Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 
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Taylor Halverson

Columnist

Taylor Halverson is an aspiring master learner who loves people, laughter, telling stories, and learning. He holds doctorates in biblical studies and instructional technology and is a teaching and learning consultant at BYU. His website is at taylorhalverson.com.

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Opinion
Taylor Halverson: Why the most important changes in the church are yet to happen
I recently attended a stake leadership meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The stake president asked a conversation-generating question: “How has the church changed recently? What do those changes mean for you and why?”
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
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Faith
Taylor Halverson: Where did the New Testament stories happen and why does that matter?
Now you can explore the New Testament, as well as Old Testament and Doctrine and Covenants, chapter by chapter with every location mapped to Google maps at https://scriptures.byu.edu/mapscrip/.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Jesus Christ approaches Thomas after Thomas declares that he will not believe unless he sees him in this image from the Bible Videos series.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: What does John 20 reveal about why John wrote his Gospel?
After recording the glorious episodes of Jesus’s post-resurrection interactions with his disciples, John reveals why he wrote his Gospel: that we too might believe.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Pilate speaks to the crowd that condemns Jesus in this image from the Bible Video series.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Who is Jesus?
Jesus was named and called many things. People claimed many things about who Jesus was. But what did Jesus say about himself?
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Olive trees in the Gethsemane garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Why did Jesus suffer in an olive garden called Gethsemane?
Each of the four Gospels records that Jesus suffered excruciating pain in the Garden of Gethsemane. Why did He suffer so in that location? What can we learn about Jesus and His love for us by His choice in where He suffered?
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Judas gives Jesus Christ a kiss on the cheek as a sign to the soldier that Jesus is the one who should be arrested in this scene from the Bible Video series.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: The surprising meaning of 30 shekels of silver
What does the 30 shekels of silver mean about Jesus? His life had no apparent value to those who rejected him. Yet what a contrast when we realize that he who lost everything, gained all and then turned to give us everything.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Jesus and the tax collector Zacchaeus is depicted in a stained glass window in the interior of the Coptic Church in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, and shown here on Oct. 31, 2018.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: What do we learn in Jericho about eternal life?
In Jericho, a significant short New Testament episode occurs. There are beautiful gems of truth packed in Luke 19:5-6 about the pure in heart and eternal life.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Jesus Christ bends down before the woman caught in adultery and writes in the sand in this scene from a Bible Video.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Why did Jesus say he is the light of the world?
Jesus could have declared “I am the light of the world” at any point and at any location throughout his ministry. But he chose a specific place (the temple) and time (early in the morning) to teach that eternal truth.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Jesus asks his disciples, "Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?" in this scene from the Bible Videos.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: The stunning context of when Jesus asked ‘Whom do men say that I am?’
We are so familiar with Jesus’ powerful teaching moment when he asks “Whom do men say that I am?” that we may miss where this conversation happened and why location was crucial to the teaching moment.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
A scene from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Bible videos depicts the Savior preaching his Sermon on the Mount to a group of people.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: What does Jesus mean when he asks us to be meek?
Jesus enumerated many ways to live a blessed life: “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Only the meek, those who have nothing, will inherit everything, symbolized as the earth.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
There is a ladder on the outside of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, Israel, that has been there since the 18th century.
Faith
Ladders, dirty windows and the need for the light of Christ
If you were asked to clean the windows of the church, how long would it take to accomplish the task? A few hours, days, weeks, months? How about 300 years. And the cleaning ladder is still there waiting for the window cleaner to ascend.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Faith
Taylor Halverson: 5 ways to be a learning designer, not just a teacher
A learner designer is someone who thoughtfully prepares experiences to increase the likelihood of others’ learning and growth.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The curriculum and structure for 2018 Relief Society and Melchizedek Priesthood Sunday meetings is changing.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Do we go to church to be taught or to learn?
When we choose to learn, we honor our God-given agency, increase the likelihood that we’ll feel the spirit, and improve our chances for finding gospel answers to our needs. We act instead of being acted upon.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
A woman stands at the front of a Sunday School class, teaching from the scriptures.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Do we need a ‘Learning, No Greater Responsibility’?
If learning carries so much responsibility, and if learners apparently can achieve so much without a teacher, why have teachers?
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The sacrament offers a chance for reflection.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: How biblical sacrifices connect to today’s sacrament
Readers of the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon are often puzzled if not baffled at the focus on animal sacrifice. Why kill animals?
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The Atonement is a perfect example of trust in God. The Savior expressed a desire to "let this cup pass from me," but a stronger desire to do His will "nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Reflections on symbolism in the Atonement
Words and symbolism can instruct us about the Atonement.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Republican Presidential candidate Herbert Hoover is pictured at his desk in his Washington headquarters, 1928.
Family
Taylor Halverson: The US president who helped save millions of lives
Herbert Hoover was an exemplary civic servant, leader and humanitarian who saved millions of lives.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The pyramid Tepanapa is seen in Cholula, Mexico, Nov. 11, 2005. The pyramid was built by the Cholulteca people during the centuries leading up to 850 A.D.
Family
Taylor Halverson: 3 questions and 3 myths about the Americas before Columbus arrived
Thoughts about what the Americas were like before Columbus are often dominated by myths. However the reality is far more interesting.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
We should unleash the natural propensity for human learning by unbinding the metaphorical feet of learners from the shackles of bad pedagogy, the unthinking drive for educational efficiency, and the allure of pedagogical tradition.
Family
Taylor Halverson: Break the tradition of education by lectures and learn more by doing
We should unleash the natural propensity for human learning by unbinding the metaphorical feet of learners from the shackles of bad pedagogy, the unthinking drive for educational efficiency, and the allure of pedagogical tradition.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Human beings did not achieve all of their greatness by simply reading books and listening to experts.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Learn by doing, not just by reading and listening
Human beings did not achieve all of their greatness by simply reading books and listening to experts.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The Reed-Donner Party section of the This is the Place monument in Salt Lake City, Tuesday, May, 31, 2016.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: When former Gov. Boggs’ group traveled with the ill-fated Donner Party
A little-known, interesting fact about the Donner Party is that at one point during their journey, they traveled with the same wagon train as former Missouri Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The sacrament offers a chance for reflection.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: How else might the Lord’s name be taken in vain?
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). I think there is something more significant meant by this verse than using God’s name as an expletive.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The Book of Mormon
Faith
Taylor Halverson: The surprising story of a Book of Mormon in the Harvard library
The Book of Mormon is the most literarily beautiful, doctrinally truthful and everlastingly applicable book I’ve ever encountered.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Joseph Smith, played by Dustin Harding, translates the Book of Mormon in "Joseph Smith, Volume 1: Plates of Gold."
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Teaching our kids about Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon translation
A family dinner conversation turned into a teaching opportunity about what it means that the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
This painting shows Eve and Adam after the fall.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Teaching faith and science to children
Sometimes people throw away science or religion. What do you think happens? The wise answer of a child.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
A painting of Jacob from the Book of Mormon. Jacob is the first to mention the name Christ in the Book of Mormon.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Finding the first use of the name Christ in the Book of Mormon
If Jesus Christ is the central figure of the Book of Mormon, why isn’t the name Christ used until 78 pages in to the Book of Mormon?
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
The Book of Mormon
Faith
Taylor Halverson: The Book of Mormon and the modern-day Tyndale moment
What if we were all empowered with greater scriptural literacy? That would be revolutionary indeed. It would be a Tyndale moment. One of the promising endeavors to make this modern-day Tyndale moment a reality is Book of Mormon Central.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
Jesus Christ at the Second Coming in this painting by Harry Anderson.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: When should we be afraid of the future?
Belief in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ does not give us license to engage in fearful apocalyptic thinking about the present or the future.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
An image from "A Savior is Born," an initiative by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Faith
Taylor Halverson: Jesus became like us so that we could become like him
For all that Jesus taught us, one of the most important things is that Jesus taught us how to suffer.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
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Faith
Taylor Halverson: Appreciation and the myth of the zero-sum game
Appreciation only grows if it is exercised. If not exercised, appreciation depreciates and withers.
By Taylor Halverson, Columnist
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