We sometimes reduce “faith-promoting” stories to those tidy endings—where miracles show up just in time, doubts vanish, and testimony replaces tension. But sometimes growth begins when the script falls apart. For Susan Meredith Hinckley and Cynthia Winward, these stories are nourishing a faith that looks like trust and transformation.
Susan and Cynthia are co-hosts of the At Last She Said It podcast and authors of a new book with the same title. They came to this work from different paths. For Cynthia, the Church just worked. She thrived—until her life took a turn at 40 and her certainty unraveled. For Susan, the discomfort was quieter. She says the Church always fit like an “itchy sweater”—a subtle, persistent misfit that kept her silent. But over time, what had become a “crisis of silence” became a call to speak up.
For the past six years, Susan and Cynthia have been inviting women into conversations that began as honest exchanges between friends about big ideas and the real tensions of belonging to a church they both love and feel challenged by. What they’ve learned is that talking about hard things can be its own kind of faith practice—a way to bring your whole heart to your faith and your community, a way of being known.
In this episode, they share practical wisdom for navigating Sundays when belief feels messy, offer a compass for making decisions when clarity is out of reach, and explore how using our voice can help transform hard things into a source connection with each other and a more intimate relationship with a God who loves us without conditions.
We hope this conversation expands your imagination for what spiritual strength can look like—and invites you into a faith that’s honest, evolving, and a true seedbed for growth.
JOIN US FOR ORGANIZED INTELLIGENCE
Organized Intelligence is a new Faith Matters initiative supported by the Future of Life Institute that brings together Latter-day Saint voices from across disciplines to explore the ethical, social, and spiritual dimensions of AI.
Our first gathering will take place November 4-5 in Salt Lake City, Utah and will convene scholars, creatives, technologists, and religious leaders to discuss questions such as:
What are the most pressing societal risks posed by advanced AI systems?
How might unchecked AI development exacerbate social divisions, economic opportunities, instability, or loss of human agency?
How can faith traditions offer insight into the ethical and spiritual challenges raised by AI?
In what ways might religious voices contribute to shaping AI governance and public policy?
How can AI be harnessed responsibly for humanitarian and faith-based purposes while guarding against its risks?
LISTEN TO EPISODE 1 OF SANCTUARY
STUDY “COME FOLLOW ME” WITH FAITH MATTERS
How do we respond to suffering?
What good can come from adversity? Where is God in suffering? Should we always assign meaning to struggle? Where does true power come from? What does Christ offer those who are suffering? What do hope and charity look like in the face of adversity?
What are we building together?
How do we build Zion together? How can we invite others to come unto Christ? How can we become disciples God can trust? How can we become more welcoming and accepting of others? Why do we build temples?
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