David Ostler
FRIDAY | AUGUST 9, 2019 | 7:00-9:00 pm
We will explore how Latter-day Saint families, members, and ward and stake leaders can better understand why someone could question or leave the church and how to minister to them with love and understanding.
GATHERING AT:
Home of Ed and Kristen Iversen
3582 Oak Rim Way Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Please don’t arrive more than 20 minutes early. Thank you.
If there is no parking to be found near the home you can also park in the “park & ride” lot on the NW corner of 3900 South and Wasatch Blvd. Oak Rim Way is just east of the intersection on the north side.
You’re invited to bring some finger food to share.
THE DISCUSSION:
With the advancement of the internet, changing worldviews, and the rising generation of millennials, Latter-day Saints today face unique challenges to faith on an unprecedented scale. Often leaders and typical members especially find dealing with these faith challenges of others difficult due to unfamiliarity with the issues as well as poor training in handling them.
David B. Ostler, a former mission president, will share what he has discovered through surveys he conducted with local leaders and disaffected members, research from social science and religious studies, and teachings from Church leaders. And we will discuss what he and you have found that better supports those who have questions and creates church environments where all can feel welcome.
David has recently written a book on this subject, published by Kofford Books. Unlike most books written to help those struggling with their testimonies, Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question is geared at helping local leaders and family members better understand the sources of these challenges and how to minister to those affected by them. This ministering is done through building bridges of love, empathy, and trust regardless of whether or not someone retains their belief or continues to participate.
Here is a quote from the introduction of the book that will give you a sense of it’s tone:
“If you are a believer, I hope that reading this book will help you build your bridge with better understanding as you minister to those who doubt. If you consider yourself a doubter or nonbeliever, I pray that reading this book will give you hope that we are trying to be more understanding and that your relationships with family members, friends, and Church members can be strong and rich, even with differences in belief.”
And here are some important endorsements of this book:
“A deeply Christian book that calls upon us all to seek understanding and minister to the wounded.”
—Terryl Givens
“One of the most important books I have read in the past decade.”
—Robert A. Rees
“Ostler not only identifies the dimensions of the disconnect but also gives sensible and helpful suggestions for bridging it.”
—Gregory A. Prince
As with all of our gatherings, there is no pressure to share in the large group or if and when we break into small groups. But what makes Faith Again and Think Again work so well is not just who presents but who is present, prepared, and willing to share. For guidance in having productive conversations please read the intentions page.
ABOUT DAVID OSTLER:
David B. Ostler has lived and served on four continents as a bishop, stake president, mission president, and director of a Church historical site and visitors’ center. He has a BUS from the University of Utah and an MBA from Dartmouth College. He is retired from a thirty-year career as a business executive managing domestic and international businesses focused on improving health care through data analytics, consulting, software, and business services. With his wife, they have six wonderful children—some of whom no longer hold basic Latter-day Saint beliefs.
