Let’s Get Real with Stephen Jones

What Really Happened Before Pres. Nelson Announced Temples | Elder Larry Y. Wilson E0042

Among many other things, President Nelson forever transformed the way we see temples. But what happens before temples are announced?
Former Executive Director of the Temple Department, Elder Larry Y. Willson shares remarkable behind-the-scenes experiences of working closely with President Russell M. Nelson.
Elder Wilson recounts the pivotal moment when President Nelson, newly called as prophet, looked at a carefully crafted 15-year temple plan and boldly said, “I would feel better about your plan if there were another zero.” That prophetic vision transformed temple building from dozens to hundreds, reshaping the Church’s future forever.
Alongside these historic insights, Elder Wilson also shares deeply personal stories of President Nelson’s ministry—from his surprising text messages of encouragement during times of illness, to his genuine warmth and consultative leadership style in councils. 
Come listen to firsthand accounts of how President Nelson balanced global leadership with individual, personal ministry.
This episode gives a rare and intimate look at how revelation, leadership, and love guided the Church during a period of historic change.

I Could've Said I'm Out of The Church, But I Stayed | Skyler Sorensen E0041

What does faithfulness look like when life doesn’t go according to plan? 
In this episode, Skyler Sorensen—a father, content creator, and producer at Scripture Central—shares his journey through same-sex attraction, marriage, and the heartbreaking loss of his son, Milo.
He explains why same-sex attraction wasn’t his greatest trial, how (besides his Savior) his temple marriage became his greatest strength, and how grief brought unexpected clarity to his faith.
This conversation explores what it truly means to stay on the covenant path when life becomes complex, and why the gospel can be profoundly simple amidst loss.
 In This Episode: • Why Skyler believes faith is still worth choosing • How grief can deepen, not destroy, testimony • Why ideals matter even when we fall short • What the balance of grace and truth looks like in real life • How marriage and family can be both messy and divine
Skyler’s new series with Scripture Central:Faithful Anyway: Discipleship Through Complexity
https://www.youtube.com/@sitdownwithsky

Money Can’t Save the World - Here’s What Can | Sharon Eubank, Global Humanitarian Leader | E0040

When most people think about humanitarian work, they think about money. But is there more to it? 
Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities, believes that the real power to change lives comes from something much deeper.
In this episode, Sharon shares her experiences working in places devastated by war, poverty, and natural disasters. From standing at the wreckage of the Sri Lanka tsunami to learning from everyday acts of kindness in her own neighborhood, she reveals that the gospel of Jesus Christ carries a greater capacity to transform lives than money ever could.
True humanitarianism begins with listening, respecting agency, and offering dignity. 
Whether you’ve wondered how you can make a difference in the world or in your own community, this conversation will help you see that the most powerful humanitarian work begins right where you live.

Joseph Smith Expert: "My Biggest Discovery Happened While Out of The Church" | Don Bradley E0039

What would make a 7-year-old Joseph Smith refuse alcohol before undergoing one of the most excruciating surgeries imaginable—decades before the Word of Wisdom was ever revealed?
Once an ex-LDS atheist, now a faithful Latter-day Saint and renowned Joseph Smith expert, Don Bradley shares one of the most powerful discoveries he’s ever made about Joseph’s life.  This isn’t just another “Joseph Smith refused alcohol” story—it’s a window into his character and the cultural and historical context most people have never heard.
Don opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his own young son—and how that experience gave him a deeply personal window into Joseph Smith’s life, particularly Joseph’s own experiences as a child and as a father. That shared lens of love, loss, and empathy adds a profound human dimension to both the history and the man behind it.
We also explore Don’s personal faith journey—leaving the Church, the discoveries that shaped his perspective, and the path that ultimately led him back. From Church history to raw personal experiences, this conversation is real, unfiltered, and full of insights that could change the way you see Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

This Is Why Gen Z Is Coming Back to God | David Butler E0038

Everyone says Gen Z is leaving religion… but what if they’re actually leading a spiritual revival?
In this episode of Faithful Anyway, I sit down with David Butler to talk about what’s really going on with today’s rising generation. Are they rebelling against faith—or are they spiritually starving for something deeper, more real, and more rooted in who God really is? We unpack the misconceptions, the pain points, and the surprising hunger that so many young people have for truth, grace, and connection with God.
If you’ve ever wondered whether faith is dying or being reborn in a new form, this conversation is for you.

Marcus Martins | First Black Missionary After the 1978 Revelation - E0037

Dr. Marcus Martins made history as the first Black missionary to serve after the 1978 revelation that extended the priesthood to all worthy male members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But that’s not what he wants to be known for.
In this conversation, Dr. Martins opens up about something far more personal and powerful: his quiet, steady choice to follow Christ, even when some questions didn’t have answers.
He didn’t stay in the Church because he ignored the hard things. He stayed because he saw something true—something deep—in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Something that spoke to both his spirit and his intellect.
This episode isn’t about rehashing history. It’s about what it means to be a disciple—when it’s not flashy, when it’s not easy, and when faith has to walk ahead of clarity. We talk about the difference between doubts and questions.
About how real belonging looks in a Church that’s still growing. And about the power of remembering the moments when the Spirit whispered, “You’re home.”
Listen to the full conversation and let us know what stood out to you most.

Church Psychologist: Why So Many Latter-day Saints Still Feel Unworthy | Dr. Kawika Allen E0036

Many faithful Saints silently wrestle with the same question: “Why do I still feel broken?” In this powerful episode, Dr. Kawika Allen unpacks the hidden spiritual struggle of scrupulosity—anxiety disguised as righteousness—and how it convinces even the most devoted disciples that they’re never enough.
What if the reason you feel unworthy isn’t because you’ve failed, but because you’ve been trying to earn what was never meant to be earned?
We explore the toxic grip of maladaptive perfectionism, the lies it tells, and the liberating truth that Christ’s grace meets us in our mess—not after we’ve cleaned it up.
If faith has started to feel more like a burden than a blessing, this conversation will help you rediscover the rest and relief that comes from receiving, not performing for, the Savior’s love.

This Fatherhood Research Validates Latter-day Saint "Family Proclamation" | Dr. Timothy Rarick E0035

Is fatherhood just underappreciated, or is it under attack?
Thirty years ago, The Family: A Proclamation to the World declared that fathers are to preside, provide, and protect. Today, fatherhood is mocked, minimized, or erased altogether.
We’ve gone quiet—afraid the truth is too controversial, the standard too high, the damage already done.
But Dr. Tim Rarick makes a powerful case: the world doesn’t need perfect dads—it needs present ones.
The Proclamation isn’t a list of impossible expectations. It’s a rescue plan, a reminder of who we are, and who we’re meant to become.
Because the more fathers stay silent to avoid failure, the more we contribute to the very collapse we were called to prevent.