WARD RADIO

Feminism, Faith & the Power of Womanhood in the LDS Church | WARD RADIOIn this candid and deeply insightful conversation, Cardon Ellis sits down with Laura E. Welch for a refreshing, grounded exploration of feminism, motherhood, and what it truly means to be a woman in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.What begins with playful banter over episode titles quickly turns into a meaningful dive into why so many LDS women find more fulfillment in motherhood, service, and faith-driven community than in the narratives secular feminism offers. Laura shares her own journey—how, despite criticisms that the Church is “male-dominated,” her lived experience has been one of support, unity, and empowerment rooted in gospel principles.

Did Brigham Young really teach that Adam was God? In this powerful and clarifying episode of WARD RADIO, hosts Jonah Barnes, Austin Falter, and Cardon Ellis dive deep into one of the most misunderstood topics in Latter-day Saint history — the so-called Adam-God Theory.From historical documents to punctuation changes that flipped entire meanings, this conversation exposes how copy errors, misquotes, and 19th-century shorthand turned a handful of ambiguous statements into one of Mormonism’s biggest controversies.With the help of scholars like Richard Brunson and Elden Watson, Jonah Barnes breaks down original sources, including the Journal of Discourses and the Joseph Smith Papers, to show how a misplaced comma or title misunderstanding (“Adam” as a title, not a name) created theological confusion that critics have weaponized for decades.Together, the hosts show how Brigham Young’s real teachings fit within LDS doctrine — not against it — and offer comfort to those whose faith has been shaken by online debates or anti-Mormon claims.

Cardon Ellis sits down with Richard Brunson, author of “Before the Second Coming,” to explore the lesser-known and more symbolic indicators of Christ’s Second Coming. Rather than focusing solely on popular concepts like the Mark of the Beast or the Rapture, the conversation delves into the deep scriptural “types and shadows” that foreshadow Christ’s return.Richard Brunson explains what a “type” is—a symbolic instance or event that represents something greater or prophetic. The discussion highlights how many scriptural types typically point to Christ’s first coming (such as Jonah as a sign, or the Passover lamb as symbolic of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice), before pivoting toward symbols relating to his Second Coming that are often overlooked.

Cardon Ellis welcomes Rick McGee from Springfield, Missouri, to dive deep into why Missouri (especially its Mormon community) is experiencing rapid growth and renewed attention.Cardon opens with some humorous behind-the-scenes banter as the two get settled, setting the tone for a relaxed, candid conversation. The main catalyst for the discussion is the noticeable surge of Latter-day Saint (Mormon) families and professionals moving into Missouri, particularly triggered by the recent announcement of a third temple being built in Springfield. Rick explains that historically, waves of Mormons have moved to Missouri for spiritual reasons—inspired by the area’s doctrinal significance in LDS history and prophecies related to Zion and Adam-ondi-Ahman—but lately, practical reasons like economics, job opportunities, and affordability are also major factors.

Ward Radio dives into the mystery and significance of the Cologne Mani Codex, an ancient manuscript connected to the Manichean faith and its founder Mani, a Parthian prophet from third-century Iran. Cardinal Ellis leads the conversation, joined by Jonah Barnes, a scholar of apocryphal texts, and Austin Falter, who contributes his perspective and plugs his book, “Family A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids.”