Latter-Day Saint Folklore: The Stories We Tell When the Manual Closes

Latter-Day Saint Folklore: The Stories We Tell When the Manual Closes

Author: Greg Matsen December 11, 2025 Duration: 58:30

Folklorist Christopher Blythe of Brigham Young University joins me to unpack the unofficial stories that quietly shape Latter-day Saint belief. We talk three Nephites, seer stones, missionary legends, evil spirits, and why some 'false' stories still tell real truth.

Blythe defines folklore as informal ideas we pass along—what parents tell kids, what missionaries swap in apartments, what members share at campfires or in the celestial room, not the correlated manual. Folklore includes what we do, make, and especially what we say: stories, interpretations, and "off-the-record" teachings. "Official" doctrine is correlated and written; folklore is what happens the second we interpret and repeat it. We often misuse the term "folklore" to mean "false doctrine" or "wives' tales," but in academia, it refers to how ideas are transmitted, not to their truth or falsity.

Folklore can be deeply sacred—sometimes things we won't share over the pulpit precisely because they mean so much.

Angels & Seerstones Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

Christopher Blythe's Facebook -   / christopher.blythe.3  

Cwic Media Website: http://www.cwicmedia.com

 


Hosted by Greg Matsen, Cwic Media-LDS Podcast / Latter-day Saints digs into the substance of faith and community without the usual polish. This is a conversation grounded in theology and history, where scriptural analysis meets the realities of modern life. The discussions here often focus on the Cwic Interpreters, a framework for engaging with the Book of Mormon, New Testament, and Old Testament in a way that feels immediate and practical. You’ll hear unscripted explorations of how current cultural shifts and political conversations intersect with and impact the lived experience of Latter-day Saints. The aim is to articulate those sometimes unspoken trends within and around the Church, treating them with intellectual seriousness. That means no fluff-just direct dialogue about what it means to be a Latter-day Saint and a Christian navigating today’s world. Listeners find this podcast to be a distinct voice, one that doesn’t simply rehash familiar topics but offers a new approach to understanding both ancient texts and contemporary challenges. It’s for those who want their religious content to be substantive, candid, and connected to the broader human experience. Each episode is built on the premise that faith deepens through rigorous, honest examination, making this a unique entry in the landscape of LDS-focused media. Tune in for a perspective that is both deeply rooted and unafraid to ask questions.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cwic Media- LDS Podcast / Latter-day Saints
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