Saints Unscripted

In this episode, Robert joins us to share his unique conversion story. Robert talks about being raised in the church, his mission, which gave him heavy depression, leaving the church and slowly making his way back to the gospel.  However it took a while for him to recover his feelings towards the church. Faith crisis, heavy depression and leaving the church have all been obstacles in his path. But nothing has been able to stop Robert from over coming everything in his life so far. Now he feels like he is, 100% a disciple of Christ.  Robert also teaches us, that it is possible to get out of the friend-zone. 😉 

We all know that Kwaku has been on many, many dates. It's time to address his secret to dating in the Mormon world.  Kwaku talks about going on dates, the best ways to get ready for a date, the best things to do on a date and more.  What did you think about Kwaku's dating tips? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to let us know!

With the 4th of July approaching, Ian and Kwaku talk about how the settlement of the United States was vital to the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. America is a promised land, as prophesied in the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon says that America was prepared as a free land in order for the restoration of the gospel to take place. Religious freedom is necessary in order for the gospel to thrive.  Mormons believe that the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were both inspired by God. If we live by the text as being a sacred text, we will have the opportunity to reap of many blessings of God.  But Mormonism isn't just a religion for Americans. It is a religion for everyone. If we follow the commandments of the Lord, we will be blessed.  Ian says that the Fourth of July should be a day of celebrating common values. Kwaku says that freedom and truth will always prevail over wickedness and bondage. He also says that we should thank God on the Fourth of July.  Kwaku and Ian then talk about the Founding Fathers. They risked their lives but the Lord was on their side. They were clearly inspired by God. Kwaku says that God wants liberty and freedom and agency, which is what the United States was able to facilitated in the late 1700's.  Then, Ian and Kwaku talk about how the Founding Fathers appeared to Wilford Woodruff, a prophet of the Mormon Church, in the St George Utah Temple. The Founding Fathers asked President Woodruff to do their work in the temple.  What are your thoughts? Let us know by contacting us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!

Ian talks about what it's like to be a kid in the Mormon church.   When Ian was 8 years old, he was baptized in the Mormon Church. He said that after a year, he finally learned about the Holy Ghost. Ian was almost severely injured in a car accident when he learned that the Holy Ghost protects people and brings peace.   Ian says that the gospel is a gospel of choices. He was never forced to go to Church or to live as a Mormon. He was taught by his parents about the blessings of the LDS Church but he wasn't forced to live the commandments. He decided on his own to read the Book of Mormon. When Ian read the Book of Mormon, he prayed about the Book of Mormon and knew that it was true, though at first he was scared that it might not be. But Ian said he felt so much light and happiness when he prayed that he could not deny that the Book of Mormon was true.  When Ian was 16 years old, he was watching the World Series in 2009 when his dad left to do an interview at a church building. Ian went to sleep but was awakened by the police who informed him that his mom had filed a Missing Person's report. The next day, while Ian was at school, he was called down to the office to find that his dad had passed away. He said he felt so much sadness and darkness. He didn't want to believe it. He told his mom that everything was going to be okay but he was still confused. He had to figure out if he was going to live with his family after death. He felt the Holy Ghost tell him to calm down. All of his anger left instantly after he felt the Holy Ghost.  The gospel is an invitation. Pray to know if the things that you are reading are true.   Growing up in the Church does not mean that someone is indoctrinated.   What do you think about growing up in the Mormon Church? What do you think about the Holy Ghost? Send us a DM on Facebook or Instagram! 

There have been quite a few changes in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called the Mormon Church or LDS Church). The changes increased in frequency with the calling of the prophet Russell M. Nelson, after the death of President Thomas S. Monson.  Changes are inevitable in a church that believes in modern day revelation. So how do we react when change happens? Is there a correct way to react? Can I be frustrated when change happens?  The Church of Jesus Christ emphasizes the importance of personal revelation-- that you should seek to know for yourself if certain policies and doctrines are of God. Blind obedience is discouraged.  One of President Nelson's first General Conference talks as the President (Prophet) of the Church was concerning modern day revelation. Read the full talk here: https://bit.ly/2q5w5dH What do you think about going through changes in the Church? What's the best perspective to have? Let us know in the comments! 

Stephen Smoot returns to Saints Unscripted to discuss evidence to prove the Book of Mormon's truth. Kwaku wonders if there's any archeological evidence that's been found, proving the existence of  Nephites and Lamanites. Stephen Smoot brings up the ancient city of Nahom and why it's not just coincidence that Joseph Smith wrote about it. 

If there is a God and if God is all loving, wouldn't His followers have perfect lives? Why do bad things happen to good people? Shouldn't followers of Christ have it easy? Why am I punished for no reason?  SO. MANY. QUESTIONS! And all valid. One of the most common questions that missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as Mormons) are asked is how God can exist if bad things happen? Especially to people who don't deserve hard things?  In this episode, David, Mimi, and Justin talk about why they think bad things happen to good people.  Why do you think bad things happen to good people? Let us know what you think via Instagram or Facebook DM :) 

The LDS Church was restored during an era of intense racial discrimination. Christianity at large had all kinds of racial prejudices that would be deemed unacceptable today. Pastors advocated slavery, preachers would openly say, “black people will not be saved, “ etc. However, during the time of Christ, he advocated the acceptance of all people. Needless to say, there was lots of hypocrisy among Christians.     We need to understand that we don’t have to agree with everything the prophet says in regards to his own opinions. There is a difference between doctrine and opinion. Ian jokes that if everyone were to take Mormon opinion as doctrine, every Mormon would subscribe to the Glenn Beck show.  Kwaku talks about the ban that Brigham Young put on black people. The ban disallowed black people to go to the temple or hold the priesthood. (This doesn’t mean they couldn’t be baptized.) The ban was lifted in 1978.   No matter how we justify the ban, Elder Holland has said, “All I can say is however well intentioned the explanations were, almost all of them were inadequate and/or wrong.”    Ian says that prophets of God are not infallible humans. He goes on to say that racism is unfortunate and wrong, so it's a good thing society has become increasingly more accepting over the years.    Kwaku makes the argument that Mormons were much more progressive than other people were at the time. He said that Brigham Young advocated for mixed-race people. He invited the minorities to come live in the Mormon communities so they could be safe (while Kwaku says this fact in the video, it likely wasn't Brigham Young but rather W.W. Phelps, who was also of the Mormon Faith). He talks about a cartoon of Brigham Young where he is holding hands with young children of all different races, indicating that Mormons were a diverse group that was thus anti-American (as clarification, it may be that the cartoon isn't necessarily depicting Brigham Young but another authority in the LDS religion). Ian agrees and says that Joseph Smith ran for president as an abolitionist.    As far as the Mormon priesthood ban goes, the Mormon church has never said that it is doctrine. Sure, the priesthood ban may be strange but it should be something that we explore with faith and seek further understanding.  Kwaku says that the Mormon Church is the best church for black people. It is the best church for all of God’s children because it is The Restored Church.  

Should we be punished for Adam’s transgression? Did Adam’a transgression make it so that we’re all inherently sinners? Was the fall of Adam necessary?  In this episode we talk ALL about our beliefs about the fall of Adam and Eve. We talk about how we are NOT punished for what Adam did but only punished for our own sins. We talk about how the Church of Jesus Christ (otherwise known as the Mormon Church) might differ in beliefs of other Christian religions.  What do you think about the fall of Adam and Eve? Let us know via FB or Instagram DM! 

This week on Saints Unscripted, special guest Stephen Smoot talks with Ian and Kwaku about the Book of Mormon.    Stephen graduated from BYU with a degree in Ancient Near Eastern Studies. Stephen is currently working on his Master's degree in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations with a focus in Egyptology. As he studies, Stephen also works for Book of Mormon Central, a website for Book of Mormon scholarship (both contemporary and from the past). Check out the links below to follow Book of Mormon Central!    Ian, Kwaku and Stephen first address a question regarding the seer stones. Why was a stone used as an aid in translating the Book of Mormon? The topic is controversial for many reasons.    First, artwork has depicted Joseph Smith as translating the Book of Mormon without the use of stones. However, artwork isn't always historically accurate.   Second, the idea of using seer stones is very strange to people today. The process of translation took place in an era that fully accepted and embraced the possibility of God using tools on the earth in order to accomplish His work. Using seer stones would not have been strange in the 1800s. Kwaku makes a joke that in the future, we'll look back to the current era and wonder why we did things, including getting implants to look like Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian.    Stephen says that in the history of the world, there have been many occasions when prophets used instruments to accomplish God's work. Moses used a staff, the Israelites used the arc of the covenant, and in the New Testament, Jesus performs miracles by spitting in clay to cure people.  Stephen reads a scripture in the Book of Mormon which talks about Gazelem. What is Gazelem, a servant or a stone?  Joseph Smith could certainly say that the work was accomplished by the gift and power of God. God has prepared means in order for people on the earth to accomplish His work.    Follow Book of Mormon Central!  Website: https://bookofmormoncentral.org/