We’re finishing The God Who Weeps by Terryl Givens and Fiona Givens. This is the first book in a trilogy of Mormon theology and we want to leave room in the year to get through it all. What does today hold for us? We start with a long discussion on the pre-mortal existence, transitioning into existence, then ascending to perfection thanks to Mormon beliefs. We didn’t realize until pretty late in the project that the 5 chapters of the book are structured around the different stages of the Mormon Plan of Salvation (PoS), but it become clear pretty early on in our discussion. All told, the book is a marker of modern orthodox Mormon belief: pray, pay, and obey. They even have an ultra-conservative take on abortion that makes the official stance of the church seem like bleeding-heart liberals in comparison. Then we talk about The Meaning of Life, a Monty Python movie from 1983 that has a much more healthy way of looking at the random cosmic soup that led to human existence. We wrap with some happy news about the success of a slightly higher tax in Massachusetts that raised a bunch of money for all the things for which taxes are used. We round out by going through some delightful listener mail from the April Fools episode!
MOGP:
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
Happy News:
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
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Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
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April 2025 General Conference Sunday Afternoon session. Patrons of the show get the appendix of Saturday Evening session at the end of the record.
Ulisses Soares – Reverence; Moses and the burning bush; you-damn-kids talk; pray for guidance from the Holy Ghost for AI, don’t weaken your connection to God with AI!!!
Michael Strong Q70 – Killed a kid on a bike during his mission, was really sad that he had to spend the night in jail until a ‘compassionate’ fellow missionary stayed with him
Scott Whiting Q70 – Hazed as a deacon and sat on a cactus; Garden of Eden, “blessed Eve”, crying repentance
Christopher Kim Q70 – JS translated an ancient record, includes God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas; Laman and Lemuel were sooooo evil and dumb; moral agency, we can choose to harden or soften our hearts, submission vs respect
Patrick Kearon – Gifts, “you really are that you might have joy,” repent ye, repent ye
Benjamin M Z Tai Q70 – Cancellation of a sealing after divorce, pray daily, “Ask sincerely what you can do to help an individual feel god”
Rusty Nailz – The world is coming to an end; sooo many new temples that won’t be built for another 3 decades
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
April 2025 General Conference Sunday Morning session.
David A Bednar – Joseph Smith totally restored the one true church; and other sundry sacrament meeting talking points
Steven Shumway Q70 – Do your callings, no matter how demanding they may be
Tamara Runia FC YW GP – Cry for repentance; Jesus is excited every time he sees us on our knees
Gerald Causse PB – Dude who controls the church’s wealth is moved by seeing people suffering in poverty
Gerrit Gong – Jesus Wept; Easter, Palm Sunday, holy week; mortal and moral agency and alignment with Bednar
John McCune Q70 – Tithing, temple attendance, the world is ending, Rusty is a terrible dad who abandoned his daughter on her death bed
Dallin Oaks – The most flacid GC talk he’s given in years; Plan of Salvation, sacrament meeting talk, returning to the Celestial Kingdom, 10 virgins, trusting in the lord will keep you safe
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
April 2025 General Conference Saturday Afternoon session.
Niel Anderson – Heinous abortion is evil diatribe, the church is extreme Conservative
Steven Lund YM GP – Priesthood is awesome, men run everything in the church
S Mark Palmer Q70 – Willow tree, cut up the fallen ones
Sandino Roman Q70 – Drowning story
Dale Renlund – A dumb 6-year-old thought the second coming was real
Hans T Boom Q70 – Poor people donated their washing machine money to build a temple; Armies of Helaman
Dieter Uchtdorf – The Church isn’t perfect, come back anyway; polishing the turd of a session before him
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
April 2025 General Conference Saturday Morning session.
Jeffrey R. Holland – Little boy bites a little girl, better teach her to forgive!
Camille Johnson RS GP – Waiting to be healed filling spiritual holes
Ronald Rasband – Church is DOING GREAT! Don’t check our numbers…
Quentin L. Cook – Handcart companies and tragedy
Ricardo Gemenez Q70 – Checklist Mormonism
Henry Eyring – Zombie Jesus
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10
It’s time to examine Joseph-Smith-polygamy skepticism. After the recent Journal of Mormon Polygamy conference, we decided to seriously consider the evidences used by this cohort of Mormon studies, leading us to understand that polygamy was a creation of Brigham Young and the Utah Mormon movement. After that we discuss O Brother, Where Art Thou? An Oddessy movie interweaving many storytelling archetypes and tropes. Then some good news about automotive subsidies coming in the form of tariffs.
Show notes:
Joseph Smith Wasn’t a Polygamist video playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL19uMsnpSU&list=PLmuYPN2xUIM0zw-bwR1MEAJ7gcRL9zuSH&index=5&t=745s
Journal of Mormon Polygamy
https://journalofmormonpolygamy.org/jmp
MOGP: O Brother, Where Art Thou
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/
Where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/o-brother-where-art-thou
Other appearances: Chris Shelton interviewed us in the beginning of a series on Mormonism. Here’s the most recent episode on what Mormons can teach us about organizing a cult: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDxjD7ucajI
Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod
Patreon page for documentary: https://www.patreon.com/SeerStonedProductions
BlueSky: @glassboxpodcast.bsky.social
Other BlueSky: @bryceblankenagel.bsky.social and @shannongrover.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/
Merch store: https://www.redbubble.com/people/exmoapparel/shop
Or find the merch store by clicking on “Store” here: https://glassboxpodcast.com/index.html
One time Paypal donation: bryceblankenagel@gmail.com
Venmo: @Shannon-Grover-10