God's Many Voices - A Conversation with S. Michael Wilcox
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- This week, we were honored to bring back Michael Wilcox for one of the most interesting discussions we’ve ever had. We’ve discovered, as we’ve gotten to know him, just how well-versed he is in all world religions, not just in Latter-day Saint theology.
We’re breaking this episode into two parts - in this first part, Brother Wilcox explains why it is that he’s spent so much time with the ideas and in the holy books of other religions. To give you a little preview, in his words: “God has been speaking to his children all the time. Every way he can, everywhere…I can hear (his voice in) the voice of a sage, or a philosopher or a poet or playwright. God's voice is like an orchestra. We believe in a God that is speaking all the time, everywhere, every way he can.”
And in the second part, which we’ll air next week, we actually get into some of his favorite ideas and passages from books like the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, and several others - it’s remarkable to see how some of the most beautiful ideas really echo so strongly in some of our own cherished beliefs.
Many of you are already familiar with Brother Wilcox, but to just give a little background - he received his PhD from the University of Colorado and taught for many years at the LDS Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah. He has spoken to packed crowds at BYU Education Week and has hosted tours to the Holy Land, China, Church history sites, and many others. He’s written several books and he and his late wife, Laurie, are the parents of five children.
Well done! This is where religion incorporates spirituality. There is no spirituality in, "My group/leader is superior to the rest of the world because we have the only authority that counts!" That's just narcissism. But seeing through to the core of the good things religions sprouted up around - compassion, mercy, "as you have done to the least, you have done to me", "love others as self". Now there's spirituality. Spirituality does not require religion, but oh how beautiful when religion incorporates spirituality! Spirituality is not visible like a building, it's the connection we share with even the ones who seem to be the least amoung us.
Mind-boggling interview speaking right to my soul! I didn’t think that I would hear this from a Latter-Day-Saint, so thank you for putting into words what I have been thinking all of my life!
How comforting and confirming of our faith to recognize that ALL truth may be circumscribed into one great whole. How restrictive and constraining it is to believe that our tiny understanding constitutes the whole of truth! Latter Day Saints, of all people, should be the most accepting and welcoming of anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.
I love Michael Wilcox and his insights and broad sense of goodness. It's a pleasure; always a spiritual experience to hear his talks and read his books. Thank you for inviting him to help us learn more of God's ways with His children.
15 years ago my husband was diagnosed with leukemia...AML with a 25% survival rate. He died 21 mos later. We'd almost raised (the last two were in high school) 8 children, been married almost 33 years and our life was almost (lots of almosts) at a much easier time. He had a great salary, we had all but two of our kids were married and we were ready for things to be a little easier. Then he died. I look back on those years as some the most blessed of my life and yet the hardest. Your comments about the hidden mountains and land that were still there even though they couldntt be seen---and all your struggles in the move tell me great blessings are ahead of you. You're a good man and I love your mission. Godspeed. I hope you love Utah...from an LDS friend.
This resonates so deeply with me… thank you. 🙏🏻💕
It has been a mind opening experience ! I paused several times and thought of what was just being said and I felt truths were spoken here. I needed to hear this. Thank you for this great interview !
This is a worthwhile interview: a classical liberal point of view of circumscribed truth. Well done.
This is one of the best episodes you have done. Thank You.
Yes yes yes!!!!!!! Thank you for these words! The world is full of gods fingerprints! Gods presence is rich and diverse!
I feel the spirit testify so distinctly of truth whenever I listen to Brother Wilcox. Thank you for inviting him again! This interview resonated so deeply with feelings I’ve long held as a devout Latter-Day Saint but lover of all truth, no matter its source.
As a convert to the Church, this perspective is healing. It brings hope while fueling my appreciation for the many ways Heavenly Father communicates with all His children
. You take complex concepts and give simple explanations that are easy to digest. Thank you!
I appreciate that “Latter-day Saintism” allows room for other traditions and truths, and I also appreciate mind’s desire/need for a fixed or home truth by which to gauge everything else. For Latter-day Saints, this bright, shining central truth has a definite name and form, and like a sun, a great deal of gravity. It holds us in orbit and is difficult to see beyond or escape from. And is it not a luxury to want to?
Awesome
I click immediately because I saw bro wilcox name good tobsee him again here
Thank you, thank you Bro. Wilcox . You have addressed the answer to my life long dilemma of trying to understand the exclusivity of gospel teaching in scripture and knowing that God loves all his children and provides guidance to everyone everywhere. I had underlined the same scriptures in II Nephi 29 and Alma 29 that you quoted from my first reading of the B of M. You have provided the clarification I have searched for all of my life.
I love this topic so much and reflects exactly what I've been pondering on the last few years!
Thank you
Wow ! What a wonderful and thoughtful conversation! Thanks much for sharing and inspiring and encouraging me. I’m a sometimes Catholic , Methodist , and all round seeker. Your discussion really resonates with me as God does it seem have many voices !!
Church leaders do a good job of this, in their words and actions.
This was an excellent program!
Gandhi was so good at this!
This is excellent! Beautiful!
So good! I think there’s a second part coming? Hope so😊
Yes, coming next Sunday! 😊
This is a really critical topic and It is true that God is in all things. Can you help us understand how Amos 3:7 - God reveals through prophets only is often quoted. Probably misinterpreted? 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Regarding this "fixed foot",
I want to be open-minded
so as to encompass
all that is right
without
my brain falling out .
But according to the most popular and published version of "the First Vision," Joseph Smith was reportedly told that the other sects were an abomination, and all talk with no substance. How does this square with the message here?
You misquoted this the Lord said their creeds were an abomination! God loves all of His children!
Looks like we're doing a lot of mincing around here, and concluding that "everything is beautiful, in it's own way" type of message. Here's the way I see it: To say that "the brethren" (general authorities) receive constant revelation and direction from deity, is to say that God is essentially confused, undecided, wishy-washy, and even flaky. It's easy to say this, because it's all about non-stop flip-flop in "the Church" . . . regarding publications, proclamations, pronouncements, policies, procedures, programs, priorities, and even theology and doctrine. How can someone claim to be speaking for God if he just completely contradicts what some other supposedly inspired voice of God said?
Policy vs Doctrine