:31 – The Challenge of Offering Comfort in Trials
00:03:29 – Introduction of Brandon Bennett
00:04:04 – Background on Brandon’s Presentation
00:05:57 – The Complexity of Trials and Comforting Statements
00:07:35 – The Impact of “Everything Happens for a Reason”
00:09:20 – Understanding Trials Through Personal Experience
00:10:07 – The Nature of Adversity
00:11:21 – Orson F. Whitney’s Quote on Pain and Growth
00:12:54 – The Role of the Savior in Our Trials
00:14:27 – The Importance of Perspective in Trials
00:15:58 – The Role of Empathy in Leadership
00:20:51 – The Danger of Speculative Doctrines
00:23:12 – The Power of Empathy in Healing
00:25:04 – The Role of the Savior in Our Trials
00:26:33 – How to Involve Jesus Christ in Our Lives
00:30:25 – The Doctrine of Christ and Accessing His Power
00:34:25 – The Paradox of Grace
00:40:05 – The Nature of the Savior’s Love and Acceptance
00:42:12 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts on Trials and Healing

The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org.

Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes.

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