In this episode, Brian and Jake talk about the first controversy of the season, being the situation with Fanny Alger. Joseph's relationship with Fanny was his first plural relationship and first plural marriage. Brian talks about why it is a controversy. Was Joseph cheating on Emma? Why didn't he tell her about it? Did she have any children? Why was she kicked out of the house? We go through all of these and more in this episode!  Comment below your thoughts and questions!   SUBSCRIBE: http://saintsunscripted/subscribe  Follow Us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintsUnscripted/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saintsunscripted/ Website: https://saintsunscripted.com/  Follow Jake:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacob.watson.5817 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacob.watson0_0/

A NEW season of the Saints Unscripted Podcast is here! The first episode is coming out this Sunday! This season, Brian Hales and Jake talk about the most controversial topics of Polygamy. Here is a list of the topics to come:  1. Fanny Alger 2. Plurality of Husbands (Polyandry) 3. Sexuality in Joseph Smith's Plural Relationships 4. Ages of his Young Wives 5. Emma Smith's Path 6. Polygamy Questions (Why was the church so silent about it for so long?)  

Here is the final episode of season 1 of the Saints Unscripted Podcast! Join us for season 2! 

In this second episode with Leo, we continue talking about the gap between what we want or see as ideal, and what actually is real, what our reality is.

In this episode, we have a mystery guest! He is a good friend of Jake's and today's topic is about doing mental gymnastics to stay faithful and a believing Christian.    The mystery guest talks about a gap between what we see as ideal, and what actually is real. Jake has struggled with this, having idealized views of what the church SHOULD be, or who God is like, or how amazing Joseph was, but in Jake's reality, there was a gap, a dissonance. So Jake tries to learn from his friend in this episode on what it looks like to close the gap, and create a life where the ideal is also the real.

Jake's friend Mechelle joins him on the podcast to talk about her experience of navigating a faith crisis with her husband that has spanned over 10 years! She talks about her husband who had extreme doubts, and started having a faith crisis, and what that meant for her, especially when he decided to remove his name completely from the church! Ultimately, they came to a place where Mechelle loved and supported him no matter what, and they were able to start to find some healing.   Mechelle talks about her own spiritual awakening, and the deepening and understanding of her relationship with Heaven. She tells of an experience trying to connect with God and asking Them to take away her pain, and in that moment of deep pain, she just felt held. The pain wasn't taken, but she felt loved and embraced by Heavenly Parents.   We hope this episode helps you find some healing as well, wherever you might be in your faith journey!

Steven Harper joins Jake on the SU Podcast! Have you ever had problems with Brigham Young? Joseph F. Smith? Polygamy, Priesthood and temple ban or various church policies? Have you felt betrayed, deceived or lied to? Steven answers all kinds of questions and more! Check out below the questions Jake asks him!   00:00-02:27 - Intro  02:27- 06:55 - When we find out troubling church history, why does it affect our faith?  06:55-15:25 - What does having charity for church leaders and history mean?   15:25-20:17 - Why do we hear sometimes when people leave the church, say they've been lied to and deceived?  20:17-26:25 - Why didn't the church tell me these things? Why were they hiding!?  26:25-33:53 - Why don't the "facts" compel someone to believe or refute it? What does that mean?  33:53-37:51 - Why the "fact" of the Book of Mormon's existence is inescapable for Steven.  37:51-44:17 - If I want to continue having faith, even though I'm a little disillusioned with God, how do I do that?  44:17-46:16 - We can choose to have charity every day, like Jesus chooses us every day.  46:16-46:50 - Good bye! Thank you for watching!

Dallas Jenkins, the creator of The Chosen, the number 1 show about Jesus, comes on the SU Podcast to talk about season 2 and specifically how a relationship with Jesus can help us in those moments when we feel alone and rejected.    Jake asks him about the way Jesus would look at people. Jake was OBSESSED with a scene in season 1 when Jesus first looked at Matthew. Jake asks, "How'd you do that!?" And Jake LOVED his answer. Watch the episode to see how Dallas responded.

Robin Johnson, the Heart Whisperer, joins Jake on the podcast to talk about trauma and more specifically, religious trauma. Jake also works with Robin with a process called Heart-Centered Therapy. Robin also helps heal trauma with many patients.   Robin gets really open about her own experiences with trauma, and what led to her working with and healing trauma for others. She talks about how trauma affects our lives, how we can notice the reactions and responses in our physiology, and how we can protect our faith when we have religious trauma.

Jake's good friend Jeff O'Driscoll joins the SU Podcast to talk about connecting with the Divine and Heaven. Jake explains his difficulty communicating with God while having a hard time praying. He asks Jeff what we can do to try to foster that relationship and connection with Heaven.   Jake was so grateful to have Jeff on after reading a few of his amazing books: "Not Yet: Near-Life Experiences and Lessons Learned," "Hyrum Smith: A life of Integrity," and one of his children books, "Jake the Snake." Jeff has miraculous experiences with the Divine, and near-death and near-life experiences throughout his life and working as an Emergency Care Physician for over 25 years.