Brigham Young loved the Deseret alphabet, and so do we. It’s so cool looking and old and kinda weird. It’s perfect Mormon history and it’s forever enshrined in Unicode. Let’s take a look! Link to new Face in Hat discord server! https://discord.gg/MnSMvKHvwh Start here! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret_alphabet English Phonotypic Alphabet, developed by Sir Isaac Pitman and Alexander John Ellis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Phonotypic_Alphabet George D. Watt https://en.wikipedia.or...
Oct 09, 2021•53 min
Did you know they had smallpox vaccines in the 1700s? Join us as we kick off season 4 of Face in Hat with some history and then an in-depth look at one of the most important modern miracles, the mRNA vaccine against Covid 19. Link to new Face in Hat discord server! https://discord.gg/MnSMvKHvwh The Plague Year: The mistakes and the struggles behind America’s coronavirus tragedy, by Lawrence Wright https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/01/04/the-plague-year Twitter thread by by Michael Harriot ...
Sep 26, 2021•56 min
We missed posting this one during Pride month, but it’s relevant! Join us for a conversation with local beloved Berkeleyite Paul. We hear how his relative worked on the Oakland Temple in the 50s, and about Paul’s life being gay in San Francisco in the 80s. He loves the temple, and hearing his testimony was delightful. Thanks Paul! David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 Photos...
Jul 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min
We had too many great stories to fit into our Church building program episode so here’s some more from Aaron’s uncles!
Jun 18, 2021•21 min•Ep. 13
Aaron’s Grandpa was a building missionary who built churches all over the pacific northwest. We welcome Aaron’s uncles onto the show (yay!) who helped build these churches as the family moved from location to location. We were very happy to hear what it was like on the ground during one of the most rapid expansions in the church’s history. Thanks for joining us! David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Moder...
Jun 12, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Temple renovations in Manti were scheduled to remove murals by LDS painter Minerva Teichert, but that decision was reversed. Join us as we look into her story and work, art in the church in general, and how remembrance and ritual soaks in our very beings. Minerva Teichert https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minerva_Teichert The Deseret Alphabet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deseret_alphabet John Hafen's "O My Father" illustrations: https://byustudies.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/36.1PheyseyTesti...
May 20, 2021•53 min
This was a fun one and we went all over the place. From a really great 1700s poem on truth, to BYU spy rings, to the nature of character in education, join us as we look at what church education looked like in the 60s and speculate on how it might have been different today. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 "Act Well Thy Part", David O. McKay's Lifelong Motto https://edu...
Apr 21, 2021•58 min
How did the church become international? How much more do we have to go? Let’s look at David O. McKay’s contribution and see how we can apply it to our present church. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 Liken the scriptures unto yourselves: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/19.23-24#23 Find more about the Beyond the Block and the Foyer podcast...
Apr 07, 2021•40 min
For Black History Month, we study Chapter 4 of David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism: “Blacks, Civil Rights, and the Priesthood.” The ban on black people holding the Priesthood was lifted in 1978. The people, politics, and circumstances leading up to it, particularly in McKay’s time in the 50s and 60s, makes for a difficult, but fascinating conversation. Struggle along with us as we grapple with the past to try and shape a better future. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism,...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Following our theme of change in the church, we look at how our approach to media has changed over the last half century, from the early days of broadcasting to recent attitude shifts regarding social media and embracing new forms of communication David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 An Honest Liar (2014) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2246565/ “‘Julie Through the Glass’: The...
Feb 14, 2021•39 min
What do we do when we disagree with family, neighbors, and friends over things so important to us that it seems impossible to reconcile? David O’McKay’s fundamental belief in free agency and love of those around him meant he respected other’s beliefs and lived a life of tolerance, while still taking action when he thought it was needed. In this episode we look at specific examples of tolerance from his life and try to apply these lessons to our own lives as we navigate the modern world of opinio...
Jan 23, 2021•54 min
Today we discussed McKay Coppin’s article “The Most American Religion”, published in The Atlantic. It’s a great read or listen (find the audio link in the article!). We were particularly interested in his discussion of how our desire for acceptance affects how we interact with others as people of faith, and we applied that to our own experiences being LDS on the internet. The Most American Religion, by McKay Coppins: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/01/the-most-american-religion...
Dec 30, 2020•38 min
David O’McKay helped strengthen interfaith relationships during his tenure as President of the Church, yet Mormonism and the Catholic Church had a rocky relationship in the late 50s. Thanks to several key events and the loving patience and ministry of Catholic Bishop Duane Hunt, the rift was healed and David O’McKay’s own attitude was changed. Can this be a model for healing divides in modern communities? Maybe! Let’s talk about it! The Great Brain book series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_...
Nov 26, 2020•48 min
‘Tis the season for a show about politics! Join us as we look at political polarization in the 50s and 60s and trace its effects all the way forward to 2020. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince and WM Robert Wright https://www.amazon.com/David-McKay-Rise-Modern-Mormonism/dp/0874808227 The Law of Consecration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_consecration The United Order https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Order#cite_note-Clark04-1942-26 Diogenes was searchin...
Oct 31, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Ever heard of the baseball baptisms? Missionary Work during David O’Mckay’s presidency has some swings! Come for the crazy stories and stay for the embarrassing ones. We continue reading “David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism,” this time chapter 10, “Missionary Work”. Whence the Early Baptismal Challenges, by Angela C. https://bycommonconsent.com/2019/08/06/whence-the-early-baptismal-challenges/...
Oct 17, 2020•1 hr 6 min
During President McKay’s tenure, the church tripled its membership. The reorganization of the church to handle this unprecedented growth was known as ‘correlation’. How did this process affect the church, its quorums and auxiliaries? What were some of the side effects? We again use David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism as a reference for today, focusing on chapter 7, “Correlation and Church Administration”. David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, by Gregory A Prince https://ww...
Sep 26, 2020•58 min
Welcome to season 3! We introduce our themes for the year, and after that take a deep dive on baptism. This year we’ll be focusing on change in the church, and how our expectations of true doctrine clash with the realities of a people-led church. Notes: “I’m coming to the conclusion that 1933 was the hinge upon which modern Mormonism pivoted: It was the year BH Roberts died and J Reuben Clark joined the First Presidency, thus marking the sunset of one potential Mormon trajectory and the dawn of ...
Sep 06, 2020•1 hr 12 min
The second season of Face in Hat concluded with the previous episode regarding Christopher Columbus and Black Lives Matter. We'll be starting our third season this fall with more episodes, continuing as part of the Dialogue podcasting network. In the meantime, enjoy Eric’s lecture, "Triangulating God: Eighty-seven Angles on the First Vision." In it, Eric approaches the question of "how to explain an experience no one shares? Joseph Smith struggled throughout his life to explain the First Vision ...
Jul 31, 2020•1 min
“Bioshock Infinite can make you feel uncomfortable.” - Kevin VanOrd. So will 2020. We talk about civic religion in the video game Bioshock Infinite and how it relates to the apotheosis of Christopher Columbus and racism in the church. We end with a discussion of the current nationwide protests and affirm that #BlackLivesMatter. We thank @BenjaminEPark for two twitter threads that inspired this episode and we cite him extensively. See https://twitter.com/benjaminepark/status/1164696231634976768 a...
Jun 03, 2020•1 hr 18 min
We love the Fall. Adam, Eve, fruit, the whole thing. Today we talk about the LDS perspective on the Fall, including what LDS scriptures bring to understanding this monumental event. Nifty poetry too! A Harmony of the Creation Accounts, from the Pearl of Great Price Student Manual https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-pearl-of-great-price-student-manual-2018/a-harmony-of-the-creation-accounts?lang=eng The Pearl of Greatest Price: Mormonism's Most Controversial Scripture, by Terryl ...
Apr 26, 2020•1 hr 5 min
We take a break from our LDS miscellany to discuss the current pandemic using the recent conference as a backdrop. Please note the upcoming world-wide fast on Good Friday. “We will conquer the coronavirus, apostle Holland says” https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/04/05/latest-sundays-lds/ April 2020 World Report https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSqT1bPmYb8 Mosiah 4:16-19 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/4.16-19#16 Crowd-fight COVID-19: an initiative from the scien...
Apr 09, 2020•43 min
Spoilers ahead! We welcome David, a fellow Berkeley Wardian, as guest to the show today to talk about the final episode of the Good Place and its parallels with LDS views on redemption and exaltation The Good Place https://www.nbc.com/the-good-place Sacred time vs. profine time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_return_(Eliade) The Seven Deadly Heresies, by Bruce R. McConkie https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/seven-deadly-heresies/ Fair mormon question https://www.fairmormon.org/...
Feb 28, 2020•54 min
He was lookin’ for a podcast to steal. He was in a bind, ‘cause he was way behind, but we wouldn’t accept him as a sponsor for this episode, so neener neener. Here’s some references! Gospel topics article https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/satan Wiki! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan Recency bias https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases LDS General Conference Corpus https://www.lds-general-conference.org/ Huckabee Is Not Alone in Ignorance on Mormonis...
Feb 10, 2020•54 min
Doubt and skepticism is a recurring theme on Face in Hat. Today we look at President Uchtdorf’s 2013 talk, “Come, Join with Us”, which includes the now famous phrase “doubt your doubts.” What does this mean and how do different people in the church interpret it? “Come, Join with Us”, by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct 2013 General Conference session https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us Heisenberg uncertainty principle https://en.wikipedia.org/w...
Jan 25, 2020•1 hr
Mormons have interesting proscriptions. Some are more open to interpretation than others, and how they are interpreted has changed over our history. We look at the Word of Wisdom, rated R movies, and the Sabbath day as three examples. D&C 89: The Word of Wisdom https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89 Word of Wisdom gospel topic https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom Thomas G. Alexander, "The Word of Wisdom: From Principle...
Dec 14, 2019•53 min
Albert Einstein, C. S. Lewis, Carl Sagan, Paul. Talking about evolution, Adam and Eve, death, and the March of Progress takes us on quite the journey! Wiki on Mormon views on evolution https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_views_on_evolution Meanwhile, in Ohio… https://local12.com/news/local/ohio-house-passes-bill-allowing-student-answers-to-be-scientifically-wrong-due-to-religion Paul’s teaching about faith https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/11.1-40 See also, Alma and th...
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 3 min
How do LDS works get canonized? Should the King Follet Discourse be scripture? What about other teachings of Joseph Smith or more recent prophets? Lots of references in the show notes for this one. Check them out! The King Follett Discourse http://mldb.byu.edu/follett.htm Mormon Literature Online Anthology Sampler, Selections from various genres and periods of Mormon Literature http://mldb.byu.edu/mlitsamp.htm Wiki for the King Follett Discourse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_discour...
Nov 12, 2019•57 min
For the start of season 2, Aaron and Eric chat about the Millenium, signs of the second coming, transhumanism, and what % of the world is going to what % of hell in what % of a handbasket :) Gospel topics second coming/millennium https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/second-coming-of-jesus-christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/millennium 5 myths about the millennium by Robert L. Millet http://www.ldsliving.com/5-Millennium-Myths-You-Though...
Sep 29, 2019•1 hr 11 min
What do mummies, papyrus, and a great fire have to do with modern scripture? Join us as we look at the broad meaning of the word translation and how it can be applied to Joseph Smith’s work and the Pearl of Great Price. Changes to the Lord’s Prayer https://www.ucatholic.com/news/pope-francis-approves-changes-to-lords-prayer-gloria-of-italian-missal/ Joseph Smith’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/jst/jst-matt/6.14 Wiki: Joseph Smith’s translat...
Jun 08, 2019•44 min
Let’s talk about aliens! Our hosts discuss the Fermi paradox, Drake’s equation and SETI, and then cover how Mormon doctrines about many worlds relate to the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Wiki links! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fermi_paradox https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_cosmology https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Follett_discourse Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell The Fermi Paradox — Where Are All The Aliens? Parts 1 and 2: https://www.yout...
May 04, 2019•51 min
