✏️ Protestant Speaks at LDS History Conference
12,719
Published 2023-10-11
A little over a year ago, I walked through the door to my very first ward visit to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a lifetime Protestant, I didn't know anything walking in.
There were similarities to my lifetime beliefs, but also very different concepts. But the perplexing takeaway was the reception from members and missionaries — and especially follow-up. It was the best impression of any church I had visited as a first-time visitor after more than 100 documented church visits—leaving me wonder why most churches rely on email communication as opposed to the missionary model.
After that visit, a lot of doors opened that accelerated my interest in the Latter-day Saint pioneers and the resulting complex history. I was blessed to attend different Restoration churches that had split from the mainstream LDS Church (i.e. Community of Christ, The Church of Jesus Christ, and Strangite Church), and strangely because of that, this channel became a point-of-reference to compare and contrast different Book of Mormon-believing churches.
For this year's John Whitmer Historical Association held in Fredericksburg, Texas - the idea was floated around to include a session featuring YouTube podcasters and their engagement with various Latter-day Saint branches. Steven Pynakker from @MormonBookReviews , Rick Bennett of @GospelTangents , and I accepted the invitation to present our personal experiences in front of an audience full of professors, scholars, and historians.
Here's a look into how the event turned out.
If you'd like the blog post by Kyle Beshears, link can be found at kylebeshears.substack.com/p/an-un-obvious-differen…
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▶️ Timestamps:
0:00 Fredericksburg
0:22 A Lot Can Change in a Year
4:49 Inside JWHA
6:21 JWHA Background
8:04 LDS Pioneers in Texas
9:29 Latter day Saints in Space
11:16 YouTuber Session
12:47 The "UNobvious" Difference
14:56 Hymn Festival Thoughts
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🎵 Music:
Track: Eyrie - Hara Noda
• Eyrie
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All Comments (21)
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Thanks to all those involved with JWHA for hosting. Hope you enjoyed this brief look into what a Latter Day Saint history conference looks like.
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You’re just awesome, I love how you interact and learn. No wonder they invited you - you’re genuine and kind, honest and open.
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Great episode. It was wonderful to share with you at the JWHA conference. Your presentation with Rick Bennett from Gospel Tangents and Steve Pynakker from Mormon Book Reviews is one that will be a favorite for many. I also noticed the beauty of the group. As a first time attendee, I was surprised how little what church I belonged to meant to anyone. We were a group of Mormon history lovers. Well done, my friend.😊
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Wonderful presentation, David. We are absolutely thrilled to learn of your subsequent baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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Amazing experience, thanks for sharing. I love when Childrens choirs sing I am a child of God. Gets me every time
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Steven is awesome. I am so glad you got this opportunity and also very glad you shared it with us. Thank you David.
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I've enjoyed your thoughts and content here. Would you ever consider talking to David Alexander, a YouTube creator who was in Evangelical Christianity for 47 years? He has such an interesting take an story.
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I always enjoy Davis's comments and videos. He and Steven Pinegar are breaking old barriers between the Latter-Day Saint restoration branches. Good Job and keep it up!
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I'm really close to this part of LDS History. My ancestors followed Lyman White to Texas until later rejoining the main LDS body in Utah. What was really interesting is I grew up in California and a guy in my ward was the descendent of one of the missionaries who came to Texas and invited my ancestors to rejoin the saints in Utah.
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Always enjoy your thoughts and sharing of experiences!
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Enjoy your remarks, you seem very genuine, make shure if you read the Book of Mormon that you earnestly pray about it, if it is a true testament of Jesus Christ .
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Lyman Wight is my great great great Uncle. My line of Wights did go on to Utah.
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Did you record your speech from the conference? I would love to hear it!
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I learned we have a common friend…Sister Stringham. She’s a great missionary and now friend.
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Buzz Aldrin, a Catholic, took communion on the moon.
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Thank you for doing God's work as you have been called! 📿🙏
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You cut your podcast too short I wanted to hear more of the meeting and the talks :-) thank you for sharing!
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If you can, I would recommend that you take the opportunity to go to a non-English-speaking lds ward and record your thoughts and impressions. Additionally, I'd recommend you find the hymns that aren't in the English Hymnbook for additional insight. My favorite is "otro ano ha pasado" from the Spanish Hymnbook.
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Great video, as usual 👌
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David, I look forward to your videos about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and find your candor refreshing. I love seeing The Church through your eyes, and I daresay that you know quite a bit of history that many Church members don't. Thank you for the time you take to search out the accurate history of The Church, and to present it respectfully here on your channel. I look forward to more videos from you, and enjoy hearing your perspective. Perhaps once these 52 weeks are finished, you could start a new channel named "52 Doctrinal Topics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 52 Weeks" since you seem to have a sincere desire to learn so much about Jesus' restored Church. Such videos would also help to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, via all of your subscribers. Thank you for all you do.
