For years I have been reading extensively on theology, faith, LDS Church history, and more. I’ve listened to thousands of hours of podcast. I had always wished someone would provide a list of suggested titles. So, here is my list of books and podcasts that have had the most impact on me.

Nature of God / Grace / Relationship with God

• Grace is Not God’s Backup Plan by Adam Miller: Explores the radical nature of grace as God’s primary way of relating to humanity, not a secondary option when we fail.
• Divine Grace by Adam Miller: Delves deeper into the concept of divine grace, examining its transformative power and its role in our relationship with God.
• The Mother Tree by Kathryn Knight Sonntag: Uses the metaphor of a mother tree to explore nurturing divine love and our interconnectedness within God’s creation.
• The Christ Who Heals by Fiona and Terryl Givens: Examines the healing power of Jesus Christ, extending beyond physical ailments to spiritual and emotional restoration.
• The God Who Weeps by Fiona and Terryl Givens: Explores the profound empathy and sorrow of God in the face of human suffering and the implications for our understanding of the divine.
• All Things New by Fiona and Terryl Givens: Offers a hopeful perspective on the transformative power of Christ’s Atonement to make all things new in our lives.
• The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr: Presents a vision of Christ as a cosmic and unifying presence, extending beyond the historical Jesus to encompass all of creation.
• The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest for Faith by Fiona and Terryl Givens: Explores the necessity and potential growth found within periods of doubt and questioning in one’s faith journey.
• Sacred Struggle by Melissa Inouye: Examines the complex and often messy nature of faith, highlighting the value of wrestling with doubts and difficulties in our spiritual development.
• At One Ment by Thomas McConkie: Explores the principles of contemplative practice to foster a deeper sense of unity and connection with God and others.
• Gracing by Hannah Packard Crowther: Reflects on the subtle yet profound ways grace manifests in our daily lives, shaping our experiences and relationships.
• The Language of God by Francis Collins: A prominent geneticist shares his journey reconciling faith and science, arguing for the compatibility of belief in God and evolutionary biology.
• Invisible Jesus: A Book About Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ by Scot McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips: Explores the path those who have deconstructed belief in their church while finding a deeper connection with Jesus Christ.

Faith Journey

• Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith by Sarah Bessey: Offers practical spiritual practices for navigating the uncertainties and transformations of a maturing faith.
• Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans: Through personal narrative, Evans explores the challenges and beauty of holding onto faith in a world filled with doubt and complexity.
• Faith After Doubt by Brian McLaren: McLaren provides a framework for moving beyond simplistic certainty to a more resilient and nuanced faith that embraces questions.
• Do I Stay Christian? by Brian McLaren: Dddresses the difficult questions many face regarding their Christian identity in a changing world, offering pathways for those wrestling with doubt.
• Falling Upward by Richard Rohr: Highly recommended. Outlines the two halves of life, suggesting that spiritual growth often involves a “falling” that leads to deeper understanding and faith.
• Stages of Faith by James Fowler: Presents a developmental model of faith, describing different stages individuals go through as their beliefs evolve throughout life.
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: A classic. Lewis offers a rational and accessible defense of core Christian beliefs, appealing to both believers and skeptics.
• The Sin of Certainty by Peter Enns: Enns challenges the notion that absolute certainty is a prerequisite for faith, arguing that embracing uncertainty can lead to a more authentic spirituality.
• A Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans: Evans humorously and thoughtfully chronicles her experiment living according to biblical prescriptions for women, raising questions about interpretation and modern faith.
• Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans: Reflects on the tensions between faith and science in her own upbringing and broader culture, advocating for a more open and compassionate approach.
• Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions by Rachel Held Evans: Evans shares her personal journey of deconstruction and reconstruction of faith as she learned to embrace doubt and complexity.
• The Great Spiritual Migration by Brian McLaren: Proposes an important shift in Christian focus from exclusion and fear to love, compassion, and global citizenship.
• The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross: A classic of Christian mysticism, this work describes the difficult but ultimately purifying experience of spiritual desolation in the journey toward union with God.
• Come Be My Light by Mother Teresa: This collection of private letters reveals the spiritual struggles and profound faith of Mother Teresa, offering insight into her inner life.
• Navigating Mormon Faith Crisis by Thomas McConkie: McConkie provides guidance and frameworks for individuals experiencing doubt or disillusionment within the context of Mormonism.
• Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty by Gregory A. Boyd: Boyd argues against the pursuit of absolute certainty in faith, suggesting that embracing doubt can lead to a more robust and honest relationship with God.
• When Mormons Doubt: A Way to Save Relationships and Seek a Qualify Life by Jon Ogden: Ogden offers practical advice and perspectives for navigating doubt within Mormonism while preserving relationships and personal well-being.

The LDS Church Today

• At Last She Said it (See also the podcast series): Explores contemporary issues and perspectives within the Church, particularly from female voices.
• Restoration: God’s Call to the 21st-Century World by Patrick Mason: Examines the ongoing relevance and potential of the Restoration in addressing the challenges and opportunities of our modern era.
• Planted: Belief and Belonging in an Age of Doubt by Patrick Mason: Explores how individuals can cultivate deep belief and belonging within the Church amidst an environment of questioning and uncertainty.
• Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict by Patrick Mason and David Pulsipher: Examines the peace-building potential of the Restoration’s principles in a world marked by division and strife.
• Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question by David Ostler: Provides insights and guidance for Church members seeking to understand and support those experiencing doubts or faith crises.
• With the Mask: Coming Out and Coming Into God’s Light by Charlie Bird: Bird shares his personal journey of navigating his identity as a gay Latter-day Saint and finding his place within the Church.
• Expanding the Borders of Zion by Charlie Bird: Explores ways to create a more inclusive and welcoming community within the Church for LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Listen, Learn, and Love: Embracing LGBTQ Latter-day Saints by Richard Ostler: Offers practical advice and his own personal story and the stories of LGBTQ+ saints to help Latter-day Saints better understand and show love to their LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters.
• Listen, Learn, and Love: Building the Good Ship Zion by Richard Ostler: Focuses on fostering a stronger and more compassionate Church culture that embraces diverse perspectives.
• Listen, Learn, and Love: Improving Latter-day Saint Culture by Richard Ostler: Addresses specific aspects of Church culture that could be improved to create a more inclusive and supportive environment.
• The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement by Matthew Harris: Harris offers a scholarly analysis and contextualization of the official Gospel Topics essays published by the Church.
• Letter to a Doubter by Terryl Givens: Givens provides a thoughtful and personal response to common doubts and questions raised by those grappling with their faith in the Church.
• Living on the Inside of the Edge: A Survival Guide by Chris Kimball: A former bishop offers practical advice and insights for those who feel somewhat on the periphery of mainstream Mormonism but wish to remain connected.

Personal Journey/Enlightenment

Young Pueblo Books

• The Way Forward: Offers guidance and reflections on navigating life’s challenges and finding direction.
• Inward: Focuses on introspection and exploring one’s inner landscape for self-understanding.
• Clarity and Connection: Emphasizes the importance of clear thinking and fostering meaningful relationships.
• Lighter: Explores themes of releasing burdens and finding a sense of ease and peace.
• How to Love Better: Offers insights and practices for cultivating deeper and more meaningful love in relationships.

Thich Nhat Hanh Books

• Peace is Every Step: Teaches mindfulness and how to find peace in the present moment through everyday activities.
• The Art of Living: Offers Buddhist wisdom and practices for living a more mindful, compassionate, and fulfilling life.
• Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm: Explores the nature of fear and provides practices for understanding and transforming it.
• The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: Presents a clear and accessible overview of core Buddhist principles and practices.
• You Are Here: Emphasizes the power of presence and connecting with the here and now.
• Living Buddha, Living Christ: Explores the common ground and shared wisdom between Buddhism and Christianity.

Contemplative Christianity and Mystical Traditions

• Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer by Richard Rohr: Explores contemplative prayer as a way to experience the inherent belonging and love offered by God.
• New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton: Profound reflections on solitude, self-discovery, and the search for God in the contemplative life.
• Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening by Cynthia Bourgeault: Introduces the practice of Centering Prayer as a method for deepening one’s awareness of the divine presence.
• Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of Reconnecting with Sacred Earth by Randy Woodley: Invites readers to reconnect with the natural world as a path to spiritual grounding and understanding.

Love

• The Law of Love by Steve Young: Explores the central importance of love as a guiding principle in life and faith.
• The Law of Love in Action by Steve Young: Delves into the practical application of love in our interactions and relationships.

Rituals and Community

• The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter Kuile: Explores how incorporating ritual into daily life can foster meaning and connection.
• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters by Priya Parker: Offers principles and frameworks for creating more meaningful and transformative gatherings of people.
• Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World by Jenny Allen: Explores the importance of genuine connection and provides insights on building strong communities.
• The Art of Community: 7 Principles for Belonging by Charles H. Vogl: Outlines key principles for fostering strong and meaningful communities where individuals feel a sense of belonging.
• Awe by Dacher Keltner: Explores the science and significance of awe in our lives, highlighting its power to connect us and enhance well-being.
• For Small Creatures Such as We by Sasha Sagan: Reflects on the wonder of the universe and the importance of finding meaning and connection in a secular world.

The Book of Mormon

• Studies of the Book of Mormon by B.H. Roberts: Explores Robert’s attempts to understand and reconcile various issues with the Book of Mormon to the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve.
• The Annotated Book of Mormon by Grant Hardy: Provides historical, literary, and cultural context alongside the text of the Book of Mormon to enhance understanding.
• The Book of Mormon for the Least of These, Vol 1-3 by Margaret Olsen Hemming and Fatima Saleh: This series offers interpretations of the Book of Mormon through a lens of social justice and empathy for marginalized communities.

Church History

• Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman: The best, most comprehensive and nuanced biography of Joseph Smith and the early history of the Latter-day Saint movement.
• No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie: Brodie’s controversial biography offers a critical and psychological examination of Joseph Smith’s life and claims.
• The Ghost of Eternal Polygamy by Carol Lynn Pearson: In my opinion this is a must read. Explores the lasting impact and complexities of the history of polygamy in the Church, particularly for women.
• Second Class Saints by Matthew Harris: Examines the experiences and perspectives of marginalized groups within the history of the Latter-day Saint Church.

Scriptures / Historical Christ

• Misquoting Jesus by Bart D. Ehrman: Ehrman, a New Testament scholar, discusses textual variations in the Bible and their implications for understanding the original texts.
• The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault: Bourgeault explores the teachings of Jesus through the lens of contemplative wisdom traditions.
• The Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV): This is a study Bible that provides scholarly introductions, annotations, and historical context for the biblical texts.
• The Bible Says So by Dan McClellan: Addresses common interpretations and misinterpretations of biblical texts, offering a more academically supported understanding of key topics.
• The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture Has Made Us Unable to Read it by Peter Enns: Enns argues that a rigid defense of biblical inerrancy can hinder a more authentic engagement with the scriptures.

Biographies / Memoir

• Stretching the Heavens (Eugene England) by Terryl Givens: Givens chronicles the life and intellectual contributions of Eugene England, a significant voice in Mormon thought.
• David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, Gregory Prince: Examines the life and leadership of David O. McKay and his role in shaping the modern Church.
• Chosen Path: A Memoir by D. Michael Quinn: Quinn shares his personal journey as a historian of Mormonism and his experiences within the Church.
• Sacred Struggles by Melissa Inouye: (Listed in multiple categories) Incorporates personal reflections on the complexities of faith and belonging.

Emotional Resilience

Brené Brown Books

• The Gifts of Imperfection: Explores the power of embracing vulnerability and imperfection to live a wholehearted life.
• Daring Greatly: Encourages readers to embrace vulnerability as the foundation for courage and authentic living.
• Rising Strong: Outlines a process for navigating setbacks, learning from failures, and cultivating resilience.
• Braving the Wilderness: Examines the importance of belonging and connection while standing in our own truth, even when it’s difficult.
• Atlas of the Heart: Explores the nuances of human emotions and experiences, providing a framework for understanding and connecting with ourselves and others.

Other Key Titles

• What Happened to You? by Oprah Winfrey & Bruce D. Perry: Discusses the impact of trauma and adversity on our lives and offer insights into healing and resilience.
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: Examines the effects of trauma on the brain and body and explores innovative approaches to healing.
• Sacred Struggle by Melissa Inouye: (Listed in multiple categories) Inouye’s work touches on themes of personal resilience in the face of faith challenges.
• Gracing by Hannah Packard Crowther: (Listed in multiple categories) Crowther’s reflections may offer insights into finding strength and hope through grace.
• Shift by Ethan Kross: Explores the science of managing our thoughts and emotions to improve well-being and performance.
• Chatter by Ethan Kross: Delves into the phenomenon of our inner voice and provides strategies for harnessing it for greater calm and self-control.
• The Untethered Soul, the Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael Singer: A guide to understanding the inner dialogue and achieving inner peace by detaching from limiting thoughts and emotions.
• The Power of Regret by Daniel Pink: Explores the often-misunderstood emotion of regret, arguing that it’s not necessarily negative but can be a valuable signal that, when analyzed correctly, can lead to better decision-making and a more fulfilling life by illuminating what we value most.
• Find Your People by Jennie Allen: A guide to building deep, meaningful friendships in a culture of isolation, rooted in biblical principles and practical strategies.
• Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan: An important resource that explains how cults manipulate individuals. Explains the BITE model of understanding how cults control behavior and provides tools for recovery and helping others break free.
• How to Know a Person by David Brooks: An exploration into the art of truly seeing and understanding others to build stronger, more empathetic relationships.
• Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Happiness by Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey: A blend of science and storytelling that offers practical steps for increasing happiness and emotional well-being.
• From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Sense of Purpose in the Second Half of Life by Arthur Brooks: A roadmap for finding deeper purpose, contentment, and joy as we transition into the second half of life.

Religion and Politics

• The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt: Haidt explores the psychological foundations of moral and political beliefs, highlighting the role of intuition and group identity.
• The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory by Tim Alberta: Alberta examines the intersection of faith and politics in America, particularly within the evangelical Christian community.
• Mormonism and White Supremacy by Joanna Brooks: Brooks critically analyzes the historical and contemporary connections between Mormonism and ideologies of white supremacy.

LDS-Oriented Podcasts

• Faith Matters—Hosted by Tim and Aubrey Chavez Explores nuanced and progressive perspectives on Mormon faith and practice.
• Latter-Day Struggles—Valerie Hammaker Uses experience as a faith transition coach to address the challenges and difficulties individuals face within the context of Mormonism.
• At Last She Said it—Cynthia Winward and Susan Hinkley. This podcast features open and honest conversations about contemporary issues relevant to Mormon women (Related to the book of the same name).
• One Heart, One Mind—Thomas McConkie Uses principles of mindfulness and contemplation to foster unity and understanding within the LDS Church community.
• Listen, Learn, and Love—Richard Ostler podcast features discussions and stories related to LGBTQ+ inclusion and building a more loving Church culture. (Related to the books) This
• Year of Polygamy—Lindsay Hansen-Park Starting from the Feminist Morman Housewives podcast, it is an in-depth review into historical polygamist wives of Joseph Smith to its impact today.
• Data Over Dogma—Dan McLellan Encourages a more evidence-based and less literalistic approach to religious understanding within an LDS context.

Faith Transition/Thoughtful Spirituality Podcasts

• The Liturgists (especially older episodes) Explores faith, science, and art—broad but resonant with LDS deconstruction journeys.

• Unorthodox (by Tablet Magazine) A Jewish podcast, but often draws interesting parallels on tradition and modernity.
• On Being – Krista Tippett Conversations with thought leaders across spiritual traditions—many deeply resonant with those in transition.
• For the Love – Jen Hatmaker Especially her series on faith deconstruction and women’s spirituality.

• Secular Buddhism—Noah Rashera Explores ways to adopt the principles of Buddhism to be a better whatever-you-already-are.