Episodes

Contributors to the Faith

Shawn McCraney's "Heart of the Matter" unites diverse religious groups, exploring Mormonism's origins and Joseph Smith's influence through music, fellowship, and discussion.

Heart Of The Matter

An Interview with Sandra Tanner

Shawn McCraney hosts "Heart of the Matter" in Salt Lake City with guest Sandra Tanner, discussing LDS history and Joseph Smith. Tune into "The Infallible Word" Mondays.

Heart Of The Matter

Why History Is Important

Shawn McCraney's "Heart of the Matter" contrasts Biblical Christianity with Mormonism, emphasizing spiritual rebirth, historical understanding, and trust in Jesus over doctrine.

Heart Of The Matter

The End of the Year Show

Shawn McCraney stresses being born again through Jesus, transcending religion. He targets those unfulfilled by LDS, urging sincere commitment to God for transformation.

Heart Of The Matter

Diluting Grace

Shawn McCraney stresses undiluted faith in Jesus' grace, warning against human efforts for salvation. True faith relies on grace, not works, for genuine transformation.

Heart Of The Matter

The Melchizedek Priesthood

Shawn McCraney critiques LDS secrecy, advocates for transparency, emphasizes Jesus over religious structures, and stresses salvation by grace through faith, not works.

Heart Of The Matter

The Aaronic Priesthood

Shawn McCraney critiques the LDS Church's focus on the Aaronic Priesthood, arguing it's obsolete post-Christ. He emphasizes faith in Jesus over past symbols and rites.

Heart Of The Matter

Hell

Shawn McCraney contrasts Mormonism and Christianity, emphasizing the biblical view of hell as eternal punishment, unlike Mormonism's multi-tiered afterlife.

Heart Of The Matter

Prophets

Shawn McCraney questions the need for prophets in modern Christianity, emphasizing Jesus' fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, advocating direct relationship with God through Jesus, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, rendering human mediators unnecessary.

Heart Of The Matter

The Sabbath

Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday; Old Covenant laws replaced by New Covenant in Jesus; focus on spiritual rest, not legalism; LDS misinterpret Sabbath; faith over rules.

Heart Of The Matter

Mission, Ministry, and Methods

Shawn McCraney critiques LDS worship practices, emphasizing faith in Jesus alone, rejecting Joseph Smith's focus. He advocates personal faith over organized religion.

Heart Of The Matter

Who Is Jesus?, Part 5

Shawn McCraney contrasts Jesus in Christianity and Mormonism, emphasizing biblical worship as divine, critiquing Mormon views for lacking deep devotion and reverence.

Heart Of The Matter

Who Is Jesus?, Part 4

Shawn McCraney contrasts grace as a free gift with LDS views linking it to righteousness, critiques religious facades, and explores differing beliefs on Jesus' conception.

Heart Of The Matter

Who Is Jesus?, Part 3

Shawn McCraney critiques LDS adherence to rules, promoting a personal relationship with Jesus for spiritual fulfillment. He contrasts LDS and biblical views on sin and redemption.

Heart Of The Matter

Who Is Jesus?, Part 2

Shawn McCraney advocates for marginalized LDS members, emphasizing a personal relationship with Jesus. He challenges Mormon narratives, promotes understanding, and highlights angels' biblical roles.

Heart Of The Matter

Who Is Jesus?, Part 1

Shawn McCraney critiques modern tolerance, challenges LDS claims, distinguishes biblical Christianity from Mormonism, and emphasizes Jesus's divine, eternal nature.

Heart Of The Matter

Seeing and Hearing

Shawn's teaching critiques religious systems, explores Mormon history, and emphasizes spiritual enlightenment through Christ, contrasting darkness with true faith and freedom.

Heart Of The Matter

Questions

Shawn McCraney's book offers a fresh take on Mormonism, aiming for dialogue and revival. "Get A Mormon Answer" (GAMA) invites LDS discussions on historical faith aspects.

Heart Of The Matter

LDS-Eccletheoculture

Shawn McCraney critiques religious control, highlighting cultural pressures, manipulation, and authoritarianism in groups like the LDS Church. He advocates for diversity and love.

Heart Of The Matter

Baptism

Shawn teaches holistic Bible interpretation, views baptism as post-forgiveness obedience, not salvation requirement, and critiques forming doctrines on isolated texts.

Heart Of The Matter

The Ten Commandments

Shawn's teaching highlights that "The Law" in the Bible includes natural, ceremonial, judicial, and moral aspects, fulfilled by Christ. Salvation is through faith, not law. The Moral Law remains binding, emphasizing grace over works. Jesus's sacrifice makes ceremonial laws obsolete. The Ten Commandments reflect human imperfection and God's grace. The first three commandments focus on God, the rest on human relations. Jesus expands commandments to internal intentions, showing the need for faith and grace for salvation. Salvation is by faith in Jesus, not law adherence.

Heart Of The Matter

Testimonies

Shawn critiques Mormonism's use of testimonies, likening them to emotional appeals. He contrasts this with biblical focus on Jesus, highlighting control tactics in totalist groups.

Heart Of The Matter

God

Shawn's teaching contrasts Christian and Latter-day Saints views on God, emphasizing spiritual readiness for God, biblical God's omnipotence, and necessity of rebirth in Jesus for salvation.

Heart Of The Matter

Q&A – Further Thoughts

"Heart of the Matter" promotes Christian awareness, critiques Mormon doctrines, emphasizes faith in Jesus for salvation, and encourages personal faith over religious legalism.

Heart Of The Matter

Grace

Shawn's teaching highlights grace as the core of true Christianity, contrasting it with works-based salvation. Emphasizes faith in Jesus, grace as unearned, and critiques LDS focus on works.

Heart Of The Matter

Review

Shawn McCraney's journey from LDS to Born-Again Mormon highlights personal faith in Jesus over religious labels, critiques LDS focus on rules, and promotes biblical teachings.

Heart Of The Matter

The Bible

Shawn McCraney defends the Bible's trustworthiness, emphasizing its divine inspiration, historical consistency, and fulfillment of prophecies, while warning against teachings that undermine its authority.

Heart Of The Matter

Book of Mormon, Part 1

The Book of Mormon is seen as a historical record by Mormons but lacks unique Mormon doctrines. It emphasizes 19th-century themes, spiritual rebirth, and reform. Shawn highlights self-reliance, tithing, and Sabbath observance. It's argued as a 19th-century narrative with Christ-centered messages, risking placing it above the Bible. True understanding of Jesus is found in the Bible, encouraging critical examination of new revelations.

Heart Of The Matter

Liberty in Christ

Shawn highlights liberty's importance, contrasting oppressive religious legalism with true spiritual freedom in God. Jesus prioritizes compassion over rigid religious codes. Embrace personal faith over organized religion's constraints for true liberty in Christ.

Heart Of The Matter

Finished World

Heart Of The Matter

LDS Temples

Shawn debunks Freemasonry myths, links LDS temple rites to Masonic origins, not ancient Israel. Emphasizes ritualistic elements, spiritual worthiness, and biblical guidance.

Heart Of The Matter

Bible Temples

Shawn's teaching covers God's dwelling: Eden, the temple, and Jesus. Jesus embodies God, fulfilling the law. Believers, reborn, become God's new temple.

Heart Of The Matter

Church

Shawn contrasts Mormonism's structured worship with Christianity's personal spiritual relationships, advocating for faith in Jesus over rituals, and emphasizes Bible teaching, vibrant worship, and welcoming all backgrounds.

Heart Of The Matter

Religion or Relationship

Heart Of The Matter

The Cross

The cross symbolizes freedom from sin, spiritual transformation, and God's love for Christians, contrasting with LDS views. It represents Jesus' sacrifice, reconciliation, and salvation.

Heart Of The Matter

Clarification

Shawn urges Latter-day Saints to know Jesus, abolish plural marriage, and prioritize spiritual rebirth. He recommends resources for clarity on Mormonism vs. Christianity.

Heart Of The Matter

Polygamy

Shawn critiques Mormonism's historical polygamy, highlighting Doctrine and Covenants 132's lasting impact. He urges LDS leaders to renounce it for true Christian alignment.

Heart Of The Matter

Interview with Greg Johnson

Shawn McCraney sits down with Greg Johnson for a discussion.

Heart Of The Matter

Salvation Story

Shawn's teaching on Mark 10:17-27 emphasizes wholehearted devotion, surrendering earthly riches, and trusting God for salvation, beyond mere adherence to commandments.

Heart Of The Matter

Jesus

Shawn's teaching contrasts LDS and Christian views on Jesus, emphasizing Jesus as God incarnate and the necessity of being born-again for salvation, highlighting monotheism.

Heart Of The Matter

Q&A – Revealing Truth

Heart Of The Matter

The Word

Shawn argues the LDS Church wrongly prioritizes the Book of Mormon over the Bible, viewing it as incomplete, and urges Church leaders to repent for this stance.

Heart Of The Matter

Sin

Shawn critiques Mormonism's focus on religious activity for worthiness, emphasizing faith in Jesus for salvation. He suggests inclusive wards for sinners seeking Jesus.

Heart Of The Matter

Praising God

Focus on personal relationship with Jesus through spiritual rebirth, daily praise, gratitude, worship integration, wisdom sharing, and sincere prayer as faith reflection.

Heart Of The Matter

Born Again, Again

Shawn McCraney critiques Mormonism for lacking emphasis on biblical spiritual rebirth, highlighting differences in salvation views. He stresses Jesus as the sole source of salvation.

Heart Of The Matter

Re-birth

Shawn McCraney's journey from LDS to "born-again" faith in Jesus, emphasizes personal transformation, love, and understanding over religious institutions, advocating direct prayer and forgiveness.

Heart Of The Matter