Episode 60: What About Blessings?

Whether faith promoting or fraught, the idea of being blessed figures prominently in Latter-day Saint teachings. Common use of words like ‘earning’ and ‘qualifying’ can make it hard not to view blessings as transactional. How can we make sense of blessings we receive—or those we don’t? What is our part in obtaining specific outcomes and righteous desires? Can our faithful actions influence God’s will? In this discussion, Cynthia and Susan attempt to find a little peace on a sticky topic.

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Notes & Quotes:

Abound with Blessings, by Elder Dale G. Renlund, April 2019
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved, by Kate Bowler
Consent, For People Podcast, by Bishop Rob Wright, 05/25/2021
Death, the Prosperity Gospel and Me, The New York Times, by Kate Bowler, 02/13/2016
God Can’t: How to Believe in God and Love after Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils, by Thomas Jay Oord

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