Gems and Baggage: A Conversation with Patrick Mason

For those of us not trained to see the world through a historian's eyes, sometimes learning about and attempting to engage the past can be a daunting task. These problems can be compounded as some members seek to understand different aspects of Church history. But how can understanding our own religious history help us better appreciate certain parts of Restored theology? Is there cultural baggage that we need to shed in order to thrive in the modern era?  That is what Faith Matters seeks to explore as Latter-day Saint theologian and scholar Patrick Mason, sits down for a conversation with Tim and Aubrey Chaves, to discuss "Gems and Baggage", the latest episode on the Faith Matters Podcast channel. Patrick Mason is the Leonard Arrington Chair of the Mormon Studies program at Utah State University. He previously occupied the Howard W. Hunter Chair in Mormon Studies and served as Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at Claremont Graduate University. He’s also the author of “Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt,” co-published by BYU’s Maxwell Institute and Deseret Book. 00:00 Introductions 01:58 Patrick's background 06:39 How has Patrick's profession in history influenced his faith journey 11:02 How did Patrick receive his testimony? 13:57 How can our faith thrive in the 21st century? 19:26 What do we have to offer the world? 28:01 Is the world becoming a better or worse place to live? 34:32 How can we balance being a distinct community and still be inclusive? 38:47 What will be the Church's focus going into its third century of existence? 47:56 How can we view truth in more expansive ways as Latter-day Saints? 51:31 Is there negative baggage in our history or theology that we should let go of? 56:56 What should be the Standard of Truth for Latter-day Saints? 01:08:40 Where is the Church currently headed now? 01:13:21 Where Patrick can be found online, conclusion