Episode Details
Back to EpisodesBrad Wilcox on Grace and the Temple
Description
Many faithful members answer every temple recommend question honestly and still don’t feel worthy. In this episode, Will and Heather Humphreys sit down with Brother Brad Wilcox, BYU professor and author of the talk “Worthiness Is Not Flawlessness,” to talk about grace, trust, and what it means to stand with Jesus Christ.
Brother Wilcox shares the story of a woman in a temple recommend interview who said, “I’m never worthy, not by myself. But I’m not alone. I’m standing with Jesus Christ, and together we’re worthy.” From there, the conversation covers scrupulosity, the symbols of grace in the temple, hope for parents of struggling adult children, and a new way to think about daily repentance during the sacrament.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why worthiness means trying and staying honest, not being perfect
- How grace works as enabling power, not a reward you earn after doing all you can
- Why “Satan is not the judge in Israel” and how to trust the bishop and stake president who serve as judges
- How temple symbols, including the veil and clasped hands, teach grace
- What a BYU study of over 600 students found about grace, depression, anxiety, and scrupulosity
- Why God is happy with day two on day two, an idea from Emily Belle Freeman
- How 2 Nephi 10:2 offers hope to parents whose children have stepped away
- The difference between weakness and rebellion: which way you’re facing
- How to use the sacrament to look forward, not only back, by asking for grace for the week ahead
- Why grace has to be received, explained through a package left on the front porch and a free scholarship
- How temple work for the dead lets us return grace for grace
Scriptures mentioned: Matthew 11:28 to 30, 2 Nephi 2:6, 2 Nephi 10:2, Matthew 1:23
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