What Is Heart of the Matter?

A decades-long, public exploration of Mormonism, Christianity, and the fulfilled faith in Yeshua.

Heart of the Matter (HOTM) began in 2006 as Shawn McCraney’s weekly, public investigation into God, scripture, and religious tradition. After spending forty years as a devoted Latter-day Saint and later entering Evangelical Christianity, Shawn started HOTM to openly explore questions about doctrine, truth, and faith.

Through weekly shows, conversations, and thousands of hours of teaching, HOTM became a place where LDS individuals, Christians, and seekers could test ideas, study the Bible, and explore what a personal walk with Yeshua might look like without regard to an institution.

History of Heart of the Matter

Heart of the Matter is hosted by Shawn McCraney, who spent forty years as a devoted and believing member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His early life, family, culture, and worldview were shaped entirely within the LDS experience. In the early 2000s, Shawn had what he calls a “spiritual rebirth”, meaning a moment that changed how he understood God, grace, and scripture. That experience moved him to examine his faith publicly and honestly, without fear of where the answers might lead. This personal awakening was the spark that created Heart of the Matter.

The Phases of HOTM

In 2006, Shawn launched the first version of Heart of the Matter as a weekly live show filmed in Utah. The format was simple, direct, impassioned and popular: Shawn taught from his former evangelical understanding of the Bible, discussed LDS doctrine, shared his personal background, compared LDS beliefs with biblical Christianity, and invited viewers to think for themselves. At the time, public criticism of the LDS came with heavy scrutiny, but also with heavy support from evangelicals. For many Latter-day Saints, it was the first time they had encountered these ideas expressed, and the presentation was often brought with boisterous fervor.

Phase 1: LDS and Christian Dialogue (2006–2013)

The early years of HOTM were largely focused on navigating the space between Mormonism and Christian doctrine. Shawn approached these subjects through the Evangelical lens he held at the time. Episodes often addressed Mormonism directly through theology, authority, scripture, and identity. This period became known as “classic HOTM,” and for thousands of viewers, it served as a bridge between two very different religious worlds. This phase was characterized by its popularity, angry callers, entertaining antics from Shawn, along with rich, heart-felt presentations.

Phase 2: Discovering Problems in Evangelicalism (2013–2018)

Over time, Shawn began to see that many issues he identified in Mormonism, things like institutional control, doctrinal contradiction, and fear-based messaging, were also heavily present in the mainstream Christianity to which he had turned after Mormonism.

The first episode of HOTM in 2013, Shawn announced he would turn his attention toward Christianity, to which he was immediately kicked off the air. Shawn continued on the path through self-production, addressing the shortcomings of Evangelicalism with the same transparency he had brought to his LDS discussions. While a large portion of the audience was ironically lost at this turn, the point was proven stronger: HOTM was never meant to tear people down or uphold an institution, but to expose the patterns that exist across religious institutions in order to bring them into direct relationship with Yeshua.As this phase unfolded, HOTM moved from comparing two systems to questioning the nature of organized religion altogether.

Phase 3: The Fulfilled Perspective (2018–Present)

Years of study and continuous public teaching across HOTM and Shawn’s Bible Teachings (formerly called C.A.M.P.U.S.) eventually led Shawn to discover the teachings of many who came before him, articulating what he calls The Great News: the belief that Yeshua fulfilled all prophecy, ended material religion, and reconciled humanity directly to God.

This understanding reshaped the entire purpose of HOTM. No longer was the show about deciding whether LDS or Evangelical doctrine was “more correct.” Instead, it became a space to explore the completed biblical narrative and what spiritual life looks like in a fully fulfilled world. This shift brought clarity, cohesion, and the direction that continues today.

The Evolution and Purpose of HOTM

Heart of the Matter has moved through several stages over the years, each shaped by Shawn’s continued study and shifting understanding of the biblical narrative. The original HOTM show opened the door by openly comparing LDS and Christian teachings. Redux revisited early themes with greater clarity. Full Circle focused on fulfillment and the completed biblical story. Radicalized proposed holistic the Yeshuan perspective. Today, this progression leads into ARK Steadied, a new series launching in January 2026 that speaks directly to Latter-day Saints from the perspective of fulfillment.

Through all of these phases, the purpose of HOTM has remained the same: to pursue Truth publicly and honestly, without asking anyone to join a church or adopt a system. HOTM continues because seekers continue to ask questions, and because the conversation around faith, fulfillment, and Yeshua is still unfolding. All past and current work now lives freely on the Yeshuans platform for anyone who wants to explore further.