Contributors to the Faith

Heart of the Matter, hosted by Shawn McCraney, highlights events such as "Heart in the Home" and "Heart in the Park," which aim to unite diverse religious communities, including Christians and LDS, through music, fellowship, and open discussion. McCraney focuses on exploring the complexities of Mormonism's origins, seeking to understand the founder Joseph Smith Jr.'s influence by uncovering lesser-known aspects about his life and teachings over a detailed series of discussions.

Joseph Smith and early Mormonism emerged as responses to diverse 19th-century social, political, familial, and religious themes, shaped by influences such as family dynamics, local community, and prevalent political and religious climates. The Book of Mormon and many unique LDS doctrines reflect a blend of established rituals, republican ideals, and various human motivations, forming a distinctive "Mormon collage" that raises meaningful questions about understanding its components and their relevance to religious life today.

Joseph Smith's upbringing was deeply influenced by his mother Lucy Mack Smith's concern with organized religion and external opinions, which played a significant role in shaping his perspectives and actions. As a complex figure, Smith is neither entirely vilified nor completely exonerated; instead, understanding him requires sticking to factual analysis of his life and the cultural, religious, and political contexts of the 19th century that impacted the development of Mormonism.