This week, we're bringing you a special episode recorded live from the Restore gathering in 2024, where we were joined by Jared Halverson. This one one of my very favorite topics to hear Jared talk about. His session was on what he calls “contraries” or paradoxes that are inherent in a life of faith. His message feels especially timely this week.
He offers the powerful image of the cross as a symbol of wholeness in our discipleship. One axis, reaching vertically, represents our connection to God, while the horizontal beam represents the love and care we extend outward to embrace those around us. True discipleship, Jared explained, is this centerpoint. It requires both beams—it's a deep grounding in God that inspires us to reach out in love to others.
Jared’s session feels like an invitation to love our neighbor. He boldly reminds us that the means matter, that "being right with God, does not justify being wrong with other people." So rather than allowing our differences to create distance, he challenges us to see the ways that truth is found in the tension of the paradox. This “both-and” approach allows us to see each other more fully and generously, creating connection that transcends our differences and reflects god's love.
We’re so grateful for Jared’s wisdom in this session, and we hope his message helps you feel connected and inspired this week and we hope you’ll join us at Restore this year where you’ll hear Jared live.
RESTORE IS THIS WEEK!
STUDY “COME FOLLOW ME” WITH FAITH MATTERS
What is the role of a prophet? What is the purpose of covenants?
What does partnership with God look and feel like? How does the priesthood work? What does it mean to sustain the prophet? What even is a prophet? Why councils? Why covenants?
Why temples? Why covenants?
What are covenants? What do covenants do? What can they do? Why build temples? How do different people understand their temple experience? What is the purpose of temple rituals? What does it mean to turn our hearts to our ancestors?
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This is a story about war. And there are many wars in the Bible. And a lot of them are described very simply. The righteous versus the wicked. The people that follow God versus the people that don’t. Good guys versus bad guys. And when the good guys win, it’s because they are good and when they lose it’s because they are being bad. But not every war is actually like that. Not every war in the Bible is like that. And this is the story of a war that was not like that at all.
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Watch the Where Peace Begins video series (8 short videos):
Read all of the essays from Wayfare Issue 5, the peacemaking issue—and share them with a friend!
Find even more podcast episodes on this topic in our Peacemaking tag:
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