Y Religion: Recent Episodes
BYU Religious Education
Each year, religion professors at Brigham Young University (BYU) produce hundreds of publications on subjects related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This podcast brings this research into one place to enlighten the everyday seeker of truth. Interviewing the author, we discuss why the study was done, why it matters, and why the professor chooses to be both a scholar, and a disciple. This is Y Religion.
How is technology shaping modern family relationships? In this episode, Dr. Laura Padilla-Walker and Dr. David Schramm tackle the impact of smartphones and social media on today's families, revealing the pitfalls, possibilities, and practical strategies for raising kids in a hyper‑digital world.
What impact do fathers have on children and family life in the world we live in today? In this episode, Dr. David Dollahite and Dr. Justin Dyer explore the meaningful and often underrecognized influence of fatherhood in emotional, spiritual, and social development.
What makes the influence of motherhood both unique and sacred, and how does it shape children, families, and society? In this episode, Dr. Jenet Erickson and Jennifer Thatcher explore the role of mothers in nurturing identity, fostering development, and strengthening both family and community life.
What do effective parents consistently do to help their children thrive? In this episode, Dr. Craig Hart and Dr. Stephanie Sorensen explore practical, research‑backed parenting habits that foster healthy development and strengthen family well‑being."
What creates a strong and lasting marriage? In this episode, Dr. Brian Mead and Gaylamarie Rosenberg explore the habits, skills, and principles that contribute to healthy, enduring marital relationships.
How does faith in Jesus Christ strengthen marriage and family life? In this episode, Dr. David Dollahite and Dr. Loren Marks discuss how discipleship and shared spiritual commitment create resilience and unity in marital and family relationships.
What misconceptions about marriage can lead to unrealistic expectations? In this episode, Gaylamarie Rosenberg addresses common myths and replaces them with research-based and experience-informed truths about lasting marriage.
How can individuals approach dating with intentionality and long-term purpose? In this episode, Dr. Brian Willoughby and Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner discuss how to prepare for marriage, overcome fear in dating, and practical skills for marriage.
How does "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" serve as a divine guide for understanding family life? In this episode, Dr. Michael Goodman and Dr. Jenet Erickson unpack the history and doctrine behind the family proclamation, revealing how it offers a powerful blueprint for creating resilient, eternal families.
How is the family changing, and what does that mean for society and faith today? In this episode, Dr. Justin Dyer and Jennifer Thatcher explore trends and challenges in family life and consider sources of hope for the future.
Y Religion Presents: The Eternal Family is a limited-series podcast for summer 2026 that explores the doctrine, challenges, and lived realities of family life in today's world. Across thirteen episodes, leading scholars and teachers examine topics including the changing nature of families, the divine framework outlined in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, preparing for and strengthening marriage, effective parenting, and the sacred roles of mothers and fathers. The series also addresses timely issues such as gender, faith, digital culture, and supporting loved ones through hardship. Together, these conversations offer research-based insights and gospel-centered principles to help individuals and families build resilient, Christ-centered homes.
How does God's love keep showing up for us, even when we struggle? In this episode Professor Aaron Schade reframes the book of Judges as more than a collection of heroic stories. Instead, he describes it as a sobering account of spiritual decline, broken covenants, and the consequences of living according to "what is right in our own eyes."
Professor Schade explores the recurring cycle found in Judges: ancient Israel turns away from God, experiences suffering, cries out for relief, and is delivered only to fall again. Rather than celebrating the judges as flawless leaders, he highlights their imperfections and the deeper message of the text as a lament over moral confusion and a society unraveling without covenant guidance. Further, Professor Schade explains that at the center of the book of Judges is the example of God's steadfast, unwavering love. Even as His people struggle to truly repent, He continues to reach out, deliver, and invite them back into a relationship with Him.
This episode invites us to wrestle with difficult questions about agency, obedience, and discipleship while discovering the powerful truth that God's love persists. Even in the midst of our failures, God's love is always calling us back to Him.
Publications:
- "Broken laws as 'Every Man Did That Which Was Right in His Own Eyes,'" in From Wilderness to Monarchy: The Old Testament Through the Lens of the Restoration, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- From Creation to Sinai: The Old Testament Through the Lens of the Restoration, Religious Studies Center (2021)
- The Book of Moses: From the Ancient of Days to the Latter Day, Religious Studies Center (2021)
- "'Many Plain and Precious Things': Using the Joseph Smith Translation in Teaching the Old Testament," Religious Educator 26.3, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- Phoenician Inscriptions (Writings From the Ancient World, Number 45), with Robert D. Homstedt and Philip Schmitz, Society of Biblical Literature (2026)
- "Sacred Center: The Iron Age Temple at Biblical Ataroth," Biblical Archaeology Review, Biblical Archaeology Society (2026, forthcoming)
Click here to learn more about Aaron Schade
What do we make of times in scripture where violence occurs, especially when the destruction comes because of God's commands? In this episode, Professor David M. Calabro discusses his article "'Thou Shalt Utterly Destroy': Understanding the Biblical Ḥērem", which grapples with the troubling and often misunderstood concept of ḥērem—the ritualized devotion of people, cities, and goods to God that appears in the conquest narratives of Deuteronomy and Joshua.
Calabro explains that while ḥērem is frequently read today as indiscriminate violence or genocide, its ancient meaning is far more complex. Rooted linguistically in ideas of holiness and consecration, ḥērem reflects an ancient Near Eastern way of framing warfare in theological, often hyperbolic terms. By placing Israel's scriptures alongside archaeological evidence, inscriptions from neighboring cultures, and restored gospel truths, the episode shows how biblical language of total destruction functioned within a shared cultural hyperbolic idiom, and that ḥērem is not ultimately about ethnicity or nationality, but about covenant loyalty, repentance, and one's response to God.
Rather than resolving all moral and theological questions, Calabro's work invites listeners to read these texts with greater historical awareness, humility, and a willingness to work with God to understand His ways.
Publications:
- "Thou Shalt Utterly Destroy" : Understanding the Biblical Ḥērem in From Wilderness to Monarchy (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- "Behold Our God Is with Us": Realism and Divine Focus in Mormon's War Narratives in This Great and Lasting War (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- A Third Look at the Lord's Hand "Stretched Out Still" (Isaiah 2–14) in Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- The Arms of His Love: Gesture and Meaning in the Book of Mormon in In the Eyes of the Ancients (Religious Studies Center, 2026)
Click here to learn more about David Calabro
How can we better incorporate prophetic messages in our lives, while also using them to bless the lives of those we love? In this episode, Scott C. Esplin, dean of Religious Education at BYU, discusses his article "Department and Individual Efforts to Amplify Prophetic Messages," coauthored with Brad Streeter, Rory Bigelow, Aaron Shumway, and David Peck. Drawing on a panel presentation from the 2024 Church Educational System Religious Educators Conference, Dean Esplin explores how religious educators can more faithfully emphasize and transmit the teachings of living prophets. Responding to counsel from Elder Clark G. Gilbert, the panel framed gospel teaching through the metaphor of an amplifier, namely prophetic messages serve as the input, educators function as the amplifier, and students receive the output. Further, Dean Esplin explains that prophets teach with clarity, repetition, and inspired emphasis, centering their messages on Jesus Christ, covenant belonging, and revealed priorities for our time. Ultimately, gospel teachers succeed when they faithfully proclaim the Lord's words and invite learners, through the Spirit, to hear and act.
Publications:
- "Department and Individual Efforts to Amplify Prophetic Messages," with Brad Streeter, Rory Bigelow, Aaron Shumway, and David Peck, Religious Educator, 25.3 (2024)
- Raising the Standard of Truth: Exploring the History and Teachings of the Early Restoration, Religious Studies Center (2020)
- The Voice of My Servants: Apostolic Messages on Teaching, Learning, and Scripture, Religious Studies Center (2010)
- Elder Clark G. Gilbert, "A Prophet in the Land: Current Prophetic Emphases to Young Adults," Seminaries and Institutes Annual Broadcast (2023)
- Elder Clark G. Gilbert, "Speak, Lord; for They Servant Heareth," Seminaries and Institutes Annual Broadcast (2024)
Click here to learn more about Scott Esplin
What did Jesus actually look like, and does it matter? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture Daniel Becerra discusses his new book Picturing Christ, co‑authored with Jennifer Champoux, Mark D. Ellison, and Matthew J. Grey. The book traces how Christians, Latter-day Saints and others, have imagined and portrayed Jesus across two millennia of art and what these evolving images reveal about a shared desire to understand the divine through faith and culture.
Becerra explains that while what Jesus did matters more than how He looked, the way we picture Him still shapes how we relate to God and understand the scriptures. He dives into how assumptions formed by analyzing familiar artwork can influence our spiritual interpretation in subtle ways. The conversation also highlights what archaeology and historical research can teach us about Jesus's real-world context. Insights from excavations, early Christian artifacts, and material culture help ground scriptural stories in historical reality, enriching the way listeners imagine scenese from the New Testament.
Through Picturing Christ, Becerra et al. invites listeners to see the Savior through a broader historical and artistic lens by opening fresh perspectives on the scriptures and deeping our discipleship.
Publications:
- Picturing Christ: Understanding Depictions of Jesus in History and Art, co-authored with Jennifer Champoux, Mark D. Ellison, and Matthew J. Grey, Deseret Book (2026)
- 3rd, 4th Nephi: The Book of Mormon: Brief Theological Introductions 9, The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship (2021)
- Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide, co-authored with Amy Easton, Nicholas J. Frederick, and Joseph M. Spencer, Religious Studies Center (2022)
- Highlighted artwork:
- Jesus and the disciples at the Last Supper, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Making Space for Us, Michelle Franzoni Thorley
- Early Morning with the Savior, Sopheap Nhem
- Homeless Jesus, Timothy P. Schmalz
- The Christ of the Breadlines, Fritz Eichenberg
- Last Supper Sculpture, National Museum of African American History & Culture
Click here to learn more about Daniel Becerra
How can sacred art help us feel closer to the Savior and more fully understand his Atonement? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture John Hilton III discusses his new book Behold the Lamb: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours, created with Anthony Sweat and J. Kirk Richards. The book gathers contemporary Latter-day Saint artwork depicting the final twelve hours of Christ's mortal life and invites deeper reflection on each piece through artist insights, artistic commentary, and cultural context.
Professor Hilton explores why Latter-day Saints often favor images of Gethsemane and the Resurrection over those of the Crucifixion, how scripture emphasizes Christ's death as central to His Atonement, and how sacred art can help us "behold the Lamb of God…[who] was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world" (1 Nephi 11: 32–33) with greater devotion. This episode offers a meaningful way to enrich your Easter season and deepen your discipleship.
Publications:
- Behold the Lamb: A Visual Witness of the Savior's Final Hours, co-authored with Anthony Sweat and J. Kirk Richards, Religious Studies Center (2026)
- Considering the Cross: How Calvary Connects Us with Christ, Deseret Books (2021)
- "The Loving Christ," in The Power of Christ's Deliverence, Religious Studies Center (2022)
- Highlighted artwork:
- A Place Called Gethsemane, Anthony Sweat
- Arms of Mercy, Anthony Sweat
- Judged of the World, Emilie Buck Lewis
- King of the Jews, Tyler Swain
- Advocate, Chad Winks
- Christ's Cross, Joseph Chu
- And Israel's Daughters Wept Around, Rose Datoc Dall
- Finisher of Our Faith, Eva Koleva Timothy
- How Beautiful upon the Mountain…, Maureen Merrell
- View His Death, Anthony Sweat
- Spear in His Side, J. Kirk Richards
- Descent From The Cross, Brian Kershisnik
- Held, Kristin Alley Carver
- At Birth and Death, Esther Candari
- Nicodemus in the Tomb, Lester Yocum
Click here to learn more about John Hilton III, here to learn more about Anthony Sweat, and here to learn more about J. Kirk Richards
In June 2025, President D. Todd Christofferson gave a landmark address to Religious Educators titled "Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ." In this bonus episode, John Hilton visits with BYU Religious Education professors Jenet Erickson, Matthew Richardson, and Philip Allred to unpack its implications for teaching and discipleship.
Their conversation centers on President Christofferson's invitation to highlight the vital role of agency in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. The panel members explore concrete practices to help students take personal ownership in their learning. They also discuss how to move beyond information transfer and instead focus on helping students deepen their connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through active engagement and the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost.
Publication:
- "Lifelong Disciples of Jesus Christ," CES Religious Educators Conference, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2025)
Click here to learn more about the upcoming 2026 CES Religious Educators Conference
Isaiah 51:1–2 instructs us to, "Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you." In this episode, David and Jo Ann Seely unpack their article "The Ten Tests of Abraham and Sarah," uncovering how Abraham and Sarah emerge as models of covenant discipleship. The Seelys explore how these tests developed in scriptural commentary, highlight Sarah's often-overlooked trials, and discuss connections to the Book of Abraham. From this episode, we can gain a deeper understanding of how ancient traditions can illuminate the covenant path and enrich our own discipleship.
Publications:
- "The Ten Tests of Abraham and Sarah" in Abraham and His Family in Scripture, History, and Tradition: Proceedings of the Conference Held May 3 & 10, 2025 at Brigham Young University, The Interpreter Foundation (2025)
- "'Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you' (Isa. 51:2): The Ten Tests of Abraham and Sarah," 2026 BYU Religious Education Symposium in Honor of Sidney B. Sperry, Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament, Religious Education (2026)
- Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2026)
- "The Cry of the Widow, the Fatherless, and the Stranger: The Covenant Obligation to Help the Poor and Oppressed," in God's Word in Our Hearts: Learning from the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- Approaching Holiness: Exploring the History and Teachings of the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2021)
- Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2013)
- "Jesus the Messiah: Prophet, Priest, and King," in Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior, Religious Studies Center (2002)
Click here to learn more about Jo Ann Seely and here to learn more about David Seely
What if one of the most powerful testimonies of God's love in the scriptures comes from a woman whose story we often skip over? In this episode, BYU professor of ancient scripture Amy Easton discusses a compelling study of Hagar–the enslaved Egyptian woman who becomes the only person in the Old Testament to name God–by discussing her article "'You Are the God Who Sees Me': God's Loving-Kindness to Hagar." Professor Easton guides listeners into the heart of Hagar's story, showing how her experiences of trauma, exploitation, and exile reveal a God who is intimately aware of those on the margins. She highlights Hagar's transformative encounters in the wilderness, where God sees her, hears her, makes promises directly to her, and ultimately liberates her and her son. Through these moments, we come to understand a God who works both within hardship and beyond it. Further, Professor Easton explains how Hagar's story affirms a universal truth that God sees all His children and invites us to see and care for one another with that same loving‑kindness.
Publications:
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"'You Are the God Who Sees Me': God's Loving-Kindness to Hagar," in Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2026)
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"A Multiplicity of Witnesses: Women and the Translation Process," with Rachel Cope, in A Hundredth Part: Exploring the History and Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center (2023)
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"Recognizing Responsibility and Standing with Victims: Studying Women of the Old Testament," in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2021)
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"Lehi's Dream as a Template for Understanding Each Act of Nephi's Vision," in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision, Religious Studies Center (2011)
Click here to learn more about Amy Easton
Why do some people feel their shelf of unanswered questions eventually breaks? In this Y Religion episode, Professor Jared Halverson discusses his article "Broken Shelves or Continuing Revelation? Extending the Shelf Life of Faith" and reframes the idea of a faith shelf into three shelves—revelation past, present, and future. He explains how remembering God's past mercies, engaging in current spiritual learning, and patiently awaiting future revelation can strengthen faith and prevent spiritual stagnation. Through scripture, storytelling, and years of working with students in faith crises, Dr. Halverson offers a shelf-by-shelf process for extending the shelf life of our faith.
Publications:
- "Broken Shelves or Continuing Revelation? Extending the Shelf Life of Faith," Religious Educator, 25.3 (2024)
- "Just War and the Causes of Christ," in This Great and Lasting War: Studies in Alma 45–63, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- "'Covering the Seers': Antivisionary Skepticism in the Days of Joseph Smith," in Joseph Smith as a Visionary: Heavenly Manifestations in the Latter Days, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- "The Way, the Truth, and the Way to Truth: harmony in Pursuit of Orthodoxy," in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center (2023)
Click here to learn more about Jared Halverson
How can gospel teachers help students not only learn but experience revelation in the classroom? In this episode, we talk with professor of Church history and doctrine Phil Allred about his contribution to the article "Teaching That Leads to Enduring Conversion." Dr. Allred introduces the concept of revelatory reading—an approach to scripture study that moves beyond simply reading words on a page and invites students to reflect on their thoughts and impressions, recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost, and act on personal revelation. He explains how transforming a common activity like note-taking into a spiritually reflective practice can deepen students' ability to receive guidance from the Spirit. Dr. Allred also shares practical strategies for creating a revelatory classroom, where students learn to track impressions, discern truth, and develop lifelong habits of seeking revelation. Join us as we explore how fostering revelatory habits can help students become lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ.
Publications:
- "Teaching That Leads to Enduring Conversion," with Shon D. Hopkin, Ross Barron, and Rob Eaton. Religious Educator, 25.3 (2024)
- "'Lest Thou Forget the Lord': Moses's Deuteronomic Charge to Remember," in God's Word in Our Hearts: Learning from the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center (2025)
- "Alma's Use of State in the Book of Mormon: A Word Study Suggests Multiple Authorship," in Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon, F.A.R.M.S (1999)
- "Alma to Corianton: A Pattern for Modern Parents," in The Book of Mormon: The Foundation of our Faith, Deseret Book (1999)
Click here to learn more about Phil Allred
How can the Old Testament feel relevant and approachable to us today? In this episode, Dr. Joshua M. Sears, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses his new book A Modern Guide to an Old Testament. Designed for everyday readers, this resource helps demystify the Old Testament by providing historical context, literary insights, and practical applications for modern discipleship. Professor Sears explains why the Old Testament matters, how its themes connect to Christ, and offers tips for studying its complex narratives with confidence and faith. Whether you're a seasoned scripture scholar or just beginning your study, this conversation will inspire you to see the Old Testament in a new light.
Publications:
- A Modern Guide to an Old Testament (Deseret Book, 2025)
- "The Law of Moses and the Goodness of God: Navigating Challenging Texts," in Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- "Learning from People of Other Faiths," Religious Educator, 24.2 (2023)
- "'Let Me Take Another Wife': Israelite, Jewish, and the Latter-day Saint Polygamy in Historical and Literary Perspective," in The Household of God: Families and Belonging in the Social World of the New Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- "Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon: Latter-day Saint Approaches," in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- "Study Bibles: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints," Religious Educator, 20.3 (2019)
· Previous Y Religion Podcast Episodes: https://religion.byu.edu/y-religion
In this episode, Church history and doctrine professor Casey Paul Griffiths discusses his book The Four Loves and the Latter-day Saints: The Nature of Love in All Facets of Our Lives. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's framework and restored gospel teachings, he explains the four forms of love—familial, friendly, romantic, and divine—and why understanding their differences matters for Latter-day Saints.
Professor Griffiths highlights the limitations of the English phrase "I love you," noting how it carries multiple meanings that other languages express more precisely. He teaches that distinguishing between these types of love deepens our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and God. Using scriptural and prophetic insights, he shows how divine love forms the foundation of all human connections.
Throughout the episode, Griffiths offers practical ways to apply each form of love, helping listeners strengthen marriages, friendships, families, and their relationship with God. Ultimately, the conversation provides an inspiring look at what it means to love as Christ taught and how a clearer grasp of the "four loves" can elevate every relationship in our lives.
Publications:
- The Four Loves and the Latter-day Saints: The Nature of Love in All Facets of Our Lives (Cedar Fort, 2023)
- Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- "The First Vision Goes to the Movies," in Joseph Smith and His First Vision: Context, Place, and Meaning (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/bro.griffiths
Click here to learn more about Casey Griffiths
What if the only letter in the New Testament addressed to a woman has been hiding in plain sight? As one of the shortest texts in the New Testament, Second John is often overlooked and dismissed as a condensed version of First John. Traditionally, its opening line has been read as addressed "to an elect lady"–a phrase understood metaphorically as the Church personified as a woman. This interpretation has dominated Greek editions of the New Testament for over 150 years, reinforcing the view that the letter was not directed to an individual but to a community.
In this episode, associate dean of research in Religious Education, Lincoln Blumell, discusses his recently published scholarship that challenges this long-standing assumption. Drawing on evidence from papyri, manuscripts, and other sources, Dr. Blumell argues that the text should instead be rendered "to the lady Eclecte," identifying a named woman as the recipient. This reinterpretation not only clarifies the meaning of the letter but also makes Second John the only text in the New Testament canon addressed directly to a woman, reshaping its significance and offering new insight into the role of women in the New Testament Church.
Publications:
- Lady Eclecte: The Lost Woman of the New Testament (Fortress Press, 2025)
- Didymus the Blind's Commentary of Psalms 26:10–29 and 36:1–13 (Brepols Publishers, 2019)
- New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2019)
- "'Is Jesus's Yoke Easy"? Reconsidering the Translation in Matthew 11:30" (BYU Studies, forthcoming)
- "A Ptolemaic Petition from a 'Judeo-Egyptian' (Ἰουδαιοαιγύπτιος)," with Kerry Hull, in Journal of Jewish Studies, 75.2 (2024)
- "The Text of the New Testament," in The King James Bible and the Restoration (Religious Studies Center, 2011)
- "The Greek Texts of the New Testament," Y Religion Podcast, Episode 20 (2020)
- Website: https://lincolnhblumell.com/
Click here to learn more about Lincoln Blumell
From the moment Brigham Young emerged from the waters of baptism in 1832, a fire burned within him to preach the restored gospel: "I wanted to thunder and roar out the Gospel to the nations. It burned in my bones like fire pent up…." That same passion drove him to keep detailed records of his labors and later his service as a Church leader and prophet. In this episode, professor of Church history and doctrine Gerrit Dirkmaat discusses his work on The Brigham Young Journals: Volume 1: April 1832–February 1846. Dr. Dirkmaat shares the behind-the-scenes insights into the editorial process, explores the significance of Brigham Young's pre-Utah writings, and explains what these documents teach us about his remarkable journey from convert to prophet. Whether you're a student of Church history or simply curious about the making of a leader, this conversation offers a rare and riveting look into the testimony, labors, and special witness of the second latter-day prophet.
Publications:
- The Brigham Young Journals: Volume 1: April 1832–February 1846 (Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- "The Prophets Have Spoken, but What Did They Say?: Examining the Difference between George D. Watt's Original Shorthand Notes and the Sermons Published in the Journal of Discourses," BYU Studies Quarterly, 54.4 (BYU Studies, 2015)
- From Darkness unto Light: Joseph Smith's Translation and Publication of the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2015)
- "'Too Long Trampled on to Be Celebrated': The Latter-day Saint Protest of Independence Day 1845," in Religious Liberty and Latter-day Saints: Historical and Global Perspectives (Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- "Firsthand Witness Accounts of the Translation Process," in The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder (Religious Studies Center, 2015)
Click here to learn more about Gerrit Dirkmaat
In a world obsessed with speed, what if the answers we need come only when we slow down and listen? In this episode, Professor Steven C. Harper invites us to pause, reflect deeply, and attune ourselves to the voice of God. Drawing from his book Wrestling with the Restoration: Why This Church Matters, Dr. Harper combines rigorous scholarship with faith to thoughtfully address critiques of the Restoration. He explores complex questions–such as the translation of the Book of Mormon and the origin of the Book of Abraham–and counsels us to slow down and carve out time to ask, "What do I know?" and "How do I know it?" Ultimately, Dr. Harper offers practical ways for us to develop our own personal of witness of Jesus Christ and the Restoration through careful study, sincere reflection, and spiritual seeking.
Publications:
- Wrestling with the Restoration: Why This Church Matters, Deseret Book (2024)
- Let's Talk About The Law of Consecration, Deseret Book (2022)
- "'That They Might Come to Understanding': Revelation as Process," in Raising the Standard of Truth: Exploring the History of Teachings of the Early Restoration, Religious Studies Center (2020)
- First Vision: Memory and Mormon Origins, Oxford University Press (2019)
- Making Sense of the Doctrine & Covenants, Deseret Book (2012)
- The Joseph Smith Papers, Revelations and Translations, Volume 1: Manuscript Revelation Books, Church Historian's Press (2011)
- Website: https://www.stevencraigharper.com/
Click here to learn more about Steven C. Harper
Shrouded in rumor and myth, the name of Adam-ondi-Ahman (mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 116) has sparked questions for two centuries. In this episode, Professor Alex Baugh clarifies what we know—and what we don't—about this location that holds great significance in both antiquity and early Restoration history, as well as in future prophecy. Adam-ondi-Ahman is revealed to be in Daviess County, Missouri, and is the location where Adam and Eve lived after being cast out of Eden. Joseph Smith was recorded to have said that is also "the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit as spoken of by Daniel the prophet."
Publications:
- "The History and Doctrine of the Adam-ondi-Ahman Revelation (Doctrine & Covenants 116)," in Foundations of the Restoration: Fulfillment of the Covenant Purposes, Religious Studies Center (2016)
- The Voice of the Lord: Exploring the Doctrine and Covenants, Religious Studies Center (2024)
- Joseph Smith and His First Vision: Context, Place, and Meaning, Religious Studies Center (2021)
- Latter-day Saints in Washington, DC: History, People, and Places, Religious Studies Center (2021)
- Conversations with Mormon Historians, Religious Studies Center (2015)
- Banner of the Gospel: Wilford Woodruff, Religious Studies Center (2010)
- Days Never to be Forgotten: Oliver Cowdery, Religious Studies Center (2009)
Click here to learn more about Alex Baugh
How do we reconcile our expectations with God’s unfolding plan? In this episode, Professor Derek Sainsbury explores the remarkable life of Nancy Naomi Tracy–a woman whose unwavering faith and bold defense of religious liberty and temple service helped shape the early Latter-day Saint experience. Through persecution, political exile, and personal loss, Nancy remained devoted to the gospel. Professor Sainsbury draws from her writings and activism to reveal how she navigated the tension between personal hopes and divine direction, offering a compelling lens into the cost of conviction and the legacy of spiritual resilience.
Publications:
- “‘We Have Not Been Allowed to Worship as We Please’: Nancy Naomi Tracy and the Denial of Latter-day Saint Religious Liberty,” in Religious Liberty and Latter-day Saints: Historical and Global Perspectives (Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- Joseph Smith as a Visionary: Heavenly Manifestations in the Latter Days (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- "Befriending the Constitutional Law of the Land" in Doctrine and Coveants Insights: Capstone of Doctrinal Understanding (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- Storming the Nation: The Unknown Contributions of Joseph Smith’s Political Missionaries (Religious Studies Center, 2020)
- “‘For the General Good of Mankind’: Why Joseph Smith’s Presidential Campaign Matters,” Religious Educator, 21.3 (2020)
Click here to learn more about Derek Sainsbury
Perfectionism in adolescence can be a heavy, even isolating, burden—shaped by social media, identity pressures, and the overwhelming number of choices youth face. Amid these challenges the Doctrine and Covenants offers a powerful reminder: “Remember that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (18:10). This eternal truth stands out in contrast to the feeling standards of the world. In this episode Professor Justin Dyer explains how such expectations contribute to rising perfectionism among our youth. Drawing from BYU’s Foundations data, he offers advice on how parents, teachers, and leaders can help youth navigate these pressures and find peace in eternal truths. By helping young people anchor their self-worth in truth, we can guide them away from toxic perfectionism and toward a life of purpose, peace, and resilience.
Publications:
- “Perfectionism Across Adolescence,” BYU Studies Quarterly, 63.4 (2024)
- “The Family Proclamation: The Secular and Spiritual Context,” co-authored with Michael A. Goodman, Religious Educator, 24.2 (2023)
- “Family Foundations of Youth Development: Research Update,” Review Magazine, Winter 2023
- “Adolescents, Mental Health, and the Benefits of Private Religious Worship,”, co-authored with Mark D. Ogletree and Lindsay Cowdin, Religious Educator, 22.3 (2021)
- Family Foundations of Youth Development data website
Click here to learn more about Justin Dyer
How can educators help students stop fearing their sins and start trusting Christ? In this episode, Professor Stephan Taeger discusses his article “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom.” He explores how teaching justification by faith can transform our classrooms. Addressing both guilt-ridden and morally indifferent students, he clarifies the doctrine using scripture, prophetic teachings, and scholarly insights. Taeger explains how understanding grace and justification fosters peace, inspires obedience, and strengthens discipleship. He offers practical teaching models that help students internalize their justified state and live with hope, love, and purpose. This episode empowers gospel educators to teach grace with clarity and conviction.
Publications:
- “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom,” Religious Educator, 25.2, 2024
- Joseph Smith as a Visionary: Heavenly Manifestations in the Latter Days, Religious Studies Center, 2025
- “By Our Own Transgressions: Understanding God’s Punishment,” in This Great and Lasting War: Studies in Alma 45–63, Religious Studies Center, 2025
- “The Word Made Flesh: Teaching the Gospel Concretely,” Religious Educator, 18.1, 2017
- “Using Elements of Narrative to Engage Students,” Religious Educator, 16.3, 2015
Click here to learn more about Stephan Taeger
How do we help students take the gospel from the classroom and into their own lives? In this episode Sister Susan Porter and Dean of Religious Education Scott Esplin discuss ways teachers can help students take what they learn in class and apply it to their daily lives.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
How do we find meaningful ways to connect one-on-one with our students? Teaching the gospel means more than delivering lessons—it means ministering to individuals, just as Christ did. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught, “We are to be our brother’s keeper. We cannot neglect this commission given by our Savior. We must be concerned for the one.” In this episode, professors Phil Allred and Camey Andersen explore how gospel teachers can fulfill this sacred charge. By reaching out with compassion, adapting their teaching to individual needs, and creating a space where everyone feels valued, teachers can help individuals feel the Savior’s love, foster belonging, and inspire personal growth in the gospel. When we teach the one, we reflect the Savior’s love, and that love can change lives.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
How do we respond with grace when faced with questions that challenge our deepest beliefs? In this episode, Professors Jenet Erickson and Brian Mead offer valuable insights into how we can lean into and thoughtfully respond to difficult questions. They explore a variety of approaches that emphasize addressing these questions with clarity and loving-kindness.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
What do we want learners to know, feel, and do with each lesson? In this episode professors Tyler Griffin and Anthony Sweat discuss strategies for incorporating active learning—ways to boost learning, motivation, and critical thinking by engaging participants in the educational process. By incorporating a variety of active learning techniques, teachers can lead students to intentional and meaningful ways of learning and participation.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
How can teachers transform their classrooms into collaborative learning spaces? In this episode professors Jan Martin and Jared Halverson discuss the power of guiding discussions with open-ended, scripture-anchored questions. Not only does this approach spark exploration, but it also invites students to become co-teachers and share the learning journey.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
How can prophetic voices shape our teaching? In this episode Barbara Morgan Gardner and Matt Richardson explore how to teach with power by amplifying the words of prophets, seers, and revelators. They highlight how we can use the words of Church leaders to present key principles, explore prophetic invitations, and realize promised blessings.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
The scriptures are our most powerful tools for teaching. President J. Reuben Clark Jr. explained that "[we] are to teach this Gospel using as [our] sources and authorities the Standard Works of the Church and the words of those whom God has called to lead His people in these last days." In this episode Professors Gaye Strathearn and Joe Spencer discuss the power of teaching with the scriptures. They highlight ways teachers can draw knowledge from and incorporate the scriptures into their teaching.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
How does the Holy Ghost assist in our preparation and delivery of lessons? In this episode professors Hank Smith and Ryan Sharp demystify what it means to teach by the Spirit. They discuss ways to invite the Spirit to guide both teachers and learners.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
The Lord has invited, “Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand” (Doctrine & Covenants 88:78, emphasis added). In this episode President Mark L. Pace and Professor Ken Alford discuss resources and methods for organizing ourselves and preparing to teach a lesson.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
Resources
- Teaching in the Savior's Way
- Book of Mormon Art Catalog
- Gospel Art
- BYU Studies
- Religious Studies Center
- Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
- Scripture Citation Index
- The Joseph Smith Papers
How do you prepare and adjust a message to connect with those you are leading? What methods can teachers—from all backgrounds and experiences—use when preparing for different teaching moments? In this episode, sister Emily Belle Freeman and Professor Brad Wilcox discuss tips on knowing and connecting with your audience when preparing and leading lessons.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
What makes powerful gospel teaching? What are the effective elements that any teacher— no matter their training, situation, or personality—can implement so that deepened faith and conversion can happen in the lives of learners? In this episode, brother Chad Webb and Elder Clark Gilbert highlight essential principles and practices that invite the influence of the Spirit of God to foster powerful gospel teaching.
Y Religion Presents: Gospel Teaching is a limited series podcast where, each week during summer 2025, expert teachers share insights that highlight key principles and practices of effective gospel teaching.
President Dallin H. Oaks has taught that “every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is, or will be, a teacher. Each of us has a vital interest in the content and effectiveness of gospel teaching.” How might we prepare ourselves to teach with clarity and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost? In this episode professors John Hilton III and Casey Griffiths introduce “Y Religion Presents,” a special series of weekly episodes on a common theme. The 2025 motif focuses on gospel teaching. In the following eleven episodes, leading experts discuss a variety of approaches, skills, and techniques for teaching—at home or in church—in the Savior’s way. Each episode is intercut with perspectives from two presenters, providing diverse voices, multiple applications, and more holistic approaches to touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of students. Listeners preparing to teach in any capacity can take away new approaches and perspectives as they continue to hone their craft of teaching.
When some elders criticized the language of Joseph Smith’s revelations in 1831, the Lord provided powerful truths in Doctrine and Covenants 67 to strengthen their faith—truths that remain vital for us today. In this podcast, Professor Searle outlines five key principles from the section that can help us build greater trust in prophetic counsel: (1) act on the prophet’s invitations, (2) recognize righteousness within revelations, (3) sincerely seek Jesus Christ, (4) follow the guidance of the Spirit, and (5) move forward in faith. Trusting prophets is crucial for spiritual growth and navigating uncertainty, and learning from the challenges of past can give us greater power to follow the prophet in our day.
Publications:
· “Following Prophets When We Have Questions (Section 67)” in Doctrine and Covenants Insights (Religious Studies Center, 2025).
Click here to learn more about Travis Searle
The John A. Widtsoe Foundation recently introduced the Understanding Our Neighbors series to “foster respect and interfaith dialogue.” In this episode Professor Shon Hopkin, Department Chair of BYU Ancient Scripture, discusses the second book in this series Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors co-written with Rabbi Mark S. Diamond. The book presents guide to understanding the similarities and differences between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and leading Jewish traditions. Professor Hopkin explains how listeners can take away a succinct understanding, reverence, and appreciation for both faiths, their traditions, and their members.
Publications:
- Understanding Our Jewish Neighbors by Rabbi Mark S. Diamond & Professor Shon D. Hopkin, Cedar Fort, 2024
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John A. Widtsoe Foundation website
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“Teaching That Leads to Enduring Conversion,” Religious Educator, 25.3, 2024
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“The Covenant among Covenants: The Abrahamic Covenant and Biblical Covenant Making,” Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022
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“Supersessionism and Latter-day Saint Thought: An Appraisal,” Jared W. Ludlow, Andrew C. Reed, and Shon D. Hopkin, in Understanding Covenants and Communities: Jews and Latter-day Saints in Dialogue, Mark S. Diamond and Andrew C. Reed, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2020
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Opening Isaiah: A Harmony, with Ann N. Madsen, Religious Studies Center, 2018
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Abinadi: He Came Among Them in Disguise, Religious Studies Center, 2018
Click here to learn more about Shon Hopkin
The first witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ were some of his female disciples. Mary Magdalene witnessed the empty tomb and was the first to encounter the risen Savior. Additionally, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other unnamed women, who had come to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus, saw the empty tomb and reported it to the apostles. In this episode, Professor Gaye Strathearn explores the profound impact of the Easter events through the experiences of the women who witnessed the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. She explains how Luke’s narrative, with support from the other Gospels, connects these women to Jesus’s ministry in Galilee and portrays them as dedicated disciples who ministered to Jesus and followed him to Jerusalem. Further, the discussion underscores the women’s loyalty and sacrifice, emphasizing their presence at the Crucifixion and their discovery of the empty tomb. In exploring these narratives, we can increase our knowledge of the enduring hope and faith that the Easter events inspire and add our own witness that “he is risen” (Mark 16:6).
Publications:
- “Women Witnesses of the Easter Events” in He Was Seen: Witnessing the Risen Christ, David M. Calabro and George A. Pierce, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2024.
- "The Chosen's Amplification of Women's Voices in Scripture," in Watching The Chosen: History, Faith, and Biblical Interpretation, Robert K. Gtarcia, Paul Gondreau, Patrick Gray, and Douglas F. Huffman, ed., Eerdmans, 2025.
- “Experiencing the Doctrine of Christ,” Religious Educator, 25.3, 2024.
- Sacred Time: The Sabbath as a Perpetual Covenant, Religious Studies Center, 2023.
- “Discipleship in the Olivet Discourse in Mark’s Gospel,” in “Behold the Lamb of God”: An Easter Celebration, Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Frank F. Judd Jr. , and Thomas A. Wayment, ed., Religious Studies Center, 2008.
- “‘Holiness to the Lord’ and Personal Temple Worship,” Religious Educator, 23.1, 2022.
Click here to learn more about Gaye Strathearn
According to the earliest gospel accounts, on the night before his crucifixion, Jesus dined with his disciples to observe the feast of the Passover and institute what would later become the Christian eucharist (or sacrament). What would it have looked like to sit down with them that night? In this episode, Professor Matthew Grey reassesses the New Testament narratives of the Last Supper, especially its physical setting and manner of dining, by examining modern research on early Jewish dining customs with archaeological data. He challenges traditional views of Jesus and his disciples dining in an affluent upper room with a Roman triclinium (banquet hall), as the event is often depicted in art. Instead, he argues that the meal likely took place in a modest, non-elite home and reflected the lower-class dining practices of the time: sitting on reed mats, sharing cooking pots in clusters of 3—4 individuals, dipping their hands or bread into the shared vessels, and passing around a shared cup of wine. Professor Grey details how examining these new perspectives might help us envision and experience a more accurate understanding of the Last Supper’s historical and social setting as described in the synoptic gospels.
Publications:
- “‘Where May I Eat the Passover with My Disciples?’: Reassessing the Urban Setting, Furnished Room, and Dining Practices of Jesus’s Last Supper,” in Pushing Sacred Boundaries in Early Judaism and the Ancient Mediterranean, Brill, 2023
- A Place Called Gethsemane: Seeing the New Testament Story and Site in its First-Century Context with Richard Holzapfel, Deseret Book, 2025
- “Simon Peter in Capernaum: An Archaeological Survey of the First-Century Village,” in The Ministry of Peter, the Chief Apostle, Religious Studies Center, 2014
Click here to learn more about Matthew Grey
How does understanding the interconnected purposes of the sacrament, as presented in Doctrine & Covenants 27, deepen our appreciation for this sacred ordinance? In this episode Matthew O. Richardson, professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses several key themes and gospel principles related to the ordinance of the sacrament. He presents three specific purposes: remembering the past, specifically the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ; looking forward to future redemption; and providing safety and protection in the present. Further, he discusses the historical context and symbolism of the sacramental emblems and connects them to putting on the armor of God and illustrates its role in providing spiritual protection. In understanding the symbolism of these emblems, we can enhance our worship experience and foster a closer relationship with the Savior.
Publications:
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“Sacramental Connections: Deliverance, Redemption, and Safety (Doctrine & Covenants 27)” originally published in You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants (Religious Studies Center, 2012)
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“We Have Now Received the Atonement” in Shedding Light on the New Testament: Acts—Revelation (Religious Studies Center, 2009)
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“The Savior’s Love” in Our Savior’s Love: Hope & Healing in Christ (Religious Studies Center, 2015)
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“Losing the Sacred Perspective: Social Ethics and Character Development” in Moral Foundations: Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Values (Religious Studies Center, 2008)
Click here to learn more about Matthew O. Richardson
Prior to their exodus west, nearly 90,000 converts journeyed across the seas to join the saints in America. In this episode Fred E. Woods, professor of Church history and doctrine, details the faith and immigration experiences of these saints as he discusses his recent publication Ports to Posts: Latter-day Saints Gathering in the Nineteenth Century. Professor Woods explores the port of Liverpool, England, the main point of embarkment for many converts, examines sailing conditions across the Atlantic for converts and non-converts alike, and details the arrival of these early pioneers into American harbors and the various posts they made contact with along the way. In addition to exploring how these converts gathered unto Zion, Professor Woods shares why so many members left their homelands to “be gathered in unto one place” (Doctrine & Covenants 29:7).
Publications:
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Ports to Posts: Latter-day Saint Gathering in the Nineteenth Century (University of Nebraska Press, 2025)
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Saints by Sea—Latter-day Saint Immigration to America website
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“The Saints of Las Vegas” (Y Religion, episode 82, 2023)
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Bright Lights in the Desert: The Latter-day Saints of Las Vegas (University of Nevada Press, 2023)
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The Latter-day Saint Image in the British Mind (Greg Kofford Books, 2022)
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“The Ascension of Abraham: A Mortal Model for the Climb to Exaltation” (Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022)
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“Conversions, Arrests, and Friendships: A Story of Two Icelandic Police Officers” (Religious Educator, 20.1, 2019)
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Saints of Tonga: A Century of Island Faith (Religious Studies Center, 2019)
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Kalaupapa: The Mormon Experience in an Exiled Community (Religious Studies Center, 2017)
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Sacred and Historical Places Hawai’i: A Guide to LDS Historic Sites in Hawai’i with Mary Jane Woodger and Riley Moffat (Mormon Historic Sites Foundation, 2016)
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“Launching Mormonism in the South Pacific: The Voyage of the Timoleon” in The Growth and Development of Mormon Missionary Work (Religious Studies Center, 2012)
Click here to learn more about Fred E. Woods
In this episode, Dr. Nicholas J. Frederick discusses his article "It’s Not the End of the World; It’s Just the Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation in the Book of Mormon" co-authored with Dr. Joseph M. Spencer. Professor Frederick examines the intricate relationship between the Book of Mormon and the New Testament, particularly focusing on the Book of Revelation, by highlighting key textual allusions, type scenes, and quotations between the two. For example, he compares Nephi’s vision as a variant of the visions recorded in Revelation, reinterpreting and recontextualizing its imagery and language. He details how it stretches the language and imagery of Revelation across a broader historical framework. Further, Dr. Frederick identifies three key revisions that expand our understanding: the reapplication of New Jerusalem imagery to describe Christ’s terrestrial visits, the use of apocalyptic language to depict Christ’s Crucifixion, and the equating of the great and abominable church with the great harlot of Revelation 17—18. These revisions emphasize the significance of Christ’s earthly ministry and death, presenting a typological view of sacred history with pivotal moments of Christ’s sojourn.
Publications:
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“It’s Not the End of the World; It’s Just the Apocalypse: The Book of Revelation in the Book of Mormon” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 63.2, 2024)
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“Section 77 and Book of Revelation Scholarship” (Religious Educator, 22.2, 2021)
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“The Book of Mormon and the Academy” (Religious Educator, 21.2, 2020)
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“The Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament Gospels” (in Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2017)
Click here to learn more about Nicholas J. Frederick.
Contemporary views on marriage and family have changed significantly over time. How much of our understanding of marriage and family is shaped by societal norms versus prophetic guidance? In this episode, professor of Church history and doctrine Michael A. Goodman examines the secular and spiritual context surrounding “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” He discusses how the rise of expressive individualism, the sexual revolution, divorce rates, cohabitation, and other factors have played into the cultural and legal shifts in marriage norms. As he delves into the spiritual context of the proclamation, Professor Goodman outlines how it serves as more than a mere policy statement but a reaffirmation of eternal truths and doctrines.
Publications:
- “The Family Proclamation: The Secular and Spiritual Context” by Michael A. Goodman and W. Justin Dyer (Religious Educator, 24.2, 2023)
- “Religion and Perfectionism” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 63.4, 2024)
- “Individual, family, peer, and religious community predictors of adolescent religious deidentification” by Sam A. Hardy, Russ Amelang, and Michael Goodman (Applied Developmental Science, 2024)
- “Religion and LGBTQ Suicidality: A Systematic Review” (Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 2023)
- “Constancy amid Change: Latter-day Saint Discourse on Gender and Sexuality” by Michael A. Goodman and Daniel Frost (BYU Studies Quarterly, 61.3, 2022)
- “‘Oh Say, What Is Truth?’: Approaches to Doctrine” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 60.3, 2021)
- “‘Line upon Line’: Joseph Smith’s Growing Understanding of the Eternal Family” (Religious Educator, 20.1, 2019)
- “The Influence of Faith on Marital Commitment” in By Divine Design (Religious Studies Center, 2014)
Click here to learn more about Michael A. Goodman
On the day after his Resurrection, the Savior appeared to those who knew him best during his mortal ministry—Mary Magdalene, Cleopas, ten of the apostles, and many other followers. While they saw him physically, they did not recognize him. Instead, they mistook him for a gardener, stranger, passing traveler, and even another prophet, as they misunderstood his role as the Redeemer of Israel or the promised Messiah. Rather than rebuking them, the Savior and ministering angels worked to correct their mistaken expectations by teaching them the true identity of Christ. In this episode, Professor Krystal V. L. Pierce describes how the Resurrected Savior opens the spiritual eyes and minds of his followers and disciples, in ancient and modern times, through visual, audible, and tangible signs and teachings. By learning to identify the spiritual nature of the Savior, we can prepare to see him physically in the Second Coming.
Publications:
- “Seeing, Knowing, and Recognizing the True Identity of Christ” in He Was Seen: Witnessing the Risen Christ (Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, ed. Kenneth L. Alford, Krystal V. L. Pierce, and Mary Jane Woodger (Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “The Tower of Babel, the Jaredites, and the Nature of God” by George A. Pierce and Krystal V. L. Pierce in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- Approaching Holiness: Exploring the History and Teachings of the Old Testament, ed. Krystal V. L. Pierce and David Rolph Seely (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- “The Ger in the Pentateuch and the Book of Mormon: Refugee Treatment under the Mosaic Law” in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- “Egypt and the Egyptians” in Pearl of Great Price Reference Companion (Deseret Book, 2017)
- “Egypt’s New Kingdom” in A Bible Reader’s History of the Ancient World (Religious Studies Center, 2016)
- “The Brazen Serpent as a Symbol of Jesus Christ: A Dichotomy of Benevolence and Admonition” in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2023)
Click here to learn more about Krystal V. L. Pierce
As Professor of Church History and Doctrine Anthony Sweat dropped off a recent painting entitled Jesus of Nazareth, he was met with the response, “That’s not what Jesus looks like.” After a few laughs, Professor Sweat revealed that he intentionally avoided the Euro-centric depiction of Christ. Rather, he implemented elements of Roman Judea men—middle height, honey or olive-colored skin, and shorter black hair and beards. In this episode, Prof. Sweat answers the imperative question that came from this experience, “How do we know the Lord—his characteristics, priorities, doctrines, and commands?” In answering this question, he introduces a four-part study approach from Doctrine and Covenants 19:23 to guide us through our efforts to truly know and understand the Savior. This approach includes the following precepts: Learn of Me (studying the character and nature of Christ), Listen to My Words (analyzing the doctrines, principles, and truths imparted by Jesus), Walk in the Meekness of My Spirit (applying the Savior’s teachings in our lives such as following his commands, directives, and warnings), and Peace in Me (recognizing the peace, comfort, and blessings that come from following him). By using this model in our personal scripture study, we can gain a holistic view of the Savior's character, teachings, commands, and promises, leading us to a deeper and more accurate understanding of him.
Publications:
- “‘Hear Him!’: The Restored Voice of the Lord” from Doctrine and Covenants Insights: Capstone of Doctrinal Understanding (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- Repicturing the Restoration: New Art to Expand Our Understanding (Religious Studies Center, 2020)
- “A Method for Evaluating Latter-day Saint History” (Religious Educator, 21.3, 2020)
- Website: https://www.anthonysweat.com/
Click here to learn more about Anthony Sweat
When BYU professor Casey Paul Griffiths teaches a scripture class, he often concludes the semester by saying, “The end.” But when he finishes a course on the Doctrine and Covenants, he says, “To be continued . . .” This reflects the ongoing nature of revelation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a living church led by the Savior through his prophets. In this episode, Dr. Griffiths discusses the recently released four-volume work, Scripture Central Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants, and draws on insights from the Joseph Smith Papers project, launched in 2005. The project ushered in a “golden age” of Church history, making a wealth of historical documents readily available and creating a need for updated commentary on the revelations given to the early Saints. The Doctrine and Covenants stands as a testament to God’s ongoing work, revealing his tender guidance and care for individuals and the Church collectively. Griffiths emphasizes how the Lord communicates with his children, stating, “What happened anciently in the Old Testament still continues today. . . . The day of miracles is not past.” It reminds us that ours is an open canon—living scripture still being written, with each of us invited to play a part.
Publications:
- The Scripture Central Commentary on the Doctrine and Covenants (Cedar Fort, 2024)
- Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- Truth Seeker: The Life of Joseph F. Merrill, Scientist, Educator, and Apostle (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/bro.griffiths
Click here to learn more about Casey Griffiths
In an address to religious educators, Elder Richard G. Scott taught that “the use of an appealing visual aid can clarify truth.” One platform for accessing such righteous and clarifying images is the Book of Mormon Art Catalog (bookofmormonartcatalog.org). As an open-access repository of visual artwork, inspired by Restoration scripture and Church history, this catalog is a valuable resource for gospel teachers, Church leaders, families, and individuals seeking to visualize the Book of Mormon and other Restoration scripture and events. In this episode Church history and doctrine professor Kenneth L. Alford presents ideas accessing and using images from the catalog. He explains the various search filters available—such as scripture reference, topic, artistic style, etc.—and provides a step-by-step example of how to conduct an image search. Further, he highlights additional resources like videos and blog posts that are available on the website. Using the catalog in our personal scripture study can enhance personal interest in the Book of Mormon while supporting scholarly work on religious art.
Publications:
- “Using the Book of Mormon Art Catalog” (Religious Educator, 25.1, 2024)
- Doctrine and Covenants Insights: Capstone of Doctrinal Understanding (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
- Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life (Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “Seminary Life Preparation Lessons” (Religious Educator, 25.2, 2024)
- Saints at War: The Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq (Religious Studies Center, 2020)
- “A Method for Evaluating Latter-day Saint History” (Religious Educator, 21.3, 2020)
- Latter-day Saints in Washington, DC: History, People, and Places (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
Click here to learn more about Ken Alford
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught “that the book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the key stone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” But what exactly are precepts? And how are those recorded in an ancient record relevant to our lives today? In this episode Church history and doctrine professor Dr. Maclane Heward discusses ways to identify key precepts in the Book of Mormon and intentionally incorporated them into our lives. He examines a micro approach (like verse-by-verse analysis) and a macro approach (such as examining larger sections or entire books for overarching themes) for uncovering and understanding precepts. Further, he shares how applying such precepts can lead to personal growth, increased spiritual understanding, and a deeper sense of purpose and direction. By studying and applying the precepts found in the Book of Mormon, we can strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and develop a closer relationship with him.
Publications:
- “‘Abiding by Its Precepts’: Using Precepts to Draw Closer to Jesus Christ” (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “The Washington D.C. Temple: Mr. Smith’s Church Goes to Washington” (in Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C.: History, People, and Places, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
Click here to learn more about Maclane Heward
Reflecting on the first public interview with Relief Society General President Elaine Jack regarding “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner, professor of Church history and doctrine, and Olivia Osguthorpe uncover and clarify truths and perspectives never before documented and critical to historical accuracy. In the months leading up to the general Relief Society meeting of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Saturday, September 23, 1995, then-General Relief Society Presidency Elaine L. Jack, Aileen H. Clyde, and Chieko Okazaki likely had no idea this meeting would become one of the most impactful and memorable of the twentieth century. For it was in this meeting that President Gordon B. Hinckley presented “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” which outlines the Church’s doctrinal beliefs concerning the family, gender, and marriage. What was the Relief Society President’s role in this critical meeting and decision-making process? Why was the family proclamation delivered at this time, in this meeting, and to this audience? In this episode Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner and Olivia Osguthorpe discuss answers to these questions and more. Through analysis of the journals, personal writings, and interviews with President Jack, Gardner and Osguthorpe provide much needed clarity on the inception and presentation of The Family: A Proclamation to the World.
Barbara Morgan Gardner Publications:
- “Delivering the Family Proclamation: Insights from Former Relief Society President Elaine L. Jack” (Religious Educator, 24.2, 2023)
- “Reanchoring Our Purpose to Jesus Christ” (Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022)
- “Using Section 84 to Emphasize the Priesthood Power of Women” (Religious Educator, 22.2, 2021)
- “‘Line upon Line’: Joseph Smith’s Growing Understanding of the Eternal Family” (in Raising the Standard of Truth, Religious Studies Center, 2020)
Click here to learn more about Barbara Morgan Gardner
Olivia Osguthorpe Publications:
- “Delivering the Family Proclamation: Insights from Former Relief Society President Elaine L. Jack” (Religious Educator, 24.2, 2023)
- “Mentoring: Covenant Women’s Leadership” (Review Magazine, Fall 2024)
Since the organization of the Church, leaders have called for world-wide religious liberty and harmony: “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may” (Articles of Faith 1:11). In this episode, Dr. Joshua M. Sears, associate professor of ancient scripture, details how we might answer the prophetic call to not only love and respect people of different faiths but to also learn from them. He discusses the importance of adapting trustworthy interfaith resources into our spiritual lives. Additionally, he details how to locate and evaluate reliable resources, and describes one ecumenical resource, BibleProject, as an example. Without diluting our doctrinal uniqueness or missionary mandate, we can build strong relationships with our religious neighbors and learn from the truth that is “scattered liberally across the globe” (Elder Christofferson).
Publications:
- “Learning from People of Other Faiths” (Religious Educator, 24.2, 2023)
- Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- “Study Bibles: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints” (Religious Educator, 20.3, 2019)
- “Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon” (Y Religion, episode 86, 2023)
- “Study Bibles for Saints” (Y Religion, episode 35, 2021)
- BibleProject Videos: https://bibleproject.com/explore/
Click here to learn more about Joshua M. Sears
In 3 Nephi 12:1—12 the resurrected Savior delivers an address to the Nephites similar to the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5; Luke 6) and presents the Beatitudes. Like the Matthew 5 account, the Book of Mormon record details how we might enter and build a covenantal relationship with God through the “interrelated and progressive” arrangement of the Beatitudes (Bible Dictionary). But what additional insight does the 3 Nephi account offer that isn’t preserved in the New Testament? In this episode Dr. Brad Wilcox, professor of ancient scripture, discusses his book Blessed Are Ye: Using the Beatitudes to Understand Christ’s Atonement and Grace, co-authored with his brother Roger Wilcox. He details varied interpretations of the Beatitudes, connects them to the first principles and ordinances of the gospel, and examines their relationship to latter-day temple covenants. As we study the Beatitudes, they become more than a code of conduct. Rather, they can be a holy invitation from Christ Himself to enter a covenant relationship with Him, receive His grace, and become like Him.
Publications:
- Blessed Are Ye: Using the Beatitudes to Understand Christ’s Atonement and Grace (Covenant Communications, 2023)
- “His Grace Is Sufficient” (BYU Speeches, 2011)
- Changed through His Grace (Deseret Book, 2017)
- The Continuous Atonement (Deseret Book, 2009)
- Your Patriarchal Blessing (Deseret Book, 2021)
- “Be Not Faithless, but Believing” (Religious Educator, 25.2, 2024)
- “Applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (Religious Educator, 12.2, 2011)
- “Names in the Book of Mormon” (Y Religion, episode 83, 2023)
- “Answers About Patriarchal Blessings” (Y Religion, episode 46, 2021)
Click here to learn more about Brad Wilcox
As Alma mentored his sons in teaching the gospel, he counseled them not only to cultivate qualities such as diligence, temperance, humility, and self-reflection, but to also use “boldness, but not overbearance” (Alma 38:12) as part of their approach. The words boldness, bold, and boldly are used twenty-seven times throughout the Book Mormon, primarily to indicate that a person, or a group of people, have spoken or acted with “courage, daring, fearlessness; confidence, assurance, [and] security” (Oxford English Dictionary Online, OED). On the other hand, overbearance is used only once and seems to mean “to overcome, put down, or repress, as by power, authority, influence, or emotional pressure” (OED). In this episode, Dr. Jan J. Martin, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses Alma’s stylistic teaching advice given to his son Shiblon. She highlights two critical areas of Alma’s methodology: the origin of his prophetic and fatherly counsel for teaching the gospel and his practice of leaning into the Holy Ghost for inspiration on what and how to teach. Alma’s experiences in Ammonihah provide important instruction for anyone with leadership or teaching responsibilities who desire to be bold but not overbearing.
Publications:
· “Use Boldness but Not Overbearance” (Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
· “‘Filthy This Day before God’: Jacob’s Use of Filthy and Filthiness in His Nephite Sermons” (Jacob: Faith and Great Anxiety, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
· “The Prophet Nephi and the Covenantal Nature of ‘Cut Off,’ ‘Cursed,’ ‘Skin of Blackness,’ and ‘Loathsome’” (They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2022)
· The Power of Christ’s Deliverance (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
· “Samuel the Lamanite: Confronting the Wall of Nephite Prejudice” (Samuel the Lamanite: That Ye Might Believe, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
· “The Theological Value of the King Hames Language in the Book of Mormon” (Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 27, 2018)
Click here to learn more about Jan J. Martin
Description
Since the introduction of missionary work in 1830, Saints have used a variety of tools and practices to share the good news of the gospel and bring people unto Christ. Some of the most common methods have included standing on a collapsible soapbox, knocking on doors, using flannel and flip charts to illustrate lessons, sharing slideshows and videos, and utilizing a primary guide, like Preach My Gospel, to teach prepared discussions. The recent introduction of social media and the use of smartphones are two of the latest tools reserved for the youth of this generation as they engage in missionary service. President Harold B. Lee taught that “the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are divine. Nobody changes the principles and [doctrine] of the Church except the Lord by revelation. But methods change as the inspired direction comes to those who preside at a given time.” In this episode Dr. Scott L. Howell, assistant teaching professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses the recent shifts in methodology for the gathering of Israel. He provides insight on how the youth might craft their digital dossiers prior to their service, details safeguards for using technology before, during, and after missionary service, and previews a number of phone apps and Church resources for engaging with the gospel online. In melding traditional and modern approaches, we can further the reach of this marvelous work and wonder.
Publications:
· “‘Knocking on People’s Computers’: Missionary Work in the Digital Age” (Religious Educator, 23.3, 2022)
· “Preparing Missionaries in the Digital Age” (Liahona, February 2023)
· “Same Purpose, New Approach: A Case Study of the North Dakota Bismarck Mission using Social Media during COVID-19” (BYU ScholarsArchive, Faculty Publications, 6153, 2022)
· “‘How Beautiful Are the Feet’: The Use of Footnotes in General Conference Reports” (Religious Educator, 24.2, 2023)
· “The Diachronic Usage of Exclamation Marks Across the Major Book of Mormon Editions” (Interpreter, 53, 2022)
Click here to learn more about Scott L. Howell
Since its release on September 23, 1995, The Family: A Proclamation to the World has become a needed doctrinal anchor during a time of confusion and opposition regarding the centrality of the family. In this episode Dr. Byran B. Korth, professor and associate department chair of Church history and doctrine, discusses his article on the divine origin and inception of the family proclamation and details its inextricable connection to seership and revelation. “But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed . . . ” (Mosiah 8:17). Dr. Korth discusses the revelatory process used by prophets and seers to craft the proclamation precept upon precept during the nearly year-long process. Additionally, he explains two profound truths about the proclamation: first, that it serves as a response to the rise of the antifamily movement at world conferences of the United Nations in the latter quarter of the twenty-first century, and second, that it was divinely designed by the Lord’s watchmen to declare to the world the role of the family in God’s plan.
Publications:
- “Seership and World Conferences: The Divine Origin and Inception of the Family Proclamation” (in Religious Educator, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2023)
- “Staying by the Tree of Life” (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “Becoming as Little Children: Participating in the Household of God” (in The Household of God: Families and Belonging in the Social World of the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2022)
- “The How and What of Modern Religious Transmission and Its Implications for Families” (Journal of Family Psychology, 35.4, 2021)
- “Parents Teaching Children to Believe in Christ: ‘An Echo of a Celestial Pattern’” (in Give Ear to My Words: Text and Context of Alma 36 – 42, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
- “Joseph Smith’s 1839 – 40 Visit to Washington” (in Latter-day Saints in Washington, D.C.: History, People, and Places, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
Click here to learn more about Byran Korth
The title Jesus preferred to use for himself more than any other in the New Testament Gospels was “Son of Man.” According to the Bible Dictionary, this title was used approximately eighty times in the Gospels and used exclusively by the Savior to reference himself. “And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath” (Luke 6:5). But why would this simple descriptor be chosen as a majestic title of the Lord? In this episode Dr. Jared W. Ludlow, professor of ancient scripture and publications director of the Religious Studies Center, answers this question and provides greater insight to the eschatological context by discussing his article, “‘One Like the Son of Man Came with the Clouds of Heaven’: The Context and Influence of the Son of Man Prophecy in Daniel 7.” Professor Ludlow outlines the characteristics of apocalyptic literature within the book of Daniel, deconstructs the elements of the Son of Man prophecy, and connects both to Restoration scripture and the teachings of early Church leaders. In examining this work, we might learn ways to prepare and pray for the building up of God’s eternal kingdom.
Publications:
· “‘One Like the Son of Man Came with the Clouds of Heaven’: The Context and Influence of the Son of Man Prophecy in Daniel 7” (in Religious Educator, 24.1, 2023)
· “The Influence of the Figure of Moses in the Book of Mormon” (in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2022)
· “Enoch in the Old Testament and Beyond” (in From Creation to Sinai: The Old Testament through the Lens of the Restoration, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
· “Alma’s Loving Counsel to His Sons about the Law of Justice” (in Give Ear to My Words: Text and Context of Alma 36—42, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
Click here to learn more about Jared W. Ludlow
Ancient and latter-day prophets have often testified of the importance of gospel-centered parenting. King Benjamin once taught, “But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another” (Mosiah 4:15). President Russell M. Nelson has exclaimed, “No other work transcends that of righteous, intentional parenting!” In this episode Dr. Mark D. Ogletree, professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses a critical branch in gospel-centered parenting: intentional fatherhood. Professor Ogletree outlines the characteristics and attributes of intentional fatherhood—principles that apply to all parents and mentors—by examining Alma’s counsel with Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton. Alma exemplifies a pattern of intentional behaviors as he testifies of the Savior and the truthfulness of the gospel, teaches his sons their ancestry, sets a righteous example and leaves the past behind him, offers individual counsel and praise to each son, calls his children to repentance, and teaches them true doctrine. Modern parents will be inspired on how to teach, direct, and interact with their children as they study the teachings of Alma 36–42.
Publications:
- “Alma as an Intentional Father” (in Give Ear to My Words: Text and Context of Alma 36-42, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
- Beyond the Honeymoon: 25 Questions and Answers About Marital Intimacy (Ogletree, Pistorius, & Brinley, Covenant Communications, 2024)
- Heaven Is Cheering You On: Spiritual Survival in the Last Days (Cedar Fort, 2024)
- The Making of a Man: A Guide to Raising Strong, Resilient Sons (2023)
- Babysitters are Cheaper than Divorces: And Other Lessons I Hope I Have Passed Down to My Children (2022)
- So You’re In Love, Now What? 20 Q&A to Help You Make the Marriage Decision (Deseret Book, 2022)
- No Other Success: The Parenting Practices of David O. McKay (Religious Studies Center, 2017)
- “The Fathering Practices of Joseph F. Smith” (in Joseph F. Smith: Reflections on the Man and His Times, Religious Studies Center, 2013)
- Preserving Families Podcast: https://preservingfamilies.org/episodes
- Stand By My Servants Podcast: https://www.standbymyservants.com/episodes
- Personal Website: https://www.markogletree.com/
Click here to learn more about Mark Ogletree
Throughout the Book of Mormon, the Savior pronounces fifty-three “I am” statements as he details his purpose and declares his divine identity. In 2 Nephi 29: 8 – 9 he explains that he does so for a particular reason, “Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. […]. And I do this that I may prove unto many thatI amthe same yesterday, today, and forever […]” (emphasis added). In this next episode Dr. Joshua M. Matson, assistant professor of ancient scripture, discusses his recent article “Coming to Know Christ through the ‘I Am’ Statements in the Book of Mormon” and explains the significant presence of these statements in the Bible and Restoration scriptures. He outlines how the Savior utilizes two forms of “I am” statements—metaphorical(depicting what he does) and absolute (his titles or depicting who he is)—throughout the scriptures to proclaim his role and character. Professor Matson explains that the “I am” statements in the Book of Mormon serve as another witness of Jesus Christ, alongside similar “I am” statements presented in the Old and New Testaments, and that they are spoken by both the premortal Jehovah and the resurrected Jesus Christ. In studying the “I am” statements we may come to know the Savior in his own words and through his own perspective.
Publications
- “Coming to Know Christ through the ‘I Am’ Statements in the Book of Mormon” (in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- Essential Tools for Interpreting the New Testament (BYU Studies, 2024)
- “The Fourth Gospel and Expectations of the Jewish Messiah” (in Thou Art the Christ, the Son of the Living God: The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2018)
- “Covenants, Kinship, and Caring for the Destitute in the Book of Amos” (in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- “From Jewish King to Islamic Prophet: Interreligious Conversations about Solomon in Antique Jewish and Islamic Literature” (in The Journal of the School of Religious Studies, Vol. 48, McGill University, 2020
- Personal Website https://joshuammatson.com/
Click here to learn more about Joshua M. Matson
In 3 Nephi and Moroni, the resurrected Savior provides specific directions to the Nephites regarding four rituals: baptism by immersion, the bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost, communal prayer, and the sacrament. Why were such rituals important to the Savior and his ministry among the Nephites? How can understanding these teachings help us with our discipleship in the latter days? In this episode Dr. David Calabro, visiting assistant professor of ancient scripture, answers these questions in discussing his chapter “Jesus Christ as a Revealer of Ordinances in the Book of Mormon” from I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon. Professor Calabro briefly compares the New Testament and Book of Mormon depictions of these rituals and highlights how the Nephite record more fully depicts the Savior’s character as a generous giver of blessings. He explains how, as a revealer of ordinances in the Book of Mormon, the Savior both presents the actions and wording of each ritual and explains with great emphasis the blessings associated with each ordinance. In understanding and applying these rituals, we, like the Nephites, may approach the living Christ and gain an experiential witness of him.
Publications:
- “Jesus Christ as a Revealer of Ordinances in the Book of Mormon” (in I Glory In My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- He Was Seen: Witnessing the Risen Christ (Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “Disability and Social Justice in Ancient Israelite Culture” (in Covenant of Compassion: Caring for the Marginalized and Disadvantaged in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
- “Nonverbal Communication in the New Testament” (in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
- “‘Stretch Forth Thy Hand and Prophesy’: Hand Gestures in the Book of Mormon” (in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 2012)
- "Joseph Smith and the Architecture of Genesis" (in The Temple: Ancient and Restored, Eborn Books, 2016)
- "Lehi's Dream and the Garden of Eden" (in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, 2017)
- "An Early Christian Context for the Book of Moses" (in Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses: Inspired Origins, Temple Contexts, and Literary Qualities, Eborn Books, 2021)
Click here to learn more about David Calabro
“Latter-day Saints believe in the pursuit of truth through ‘study and faith’ and are thus not opposed to intellectual examination of scripture” (Dr. David R. Seely). One way we might examine the scriptures is through the use of biblical criticism, or historical criticism, an approach regularly used by biblical scholars to assess the meaning of a text—it's original context, audience, and authorship. In this episode Dr. Jason Combs, associate professor of ancient scripture, discussed his chapter “Historical Criticism of the Bible among the Latter-day Saints.” He outlines the history of biblical criticism and explains how it may serve as a tool to aid our scripture study. Further, Dr. Combs details how such approaches may provide a more well-rounded vision of the scriptures, especially in studying the Old and New Testaments and comparing multiple accounts of the same events. In doing so we should balance biblical criticism with the application of scriptures and the gospel to our daily lives.
Publications
- Jason Robert Combs, “Historical Criticism of the Bible among the Latter-day Saints” (in The Bible and the Latter-day Saint Tradition, eds. Taylor G. Petrey, Cory Crawford, and Eric A. Eliason (Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 2023), 202–16.).Used courtesy of the University of Utah Press.
- Jason R. Combs, et al., eds. Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints (Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2022)
- “‘Christ’ after the Apostles: The Humanity and Divinity of the Savior in the Second Century” (in Thou Art the Christ, the Son of the Living God: The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2018)
- Professional Website, https://www.jasonrobertcombs.com/
- “A Modern Perspective on Ancient Christians” (Y Religion, episode 70, 2022)
- “The Humanity and Divinity of Jesus Christ” (Y Religion, episode 37, 2021)
Click here to learn more about Jason Combs
In his October 2021 general conference talk President Ballard expressed, “We must always remember that our true happiness depends upon our relationship with God, with Jesus Christ, and with each other.” How do we build and shape these relationships? In this episode assistant professor of Church history and doctrine Brian Mead discusses his article “The Important Role of Relationships in Our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation.” Dr. Mead defines doctrinal and relational approaches to the Plan of Salvation and examines how they strengthen our understanding of eternal relationships. Further, he addresses how using a relational approach to teach the Plan of Salvation aids in answering a number of why questions: Why do we need a mortal experience? Why must we repent? Why do we need a Savior? Such an approach builds upon our personal understanding and connections to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, family, and others.
Publications:
· “The Important Role of Relationships in Our Heavenly Father’s Plan of Salvation” (Religious Educator, 23.3, 2022)
Click here to learn more about Brian Mead
For thousands of years the Sabbath as an institution has remained a core aspect of religious life, and people have constantly fought to keep it holy. The prophet Isaiah declared the Sabbath “a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable” (Isaiah 58:13). How can we observe the Sabbath and keep it holy? How might rituals of neighboring religions inform Latter-day Saint experiences with making the Sabbath a delight? In this episode Dr. Andrew Reed, associate professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses his chapter “‘The Erosion of Sabbath Worship Is Now Extensive’: The Imperative to Learn Holiness from Other Religious Traditions.” Dr. Reed presents an interfaith approach for slowing the erosion of Sabbath worship. He outlines efforts by religious communities to reengage believers with the Sabbath (including thinking about the secular), analyzes the ways both Jews and Christians think about sacred time, and examines potential applications for Latter-day Saints.
Click here to learn more about Andrew Reed
Publications:
· “‘The Erosion of Sabbath Worship is Now Extensive’: The Imperative to Learn Holiness from Other Religious Traditions” (in Sacred Time: The Sabbath as a Perpetual Covenant, Religious Studies Center, 2023)
· “The Influence of Rose Marie Reid” (Y Religion Podcast, episode 21, December 2020)
· “A History of the Jewish—Latter-day Saint Academic Dialogue” (in Understanding Covenants and Communities: Jews and Latter-day Saints in Dialogue, Religious Studies Center, 2020)
· “Framing the Restoration and Gathering: Orson Hyde and Early Mormon Understandings of Israel, Jew, and the Second Coming” (in Foundations of the Restoration: Fulfillment of the Covenant Purposes, Religious Studies Center, 2016)
According to a 2023 U.S. News & World Report, Utah’s economy continuously ranks first across all 50 states. Experts have even deemed the state’s noteworthy economic growth, strong business climates, and high rates of economic mobility a miracle. But what are the major contributing factors for this “Utah economic miracle”? In this episode Dr. Jenet Erickson, associate professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine, and Dr. Jason Carroll, family initiative director of the Wheatly Institute and a professor in the School of Family Life, discuss one of the strongest predictors of state economic success: strong families. In examining the “Utah family miracle,” they detail the foundation of strong, resilient relationships and highlight which factors make relationships more fragile. They emphasize how the blessings of religion help us develop the characteristics and virtues to strengthen relationships and marriages.
Click here to learn more about Jenet Erickson and here to learn more about Jason Carroll
Jenet Erickson Publications:
· “The Utah Family Miracle: Five Policy Ideas to Keep Utah Families Strong and Stable” (Sutherland Institute & Institute for Family Studies Policy Publication, 2023)
· “The Complementary Nature of Mothers and Fathers” (Y Religion, episode 48, year)
· “Motherhood: Restoring Clarity and Vision in a World of Confusing Messages” (in By Divine Design, Religious Studies Center, 2014)
· “Homeward Bound: The Work-Family Resent in Post-Covid America” (Institute for Family Studies, 2021)
Jason Carroll Publications
· “The Soulmate Trap: Why Embracing Agency-Based Love is the Surest Path to Creating a Flourishing Marriage” (Wheatley Institute, 2024)
· “A Not-So-Good Faith Estimate: Why Many Studies Underestimate the Full Benefits of Religion” (Wheatley Institute, 2022)
· “A True Temple Marriage” (BYU-Idaho Devotional, BYU-Idaho Speeches, 19 March 2024)
· The Marriage Compass (BYU Academic Publishing, 2018)
The word anxiety (or anxious) is used nine times in the Book of Mormon, and it appears in both positive and negative forms. In the positive form it refers to something more akin to “eagerness” (see Mosiah 29:38 and 3 Nephi 3:3), whereas the negative refers more to “uncertainty” or “troubling fear” (see 2 Nephi 1:16 and Mosiah 28:12). Of the seven negative references, four are penned by the prophet Jacob, including one in which he couples “great anxiety” with the counterbalancing attribute of “faith” (see Jacob 1:5). In this episode Dr. Jared Halverson, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses the mental, emotional, and spiritual issues related to anxiety as explained in the life and teachings of Jacob. Professor Halverson closely examines Jacob’s writings on the anxiety born of adversity (trauma), anxiety due to responsibility (pastoral perfectionism), and anxiety over one’s standing before God (scrupulosity). In analyzing Jacob’s words, we can find counsel and compassion, whether we struggle with anxiety or are anxious to support those who do.
Click here to learn more about Jared Halverson
Publications:
· “‘Because of Faith and Great Anxiety’: Jacob and the Challenges of Mental Health” (in Jacob: Faith and Great Anxiety, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
· “Protecting Our Strengths: Alma’s Counsel to Shiblon” (in Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
· “The Way, the Truth, and the Way to Truth: Harmony in Pursuit of Orthodoxy” (in I Glory in My Jesus: Understanding Christ in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2024)
· “Swine’s Blood and Broken Serpents: The Rejection and Rehabilitation of Worship in the Old Testament” (in Ascending the Mountain of the Lord: Temple, Praise, and Worship in the Old Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2013)
· “Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision as Apocalyptic Literature” (in The Things Which My Father Saw: Approaches to Lehi’s Dream and Nephi’s Vision, Religious Studies Center, 2011)
· “Of Soils and Souls: The Parable of the Sower” (in Religious Educator, 9.3, 2008)
As we prepare for the Easter season and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we often sing the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” But what if we temporarily shift our focus from rejoicing that the Redeemer lives to rejoicing in how he lived for us? In this episode Professor Tyler J. Griffin, associate dean of Religious Education, discusses his article “I Know That My Redeemer Lived” from The Power of Christ’s Deliverance. He emphasizes how everything the Savior did and said in his day-to-day life was focused on helping others and doing God’s will. In recounting Christ’s service and miracles, trials and tribulations, and Crucifixion and Resurrection, Professor Griffin illustrates how the Savior chose to live each day for us. Ultimately, knowing how Christ lived for us can empower us to emulate his example and become more like him.
Click here to learn more about Tyler J. Griffin
Publications:
· “I Know That My Redeemer Lived” (in The Power of Christ’s Deliverance, Religious Studies Center, 2022)
· “Matthew’s Portrayal of Jesus: Son of David, a New Moses, and Son of God” (in The Person and Work of Jesus in the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2018)
· “The Great Plan of Happiness: A Christ-Centered Visual Approach” (Religious Educator, 18.1, 2017)
· “Nephi: An Ideal Teacher of Less-Than-Ideal Students” (Religious Educator, 13.2, 2012)
· “Jerusalem, the Holy City: A Virtual Tour of the City in the New Testament Period” (in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
· “Visualizing the People, Places, and Plates of the Book of Mormon” (BYU Religious Education Review, Fall 2019)
· “The Jaredite Journey: A Symbolic Reflection of Our Own Journey along the Covenant Path” (in Illuminating the Jaredite Records, Religious Studies Center, 2020)
In John 11:35 we learn that “Jesus wept” with Mary and Martha as they mourned the loss of their brother Lazarus. Like the Savior, we too might experience “the sting of death” (Mosiah 16:7-8) as we bereave our loved ones. In this episode, Professor Hank R. Smith, associate teaching professor of ancient scripture, discusses his article “Mourning with Hope” from the anthology Learn of Me: History and Teachings of the New Testament. He examines how we can mourn with hope as we navigate the sorrows of death and exercise faith and hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Click here to learn more about Hank R. Smith
Publications:
· “Mourning with Hope” (in Learn of Me: History and Teachings of the New Testament, Religious Studies Center, 2022)
· followHIM Podcast
· “The Role of Trust in Religious Education” (Religious Educator, 14.2, 2013)
· “Cache Cave: Utah’s First Register” (in Far Away in the West: Reflections on the Mormon Pioneer Trail, Religious Studies Center, 2015)
Some 150 voices unite in the Book of Mormon to provide a clear witness of the Savior Jesus Christ. What insights might we gain from examining their distinctive voices? And what meaning can studying unique voices of the past lend to our lives today? In this episode BYU professor of Ancient Scripture John Hilton III answers such questions in discussing his recent book Voices in the Book of Mormon—Discovering Distinctive Witnesses of Jesus Christ. Dr. Hilton details some of the linguistic characteristics of major speakers, from Nephi and Mormon to Jacob and Jesus Christ. He also explains how voices speak in harmony, especially as later prophets use teachings from their predecessors. Finally, Dr. Hilton asks us to consider applying Elder Boyd K. Packer’s question, “therefore, what?” as we examine who is speaking, to whom, and for what purpose, and how such unique voices might teach principles relevant to our lives.
Publications:
- Voices in the Book of Mormon—Discovering Distinctive Witnesses of Jesus Christ (Religious Studies Center, 2024)
- “Textual Similarities in the World of Abinadi and Alma’s Counsel to Corianton” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 51.2, 2012)
- “Samuel and His Nephite Sources” (BYU Studies Quarterly, 56.3, 2017)
- “Remembering Christ’s Blood Which Was Shed” (Religious Educator, 23.3, 2022)
- “The Isaiah Map: An Approach to Teaching Isaiah” (Religious Educator, 21.1, 2020)
- “Abinadi’s Legacy: Tracing His Influence through the Book of Mormon” (in Abinadi, Religious Studies Center, 2018)
Click here to learn more about John Hilton III
Elder M. Russell Ballard expressed, “It is important to be still and listen and follow the Spirit. We simply have too many distractions to capture our attention, unlike any time in the history of the world.” The Restoration began with a young boy who sought stillness in a sacred grove, and President David O. McKay taught that meditation is one of the “most secret, most sacred doors” through which we come to know God. How can more stillness and mindful presence deepen our experience of intimacy with God, ourselves, and one another? In this episode, Professor Ty Mansfield discusses his book The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints, coauthored with Jacob Z. Hess, Carrie Skarda, and Kyle Anderson, and outlines ways we might balance anxious engagement with intentional stillness. Dr. Mansfield discusses methods for implementing mindfulness into our daily lives and how such practices can deepen our conversion to the gospel and prepare us to receive more of the healing and enabling power of Jesus Christ.
Publications:
· The Power of Stillness: Mindful Living for Latter-day Saints (Deseret Book, 2019)
· In the Image of our Heavenly Parents: A Couple’s Guide to Creating a More Divine Marriage (D Street Press, 2022)
· Voices of Hope: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Same-Gender Attraction—An Anthology of Gospel Teachings and Personal Essays (Deseret Book, 2011)
· In Quiet Desperation: Understanding the Challenge of Same-Gender Attraction (Deseret Book, 2004)
· “Homosexuality and the Gospel” (in A Reason for Faith, Religious Studies Center, 2016)
Click here to learn more about Ty Mansfield
Amid nationwide calls for increasing mental health services for students, researchers recommend increasing teacher training to support student mental well-being in the classroom. In his book Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom, coauthored with Steven V. Hunsaker and Bonnie Moon, Professor Rob Eaton offers practical tips for teachers to design courses and teach students in ways that reduce unnecessary stress while boosting learning for all students. These techniques allow teachers–without adding to their workloads or duplicating campus services—to better support the unique needs of each student and maintain the academic rigor of the course. Professor Eaton explains that such small, deliberate changes to our course design can enhance the learning environment, increase student retention, and strengthen participation for all students. In taking such actions, we move forward measures to destigmatize mental health challenges, provide students with an environment to thrive, and enhance our abilities to teach in the Savior’s way.
Publications:
- Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom (West Virginia University Press, 2023)
- “What Happens When Students Have More Chances to Master Concepts” (Inspiring Minds Newsletter, Harvard University, 2024)
- “Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” (Teaching in Higher Ed Podcast, Episode 422, 2022)
- “Improving Learning and Mental Health” (Tea for Teaching Podcast, Episode 275, 2023)
- “A Look at Improving Learning and Mental Health in the College Classroom” (Social Learning Amplified Podcast, Episode 13, 2023)
- I Will Lead You Along: The Life of Henry B. Eyring (Deseret Book, 2013)
- Extremes: How to Keep Your Virtues from Becoming Vices (Deseret Book, 2008)
- “The Case for Student Participation” (Religious Educator, 9.2, 2008)
Click here to learn more about Rob Eaton
The prophet Ammon declared that “God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles” (Mosiah 8:18). A marvelous work and a wonder during the Restoration was the translation of the Book of Mormon. But how exactly did this translation take place? Why do critics and believers debate various theories? In this episode, Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat, associate professor of Church history and doctrine, discusses his book Let’s Talk about the Translation of the Book of Mormon, coauthored with Dr. Michael Hubbard MacKay. He explains why conflicting theories exist, demystifies the translation process by analyzing witness and scribe accounts, and details the Prophet Joseph’s own depiction of the miraculous translation of the Book of Mormon.
Publications:
Let’s Talk about the Translation of the Book of Mormon (Deseret Book, 2023)
· From Darkness unto Light: Joseph Smith’s Translation and Publication of the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2015)
· “Firsthand Witness Accounts of the Translation Process” (in The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2015)
· “Joseph Smith’s Negotiations to Publish the Book of Mormon” (in The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2015)
· “Lost Teachings of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and Other Church Leaders” (in The Council of Fifty, Religious Studies Center, 2017)
Click here to learn more about Professor Gerrit Dirkmaat
As the only named Lamanite called to prophesy unto the Nephites, Samuel serves as a memorable figure in the Book of Mormon. Not only did he risk his life to preach repentance unto the Nephites from the wall of Zarahemla, but he also detailed vital signs of the birth and death of Jesus Christ. In this episode, Dr. Frank Judd Jr. discusses his chapter “Samuel the Lamanite and Prophecies Fulfilled,” from the Book of Mormon Academy volume Samuel the Lamanite—That Ye Might Believe. Professor Judd discusses Samuel’s prophecies of the Savior and a possible connection with the Joseph Smith Translation. These signs were so crucial to our understanding of these events that the resurrected Lord commanded Nephi to include all of them in the record (see 3 Nephi 23:9—13). In studying these words, we “might have glad tidings” (Helaman 13:7) unto our souls much like Samuel intended.
Publications:
· “Samuel the Lamanite and Prophecies Fulfilled” (in Samuel the Lamanite—That Ye Might Believe, Religious Studies Center, 2021)
· For Professor Judd’s other publications, please see his Religious Studies Center author profile here
Click here to learn more about Frank Judd Jr.
While most church history sites provide guided tours or historical markers for visitors, some contain little to no information. Yet where might we turn for more insight on these locations? How can we engage with these living sites and gain a witness of the Restoration? Dr. Mary Jane Woodger and her colleagues answer such questions in the book series Search, Ponder, and Pray: A Guide for Travel and Studies. In this episode, Dr. Woodger discusses the power that comes from being in church history sites. She shares how to use mini devotionals to think, talk, and learn about these locations like a church historian, and she details how such works can complement the resources and activities provided at each of these holy places.
Publications:
· “The London Missionary Society in the Cook Island: Restricting Religious Freedom” (in Religious Liberty and Latter-day Saints: Historical and Global Perspectives, Religious Studies Center, 2023)
· “Time and Intensity: Growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Greece” (Religious Educator, 23.2, 2022)
· “Praying a Mission into Existence: Frantiska ‘Mamousek’ Vesela Brodilova” (Religious Educator, 18.2, 2017)
· “Abraham Lincoln and the Mormons” (in Civil War Saints, Religious Studies Center, 2012)
· “Building the One Hundredth Temple: A Test Case of Religious Freedom in New England” (in Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: The New England States, Religious Studies Center, 2004)
Search, Ponder, and Pray: Missouri Church History Travel Guide (Cedar Fort, 2023)
Search, Ponder, and Pray: New England Church History Travel Guide (Cedar Fort, 2023)
Click here to learn more about Professor Mary Jane Woodger
While Isaiah taught many precious truths about the life and Atonement of Jesus Christ, his teachings were anything but plain and simple. But what approaches can we take to engage with complex passages of scripture? In “‘Except Some Man Should Guide Me’: Studying Isaiah with Nephi and Jacob,” Ryan Sharp, professor of ancient scripture, outlines the divine role the Book of Mormon prophets play in understanding Isaiah. Nephi wrote, “For I will liken [Isaiah’s] words unto my people” (2 Nephi 11:2). In this episode, Dr. Sharp outlines Nephi and Jacob’s pedagogy, naming their three-step approach as the setup, the passages, and the follow-up. In addition, he explains how to apply the method in our own scripture study. In following this model, our souls may also delight in the words of Isaiah.
Publications:
· “Helping Students Rely on the Redeemer” (Religious Educator, 13.1, 2012)
· Meeting Christ in the Book of Mormon (Amazon.com)
· “Gentiles in the Book of Mormon” (Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, 33, 2019)
· “Alma, Ambiguity, and the Development of Doctrinal Understanding” (in Give Ear to My Words, Religious Studies Center, 2019)
Click here to learn more about professor Ryan H. Sharp
As World War II loomed in the Central Pacific, the islands of Micronesia served as strategic battlefields between Axis and Allied forces. But how did these isles transform so quickly from war-ravaged lands to sacred temple grounds? The prophet Jacob foretold, “Great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea” (2 Nephi 10:21). In this episode, BYU Religious Studies Center executive editor R. Devan Jensen discusses his recent book Battlefields to Temple Grounds: Latter-day Saints in Guam and Micronesia, coedited by Rosalind Meno Ram. Brother Jensen highlights how Latter-day Saint servicemen and humanitarian workers arrived during and after the war, planting the branches that would expand the global presence of the Church and fulfill revelation and promise.
Publications:
- Battlefields to Temple Grounds (Religious Studies Center, 2023)
- “Thirty Years of Pioneers on Pohnpei, Micronesia” (Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: The Pacific Isles, 2008)
Click here to learn more about executive editor R. Devan Jensen
After four years of hosting and producing, Anthony Sweat is handing the podcast’s reins over to his friend and colleague, John Hilton III. In this bonus episode, John interviews Anthony about the inception of the podcast, who has contributed to its creation, what goes into each episode, and the reach of the podcast. They conclude by talking about future directions for the podcast, and Anthony’s testimony of the Lord’s work.
After translating and publishing The Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith was inspired to embark on a Bible translation project to restore “many plain and precious parts” (see 1 Nephi 13:28) that had been lost throughout time. But how was this work accomplished? How has this translation of Genesis 1:1—Genesis 6:13 been received by early and modern Church members? In this episode, professor of ancient scripture Aaron P. Schade discusses his recent publication The Book of Moses: From the Ancient to the Latter Days, co-authored with Professor Matthew L. Bowen. Professor Schade describes the revelatory translation process, highlights its historicity in the Doctrine and Covenants, and examines how the Book of Moses transcends time and continues to influence Church members today.
Publications:
The Book of Moses: From the Ancient of Days to the Latter Days (RSC/Deseret Book, 2021)
Summary write up of The Book of Moses: From the Ancient of Days to the Latter Days (Review Magazine, 2022)
Click here to learn more about professor Aaron Schade
In July 1835, members of the Church donated money to acquire four Egyptian mummies and a collection of papyrus scrolls from a traveling exhibition. Through revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith identified that one scroll contained “the writings of Abraham.” But what do we know about the history and context of the papyri? How was it translated? Why was it important for God to reveal the history of Abraham? In this episode, Professor Kerry Muhlestein, an Egyptologist and Abrahamic scholar, discusses his recent book Let’s Talk about the Book of Abraham. He highlights stories of the Book of Abraham, examines the common criticism of authenticity and translation of the papyri, and offers ways to examine the divine text on our own.
Publications:
Let’s Talk About the Book of Abraham (Deseret Book, 2022)
A Guide to the Book of Abraham (BYU Studies, 2023)
Click here to learn more about professor Kerry Muhlestein
In the Bible, the prophet Nathan used a story about lambs to help King David recognize his errors with Bathsheba. Why did he take that approach rather than being direct? In this episode, Dr. Stephan Taeger shares his research on the power of teaching using the concept of “distance” in stories to help learners recognize truth and overcome self-deception, leading to positive Christ-like change.
Publications:
“Alive to the Other: Using Distance to Help Listeners Overcome Self-Deception” (Homiletic, 2023)
“Using Narrative Distance to Invite Transformative Learning Experiences” (Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 2020)
“Using Elements of Narrative to Engage Students” (Religious Educator, 2015)
Click here to learn more about professor Stephan Taeger
Do members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have better, the same, or worse mental health when compared to members of other religions, or those of no religion? Despite some popular narratives, what does peer-reviewed academic research find? In this episode, professor Justin Dyer takes us into what the collective scholarly publications between 2005-2022 have to say on this important subject, and the reasons why more active Latter-day Saints tend to have better mental health.
Publications:
“Religion, Mental Health, and the Latter-Day Saints: A Review of Literature 2005–2022” (Religions, 2023)
“Perspective: What 18 years of research tells us about the mental health of Latter-day Saints” (Deseret News, 2023)
“Perspective: Faith is a factor in good mental health. Why are so many people unable to see this?” (Deseret News, 2023)
“Choosing Christ’s Light Burden” (BYU Devotional, 2023)
Click here to learn more about professor Justin Dyer
About one third of the book of Isaiah is quoted in the Book of Mormon. A challenge can arise, however, with what is known as Deutero-Isaiah. This is a theory that there were additional authors who wrote portions of Isaiah after Lehi and his family fled Jerusalem with the brass plates. Because the Book of Mormon quotes from these portions, some have thought that these quotations are out of place. In this episode, professor Joshua Sears summarizes Latter-day Saint approaches to Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon.
Publications:
“Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon: Latter-day Saint Approaches” in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon (RSC, 2022)
Click here to learn more about professor Joshua Sears
Readers often approach the Book of Mormon spiritually, seeking for inspiration and application, or apologetically to know or defend its truthfulness. Those are excellent and needful ways to approach the text. But they aren’t the only ways. The Book of Mormon can also be approached narratively, literarily, theologically, historically, politically, or socially, to name a few. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Spencer guides listeners into the current world of Book of Mormon studies and the myriad ways the inspired text can, and should be, explored.
Publications: Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide (RSC/Deseret Book, 2022)
Click here to learn more about professor Joseph Spencer
"Mother" is a role that takes on many forms as women guide and nurture the human family. While many of us have mother figures we admire in the present day, what about our motherly role models from the past? In this episode, Professor Avram Shannon from the BYU department of ancient scripture and his wife Thora Shannon examine the examples of several mother figures in the Old Testament, how these women shaped and blessed the whole human family and the House of Israel--and why their examples are crucial for us today.
Publications: “Models of Motherhood: Expansive Mothering in the Old Testament” (Religious Educator, 2022)
Click here to learn more about professor Avram Shannon
Lehi, Nephi, Amalickiah, Korihor—These are just a few of the many names readers encounter in the Book of Mormon. Just where did these names come from? Research has shown that individuals have certain naming preferences. If Joseph Smith were making up the Book of Mormon, would its names reflect natural naming preferences and patterns? In this Episode, professor Brad Wilcox takes us into his decade of research on this subject and its fascinating findings.
Publications:
“Book of Mormon Names: A Collection that Defies Expectation“ in Perspectives on Latter-day Saint Names and Naming (Routledge, 2023)
“Comparing Phonemic Patterns in Book of Mormon Personal Names with Fictional and Authentic Sources: An Exploratory Study” (Interpreter, 2019)
“Identifying Authors by Phonoprints in Their Characters’ Names: An Exploratory Study,” (Names: A Journal of Onomastics, 2013)
“188 Unexplainable Names: Book of Mormon Names No Fiction Writer Would Choose” (Religious Educator, 2011)
Click here to learn more about professor Brad Wilcox
The city of Las Vegas is known for its casinos, but there is also something to be said for its communities of Saints. In the mid-1800s this city was a hub for Latter-day Saints and others travelling from California to Utah. Today, a temple stands in Las Vegas with a second one on its way. In this episode, Professor Fred Woods takes us through the history of this vibrant religious community, and how Latter-day Saints have lived, worshiped, and influenced the culture of Las Vegas for good.
Publications:
Bright Lights in the Desert: The Latter-day Saints of Las Vegas (University of Nevada Press, 2023).
Bright Lights in The Desert: The Latter-day Saints of Las Vegas (BYU TV documentary video)
“Bright lights in the desert: How Latter-day Saints have shaped Las Vegas culture, community, and politics” (LDS Living, 2023)
Click here to learn more about professor Fred Woods
Throughout the history of the Christian church, people have found ways to create space for worship. But what did these worship spaces look like? And how do these ancient worship spaces connect to our Church buildings today? In this episode, Professor Matthew Grey takes us through the history of Christian worship spaces—and shows us why the examples of these early Christians are so vital to us today.
Publications:
“Sacred Spaces and Places of Worship: From House Churches to Monumental Basilicas” in Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints (BYU Maxwell Institute, 2022)
Click here to learn more about professor Matt Grey
In the temple endowment ceremony, Latter-day Saints make sacred covenants with God. But what are the holy promises that are made therein? In this episode, professor Anthony Sweat discusses his recent book publication that helps us understand the covenants of the temple and how living these covenants can help us to better come unto Christ and be endowed with his heavenly power.
The idea that people can become like God is not unique to Latter-day Saints, nor is it new. In this episode, Professor Daniel Becerra takes us back to early Christianity to learn more about ancient teachings of deification—and why our becoming like God is so integral to the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Joseph Smith famously said that the Book of Mormon is "the most correct book” on Earth. But what does this really mean? Was he referring to the perfection of the grammar and English in his translation? Or was something else meant? In this episode, Professor Nick Frederick, a Book of Mormon scholar himself, examines the textual variants in the Book of Mormon, highlighting the vital work done by Royal Skousen in the Critical Text Project—and how the book can be spiritually "the most correct" despite variations in its translation over the years.
Cain needs no introduction for most of us as Latter-day Saints. He hearkened to the voice of Satan and murdered his brother, Abel. However, is there more to the experience than just that great sin? Professor Shon D. Hopkin of the department of ancient scripture takes us back to one of the earliest episodes in the scriptures to help us understand why God requires us to have not only clean hands but also pure hearts and motives in order to come unto Him.
As Latter-day Saints, we commemorate Easter Sunday as the occasion of the Savior's Resurrection. But how often do we take time out of the week before Easter—Holy Week—and commemorate the events that happened during those days? In this episode, Professor Eric Huntsman of BYU's Department of Ancient Scripture talks about his recent book co-written with Trevan Hatch, Greater Love Hath No Man. He explains how the book focuses on the days of Holy Week, counting down to Easter Sunday—and why each of us can benefit from celebrating Easter as a season rather than just a single day.
In many cities around the world, the temple stands as a symbol of Christ and the purity and spiritual growth He offers. But how can we access that purifying power for ourselves—and why is it such an important goal? Professor Gaye Strathearn, who currently serves as an Associate Dean of BYU Religious Education, takes us metaphorically up Mount Sinai and into the mountain of the Lord—the temple—to discuss ways that God and Christ can purify and prepare a holy people.
Elder Robert D. Hales taught, “We need to know the official doctrine of the Church so we are not diverted from Christ’s leadership.” But how can we know what constitutes Church doctrine? That has been the driving question behind the research of Professor Michael Goodman of BYU’s Church History and Doctrine department. In this podcast, he shares how church doctrine has been defined historically and highlights three specific criteria prophets, seers and revelators have consistently used to define it over the last four decades.
How should we understand and live the law of consecration today? In this episode, Professor Steven Harper, a professor of Church history and doctrine, explains his research on the law of consecration. He articulates the revealed principles of the doctrine (rather than the “folk doctrine” surrounding it)—and helps listeners understand why the law of consecration is the ultimate expression of discipleship for Latter-day Saints.
We have all inherited things from our parents: everything from genetics to family values. But how do parents pass on religious belief and faith to their children? Church history and doctrine professor Byran Korth talks about his research on religion and families, the parenting styles that help parents to transmit their faith to the next generation—and why this understanding is so crucial in our modern world.
As we seek truth, we are asked to harmonize seeming paradoxes: balance the mind and the heart; learn by study and faith; be in the world but not of the world. How do we do this? In this episode, Dr. Casey Griffiths introduces us to the fascinating life of a scientist, educator, and apostle who exemplified this approach—Joseph F. Merrill—and why his work continues to influence Church members today.
It is easy to assume that the records of the early Christians fall silent after the end of the New Testament. However, abundant information exists describing the lives, faith, and sacrifices of these earliest believers, details which are often overlooked by Latter-day Saints. In this episode, Jason Combs explores the world and worship of the ancient Christians in the centuries after the New Testament, helping us to learn from their experiences and to recognize them as our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Joseph Smith once said, “It is the love of liberty which inspires my soul, civil and religious liberty to the whole human race.” This sentiment is equally relevant today. Dr. Robert Smith has dedicated much of his professional life to the study of religious liberty and the law. In this episode he discusses the campaign for religious liberty in our modern day—and why it is crucial to keep it.
In 1841, after years of sacrifice and travel, Orson Hyde arrived in Jerusalem. His brief but impactful mission had innumerable effects on the Church in the Holy Land. In this episode, Professor of Ancient Scripture David Whitchurch takes us through Orson Hyde’s journey, which paved the way for the miraculous opening of the BYU Jerusalem Center. Professor Whitchurch also reflects on his own journey of learning about this spiritual giant—and shows why Orson Hyde’s story is such an important example to us all.
America’s history with slavery is complicated and controversial, especially when considered in a religious context. On this episode, Professor Jordan Watkins takes us into antebellum America, showing how views over slavery were shaped by interpretations of the Bible and the country’s founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He also examines ways these nineteenth-century interpretations continue to influence people today.
Some Latter-day Saints believe that the oath and covenant of the priesthood only applies to men. But in this episode, Professor Barbara Morgan Gardner uses Doctrine and Covenants 84 and the words of prophets and apostles to share an important truth: priesthood power and promises are available to all who receive the blessings of the temple. She also speaks on what the oath and covenant of D&C 84 means to her as a wife, a mother, and a daughter of God.
Some Latter-day Saints believe that the oath and covenant of the priesthood only applies to men. But in this episode, Professor Barbara Morgan Gardner uses Doctrine and Covenants 84 and the words of prophets and apostles to share an important truth: priesthood power and promises are available to all who receive the blessings of the temple. She also speaks on what the oath and covenant of D&C 84 means to her as a wife, a mother, and a daughter of God.
Netflix’s 2021 docuseries Murder among the Mormons reached #2 on the most-viewed list in the week it came out. But how much did the documentary actually get right? In this episode, Professor J. B. Haws gives his perspective as a Church historian, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the docuseries as well as the theological implications of the Mark Hoffman murders—and the reason why this story still matters.
In 1903, Latter-day Saint Apostle Reed Smoot was elected by Utah to become a United States senator. However, many in the country and Senate did not want to seat Elder Smoot due to his leadership position in the Church and because of the Church’s practice of polygamy. In this episode, Dr. Carter Charles recounts this history and President Theodore Roosevelt’s defense of Reed Smoot and the Latter-day Saints.
Although its stories took place thousands of years ago, the Old Testament provides potent lessons to help confront contemporary challenges, including the world’s growing refugee crisis. In this episode, Dr. George Pierce shares research insights about ancient Israel to help us care for the displaced and marginalized in our midst.
How did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon? Joseph’s brief answer was “by the gift and power of God,” sometimes adding that it was done by means of “Urim and Thummim.” Some have asked why Joseph Smith didn’t give more specific details about the process. In this enlightening episode, translation scholar Dr. Michael Hubbard MacKay discusses his research on the “incommensurability” of Joseph Smith’s divine translation work and why it gives insight into expressions of religious truth and experience.
The Law of Moses gives divine direction for how God’s covenant people should care for displaced refugees, foreigners, and strangers, who are referred to in the Bible as ‘gēr.’ In this episode, Dr. Krystal Pierce of BYU’s Ancient Scripture Department shares her published research on the teachings and narratives in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon related to what are commonly called the “Gēr Laws,” and discusses ways in which we can apply those teachings as covenant people today.
How do Latter-day Saints perceive images of Christ’s suffering on the cross? How does artwork influence their understanding of the Savior’s Atonement? What does it mean that Christ shed His blood for us? In this powerful episode, Dr. John Hilton III shares findings from his continued research related to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and why embracing Christ’s death upon the cross can deepen our worship of Him.
For many Latter-day Saints, there is a strong desire to visit sacred sites of the Restoration, such as the Sacred Grove or Carthage Jail. These historic places can help us better understand the past as we strive to live the gospel in the present. In this episode, Dr. Scott Esplin discusses the value of historic Latter-day Saint sites, how the Church acquired some of them, and how we can all learn from them, regardless of where we live.
The events recorded in the gospels took place in the Garden of Gethsemane are sacred to our faith. Although we can envision the olive trees of the garden, where did they press its oil, from which the translated word “Gethsemane” derives? Thanks to archeological research, including some by BYU ancient scripture professor Matthew Grey, there are possible answers. In this episode Dr. Grey discusses research on the Gethsemane grotto and explores potential reasons why this location matters.
It’s likely that many of you have heard of the name Hugh Nibley. Over a nearly fifty-year career as a BYU professor, he became one of the most prolific scholars and authors in the history of the Church. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Spencer shares his research publication on Nibley’s influence as one of the great figures in the field of Book of Mormon studies.
The Community of Christ, formerly known as the “Reorganized” Church or “RLDS,” is a global restoration faith which traces its origins to the life and ministry of Joseph Smith. In this episode, Dr. Keith Wilson of BYU Religious Education provides a fascinating historical and doctrinal journey of two different restoration faiths that share the same roots by comparing each church’s respective views of Joseph Smith’s First Vision throughout the years.
For over sixty years, BYU Studies Quarterly has published scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on a broad range of topics that are of interest to Latter-day Saints. In this episode, Dr. Steven Harper, the current editor of BYU Studies, discusses some of the most significant articles in the history of BYU Studies.
Because we live in a day where prejudice and discrimination of all kinds remain fundamental problems across the globe, members of the Church have been counselled “to abandon all personal prejudices.” In this episode, Jan Martin of BYU Ancient Scripture shares her research publication about Samuel the Lamanite and what a past prophet’s experience with discrimination can tell us about confronting and eliminating prejudice in our personal lives.
Although it is common to cite Isaiah’s remarkable prophecies about the Savior, Isaiah’s repeated teachings related to the poor usually don’t receive as much attention. In this episode, emeritus BYU Ancient Scripture professor Dana M. Pike shares his latest publication that magnifies Isaiah’s teachings to provide “a strength to the poor” (Isa. 25:4)—a timeless message applicable today. Dr. Pike also shares about his work on the Dead Sea Scrolls and insights about studying the Old Testament from his years of training and experience over his career.
Latter-day Saints are a covenant-centric faith, led by the oft-repeated messages of President Russell M. Nelson to continue “on the covenant path.” But what is this covenant path, and how is it a Restoration of “the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham” (1 Nephi 22:9)? In this episode, BYU professor of Ancient Scripture, Kerry Muhlestein, shares insights from his recent publication to help us better understand the blessings that come to those who enter and live the Abrahamic covenant.
This April, the newly remodeled Washington D.C. Temple will hold its public open house for hundreds and thousands of visitors, marking the latest in a long line of historical events related to the Latter-day Saints’ presence in the nation’s capital. In this episode, Dr. Ken Alford reviews his co-edited research publication covering many of those notable events, along with his specific chapter on Latter-day Saints in Arlington National Cemetery.
April 6th is commonly taught by Latter-day Saints to be Jesus’s birth date. Some Church leaders, however, have explored other options, saying the date “is not a settled issue.” In this episode, Professor Jeff Chadwick discusses his publications that academically explore the dates of Jesus Christ’s birth and death, highlighting important aspects of our faith that arise from dating theses scriptural events.
In the summer of 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith began an audacious undertaking: to translate the Holy Bible. But what was this Bible “translation”? Was he reading from other languages? Was he restoring the Bible text to its earliest condition? Was it an inspired commentary? Is the JST canonized scripture? And, did Joseph ever finish the complete translation? In this episode, Dr. Jared Ludlow shares his recent publications tackling these questions and more.
Like complementary colors, women and men are meant to work in harmony to bring their inherent and unique qualities to parenting. Dr. Jenet Erickson specializes in research related to the distinct contributions of mothers and fathers in child development. In this episode, she shares some of her research about what the spring 2020 Covid pandemic illuminated about the work and family desires of men and women and ways their complementary contributions can be harmonized.
For centuries, some readers of Genesis have blamed Eve for the evils of the world because she ate the forbidden fruit in Eden. But Latter-day Saint scripture opens the way for different views, including seeing Eve’s decision as visionary and courageous. Our interpretations of Eve have not always been this positive, however, and historical Christianity’s interpretations haven’t always been that negative. In this episode Dr.’s Amy Easton-Flake and Mark Ellison expand our understanding of Eve.
Every worthy, baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired personal direction from God. There are many common questions surrounding patriarchal blessings: Why should I get one? What will it say? Why does my lineage matter? With whom can I share it? How should I prepare? In this episode, professor Brad Wilcox shares insights to these questions and more from his research and publication on patriarchal blessings.
When we hear the name of Samuel the Lamanite, most of us know his epic story on the wall. That, however, is part of the problem. We know the drama of his escape, but often have overlooked the depths of his doctrinal teachings and prophetic message. Are some of us like the Nephites who were admonished by Jesus for overlooking the prophecies of Samuel? In this episode professor Ryan Sharp helps us remember Samuel the Lamanite from a historical, prophetic, and doctrinal perspective.
Many of us are familiar with the excitement of “show and tell” at school. There’s something potent in the combination of seeing an interesting object and hearing a good narrative related to it. Latter-day Saint history has produced many important relics related to the Restoration. In this episode, Professor Casey Griffiths discusses his book publication on fifty of these important objects and takes us on a podcast version of show and tell into some of the captivating corners of Church history.
Two thousand years after the mortal life of Jesus and the expansive global spread of Christianity, we must be careful to not overlook the fundamental nature of Judaism in Christianity, and that Jesus himself was Jewish. In this episode, BYU religion professor Avram Shannon helps us understand how Jewish Rabbinic literature—which are the texts written by early Jewish sages—can help better enlighten certain aspects of the New Testament, Jesus’s mortal ministry, and Christianity.
Over the last few decades in the Church, there has been an increased emphasis on the grace of Jesus Christ. This coincides with global increases in societal rates of anxiety, depression, and other challenges to mental health, including within our Church membership. Professor Daniel K Judd has dedicated much of his professional life to researching mental health and religion. In this episode he discusses how experiencing the grace of Christ can have a direct positive relationship with mental health.
Latter-day Saints are often interested in the public perception of their faith. We’ve long been written about, defended, condemned, praised, or vilified in national press outlets. Professor J.B. Haws has researched extensively how the public perception of the Church has shifted over time, and the reasons why. In this episode he explores the perception of the Church in the American public press, specifically since the 1950’s, and the events that have shaped those perceptions, and still do today.
Although some Latter-day Saints fly American flags on July 24th to celebrate settling in the Rocky Mountains, the irony is that the pioneer Saints were desperately trying to flee the USA. After years of being persecuted, Church leaders concluded that the existing US government would not protect their civil and religious rights as a minority group, and the Saints decided to leave. In this fascinating episode, Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat shares his research on this history, along with lessons learned for today.
President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as the 17th president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018. Things in the Church have not been the same since. BYU religion professor Mark Ogletree has recently published on President Nelson’s tenure, and his remarkable life that prepared him for this moment. This episode explores the ministry of Russell M. Nelson, giving powerful lessons from this modern prophet, seer, and revelator.
While many commandments are fairly clear, how to “remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” has been debated for millennia. Professor Gaye Strathearn from BYU Religious Education has researched this discussion during the centuries surrounding Jesus’s mortal ministry. This episode explores efforts to navigate the Sabbath day by Israelites in the late second temple period, and how we can learn from them to remember and keep the Sabbath holy today.
What does it mean that our Savior is both human and divine? This is a question Christianity has wrestled with for centuries, with profound theological implications. In this insightful episode, BYU religion’s Dr. Jason Combs explains four types of beliefs about the nature of Christ that were prevalent in ancient Christianity, why this dialogue was important, and how learning from ancient Christians can help Latter-day Saints to better understand the God we worship.
My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Over the years, that spiritual cry has been felt internally and uttered verbally by many believers in their most pressing trials, including by Jesus upon the cross. But does it mean what we think? BYU religion professor Shon Hopkin has published on the background and significance of that phrase. In this episode he analyzes and applies Messianic verses from its origin in Psalm 22, strengthening our hope in our trials through Christ’s suffering and redemptive triumph.
Scriptures are a revelatory tool. Although using it may be intuitive to some, like any tool some expert instruction is often helpful to unlock its full capacity. While many Christians know what a “Study Bible” is to aid them in understanding, fewer Latter-day Saints know about or utilize one. In this episode, professor Joshua Sears introduces the concept, addresses common reservations, and shares insightful reasons why a study Bible can be a great asset to our scripture study.
Although it is common to view Gadianton and his followers in the Book of Mormon as driven by a purely evil desire for power, there could be more to their movement. Why else could their rebellion persuade “the more part of the righteous…to believe in their works” (Helaman 6:38)? Professor Dan Belnap examines the root of this rebellion, and why it may have more application today than some might think.
Since 2012, archaeologists at the Galilean village of Huqoq have been uncovering an intricate mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue. This 5th century mosaic depicts biblical scenes of Samson, Jonah, Noah’s ark, Pharaoh’s army, and snapshots of daily life in antiquity. In this episode, BYU religion’s Dr. Matthew Grey—who was supervising the synagogue excavation when it was uncovered— discusses details from this discovery, and how the archaeology of Roman Galilee can inform our understanding of the Bible.
The word “liminal” isn’t in most people’s everyday vocabulary. Although the word is rare, the experience it summarizes is not, particularly in religious life. Liminality means to be in an in-between space, on the verge of transformation, or at a threshold—like a doorway. In this insightful episode, Dr. Charles Swift analyzes the Brother of Jared’s liminal experience in Ether 2 and 3, and what it can teach us today about our own interactions with and answers from the Lord.
The Prophet Joseph Smith once taught that “all priesthood is Melchizedek.” Thus, the restoration of the priesthood can be understood as a series of heavenly events, including a relatively unknown experience with the Lord at Peter Whitmer Sr.’s farmhouse. In this powerful episode, Dr. Michael Hubbard MacKay explains what happened “in the chamber of old Father Whitmer” (D&C 128:21) and why it matters to our understanding of priesthood.
One of the great debates of the 16th century took place between William Tyndale and Thomas More over Tyndale’s translation of the Bible into English. Both men knew how words had the power to shape theology. Tyndale’s translation informed later English translations, including the King James Version. But were Tyndale’s choices right? In this episode, Dr. Jan Martin shares her research on how the King James language in the Book of Mormon provides amazing insights into these theological translation debates.
If we seek to teach in the Savior’s way, a common approach the Lord used was parables. In fact, Mark says that “without a parable spake he not unto them” (Mark 4:34). Good parables are multi-layered, and the teacher often leaves them uninterpreted to cause listeners to reflect and draw meaning. In this episode, BYU Religion’s Hank Smith shares insights from his publication on the parables of Jesus, why the Lord utilized them to teach, and why we should seek to do the same today.
Doctrine and Covenants 25 is unique and powerful. It is one of the two modern revelations directed specifically toward a woman, Emma Smith. It is also unique because of the progressive teachings it contains when studied in context, which makes it crucially relevant today. In this episode, Dr. Carter Charles analyzes the context and content of this important section, discussing how Emma Smith becomes a type for all sisters of the Church as “elect” ladies by virtue of their covenants.
The recent home-centered and Church supported plan that focuses on gospel teaching and learning in the family has re-emphasized that parents have the primary responsibility to teach the gospel to their children. In this episode BYU Religion’s Dr. Byran Korth discusses how family gospel teaching is an “echo of a celestial pattern.” Using scriptural examples such as Alma, he explains the doctrinal WHYS and practical HOWS of parents teaching children to believe in Christ.
In the summer of 1842, Joseph Smith was busy. He implemented the endowment, entered plural marriages, dealt with John C. Bennett’s fallout, and went into hiding from an attempted extradition. BYU’s Jordan Watkins is an editor of the Joseph Smith Papers publication covering this pivotal time. In this episode, we learn learn about events from this demanding period of Joseph’s life, but also how those events gave rise to his revelations, showing the beauty of an eternal that encompasses the temporal.
Because of Christ’s greatness, we must be careful to not put him in a box, confining our understanding through partial perspectives. Certainty can be counterproductive if it stifles our openness to learning more about Jesus. In this episode, Dr. Daniel Becerra discusses the character of Christ and the Lord’s ministry in 3rd and 4th Nephi, helping us come to better know and follow the Savior, and perhaps even be a little surprised by what we find.
We can sometimes think that Joseph Smith’s understanding of key Restoration doctrines came fully formed from the start. But the reality is that many concepts were revealed more slowly, here a little and there a little. Beginning with the tragic death of Joseph’s brother Alvin up through temple ordinances in Nauvoo, BYU religion’s Michael Goodman and Devan Jensen discuss how the Prophet grew in his understanding of doctrines related to the eternal family, and how God works with all of us line upon line.
While existing artwork that portrays the Restoration is rich and beautiful, until now many key events in early Latter-day Saint history have not been depicted. In this episode, Anthony Sweat discusses his work to paint and write about 25 of these events, including 19th century female healing blessings, the early ordination of Black men like Q. Walker Lewis, the first baptism for the dead, and many others, illustrating why expanding our visual imagery can expand our understanding of the Restoration.
One of the primary figures in establishing the trajectory of early Christian theology was Paul. Or should we still call him Saul? Was he an apostle (missionary) or Apostle (quorum)? Is the conversion narrative of rebel to saint an accurate representation of his zealous soul? In this episode, Dr. Nick Frederick challenges some of our existing assumptions about Paul while inviting us to better understand why his life and teachings are essential to Christianity, both anciently and today.
You may not know about Rose Marie Reid. After this episode, you’ll know why you should. In the 1950s she not only revolutionized women’s swimwear and established a multi-million dollar industry, but she also counseled with apostles about how to improve missionary work and establish relationships between Jewish and Latter-day Saint faiths, influencing interfaith dialogue today. Dr. Andrew Reed discusses the impact of this remarkable woman who built a family, built a business, and built the Kingdom of God
While most of us encounter the text of the New Testament in English as it was interpreted by the King James translators, it was originally written in Greek. In this insightful episode, Dr. Lincoln Blumell takes us into the Greek world of the New Testament and its historical texts and times. He gives listeners some fascinating insights to passages and ideas from the New Testament, showing why a little contextual knowledge can have big doctrinal implications.
The Book of Mormon is often read chronologically, historically, or doctrinally. But have you ever considered studying it theologically? That’s what a group of scholars at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute at BYU are doing, with wonderful results. In this episode, one of the authors and editors of The Book of Mormon: Brief Theological Introductions series, Dr. Joseph Spencer, discusses what theology is and why it can be a powerful approach to studying scripture.
From the early days of the Restoration, Latter-day Saints learned firsthand that politics could impact the practice of their faith. Frustrated with politicians, in 1844 Joseph Smith launched his own U.S. Presidency campaign. Many don’t know that Joseph ran for President, or why. In this episode, Dr. Derek Sainsbury shares insights from his groundbreaking publication on Joseph Smith’s campaign, helping us understand why appropriate participation in politics is often related to building the kingdom of God.
In the summer of 1838, Missouri Latter-day Saints drew a line. Following several years of persecution, they chose to take up arms to defend themselves and their religious liberties. An oath-bound paramilitary society, known as the “Danites,” formed to warn out undesirable people from their community and defend the Church and its leaders. In this episode, Alex Baugh shares insights from his research that gives valuable context to why the Danites organized, and lessons learned from their actions.
Most Latter-day Saints are familiar with the First Vision account in Joseph Smith-History. Many, however, are not as familiar with the numerous other contemporary sources of the event. In this episode, Dr. Kerry Muhlestein discusses powerful insights from his publication, I Saw the Lord, harmonizing nine historical accounts of the First Vision. When we study the available accounts collectively, fascinating new perspectives can be gained from this foundational event that otherwise may be missed.
In 1939, Adolf Hitler’s army invaded Czechoslovakia. Although the Church was fragile in the area, the saints were strengthened by a man who is known today as the Moses of the Czech Republic. In this episode, Professor Mary Jane Woodger shares insights from her book, Mission President or Spy, The True Story of Wallace F. Toronto, the Czech Mission, and World War II, showing how faith can survive in challenging circumstances through the influence of fearless and faithful saints.
Just recently, prophets have made notable changes to temple practices of the Church. This, however, is not a new phenomenon. In this powerful episode, Professor Richard Bennett discusses his decades of research on how temple practices of the Church have divinely developed, the pivotal people and events that precipitated these events, and why temple work has always been and will be at the very soul of the Restoration.
The Latter-day Saint dietary revelation known as the Word of Wisdom is a well-known tenant of our faith. It teaches to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea. There is also, however, counsel on animal wildlife. We may think we understand what the Word of Wisdom is teaching here, but perhaps it’s worth a closer look. In this episode, Dr. Andrew Hedges shares his fascinating research contextualizing and applying the terms “fowls of the air” and “wild animals” in the revelatory text.
How do finite minds grasp something infinite, like the Atonement of Jesus Christ? To help, we often use mortal analogies. In Alma 42, Alma utilizes a legalistic model of Atonement to teach his errant son, Corianton. In this episode, Professor Mark Ellison discusses why Alma may have used this approach, explaining it as one among many scriptural models to more richly understand and apply the Atonement of the Lord.
The Rome Temple Visitor’s Center features a masterful 20-foot-wide by 7-foot-tall stained-glass window that symbolically depicts the life, parables, and miracles of Jesus in one cohesive scene. Three BYU Religion professors acted as scholarly consultants for the project and published a book describing each event the window portrays. In this episode, one of those authors, Dr. Tyler Griffin, gives fascinating insights and applicable lessons from this marvelous art glass window.
In all dispensations, peace-loving saints have been compelled to go to war. Professor Ken Alford from BYU Religious Education has documented the inspiring stories of many Latter-day Saint service members who have fought in the ongoing war on terror in his book Saints at War: The Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Iraq. These fascinating true stories help show the tender mercies of the Lord upon those saints who fight for freedom, and why their sacrifices deserve our honor, respect, and gratitude.
Carthage Jail, where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed, is visited by thousands of people annually as Church missionaries guide them through the building, reviewing the heartrending event. How did the Church acquire this tragic site—and why? In this episode, BYU professor and Nauvoo historian Dr. Scott Esplin shares his fascinating research on this history, discussing why visiting and memorializing sites where tragedy and suffering have occurred, such as Carthage Jail, can lead to understanding and healing.
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You may or may not be able to visit foundational Church history sites like the Sacred Grove or Nauvoo, but thanks to Professor Craig Ostler and others at BYU you can go on a professionally guided video tour. For the last 20 years Dr. Ostler has worked to produce a series of 100 peer-reviewed videos of Church History locations called Hallowed Ground and Sacred Journeys. In this episode, get ready to go on an auditory Church history tour as Dr. Ostler gives insights from places like Palmyra, Mendon, Kirtland, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City. What he shares helps us understand why there is power in experiencing the spirit of sacred sites.
Click here to watch BYU Virtual Tours videos discussed in this episode.
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It’s not uncommon to hear popular narratives that link depression and suicide with the Church. Are those claims accurate? Dr. Justin Dyer finds the research suggests a different narrative. In this episode, professor Dyer shares his important studies about Latter-day Saint youth suicide, depression, LGBTQ members, and religiosity that can help us act in more informed and compassionate ways.
Click here and here and here to read a few of professor Dyer's articles on the subject.
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Although we all come from different backgrounds and situations, we all are coming unto the same Savior. In this episode, Professor Eric Huntsman discusses insights from his book publication, Becoming the Beloved Disciple, about a purposeful theme in the gospel of John that highlights people in varied circumstances, and what we can learn from each of them about becoming beloved disciples of Christ.
The Lord told Emma Smith to “expound scriptures” by the Spirit, saying this was his “voice unto all.” So how did women of the Church in the 19th century use the scriptures, in particular the Bible, in their teaching, exhorting, and writing? In this episode, Dr. Amy Easton-Flake discusses her research publications about how early Latter-day Saint women used scripture to understand their divine roles and change their society, and why modern Latter-day Saint women should do the same.
Click here and here to read Professor Easton-Flake's articles on the subject.
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Joseph Smith’s First Vision is often the first story we tell in the narrative of the Restoration. But that was not always the case. It took about 50 years for the First Vision to become solidified as a foundational story of the Church. In this episode, BYU professor Steven Harper discusses his landmark research publication about how the First Vision was remembered and interpreted by Joseph Smith, and why thoughtfully doing the same today is essential for Latter-day Saints.
Click here to get Professor Harper’s book, or here or to read a published essay on the subject.
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It’s not uncommon to have vivid dreams. Sometimes we may even feel like our dreams have a divine message. How do we differentiate when our dreams are random, and when they are revelatory? In this episode, Dr. Craig Manscill discusses examples and principles of dreams as revelation, and why he and his co-authors researched this important religious subject.
Click here to read Professor Manscill, Woodger, and Alford's publication.
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Questions about Latter-day Saint women and priesthood have been swirling for years. In this episode, Dr. Barbara Morgan Gardner shares her research that provides insights into why Latter-day Saint women have priesthood, and why understanding differences between ecclesiastical, familial, and covenantal priesthood can help us grasp the divine power and authority available to us all.
Click here and here to read Professor Gardner's publications on this subject.
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It’s not uncommon for Latter-day Saints to say that Christ atoned in the Garden of Gethsemane, but not on the cross. In this episode, Dr. John Hilton III explores why this typical answer doesn’t align with LDS scriptural teachings on the crucifixion, why it should, and why the cross can be a symbol of a living, and a loving Savior.
Click here to read Professor Hilton's article on this subject.
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