This week, wards across the United States will be having a really unique 5th Sunday discussion centered on the Constitution, moral agency, and peace-building. So today, we wanted to reshare a conversation that originally aired in 2021.
In this episode, Faith Matters co-founder Bill Turnbull joins Judge Thomas Griffith, an expert in constitutional law, to explore the Constitution and the rapid erosion of goodwill and trust in American politics, including among Latter-day Saints. Judge Griffith sees the possibility of a serious crisis and believes that Latter-day Saints can and must play a critical role in healing today’s divides.
We’ve also compiled lots of additional resources that we hope will help as you prepare for this special Sunday lesson—you can find those below. Thanks so much as always for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC:
Agency, religious freedom, and the U.S. Constitution
“When we exercise our religious freedom to serve and lift, to strengthen community ties and to pour oil on troubled waters, and to make America better—when we use our religious freedom to bring people together in unity and love—we are defending and preserving religious liberty and the Constitution in a most profound way.” —
How to Love Your Enemy: Arthur Brooks at Restore 2025
Today we’re sharing Arthur Brooks’ keynote from Restore. This message was so powerful; it will stop you in your tracks, and feels so essential for this exact moment. We believe it needs to be heard everywhere— in our homes, our communities, and across the country—so we’re sharing it with you now.
Andrew Hanauer: How to Love Your Enemies
In this conversation, Andrew and Zach discuss the causes behind the rise in polarization, the way political tribalism can become a false idol, and the imperative of truly following Jesus’ call to “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Andrew encourages us to see that our calling as disciples of Jesus is to follow his example and transform conflict through love.
Rebecca Glazier: The Power of Serving Together
Rebecca’s work offers a powerful perspective on how congregations can heal divisions—not just within their walls but across society. Her research shows that when faith communities serve together and engage in meaningful outreach, they create what she calls “congregational warmth,” fostering deeper connections, stronger faith, and even healthier, more united communities generally.
Katie Ludlow Rich and Heather Sundahl: Choosing Community over Ideological Purity
This conversation is about what it takes to stay in relationship, even when ground we used to share—whether in belief, perspective, or experience—starts to shift. Katie and Heather explore the difference between discomfort and danger, how we can sit with the tension of disagreement without walking away, and what it means to listen, not to persuade, but to witness—to be present with someone else’s experience, even when it’s different from our own.
David French: A Counter-Culture of Love
David emphasizes the need for Christians to move from a fear-based political culture to one centered on care and compassion for our neighbors—and that instead of seeking political control or domination, Christians should embrace equality for Americans of any or no religion. David also addresses the rise in misinformation and distrust in institutions, highlighting the importance of truth-seeking and constructive political engagement. He concludes with a prayer that Christians will reject the politics of fear and help renew the world by living a counter-culture of love.
Sharon McMahon: Why We Love Conspiracy Theories
Sharon helps us unpack why conspiracy theories can be so compelling, how they spread, and the very human needs behind them—like safety, belonging, and making sense of uncertainty. She also shares deeply practical and compassionate guidance for staying in relationship with someone who’s caught in that mindset, while still honoring your own values and boundaries.
JOIN US AT THE WAYFARE FESTIVAL ON JULY 11!
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STUDY “COME FOLLOW ME” WITH FAITH MATTERS
Trusting in God when things don't go our way
How can Jesus Christ turn tragedy into triumph? Is there a non-transactional way to think about obedience? How can I learn to trust my own inspiration?
Seeing Clearly by Looking upon the Heart
What does it mean that Jesus is our King? What is prophecy and how does it work? How might we think about obedience? How can I "look upon the heart" of others?
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Crucial Conversations Across Faith Divides: The Courage to Stay Connected
On June 16th, Joseph Grenny and Tucker Boyle invite you to an evening designed to equip you for some of the hardest conversations life brings, the kind that happen between loved ones when faith changes.
Joseph will draw from his decades of work with crucial conversations, walking us through practical principles for navigating high-stakes moments without losing the relationship or ourselves. Tucker will bring a somatic and nervous system lens to each principle, helping us notice what’s actually happening in our bodies when these conversations get hard.
The insight at the heart of the evening: people on both sides of a faith transition share remarkably similar embodied experiences. The protective urges, the impulse to shut down or push harder, the way the body tightens before the words even come, these aren’t signs that something is wrong with you. They’re signals worth learning to read. This insight can open a pathway to patience, empathy and even compassion when in otherwise risky moments.
All it takes is one party to a conversation with this capacity to dramatically alter its outcome.
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