Michelle Graabek-Wallace (PhD, European University Institute) is a historian at the Church History Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She serves as the Chair of the Global Mormon Studies Network and the Global Outreach Chair for the Mormon History Association. Her academic research focuses on global history, gender, migration, and transnational religious history, with a particular emphasis on Scandinavian cultural identity within Latter-day Saint history.

I wanted to speak with Michelle to discuss her extensive research into global Church history and the fascinating, unique story of Danish Latter-day Saint converts during the 19th and 20th centuries. We explore the massive social, political, and religious shifts that opened the doors to the first missionaries in Denmark, the incredible logistics of the Scandinavian pioneer trek to Utah, and the complex journey of preserving cultural identity while embracing a global faith.

Some highlights from this episode include:
Denmark's Religious Freedom Awakening: Michelle explains how the political transition to a constitutional monarchy in 1849 paved the way for religious freedom, and how early friction with a local Baptist congregation inadvertently opened the doors for the first Latter-day Saint missionaries in 1850.

The Translators of the Book of Mormon: A look behind the scenes at the surprisingly rapid 1851 translation of the Book of Mormon into Danish—the very first foreign language publication of the book. Michelle highlights the collaborative but occasionally tense relationship between sailor Peter O. Hansen and language teacher Miss Mathisen.

Social Equality and Persecution: A deep dive into the demographics of early Danish converts, who were predominantly working-class craftspeople and rural farmers drawn to the gospel's message of social equality. Michelle shares a poignant, extreme historical account of the heavy social ostracization, job loss, and legal battles faced by early converts.

The "Brain Drain" and the Swedish Rebellion: A discussion on how the massive wave of emigration to Utah created a leadership "brain drain" back in Denmark, and a humorous look at the "Swedish Rebellion" in Salt Lake City, sparked by Swedish Saints who grew tired of being lumped into a generalized "Scandinavian" identity dominated by Danish culture.

World War II Isolation: A look at how the evacuation of American missionaries in 1939 forced the Danish Saints to become completely self-sufficient and financially independent for the very first time during the Nazi occupation.

You can find more of Michelle’s body of work at the following links:

• Our Inspired Constitutions
  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2023/10/united-states-and-canada-section/04-our-inspired-constitutions?lang=eng
• Michelle Graabek-Wallace ORCID Academic Profile
  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6008-1154
• Global Mormon Studies Steering Committee
  https://gms.spencergreenhalgh.com/about-gms/steering-committee/
• Mormon History Association Board Members
  https://mormonhistoryassociation.org/about-us/mha-board-members/

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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Matt Whitaker has been writing and directing for film and television for over 30 years. A specialist in the WWII genre, his produced screenplays include the critically acclaimed war films Saints and Soldiers and Instrument of War. In 2002, Whitaker and a film crew travelled to Germany with the last surviving member of a teenage resistance group, a powerful experience that led to the PBS documentary Truth & Conviction: The Helmuth Hübener Story. Now, his dramatic feature film, Truth & Treason, brings this incredible history to audiences across the UK.

I wanted to speak with Matt to dive into the compelling history of Helmuth Hübener, the youngest person executed by the Nazi regime for opposing Adolf Hitler. As a fellow Latter-day Saint, Matt shares his 25-year journey of bringing this profound piece of history to life, the complex realities of local church leaders navigating a totalitarian state, and how recent research on Gestapo files has been changing how scholars view the Church's relationship with the Third Reich.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• Loyalty to a Lie: Matt breaks down the incredible true story of 16-year-old Helmuth Hübener, who chose to risk everything by listening to banned BBC shortwave broadcasts to uncover the truth and launch a clandestine leaflet resistance campaign.
• The Words of the Leaflets: Matt reveals a crucial detail about the creative authenticity of Truth & Treason: every single sentence of anti-Nazi text typed or spoken from the resistance leaflets in the film is a direct, accurate English translation taken straight from the historical Gestapo archives.
• The Secret Gestapo Files: A fascinating look into additional historical research by scholar Steven Smoot and the BH Roberts Foundation, detailing a massive, Gestapo dossier that proves the Nazi regime was actively spying on and deeply suspicious of the Latter-day Saint community in Germany.
• The Complexity of Wartime Leadership: A nuanced discussion regarding the immense pressure faced by Hamburg Branch President Arthur Zander, exploring the difficult dual-realities of a man who was a devoted church leader but also an ardent supporter of the regime.
• A 25 Year Project: Matt opens up about a deeply personal spiritual experience that gave him the definitive mandate to direct this film, and how his wife's unwavering support kept the project alive through two decades of immense funding and development challenges.

Truth & Treason is available on Amazon Prime Video and major UK digital platforms starting May 18 2026.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Osamu Sekiguchi is a devoted member and leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan. Having served in numerous capacities—including as the Mission President of the Japan Sendai Mission and currently as the Asia North Area Family Search Manager—Osamu has a profound perspective on the spiritual and cultural evolution of the Church in the land of the rising sun.

I sat down with Osamu in a Tokyo recording studio to explore the rich, and at times challenging, history of the Church in Japan. From the early 1901 mission led by Heber J. Grant to the modern era of five temples, we discuss the unique cultural hurdles Japanese saints have overcome, the incredible sacrifices made to attend the temple, and Osamu’s own personal "pioneer trek" across the United States and Europe.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• The Early Struggles and Triumphs: Osamu recounts the history of the first Japanese mission and the "disappointment" of the early years due to language barriers and cultural differences, followed by the post-WWII resurgence of the faith.
• The Sacrifice for the Temple: Moving stories of early Japanese members who sold their belongings and quit their jobs just to travel to Hawaii for temple ordinances before a temple existed in Asia.
• A Modern Pioneer Trek: Osamu shares the gruelling yet spiritual journey of taking his family on a 110-day handcart trek from Nebraska to Salt Lake City, followed by an epic bicycle journey from New York to San Francisco.
• Cultural "Harmony" vs. Conversion: An insight into why conversion can be difficult in Japan, where maintaining social harmony and honouring Shinto or Buddhist traditions often takes precedence over individual religious changes.
• Elder Stevenson's Call to Serve: When Osamu received his mission call he did not expect to be serving during a global pandemic. His bold leadership proved to be a powerful example of inspired leadership.
• The Future of the Global Church: Osamu explains his vision of the Church shifting from "International" to "Global"—where the core doctrine remains the same, but local cultures (like Japanese humility and aesthetics) are embraced and celebrated.
• FamilySearch in Asia: A look at how technology is bridging the gap for members in countries like Korea and Mongolia to find their ancestors and preserve their heritage.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Peter Fagg, historian, author, and tour guide specializing in the British history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, returns to the podcast to share more of his research on the early missionary efforts in the United Kingdom, specifically the development of the Church in Preston, Lancashire.

I wanted to speak with Peter to dive deep into the fascinating, and often harrowing, history of the first LDS mission to England in 1837. We explore the social conditions of industrial Preston and how a small group of missionaries managed to establish what has become the oldest continuous branch of the Church in the world.

Some highlights from this episode include:
The "Gruesome" Reality of 1830s Preston: A look at the harsh industrial landscape the first missionaries encountered, defined by cotton mills, child labour, and a staggering 55% infant mortality rate.

"Truth Will Prevail": The origin story of the famous mission motto, which was adopted on the missionaries’ very first day in Preston after they saw a gold-lettered political banner during a rowdy election.

The "Tee -Total" Forerunners: A discussion of Joseph Livesey and the seven men who signed the famous Teetotal pledge in 1832 at the Preston Cockpit. This local movement against alcohol served as a providential forerunner to the missionaries introducing the Word of Wisdom in that same Cockpit five years later.

The Vauxhall Chapel Conflict: How the early success of the missionaries led to a dramatic falling out with Reverend James Fielding, as he watched his own congregation leave to join the restored gospel.

A Message of Hope for Parents: Why the missionaries’ teachings on the sanctity of childhood and the rejection of infant baptism resonated so deeply in a city plagued by death and poverty.

Orson Hyde’s Prophecy and the "Vauxhall Brick": The story behind a symbolic prophecy regarding the stones of the Vauxhall Chapel and how a piece of that history is physically built into the Manchester Stake Center today.

The World’s Oldest Branch: A discussion on the survival of the Preston branch and its legacy as the longest continuously operating unit in Church history.

Peter's Latest book titled:
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Book 1: LDS Preston can be found here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWHJ2RJ3

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Gavri’el Wise is a professional actor best known for his recent portrayal of the Saviour in the "Greater Love" Easter video series produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Born in Minnesota to a Russian-Ukrainian mother and a Native American father, Gavri’el’s journey with church film projects began at age 11. He appeared as a background actor in the Bible and Book of Mormon video series before being cast in the sacred role of Jesus Christ.

I wanted to speak with Gavri’el to explore the spiritual and emotional weight of walking in the footsteps of the Saviour for the camera. We discuss his transition from a child actor to a lead performer, the rigorous preparation required for the role, and how his own history of early responsibility and solitude allowed him to connect with the humanity of Christ. Gavri’el opens up about how periods of loneliness in his youth became a "well" of introspection, helping him portray a Saviour who was always deeply observant of the world and those around Him.

Some highlights from this episode include:
A Lifelong Journey on Set: Gavri’el reflects on starting his acting career at age 11 on the Church’s Jerusalem set and how those early experiences prepared him for the responsibility of portraying the Son of God.

Channelling Personal Life Challenges: Gavri’el shares how growing up quickly and spending significant time in quiet observation of others allowed him to empathize with the "heavy knowledge" the Saviour carried.

"With More Love": A recurring piece of direction on the "Greater Love" set was to perform "with more love". Gavri’el explains how this challenged him to stop "acting" and start genuinely loving his fellow cast members.

The Master Teacher: During his preparation, Gavri’el found that a study of the Sermon on the Mount led to him understanding the beauty behind the simple, yet Masterful way Jesus taught.

Improvising the Last Supper: Gavri’el shares behind-the-scenes details about the sensitive, unscripted moments experienced during the filming of the Last Supper, where the cast shared real moments of peace and reflection.

From Belief to Active Discipleship: A shift in Gavri’el’s faith occurred when he realized that when the Saviour saves you, He "employs" you. He discusses the responsibility of being an active disciple in every aspect of life.

You can keep up with Gavri’el and his future projects on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gavrielwise/

The Greater Love Video can be found here:
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/easter-video-invites-all-to-find--greater-love--through-jesus-christ

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Kyle Beshears (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is a pastor in Mobile, Alabama and has taught courses on religion at the University of Mobile. He is the author of 40 Questions About Mormonism (Kregel Academic), and is presently writing on the development of LDS doctrine and practices during the life of Joseph Smith.

I wanted to speak with Kyle to discuss his extensive research into the life of Joseph Smith and his perspective as an Evangelical pastor on the cultural landscape of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We explore his recent book and his unique journey of humanizing a figure he does not view as a prophet, yet has come to empathize with as a fellow minister

Some highlights from this episode include:
"Humanizing" Joseph Smith: Kyle shares surprising details from his research of the Joseph Smith Papers, including Joseph’s love for his dog, Major, and how Joseph’s pastoral care for a grieving mother on Christmas Eve changed Kyle's perspective.

An Evangelical at General Conference: Kyle discusses his first-ever experience attending a session of General Conference in person and his observations on the "Christocentric" nature of the talks.

Three Categories of Perception: A breakdown of how most Americans currently view Latter-day Saints, ranging from indifference to a "knee-jerk" suspicion born of the "countercult" movement.

"Going to Jail" Quote: A discussion of Albert Mohler’s famous line regarding theological disagreement versus cultural agreement: "I don't believe we're going to go to heaven together, but there's a possibility that we might go to jail together".

Building Better Relationships: Practical advice for Latter-day Saints on how to overcome the "deficit of trust" when speaking with Evangelicals by focusing on the Bible and showing genuine fruits of the Spirit.

You can find more of Kyles’s work at the following links:
- https://www.kylebeshears.com/p/40-questions-about-mormonism
- https://www.kylebeshears.com/

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

As you know, each General Conference I visit a different location to meet with local members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We talk about what life is like as a Church member in that area, what the Church is like, and we also recap General Conference.

This time, we're in Budapest, Hungary with Anita, Bercel and Csaba.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Greg Matsen is the founder of Cwic Media and the host of Cwic Show. Cwic Show has over 14,000,000 views and downloads and is one of the top podcasts for Latter-day Saint culture, social issues, and gospel topics.

I wanted to speak to Greg to do another top-5 show around General Conference time, so this time we rank the all-time top 5 talks by President Dallin H. Oaks!

--

You can find more of Greg’s work at the following link:
- https://www.cwicmedia.com/

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod
https://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/

For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.