Temple Bound

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 gra...

Why does the Lord teach through ritual in the temple? What does Freemasonry have to do with the endowment? Why has the endowment presentation changed over time?

In this episode of Temple Bound, Will Humphreys talks with Dr. Jennifer Lane, author of Let’s Talk About Temples and Ritual from Deseret Book. Jennifer taught religious education at BYU Hawaii for almost two decades, served as dean, and now researches at BYU’s Neal A. Maxwell Institute. She holds a PhD in the history of Christianity.

They cover how ritual shapes who we become, how Old Test...

Why does the Church of Jesus Christ spend so much on temples when the money could feed the poor? Tammy Uzelac Hall answers that question from the book of Exodus. She reads it in the original Hebrew.

Tammy and Will follow the gold and silver Israel carried out of Egypt into the building of the tabernacle. They look at what the name "I AM" means in Hebrew and how it ties to the answers we give in temple recommend interviews. Then they turn to the women of the Old Testament who changed the story: Shiphrah and Puah...

Many people are taught that grace is a gift with no strings attached. Accept Christ and it's done. Cooper Johnson spent 15 years studying what the word grace meant to the people who first heard it, and he found that in the ancient world, grace was the start of a relationship that asks something of you in return.

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys and Cooper talk about his return to the Church after 10 years away, the questions that pushed him to study the Atonement, and how the original Greek and Hebrew words for grace...

Shayden Bertagnolli has sat across from more grieving families than he ever expected when he became a therapist. That's what pushed him into men's mental health, and it's what shaped the idea at the center of this episode. Pornography addiction was never really about pornography. It's about pain nobody ever taught these men to name.

In this conversation, Shayden and Will Humphreys break down why men suppress pain instead of naming it, why so many chase approval and call it love, and what the temple initiatory ordinance actually represents (a wound being washed, anointed, and covered). If...

Former Bishop Tim Raymond has sat across from more men confessing pornography addiction than he can count. His conclusion after years in that chair: the addiction was never really the problem. Pride was.

In this episode, Will Humphreys and Tim unpack what actually helps someone come back from pornography addiction, why the standard reactions of shame and judgment make things worse, and why Ezra Taft Benson's 1989 talk "Beware of Pride" became the single biggest influence on Tim's ministry outside of the Book of Mormon.

This is the first of three episodes for Recovery Awareness Month...

This is episode 100 of Temple Bound, and it kicks off the show's three-part series for Recovery Awareness Month. Natalie and Cory Wadsworth sit down with Will to talk about what came after that night: years of counseling, weekly drives to the temple, and how a marriage on the brink of divorce became, in their words, the best of friends.

What you'll learn:

Will re-releases episode one of Temple Bound, a conversation with Brett Blake that never got the audience it deserved the first time around. Brett served as a mission president in Denver during COVID and shares what he learned about preparing youth for missions through temple worship and family history.

What you'll learn:

In 2021, Jenny Komenda hit a fork in the road. Her business was growing. The opportunity in front of her was real. She could have leaned in harder. Instead, she chose her faith and her family.

She didn't fully understand why that choice mattered until a year later, when her daughter landed in the hospital in a coma for almost a week.

Jenny walks through the two conference talks that shaped that decision, the family history behind it (including a great-great-grandmother who crossed an ocean and stayed faithful for decades with no other church members around...

Tia Smith hosts "Thinning of the Veil," one of the only other podcasts built around temple worship. In this episode, she and Will unpack President Nelson's talk on the temple and spiritual foundations, and Tia shares how her own near death experience with cystic fibrosis changed the way she sees the veil between this life and the next.

This conversation goes beyond temple attendance. Tia lays out an actual practice for connecting with ancestors: intercessory prayer, paying attention to names and dreams, and treating family history as a two way relationship instead of a checklist.

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At 18 years old, Seth Christensen ran an experiment on his own high school. He wanted to know if five minutes of family history work a day could move the needle on anxiety and depression in his generation. The results surprised even him.

Seth served as his ward's Temple and Family History Leader starting at age 13. He spoke on the RootsTech main stage last year. Now he's headed to Jakarta, Indonesia on a mission, carrying the same message with him.

This episode covers his 21-Day Challenge, the survey data behind it, and why five minutes a...

Forgiveness gets called a miracle for a reason. It asks us to do something that feels outside our own capability, and then it delivers peace that only the Savior can provide.

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Katie, an institute teacher who has spent years teaching The Divine Gift of Forgiveness by Elder Neil L. Andersen. Katie walks through what repentance actually means in its original Hebrew and Greek roots, why the Latin translation buried it in shame, and how two of the hardest experiences of her life, her father's arrest...

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Mike King, a longtime Old Testament and temple symbolism teacher, to trace this pattern from the Exodus of the children of Israel all the way to the ministry of Jesus Christ among the Nephites and the temples built in Kirtland and Nauvoo.

Mike King walks through the symbolism of the blood on the doorposts, the crossing of the Red Sea, the pillar of fire, manna and water in the wilderness, and the mountain of the Lord, showing how each step points toward faith in Jesus...

Will Humphreys sits down with Jennie Dildine, a certified life coach and host of the LDS Mission Podcast, to talk about what actually helps missionaries before they leave, while they are serving, and after they come home. Jennie has spent seven years coaching missionaries and their parents through anxiety, burnout, identity struggles, and the transition home, and in this episode she breaks down what she has learned.

The conversation is rooted in Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk Forget Me Not from October 2011. Jennie read the talk, replaced every mention of sisters with missionaries and elders and sisters...

Denny Barney recently completed his service as a mission president in the Iowa Iowa City Mission alongside his wife Nichole. In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Denny during Missionary Month to talk about what it actually takes to endure a mission, and what enduring is supposed to mean in the first place.

What you will learn in this episode: 

JD and Kendra Dockstader have taught temple prep for three years, and they've watched the class change right along with the kids sitting in it. This episode is for parents, temple prep teachers, and anyone trying to figure out how to talk about the temple with a generation that gets most of its information from TikTok before it ever gets to church.

JD and Kendra walk through what they actually teach: the five covenants, the difference between worthiness and perfection, and why leaning into symbolism works better than starting with Solomon's Temple. They talk about covenant path...

In this episode of Temple Bound, Will Humphreys sits down with Sadie to talk about what changed. She walks through the five elements of the doctrine of Christ (faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) and teaches it live, the way she would teach a friend on her mission.

Sadie also opens up about growing up with OCD and perfectionism, the health crisis that nearly kept her from serving, and why her transition home has felt different than most returned missionaries describe. She shares the rocks, pebbles, and sand framework...

What does it mean to grow up in a country where faith is forbidden, where your father could go to jail for painting the Beatles on the kitchen wall, and where your hunger for God has nowhere to go?

For Eva Timothy, that was not a metaphor. That was childhood in communist Bulgaria.

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with fine art photographer and founder of the Enlighten podcast, Eva Timothy, whose story stretches from the cement rooftops of Sofia to the altars of the Salt Lake Temple. Eva shares...

What do you do when a temple marriage ends in divorce and you wonder if God still has something beautiful ahead for you? Scott and Lori answer that question with their lives. Both in their mid-60s, both previously married in the temple, both carrying the kind of heartbreak that makes starting over feel impossible, they met on a dating app, and six months later they were sealed in the Draper Utah Temple.

In this episode of Temple Bound with Will Humphreys, Scott and Lori share the full journey: the pain of divorce after a temple sealing...

What if the most powerful thing you could do for your children, your faith, and your own mental health was simply to tell your story?

In this deeply moving episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Rachel Trotter, a professional storyteller, family history educator, newspaper reporter turned author, and longtime RootsTech speaker. Rachel brings over 15 years of storytelling experience to a conversation that will change how you think about your family, your past, and your future.

Rachel is the coauthor of the upcoming book Changing the Ending: Writing Your Life Story, and...

What happens when the loudest message God ever sends you is a last name on a piece of paper? In this powerful episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Richie Steadman, the veteran host of The Cultural Hall podcast, for one of the most honest and faith affirming conversations this show has ever had.

Richie shares his full faith journey, from navigating his parents' divorce as a teenager and wrestling with a black and white view of the gospel, to receiving a mission call to Cleveland, Ohio that changed everything. He opens up about...

In this powerful episode, host Will Humphreys sits down with Keith Harr, a 30-year veteran of Seminary and Institute, husband of 45 years, father of 9, and grandfather of 38 for a conversation that will change how you think about covenant living, parenting, and the infinite power available to you through your sacred promises with God.

Keith and Will met on a service trip to Kenya, and from the moment they started talking, it was clear Keith carries hard-won, deeply practical wisdom about how the gospel actually works in real family life.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

In this powerful return episode, Curtis Keller joins host Will Humphreys for one of the most heartfelt conversations yet on Temple Bound. Curtis opens up about how a book recommendation from a friend transformed his approach to prayer, moving from rushed, going-through-the-motions prayers to intentional, timer-set, 10-minute morning conversations with God. That shift opened the door to a deeper reckoning: Do we really understand what it means to rely wholly upon the merits of Jesus Christ, or are we secretly trying to save ourselves?

This episode touches on grace vs. works, what "after all we can do"...

What happens inside a Latter-day Saint temple, and why does it matter?

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Jasmin Rappleye, a trusted voice in the Latter-day Saint digital space, for a conversation on temple preparation, ancient symbolism, sacred garments, and finding Jesus Christ throughout the temple endowment.

Whether you're preparing for your first temple visit, returning after a difficult experience, or looking for deeper meaning in worship, this episode offers practical guidance and spiritual insight.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

In this powerful General Conference review episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with returning guest Brad Farr to break down the April 2026 General Conference through the lens of temples and covenants.

Brad brings statistical analysis, personal stories, and four remarkable thematic threads, what Will calls "The Bradford Flow"  that connect the entire conference into one unified, temple-centered message.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The Bradford Flow: 4 Themes Connecting Temple & Covenant Teachings:

What if the key to overcoming addiction, making better choices, and living with more purpose came down to one thing, knowing who you truly are? In this episode, Will sits down with close friends Wade & Jennifer Beckstead to dive deep into Tad Callister's powerful talk on our divine identity and eternal destiny. From the concept of spiritual identity theft to the logic of "like begets like," this conversation will challenge and inspire you to see yourself, and everyone around you through God's eyes.

They explore why we are not just creations of God but His literal offspring...

Most of us are taught to view the Atonement through a "legal" lens: we owe a debt, we can’t pay it, and Jesus steps in as our defense attorney to satisfy an angry judge. But what if that transactional model is actually blocking us from a deeper connection with God?

In this powerful episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Cameron LaDuke, a scholar of Ancient Judaism and Religious Studies, to flip the script on how we view the Atonement. Cameron shares how his own "mental block" regarding God’s justice led him on a...

In this powerful episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Michelle Bentley to dive deep into the visual and transformative teachings of Elder Edward B. Rowe’s talk, "Jesus Christ, Our Rock and Covenants, Our Anchors."

Whether you are navigating the "turbulence" of a health scare, career uncertainty, or the daily anxiety of the "what-ifs," this conversation provides a roadmap for finding peace that is "night and day" different from what the world offers. Michelle shares her vulnerable story of a life-threatening medical emergency and how her "worst-case scenario" became her greatest witness of Go...

Do you ever play the "what-if" game? It’s that spiral of worst-case scenarios that feeds our anxiety and drains our confidence. In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys welcomes back Kyle Black—a devoted father, Bishop, and physical therapy leader—to discuss the tactical, scripture-rooted power of "lifting where you stand."

Inspired by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s iconic address, Will and Kyle dive deep into why there are no "small" callings in the Kingdom of God. They explore how responsibility acts as an invitation to exercise agency, why the "mantle" of leadership is actually...

In this episode of Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Jared Lambert, a historical linguist specializing in Persian and the Hebrew Bible. Jared’s journey is anything but typical, from failing high school Spanish to serving as a military linguist and eventually pursuing seven degrees in his quest to understand the "soft" conceptual language of the ancient world.

Jared breaks down how modern, rigid "hard" languages often flatten the deep, multi-layered meanings of scripture. He explains why the Garden of Eden is linguistically the "Temple of Eden," and why the restoration of the gospel is an...

In this special crossover episode, we sit down with Ellis and Eddie, the dynamic hosts of the Come Study With Me podcast. We dive deep into the "psychological warfare" of the adversary that targets young adults today, specifically the heavy burden of shame and the false idea that worthiness equals flawlessness.

From navigating anxiety during endowment sessions to the "Little Caesars vs. the Gym" analogy of post-temple life, this episode is a raw, honest look at what it means to keep showing up for the Lord when you feel like you aren't enough.

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This week on Temple Bound, host Will Humphreys sits down with Toni Gaines and Janelle Hillyer, the creators and hosts of the Every Temple Podcast. Together, they explore the fascinating intersection of architectural detail, local history, and the profound sacrifices made by Saints across the globe to bring these holy houses to life.

Toni and Janelle share how their deep dive into the "spirit of the building" has revealed a global tapestry of faith, proving that the restoration of the gospel isn’t just a past event, it is an unfolding evolution written in stone and glass.

How do we keep going when life feels heavy and the adversary whispers that we aren't enough? In this episode, Kristen Walker Smith joins Will Humphreys for a soul-stretching deep dive into the teachings of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.

Together, they peel back the layers of the "simple" gospel to reveal its true power: the ability to transform despair into hope and trials into divine refinement. Kristen opens up about her personal journey with mental health, the life-changing impact of apostolic words, and why gratitude is the ultimate weapon against discouragement. This isn't just a conversation about...

In this episode, we sit down with Tanya Kimball. Over the last 18 months, Tanya has navigated the unimaginable loss of her husband, Drew, and two of her sons, Braden and Grahm.

This conversation isn't just about tragedy; it’s a masterclass in the "paradigm of two truths" how extreme sorrow and extreme miracles can exist in the same moment. Tanya shares her raw experience with "dying without death," the power of recording daily "evidence of God," and how the temple became her survival-grade "modern-day Liahona."

In this episode, you’ll learn: