Episode 101: Jacob and Mental Health (Jared Halverson)

Episode 101: Jacob and Mental Health (Jared Halverson)

Author: BYU Religious Education April 1, 2024 Duration: 52:42

The word anxiety (or anxious) is used nine times in the Book of Mormon, and it appears in both positive and negative forms. In the positive form it refers to something more akin to "eagerness" (see Mosiah 29:38 and 3 Nephi 3:3), whereas the negative refers more to "uncertainty" or "troubling fear" (see 2 Nephi 1:16 and Mosiah 28:12). Of the seven negative references, four are penned by the prophet Jacob, including one in which he couples "great anxiety" with the counterbalancing attribute of "faith" (see Jacob 1:5). In this episode Dr. Jared Halverson, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses the mental, emotional, and spiritual issues related to anxiety as explained in the life and teachings of Jacob. Professor Halverson closely examines Jacob's writings on the anxiety born of adversity (trauma), anxiety due to responsibility (pastoral perfectionism), and anxiety over one's standing before God (scrupulosity). In analyzing Jacob's words, we can find counsel and compassion, whether we struggle with anxiety or are anxious to support those who do.

 

Click here to learn more about Jared Halverson

 

Publications:

·      "'Because of Faith and Great Anxiety': Jacob and the Challenges of Mental Health" (in Jacob: Faith and Great Anxiety, Religious Studies Center, 2024)

·      "Protecting Our Strengths: Alma's Counsel to Shiblon" (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)

·      "The Way, the Truth, and the Way to Truth: Harmony in Pursuit of Orthodoxy" (in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2024)

·      "Swine's Blood and Broken Serpents: The Rejection and Rehabilitation of Worship in the Old Testament" (in Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2013)

·      "Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision as Apocalyptic Literature" (in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision, Religious Studies Center, 2011)

·      "Of Soils and Souls: The Parable of the Sower" (in Religious Educator, 9.3, 2008)


Behind the academic papers and detailed studies produced by the faculty at Brigham Young University, there are personal journeys of faith and intellectual curiosity. Y Religion, from BYU Religious Education, opens a window into that process. Each episode sits down with the professor behind the research, moving beyond the published conclusions to explore the human questions that sparked the inquiry. Conversations delve into why a particular historical detail, scriptural insight, or theological concept demanded a closer look, and what it means for both scholarly understanding and personal belief. This isn't about dry lectures; it's about the intersection of rigorous scholarship and lived discipleship within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The podcast serves as a unique bridge, making specialized academic work accessible and relevant to anyone pondering deeper spiritual truths. You'll hear scholars articulate the challenges and rewards of their dual commitment to the mind and the heart, offering listeners a richer appreciation for the ongoing dialogue between faith and learning. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that illuminate how dedicated study can deepen, rather than distance, one's spiritual journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Y Religion
Podcast Episodes
Episode 129: Justification by Faith (Stephan Taeger) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:06
How can educators help students stop fearing their sins and start trusting Christ? In this episode, Professor Stephan Taeger discusses his article "Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Class…
Episode 10: Teaching the One (Phil Allred & Camey Andersen) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:03
How do we find meaningful ways to connect one-on-one with our students? Teaching the gospel means more than delivering lessons—it means ministering to individuals, just as Christ did. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, "We…