https://simplecast.com The Ponderverse The Ponderverse is a podcast about discovering the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture. Each week, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit down with one verse and follow wherever the conversation leads. Sometimes that takes them into faith, family, marriage, parenting, business, doubt, Church history, or questions they may not be able to fully answer. This is not a scripture lecture, a debate, or another attempt to explain exactly what a verse is supposed to mean. It is an honest conversation between two friends who are trying to notice more, ask better questions, and understand God a little better than they did yesterday. There are no experts here. No perfect answers. Just curiosity, friendship, faith, and a willingness to ponder. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time. 2026 Hill and Table, LLC en Tue, 6 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Tue, 6 Oct 2026 11:00:19 +0000 https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com The Ponderverse https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/be79dfe0-b524-4e49-a76e-f92cecc9bcf0/7afe31c9-f98e-45a0-8688-83b02f3fe5e5/3000x3000/ponderverseartwork.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com episodic The Ponderverse is a podcast about discovering the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture. Each week, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit down with one verse and follow wherever the conversation leads. Sometimes that takes them into faith, family, marriage, parenting, business, doubt, Church history, or questions they may not be able to fully answer. This is not a scripture lecture, a debate, or another attempt to explain exactly what a verse is supposed to mean. It is an honest conversation between two friends who are trying to notice more, ask better questions, and understand God a little better than they did yesterday. There are no experts here. No perfect answers. Just curiosity, friendship, faith, and a willingness to ponder. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time. Justin Wright, Kevin Clayson false https://feeds.simplecast.com/_UcNX_na faith, book of mormon, gospel, christian podcast, marriage, jesus christ, latter-day saint, parenting, lds, spiritual growth, scripture, christian living, meaningful conversations, pondering, discipleship, bible, holy bible Kevin Clayson kevinclayson20@icloud.com dc2ffb5f-a00c-48c8-886a-dd52e402e963 Episode 6 - Mosiah 3:19 - The Natural Man… and the Yield Sign? “Unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit…”

That word—yields—stopped us.

In Mosiah 3:19, King Benjamin describes the natural man as an enemy to God and then gives us a picture of what becoming something different might look like.

But what exactly is the “natural man”? Does being an “enemy to God” mean we’re actively fighting against Him—or could it simply describe what happens when our choices move us away from Him?

And why yield?

That question leads Kevin and Justin into an unexpected analogy involving traffic signs, rivers, temptation, and the difference between being swept somewhere and consciously choosing a direction.

From there, the conversation explores what it might really mean to become “as a child”: submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love.

They also wrestle with one of the harder phrases in the verse:

“Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him.”

Why would a loving God allow—or even use—hard things?

Justin shares a deeply personal realization about his own children and a thought that has changed the way he approaches their spiritual journeys:

They were God’s children before they were ours.

Maybe becoming like a child isn’t about knowing less.

Maybe it’s about trusting more.

Scripture: Mosiah 3:19

Ponder with us: Where might God be asking you to pause, yield, and consciously choose His direction instead of simply following your natural reaction?

Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 6 Oct 2026 11:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-6-mosiah-3-19-the-natural-man-and-the-yield-sign-nypMckdI “Unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit…”

That word—yields—stopped us.

In Mosiah 3:19, King Benjamin describes the natural man as an enemy to God and then gives us a picture of what becoming something different might look like.

But what exactly is the “natural man”? Does being an “enemy to God” mean we’re actively fighting against Him—or could it simply describe what happens when our choices move us away from Him?

And why yield?

That question leads Kevin and Justin into an unexpected analogy involving traffic signs, rivers, temptation, and the difference between being swept somewhere and consciously choosing a direction.

From there, the conversation explores what it might really mean to become “as a child”: submissive, meek, humble, patient, and full of love.

They also wrestle with one of the harder phrases in the verse:

“Willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him.”

Why would a loving God allow—or even use—hard things?

Justin shares a deeply personal realization about his own children and a thought that has changed the way he approaches their spiritual journeys:

They were God’s children before they were ours.

Maybe becoming like a child isn’t about knowing less.

Maybe it’s about trusting more.

Scripture: Mosiah 3:19

Ponder with us: Where might God be asking you to pause, yield, and consciously choose His direction instead of simply following your natural reaction?

Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 6 - Mosiah 3:19 - The Natural Man… and the Yield Sign? Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 01:29:26 What does it actually mean that “the natural man is an enemy to God”? Kevin and Justin sit with Mosiah 3:19 and start pulling apart words they’ve read dozens of times—natural man, enemy, yield, submissive, meek, patient, and even “inflict.” Along the way, they wonder whether putting off the natural man is less about becoming perfect and more about learning to pause, notice the Spirit, and consciously choose a different direction. A simple yield sign becomes an unexpected picture of discipleship: slow down, notice the traffic, and choose to enter the flow. The conversation moves through temptation, pride, marriage, patience, trials, parenting, and the difficult work of trusting God when His plan doesn’t look like ours. One verse. A whole lot to ponder. What does it actually mean that “the natural man is an enemy to God”? Kevin and Justin sit with Mosiah 3:19 and start pulling apart words they’ve read dozens of times—natural man, enemy, yield, submissive, meek, patient, and even “inflict.” Along the way, they wonder whether putting off the natural man is less about becoming perfect and more about learning to pause, notice the Spirit, and consciously choose a different direction. A simple yield sign becomes an unexpected picture of discipleship: slow down, notice the traffic, and choose to enter the flow. The conversation moves through temptation, pride, marriage, patience, trials, parenting, and the difficult work of trusting God when His plan doesn’t look like ours. One verse. A whole lot to ponder. ponderverse, temptation, becoming like a child, lds podcast, faith, holy ghost, meekness, book of mormon, enticings of the holy spirit, spiritual growth, repentance, king benjamin, latter-day saint podcast, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, patience, pride, humility, trials, atonement of jesus christ, natural man, discipleship, scripture study, mosiah 3:19, put off the natural man, jesus christ, parenting, yielding to the holy spirit, book of mormon podcast false full 7 f8aa2528-68b2-4fd5-8290-8ea9918d86f6 Episode 5 - Mosiah 3:7 - Did Jesus Get Thirsty? What does it change when we remember that Jesus Christ actually experienced mortality?

In Mosiah 3:7, King Benjamin describes a Savior who would suffer temptation, physical pain, hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

Kevin shares why the simple word “thirst” has stayed with him since hearing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speak while Kevin was a missionary in the MTC. Until that moment, he had sort of understood Christ’s suffering—but had never really pictured Jesus simply being hungry, tired, or thirsty.

That thought opens several questions:

What was temptation actually like for Jesus?

Could temptation have carried an unusual weight because Christ could never give in and still accomplish His mission?

At the same time, could His extraordinary relationship with the Father have given Him extraordinary strength?

Kevin and Justin also explore fatigue—physical, emotional, and spiritual—and what it means that Christ Himself experienced exhaustion.

Justin shares his experience using fasting as a way to seek greater closeness with God, which leads to a conversation about dependence, humility, and spiritual connection.

Finally, Kevin shares a very personal way he sometimes imagines the Atonement—not as doctrine, but as a question:

What if Christ’s suffering for each of us was even more individual than we understand?

Maybe we can’t comprehend everything Jesus experienced.

But perhaps Mosiah 3:7 can help us see Him a little more clearly—not only as the resurrected Lord, but as the Savior who walked through mortality before us.

Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-5-mosiah-3-7-did-jesus-get-thirsty-xGOD4UsZ What does it change when we remember that Jesus Christ actually experienced mortality?

In Mosiah 3:7, King Benjamin describes a Savior who would suffer temptation, physical pain, hunger, thirst, and fatigue.

Kevin shares why the simple word “thirst” has stayed with him since hearing Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speak while Kevin was a missionary in the MTC. Until that moment, he had sort of understood Christ’s suffering—but had never really pictured Jesus simply being hungry, tired, or thirsty.

That thought opens several questions:

What was temptation actually like for Jesus?

Could temptation have carried an unusual weight because Christ could never give in and still accomplish His mission?

At the same time, could His extraordinary relationship with the Father have given Him extraordinary strength?

Kevin and Justin also explore fatigue—physical, emotional, and spiritual—and what it means that Christ Himself experienced exhaustion.

Justin shares his experience using fasting as a way to seek greater closeness with God, which leads to a conversation about dependence, humility, and spiritual connection.

Finally, Kevin shares a very personal way he sometimes imagines the Atonement—not as doctrine, but as a question:

What if Christ’s suffering for each of us was even more individual than we understand?

Maybe we can’t comprehend everything Jesus experienced.

But perhaps Mosiah 3:7 can help us see Him a little more clearly—not only as the resurrected Lord, but as the Savior who walked through mortality before us.

Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 5 - Mosiah 3:7 - Did Jesus Get Thirsty? Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 01:00:12 Mosiah 3:7 says Jesus Christ would experience “temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue.” One word stops Kevin: thirst. As a 19-year-old missionary, that word changed the way Kevin saw the Savior. Jesus didn’t only experience Gethsemane and the cross. He experienced mortality. He got hungry. He became exhausted. He was tempted. He knew what it felt like to have a body that hurt and a strength that could run out. That realization leads Kevin and Justin into a much bigger conversation: What might temptation have been like for someone who could never give in? Did Christ’s relationship with the Father help Him endure what no one else could? What can His fatigue teach us about our own exhaustion? And how personal might the Atonement really be? No polished answers. Just one verse, two friends, and a lot to ponder. Mosiah 3:7 says Jesus Christ would experience “temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue.” One word stops Kevin: thirst. As a 19-year-old missionary, that word changed the way Kevin saw the Savior. Jesus didn’t only experience Gethsemane and the cross. He experienced mortality. He got hungry. He became exhausted. He was tempted. He knew what it felt like to have a body that hurt and a strength that could run out. That realization leads Kevin and Justin into a much bigger conversation: What might temptation have been like for someone who could never give in? Did Christ’s relationship with the Father help Him endure what no one else could? What can His fatigue teach us about our own exhaustion? And how personal might the Atonement really be? No polished answers. Just one verse, two friends, and a lot to ponder. ponderverse, temptation, heavenly father, hunger, lds podcast, faith, book of mormon, fasting, gospel discussion, repentance, king benjamin, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, pondering scripture, jeffrey r holland, mosiah 3:7, savior, christian podcast, atonement of jesus christ, latter-day saints, mortality of jesus, thirst, discipleship, scripture study, mosiah, fatigue, gethsemane, jesus christ, book of mormon podcast false full 6 29b062d4-ce9d-48aa-986c-a8ece08d82fb Episode 4 - Alma 37:37 - What Does It Mean to Counsel With the Lord? “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good…”

— Alma 37:37

What caught our attention this week was one word:

Counsel.

Alma could have said to pray to the Lord. Instead, he tells Helaman to counsel with Him.

Is there a difference?

That question takes Kevin and Justin into a conversation about what it might look like to involve Heavenly Father in more than our formal prayers—to talk with Him while working through a problem, wondering about a decision, worrying about our families, or simply moving through an ordinary day.

And then Alma says something else interesting:

“When thou liest down at night, lie down unto the Lord…”

Why does scripture specifically talk about sleep?

Could part of lying down unto the Lord be learning to lay down some of the things we've been carrying?

Justin has one of those classic Ponderverse moments where a thought seems to arrive while he's saying it out loud, leading into a conversation about repentance, recurring mistakes, forgiveness, and what we carry with us to bed.

Then comes the morning:

“When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God.”

Kevin shares one of the simplest gratitude practices he's ever used:

First foot on the floor:

Thank.

Second foot:

You.

Before the phone.

Before email.

Before the news.

Before everything demanding our attention gets a vote.

Thank you.

Along the way, we somehow also end up talking about Costco, a refrigerator that definitely wasn't fitting inside Kevin's Tesla, Justin's pickup truck, and whether being “directed for good” sometimes looks a lot more ordinary than we expect.

By the end, Alma 37:37 starts to feel like more than a verse about prayer.

Maybe it's a rhythm for living:

Counsel with God.

Bring Him into all of it.

Lay the day down with Him.

Wake up thankful.

Go do some good.

Then do it again tomorrow.

We're not claiming that's everything this verse means.

We're just wondering what happens when we sit with it long enough to notice what's there.

One verse. Two dudes. A conversation.

Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-4-alma-37-37-what-does-it-mean-to-counsel-with-the-lord-L9iagst4 “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good…”

— Alma 37:37

What caught our attention this week was one word:

Counsel.

Alma could have said to pray to the Lord. Instead, he tells Helaman to counsel with Him.

Is there a difference?

That question takes Kevin and Justin into a conversation about what it might look like to involve Heavenly Father in more than our formal prayers—to talk with Him while working through a problem, wondering about a decision, worrying about our families, or simply moving through an ordinary day.

And then Alma says something else interesting:

“When thou liest down at night, lie down unto the Lord…”

Why does scripture specifically talk about sleep?

Could part of lying down unto the Lord be learning to lay down some of the things we've been carrying?

Justin has one of those classic Ponderverse moments where a thought seems to arrive while he's saying it out loud, leading into a conversation about repentance, recurring mistakes, forgiveness, and what we carry with us to bed.

Then comes the morning:

“When thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God.”

Kevin shares one of the simplest gratitude practices he's ever used:

First foot on the floor:

Thank.

Second foot:

You.

Before the phone.

Before email.

Before the news.

Before everything demanding our attention gets a vote.

Thank you.

Along the way, we somehow also end up talking about Costco, a refrigerator that definitely wasn't fitting inside Kevin's Tesla, Justin's pickup truck, and whether being “directed for good” sometimes looks a lot more ordinary than we expect.

By the end, Alma 37:37 starts to feel like more than a verse about prayer.

Maybe it's a rhythm for living:

Counsel with God.

Bring Him into all of it.

Lay the day down with Him.

Wake up thankful.

Go do some good.

Then do it again tomorrow.

We're not claiming that's everything this verse means.

We're just wondering what happens when we sit with it long enough to notice what's there.

One verse. Two dudes. A conversation.

Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 4 - Alma 37:37 - What Does It Mean to Counsel With the Lord? Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 00:52:29 What does it actually mean to “counsel with the Lord in all thy doings”? In Alma 37:37, Alma gives his son Helaman what almost feels like a blueprint for an entire day: counsel with God, lie down unto Him at night, rise with gratitude in the morning, and allow Him to direct you toward good. But what might that look like in real life? In this episode, Kevin and Justin wonder whether prayer can be more conversational than we sometimes make it. They talk about inviting God into ordinary problems, listening for thoughts and impressions, laying down the burdens of the day, and beginning the morning with two simple words: Thank. You. One verse. A whole lot to ponder. What does it actually mean to “counsel with the Lord in all thy doings”? In Alma 37:37, Alma gives his son Helaman what almost feels like a blueprint for an entire day: counsel with God, lie down unto Him at night, rise with gratitude in the morning, and allow Him to direct you toward good. But what might that look like in real life? In this episode, Kevin and Justin wonder whether prayer can be more conversational than we sometimes make it. They talk about inviting God into ordinary problems, listening for thoughts and impressions, laying down the burdens of the day, and beginning the morning with two simple words: Thank. You. One verse. A whole lot to ponder. daily prayer, ponderverse, heavenly father, lds podcast, gospel study, faith, holy ghost, book of mormon, trusting god, following promptings, spiritual growth, personal revelation, talking to god, burdens, sleep and faith, repentance, latter-day saint podcast, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, pondering scripture, gratitude prayer, kevin clayson, christian podcast, prayer, gratitude, gratitude to god, alma 37, how to pray, discipleship, scripture study, scripture podcast, justin wright, morning gratitude, relationship with god, counsel with the lord, receiving revelation, alma 37:37, hearing god, jesus christ, book of mormon podcast false full 5 68a19b99-dab9-43b0-8915-e0be629528c8 Episode 3 - Helaman 5:12 - Do We Ask the Savior To Relieve Our Burdens? Scripture: Helaman 5:12

In this episode, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright ponder what it means to build on “the rock of our Redeemer.”

They explore:

• Why Helaman says when the storms come—not if
• What “shafts in the whirlwind” might teach us about false or temporary shelter
• The difference between being redeemed and having a living Redeemer
• Why shame may cause us to speak to ourselves in ways Christ never would
• The contrast between temporary wind and hail and the permanence of a rock
• How joy and adversity can exist at the same time
• Why we sometimes refuse the very help Christ is offering us
• What it could look like to actually ask the Savior to carry our burdens

The goal isn’t to finish the verse or arrive at one definitive interpretation.

It’s simply to notice what happens when we slow down long enough to ponder.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-3-helaman-5-12-do-we-ask-the-savior-to-relieve-our-burdens-rjEOn2lz Scripture: Helaman 5:12

In this episode, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright ponder what it means to build on “the rock of our Redeemer.”

They explore:

• Why Helaman says when the storms come—not if
• What “shafts in the whirlwind” might teach us about false or temporary shelter
• The difference between being redeemed and having a living Redeemer
• Why shame may cause us to speak to ourselves in ways Christ never would
• The contrast between temporary wind and hail and the permanence of a rock
• How joy and adversity can exist at the same time
• Why we sometimes refuse the very help Christ is offering us
• What it could look like to actually ask the Savior to carry our burdens

The goal isn’t to finish the verse or arrive at one definitive interpretation.

It’s simply to notice what happens when we slow down long enough to ponder.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 3 - Helaman 5:12 - Do We Ask the Savior To Relieve Our Burdens? Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 00:55:05 What does it really mean to build your life on the rock of Jesus Christ? Kevin and Justin sit with Helaman 5:12 and follow the conversation into some unexpected places: careers and money, shame after mistakes, the difference between temporary escape and real safety, and why Christ is called our Redeemer—not simply someone who redeemed us once. Along the way, they notice something hiding in plain sight: the verse says when the storms come, not if. And then the conversation lands somewhere neither of them expected. We often ask God for forgiveness. We ask for answers. We ask for direction and strength. But do we ever simply ask Him to take the burden? One verse. Two dudes. A conversation. Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time. What does it really mean to build your life on the rock of Jesus Christ? Kevin and Justin sit with Helaman 5:12 and follow the conversation into some unexpected places: careers and money, shame after mistakes, the difference between temporary escape and real safety, and why Christ is called our Redeemer—not simply someone who redeemed us once. Along the way, they notice something hiding in plain sight: the verse says when the storms come, not if. And then the conversation lands somewhere neither of them expected. We often ask God for forgiveness. We ask for answers. We ask for direction and strength. But do we ever simply ask Him to take the burden? One verse. Two dudes. A conversation. Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time. ponderverse, lds podcast, faith, book of mormon, redeemer, grace, come follow me, storms of life, burdens, repentance, latter-day saint podcast, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, pondering scripture, kevin clayson, foundation, christian podcast, trials, joy, rock of our redeemer, helaman 5:12, scripture study, justin wright, helaman 5, shame, adversity, jesus christ false full 4 ab107d6e-8a29-4f44-83c1-4014030104d5 Episode 2 - 1 Nephi 3:7 — What If Commandments Are Invitations? “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded…”

It’s one of the most quoted verses in the Book of Mormon. Maybe because it feels so simple.

Go.

Do.

Trust God.

But the longer Kevin and Justin sit with 1 Nephi 3:7, the more questions start showing up.

What’s the difference between going and doing?

Why does Nephi seem so certain God will prepare a way before he knows what that way will be?

What if commandments aren’t merely rules handed down from above, but invitations from a loving Heavenly Father who knows where certain choices can lead?

And what happens when we try to follow God and things still don’t work out the way we expected?

This conversation wanders through obedience, spiritual promptings, failure, trust, church attendance, parenting, and the possibility that sometimes God is doing something larger than we can see in the moment.

No definitive answers. Just two friends trying to notice a little more than they did before.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 8 Sep 2026 11:05:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-2-1-nephi-3-7-what-if-commandments-are-invitations-cE1QDDHU “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded…”

It’s one of the most quoted verses in the Book of Mormon. Maybe because it feels so simple.

Go.

Do.

Trust God.

But the longer Kevin and Justin sit with 1 Nephi 3:7, the more questions start showing up.

What’s the difference between going and doing?

Why does Nephi seem so certain God will prepare a way before he knows what that way will be?

What if commandments aren’t merely rules handed down from above, but invitations from a loving Heavenly Father who knows where certain choices can lead?

And what happens when we try to follow God and things still don’t work out the way we expected?

This conversation wanders through obedience, spiritual promptings, failure, trust, church attendance, parenting, and the possibility that sometimes God is doing something larger than we can see in the moment.

No definitive answers. Just two friends trying to notice a little more than they did before.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 2 - 1 Nephi 3:7 — What If Commandments Are Invitations? Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 00:50:56 What if commandments are less about “do this or else” and more about God inviting us toward something good? In this episode, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit with 1 Nephi 3:7 — one of the most familiar verses in the Book of Mormon — and start noticing things they hadn’t really considered before. What’s the difference between “go” and “do”? What does it mean that God prepares a way? And could commandments sometimes be understood less like ultimatums and more like loving invitations? One verse. Two dudes. A conversation that goes places neither of them expected. What if commandments are less about “do this or else” and more about God inviting us toward something good? In this episode, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit with 1 Nephi 3:7 — one of the most familiar verses in the Book of Mormon — and start noticing things they hadn’t really considered before. What’s the difference between “go” and “do”? What does it mean that God prepares a way? And could commandments sometimes be understood less like ultimatums and more like loving invitations? One verse. Two dudes. A conversation that goes places neither of them expected. christian living, commandments, lds podcast, faith, book of mormon, trusting god, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, faith questions, pondering scripture, kevin clayson, obedience, christian podcast, scripture discussion, 1 nephi 3:7, discipleship, spiritual promptings, scripture study, justin wright, the ponderverse, lds, god prepares a way, revelation, gospel, jesus christ, latter-day saint false full 3 b86aed56-429d-42a1-8d6a-873b83cfffb0 Episode 1 - Why We're Here Welcome to The Ponderverse.

Before Kevin and Justin start pondering individual verses, they wanted to explain why this podcast exists in the first place.

Justin shares his personal journey from walking away from Church activity as a teenager to, years later, feeling prompted to return to the scriptures, prepare for the temple, and deepen his relationship with God. He also shares the prompting he couldn't quite shake: start a podcast—and eventually, ask Kevin to do it with him.

Kevin shares pieces of his own faith journey and why he has always loved approaching scripture a little differently. Rather than racing through chapters or trying to cover everything, he loves finding one verse—or sometimes one phrase—and sitting with it long enough to see what it might reveal.

That became the idea behind The Ponderverse.

This isn't a Come, Follow Me podcast. Kevin and Justin aren't scripture scholars, theologians, or historians. They're two friends trying to follow Jesus Christ, asking honest questions, sharing personal experiences, and seeing what happens when they slow down and really ponder a single verse.

Some conversations may lead to faith. Others may lead to family, marriage, parenting, business, doubt, Church history, failure, revelation, or questions they can't completely answer.

That's okay.

The point isn't to have every answer.

The point is to keep seeking.

One verse. Two dudes. A conversation.

Welcome to The Ponderverse.

The Ponderverse
Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Tue, 8 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-1-why-were-here-ZTg7FQkP Welcome to The Ponderverse.

Before Kevin and Justin start pondering individual verses, they wanted to explain why this podcast exists in the first place.

Justin shares his personal journey from walking away from Church activity as a teenager to, years later, feeling prompted to return to the scriptures, prepare for the temple, and deepen his relationship with God. He also shares the prompting he couldn't quite shake: start a podcast—and eventually, ask Kevin to do it with him.

Kevin shares pieces of his own faith journey and why he has always loved approaching scripture a little differently. Rather than racing through chapters or trying to cover everything, he loves finding one verse—or sometimes one phrase—and sitting with it long enough to see what it might reveal.

That became the idea behind The Ponderverse.

This isn't a Come, Follow Me podcast. Kevin and Justin aren't scripture scholars, theologians, or historians. They're two friends trying to follow Jesus Christ, asking honest questions, sharing personal experiences, and seeing what happens when they slow down and really ponder a single verse.

Some conversations may lead to faith. Others may lead to family, marriage, parenting, business, doubt, Church history, failure, revelation, or questions they can't completely answer.

That's okay.

The point isn't to have every answer.

The point is to keep seeking.

One verse. Two dudes. A conversation.

Welcome to The Ponderverse.

The Ponderverse
Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time.

—

Pull up a chair and join us each week as we explore the universe hidden inside a single verse of scripture.

Visit ponderversepodcast.com to learn more about the show, explore past episodes, and continue the conversation.

The Ponderverse
Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time.

The Ponderverse is hosted by Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright. This podcast is independently produced and is not an official publication of or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

]]> Episode 1 - Why We're Here Kevin Clayson, Justin Wright 00:36:52 What happens when two ordinary dudes sit down with one verse of scripture and see where it takes them? In this introductory episode of The Ponderverse, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright share the unlikely story behind the podcast—including Justin's long journey back to the gospel, the prompting that eventually brought the idea to life, and a conversation at Topgolf that turned it into something real. They're not scholars or scriptorians, and they're not here to provide all the answers. They're two friends who love Jesus Christ, love the scriptures, and believe there's an entire universe waiting to be discovered inside a single verse. Welcome to The Ponderverse: Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time. What happens when two ordinary dudes sit down with one verse of scripture and see where it takes them? In this introductory episode of The Ponderverse, Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright share the unlikely story behind the podcast—including Justin's long journey back to the gospel, the prompting that eventually brought the idea to life, and a conversation at Topgolf that turned it into something real. They're not scholars or scriptorians, and they're not here to provide all the answers. They're two friends who love Jesus Christ, love the scriptures, and believe there's an entire universe waiting to be discovered inside a single verse. Welcome to The Ponderverse: Two Dudes Pondering the Universe, One Verse at a Time. honest faith conversations, lds podcast, faith, holy ghost, book of mormon, lds faith, gospel discussion, two dudes pondering, spiritual growth, personal revelation, testimony, church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, pondering scripture, scripture, kevin clayson, temple, questions about faith, christian podcast, conversion, scripture study, scripture podcast, justin wright, the ponderverse, gospel, jesus christ, latter-day saint, faith journey false full 2 306b681f-63fe-4722-943d-2e15c71812a2 Welcome to the Ponderverse Sat, 5 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000 kevinclayson20@icloud.com (Kevin Clayson) https://the-ponderverse-1fb0d952.simplecast.com/episodes/welcome-to-the-ponderverse-zVZj8LfF Welcome to the Ponderverse Kevin Clayson 00:00:43 One verse. Two friends. One honest conversation. The Ponderverse is a weekly Latter-day Saint podcast where Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit down with a single verse of scripture and follow wherever the conversation leads. From the Book of Mormon and Bible to faith, family, marriage, parenting, gratitude, doubt, and everyday discipleship, the goal isn’t to give a lesson or pretend we have all the answers. It’s to slow down, notice what’s there, ask better questions, and see what God might help us discover. Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time. One verse. Two friends. One honest conversation. The Ponderverse is a weekly Latter-day Saint podcast where Kevin Clayson and Justin Wright sit down with a single verse of scripture and follow wherever the conversation leads. From the Book of Mormon and Bible to faith, family, marriage, parenting, gratitude, doubt, and everyday discipleship, the goal isn’t to give a lesson or pretend we have all the answers. It’s to slow down, notice what’s there, ask better questions, and see what God might help us discover. Two dudes pondering the universe, one verse at a time. book of mormon, philosophy, god, prayer, family, marriage, lds, revelation, gospel, jesus christ, parenting, latter-day saint false full 1