Despite being born into a family with strong Latter-day Saint roots, Thomas McConkie stopped attending church at the age of 13. However, a spiritual journey, which spanned nearly two decades and included becoming proficient in Buddhist meditation, brought him back to an unlikely destination: The faith of his youth.

"I'm really comfortable with the definition of meditation as remembrance. And that feels very much like a gospel principle to me, like when we remember what are we remembering? Well, let me just riff a little bit: We remember that we are sons and daughters, that we're children of a living God. And when we remember that, the quality of our whole life in this very moment changes."

Show Notes

3:08- Leaving the Church at 13 years old
4:51- Discovering Meditation
5:46- Redemption in Stillness
12:26- Power to Heal a Generation
16:49- The Meaning of Meditation
19:34- Stillness Among Saints
25:34- Changing a Culture
28:15- Home-centered Church's Opportunity
31:49- Ministering and Meditation
33:05- Creating a Community
35:56- Message to a Teenager Struggling With Faith
37:50- If You Love Someone Struggling With Faith
39:29- A Grandfather's Love
42:36- What Does It Mean To Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Despite being born into a family with strong Latter-day Saint roots, Thomas McConkie stopped attending church at the age of 13. However, a spiritual journey, which spanned nearly two decades and included becoming proficient in Buddhist meditation, brought him back to an unlikely destination: The faith of his youth.
"I'm really comfortable with the definition of meditation as remembrance. And that feels very much like a gospel principle to me, like when we remember what are we remembering? Well, let me just riff a little bit: We remember that we are sons and daughters, that we're children of a living God. And when we remember that, the quality of our whole life in this very moment changes."
Show Notes
3:08- Leaving the Church at 13 years old 4:51- Discovering Meditation 5:46- Redemption in Stillness 12:26- Power to Heal a Generation 16:49- The Meaning of Meditation 19:34- Stillness Among Saints 25:34- Changing a Culture 28:15- Home-centered Church's Opportunity 31:49- Ministering and Meditation 33:05- Creating a Community 35:56- Message to a Teenager Struggling With Faith 37:50- If You Love Someone Struggling With Faith 39:29- A Grandfather's Love 42:36- What Does It Mean To Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?

What does it mean to be "all in" the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days? The answers might surprise you. All In is a brand new podcast from LDS Living where we explore this question with the help of Latter-day Saints who are striving to live their faith every day—just like you.

What does it mean to be "all in" the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days? The answers might surprise you. All In is a brand new podcast from LDS Living where we explore this question with the help of Latter-day Saints who are striving to live their faith every day&mdash;just like you.

All In

Thomas Wirthlin McConkie: How Meditation and Being Still Help Us Know God

While sitting in a class at the theological seminary he attended, Michael Huston was floored when he heard his teacher say these words: “Lament is faithfully complaining to God.” The teacher went on to say, “Lament is the way you worship to God from within pain.” Huston describes the feeling he felt that day as exhaling a breath he had been holding for a very long time. On this week’s episode, he explains why he hopes to help others find that same relief in the concept of lament.

1:51- What is Lament and Why the Interest?
9:26- Structure of Lament
12:47- Murmuring or Complaining Vs. Lament
15:17- The Necessity of Expressing Pain and Grief
18:25- Men Are That They Might Have Joy
22:12- Post 9/11—A Modern Example of Lament
27:29- The Importance of Allowing Yourself to Lament
31:05- Lament—A Sacred Offering
37:08- A Note on Lament and “Faith Crisis”
39:52- A God For All Seasons
42:06- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“Lament, in a sense, is the most sacred of offerings. …It’s those moments when we are most vulnerable, most exposed, most uncertain, when our legs are the shakiest. We’re taking that and we’re saying, ‘God this is all I have left.’” —Michael Huston



Links & References:

Michael’s book

Elder Maxwell’s talk about murmuring

While sitting in a class at the theological seminary he attended, Michael Huston was floored when he heard his teacher say these words: “Lament is faithfully complaining to God.” The teacher went on to say, “Lament is the way you worship to God from within pain.” Huston describes the feeling he felt that day as exhaling a breath he had been holding for a very long time. On this week’s episode, he explains why he hopes to help others find that same relief in the concept of lament.
1:51- What is Lament and Why the Interest? 9:26- Structure of Lament 12:47- Murmuring or Complaining Vs. Lament 15:17- The Necessity of Expressing Pain and Grief 18:25- Men Are That They Might Have Joy 22:12- Post 9/11—A Modern Example of Lament 27:29- The Importance of Allowing Yourself to Lament 31:05- Lament—A Sacred Offering 37:08- A Note on Lament and “Faith Crisis” 39:52- A God For All Seasons 42:06- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
“Lament, in a sense, is the most sacred of offerings. …It’s those moments when we are most vulnerable, most exposed, most uncertain, when our legs are the shakiest. We’re taking that and we’re saying, ‘God this is all I have left.’” —Michael Huston
 
Links &amp; References:
<a href="https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P6024765.html">Michael’s book</a>
<a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1989/10/murmur-not?lang=eng">Elder Maxwell’s talk about murmuring</a>

Michael Huston: Lament—A Faithful Complaint to God

Identity, creating understanding, covenants, a worldwide Church, faith crises, change in the Church—these are topics Melissa Inouye, a scholar, addresses in an effort to explain how she has “found the fruits of this life (the life of a Latter-day Saint) to be worthwhile—costly, to be sure, but also rich and nourishing, a source of deep joy.”

To honor the life of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye we are revisiting this episode from the All In archives. This episode originally aired on July 10, 2019.

1:51- A Latter-day Saint Seven Days a Week
2:56- The Church Influencing Worldview
6:38- Lessons Learned From Being a Missionary
12:14- Belonging and Identity
18:44- Wins and Losses
20:57- Creating Unity in the Church
23:41- Helping Amidst Faith Crises
29:56- An Evolving Church
34:48- Cancer
36:47- What Does It Mean to Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“I believe that Christ is here in the Church and I've felt the power of God. And so, having had those experiences, I am absolutely committed to being where I am.” —Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye

Identity, creating understanding, covenants, a worldwide Church, faith crises, change in the Church—these are topics Melissa Inouye, a scholar, addresses in an effort to explain how she has “found the fruits of this life (the life of a Latter-day Saint) to be worthwhile—costly, to be sure, but also rich and nourishing, a source of deep joy.”
To honor the life of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye we are revisiting this episode from the All In archives. This episode originally aired on July 10, 2019.
1:51- A Latter-day Saint Seven Days a Week 2:56- The Church Influencing Worldview 6:38- Lessons Learned From Being a Missionary 12:14- Belonging and Identity 18:44- Wins and Losses 20:57- Creating Unity in the Church 23:41- Helping Amidst Faith Crises 29:56- An Evolving Church 34:48- Cancer 36:47- What Does It Mean to Be All In The Gospel of Jesus Christ?
“I believe that Christ is here in the Church and I've felt the power of God. And so, having had those experiences, I am absolutely committed to being where I am.” —Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye

Melissa Inouye: Why Loving One Another Is More Than Bringing Casseroles

T.C. Christensen has made some of the most beloved Latter-day Saint films in recent years including “17 Miracles” and “The Fighting Preacher.” His new film, “Escape From Germany” tells the story of a missionary who was tasked with moving 85 missionaries to safety in adjacent countries as Hitler’s army was rapidly closing borders in August of 1939. On this week’s episode, T.C. shares with us how he approaches telling the miraculous stories of real people.

1:56- A Camera
4:52- The Power of Film
8:14- Stories Worth Telling
13:58- Heroes
16:59- Source Material
21:30- Journals
29:15- Lessons Learned From Movie Characters
30:40- Accurate Portrayals
34:00- Capturing Emotion Without Overdoing It
39:12- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

“No embarrassment, no justification, this is who I am.” -T.C. Christensen on his membership in the Church

“Escape From Germany” website: https://escapefromgermanyfilm.com

LDS Living Q&A with T.C.: https://www.ldsliving.com/why-t-c-christensen-loves-fiddler-on-the-roof-and-is-still-very-zippity-about-latter-day-saint-stories/s/12163

News articles about “Escape From Germany”: https://kslnewsradio.com/2094352/ksl-movie-show-exclusive-director-of-escape-from-germany-talks-challenges-of-period-pieces-on-a-budget/

https://ksltv.com/636492/new-film-tells-story-of-79-latter-day-saint-missionaries-who-escaped-nazi-germany/

T.C. Christensen has made some of the most beloved Latter-day Saint films in recent years including “17 Miracles” and “The Fighting Preacher.” His new film, “Escape From Germany” tells the story of a missionary who was tasked with moving 85 missionaries to safety in adjacent countries as Hitler’s army was rapidly closing borders in August of 1939. On this week’s episode, T.C. shares with us how he approaches telling the miraculous stories of real people.
1:56- A Camera 4:52- The Power of Film 8:14- Stories Worth Telling 13:58- Heroes 16:59- Source Material 21:30- Journals 29:15- Lessons Learned From Movie Characters 30:40- Accurate Portrayals 34:00- Capturing Emotion Without Overdoing It 39:12- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
“No embarrassment, no justification, this is who I am.” -T.C. Christensen on his membership in the Church
“Escape From Germany” website: <a href="https://escapefromgermanyfilm.com">https://escapefromgermanyfilm.com</a>
LDS Living Q&amp;A with T.C.: <a href="https://www.ldsliving.com/why-t-c-christensen-loves-fiddler-on-the-roof-and-is-still-very-zippity-about-latter-day-saint-stories/s/12163">https://www.ldsliving.com/why-t-c-christensen-loves-fiddler-on-the-roof-and-is-still-very-zippity-about-latter-day-saint-stories/s/12163</a>
News articles about “Escape From Germany”: <a href="https://kslnewsradio.com/2094352/ksl-movie-show-exclusive-director-of-escape-from-germany-talks-challenges-of-period-pieces-on-a-budget/">https://kslnewsradio.com/2094352/ksl-movie-show-exclusive-director-of-escape-from-germany-talks-challenges-of-period-pieces-on-a-budget/</a>
<a href="https://ksltv.com/636492/new-film-tells-story-of-79-latter-day-saint-missionaries-who-escaped-nazi-germany/">https://ksltv.com/636492/new-film-tells-story-of-79-latter-day-saint-missionaries-who-escaped-nazi-germany/</a>

Thomas Wirthlin McConkie: How Meditation and Being Still Help Us Know God

In 1 playlist(s)

All In

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips