The Cultural Hall Podcast

Picturing Christ tells the story of how Latter-day Saints and other Christians have imagined Jesus and portrayed him in art throughout history, as well as what the archaeological evidence suggests about what he might have looked like. Though what Jesus did is more important than how he looked, how we see him shapes us. Our assumptions about what Jesus would have looked like can have a significant impact on our relationships with Deity, ourselves, and one another. Co-written by three professors of ancient scripture and an art historian, Picturing Christ walks us through the developments in art of Jesus throughout the centuries to help us begin to see him in new and transformative ways. By studying Jesus’s appearance and the long tradition of artistic efforts to reflect and appreciate his likeness, you will better understand the nature of our Savior and come closer to him. Buy the Book The post Picturing Christ – Daniel Becerra, Jennifer Champoux, Mark D. Ellison, Matthew J. Grey appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Richard Benjamin Crosby earned his PhD in communication with an emphasis in rhetoric and critical studies at the University of Washington. He is a professor of rhetoric in the Department of English at Brigham Young University. His research focuses on the intersections of rhetoric, religion, and politics. His work has been published in his field’s top journals, and his first major book, American Kairos: Washington National Cathedral and the New Civil Religion, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2023. Isaac James Richards is a PhD student and University Graduate Fellowship recipient at the Pennsylvania State University. His work has appeared in the Western Journal of Communication, The Journal for the History of Rhetoric, and The Journal of American Culture. His honors include the Kenneth Burke Prize in Rhetoric from the Center for Democratic Deliberation and the James L. Golden Outstanding Student Essay in Rhetoric Award from the National Communication Association. Latter-day Eloquence: Two Centuries of Mormon Oratory Discount Code (for 30% off): S26UIP The post Latter-day Eloquence: Two Centuries of Mormon Oratory appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Jennifer Champoux is a teacher, scholar of Latter-day Saint visual art, and the director of the Book of Mormon Art Catalog. She authored C. C. A. Christensen: A Mormon Visionary, coauthored Picturing Christ: Understanding Depictions of Jesus in History and Art, and coedited Approaching the Tree: Interpreting 1 Nephi 8. She hosted the limited-series podcasts Latter-day Saint Art and Behold: Conversations on Book of Mormon Art. Jenny earned a BA in international politics from Brigham Young University (2004) and an MA in art history from Boston University (2006). She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. C. C. A. Christensen: A Mormon Visionary (University of Illinois Press; Amazon) Related work I’ve published: “‘In Their Promised Canaan Stand:’ Outlawry, Landscape, and Memory in C. C. A. Christensen’s Mormon Panorama,” BYU Studies Quarterly 60, no. 2 (2021). Highlights about C. C. A. Christensen: 1. C. C. A. Christensen was born to a poor family in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1831. As a youth, he lived and studied at a poor house boarding school, before taking classes at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. 2. While he was an art student, the first Latter-day Saint missionaries arrived in Copenhagen. C. C. A. joined the Church in 1850. He threw himself into the work of learning the Gospel, reading the Book of Mormon, helping with Danish translations of hymns, helping his mother and brothers immigrate to Utah, and then serving a mission in Scandinavia before immigrating himself. His art training and career took a back seat to his religious commitments. 3. C. C. A. served three missions in Scandinavia. The first, in Norway, was from 1853 to 1857. He faced religious persecution and was jailed. Christensen returned from Utah to serve a second mission in Scandinavia from 1865 to 1868. He returned again to serve in Denmark from 1887 to 1889. 4. C. C. A. married Elise Haarby on the ship as they set off for Utah in 1857. They traveled across the plains as handcart pioneers. He later took a second wife, Maren Pettersen, in 1868. He had a total of 14 children, 12 of which lived to adulthood. 5. C. C. A. was the most prolific 19 th -century artist of Latter-day Saint history and scripture. He combined his European art training with Latter-day Saint beliefs and subjects. He also wrote extensively. He published poetry, essays, and letters to the editor. He helped write a history of the Scandinavian Mission. And yet, his work is not well known today. 6. The Mormon Panorama was a massive painted scroll detailing 23 scenes of early Mormon history. In the last quarter of the 19 th century, CCA and some of his family traveled around Utah cities in the winters giving presentations of the Mormon Panorama. It helped solidify the Saints’ understanding of their history. 7. In 1886, Church leaders hired CCA to paint the creation room mural in the Manti Temple. It was recently restored and is still there today. 8. In 1890, C. C. A. won a contest to illustrate a Church flipchart on the life of Nephi. These 10 images were distributed by the Deseret Sunday School Union. 9. Christensen was fully dedicated to living his beliefs, often at great personal cost. The post C. C. A. Christensen with Jenny Champoux appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requires that adult members wear garments under their clothes day and night. Though a central practice, the wearing of garments exists behind a wall of silence, as Church authorities and LDS culture discourage discussion of such a sacred matter. Nancy Ross, Jessica Finnigan, and Larissa Kanno Kindred draw on a survey of over 4,500 Church members and their own backgrounds to explore the multifaceted meanings and experiences of Mormon garments. As the authors show, garments also function as a tool of social control that shapes behavior and reinforces conformity around sexuality. The diverse lived experiences of Latter-day Saints reveal how belief and gender intersect with feelings of secrecy, shame, and obedience while creating complexities for LDS members as they navigate questions of faith, identity, and agency. In addition, the authors call for greater understanding of the people grappling with tensions between personal customs and religious expectation. Buy The Book Insightful and rich with detail, Mormon Garments sheds light on an intimate practice in the lives of Latter-day Saints. The post Mormon Garments Sacred and Secret 1020 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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6:56 Taking the call to be President Clark 10:39 The Value of #HearingHim 14:58 This silly little thing called the web 22:55 Getting the call back to BYUI 27:48 Here’s an idea 30:27 Presidents in their own right 33:27 Rexburb – The Boston of Idaho 37:34 What is BYU Pathway 43:24 Three forms of Education 51:56 How is the Church changing The post Get to Know the Newest Apostle Clark Gilbert The Cultural Hall Way appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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Sacred Scar is a luminous, unflinching collection of poems that moves effortlessly between the sacred and the everyday. Drawing on the lives of saints, pioneers, ancestors, and the poet’s own family, Scott Hales explores the way faith, memory, and suffering shape a human life. These poems travel from ancient deserts to modern suburbs, from battlefield soil to baptismal fonts, revealing how holiness can emerge from pain, curiosity, humor, and the fragile work of living. With a storyteller’s eye and a historian’s care, Hales invites readers into a space where past and present speak to each other in striking, unforgettable ways. At once intimate and expansive, Sacred Scar is a meditation on belief-how it breaks, heals, transforms, and returns. Whether confronting grief, wrestling with doubt, or celebrating the strange grace of ordinary days, Hales writes with compassion, wit, and a deep reverence for the human impulse to remember. Purchase Sacred Scar Loved Ones is a luminous collection of forty poems that trace the arc of human devotion through the Christian virtues of faith, hope, charity, and love. With a voice both reverent and playful, Kevin Klein explores the everyday sacred—chapel cleaning and youth soccer, midwinter pruning and middle-school band concerts, pioneer grit and parental tenderness. Each poem invites readers to notice grace in unexpected places, discovering how holiness often hides in humor, hardship, and the humble rituals that bind us to one another. Rooted in scripture yet grounded in modern life, Klein’s work is rich with vivid imagery, spiritual introspection, and disarming warmth. Whether he is contemplating the nature of prayer, celebrating family, or mourning with those that mourn, his poems open the heart to deeper compassion and connection. Loved Ones is a gentle but profound reminder that the divine is found not only in miracles, but also in the people who teach us to believe, endure, give, and love. Purchase Loved Ones The post Poet Death Match – Kevin Klein – Scott Hales – 1015 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Temple Dedication  Alabang Philippines Temple – #213 January 18, 2026 – presided by David Bednar (Husband of Susan) The dress stole the show Dedicatory Prayer 15 Stakes and 1 District assigned to temple district Second Manila Metro Area Temple, a third is planned in Northern Manila 4th temple of 14 temples planned in the Philippines Second to last temple announced by President Monson dedicated (last is below) Temple Open House Begins Harare Zimbabwe Temple Temple Media day on January 19th  President of Zimbabwe tours the temple Open House Through February 7th  Interior Photos Released Design features: the flame lily, aloe ballii, Yoruba bologi, African lettuce, terracotta gazania, aspilia mossambicensis and wentzel’s sugarbush. Temple Groundbreakings  João Pessoa Brazil Temple January 24th, presided by Joni L. Koch  Jacksonville Florida Temple January 24th, presided by Massimo De Feo Temple Site Locations Announced Kahului Arizona Temple 7.6 acre site: Maui Lani Parkway, Kahului, Hawaii Next to existing meetinghouse Single Story, 19,000 sq. ft. building Renovations continue in Kona, No site announced in Honolulu.  Flagstaff Arizona Temple 10.43 Acre Site: southwest corner of Butler Ave. and South Fourth St., in Flagstaff Single Story, 18,850 sq. ft. building Puerto Montt Chile Temple 5.8 Acre Site: Avenida Chamiza, in eastern Puerto Montt Single Story, 18,500 sq. ft. building Construction Update Tarawa Kiribati Temple Modules installed on foundation  Heber Valley Utah Temple Utah Supreme Court will allow temple construction to continue  Church is assuming the risk of tearing down progress if they lose an appeal Plaintiff failed to prove irreparable harm, only inconvenience Salt Lake Temple Removal of scaffolding begins and will continue until mid-March Featured video from the B1M engineering youtube channel Original Moroni Trumpet on display at BYU HBLL Communications director gives a lecture at BYU Proposal to close North Temple and West Temple and parts of South Temple to vehicles adjacent to the temple during the extent of the open house Reportably, the church would need to pay $2.3M to lease the roads. Interesting Does temple construction boost property values? No discernable effect… The post Behind all that Scaffolding is…. Temple Ticker 1014 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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Justin Pack’s Grace or Money: Rediscovering the Gift of Grace in an Age of Greed is a provocative and timely exploration of two fundamentally different ways of understanding the world: the divine “order of grace” and the human-made “order of money.” Drawing from scripture, anthropology, and philosophy, Pack challenges the modern assumption that scarcity is natural, arguing instead that God created a world of abundance meant to be shared. Through engaging analysis of ancient societies, biblical teachings, and contemporary economic systems, he reveals how our obsession with meritocracy and wealth distorts relationships, erodes integrity, and blinds us to the generosity woven into creation. With wit and clarity, Pack exposes how money—far from being a neutral tool—breeds thoughtlessness and even “BS,” turning life into a game of status and calculation. At once a celebration of grace and a critique of capitalism’s spiritual emptiness, Grace or Money calls readers to rediscover a more life-giving order rooted in gift and community. Whether reflecting on his own Latter-day Saint upbringing, unmasking the myths of progress, or examining the moral hazards of meritocracy, Pack offers a compelling vision of how rejecting the logic of money can heal our societies and souls. For anyone seeking a deeper understanding of faith, justice, and what it means to truly flourish, this book is a bracing, hopeful invitation to choose grace over gain. Buy the Book The post Grace or Money: Rediscovering the Gift of Grace in an Age of Greed – 1011 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

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In Covenant Power, teacher Sharla Goettl uses captivating storytelling to bring key endowment principles to life, presented in the imagined voices of the scriptural figures who taught each principle best, such as Peter, Eve, Nephi, & Mormon. Through these stories, you’ll gain an understanding of how the endowment prepares us to receive Christ’s covenant power. They also highlight connections between the scriptures and the endowment. God designed temple covenants to enable lasting success, calm deep fears, and build steady confidence. This book teaches how each covenant you make helps you to connect with Christ’s power: – Law of Obedience: The action of seeing Christ’s power – Law of Sacrifice: Embrace the process to gain Christ’s power – Law of the Gospel: Learn how to retain Christ’s power – Law of Chastity: Discover the key to increase in Christ’s power – Law of Consecration: An opportunity to share Christ’s power Be inspired by the endowment through this unique reading experience—one that will testify of Christ’s firm foundation built upon covenant guarantees. Whether you are preparing for the endowment or eager to learn more, Covenant Power will empower your love and knowledge of the temple. Covenant Power Amazon Purchase ovenant Power Cedar Fort Purchase Spiritual Resilience The post Covenant Power: Transform Fear into Faith through the Power of Jesus Christ 1009 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

Part history, part annotated bibliography, and wholly enlightening, this book also provides an extensive catalog of the office’s diverse publications—from Sunday School cards to bound catechisms and spiritual treatises. Ideal for historians, bibliophiles, and anyone interested in the intersection of faith, media, and regional identity, The Juvenile Instructor Office offers fresh insights into how one press helped define the literary voice of a people. It’s a vital addition to the study of both American religious publishing and Utah’s cultural development during a pivotal era. Craig S. Smith is a retired archaeologist living in the Salt Lake Valley. He is an avid book collector mainly focused on Utah and the Mormons, and especially interested in nineteenth-century printing in Utah. He has collected items published by the Juvenile Instructor Office for the past twenty-five years. The post The Juvenile Instructor Office – Craig Smith – 1008 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

You’re trying to figure out what you should do next. How can you make sense of a heartbreaking loss? How can you look ahead after things end unexpectedly? With every unanswered question, you lose yourself a little more. Author Ganel-Lyn Condie was facing a myriad of tough situations like these when she decided to learn how to make sourdough bread—and in the process gained a deeper love and trust of the Savior. Sourdough and the Savior: The Breads of Life is much more than a primer on how to make sourdough bread. It is a conversation about identity, faith, loss, transitions, and a powerful testimony of how the Savior meets us where we’re at.  The reader will learn: – How to recognize when the Lord succors us – How to share our unique spiritual gifts to bless those around us – How to grow closer to the Savior The insights and wisdom Ganel-Lyn offers are for every heart and soul, not just those in the kitchen. Each chapter blends helpful baking tips with a delightful narrative of her journey, creating a riveting and relatable story readers will enjoy. The post Sourdough and the Savior – Ganel Lyn Condie – 1007 appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.

More of Mormonism’s canonized revelations originated in or near Kirtland than any other place. Yet many of the events connected with those revelations and their 1830s historical context have faded over time. Barely twenty-five years after the first of these Ohio revelations, Brigham Young lamented in 1856: “These revelations, after a lapse of years, become mystified [sic] to those who were not personally acquainted with the circumstances at the time they were given.” He gloomily predicted that eventually the revelations “may be as mysterious to our children . . . as the revelations contained in the Old and New Testaments are to this generation.” Now, more than 150 years later, the distance between what Brigham Young and his Kirtland contemporaries considered common knowledge and our understanding of the same material today has widened into a sometimes daunting gap. Mark Staker narrows the chasm in Hearken, O Ye People by reconstructing the cultural experiences by which Kirtland’s Latter-day Saints made sense of the revelations Joseph Smith pronounced. This volume rebuilds that exciting decade using clues from numerous archives, privately held records, museum collections, and even the soil where early members planted corn and homes. From this vast array of sources he shapes a detailed narrative of weather, religious backgrounds, dialect differences, race relations, theological discussions, food preparation, frontier violence, astronomical phenomena, and myriad daily customs of nineteenth-century life. The result is a “from the ground up” experience that today’s Latter-day Saints can all but walk into and touch. Mark Lyman Staker was a senior researcher in the Church History Department of the LDS Church when this was written. He received his PhD in cultural anthropology from University of Florida. For more than fifteen years, Mark has been involved in historic sites restoration and nineteenth-century expressions of the Latter-day Saint experience. He received the J. Talmage Jones Award of Excellence for an Outstanding Article on Mormon History from the Mormon History Association, and he has been involved in numerous museum exhibits. He and his wife, Kimberly, are the parents of seven children and live in West Bountiful, Utah. The post Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith’s Ohio Revelations – Mark Staker – appeared first on The Cultural Hall Podcast.