Podcast appearances and mentions of Joseph Smith

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

Can women hold priesthood in LeBaron Mormon fundamentalism? Jacob Vidrine from Church of the Firstborn surprised me with his answer about women & priesthood! We also finish our conversation about the race ban in Brigham Young & Joseph Smith’s time. Check out our conversation, but it is only available to newsletter subscribers. Sign up at https://gospeltangents.com/newsletter! https://youtu.be/Xg9nt_4xu9M Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Nuance in the Priesthood Ban The discussion explores the often-simplified views of Brigham Young’s stance on race and slavery. While Brigham Young did articulate strong, lineage-based priesthood restrictions and opposed interracial marriage, he did not support slavery in the Utah Territory. Historically, it is argued that Young wanted to enact a form of gradual emancipation, aligning with Joseph Smith’s earlier ideas about compensating slave owners by selling public lands. For fundamentalists, this nuanced view helps frame Young’s motivations for restricting the priesthood not as personal hatred or bigotry, but as a form of “benevolent racism,” rooted in a belief in lineage-based restrictions. The conversation addresses the theological challenge presented by the Second Article of Faith (“men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression”) when discussing generational restrictions like Cain’s curse. This is often reconciled by fundamentalists who argue that the denial of priesthood is tied to actions in the pre-existence (citing Alma 13), or by noting that the Bible and Doctrine and Covenants contain references to both generational blessings and cursings (D&C 121). Ultimately, they view priesthood primarily as a responsibility conferred by God, rather than a right or privilege earned solely in mortality. Matriarchs, Eldresses, Women & Priesthood Perhaps the most unexpected element of LeBaronite theology is the authority granted to women. Contrary to many fundamentalist groups, the Church of the Firstborn tradition believes that women hold priesthood authority. This authority stems from Nauvoo temple rituals, where Joseph Smith was seen as bringing women into the priesthood, often leading to the belief that the Relief Society was intended to be a parallel priesthood organization. Ross LeBaron ordained women as matriarchs, granting them temple authority similar to kings and priests (queens and priestesses). Fred Collier advanced this idea, believing women could be ordained to lower priesthood offices. For instance, Jacob Vidrine's wife was ordained an eldress at age 16. While men typically bless and pass the sacrament, women are authorized to bless by the laying on of hands (blessings of faith), a practice continued from early Mormonism. Furthermore, if circumstances require it (such as the death of a husband), a wife could administer the sacrament to her family. This entire structure emphasizes the patriarchal order as a family organization, requiring the full, active participation of both men and women. Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

Rose Datoc Dall is an artist and curator of 'Expressions of Jesus: Cultural Representations of the Savior of the World.' This one-of-a-kind curated collection of artwork showcases images of Jesus Christ from more than 100 diverse artists throughout history and from around the world. I wanted to speak to Rose about what she learned while curating this project and why it's important for us to see Jesus portrayed in such varying ways that may not be historically accurate.--You can find more of Rose's work at the following links:- https://www.rosedatocdall.com/- https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6080309.htmlFollow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Many Mormon fundamentalists restrict blacks from joining despite the 1978 revelation that allowed black men to hold the priesthood. This is considered a landmark moment in LDS history, but many in Mormon fundamentalists believe this 1978 revelation marked the moment the mainstream Church lost its essential authority. This theological break, rooted in Brigham Young’s fiery declarations about race and priesthood lineage, is why most fundamentalist groups reject modern LDS temple work. https://youtu.be/Rp-2f0Uxuh4 Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Why Black Priesthood Revelation Nullified Authority for Fundamentalists The 1978 revelation that allowed black men to hold the priesthood is considered a landmark moment in LDS history, but for many in Mormon fundamentalism, this decision marked the moment the mainstream Church lost its essential authority. This theological break, rooted in Brigham Young’s fiery declarations about race and priesthood lineage, is why most fundamentalist groups reject modern LDS temple work. The Conditional Priesthood Restrict Blacks For groups like the Ross LeBaronites and others who separated from the LDS Church, the 1978 revelation essentially nullified the Church's priesthood authority. This perspective relies heavily on an address given by Brigham Young in 1852 to the territorial legislature. In this discourse, Brigham Young articulated a powerful condition for maintaining the priesthood: “If we were to… come and decide that it was right to mingle with the seed of Cain and make them partake of all the blessings that we have then on that day and hour the priesthood is taken from the church and God leaves us to our fate“. Because of Brigham Young’s strong language, many fundamentalists are “very reticent to consider that Brigham could be wrong” about the priesthood ban. Therefore, they view the 1978 revelation as fulfilling the condition for the priesthood being withdrawn. The Temple Barrier The rejection of the 1978 decision has direct implications for temple work. Most fundamentalist groups will not use the LDS Temple because they feel its authority is no longer valid. This view is so central that it applies even to other fundamentalist splinter groups. The Missouri temple, for example, is noted as the only fundamentalist community that has rejected and lifted the racial teachings, but this decision causes most other fundamentalists to have “reservations about using their temple” for the “same reason” they reject the LDS temple. They view the temple authority as having been compromised. Was the Ban Revealed in Nauvoo? While some historians argue that the priesthood ban was a pragmatic decision starting around 1847, possibly catalyzed by incidents involving black men like William McCary and Enoch Lewis—events that prompted Brigham Young to want to put this to a stop. Other evidence suggests the doctrine may have predated the Utah period. For some, it is difficult to accept that Brigham Young “radically depart[ed] from Joseph Smith” and suddenly invented a racist doctrine. Jacob points to historical sources have fueled this debate: Nauvoo Lineage Emphasis: There are indications that an emphasis on lineage and blood connected to priesthood started emerging in Nauvoo. Brigham Young, in 1845, reportedly told the high priests quorum that many elders couldn’t hold the keys of the kingdom until their “blood changes and they become the right lineage”. George Q. Cannon’s Diaries: Diaries released in 2016 or 2017 show that George Q. Cannon discussed the priesthood ban in the 1890s, stating that he was taught the ban as a young boy in Nauvoo by John Taylor, suggesting the restriction was in place earlier than commonly dated. Elijah Abel‘s Restrictions: In June 1843, apostles restricted the preaching of Elijah Abel—a black elder who held the priesthood—to only his “own race”. This belief that the restriction was revealed in Nauvoo allows fundamentalists to reconcile the ban with Joseph Smith's period while maintaining Brigham Young's authority, even if they struggle with the theological implications. The key takeaway for them is that Brigham Young, whether right or wrong about the lineage-based restrictions, was not acting out of hatred or bigotry, but rather out of a form of “benevolent racism”—believing in a lineage-based restriction without personal malicious intent. The result is a complex theological landscape where adherence to what is perceived as the divinely revealed structure of the early Church necessitates the rejection of the mainstream church's post-1978 authority and its ordinances. For more information regarding the beginnings of the ban, check out Dr Paul Reeve's amazing research. Here is a link to Jacob’s paper: TheOriginofthePriesthoodBan. Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

D&C 137 – 138. In this week's deep dive, Jason remembers a few more connections between Joseph Smith and the …

Abstract: Political legitimacy is a key concept related to the exercise of political power. Legitimacy was especially critical for “irregular kings,” so named because they were not automatically legitimated by the existing political structure. There are many examples of apologetics from the literature of the Ancient Near East that sought to bolster the legitimacy of irregular kings. The Book of Mormon uses similar apologetics to legitimate its own irregular rulers. The most striking example is seen in the case of Nephi (son of Lehi). Nephi provides dozens of arguments that strengthen his status as a divinely sanctioned king within an Ancient Near Eastern framework. Startlingly, Nephi and other Book of Mormon prophets also seem to have viewed Joseph Smith, the future seer who would bring their words to light, in similar terms. Joseph appears to have been presented as the legitimate heir of the Nephite royal line. The prophecies of the Book of Mormon and Joseph's receipt of the royal artifacts serve to bolster this claim. The post Irregular Kings and Precious Things: Viewing Nephi and Joseph Smith through the Lens of Ancient Near Eastern Kingship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Latter-day Saints hold a variety of views about how the Book of Mormon was translated, often shaped by personal belief, historical study, and spiritual interpretation. The most traditional view is that Joseph Smith translated the record directly by the “gift and power of God,” using tools such as the Urim and Thummim. Others emphasize accounts describing Joseph placing a seer stone in a hat and receiving the text spiritually rather than through a direct linguistic process. Some members see the translation as a largely miraculous or revelatory experience, while others adopt a more nuanced approach, viewing it as a mix of divine inspiration and Joseph's own language, culture, and understanding. These perspectives reflect the broad range of ways modern Latter-day Saints reconcile faith, history, and the mystery surrounding the book's origins.Mormonish is joined by Ganesh Cherian to get to the root of it all!Thank you so much for watching Mormonish Podcast!***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast ****WE HAVE MERCH! **** If you'd like to purchase Mormonish Merch, you can visit our Merch store here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/mormonishmerch We appreciate our Mormonish viewers and listeners so much! Don't forget to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Mormonish Podcast! Contact Mormonish Podcast: mormonishpodcast@gmail.com

The path to LeBaronism began when the speaker gained a testimony of the Adam-God doctrine, then accepted principles like rebaptism, eventually leading to a testimony of the Law of Adoption and connection with the Church of the Firstborn. https://youtu.be/AYwLSTRuidE Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved How LeBaron Group Practices Temple Work Without a Temple The quest for pure priesthood authority and the full restoration of doctrines—from Adam-God to the Law of Adoption—led one believer away from the mainstream LDS church and into the unique world of the Ross LeBaronites and the Church of the Firstborn. This journey highlights the fundamental difference between this fundamentalist group and larger organizations: their focus is on patriarchal authority and the function of ordinances, regardless of location. From Adam-God to Adoption: A Conversion Story The path into the Church of the Firstborn often begins with an intense intellectual and spiritual curiosity about early Mormon theology. For some, this journey began by stumbling upon controversial doctrines, such as the Adam-God doctrine, which posits that God himself established the human family on Earth by leaving celestial glory to deal with mortality. The search for deeper principles led to an online forum around 2014 where various fundamentalist voices converged. It was here that the writings and historical research of Fred Collier became especially influential. Collier was regarded as a key figure in the Church of the Firstborn, working alongside Ross LeBaron (the “religious innovator.”) While Ross established the “priesthood foundation”, Collier was the “systematizer”—sometimes referred to as a “Bruce R. McConkie of fundamentalism”—who used historical sources and revelations to articulate a coherent system, adding stability to LeBaron’s teachings. Collier's materials, often shared as pamphlets and essays, presented a highly developed priesthood cosmology. Ultimately, this research and theology, especially the doctrine of the Law of Adoption, led to joining Fred Collier's specific faction of the Church of the Firstborn. Patriarchal Priesthood Structure Unlike the LDS Church, the structure established by Ross LeBaron does not utilize the standard structure of Apostles. Ross acted as the prophet, and the leadership centered on patriarchs. Ross's major mission was to ordain these patriarchs and establish a patriarchal pattern. When a man was set apart, Ross conferred upon him “all the keys, rights, power, and authority of the patriarchal order of priesthood”. This authority was not meant solely for missionary work away from headquarters (like an apostle) but for building a family organization and a patriarchal order. This included the authority to have wives sealed in plural marriage and to adopt sons and families via the Law of Adoption. Ross ordained at least 40 patriarchs during his lifetime, and today, hundreds of people trace their patriarchal authority back to Ross LeBaron. Doing Temple Work in the Mountains One of the most unique aspects of the Church of the Firstborn today is its approach to temple ordinances in the absence of a dedicated temple structure. Historically, Ross LeBaronites—including Tom Green's and Fred Collier's groups—performed temple ordinances in homes that were temporarily dedicated for that purpose. This practice takes a cue from Nauvoo, where Joseph Smith performed ordinances in the Red Brick Store and the Mansion House before the Nauvoo Temple was completed. The fundamental idea is that the authority to perform the ordinance is paramount, not the specific physical structure. However, some groups now seek a dedicated, even if temporary, sacred space. The current approach involves setting up a temporary tabernacle in the mountains to perform the endowment ceremony and other temple ordinances. This method is favored over the home-based work, drawing inspiration from Brigham Young, who once gave endowments on Ensign Peak in 1849, citing comments that the poor could receive their endowments in the mountains. While performing ordinances way up in the mountains presents logistical challenges, such as lacking running water and electricity, adherents find that having this dedicated space allows for a “really spiritual powerful temple experience”. Learning from Cautionary Tales The movement is not without its difficulties. The fragmentation within the Church of the Firstborn, including the separation from Fred Collier's group in 2019-2020, often stemmed from serious issues related to sexual abuse. A major challenge within fundamentalism generally is a reluctance to report abuse to law enforcement, fueled by a defense mechanism mentality and distrust of a government perceived to be hostile toward their practice of polygamy. However, some families separate from these larger groups, seeing the importance of protecting their community and learning from “cautionary tales”—such as Ross's doctrinal errors in old age or the issues of abuse in Fred’s group—to create a safer continuation of the Church of the Firstborn. Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

You read that title right. Are you familiar with the story of James Strang? A blatant con artist who converted to Mormonism shortly before Joseph Smith's assassination who used a forged letter and some "discovered" brass plates to establish himself as Smith's legitimate heir, and then convinced hundreds of followers to move to Beaver Island in Lake Michigan where they crowned him king in 1850 and formed a small army that included pirates? This true story is wonderfully bonkers. Hail Nimrod! Merch and more: www.badmagicproductions.com Timesuck Discord! https://discord.gg/tqzH89vWant to join the Cult of the Curious PrivateFacebook Group? Go directly to Facebook and search for "Cult of the Curious" to locate whatever happens to be our most current page :)For all merch-related questions/problems: store@badmagicproductions.com (copy and paste)Please rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and elsewhere and follow the suck on social media!! @timesuckpodcast on IG and http://www.facebook.com/timesuckpodcastWanna become a Space Lizard? Click here: https://www.patreon.com/timesuckpodcast.Sign up through Patreon, and for $5 a month, you get access to the entire Secret Suck catalog (295 episodes) PLUS the entire catalog of Timesuck, AD FREE. You'll also get 20% off of all regular Timesuck merch PLUS access to exclusive Space Lizard merch Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a non-Mormon scholar, John G. Turner spent years researching Joseph Smith’s life as he wrote a biography of Smith. He found out that nothing about Joseph Smith’s life was boring; for better or for worse. In this episode, Turner compares the young Joseph Smith as he produced the golden plates with the older Joseph Smith as he practiced polygamy. https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SLP-207.mp3

My Mormon bishop friend recently presented a lecture about how statistics show that the Book of Mormon defies naturalistic explanations. How did Joseph Smith as a "subsistence farmer" write a book with long-form structural chiasmus and different voices?Let's jump into some of these statistical claims to see if the Book of Mormon is truly a miracle and that it shows that Joseph Smith had to be translating an ancient record.Sources Cited:"The Insane Statistical Impossibility of the Book of Mormon's Origin | Matt Vallejo""Chiasmus," churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints.org.Robert Patterson, "Hebraicisms, Chiasmus and Other Internal Evidence for Ancient Authorship in Green Eggs and Ham," Dialogue Journal 33, no. 4 (Winter 2000): 163-168.Boyd F. Edwards and W. Farrell Edwards, "Does Joseph's Letter to Emma of 4 November 1838 Show that He Knew about Chiasmus?" Dialogue Journal (paperless), August 26, 2006.ImTheMarmotKing, "I'm glad that FAIRMormon exists. The FAIRMormon apologists do an excellent job of pushing people away from Mormonism," May 3, 2017.Daniel Mynyk, "Planned Parenthood's Founder Fought Against Abortion," The American Spectator, October 19, 2025.Matthew L. Jockers, Daniela M. Witten, and Craig S. Criddle, "Reassessing authorship of the Book of Mormon using delta and nearest shrunken centroid classification," Literary and Linguistic Computing 23 (December 2008): 465 - 491, doi 10.1093/llc/fqn040.D. I. Holmes, "A Stylometric Analysis of Mormon Scripture and Related Texts," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A (Statistics in Society) 155, no. 1 (1992): 91-120.We value your feedback!Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

As a non-Mormon scholar, John G. Turner spent years researching Joseph Smith’s life as he wrote a biography of Smith. He found out that nothing about Joseph Smith’s life was boring; for better or for worse. In this episode, Turner compares the young Joseph Smith as he produced the golden plates with the older Joseph …

Now You Know Series. 2 of 2. ACU Sunday Series. Watch these videos at- https://youtu.be/pj1TNrciyZc   What do Mormons Believe About God? Did Joseph Smith Use A Seer Stone? What do Mormons Believe About the Afterlife? Apostles: Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ What Mormons Believe about the Godhead What Is The Book of Mormon? What Happens After We Die? 13 Mormon Beliefs Choosing Between Good and Is God Just or Merciful? Restoration of Christ's Mormon Prophets Baptism for the Dead Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Gold Plates   Learn More: Revelation: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...​ Revelations of Joseph Smith: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...​ Ongoing Prophetic Revelation: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/s...​ Subscribe to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the latest videos: http://bit.ly/1M0iPwY​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/churchofjesu​... Twitter: https://twitter.com/churchnewsroom​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChurchOfJes​... Website: ChurchOfJesusChrist.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Send us a textVideo podcast here We look at the deeper meaning of the Gaddianton robbers found in the Book of Mormon.   Was this just a weird word made up by Joseph Smith ?   Also discuss the differences in the Lord's Prayer in the Book of Mormon  and different bible manuscripts.  Did Joseph Smith  make a mistake as he "created" the Book of Mormon  or is it more proof to it's divine nature? Restored Gospel - Scripture Search and Study Resources Contact us:restoredgospelpodcast@gmail.comMusic by Michael Barrett

In this episode (Part 24), we dive into one of the most dramatic and painful chapters in early Letter-day Saint history: Liberty Jail. Joseph Smith was arrested on December 1, 1838 and eventually taken to Liberty Jail. Today we will cover his imprisonment, the chaotic legal proceedings that followed, and the eventual “escape” that allowed him to reunite with his family as the Saints resettled in Quincy, Illinois. We explore how internal conflicts, political pressures, treason charges, and widespread anti-Mormon hostility shaped Joseph's experience –and how his letters from Liberty Jail become some of the most cherished passages in Latter-day Saint scripture. We discuss betrayal, leadership crises, the brutality of Missouri's expulsion, and the Saints' struggle to survive amidst violence, sickness, and dislocation. This chapter also raises hard questions:Was Joseph Smith's trial fair?What role did dissenting church leaders play?How much of the Liberty Jail narrative has been “whitewashed”?What does Joseph Smith's behavior tell us about his character?We conclude by following Joseph's escape, his emotionally charged reunion with the Saints in Illinois, and the lasting trauma and financial strain the Missouri experience left behind. This is an episode you won't want to miss! Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

Oliver Cowdery was more than Joseph Smith's scribe. Oliver was a co-founder of the Mormon movement, a visionary of sacred experiences with Heavenly Messengers, and one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon's golden plates as well as an angel. But what happens when that witness walks away? In this episode of Mormonism… Read More »Oliver Cowdery: Book of Mormon Witness

In this episode, we discuss D&C Section 137 and the lessons found in D&C 137:5-7, specifically the faith shown by Joseph Smith regarding the eternal status of his brother Alvin.   5 I saw Father Adam and Abraham⁠; and my father and my mother; my brother Alvin⁠, that has long since slept⁠; 6 And marveled how it was that he had obtained an inheritance in that kingdom, seeing that he had departed this life before the Lord had set his hand to gather Israel the second time, and had not been baptized for the remission of sins. 7 Thus came the voice of the Lord unto me, saying: All who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God;   Kristy's KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): the whole episode    Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2027: ⁠ https://standardoftruth.com/tours Our 2026 tours are sold out, but if you would like to join us in the future here is a link to our 2027 tours: ⁠ Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Oliver Cowdery was more than Joseph Smith's scribe. Oliver was a co-founder of the Mormon movement, a visionary of sacred experiences with Heavenly Messengers, and one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon's golden plates as well as an angel. But what happens when that witness walks away? In this episode of Mormonism… Read More »Oliver Cowdery: Book of Mormon Witness The post Oliver Cowdery: Book of Mormon Witness appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Oliver Cowdery was more than Joseph Smith's scribe. Oliver was a co-founder of the Mormon movement, a visionary of sacred experiences with Heavenly Messengers, and one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon's golden plates as well as an angel. But what happens when that witness walks away? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we dive deep into Cowdery's life, exploring his pivotal role in early Church history, his fiery fallout with Joseph, and the twists and turns of his life outside Mormonism and in the end, back in. Did he ever truly deny his testimony? Are there holes in his credibility? And what does his journey say about the reliability of the Book of Mormon's origin story? Join us as we trace the complex, fascinating arc of a man who saw angels, practiced law, stood in courtrooms—and maybe stood on the edge of belief itself. CRUISE INFO:To Register For the Cruise – https://kheskethtravel.com/post-mormon-celebration-cruiseAdditional Info – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/post-mormon-celebration-cruise/ Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a light on truth and leads with transparency. DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussionhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-discussions-podcasts-full-lineup/id562296100https://open.spotify.com/show/0lEZJF0ZH6ccoteUP9Z4Fu Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussions Mormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel, RFM, and the Mormon Discussions Team: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com

What if two of the most “revolutionary revelations” in Church History are two that we often overlook? Brother Thom Reed unpacks the Articles of Faith and Official Declaration 1 as bold, future-shaping revelations, from Joseph Smith's visionary inclusiveness (with a surprise rap) to Wilford Woodruff's courageous end to plural marriage to preserve temples and covenants.YouTube: https://youtu.be/eKznL8Fq3YoFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook  WEEKLY NEWSLETTER https://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletter  SOCIAL MEDIA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE:00:00 Part 1 - Brother Thom Reed01:13 Episode teaser04:51 Bio of Brother Thom Reed12:50 The Genesis Group17:03 Come, Follow Me Manual20:22 Truth for the entire world23:00 Power comes from understanding principles24:35 DJ Brother T raps the Articles of Faith28:45 Living in revelation30:06 Revelation in the craft store31:37 Revelation may be subtle34:17 The miraculous nature of the Articles of Faith36:07 Being patient for answers39:18 A future, growing thing not a creed42:22 Family History uniform change44:59 Context to manifestos47:35 Preparation for the Second Coming50:07 Faith to move forward53:11 Full uniform56:17 Focus on families and covenants59:44 Be inspired, not offended1:01:42 A recent sealing1:03:40 End of Part 1 - Brother Thom ReedThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsAmelia Kabwika: Portuguese TranscriptsHeather Barlow: Communications DirectorSydney Smith: Social Media, Graphic Design "Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com

Imagine seeing your brother, who died before being baptized, standing as an heir of the celestial kingdom. This profound experience, recorded in D&C 137, opens the door to understanding God's infinite mercy. Decades later, another prophet received a vision (D&C 138) that dramatically expanded our knowledge of the work for the dead. D&C 137: The Desire of the Heart In January 1836, Joseph Smith beheld the celestial kingdom. He "marveled" to see his deceased brother, Alvin, there. The Lord revealed the magnificent principle that "all who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God". God judges all men according to their "works, according to the desire of their hearts". This section also confirms that "all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven". D&C 138: The Redemption of the Dead In 1918, during a time when death was on everyone's mind , Joseph F. Smith was "pondering over the scriptures". This act of study and reflection was crucial; he found that as he "wondered," his "eyes of my understanding were opened". Christ's Ministry: The prophet saw Christ's sojourn in the spirit world. Christ "went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient". The Mission Organization: Instead, He spent His time "instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets" who had testified of Him. He "organized his forces and appointed messengers" —Spirit World Missionaries—to "carry the message of redemption unto all the dead". The Eternal Work: This revelation clarifies that the faithful elders of this dispensation "continue their labors" after death. The great and mighty ones, including our latter-day prophets, were "chosen in the beginning" and received their "first lessons" in the world of spirits. This work of redemption and temple ordinances is truly a "continuation of the seeds"—a vast family effort. Call-to-Action: Which person—living or dead—can you extend the "great and wonderful love" of Christ to this week? Share your thoughts on "the desire of their hearts" in the comments! If this message helped clarify God's plan of mercy, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:41 A Vision of Heaven 13:05 Heirs of the Celestial Kingdom 28:08 Pondering the Word 44:55 No Paradise, Only Prison 59:57 The Fate of the Unevangelized 1:12:00 Spirit World Missionaries 1:23:04 Preschool 1:32:07 One-Liners

Welcome to another episode of our LDS Discussions series! In this episode, we take a detailed, evidence-based look at one of the most repeated claims in Latter-day Saint apologetics: that Joseph Smith was incapable of producing a well-written text –and therefore could not have authored the Book of Mormon.Drawing from Joseph Smith's three earliest letters (written in 1829-1830), historical context, church manuals, apologetic arguments, and modern scholarship, we critically explore where the evidence leads. We don't care where you land on the belief spectrum –our is clarity, transparency, and accuracy.We are joined today by Kolby Reddish and Julia (Nemo couldn't make it), who walk us through the major claims, the apologetic narratives, and the documents themselves. This is an episode you won't want to miss!___________________⁠YouTube⁠At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

This episode is about Joseph Smith. This episode includes testimonies from many different people. From the manual: The afternoon of June 27, 1844, found Joseph and Hyrum Smith in jail once again, accompanied by John Taylor and Willard Richards. They believed they were innocent of any crime, but they submitted to arrest, hoping to prevent violence against the Saints in Nauvoo. This wasn't the first time that enemies of the Church had put the Prophet Joseph in prison, but this time he seemed to know that he would not return alive. He and his friends tried to comfort each other by reading from the Book of Mormon and singing hymns. Then gunshots were heard, and within a few minutes the mortal lives of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had come to an end. And yet it was not the end of the divine cause they had embraced. And it was not the end of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was more work to do and more revelation that would guide the Church forward. Killing the Prophet could not kill the work of God. Please also watch this, I forgot to mention it on the podcast but it's one of my all time favorite talks about the Prophet Joseph Smith.  It's called, "Safety for the Soul" by Jeffrey R Holland. Safety for the Soul - Jeffrey R. Holland  

Joseph Smith's Vision of the Celestial Kingdom; Joseph F. Smith's Vision of the Spirit World (D&C 137–138) by Mike Parker (Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don't conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.) Class Notes Additional Reading and Videos Joseph Smith, Journal, 21 January 1836 (pp. 136–37); recorded by Warren Parrish. Read the original entry in Joseph's journal that was canonized in 1976 and became Doctrine and Covenants Section 137 in 1981. Joseph F. Smith, “Status of Children in the Resurrection,” Improvement Era 21, no. 7 (May 1918): 567–74. In this address given in the Salt Lake Temple—given only eight months before his vision that is now section 138—President Smith taught about the status of the spirits of children who die and how they will be resurrected. George S. Tate, “‘The Great World of the Spirits of the Dead': Death, the Great War, and the 1918 Influenza Pandemic as Context for Doctrine and Covenants 138,” BYU Studies 46, no. 1 (2007): 4–40. Tate gives the historical background and context in which Joseph F. Smith received his vision of the redemption of the dead. Mary Jane Woodger, “From Obscurity to Scripture: Joseph F. Smith's Vision of the Redemption of the Dead,” in You Shall Have My Word: Exploring the Text of the Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Scott C. Esplin, Richard O. Cowan, and Rachel Cope (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012), 234–54. Mike Parker is a business and marketing analyst with over twenty years' experience in the financial services and cellular telephone industries. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management Information Systems from Dixie State University (now Utah Tech University) of St George, Utah. He also has eight years' experience in corporate training and currently teaches an adult religion class in southern Utah. Mike and his wife, Denise, have three children. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 – Mike Parker appeared first on FAIR.

We at Mormon Stories Podcast worked super hard to deliver quality programming in 2025. We have great plans for 2026 which include:More high quality, in-depth, classic, long form faith journey stories with Margi Dehlin.The completion of the "Life of Joseph Smith" series with Dr. John Turner (including SEVERAL chapters on Nauvoo Polygamy!!!). John says you won't want to miss these.A further reboot of the LDS Discussions series with Kolby Reddish, Nemo, and Julia.A continuation of the Mormon Bridgebuilders panel series with Beau Oyler, Dr. Julie Hanks, and Jana Spangler.We are also possibly facing additional legal costs (which I am not able to discuss at present). If you would like to help us financially prepare for potential legal costs, we would love your support.Donating is easy! Just click here: https://www.mormonstories.org/donate/We literally cannot survive with our donors. If you are a donor - thank you. If you are not a donor - it may be helpful for you to know that we lose at least 1-2 dozen recurring donors each month, so if you value our content and want to see it continue, please consider becoming a monthly donor today!Thanks to everyone, and happiest of holidays to you!Show NotesYouTubeMormon Stories Thanks Our Generous Donors!Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today:One-time or recurring donation through DonorboxSupport us on PatreonPayPalVenmoOur Platforms:YouTubePatreonSpotifyApple PodcastsContact us:MormonStories@gmail.comPO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117Social Media:Insta: @mormstoriesTikTok: @mormonstoriespodcastJoin the Discord

The Spirit World is Already Here by Autumn Dickson We have the opportunity to read two revelations this week. Despite the different times in which they were given, the two revelations were placed together in the Doctrine and Covenants, and they hold more power in that manner. The first recorded vision was received by Joseph Smith, and the second recorded vision was given to Joseph F. Smith. I want to share a couple of verses from the section given to Joseph F. Smith regarding the spirit world. Doctrine and Covenants 138:22-24 22 Where these (the wicked, unrepentant, rebellious) were, darkness reigned, but among the righteous there was peace; 23 And the saints rejoiced in their redemption, and bowed the knee and acknowledged the Son of God as their Redeemer and Deliverer from death and the chains of hell. 24 Their countenances shone, and the radiance from the presence of the Lord rested upon them, and they sang praises unto his holy name. These verses talk about the spirit world on the other side of the veil. It gives us a glimpse into what life holds depending on how you chose to live your life and how those choices affected who you became. Taking the time to imagine what it will be like is powerful, especially when you've lost someone you love. But rather than read it from the perspective of the spirit world, I want you to read it again as if it's speaking about where we dwell now. Despite its insight into the spirit world, it can also be a very accurate description of the mortal life we're living in. In the fallen mortality where we dwell, there are people who want nothing to do with the Savior and His gospel. There are many who want the exact opposite of what He stands for and believe the Savior to be oppressive. In those specific places and hearts, darkness reigns. God doesn't necessarily send darkness or make their world terrible; it's what they've invited into their lives. Important tangent here. This gets slightly tricky because I don't believe all non-Christians are dark people. Rather, I believe that at any given moment, we are inviting or shunning darkness. There are a lot of people who accept so much of Christ's gospel even if they do not yet accept Him personally. They have invited portions of light into their lives by living their lives in a Christlike manner. So not immediately accepting Christ doesn't mean you live in utter darkness and allow it to reign over you. I do believe they're missing out on light, but that doesn't mean I assume they are voluntarily inviting darkness to rule their lives. Let's keep going on with reading the description of the spirit world and mortality.. So there are people who don't want Christ and voluntarily shun Him. They want the darkness. They like it. They don't see any reason to change. In other places, sometimes very nearby, there are Saints who are living in the same space but find themselves rejoicing in their redemption. They love the Savior and trust Him. They acknowledge Him and worship Him. Then, of course, there is a whole spectrum between these groups of people. Even on that spectrum, we're finding ourselves moving back and forth depending on what we're inviting and focusing on. Despite the fact that we can find people all along that spectrum, I want to bring your attention to one other grouping: there are Saints who are trying to live the gospel but still have not found the reason to rejoice. They don't always feel hope or peace. They don't feel the radiance of the Lord shining down on them. We believe in Christ and the gospel, but have we found salvation? We read this in Alma. Alma 34:31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. Immediately. Not just in the spirit world. Immediately. If you truly find Christ, the plan of redemption is brought immediately. Today can be the day of your salvation if you repent and don't harden your heart. Immediately, you can find yourself in the same state as those dwelling in spirit paradise. You can rejoice in the Redeemer who freed you from hell and any aspects of it that you may still be clinging to. The radiance of the presence of the Lord can shine upon you. If you do not yet feel these aspects of salvation, I have a small warning for you. Dying and going to the other side does not immediately bring about those feelings. Dying has very little to do with it. Experiencing spiritual paradise stems from your relationship with Christ. Dying happens somewhere along the way for good reason, but experiencing salvation doesn't necessarily wait for death. It's just waiting for you. When was the last time you let yourself rejoice in Christ? When was the last time you chose to trust Him so deeply that it swallowed up your pain and carried it for a while? When was the last time you chose gratitude for His promises even if you couldn't choose gratitude for what was directly going on in your life? Spiritual paradise is a choice, not just a destination on the other side. What happens there is just a continuation of what happens here. You don't change on the other side unless you go through the same process of changing that you have to experience on this side. I love the verse from Alma 34 because it doesn't say, “Follow the Law of Moses perfectly and then you will experience salvation immediately.” It says, “Repent and soften your heart and then you will experience salvation immediately.” Change! Soften! Trust! He loves you and is mighty to save. When you find it within yourself to say, “I'm going to try putting weight on these promises,” you'll find solid ground. Even if everything comes to disaster in mortality, there is solid ground in Christ. I testify that trusting Christ and taking Him at His word was one of the most joyful decisions I ever made. Though I obviously fluctuate in that trust as I move about life, continually spending time with Him every day has made that trust more consistent. Spending time with Him every day has forced me to remember His promises. As I've moved about my daily life and run into new challenges and all of the pitfalls of mortality, I have found rejoicing alongside my pain. It didn't come from living the gospel more perfectly; it came from trusting Him more perfectly. I testify that spirit paradise or allowing darkness to reign are choices we make on a daily basis; they're not just destinations in the spirit world. I testify that the day of your salvation, the day you find rejoicing in Christ, can be today, and you don't even have to die in order to find it. You just have to trust. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

In this episode, we compare the church in the book of Acts with the church Joseph Smith built—showing how the LDS ‘restoration' actually rebuilds the hierarchy, temples, and priesthoods Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers fought to remove. It's not a return to the New Testament but a reversal of the freedom Christ brought.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --SUMMARYLatter-day Saints teach that after the apostles died, the church fell into total apostasy—losing authority, truth, and the gospel—and that Joseph Smith “restored” the original church in 1830.But when we compare the Bible, early church history, and the medieval church, a clear pattern emerges: the LDS system doesn't look like the church in the book of Acts. It looks like the institutional system that developed centuries later.This episode walks through that history and shows why Mormonism isn't a restoration of the New Testament—it's a rebuilding of the very system Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers worked to correct.1. What the Early Church Actually Looked Like (Book of Acts)No templesNo priestly hierarchyNo prophet-presidentNo exclusive priesthood lineageBelievers met in homes, prayed, broke bread, and studied ScriptureLeadership was shared among elders/pastorsEvery believer was a priest (1 Peter 2)Access to God came directly through Jesus, not through mediatorsBottom line: The early church was simple, Spirit-led, and centered entirely on Jesus.2. How the Church Drifted in the Middle AgesBy the 4th century, especially after Constantine:The church became tied to political powerBishops became rulersPriests acted as mediatorsSalvation was tied to rituals and sacramentsA single head (the Pope) claimed God-given authorityThis system dominated medieval Christianity and buried the gospel under layers of tradition and hierarchy.3. The Reformation: Returning to ScriptureLuther, Calvin, Zwingli, and the Anabaptists didn't invent a new church.They removed the medieval layers and returned to:Scripture aloneGrace aloneChrist aloneFaith aloneReal renewal happens when ordinary believers open the Bible again.4. Joseph Smith Recreates the Medieval SystemDespite claiming to “restore” the church, Joseph Smith introduced:A layered priesthood (Aaronic & Melchizedek)A prophet-president with final authorityTemple rituals and restricted accessOrdinances required for salvationCentralized headquarters claiming exclusive truthThis mirrors the medieval Catholic model, not the church in Acts.5. The LDS Temple: The Most Striking IronyJesus

Ross Wesley LeBaron played the role of eccentric prophet. The second oldest son of patriarch Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr., carved a distinct path in Utah. Ross founded the Church of the Firstborn. His teachings presented a unique fundamentalist cosmology focused on distributing sacred authority rather than concentrating it, emphasizing that “the honor is in the work, not the title.” https://youtu.be/fHYDKiaoZ5o Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Authority Above the Church: Dissemination vs. Concentration Ross LeBaron’s theology centered on the concept of a higher order of priesthood existing “above the [LDS] Church” structure. This authority, which he called the Patriarchal Priesthood, originated with the keys restored by Moses, Elias, and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple (D&C 110). This higher priesthood manifested in the Nauvoo period as the authority to make men “kings and priests” (and women “queens and priestesses”), often referred to as the fullness of the priesthood. Ross taught that this authority should be widely distributed among worthy men, acting as a check and balance against unrighteous leadership. He contrasted this view sharply with the prevailing fundamentalist models (like the Woolley line, which later split into FLDS and AUB) that focused on concentrating supreme authority either in a single presiding figure (the “one man rule”) or a small “Council of Seven”. Ross felt the stability of the priesthood lay in this dissemination of authority, allowing many men to hold the highest keys for their own families. Ross LeBaron’s Priesthood Claim Ross’s authority traced back to his grandfather, Benjamin F. Johnson, a close confidant of Joseph Smith and the last living original member of the Council of Fifty. Johnson claimed that Joseph Smith had authorized him to teach the principles of plural marriage, endowments, garments, and the Second Anointing “when I’m led to do so”. This unique claim bypassed Ross’s father (Benjamin Franklin LeBaron) and passed to his grandfather, Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr. (“Dayer”.) Ross received a patriarchal blessing and the “keys, rights, and authority of the patriarchal order of priesthood” from his father, Dayer, in 1950. Although Dayer died without naming a clear successor, leaving behind a succession crisis, Ross eventually received a revelation confirming that the patriarchal priesthood he held was the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood. He subsequently concluded that, as Joseph Smith’s birthright, he was the “one anointed and appointed” referenced in D&C 132:73. Eccentric Prophet's Ministry &  the Second Anointing Ross’s ministry in Utah often relied on eccentric methods to gain public notice. He spent over 20 years on radio shows (like KSXX) attempting to be controversial or “silly” (clowning around) to draw attention before sharing his message, mirroring unusual methods sometimes used by Old Testament prophets. A crucial element of Ross’s authority was the belief that the patriarchal keys authorized him to perform temple ordinances, including the Second Anointing. Reviving the Second Anointing: Ross and his early follower, Robert Eaby (a former scribe for the AUB Council and participant in Musser’s School of the Prophets), became pioneers in researching and restoring the Second Anointing outside of the LDS Church. Robert Eaby, who had learned about the ordinance through connections to early prayer circles, was able to assist in administering the endowments and then the Second Anointing, making them the first fundamentalists known to perform the ordinance (circa 1967/1968). Historical Context: This revival occurred during a period when the ordinance was largely discontinued within the mainstream LDS Church, having been generally halted by Heber J. Grant in the late 1920s and not widely performed again until it was revived by Spencer W. Kimball in the 1970s. Ross also stressed individual accountability and agency. When a follower sought revelatory guidance from him regarding a major life decision, Ross challenged him: “Why are you afraid of taking responsibility for yourself? Don’t your knees work? Go to God yourself and get revelation for yourself.” This focus on the individual patriarch holding authority for their own family underscored Ross’s belief that while leaders were fallible, the highest order of priesthood could and should be accessed by all worthy individuals. Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

What really happens when we die?

In this episode, we compare the church in the book of Acts with the church Joseph Smith built—showing how the LDS ‘restoration' actually rebuilds the hierarchy, temples, and priesthoods Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers fought to remove. It's not a return to the New Testament but a reversal of the freedom Christ brought.--The Unveiling Mormonism podcast pulls back the curtain on Mormon history, culture and doctrine. Join us for new episodes every Monday. Find resources to talk about these episodes at pursueGOD.org/mormonism.Help others go "full circle" as a follower of Jesus through our 12-week Pursuit series.Click here to learn more about how to use these resources at home, with a small group, or in a one-on-one discipleship relationship.Got questions or want to leave a note? Email us at podcast@pursueGOD.org.Donate Now --SUMMARYLatter-day Saints teach that after the apostles died, the church fell into total apostasy—losing authority, truth, and the gospel—and that Joseph Smith “restored” the original church in 1830.But when we compare the Bible, early church history, and the medieval church, a clear pattern emerges: the LDS system doesn't look like the church in the book of Acts. It looks like the institutional system that developed centuries later.This episode walks through that history and shows why Mormonism isn't a restoration of the New Testament—it's a rebuilding of the very system Jesus fulfilled and the Reformers worked to correct.1. What the Early Church Actually Looked Like (Book of Acts)No templesNo priestly hierarchyNo prophet-presidentNo exclusive priesthood lineageBelievers met in homes, prayed, broke bread, and studied ScriptureLeadership was shared among elders/pastorsEvery believer was a priest (1 Peter 2)Access to God came directly through Jesus, not through mediatorsBottom line: The early church was simple, Spirit-led, and centered entirely on Jesus.2. How the Church Drifted in the Middle AgesBy the 4th century, especially after Constantine:The church became tied to political powerBishops became rulersPriests acted as mediatorsSalvation was tied to rituals and sacramentsA single head (the Pope) claimed God-given authorityThis system dominated medieval Christianity and buried the gospel under layers of tradition and hierarchy.3. The Reformation: Returning to ScriptureLuther, Calvin, Zwingli, and the Anabaptists didn't invent a new church.They removed the medieval layers and returned to:Scripture aloneGrace aloneChrist aloneFaith aloneReal renewal happens when ordinary believers open the Bible again.4. Joseph Smith Recreates the Medieval SystemDespite claiming to “restore” the church, Joseph Smith introduced:A layered priesthood (Aaronic & Melchizedek)A prophet-president with final authorityTemple rituals and restricted accessOrdinances required for salvationCentralized headquarters claiming exclusive truthThis mirrors the medieval Catholic model, not the church in Acts.5. The LDS Temple: The Most Striking IronyJesus

Of all the doctrines revealed to Joseph Smith, this one had to be one of the sweetest because of the many losses his family had experienced.  God is so good!

Matty Jewitt is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United Kingdom. 2 years ago, not long after joining the Church, Matty joined me on the podcast to discuss his journey to Christ amidst grief, depression, and addiction. Now, 2 years on, it's so inspiring to see how the restored Gospel has truly changed Matty's life.Some highlights from this episode include Matty's reflections on blessing his child, how Matty brought 4 people to the Gospel after being baptised himself, and Matty's advice for people thinking about joining the Church.--Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspodhttps://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Qhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on InstagramConversations to Refresh Your Faith.For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Our Mothers Knew It with Maria EckersleyA Creative Study of Come, Follow MeD&C [D&C 137-138]“The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead”December 1 – December 7, 2025WEEK 49 SUMMARYDoctrine and Covenants 135 and 136 are significant sections that address the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, and the guidance for the Saints as they prepared to move westward. Section 135 announces the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, highlighting their contributions to the Church and the impact of their deaths. It emphasizes their roles as prophets and the sealing of their testimonies with their blood. Section 136, given through Brigham Young, provides instructions for the organization and conduct of the Saints as they prepared to journey to the Salt Lake Valley. It outlines principles of unity, faith, and obedience, encouraging the Saints to care for one another and maintain their faith during the challenging journey ahead.SPARK 1: THE HEARTS DESIRESPARK 2: FAST GROWING SEEDSOBJECT LESSON 1: “According to the Desire of their Hearts”: Bottle Flip ChallengeOBJECT LESSON 2: “The Chosen Messengers Went Forth”: Layered Reveal TrickCHAPTERS=========00:00:14 ANNOUNCEMENT00:01:25 INTRO00:04:24 QUICK GLANCE00:11:54 SPARK 100:21:18 QUESTIONS 100:23:56 OBJECT LESSON 100:27:36 SPARK 200:36:50 QUESTIONS 200:38:52 OBJECT LESSON 200:43:32 WRAP UP#whitneyhoustonchallengeMusic: I Will Always Love You by Whitney HoustonFrom the album/soundtrack: The Bodyguard (Original Soundtrack Album)Artist: Whitney HoustonWritten by: Dolly PartonListen here: [link to official YouTube video or Spotify, e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU]No copyright infringement intended. Used for entertainment purposes.LINKS=====WEB: https://www.gather.meckmom.comETSY: https://www.etsy.com/shop/meckmomINSTAGRAM: Instagram @meckmomlifePODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST DISCLAIMER=================================This podcast represents my own thoughts and opinions. It is not made, approved, or endorsed by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Any content or creative interpretations, implied or included are solely those of Maria Eckersley ("MeckMom LLC"), and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Great care has been made to ensure this podcast is in harmony with the overall mission of the Church. Click here to visit the official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

December 8-14We know that the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote the Articles of Faith as part of a larger request from Mr. John Wentworth, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Democrat, a brand-new newspaper in the young, bustling city of Chicago. The Democrat would be published for just seven years, from 1842 to 1849. Mr. Wentworth wanted a concise history of the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he wanted it written by its founder, Joseph Smith. The piece was also to be a part of the history of New Hampshire, being compiled by a Mr. George Barstow, a friend of John Wentworth. Joseph agreed to write the piece with this agreement: “As Mr. Barstow has taken the proper steps to obtain correct information, all that I shall ask at his hands is that he publish the account entire, ungarnished, and without misrepresentation.” Joseph carefully compiled the letter but it was never published in the newspaper or any history of New Hampshire. But this letter has become one of the great treasures of Church History.

In part three we talk about some of the differing accounts surrounding just how and when Joseph Smith died at Carthage, including the less-well known William Daniels account that claimed Joseph had been executed by a firing squad after he hit the ground. ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

In part two of our special podcast commemorating the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith we continue to discuss the events that led to the martyrdom.  We read from a letter Joseph Smith wrote to Illinois Governor Thomas Ford and John Taylor's detailed account of that tragic day.  We also share the testimony John Taylor bore of Joseph Smith in 1854 on the 10th anniversary of the martyrdom. ⁠Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

We honor the anniversary of the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith and the attempted murders of John Taylor and Willard Richards in Carthage Jail.  In Part 1 we give an overview of some of the historical events that led up to the martyrdom.  We discuss Joseph Smith's attempts to get any presidential candidate, from either party, to pledge to help the Saints recover their stolen property in Missouri and protect their rights.  We discuss his resulting presidential campaign.  Apostasy from within the Church and political machinations and bigotry from without set the stage for that murderous day in Carthage. ⁠⁠Subscribe to our free newsletter⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ Please visit our website at ⁠⁠⁠www.standardoftruth.com⁠⁠⁠ If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode, we discuss how do we actually know Heavenly Father has a physical body and what Joseph Smith taught regarding every disciple facing a “trial of Abraham”. The episode closes with Daniel H. Wells's powerful 24th July address: a reminder that early Latter-day Saints could be fiercely loyal to the Constitution and the United States while refusing to whitewash the murders, expulsions, and persecutions they suffered. We reflect on how the faith the Saints, who endured Missouri, Nauvoo, and the plains without knowing “why” can sustain modern disciples facing difficult trials.   Kristy's KorneЯ (Last Minute Lesson Prep): separate rerelease of Joseph Smith's Martyrdom episodes for D&C 135     Standard of Truth Tour dates for the summer of 2027: ⁠ https://standardoftruth.com/tours Our 2026 tours are sold out, but if you would like to join us in the future here is a link to our 2027 tours: ⁠ Sign up for our free monthly email: ⁠ ⁠https://standardoftruthpodcast.substack.com⁠   If you have any questions or possible topics of discussion for upcoming podcasts, please email us at: ⁠⁠questions@standardoftruthpodcast.com

Curiosity should feel foundational for Latter-day Saints—it's the birthplace of our religious tradition. Any member of the Church can recite the story of young Joseph Smith seeking wisdom he lacked. Curiosity is where any search for God—or for anything beyond ourselves—begins. It's an open stance that can help us get comfortable when we find ourselves unexpectedly dropped into liminal space. Empathy has its origin in curiosity, as does creativity. All of this makes it a perfect wrap for our series of discussions centering change and transition. In Episode 247, Susan and Cynthia explore curiosity. It's a season finale conversation that bridges to our upcoming Season 11 focus: Big Ideas.

Martyrdom of Joseph & Hyrum Smith; Brigham Young led the Saints west (D&C 135–136) by Mike Parker (Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don't conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.) Class Notes Additional Reading and Videos Alexander L. Baugh and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, “‘I Roll the Burthen and Responsibility of Leading This Church Off from My Shoulders on to Yours': The 1844/1845 Declaration of the Quorum of the Twelve Regarding Apostolic Succession,” BYU Studies 49, no. 3 (2010): 4–19. Dallin H. Oaks, “The Suppression of the Nauvoo Expositor,” Utah Law Review 9, no. 4 (Winter 1965): 862–903. Oaks argued that the Nauvoo city council's action to destroy the Expositor press was legal within the understanding of the law in Joseph's time. (This article was published twenty years before he became an apostle.) Joseph L. Lyon and David W. Lyon, “Physical Evidence at Carthage Jail and What It Reveals about the Assassination of Joseph and Hyrum Smith,” BYU Studies 47, no. 4 (2008): 4–50. Mark Lyman Staker and LaJean Purcell Carruth, “John Taylor's June 27, 1854, Account of the Martyrdom,” BYU Studies 50, no. 3 (2011): 25–62. D. Michael Quinn, “The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844,” BYU Studies 16, no. 2 (Winter 1976): 187–233. Quinn argued that Joseph did not leave clear directions on who should succeed him and this spurred a crisis that was resolved only when the majority of the Saints threw their support behind Brigham Young and the Twelve. Ronald K. Esplin, “Joseph, Brigham and the Twelve: A Succession of Continuity,” BYU Studies 21, no. 3 (Summer 1981): 301–41. Esplin countered Quinn's article by arguing that the path of succession was clear from Joseph's statements and the canonized revelations. Russel R. Rich, “Nineteenth-Century Break-offs,” Ensign, September 1979, 68–71. Rich described some of the schismatic groups that broke away from the restored Church during the Prophet Joseph's life and after his death. R. Jean Addams, “Aftermath of the Martyrdom: Aspirants to the Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 62 (2024): 335–402. Addams examines the individuals who claimed the mantle of the Joseph Smith, their motives, and the churches or organizations they founded in the decade following the death of the Prophet. Road to Carthage: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast is an eight-part documentary miniseries that explores the history of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in 1844. The episodes focus on the historical events that led to the assassination of the Prophet and his brother by a mob, as well as the aftermath of that tragic event. Series host Spencer W. McBride interviewed historians and Church leaders for this podcast. LaJean Carruth, “Brigham Young on Brigham Young: His Life, Conversion, and Faith, in his Own Words,” 2024 FAIR Conference. Daniel C. Peterson, “Appreciating Brother Brigham,” 2024 FAIR Conference. Mike Parker is a business and marketing analyst with over twenty years' experience in the financial services and cellular telephone industries. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management Information Systems from Dixie State University (now Utah Tech University) of St George, Utah. He also has eight years' experience in corporate training and currently teaches an adult religion class in southern Utah. Mike and his wife, Denise, have three children. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 135–136 – Mike Parker appeared first on FAIR.

D&C 135 – 136. In this week's dive, Jason and Nate explore the similarities between Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. …

1950s were a tumultuous time for Mormon polygamists. Not only did police jail many for polygamy, but there were Mormon Fundamentalist Schisms. Many groups including Joseph Musser and the LeBaron families split apart. Jacob Vidrine of the Church of the Firstborn gives more details. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/1hdRUUQ8Gv0 Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Dramatic 1955 Schism that Defined the LeBaron Legacy The history of Mormon fundamentalism is filled with contested authority claims, but few are as immediate and dramatic as the split that occurred between Ross and Joel LeBaron in the mid-1950s. This schism not only severed the nascent Church of the Firstborn into two distinct movements but also cemented radically different interpretations of priesthood authority that traced back to Nauvoo. From Mexico to Utah: Quest for the Kingdom Following the death of their father, Alma Dayer LeBaron (Dayer), who had claimed a unique authority line through Benjamin F. Johnson, the family faced a succession crisis. Joel LeBaron and his brothers (including Verlin and Floren) were primarily based in Mexico and had initially affiliated themselves with the Allred Group (AUB), which was the Salt Lake-based faction of the larger Woolley fundamentalist movement after the 1950s split. In 1955, Joel and his brothers traveled to Utah specifically to request funding from the Allred Council to establish a United Order in Mexico. While staying in Utah, they interacted with their brother, Ross Wesley LeBaron, the second oldest son, who had been ministering separately in the Utah area. Ross's Vision: The Higher Church Ross had received a commission from his father in 1950 to carry on the “patriarchal work”. His theology provided a unique perspective in the fundamentalist landscape, teaching that the Church of the Firstborn was not merely a holding pattern for the “out-of-order” LDS Church, but rather a “higher church above the Church of Jesus Christ”. Ross argued that the goal was not to “fall back into the church” but to “advance into the church of the firstborn,” emphasizing the higher principles of the patriarchal order restored by Moses, Elias, and Elijah in the Kirtland Temple. Ross converted his visiting brothers, Joel and Floren, “back to believing in their father’s authority line” and the patriarchal priesthood. Excited, the brothers decided to formally organize a new church5. The September Organization and Contested Authority On September 21, 1955, Ross, Joel, and Floren gathered for an organizational meeting that established the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times. The minutes of this meeting articulated the specific authority lineage claimed by the family: Joseph Smith passed patriarchal keys to Benjamin F. Johnson, who passed them to Alma LeBaron (Dayer), who conferred them on his sons. In this initial organization: Ross Wesley LeBaron was sustained as the head patriarch, holding the keys and calling received from their father. Ross emphasized that “the honor is in the work, not the title,” focusing on the substance of the calling rather than merely claiming specific offices. Joel LeBaron was ordained to the office of president of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times. Floren LeBaron was set apart as a counselor. Ross claimed he ordained both Joel and Floren as patriarchs1012. However, this unity was fleeting. Joel's Claim to the One Mighty and Strong Within approximately a week of the organization, Joel decided to split from Ross. Joel sought a higher, incontrovertible claim to authority to override Ross’s position as the patriarch holding the keys. Joel traveled up Farmington Canyon and claimed to receive a revelation or a theophany. He claimed that “no fewer than… 17 or 18 different past prophets” appeared to him on the mountain. Crucially, these messengers allegedly appointed Joel as “the one mighty and strong”. This claim directly targeted Ross’s earlier teachings; Ross had claimed the birthright of Joseph Smith and described his own work as merely “preparatory work until the one mighty and strong came”. By claiming this specific title, Joel effectively trumped Ross’s foundational claim and secured his own undisputed position as the highest authority. The dramatic revelation led to a swift separation, with Ross remaining in Utah and Joel returning to Mexico, where he would successfully grow his branch of the Church of the Firstborn of the Fullness of Times to several thousand members, emphasizing a restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ structure (complete with a Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and a High Council), rather than Ross’s focus on the higher patriarchal order. ——————————————————————————– In essence, the split between Ross and Joel LeBaron illustrates a fundamental tension in fundamentalist authority: the conflict between inheriting authority (Ross, the Birthright, the Patriarchal Keys) versus receiving new, definitive revelation (Joel, the Theophany, the One Mighty and Strong). Don't miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

June 27, 1844. Carthage Jail. The greatest tragedy and the ultimate triumph of the Restoration. How does the Church move forward after the Prophet seals his testimony with his blood? D&C 135 and 136 answer with a powerful statement on sacrifice and a direct revelation on how to build a Zion people. Summary: This episode explores the final, foundational sections of the Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 135: The Martyrdom. Written by John Taylor, this section seals the testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants with the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. We contrast the different, yet unified, ways the brothers met their end—Hyrum falling "calmly" and Joseph attempting to leap from the window. The section declares that Joseph Smith "has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it". His innocent blood was shed , and it was "needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood". D&C 136: The Word and Will of the Lord. Received by Brigham Young in Winter Quarters, this revelation provided the blueprint for the great western exodus. It commanded the "Camp of Israel" to be organized into companies with a "covenant and promise to keep all the commandments". Collective Effort: The trek was not individualistic; the Saints were commanded to "bear an equal proportion" in taking the "poor, the widows, the fatherless," and the families of soldiers. The command was to "go to with their might, to prepare for those who are to tarry" —to be "pioneers to prepare". Preparation for Zion: The Lord warns, "my people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them". He assures them, "marvel not at these things" , and that He is the "God of your fathers" who led Israel and whose "arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel". Call-to-Action: Which person—a widow, a poor person, or a family—can you help bear their burden this week? The pioneer spirit is still needed! Share your plans in the comments below. If this message inspired you to keep striving for Zion, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 6:28 Life and Death Differences 19:33 Praise to the Man 33:39 Innocent Blood 45:10 Pioneers to Prepare 59:47 Still Hoping for Zion 1:08:35 Not My First Rodeo 1:20:29 Don't Be Surprised 1:31:12 One-Liners

In this episode of Come Follow Church History, host Lynne Hilton Wilson is joined by BYU professor and historian Janiece Johnson for a captivating deep dive into one of the most pivotal—and often misunderstood—moments in Latter-day Saint history: the 1844 succession crisis. In the immediate aftermath of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced an uncertain and deeply emotional crossroads. Without its founding prophet, who would lead the Saints? Lynne and Janiece unpack the confusion, tension, and spiritual searching that followed, exploring the claims of various contenders—including Sidney Rigdon, who argued for guardianship of the Church—as well as other voices who stepped forward during this turbulent period. Together they trace how fear, grief, and competing visions for the future created a moment of genuine crisis for the Saints. With expert insight, Janiece Johnson provides rich historical context, helping viewers understand the different claims to take leadership of the Church—and how the eventual path forward reshaped the trajectory of the Restoration. If you're interested in Latter-day Saint history, the legacy of Joseph Smith, or the development of Church leadership, this episode offers a thoughtful and faith-focused look at a defining moment in 1844. Tune in for a conversation filled with depth, clarity, and remarkable historical detail.

You Don't Have to be Ready, Just Willing by Autumn Dickson Joseph Smith was 38 years old when he was murdered in Carthage Jail. He received the First Vision at age 14. He began translating The Book of Mormon at age 21, and he completed it at age 24. The Church was also organized when he was 24. The Kirtland temple was built, the Nauvoo temple began, temple ordinances were restored, the work of salvation for the dead was set in motion, numerous revelations were received, and missionaries were sent abroad. He had the vision at age 14, and he was taught annually by Moroni, but his true ministry began at the age of 21 as he started translating The Book of Mormon. His ministry was 17 years. Here is a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants that was written in the announcement of his death. Doctrine and Covenants 135:3 Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated! Could anyone else do what Joseph did? I don't know. I believe that the Lord can enable anyone to do anything if they're willing, but were any of us willing? I really don't know. I believe so, but I don't know. I think of great men like the apostles who stood with Christ during his ministry. I think of Old Testament prophets and New Testament missionaries. I think of the stripling warriors who learned from their own mothers and followed in obedience. I think of pillars of faith in latter-day church history. I think of other men who were placed in different roles who were willing to do what God has assigned them to do, men like Martin Luther King Jr. Beyond that, I think there are a great number of quiet individuals who went about doing the Lord's will in their own lives even though it brought about no acclaim. I know plenty of women who are likewise incredible if that was the organization that the Lord had chosen. But He chose Joseph. I'm not sure why God places us in the roles that He does. I'm sure there are many reasons for His decisions, but I'm not sure what they are. He probably doesn't explain Himself because the reasons are situational. For example, He had specific roles that needed to be filled, and perhaps there were multiple people who could have filled those roles, but He also looked at us as individuals. What were the lessons we needed to learn in order to become what He wanted us to become? If we want to learn what the Lord wants us to learn and if we want to bless the world in the most powerful way available to us, there are a couple of characteristics of Joseph's that we can develop. The number one characteristic that came to my mind today is the willingness to follow His will no matter where it takes us. I believe that all the other attributes we could possibly develop in order to be prepared to fulfill our roles here on earth can all contribute to this one significant characteristic: we follow Heavenly Father and what He wants for us. If we can stand before God, (or better yet, kneel), and tell Him, “I'm not sure what you want me to do. I don't know what I need to learn in order to do it. I don't know who I need to become in order to do it, and I'm sure there will be many times that I feel that I can't do it. And yet, I want Thou to show me the way and make me who I need to be. Lead me. I will follow.” You don't have to be ready for your various roles yet. I repeat, you don't have to be ready. You just have to be willing. He can take care of the rest. The only thing you can truly give Him is your willingness to follow Him and do what He asks. He is capable of speaking to you in a way that you can understand and helping you know what you need to know. He can help you develop the specific testimonies you're going to need to carry you through. He can mold you. Sure, you'll make mistakes, but that's why we start today. We give Him time to work with us so we have had time to practice what we need to be. I was thinking of some grand moment in which you could promise God to follow Him, and yet, many of us already made that promise a long time ago at 8 years old. Some of us made that promise when we were a bit older, and maybe some of us have yet to make that promise. Perhaps we have already made the promise, but we are only just now feeling prepared to truly hand over our will. Lucky for us, we have this thing called the sacrament where we renew those promises every single week. How powerful could we become if we simply whispered to the Lord (and to ourselves) each week that we were willing to follow wherever, willing to learn what was necessary, willing to become what God wanted for us? When I think of Joseph's willingness, I don't think it was just one decision. I think it was a million decisions. When he would look at the vast amount of work he needed to do, he would turn to the Lord for guidance about what to prioritize. Then he would have faith that the Lord would enable him to do what was absolutely necessary. There was so much that needed to happen to restore Christ's church upon the earth; there is only so much he could accomplish with the time he was given on earth. So it wasn't about accomplishing everything; it was about just doing what God had for him each day. I love and honor Joseph Smith for his willingness to jump in and devote his time and life to what God wanted, whether that was building an impressive temple or living in squalor for four months in a prison. Most of all, I love and honor Joseph because he set the foundation a long time ago for me to find Christ. Joseph did more, save Jesus only, to save mankind. I think it's important to note that Jesus was the one who did the most. And wasn't this His defining characteristic? He was willing to do what the Father sent Him here to do. His ministry was only four years, He spent some of that time playing with children or taking quiet time to Himself. You would think that having only four years available to change the world would make someone rush a bit more, but that's not what the Father needed. Christ simply did what the Father wanted and because of that, His four year ministry changed everything. I testify that each of us have roles in the work of salvation. I testify that the Lord is capable of helping you fulfill that role if you simply tell Him that you're willing and ask Him to lead you along. I testify that you don't have to be capable or incredible, just willing. I testify that He is more than capable, loves you, and wants to include you. Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR's 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award. The post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 135–136 – Part 1 – Autumn Dickson appeared first on FAIR.

Thanksgiving Podcast For Kids! You're listening to Come Follow Me Kids!A Come Follow Me Podcast for Primary Kids of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.We are an interactive game play podcast for kids. Children will learn shout the scriptures while playing games that go with the Come Follow Me Lessons from the church.This year we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants. If you are looking for a Doctrine and Covenants Podcast for Primary Kids, look no further! Our podcast is called Come Follow Me Kids. Come Follow Me for kids that are primary aged 2-12 in the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We follow the come follow me manual from the church but are not officially affiliated in any way. Some audio segments come from the friend magazine and other church sources. On this podcast we play interactive games while learning about the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ.If your children would like to be guests on this podcast or to receive a baptism shout out, please email us at their info at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com RSS Feed https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/music/collections/music-from-the-friend?lang=eng https://anchor.fm/s/661b3db4/podcast/rsshttps://camillesprimaryideas.com/2011/12/music-cd-for-primary.html https://members.camillesprimaryideas.com/resource-library/#category Awesome! Congratulations Beverly! We will get her a shot out this week! If she ever wants to be a guest on the podcast, she is welcome to. Just send me an audio recording of her sharing an experience she had with the Holy Ghost, prayer, missionary work, or whatever else she thinks is worth sharing. Thants so much for listening and supporting the show. Clap it back (repeat beat of song by clapping)Sing a song in a round Echo song Finish the rhyme Guided doodle (drawing with food shapes)Women and priesthoodPriesthood service blesses Church members and their families.In addition to those who are ordained to the priesthood, women who are set apart to serve in the Church also exercise God's authority as they participate in His work. To learn how, see President Dallin H. Oaks's message “The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 49–52).Baptism Shout OutsYou're listening to Come Follow Me Kids! A Come Follow Me Podcast. We are an interactive game play podcast for kids. This is a Doctrine and Covenants Podcast for Kids! Our podcast is called Come Follow Me Kids. Come Follow Me for kids that are primary aged 2-12 in the Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We follow the come follow me manual from the church but are not officially affiliated in any way. Some audio segments come from the friend magazine and other church sources. On this podcast we play interactive games while learning about the gospel and atonement of Jesus Christ. If your children would like to be guests on this podcast, please email us at comefollowmekidspodcast@gmail.com They can share their testimony about the restoration of the gospel, or share an experience they had with prayer, the Holy Ghost, or Missionary Work. Make sure they include their name and where they are from in the audio recording. And don't worry about your recording being perfect, we can edit out mistakes. Any sound file should work. If your children would like a baptism shout out, email us their name, and where they are from and we will add them to an upcoming episode. Use the same email listed above. This particular episode focuses on Thanksgiving and gratitude. Children will also learn Joseph and Hyrum Smith gave their lives for Jesus Christ and His gospel. And The Lord can bless me when I am struggling. This podcast discusses Nauvoo and the saints leaving Nauvoo, and Brigham Young leading the pioneers west to Zion.

Gordon B. Hinckley shares his testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. The most important evidence of his calling is the witness of the Spirit. Click here to see the speech page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Steve Harper and Kerry for the cruise of a lifetime! They will lecture on the covenant in all dispensations and what it has to do with you. Together we will go to Mayan ruins and fantastic snorkeling and beaches, sailing out of Miami. Go to RestorationTravels.com and look for the cruise on the covenant.In this episode Kerry and Brett Dowdle talk about the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith and the beautiful section that describes his miraculous ministry. They then talk about the succession to Brigham Young. They discuss Brigham Young and his preparation and the keys and the Quorum of the Twelve. They discuss what Arthur Haycock, Brett's grandfather, can tell us about succession from his journals. This carries over into understanding the succession we have just witnessed and the blessings that we have in a modern prophet. We are grateful for our executive producers, J. Parke, D. Watson, D. Van Blerkom, M. Cannon, M. Rosema, B. Fisher, J. Beardall, D. Anderson, and H. Umphlett, and for all our generous and loyal donors. We are also very grateful for all our Patreon members. We are so thankful for Beehive Broadcast for producing the podcast and for Rich Nicholls, who composed and plays the music for the podcast.

Welcome to Part 23 of our Joseph Smith the Podcast series with Dr. John G. Turner. Today we are continuing our discussion of Chapter 19 of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet” that covers the years 1838-1839 in Missouri.Today we will dive deeper into one of the most volatile and consequential moments in early Latter-day Saint history: the escalating conflict between the Mormon settlers and the Missourians in the late 1830s. In this episode, we examine how political tensions, misinformation, vigilante actions, and religious absolutism collided to create a crisis that would lead to the infamous extermination order and some of the darkest events of the Mormon-Missouri War.We explore the political landscape of Missouri, Joseph Smith's rising militancy, the Danites, the allegations made by Thomas Marsh and Orson Hyde, the tragedy at Haun's Mill, and the forces that brought both sides to the brink. From mob violence to theological justifications, from desperate settlers to governors refusing to intervene, this chapter shows how a religious movement and a frontier state found themselves locked in a spiral neither could escape.If you've been following the series, this episode continues directly from Part 22 and sets the stage for the next chapter: Liberty Jail.Please purchase the book ⁠here⁠.To support this series please donate ⁠here⁠. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.___________________YouTubeAt Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as scholars, authors, LDS apologists, and other professionals.  Our overall mission is to: 1. Facilitate informed consent amongst LDS Church members, investigators, and non-members regarding Mormon history, doctrine, and theology2. Support Mormons (and members of other high-demand religions) who are experiencing a religious faith crisis3. Promote healing, growth and community for those who choose to leave the LDS Church or other high demand religions

November 24-30Maurine and I lead a church history tour every year. We've done this for 30 years. We take our many participants through two days of Revolutionary War and the foundations of freedom. Then we go to Sharon, Vermont and begin Joseph Smith's life chronologically and naturally we end the two weeks in the Carthage Jail. It's an unbelievable experience. We always have a testimony meeting that last day after the emotional experience of the Carthage Jail. I'll never forget one year, one of the brothers on the tour, who had been especially attentive throughout that two-week period, said emphatically in his testimony, while still on the Jail grounds, “I'm so angry. I'm just so angry!” Since we had never heard that as part of a testimony before and he gave a rather long pause, I cut in and asked aloud, “Why?” He said, “Because they killed him. They killed Joseph Smith. It was unjust. It was wrong. It was so wrong. I'm just so angry.” And that was his final testimony. And it stuck with me. Let's explore the historical, emotional and passionate ending of Joseph and Hyrum Smith's lives today.