LDF host Dan Wotherspoon’s father James Richard Wotherspoon died earlier this week. This encore episode is in honor of him and it consists of a Latter-day Faith interview he did with his dad in June 2021 (which was then a Father’s Day episode). Jim lived a remarkable life. Born blind (as was his brother, Robert), he achieved quite a lot in his 93-plus years. He became one of the first (if not the first) blind person to earn the rank of Eagle scout. He and his brother were the first blind students to mainstream at Berkeley High School, where he excelled in his courses, as well as in music and chess. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley where he earned his bachelor’s master’s and doctorate in history (as well as it being where he met his wife, Beverly, and started a family). They then all moved to Sacramento, California, where he taught history at American River College for 43 years, as well as many courses at Sacramento State University.
In addition to his life triumphs, Jim faced many setbacks as well, including a heartbreaking divorce and reactions from church leaders that led him to stay away from LDS activity for 35 years. He was fully back and involved up until his death, and most impressive of all is his attitude and the spirit of grace and forgiveness that radiate from him.
You’ll be glad you listened in!
Dan, thank you for re-posting. A great podcast. Yes, you are interviewing your father, however, I feel that this podcast could be any member of the church. Indeed, the frankness and earnestness with which your father speaks is the very voice of testimony I find so appealing. I’m glad you re-posted this podcast. I’ve been coming into contact with what I consider quintessential elements of the faith. Your father’s story has shown me that what I thought had become lost has always been there, just marginalized. Glad your father was who he was and was where he was. It inspires me that others are around like him. I simply have to extend myself and find them. Peace to you and those around you.
Dan, I gotta post some more.
Your interview with your dad brought to mind the 2003 Sunstone talk where you brought Bruce Baker on to talk about his understanding of the church. Bruce said better what I was trying to express when you brought me on.
I went back to the podcast where you had me on. I was going to post the link to Bruce’s Sunstone talk there, but I didn’t see a place to comment.
So, here it is.
https://sunstone.org/the-liberal-religious-tradition-in-mormonism-a-personal-view-of-developments-in-the-late-twentieth-century/
Thank you for this important forum that Latter-day Faith is.