Saints Unscripted

Ian and Kwaku sit down with Dr. Michael H. MacKay, a religion professor at BYU who teaches many different subjects of religion pertaining to the Mormon Church.    The three discuss the Priesthood of God, the Restoration, and the temple, as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.    Dr. MacKay shares his thoughts on the priesthood and how in the book of Moses, we learn that the priesthood goes all the way back to Adam and that it continues on today in the LDS Church.  He also shares insight on ordinances and covenants and why both are very important in the Mormon Church, specifically in the Temple.

Saints Unscripted gets a lot of comments from their viewers. Some comments are from trolls and others are genuine. Ian and Kwaku respond to a few of their favorite questions.    Some comments ask why people join the LDS church. Others ask about Mormon marriage and Mormon temples. Many wonder about Ian’s LDS mission. And lastly, others should be comedians… we’ll just leave it at that.

Mormons pay the ancient law of Tithing that is found in the Old Testament. Through paying tithing, members are promised amazing blessings.   With money from tithing paid by members, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints builds up the Kingdom of God on earth. This means Temples are built, Books of Mormon are printed, and the poor are given help, just to name a few things (there are many other ways the Mormon Church uses tithing money).   The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also has many businesses that they own that make profit. The Church then takes that money and uses it for building up the Kingdom of God just like tithing money is used.    When members of the Church pay tithing they are given incredible blessings. In Malachi 3:10 it says: “… if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessings, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."  Mormons everywhere around the world pay tithing and see the blessings that come from it

Do Mormons swear? Kwaku and Ian dive into the topic of whether swearing and profanity is okay or not.    Kwaku says that cussing can be funny at times but shouldn’t be done often and absolutely shouldn’t be done in a derogatory way. Kwaku says that when he is back home in Texas he tries not to curse very much. He does this because he knows that his non-Mormon watch how he acts and speaks as a member of the LDS Church.    Ian mentions that the scriptures do say that we should have good language and that we should refrain from swearing as best as we can. He says that saying swear words and being profane isn’t what a worth priesthood holder should do and that we should do our best to not swear. 

Kwaku shares how his seeking for the truth lead to his conversion to the LDS Church.   Kwaku’s journey to becoming a Mormon started when he was a young kind in Cyprus, Texas. He visited different churches and asked many people what they thought the truth was but he still wasn’t able to find exactly what he was looking for.   During this time, Mitt Romney was running for President of the United States and “The Book of Mormon Musical” was really popular. So Mormons became the talk of the town where he was from.  He started working at a restaurant where he met a Mormon girl who eventually invited him to church with her.  At church he met the sister missionaries and began investigating the church. After he prayed about the Book of Mormon and came to learn of the Plan of Salvation and baptisms for the Dead, he knew that the LDS Church was the church of God on earth. He was baptized soon after.   What is your conversion story? Send us an Instagram DM or Facebook Message about how you knew t

Mormons believe the Bible to be the word of God, as long as it is translated correctly. Mormons believe that the Bible is the first witness of Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon is the second witness of Jesus Christ.   The Bible has been the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith, the prophet who restored the Church of Jesus Christ, grew up studying from the Bible. When he was questioning which church to join, he turned to the Bible and read James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” It was this promise from the Bible that brought him to pray and receive the First Vision where he saw God the Father and his son Jesus Christ.

In this episode, Saints Unscripted travel around BYU campus asking students about their worst date rejection stories!   These BYU date rejection stories have many different versions. Some say they were rejected by someone they asked out, others say they rejected someone who tried to go out with them, either way, it was a lot of rejection!   One Girl, who is a convert to the Mormon church, shared a story of a time when she tried to ask out two guys but they both rejected her.   Another student shared a story of when he asked out a girl that he was getting to know through one of his classes, but she ended up “friend-zoning” him.    These BYU date rejection stories might seem discouraging, but Saints Unscripted reminds us in this video, there are many other fish in the sea!

Al Fox Carraway felt she didn’t need help from anyone, especially religion. That all changed when she met the Mormon missionaries.    Initially when Al met the Mormon missionaries, she told them she would live the LDS principles that she was being taught and prove that nothing would happen, that she wouldn’t receive any blessings.    After some time of doing this, Al’s friends noticed that she was changing and she seemed different. The only thing she was doing differently was that she was trying to prove the Mormon missionaries wrong. After this realization was made, she decided to investigate the LDS Church more fully.    A week before her 21st birthday, Al Fox Carraway was baptized into the Mormon Church and has seem so many beautiful blessings today because of that decision to follow Christ and his teachings.

Al Fox Carraway describes her experience on being a Mormon Convert. She Has many experiences that brought her to the LDS church and she shares them with Saints Unscripted.   Al Fox learned for herself that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the Church of God. She has had many experiences that have taught her that God is real and that He loves His children. Through her conversion, Al Fox has become a popular LDS figure and speaker and she even wrote her own book called the “Tattooed Mormon”!   Becoming converted to the LDS Church, Carraway talks about how her perspective on family completely changed. She shares that dating was difficult for her, but she was able to find her husband and is married and has two kids of her own and is a firm believer that families can be together forever.   Through her conversion, Al Fox learned new things like a “Ward” is a group of members, a “Stake” is not food, and how to sing hymns in church! These are some of the many new things about the

Funny things kids say about their mom for Mother's Day. Saints Unscripted hosts Kwaku and Ian invite Elijah and Lochlan on the show to express their love for their moms on Mother's Day.    Lochlan is in Kindergarten and he loves to do math. He can solve some series equations and can dab like a pro. Also, he dressed like Luigi unintentionally for the show. Can he get more cool? Well, yes indeed. The second he starts talking, Ian melts. Lochlan says that he loves his mom (even though she just cooks "good enough"). He loves that she plays Ticket to Ride with him.   Elijah says that the most important thing he learned from his mom is to always tell the truth. Kwaku agrees that telling the truth is important except under certain conditions.   Kwaku says that his mom taught he to be inquisitive. He says that his mother encouraged him to embrace diversity. And lastly, Kwaku's mom is beautiful.    Moms, WE LOVE YOU! We love your strength, your wisdom, and your love. Have a spectacul

Joseph Smith was called to be a prophet and to restore Christ’s Church on the earth today.  Because of this he had to endure many difficult things to defend what he believed in. The 3 Mormons discuss his character and what kind of a person Joseph Smith Really was.  The Mormon Church has a history of many members who had to endure much hardship for what they believed in.  Being an LDS member wasn’t easy and many even died for their religion. It took real faith to believe in the Mormon church and the Prophet Joseph Smith.   Because Joseph Smith was called to restore to Mormon Church, he was given the power and authority to do many great things. He translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, he was visited by angels, and he eventually died for what he believed.

Saints Unscripted sit down with Bri Ray from “American Idol." The four of them discuss Mormons and Music and Bri’s background in the LDS church!   Bri grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved music from the start. Her dad was raised Baptist and was converted to the Mormon Church, and because of that Bri was raised on Gospel music. She also says that LDS hymns plays a big role in her music life.  Bri chose to audition for “American Idol” because the producers from the show sent her an email to audition for the show. Being on the show she said that she would hang around other contestants that were Mormon as well and that helped her as she strived to live her religion.    Bri says that content is the most important thing to decide what music is good to listen to and what music is not. She says that you need to have good feelings when you are listening to specific types of music. It can be hard to live LDS standards but when choosing music it’s always important to f

Saints Unscripted discuss the Word of Wisdom, a health code that LDS members live by. Do you have any thoughts on the Word of Wisdom?   God revealed to Joseph Smith, the first Prophet of the Mormon Church, the Word of Wisdom in 1833 (even though Ian said 1831). The Word of Wisdom is a health code that LDS members are commanded to follow today. It means that Mormon members are to abstain from Tea, Coffee, Alcohol, Tobacco, and illegal drugs.  There are numerous blessings that come from following this commandment that members of the LDS church enjoy every day!  The substances that LDS members don’t consume are addictive, and the 3 Mormons recognize that. God gives spiritual blessings and physical blessings for anyone who choses to follow this commandment. We can be healthier and have the spirit of God more abundantly in our lives when we follow it.   Saints Unscripted know that the Word of Wisdom keeps us healthy and happy that many LDS members choose to follow. 

Are Mormons Christian? Saints Unscripted discuss why Mormons / LDS Members are Christian and their belief in Jesus Christ with Stacey Harkey from Studio C.    Saints Unscripted each take turns asking Stacey questions about his life as a Christian, being a part of Studio C, his embarrassing moments, and his celebrity crushes, and his favorite Apostles and Prophets. Stacey and the Saints Unscripted also discuss their thoughts about why Mormons are Christian and what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.   Mormons easily meet the definition of a Christian as implicitly defined in the New Testament: they believe that ancient prophets foretold Christ’s coming, that Jesus Christ suffered for our transgressions, that he was put to death but rose from the dead, that through him we may obtain forgiveness of our sins, and that he will come again in glory.  Stacey believes a Mormon is a Christian, a follower of Christ and one who seeks after his teachings. Jesus Christ is fundamental to the Morm

Today we got to talk to Nate Jones who is the host of the Peculiar People Podcast (we told him to call it P-cubed (yes, P^3) so we'll see what happens

Does God Answer Prayers? What do Mormons believe? Saints Unscripted talk about their beliefs and how they came to know that God restored His church to the earth and that Joseph Smith really did see and speak with God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.   Joseph Smith is the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the Mormon church) who translated The Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.    In 1820 Joseph Smith wanted to know which church was God's true church. He searched the Bible and read the scripture in James 1:5, which says "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Joseph acted on this scripture and went to the woods and prayed to God and asked which church was true. God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him and told him he was to join none of the churches in existence. Through this first vision and many others that followed, God chose Jos

How do you keep the Sabbath day holy? Saints Unscripted discuss their views on Sabbath day observance and what we should do to keep the Sabbath day holy.   Shelley believes that Sunday is God’s day. All of the things that we do on the Sabbath day should relate back to God and be the kinds of things that God would want us to do on the Sabbath. She believes that going out to eat and watching sports on Sundays is wrong. Because there is a time set aside on Monday nights for Family Home Evening, we can eat out and watch sports during those times, instead of on Sundays.    Kwaku thinks that on Sunday you should be reading your scriptures, dedicating time to the Lord, and providing service to others. That service can come from many different opportunities like cleaning, home and visiting teaching, or serving the homeless. He believes those are things that anyone can do while keeping the Sabbath day holy.   Ian believes that you need to try your hardest to work 5 or 6 days of the week, and not be

Have you ever wondered what happens in Mormon temples? Saints Unscripted discuss the sacredness of what goes on inside a temple of the Mormon Church.    Shelley puts it best when she says that the main goal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints isn’t for people not to know what goes on inside the temple, we as a church want everyone to know what goes on and to receive the same blessings we do. The Mormon Church and all its members invite everyone to take and read a free copy of The Book of Mormon, to visit with Mormon Missionaries to learn more about our Church and the Temple!   What is the difference between secret and sacred? This question is discussed when Shelley and Ian go to the campus of Brigham Young University to discuss with other Mormons about their thoughts on the temple and the sacredness of it. Each Mormon member they talk to gives insight to the matter of secret vs. sacred and that the things we do inside the temple are sacred and bring us closer to our Heavenly

What do Mormons think about sex? Saints Unscripted tackle the hard questions about the Law of Chastity: sex, porn, and masturbation.  What is the Law of Chastity? Saints Unscripted talk about the idea that “waiting to have sex until you're married is too hard” is a bad mentality and is just not true. We are children of God, and because of that we can utilize many tools God has given us to overcome those sexual pressures and maintain pure thoughts. Christ died for us, and through him we can overcome anything. We as human beings have the sacred ability to procreate, and it should be treated as a sacred act.    All 3 recognize that pornography is evil thing in all forms (soft pornography included) and leads to addiction. When someone you know is struggling with an addiction to pornography, the best thing you can do is support them and let them know that there is always hope for them no matter what. The best thing we can do is avoid it at all costs to avoid that evil and addiction altogether. The C

Ian says that Easter is perhaps the biggest holiday celebrated by Mormons. Ian talks about this important subject with his wife Sienna and his friend Elisabeth.   First, Sienna brings up Mormons and Holy Week. Elisabeth says that growing up, her mom made sure to emphasize each day of Holy Week in preparation for Easter.  Saints Unscripted then go through the different days of Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday. Jesus Christ came back to Jerusalem on a donkey. On Monday, Jesus Christ cleansed the temple and taught of the sacredness of the temple. Then on Maundy Thursday, the Passover occurs. Christ teaches his disciples at the Last Supper. Then Peter, James and John follow Christ to the Garden of Gethsemane where he suffers for all of the children of God. Jesus suffered because he loves us. After Jesus died, he was placed in a tomb. Finally, Jesus Christ is resurrected.    Mormons don’t use the cross as the symbol of faith but rather, they focus on the life and power of the Savior in over