Podcasts about Nephi

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes → Tours with Mike (00:00) Contrasting the symbols of the faithful woman and the unfaithful woman in John's Revelation and in the writings of Isaiah.(08:02) Isaiah 57 can be seen as a subversion of the Babylonian New Year temple rites.(12:29) Jehovah is portrayed as the faithful husband of Israel in Isaiah 50. This chapter is a message of hope to the returning exiles.(18:26) Jacob quotes Isaiah 50-51 to his people in 2 Nephi 6-10. His words are connected to themes of the Fall Festival.(28:22) Israel is told to awake and put on her strength in Isaiah 51. She is to remember the rock from which she is hewn. These are symbols of coming back into God's presence.(36:34) Isaiah 52 continues the Great Exchange, as Babylon and Zion switch places. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that publishes peace.” The king's feet are established and Israel will sing and see eye to eye.(44:54) The JST of Isaiah 52.15 changes the word “sprinkle” to “gather.” Kings will shut their mouths at the presence of Christ, the Great King.(48:33) Isaiah 53 is the heart of this week's message and a powerful witness of Jesus Christ. “Who hath believed our report? To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” The core of Abinadi's message is Isaiah 53.(52:16) Jesus knows our pain and sorrows. “We did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”(57:58) “Who shall declare his generation?” (Isa. 53.8). The saints of God are to declare the physical descent of Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God.(1:01:48) “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed” (Isa. 53.10). The Savior saw us during his agony in Gethsemane. He also saw his seed in the Spirit World.(1:09:58) God speaks of his great love for Israel in Isa. 54.8. His love is shown as a mother's love for her newborn child.(1:11:49) The “waters of Noah” (Isa. 54.9) can be read as a promise that when we become a Zion people, Zion will return from heaven.(1:16:33) All have been invited to the feast. God goes after the outcasts of Israel to bring them home. “Every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isa. 55.1). → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 392 | Isaiah 50-57, Come Follow Me 2026 (Oct 5-11) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

Heidi writes mid-labor to ask about D&C 76: does rejecting the gospel in this life really cap you at the terrestrial kingdom? We discuss that we simply don't know what fully constitutes a person's opportunity to accept Christ, and that a bitter, door-slammed missionary is nobody's final judge. Joseph Smith's own teachings point to a far more merciful God.    That flows into a heavyweight take on "after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23): Pelagius, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, evangelicalism's assurance-of-salvation hybrid, and President Oaks's "Have You Been Saved?" The through-line: we're saved only by grace, and living prophets, not proof-texts, tell us how that grace applies.   If you are interested in joining us in 2027 in Palmyra and Kirtland, August 1st through August 7th, click on the link below and reserve your spot: https://pci.jotform.com/form/261567888174171   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

In Episode 9 of this series, Patrick presents the third set of textual clues that point to the Book of Mormon's author. First he reviews the likely causes that led to the many anomalies that show up in the second half of the Book of Mormon dictation, like the loss of the first 116 pages of text, changes in location and scribes, and the ongoing development of points of doctrine. Many students of Book of Mormon authorship, chalk up the late variation in the text as simply “stylistic drift”. But what actually is “stylistic drift”? Patrick reviews the definitions and common examples of such. He then sets up the important thought exercise—do all of the late anomalies in the text appear to be drift or do they appear to match the Rigdon Theory explanation. That is, that Joseph faithfully dictated the first half of the text either from memory or by reading the text in the hat, until the change in plans. The plans changed in the second half of the dictation when the 116 pages were lost, scribes changed, and doctrinal elements were adjusted with new ideas from Rigdon. This led to Joseph having to adjust his mechanics—now he is “riffing or ad-libbing” more and his unique voice begins to appear in the text, becoming more apparent from 1 Nephi to the Words of Mormon. Having set the stage for this thought exercise, Patrick reviews the primary anomalies that show up in the second half of the text: the introduction of the “Late Voice”, as defined by Rob Terry's 3-Voice Framework, loss of mathematical cohesion, the “Black Hole” of names, Smith family content, anti-Catholic messaging, the Therefore/Wherefore switch, Enveloping, and several examples of Early Modern English in the text. Patrick points out that “drift” would seem to be gradual. What we actually see in the anomalies is a step-shift—for example, average word frequency of say 4 uses per thousand words, consistently appearing in the first half of the text, stepping up to a consistent average frequency of 8 in the second half of the text. He also points out that the changes we do see that relate to the categories of stylistic drift (tense, tone, vocabulary) are not related to the typical drift by character or scene—they are global changes that step-shift across all characters and all scenes between the first and second halves of the text. Join us for a thoughtful look at the evidence behind one big question: who authored the Book of Mormon?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Have you ever felt completely forgotten, as though life has scattered your hopes, leaving you wondering if the Lord's promises still apply to you? In Isaiah 36–49, right after the heartbreaking collapse and scattering of ancient Israel, the Lord refuses to say "I told you so". Instead, He opens His mouth with the most merciful command in scripture: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people". Summary: In this transformative episode, we journey through the central turning point of the Book of Isaiah. We bridge the historical prose of King Hezekiah's miraculous deliverance with the soaring poetry of redemption, discovering how the God who measures the universe in the hollow of His hand is the very same Savior who carries us from the womb to our old age. The Prose Interlude: We analyze Isaiah 36–39, following Hezekiah as he lays Rabshakeh's terrifying letters before the Lord in the temple, experiences the sudden destruction of 185,000 Assyrian troops without firing an arrow, and pens his deeply raw psalm after having his life extended by 15 years. The High Note of Comfort: In Isaiah 40, we explore the dramatic tonal shift where justice yields to tender mercy ("Comfort ye"). We examine the voice crying in the wilderness to build straight desert highways, and discover how waiting upon the Lord enables the weary to mount up with wings as eagles. The Incomparable God vs. Carry-On Idols: In Isaiah 44–46, we unpack Isaiah's razor-sharp satire against homemade gods carved from ordinary firewood. We contrast lifeless idols that must be carried by tired beasts with the living God who promises: "Even to your old age... will I carry you". Cyrus the Anointed Deliverer: We study the astounding prophecy in Isaiah 45, exploring how the Lord called a Persian king by name over a century in advance, using an outsider as a messianic type to break iron bars and free His covenant people. The Original Book of Mormon Chapters: We dive into Isaiah 48–49 (quoted by Nephi in 1 Nephi 20–21), analyzing why Nephi chose these specific texts to persuade us to believe in our Redeemer and find hope in our own "furnace of affliction". Graven on His Palms: We conclude with the breathtaking imagery of Isaiah 49, where a nursing mother's devotion pales in comparison to the Savior's love. We see how Christ's retained wounds testify that pain is not evidence of abandonment, and witness the joyous, overcrowded reunion of gathered Israel where empty homes overflow with children. Call-to-Action: In Isaiah 49:16, the Savior reassures us: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me". When have you felt the Lord remember and carry you through a season where you felt entirely forgotten? Share your stories and favorite verses in the comments below! To keep your spiritual foundation steady and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:42 The Assyrian Invasion & the Scattering of Israel 21:03 Facing the Doors of Death 29:20 Having a Will to Offer 43:55 Comfort Ye My People 1:06:58 Highway Construction 1:18:12 Care for the Mothers 1:23:13 Trying to Describe God 1:31:39 The Foolishness of False Gods 1:41:20 A Message of Encouragement 1:58:58 The Gift of Prophecy 2:05:29 The Promised Messiah 2:21:07 The Promise of Redemption 2:38:38 True Identity or False Gods 2:53:33 Raising Up a Deliverer 3:11:59 Idol Gods or the God of Israel 3:18:38 The Fall of Babylon 3:32:33 Chosen & Purified 3:48:30 Called to Gather 4:00:08 Not Forsaken nor Forgotten 4:13:47 Who Hath Begotten Me These? 4:27:33 Carried on the Shoulders of Kings 4:36:57 Conclusion

BYU Lecture 41 Quick review of chapter 21 of The Fourth Thousand Years and the interesting parallel scriptures between Isaiah and Nephi. Just as history repeats itself, prophets will often apply their prophecy to multiple places and occasions, all of which are literally fulfilled. Isaiah, David and Micah did this often. Isaiah gives prophecy of “Zion” knowing there will be two Zions, one in America and one in Palestine. He therefore distinguishes America as “Zion” and Palestine as “Jerusalem.” Some of the more prominent prophecies made by Isaiah include the return of the 10 tribes of Israel, the building of the New Jerusalem in America, the return of the Jews to Palestine, the building of a new temple in Jerusalem, terrible destructions prior to the second coming of Jesus Christ and the peaceful Millennial period. As spoken by Christ, “Great are the words of Isaiah.”

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes (00:00) In these chapters the Lord comforts and gives hope to Israel. He promises that he will never abandon us.(03:15) King Hezekiah seeks the Lord's advice through the prophet Isaiah as Assyria approaches Jerusalem.(11:12) In whom do you place your trust? King Benjamin invites us to remember the greatness of God.(15:13) Isaiah 40 can be read as a temple text. Isaiah sees the council of divine beings in heaven.(24:00) The Lord gives encouragement to Israel, and reminds them that he has always been there through their trials.(35:34) The four Servant Songs contained in Isaiah.(40:04) Different interpretations of “Who is blind, but my servant?” The Joseph Smith Translation opens up other ways to read this servant song.(44:40) The Lord proclaims his loyalty to Israel, saying “I will do a new thing.”(50:07) Isaiah warns of idolatry and contrasts Jehovah with the Babylonian god Marduk. He emphasizes that the God of Israel carries us, but the Babylonian god must be carried.(53:29) Isaiah prophesies of Cyrus, the king of Persia. Cyrus is portrayed as a deliverer because he allowed the Jews to go home to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple.(56:58) How the Cyrus prophecy is understood in scholarship. A middle path for approaching “Second Isaiah.”(1:00:19) Isaiah foretells the destruction of Babylon. Babylon leaves the throne and Zion takes her place.(1:06:27) The prophecy of the House of Israel in the last days. Isaiah shapes his argument in “the covenant treaty formula.”(1:08:20) The Lord tells Israel, “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.”(1:12:07) The House of Jacob has come out of the waters of Judah.(1:17:01) The Book of Mormon adds the significant phrase “the feet of those who are in the east shall be established” in 1 Nephi 21.13. Some see this as evidence of Isaiah being edited.(1:20:30) Israel has lost her children, but her children will be gathered again. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 391 | Isaiah 40-49, Come Follow Me 2026 (Sept 28-Oct 4) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

What do you do when the world around you seems to be spinning into chaos, noise, and spiritual deception? In Isaiah 13–35, the prophet looks past the rising superpowers of his day to deliver a sweeping message for our modern world: Babylon will fall, but Zion will stand! If you have ever felt overwhelmed by the weight of the last days, this masterclass reveals why you can hang every hope upon the Savior and know that He will hold. Summary: In this deep dive into Isaiah 13–35, we walk through the profound prophetic chapters that Nephi loved, lived, and quoted throughout the Book of Mormon. Moving from the tragic doom of ancient empires to the breathtaking promises of the Latter-day Restoration, these chapters demonstrate the stark contrast between worldly pride and covenant safety. The Fall of Babylon & Lucifer: In Isaiah 13–14, we analyze the prophetic "burdens" of ancient superpowers, tracing the pride cycle from premortality to the end of the world. We examine how Lucifer sought to exalt his throne above the stars, only to be cast down into the pit while the whole earth breaks forth into singing. The Nail in a Sure Place: In Isaiah 22, we compare the self-aggrandizing treasurer Shebna with the righteous servant Eliakim, discovering how Eliakim stands as an exquisite type of Jesus Christ—clothed with authority, carrying the key of the house of David, and fastened as a nail in a sure place upon which all our hopes can safely hang. The Feast of Fat Things: We explore the apocalyptic songs of Isaiah 24–26, looking at how worldly merriment turns hollow during apostasy, and how the Lord promises to swallow up death in victory, wipe away tears from every face, and keep those in perfect peace whose minds are stayed on Him. The Sure Foundation vs. The Short Bed: In Isaiah 28, we contrast the Lord's "tried stone" and sure foundation against the world's refuge of lies—a spiritual trap likened to sleeping on a bed too short to stretch out on and wrapping up in a blanket too narrow to cover you. A Marvelous Work and a Wonder: We unpack the restoration prophecy of Isaiah 29, exploring the voice whispering low out of the dust, the words of the sealed book delivered to the learned and unlearned, and the Lord's power to cause the deaf to hear and the blind to see out of obscurity. The Highway of Holiness: We conclude with the radiant hope of Isaiah 35, witnessing the solitary wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose, where the ransomed of the Lord return to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads. Call-to-Action: In Isaiah 22:23, the Lord promises to fasten His servant as "a nail in a sure place," holding up all the vessels of His Father's house. What weight, sorrow, or trial are you ready to hand over to the Savior today, knowing that He has the strength to bear it? Share your insights and favorite verses in the comments below! To keep your testimony firmly anchored and "Unshaken" in turbulent times, please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:13 Nephi's Use of Isaiah 14:13 The Fall of Babylon 31:15 Lucifer's Downfall 57:11 The Bird Cast Out of Its Nest 1:05:23 Reaping with the Arm 1:10:41 The Gift of Gathered Israel 1:28:03 A Highway Across the Middle East 1:44:03 Naked & Barefoot, Labor & Watching the Night 1:56:38 The Nail in a Sure Place 2:21:42 Worldliness & Materialism 2:30:57 Apostasy & Restoration 2:48:48 A Feast of Fat Things 2:58:38 Praise & Promise 3:12:58 Redeeming the Vineyard 3:20:41 Strong Drink, Short Beds, & Small Coverings 3:43:38 Planting & Harvesting Wisely 3:53:07 A Voice from the Dust 4:05:30 A Sealed Book & a Marvelous Work 4:23:50 Speaking Smooth Things 4:36:45 Lane Assist & Intensifying Light 4:50:32 Quietness & Assurance 4:56:28 Destruction & Deliverance 5:10:04 The Day of the Lord 5:16:37 The Latter-day Zion 5:23:38 Conclusion

Derek and Jimmy are back to talk about one of the craziest weekends they've had as Killers fans: two nights with Brandon Flowers at The State Room in Salt Lake City. After completely striking out trying to get tickets to the warm-up shows, the guys thought they were going to miss out. But thanks to the generosity of fellow Killers fans, Derek and Jimmy somehow ended up making it to both nights. They talk about the experience of seeing Brandon perform in a venue with fewer than 300 people, the incredible energy inside the room, and the differences between the two nights. Between the two shows, they were able to hear all ten songs from Thrasher performed live, including several songs making their live debut. From Red Ground opening the first night to An American Dream closing it, the guys break down the songs, the setlists, Brandon's stories about growing up in Payson and Nephi, and what it meant to hear songs about their hometown performed in such an intimate setting. They also talk about Quiet Town, Pressure Machine, Sleepwalker, Tiger's Blood, The Clock Was Ticking, Tell Me, the debate over recording concerts on your phone, concert etiquette, and the incredible experience of being surrounded by fellow Killers fans. Plus, Brandon's brother Shane joins him onstage for Mr. Brightside at a private show, and Derek and Jimmy look ahead to the rest of the Thrasher tour. It was two nights that almost didn't happen—and two nights they'll never forget. SHOW NOTES

Text: Isaiah chapters 40 – 55; 2 Kings chapters 18 – 19; Chronicles chapters 29 – 32;  3rd Nephi chapters 21 – 27 relating to Isaiah. Supplemental Text: The Fourth Thousand Years chapters 20-21 BYU Lecture 40  Once the Bible reader grasps the scope of Isaiah's prophesies he cannot help being amazed at the vast, encyclopedia of foreknowledge which the Lord entrusted to this one man. Isaiah was one of those who knew a great deal about today and our marvelous age of miracles, along with the devastating disasters which could summarily sweep us into oblivion if we fail to do our part. In some ways, Isaiah knew us better than we know ourselves. For Israel, Isaiah proclaimed his message of pleading and warning for more than 20 years before Israel fell to Babylon in 721 BC. He denounced violence, immorality and dishonesty of the people calling them to repentance. Isaiah must have been delighted when the 25 year old son of Ahaz named Hezekiah, became the new king. His first task was to repair, sanctify and re-dedicate the temple which his father ransacked and defiled. Soon, the people began to follow Hezekiah's lead and began to repent. After destroying the northern 10 tribes of Israel, Assyria storms down through Judah and threatens to destroy Jerusalem. In preparation for this war and siege, Hezekiah carves the famous water tunnel through limestone rock. Isaiah prophesies that God will save Jerusalem and send a blast upon the mighty Assyrian army. When the king of Assyria arose in the morning, he found 185,000 of his soldiers dead. He abandons his war plans and flees back to Ninevah. As prophesied by Isaiah, Babylon conquers Assyria and then destroys Jerusalem in 721 BC, devastating the temple, community and city walls. In 539 BC, Babylon is conquered by Cyrus of Persia, also prophesied by Isaiah, even by name. He also prophesied of the coming of Christ, of America, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon (stick of Joseph), the restoration of the gospel, latter-day temples and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The discovery of America by Columbus is discussed and the many white Nephite people found alive as noted in his diary. Also discussed is the unfortunate mass slaughter of the indigenous people by well-meaning Catholic priests under the leadership of Cortez and Pizzaro; all prophesied by Nephi.

In this episode of Conversations with Interpreter, Kevin L. Tolley speaks about his research into temple connections in Jacob's sermon and especially with Jacob's use of Isaiah. Dr. Tolley, who is a Coordinator for Seminary and Institutes, has been studying the idea of temples and temple themes in especially the Book of Isaiah, and the connection between the latter part of Isaiah and Psalms and priesthood. This paper, which was presented at a conference on the small plates held in early 2026 at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, brings that research into conversation with the Book of Mormon. Jacob, Nephi's brother, was a priest and he gives his famous sermon in 2 Nephi 6–10 at the temple in the land of Nephi. Dr. Tolley intriguingly connects Jacob's use of Isaiah with his priestly and temple focus. The post Conversations with Interpreter: Kevin Tolley: Temple Themes in Jacob's Sermon in 2 Nephi first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes (00:00) Nephi's keys to understanding Isaiah.(02:23) The destruction of Babylon is prophesied. Woes are proclaimed to the nations round about Judah.(07:50) The King of Babylon is seen in vision as a type of Lucifer, son of the morning.(15:35) The Great Exchange. Babylon and Israel change places as Babylon sits on the ground and Israel takes the throne.(19:49) Isaiah's code speech has various interpretations. The politics of Isaiah's day are used to teach deeper truths.(23:51) Chapters 15-21.(26:05) Eliakim replaces Shebna as Hezekiah's servant in Isaiah 22. Eliakim is described as “a nail in a sure place,” which has reference to Jesus and his trustworthiness.(35:28) Isaiah predicts the destruction of the merchant city of Tyre.(36:49) Desolation and victory. The earth will be cleansed and the wicked will be destroyed, but the righteous will be spared. After it is cleansed, the Lord will reign in Zion.(40:25) God remembers and gives power to those those that wait for him.(43:24) The Book of Revelation contains parallel images of the faithful bride of Christ and the whore of all the earth.(48:12) The drunkards of Ephraim will be trodden under foot.(50:29) The strong city and the lofty city are compared by Isaiah. Isaiah sees the saints of past ages that have brought forth the spirit of our salvation. All will rise in the resurrection.(56:28) Isaiah 27 presents images of God slaying the dragon in the sea and Israel blossoming and prospering.(57:51) The parable of God's plan in history working with fitches, cummin, wheat, barley, and rie. Those who come to earth with unfavorable circumstances will have a gentler judgement. God will account for our degree of difficulty.(1:06:27) The coming forth of a sealed book, The Book of Mormon, is a marvelous work and a wonder. The book is sealed to those who are unwilling to read it.(1:15:36) Judah is reproved for turning to surrounding nations for help. The Lord tells the king to not rely on the flesh. Isaiah promises that God will defend and preserve his people.(1:19:38) Isaiah 34 is a prophecy against Idumea, or the people of Edom. Isaiah 35 speaks of a day of restoration, where the desert will blossom and the Lord will be victorious. The ransomed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 390 | Isaiah 13-35, Come Follow Me 2026 (Sept 21-27) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

Do you know where your food comes from? It's an honest question, and it's a point of concern among American food producers. A recent op-ed in the New York Times highlights concerns with the Trump administration's plans to allow foreign meat onto our store shelves. The goal is to bring down the high prices of meat, especially the really high price of beef. But the move has cattle ranchers across the U.S. -- and in Utah -- concerned. In this chat, the Inside Sources hosts speak with Korey Wright, owner and operator, and Bart Mills, Chief Marketing Officer at Bar W Ranch in Nephi.

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes (00:00) Isaiah lived in the 8th century, a time that began in relative peace but later led to great destruction under the conquest of the Assyrian empire, which destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel. Isaiah was an advisor to several kings and lived about 100 years before Nephi. Micah, Amos, and Hosea are contemporaries of Isaiah.(10:52) Jesus quoted Isaiah and encouraged the Nephites to study his words. Isaiah was the most quoted prophet among the New Testament authors, and his works were important to the Qumran community.(13:02) Ways to enhance your study of Isaiah.(20:28) A brief overview of the entire book of Isaiah.(23:13) A brief overview of chapters 1-12.(25:31) The Israelites are described as apostate and rebellious. The Lord asks that they “reason together,” saying that “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”(31:53) Isaiah uses metals as a metaphor for people. When he describes the silver as dross, this could carry different meanings. Isaiah stresses that “a remnant will return.” Isaiah 1 reflects the destruction enacted by the Assyrians.(40:07) Isaiah sees the future latter-day temple in the tops of the mountains. The temple established in Jerusalem represents the millennial hope of peace. He prophesies that the idols people worship will be cast into caves, to the moles and the bats.(45:39) The daughters of Zion are cursed and tormented for their worldliness. Isaiah discusses three missing objects: the staff, clothing, and the bread. These items can be associated with the temple in Isaiah's day.(54:33) The parable of the vineyard portrays several ways the Lord will bless us when we follow him.(1:09:15) Isaiah sees the Lord and is called as a prophet.(1:15:13) Isaiah is commanded to “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”(1:21:32) Political intrigue and foreign policy issues facilitate Isaiah's prophecy of three special children.(1:33:40) The Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. The King of Assyria is going to be destroyed, just as he destroyed other nations.(1:36:49) The procession of Assyria's forces approaching Jerusalem is illustrated. The remnant of Jacob will return in the last days.(1:39:50) Isaiah sees a tree cut down, leaving only a stump. Though this tree seems dead, Isaiah sees that it will come back to life and a new tree will grow out of the stump. The prophet Joseph Smith has a prominent role in the rebuilding of the tree.(1:42:54) Isaiah sees that peace and order will be restored in the millennial day and that broken things will be healed. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 389 | Isaiah 1-12, Come Follow Me 2026 (Sept 14-20) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

The Savior commanded us to search the words of Isaiah with diligence, declaring that "great are the words of Isaiah". Yet for so many readers, Isaiah feels like a locked door or a foreign language. If you've ever felt intimidated by the poetic imagery, the rapid shifts in tone, or the complex geopolitical history, Isaiah 1–12 provides the ultimate key to unlock the entire book. Summary: In this opening study of Isaiah, we break down the poetic genius, the historical context, and the multi-layered prophecies of ancient Israel's greatest prophetic poet. Using Nephi's keys from 2 Nephi 25, we uncover how Isaiah's warnings to ancient Judah directly reflect the modern world and testify of the coming Messiah. Nephi's Five Keys & The Isaiah Layer Cake: We explain how to decode Hebrew poetic parallelism, chiasmus, and imagery, exploring how Isaiah's prophecies operate on three distinct timelines simultaneously: his day, the meridian of time, and the last days. The Lawsuit Against Israel: In Isaiah 1, God summons heaven and earth as witnesses against His rebellious children, calling out empty ritualism ("vain oblations") while offering the breathtaking promise of scarlet sins made white as snow. The Mountain of the Lord's House: We examine the temple prophecy of Isaiah 2, exploring how all nations "flow uphill" into Zion to learn of God's ways, beat swords into plowshares, and escape the false security of worldly towers and high walls. The Parable of the Vineyard: In Isaiah 5, we walk through the tragic song of the well-beloved whose fruitful vineyard brought forth wild grapes, dissecting the modern cultural peril of "calling evil good, and good evil". The Throneroom Vision & Cleansing Coal: We witness Isaiah's sacred calling in Isaiah 6, feeling the raw inadequacy of a man of unclean lips who is purified by a live altar coal before declaring: "Here am I; send me". Immanuel, the Prince of Peace, & the Stem of Jesse: We untangle the Syro-Ephraimite War in Isaiah 7–8, the royal messianic titles in Isaiah 9, and the profound restoration revelations of Isaiah 11 regarding the Stem, Branch, Rod, and Root of Jesse. Call-to-Action: In Isaiah 6:8, when the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?", Isaiah steps forward despite feeling broken and unworthy. What part of Isaiah 1–12 has helped you recognize your own personal calling to stand for truth in the last days? Let's build a meaningful discussion in the comments below. To keep your gospel foundation centered and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction to Isaiah 14:58 Keys to Understand Isaiah 23:35 Hebrew Poetry 41:28 The Case Against Israel 1:00:06 Worship & Repentance 1:24:50 The Mountain of the Lord 1:31:38 Pulling Down Pride 1:46:22 The Worldliness of the Daughters of Zion 2:07:29 The Cleansing of Zion 2:17:37 Corruption in the Vineyard 2:36:27 Calling for Swift Messengers 2:43:30 The Calling of Isaiah 3:00:04 The Promise of a Savior 3:17:14 The Threat of Assyria 3:21:25 Impending Destruction 3:26:57 Trust in the Lord 3:32:49 Shining Light into the Darkness 3:47:28 Using Assyria as an Instrument 3:55:32 Taking Credit to Ourselves 4:06:25 New Growth from an Old Stump 4:17:32 The Messiah & the Millennium 4:25:54 An Ensign to the Nations 4:31:17 Israel's Song of Salvation 4:33:21 Conclusion

What if understanding Isaiah begins with understanding the world he was trying to save? Dr. Jeffrey Chadwick explores Isaiah 1-12 through history, archaeology, and Hebrew, revealing how Assyrian conquest, the scattering and gathering of Israel, and Isaiah's prophetic calling illuminate his message of warning, covenant, and hope.YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/bA6J9Q1j-gkFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODES00:00 Introduction: Why Israel?5:03 Seeing the Great Isaiah Scroll7:16 How the Book of Isaiah is Organized10:28 Isaiah, Israel, and Our Covenant Identity13:50 Where are the Lost Tribes?16:18 Missionary Work is Gathering Israel20:55 What Does It Mean to Be Gathered?23:26 The Three Assyrian Attacks27:14 Isaiah, Nephi, and the Book of Mormon30:36 How to Understand Isaiah34:09 Lost Israel Forgot Who They Were36:14 Read Isaiah in Its Original Context39:14 Isaiah is a “Glass Onion”42:25 Jerusalem: A Shack in an Empty Field45:35 “Wash You, Make You Clean”49:28 God Does Not Give Up on Israel54:57 One Isaiah or Multiple Authors58:37 “Repent or Die” and “Be Comforted”1:01:18 Isaiah 2: The Great Jerusalem Temple Prophecy1:04:32 The Mountain of the Lord's House1:08:22 All Nations Flow to the Temple1:11:17 Likening Isaiah to Latter-day Temples1:14:01 Isaiah 11-12: The Other Bookend1:16:51 The Branch and the Coming Messiah1:18:42 An Ensign and the Gathering of Israel1:21:38 Ephraim, Judah, and the Gathering1:24:03 Jews and the House of Israel1:27:47 Isaiah's Prophecies and Their Layers1:30:33 Isaiah 6: Isaiah's First Vision1:33:33 “Here am I, Send Me”1:38:02 Hebrew, Translation, and Hardened Hearts1:41:30 Seeing, Hearing, and Being Healed1:43:22 The Assyrian Sling Stone1:49:33 Isaiah's Mission and Ours1:55:45 Beauty for Ashes: Final Thoughts1:08:54 - Dr. Jeffrey ChadwickThanks 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.comWe'd love to hear your thoughts; send us a voice note.

KJ Hershey of 1830 Studios brought three prototype Book of Mormon brick sets into the studio — Laban's house, Lehi's Tree of Life vision, and Nephi's ship — and the details are wild.In this episode we talk about:- Why these aren't legally “Lego” sets (and how the brick market actually works)- Why Nephi's ship is designed like a proto-Polynesian catamaran instead of a 16th-century galleon- The Tree of Life as a temple / heavenly ascent- Why the iron rod may not have been a handrail at all- The tree as a seven-branch menorah- How custom minifigs, printed tiles, and future mega-builds of Zarahemla, Nauvoo, and Palmyra could work#BookOfMormon #Lego #1830Studios #WardRadio #IronRodChapter Markers0:00 – Intro: Book of Mormon brick sets in the studio 1:30 – “They're bricks, not Legos” 2:40 – Laban's house (adobe, mosaic floor, removable rooms) 4:20 – Meet KJ Hershey / 1830 Studios 5:20 – How he designed Laban's house 6:10 – Tree of Life set + Nephi's ship 7:30 – Why you can manufacture bricks but not copy minifig shape 9:00 – Tree of Life details: white fruit, mist, filthy river, great and spacious building 10:20 – Why Nephi's ship is a catamaran, not a Spanish Galleon 12:10 – Polynesian / Hagoth connection 15:20 – Custom printed Lego minifigs (Laban, missionaries, etc.) 17:20 – Sponsor: Go and Do Travel 18:20 – Creative liberties vs. official Church videos 20:00 – Making scripture feel real (Hill Cumorah pageant) 21:30 – How many pieces / how manufacturing works 24:50 – The iron rod was not a handrail 26:20 – Tree of Life as temple / heavenly ascent 27:10 – The tree as a menorah 28:20 – Sources: Dave Butler, *Language of Adam*, BYU Studies 29:40 – Ward Radio collab ideas 31:00 – Great and spacious building close-up 31:40 – Pricing and pre-orders 33:00 – Future mega-builds: Zarahemla, Nauvoo, Palmyra 33:45 – What's next: audio, games, TVJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes (00:00) Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are sometimes referred to as “Wisdom Literature.” These texts may have developed during the period of the monarchy. Proverbs shows some Egyptian influence.(07:44) The big picture of Proverbs: Do I seek wisdom? Wisdom is portrayed as feminine and is a Tree of Life to all who lay hold upon her.(24:04) The Wisdom Tradition clarifies the difference between the wise person and the fool. Many parallels exist between Nephi and Proverbs, as Nephi was trained in the Wisdom Tradition.(31:00) Truth and goodness are found in so many religions and cultures. We can cultivate holy envy and compare bests with bests when discussing other religious traditions.(34:22) The “Strange Woman” described in Proverbs can be seen as a type of the evils mankind should avoid, as her paths lead to death.(35:24) Whoever finds wisdom finds life unto their soul. Wisdom speaks of her companionship with God during the creation.(44:44) Who can find a virtuous woman? This can be interpreted as finding wisdom or as being a woman of strength and power.(48:57) The dominant theme in Ecclesiastes is that all is vanity or “hevel”, meaning that everything on this earth is temporary and fleeting. A valuable lesson we can take from this is to focus our time and energy on what matters most.(54:03) The authorship of Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon, but can also be dated to a later time period.(1:03:01) Ecclesiastes 12 contains evidence of a later editor reshaping the final message of the book, where it is concluded that the only activity of lasting and permanent value comes from obedience to God's commandments. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 388 | Proverbs; Ecclesiastes, Come Follow Me 2026 (Sept 7-13) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

In this episode of Dialogue Unbound, Caroline Kline talks with literary scholar Michael Austin and filmmaker Daniel Foster Smith about The Odyssey, modern adaptation, and the stories cultures tell about their heroes. From Odysseus's hubris… The post From Odysseus to Nephi: Heroes, History, and Myth appeared first on Dialogue Journal.

Send us Fan MailIf you've ever wondered why someone can look impressive and still feel hollow, this conversation gets straight to the point: goodness is not a brand, a bank balance, or a perfectly curated life. We start with a simple idea that came out of real-world talks with pilots about judgment and character, then move into the question that actually matters for Christian living: what makes a good man or a good woman? We pull from Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Aristotle to explore virtue, self-mastery, and the power of repeated habits, then place those insights next to scripture and modern prophetic counsel. President D. Todd Christofferson's teaching that Christlike character grows out of a Christlike heart reframes the whole project. Behavior is the fruit, but the heart is the tree. That leads to a practical self-audit: if God could change one thing about your heart, what would you ask Him to change? From there, we get concrete. Goodness shows up when it costs something, when strength is paired with restraint, and when integrity holds in private. We talk about meekness as real power under control, the danger of “curated character” in a social media age, and why honesty is more than not lying. We also connect President Russell M. Nelson's call to be peacemakers with the daily chain that builds character: thoughts, words, actions. Finally, we name what philosophy can't supply on its own: grace. The hope isn't manufacturing perfection through willpower, but coming to Christ and being changed from the inside out, “even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27). If this helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us what daily habit you're choosing to practice this week.Support the showYou can reach me anytime at email: tandrewsen.monat@gmail.comInstagram @toddtalks_ig

In this episode of Conversations with Interpreter, we interview ‘Alisi K. Langi, an assistant professor in faculty of Ancient Scripture at Brigham University-Hawaii, looking at her paper “Throwing Greater Views Upon Jesus Christ and His Gospel Through Named & Unnamed Women in the Small Plates of Nephi.” Doctor Langi's paper looks at how women are presented in the small plates (1 Nephi through Omni) and especially what it can teach us about Jesus Christ. In this interview, Langi points out that because so few women are mentioned in the small plates, it can be easy to think that they are unimportant to the narrative or among the Nephites, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, as Dr. Langi shows nothing could be further from the truth. The paper under discussion here was written for a conference held at Brigham Young University in Provo. The post Conversations with Interpreter: ‘Alisi K. Langi: Named and Unnamed Women in the Small Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Someone is finally making a full-cast, immersive audio experience of the Book of Mormon — without changing a single word of the text.In this episode we sit down with KJ from 1830 Studios to hear the first proof-of-concept chapters of 1 Nephi.He walks us through:Why most Book of Mormon audio / dramatization projects get started and then dieHow he's building an immersive soundscape + original soundtrack around the actual scripture textThe production challenges (time, money, and scale)Plans to do the entire Book of Mormon + the narrative books of the Bible in the same “audio universe”And of course… we dream-cast the voice actors (yes, Trump as King Noah made the cut)The current chapters are free. The goal is to keep the whole library free. This one feels different.#BookOfMormon #AudioExperience #LatterDaySaints #WardRadioChapter Markers0:00 – Intro: The Book of Mormon Audio Experience1:20 – How this is different from past dramatizations3:00 – Listening to 1 Nephi Chapter 15:00 – The power of slowing down the text6:30 – “You sound like Shredder”7:30 – Why so many of these projects never finish9:30 – Money, time, and production quality11:20 – Sponsor: Go and Do Travel12:20 – Listening to the plates of brass / Laban section14:00 – Plans for the full Book of Mormon + Bible16:00 – Dream casting: Who should voice Lehi, Moroni, etc.19:30 – Trump as King Noah (and other terrible ideas)23:00 – What if Captain Moroni was short and fat?25:30 – Closing thoughtsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide

Note: Much of the content in this podcast can be found in show participant Ross Anderson's book Understanding the Book of MormonThe Book of Mormon claims to be an ancient scripture that tells the story of God's people in the American continent. It was engraved on gold plates and translated by Joseph Smith through the “gift and power of God.” In fact, Smith claimed that “the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (History of the Church, 4:461). LDS missionaries seek converts by urging them to read BoM and pray about its divine authenticity.Anachronism Anachronism = events or objects that appear out of the proper time period in which one would expect themSynagoguesAlma 16:13 = Nephite evangelists preached repentance in synagogues, “which were built after the manner of the Jews”Nephites were descended from Jews → were Jewish (according to story)But synagogues were not developed in Judaism until 400 years after Nephites left JerusalemHow could the writer have know HOW the Jews built their synagogues?Plants / AnimalsMosiah 9:9 “And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds: with seeds of corn and of wheat and of barley.”Wheat and barley were brought to America by EuropeansSheep / goats / cattle / swine → introduced to America by EuropeansEconomy → use of money (coinage) vs. barter18th Century IdeasSince its publication, observers have noted that BoM contains many parallels to 19th c. American lifeAlexander Campbell: JS wrote into the BoM “every error and almost every truth discussed in New York for the last ten years”BoM decides all the great theological / social controversies of the ageReflects 19th c. theological & political themesOffers guidance on democracy, socialism, capitalism, various Protestant controversies like infant baptism, Calvinism, miracles, the fall of humankind, call to ministry, Unitarianism, etcSermons by Nephite prophets echo closely the form & language of 19th c. evangelistsConversion experiences described in BoM are similar to spiritual awakenings commonly reported in American revival movement of early 1800sWhy are the contents of an ancient work so closely tied to the concerns of one American generation?Literary SourcesA View of the Hebrews (1823) by Ethan Smith (Read it here)Argued that Native Americans descended from lost 10 tribes of IsraelThis was a pretty common view in early 1800sBoM shares several thematic elementsExtensive quotations from IsaiahThe New World peopled from the Old World by long sea voyageA religious motive for that migrationMigrants divided into civilized and uncivilized groups with long wars between themEventual destruction of the civilized by the uncivilizedAssumption that Native Americans are descended from these Israelite peopleRecord a change of government from monarchy to republicSuggest the gospel was preached in ancient AmericaIt is unknown whether JS had access to a copy of View of the HebrewsBut even if BoM was not directly inspired by it, the ideas expressed in it were common and popular in 19th century America; reflected in dozens of booksHistory of the American Indians (1775) by James AdairSpecific words and phrases describing Indian fortifications - same in bothMany other parallelsThe Wonders of Nature (1825) by Josiah PriestSimilarity in several passages → a pure coincidence?The Golden Pot (1827 eng trans), by ETA HoffmanSeveral alleged similarities in this story compared to the story of how the BoM / gold plates came forthBible AnachronismsAspects of how the BoM interacts with the Bible → don't reflect JS's timesKJV language = KJV translated in 1611, 210+ years before BoMEnglish had changed quite a bit → compare reading American lit from that timeLast of the Mohicans / The Scarlet Letter / Legend of Sleepy HollowBut BoM is written in full-on KJV styleKJV the predominant translation → extremely wide circulationIt was how Scripture soundedWhy would BoM not reflect the common language of JS's time?If not a conscious attempt to make it sound like ScriptureBoM contains verbal parallels to the 1611 preface to KJVWords / phrases in the preface, but not in the KJV text of BibleWhich, of course, ancient writers would not have had access toBoM has a timeline → approx dates when events took placeAlma 12-13 (dates) draws heavily on the book of HebrewsA variety of BoM's theological statements draw from / depend on interpretations already present in the NTProphecies from 1-2 Nephi (600-5454 BC) about coming of Jesus Christ use language recorded in NTReads more like a Xian doc vs a Jewish docIn a sense, these BoM prophecies know too much detail about Messiah - far more than OT prophetsSuggests an author familiar with the fulfillment of the prophecies after the factBoM version of Sermon on MountSome changes are made: no ref to PhariseesBut many issues in BoM version that presuppose 1st-century Jewish cultural / religious contextGoing 2 miles when forced to go 1The “jot and tittle” of Scripture“Dogs” as a metaphor for GentilesEtc.Does the Bible have the same issues?The evidence of the Dead Sea Scrolls gives strong evidence of the reliability of the BibleSee: “What Are the Dead Seas Scrolls?”--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--

Most people treat “contradictions” in scripture as a problem. What if they're actually one of the strongest evidences that the Book of Mormon is real?In this episode we dig into:- Why Nephi and Jacob clearly disagree about the Lamanites- Why treating the Book of Mormon like a single, univocal voice is a mistake- How real people (and real prophets) have different perspectives- The difference between Greek “linear logic” and Hebrew “block logic”- Why perfect agreement would actually make the text look fake- Why Scripture Contradictions Are a Feature, Not a BugIf the authors of the Book of Mormon never disagreed, that would be suspicious.The tension is the point.#BookOfMormon #LatterDaySaints #Apologetics #WardRadioChapter Markers0:00 – Intro: Are contradictions actually evidence? 1:50 – The skin color / Lamanite discussion that started it 2:45 – Nephi's prejudice vs. Jacob's defense of the Lamanites 3:30 – “The Book of Mormon doesn't say anything” — authors do 4:30 – Real people have different opinions 5:40 – Why total univocality would make scripture look fake 7:00 – Disagreement is what makes real texts (and real podcasts) interesting 9:00 – Sponsor: Tiny3D Temples 9:50 – Stop inventing Hebrew words to erase tension 11:40 – Andrew Cavin and the James vs. Paul disagreement 13:00 – Hebrew “block logic” vs. Greek linear logic 15:00 – Prince of Peace vs. “I came to bring a sword” 18:00 – Mystery vs. solving every problem 21:00 – Nephi and Jacob as the best example of authentic tension 22:20 – Closing thoughtsJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide

Mormonism is changing and the version of it a Latter-day Saint holds today may look almost nothing like the version their parents held. I sat down with Aaron Shafovaloff and Brandi Bronson to map what's actually happening. Aaron has done evangelism in Utah for two decades and volunteers with Mormonism Research Ministry. Brandy was LDS for 27 years before leaving. Aaron lays out seven distinct streams within the movement today and Brandy describes the Mormonism she was raised in divine nature, eternal progression, creating worlds, and what made her start to question it. CHECK OUT: Logos Bible 60 Day Free Trial (https://logos.com/mcdowell) *Get a MASTERS IN APOLOGETICS or SCIENCE AND RELIGION at BIOLA (https://bit.ly/3LdNqKf) *USE Discount Code [smdcertdisc] for 25% off the BIOLA APOLOGETICS CERTIFICATE program (https://bit.ly/3AzfPFM) *See our fully online UNDERGRAD DEGREE in Bible, Theology, and Apologetics: (https://bit.ly/448STKK) FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter: https://x.com/Sean_McDowell TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sean_mcdowell?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seanmcdowell/ Website: https://seanmcdowell.org Timestamps 0:00 — What is "the new Mormonism"? 0:27 — Brandy: 27 years as a Latter-day Saint 1:08 — Aaron: two decades of evangelism in Utah 2:05 — The eras: early, pioneer, correlation, neo-orthodoxy 4:54 — Is it changing faster now? 5:42 — Ships at sea with no anchor 6:51 — Brandy's 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 7:16 — The great apostasy and the exclusivity claim 9:16 — When the cracks appeared for her 11:09 — The seven streams 12:37 — Correlated Mormonism 13:24 — Neo-orthodoxy and "a crush on evangelical grace" 15:08 — Revisionism 16:21 — Primitive Mormonism 17:23 — Progressive Mormonism 18:29 — Cultural Mormonism 19:13 — Which streams are actually biggest 21:26 — Why the apologist and the stake president sounded so different 22:22 — Why Mormons are forced to be more nuanced now 24:19 — "I even considered staying" 27:15 — The Gospel Topics essays 30:06 — Who is Blake Ostler? 31:14 — The regress of deities 32:24 — Ostler's reinterpretation 35:02 — Is any stream moving genuinely orthodox? 36:38 — "More rhetorical than structural" 41:17 — What used to make something essentially Mormon 45:13 — What holds it together now 46:45 — Do you have to believe in Jesus to stay a member? 50:32 — Why orthopraxy over orthodoxy 52:23 — Universalism and "we're all going to make it" 55:18 — 2 Nephi 25:23, before and after 59:07 — Are more people coming to Christ? 1:03:32 — The one change Aaron celebrates without reservation 1:04:25 — If you're LDS, I want to hear from you 1:05:03 — Where to follow Brandy and Aaron Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Note: Much of the content in this podcast can be found in show participant Ross Anderson's book Understanding the Book of MormonThe Book of Mormon claims to be an ancient scripture that tells the story of God's people in the American continent.LDS challenge: “Either the Book of Mormon is what the Prophet Joseph said it is, or this Church and its founder are false, a deception from the first instance onward…Joseph must be accepted either as a prophet of God or else as a charlatan of the first order…” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Christ and the New Covenant,” quoted in Ensign, September 2002, 14)To accept BoM is to accept JS as a prophet, and everything that he stands for.The Book of Mormon claims can be / should be tested. 1 Thess 5:21 “Test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.”ArchaeologyBoM claims to be an ancient record of American continentFeaturing great cities, people at warArchaeology has failed to unearth any concrete evidence for BoMInscriptional evidence → names carved into stone monumentsExample: Sennacherib / Assyrians = names of Israel's kingsNo BoM name every foundMaterial remains → walls / foundations of ancient citiesPlenty of ancient cities in America, but none that can be linked to BoMExample: BoM describes its people using gold, silver, iron, brass, copperThe mining, smelting, and casting of metal ores requires special tools / complex processes which leave traces in the archaeological recordScholars generally agree: metallurgy not introduced into America until several centuries after the BoM story endsAnimals → BoM mentions many different kinds of animals: cattle, sheep, goats, horsesNone have been found in any archaeological setting dating to BoM timesUnlike deer, jaguar, peccary, tapir, other native speciesThe horse have never been found depicted in any of 1000s of sample of artNew world archaeology is still a young sciencePerhaps some day some artifact or inscription will be found to validate the BoMBut so far, best LDS apologists can do = create aura of plausibility based on vague similaritiesBy contrast, archaeology has repeatedly demonstrated the reliability of Bible: historically / geographicallyUse of metals as describe in Bible can be verified at many sitesA person can visit the actual cities where Bible describes Jesus or Paul travellingBritish Museum (London)Massive stone panels from ancient Ninevah → cities in Bible are recorded thereEvidence for the reliability of the Bible: “Three Reasons to Trust the Bible”DNATraditional LDS understanding - based on BoM story → native Americans are descended from ancient Jews who left Jerusalem for America around 600 BCThis is what JS taught → the most straightforward way to read the BoM textMainstream science → all native Americans are of Asian originSupported by extensive DNA sampling of American Indian populationsMany current LDS scholars claim that most NA's are of Asian descentWhile a small subset are of Semitic origin, descended from LehiIdea is = Nephite & Lamanite civilizations described in BoM made up a very small % of total population of New World during BoM timesLDS Church has acknowledged the challenges1981 BoM: identifies Lamanites as “the principle ancestors of the American Indians”2006 BoM: Lamanites “are among the ancestors of the American Indians”If BoM peoples were not alone in the Americas, it's very surprising that BoM never mentions these large populations of other peopleIn fact, no references to other peoples or nations, no accounts of Nephites evangelizing pagans, no polemics vs polytheism, idolatry, etc.LDS Church Gospel Topics Essay: Book of Mormon and DNA StudiesBible PlagiarismBoM contains extensive material in common with the BibleFirst type of shared content = simple repetition or direct quotationIncluding frequent phrases such as “it came to pass” and “verily, verily I say unto you”Second type = interpretive changes to a biblical text2 Nephi 2:18 expands on the biblical account of Eve's temptation (Gen 3:4-5)Third type = structural parallels to the BibleIncludes literary forms, common motifs, character types, etcConversion of Alma (Mos 27) has many features in common with Paul's conversion (Acts 9)Point: in many cases, Nephite writers mimic wording from the NTA doc to which they would have had no access.All of this shared content raises the Q: does common material come from independent sources?Or did JS simply copy from the Bible?Case 1 = the Sermon on the MountJesus appears in BoM - apparently in 40 days after resurrection prior to ascensionHis public address in 3 Nephi 12-14 contains much in common with Matt 5-7Case 2 = BoM contains more than 19 complete chapters in common w/IsaiahLehi's people carried a copy of OT scriptures with them → source of quoted materialSeveral lines of evidence suggest JS derived the Isaiah passages directly from KJV rather than an ancient sourceExample: biblical scholarship has advanced since KJV translationMany passages that were obscure in KJV in JS time are now more clearBut some of the misunderstandings found in the KJV are also found in BoMSuggests a direct relationship between KJV / BoMWould not have been present in BoM's quotes of Isaiah if the Isaiah text had originated in Lehi's time, as the story claimsHow would translation problems from KJV find their way into BoM?The extensive content shared between KJV & BoM - and the nature of the parallels - creates strong impression that BoM was produced AFTER the KJVOf course, LDS apologists have answers for all of these objectionsThe question is whether their answers are credibleFor loyal Mormons, the answers are convincing because they already have an existing commitment to the BoMOthers, without that grid, are not convinced that BoM passes the test--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--

Episode Description Thrasher is finally here. Five years after Pressure Machine changed the direction of the Lonely Town Podcast, Brandon Flowers has released his new solo album, and Derek and Jimmy are finally sitting down to give their first reactions. Recorded on Thrasher Day, the guys talk about their first listen to the album, what surprised them, which songs immediately connected, and how the record's mix of traditional country, outlaw country, rock, and even mariachi influences compares with what they expected. Derek also talks about how his recent experience giving friends a tour of Nephi changed the way he was hearing the album. From the West Hills to Mount Nebo, childhood memories and small-town life, there are elements of Thrasher that feel incredibly personal—but also universal. The guys aren't diving into individual songs too deeply yet. Instead, this is the first reaction episode before Lonely Town begins its much deeper journey through the album. They also talk about the upcoming Brandon Flowers warm-up shows at The State Room in Salt Lake City, the mad scramble for 300 tickets, the possibility of fans livestreaming the shows, and why Derek still believes a Brandon Flowers show in Nephi would be the ultimate homecoming. And, of course, there's the ongoing question: Will Brandon ever actually play Nephi? After five years of Lonely Town, Derek and Jimmy aren't giving up. Show Notes

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes (00:00) The historical background and purpose of the Psalms.(02:14) Many scholars assert that several of the Psalms were used in Israel's temple worship, especially during the first temple period. They can be divided into hymns of praise, pleas for help or laments, and thanksgiving songs.(08:44) Some LDS scholars see the setting of the Psalms directly connected to the temple.(15:13) In Psalm 1 the Tree of Life is seen, similar to Nephi's dream in 1 Nephi 8-11.(17:14) Psalm 2 is an enthronement Psalm. The king is set on a holy hill in Zion and is adopted as a Son of God.(20:36) By making a covenant with God, the king is given the promise of invulnerability. This is both literal and symbolic.(23:35) Psalm 8 depicts God's glorious creations. We are central in his creations.(26:21) “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels”. The original Hebrew text states that man is “a little lower than the Elohim.”(29:28) Psalm 19 emphasizes the laws of the Lord, portraying the law as “sweeter than honeycomb.”(31:37) Psalm 20 is a plea for help. We receive increased divine attention when we go to the temple.(33:02) Psalm 21 portrays the king receiving the requested blessing, as he comes before the Lord and receives a crown in his presence.(36:29) Psalm 22 describes the Messiah's battle with evil. We are given a glimpse into the Savior's struggle in Gethsemane and Golgotha as he cries out during the day and the night. Justin, in his dialogue with Trypho, connects the sufferer's cry in Psalm 22 with Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane.(42:28) Jesus, though mocked while on the cross, did not revile against those who ridiculed him.(45:31) The Bulls of Bashan compass the Messiah. His bones are out of joint, he is poured out like water, and his hands and feet are pierced.(51:36) The Savior's post-mortal ministry in the spirit world.(56:50) Psalm 23 shows the plan of salvation in the pattern of a three-act play. The rod or staff is an extension of God.(1:01:22) Changing the tenses of the verbs in Psalm 23 can provide additional application.(1:05:03) Psalm 24, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” As we demonstrate our trust in Jesus and are cleansed, we are promised we will one day come into the Father's presence.(1:07:45) Psalm 24 as a depiction of the ascent of the king coming into the hill of the Lord, with the priests and the Ark of the Covenant.(1:08:58) Psalm 25 is an acrostic psalm. Psalm 29 portrays God's victory over chaos as his “voice is upon the waters.”(1:12:00) Psalm 40 describes how the king's feet are established on the rock, a symbol of sacred kingship. The king prays for the tender mercies and the lovingkindness of the Lord.(1:15:48) The song of redeeming love.(1:20:14) Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God.” → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 385 | Psalms 1-46, Come Follow Me 2026 (August 17-23) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

Abstract: Sidney Sperry identified 2 Nephi 4:15–35 as “Nephi's Psalm.” Using form-critical analysis, Matthew Nickerson classified it as a personal lament psalm. In this article, I build on biblical turns of phrase, imagery, symbolism, and the archaeological record established by previous scholarship to demonstrate how verses 32–35 constitute Nephi's movement through gradations of increasing holiness in the temple. Nephi's movement also exemplifies the use of thematic and rhetorical intensification, a method used by biblical poets. The ordered presentation of temple elements through those four verses suggests intentional artistry rather than random borrowing and affirms the literary sophistication of the Book of Mormon. This article adds to the substantial body of work demonstrating that Book of Mormon authors possessed a sophisticated command of Hebrew literary conventions. The post Progressing through Gradations of Holiness in the Temple: 2 Nephi 4:32–35 as a Hymn Inspired by Ritual first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Send us Fan MailThe biology of endogenous cannabinoids & history of cannabinoid-based therapeuticsTOPICS DISCUSSED:Anandamide vs 2-AG: The two major endocannabinoids with a shared arachidonic acid backbone but distinct head groups biological roles.On-demand production: Calcium-dependent enzymes release cannabinoids from membranes in response to neuronal activity patterns.Trafficking: Fatty acid binding proteins and extracellular microvesicles traffic endocannabinoids within and between cells.Adolescent THC: Global receptor activation during circuit wiring may contribute to cannabis use disorder and psychosis vulnerability in susceptible individuals.Enzyme inhibitors: Early FAAH clinical trial halted by off-target toxicity; MAGL inhibitors advancing in phase 2 for anxiety and addiction.Peripheral CB1: Liver receptors regulate metabolism; restricted antagonists aim to reduce weight without central psychiatric risks of the weight loss drug rimonabant.ABOUT THE GUEST: Nephi Stella, PhD is a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He has studied endocannabinoid signaling for more than 25 years, focusing on therapeutic strategies that separate beneficial effects from side effects of cannabinoid-system modulation.Support the showSupport my work:Good Chemistry: Personalized, science-based health consulting. Work with Dr. Nick Jikomes directly.Affiliate Partners: Visit this link to see my affiliate partners and get discounts codes for products & services to support health.For all the ways you can support my efforts.

Because the LDS Church claims to be led by divine revelation, major changes in doctrine are startling. If LDS prophets are led by God, one might expect current prophets to agree with previous ones. But the LDS principle of continuing revelation allows new “truths” to supersede past ones. Yet changes in LDS teachings raise the question of whether past prophets were wrong. And what will be said in 50 years about the prophets Mormons revere and obey today? With this in mind, consider some major changes in Mormon doctrine over the years.Polygamy The Book of Mormon expressly prohibits polygamy, Jacob 2:27-30: “There shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.” The 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants (Section 101) agrees: Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again. Yet in the 1830s, Joseph Smith began exploring the possibility of polygamy. He formally (but secretly) introduced plural marriage in 1843. The doctrine was not embraced openly until 1852, when the Mormons were safely established in Utah. For the next 40 years, polygamy was taught as a requirement for the highest levels of heaven. By the 1880s, an estimated 20-30% of Mormon families practiced polygamy.Yet polygamy was strongly rejected by the American public as a barbaric practice. The United States government applied increasingly stern measures against it. In 1887, the Edmunds-Tucker Act made polygamy a federal offense and authorized the seizure of LDS Church assets. Polygamous men were imprisoned. Families moved to Mexico and Canada, or went underground. Under pressure to preserve the Church from destruction at the hands of the United States government, LDS President Wilford Woodruff released a statement in 1890 - called “The Manifesto” - declaring his intention to submit to the laws of the land, and advising members of the Church to refrain from entering any illegal marriage. Even so, plural marriages continued to be performed in secret, until polygamy was completed forbidden by the LDS Church in 1904.Many people, out of faithfulness to Joseph Smith, continued to practice polygamy outside the official LDS Church. Known as “fundamentalists”, several close-knit polygamous communities survive across the western United States to this day. They believe that the mainstream LDS Church is apostate, while they represent original Mormonism..While plural marriage is now strictly forbidden in the LDS Church, it was never renounced as an eternal principle. The Church permits men to be married in LDS temples “for eternity” to more than one wife. In fact, the current LDS prophet, Russell M. Nelson, is eternally sealed to two women.After being a mainstay of Mormonism for 50 years, polygamy was shelved so that the LDS Church could survive. But marriage laws in the United States have changed considerably since 1890. Polygamy is no longer prosecuted as a crime. Will LDS prophets reveal that faithful Mormons should practice plural marriage again?The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essays:Plural Marriage in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Manifesto and the End of Plural MarriageRacismFor decades, men of black African descent could not hold the LDS priesthood. (In Mormonism, priesthood is the authority to administer key ordinances in God's name. No women have ever been allowed to hold this priesthood.)In the 1800s, Mormonism, like most American religions, had a mixed report card on racism. Some early Mormons were pro-slavery, some anti-slavery, and some neutral. During Joseph Smith's time, two black men were ordained to the LDS priesthood, although this privilege was later revoked. The Book of Mormon reflects the view that dark skin is a curse from God in response to spiritual depravity. In the Utah period, Mormonism was marked by a demeaning attitude toward blacks. It was commonly taught, well into the 2oth century, that black skin was God's curse on Cain (Genesis 4:11-15). In LDS thought, a great war in heaven divided God's spirit children in the premortal existence. Those born black in this life were said to have been less valiant in that heavenly war. Brigham Young, the 2nd LDS Church President and Prophet, had a low view of blacks:You see some classes of the human family that are black, uncouth, uncomely, disagreeable and low in their habits, wild, and seemingly deprived of nearly all the blessings of the intelligence that is generally bestowed upon mankind. (Journal of Discourses: 7:290-291).This is why interracial marriage was not allowed and social interaction between the races was officially discouraged well into the 1960s and 1970s. It is also the rationale for denying blacks the priesthood and not allowing them to receive temple ordinances.Latter-day Saints will argue that the LDS position on blacks and the priesthood was not doctrine, but a matter of policy. Yet in 1949, the Church's highest leaders spoke clearly against this view:The attitude of the Church with reference to the Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the Priesthood at the present time. (Statement of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, August 17, 1949, Archives, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salt Lake City.)This changed in 1978, when LDS Prophet Spencer W. Kimball announced a revelation that allowed black men to receive the priesthood. Since then, the LDS Church has made several statements condemning racism. They have increased their missionary efforts in Africa and in black communities elsewhere. We can rejoice that the LDS Church has officially turned away from the evil of racism. But were the LDS prophets in the 1850s right or wrong? Was the First Presidency in 1949 telling the truth? It's good for any church to change policies that are wrong. But what does it say about a church that claims to be led by divine revelation?The LDS Church's Gospel Topics Essay: Race and the PriesthoodTrinityThe historic position of Christianity, based on the Bible, is that there is only one God, who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Latter-day Saints deny this idea of God. They envision a “Godhead” of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost who are not one God in three persons, but separate beings who are one in spirit, purpose, and glory. But their view of God has changed over the years.The way God is depicted in the Book of Mormon is much closer to biblical Trinitarianism. Here is a sampling of just a few examples:And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. (2 Nephi 31:21)And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one. (3 Nephi 11:27)Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. (Ether 3:14)Modern Latter-day Saints interpret statements about “one God” and Jesus being “the Father and the Son” in support of current LDS doctrine, but on the face of it, the language itself suggests otherwise.In the decade after the Book of Mormon was published, the LDS idea of God continued to develop. The Lectures on Faith - published in 1835 as part of LDS scripture - asserted:That the Godhead consists of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Lecture 5, Paragraph 1)That there are two "personages", the Father and the Son, that constitute the "supreme power over all things" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)That the Father is a "personage of spirit, glory, and power" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)That the Son is a "personage of tabernacle" who "possess[es] the same mind with the Father; which Mind is the Holy Spirit" (Lecture 5, Paragraph 2)Over time, the current LDS view of God emerged. Most modern Latter Day Saints would never accept the idea of a two "personage" Godhead, with the Father as a spirit and the Holy Spirit as the shared "mind" of the Father and the Son.SummaryBiblical Christianity has certainly changed in its practices over the years. But the core doctrines that define the Christian faith are rooted in the stability of the unchanging Bible. Different interpretations of the Bible come and go in different eras, but the Bible is always the definitive standard against which any interpretation is measured. God continues to speak to his people today, not through the changing ideas of mortal prophets, but through his timeless word, the Bible.--The Unveiling...

A newly discovered apocryphal text claims to record Jesus Christ visiting the Lost Ten Tribes in a hidden “City of the Blessed.” The story matches exactly what Latter-day Saints would expect from a record of the Ten Tribes — a miraculous visit from the risen Lord, teaching, feasting, and establishing His church among them.In this episode, we break down:The Acts of Saint Matthew in the City of the PriestsHow this ancient manuscript aligns with 3 Nephi and other scripturesWhy this is precisely the kind of record we would expect to findHollow Earth theories, speculation, and what it means for future scriptureThis could be a major discovery for those awaiting the records of the Lost Ten Tribes.#LostTenTribes #BookOfMormon #Apocrypha #LDSChapter Markers / Timestamps00:00 - Intro: The Lost Ten Tribes & New Discovery02:28 - Christ's “Other Sheep” – John 10 & 3 Nephi05:09 - The Acts of Saint Matthew in the City of the Priests08:05 - Christ Visiting the Ten Tribes – What the Record Claims11:14 - Why This Matches Exactly What We Would Expect14:45 - The City of the Blessed & Ancient Attestations18:10 - Hollow Earth Theories & Other Speculation21:51 - Growing Up with Church History & Primary Sources25:33 - What Records of the Ten Tribes Might Contain29:48 - Final Thoughts: This Could Be a Major DiscoveryJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide

This episode is number two in a two part series of interviews with Jennifer C. Lane. The first discussed her work on redemption and the life of Abraham, while this episode focuses on exploring the idea of redemption in the Small Plates of Nephi. Dr. Lane in particular connects the teachings about Christ with the Old Testament notion of the kinsman-redeemer. The authors of this part of the Book of Mormon frame redemption in its connection to covenant and the covenant relationship we build with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. This episode discusses Dr. Lane's paper “Knowing Our Redeemer: Christ as Kinsman-Redeemer in the Small Plates,” presented as a keynote at the 2026 Small Plates of Nephi Conference held on May 29-30th at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. The post Conversations with Interpreter: Jennifer Lane — Part 2: Jesus as Kinsman–Redeemer in the Small Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In Episode 5 of this series, Patrick begins by responding to a recent podcast episode illustrating twenty 19th century non-Biblical phrases that are found in the Book of Mormon. These phrases point to a non-ancient text. But do they point to Joseph as the author? Or better yet, to Rigdon? Patrick then addresses the question of conspiracies in early Mormon history! Are we conspiracy theorists and we don't even know it? After a brief review of the first four Book of Mormon wordprint studies presented in prior episodes, we move on to the heart of this episode which focuses on two wordprint studies that both show compare the text of Nephi to that of Alma and then Mormon. Both present well-constructed studies for the determination that there are multiple authors of the Book of Mormon. Both also avoid comparing Rigdon! Why??? Patrick also reviews two LDS-authored summaries of the various wordprint studies and shows how there is a lot of mis-direction and spin. Finally, we present a chart reviewing the findings of the first 6 wordprint studies showing surprisingly consistent findings. Join us for a thoughtful look at the evidence behind one big question: who authored the Book of Mormon?This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Jeff Harmon (co-founder of Angel Studios) shares a fresh and powerful interpretation of one of the most debated verses in the Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 25:23.By connecting it to Alma 24:11, Jeff shows that “all we can do” is actually repentance — not a long list of works. This changes how we understand grace, salvation, and what God actually asks of us.In this conversation we discuss:Why “after all we can do” has been misunderstoodHow Alma 24 defines the phrase for usRepentance as turning to Christ (not perfection)Why many Latter-day Saints conflate salvation with exaltationThe gift of repentanceThis is one of the cleanest, most insightful explanations of this verse we've heard.What do you think — does this change how you read 2 Nephi 25:23?#2Nephi2523 #BookOfMormon #Repentance #WardRadio #JeffHarmonChapter Markers / Timestamps (For ~28 minute video)00:00 - Intro: A Fresh Take on an Old Anti-Mormon Trope01:55 - Jeff Harmon's New Connection in 2 Nephi 25:2303:38 - “All We Can Do” as a Defined Term in the Book of Mormon04:58 - Alma 24:11 – The Key Verse That Defines the Phrase06:05 - “All We Can Do is Repent” – The Powerful Re-Reading07:42 - Repentance as Turning to Christ (Not Working Harder)10:38 - Why This Changes Everything About Grace13:23 - Avoiding the Trap of Conflating Salvation with Exaltation14:11 - Scripturalnotes Sponsor15:33 - Repentance as a Gift, Not a Burden17:48 - Deathbed Repentance and Turning to Christ19:11 - Wounded & Healed vs. Damned & Saved21:27 - Final Thoughts on This Fresh Perspective23:53 - Closing RemarksJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnmsAFGrFuGe0obW6tkEY6w/joinAmazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1AQLMTSMBM4DC?ref_=wl_shareVisit us for this and more at: WardRadio.comTo subscribe to "The Women of Ward Radio" Youtube Channel, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbu-wpRztV-8TYXClhUZhhwTo Subscribe to Cardon Ellis' Adventure Channel, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/@CardonEllisAdventuresThe following authors and/or sponsors are generously offering discounts on their gospel-related publication to Ward Radio listeners.⚡For free trial of Scripture Notes please visit the following link!: https://scripturenotes.com/?via=wardradio⚡For a discount on Tiny 3D Temples, Save 15% with code WARDRADIO at checkout or visit tiny3dtemples.com/wardradio⚡Family: A Rhyming Proclamation for Kids book visit the following linkhttps://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/family-a-rhyming-proclamation-for-kids . Use the code "Ward Radio" for 10% off. ⚡To Order Jonah's Book, “Lost Gems of Genesis” visit the following link and use coupon Code: WARDRADIO https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com/products/coming-soon-the-lost-gems-of-genesis-how-apocryphal-texts-prove-joseph-smith-fixed-the-bibleFor 10% off Plain and Precious Publishing Books, visit plainandpreciouspublishing.com and use Coupon Code: WARDRADIOFor a 5% discount on Go and Do Travel, visit goanddotravel.com and use the promo code WARDRADIO5#christian #mormon #exmormon #latter-daysaints #latterdaysaints #latterdays #bible #bookofmormon #archaeology #BYU #midnightmormons #jesus #jesuschrist #scriptures #sundayschool #biblestudy #christiancomedy #cardonellis #kwakuel #bradwitbeckTo support the channel:Venmo @WardRadio or visit: https://account.venmo.com/u/MidnightMormonsPaypal: paypal.me/@midnightmedia CashApp: $WardRadioFollow us at:Instagram: @cardonellis @kwakuel @braderico @boho.birdyFacebook: @WardRadioWorldwideTwitter: WardRadioShowTikTok: WardRadioWorldwide

This episode is part 40 and the final episode in a series going through the story of the Book of Mormon.This episode covers the books of 4 Nephi, Mormon, Wisdom of Mormon, and Moroni. As prophesied, the Nephite people remained righteous until around 200 A.D. Schisms and pride caused the church to split. Lamanites restored their former identity. Gadianton robbers somehow became a thing again.A young man named Mormon led the Nephites to some pyrrhic victories, but he couldn't get the Nephites to repent of their pride and wickedness. Both sides agreed to a final battle at Cumorah around 385 A.D. The Lamanites slaughtered all but a few Nephites from the army. The Lamanites took control of the whole land and oppressed the remaining Nephites. Mormon's son Moroni hid his father's abridged plates in a hill at Cumorah for future readers. Moroni's brief book has mostly records of church doctrines including a letter from Mormon harshly condemning infant baptism.After examining Moroni 10:32 for "impossible salvation" then "Moroni's challenge" in Moroni 10:4 to see how Mormon missionaries use it to try to get converts through a subjective experience. Finally, I close the series by reflecting on the lack of historical evidence for the Book of Mormon and how its transmission was fundamentally different from how we have the Bible.Further research:Didache, EarlyChurchWritings.com, trans. Charles H. Hoole.Tertullian, On Baptism (Chapter 18), NewAdvent.org, trans. S. Thelwall.Clay Gorton, "Is a child considered a member of the Church before age 8 without receiving a baby blessing?" Ask Gramps, March 19, 2025.Book of Mormon in videoJoseph Smith: The Prophet of the RestorationThe Book of Mormon online: 4 Nephi, Mormon, Wisdom of Mormon, MoroniHave questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

The wait is finally over. Brandon Flowers has released "Plans," the first single from his long-awaited solo album Thrasher, and it immediately gave us more to think about than we expected. Before we even begin breaking down the lyrics, Derek shares an experience from London that completely changed the way he listens to music. After hearing songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr. explain why artists shouldn't always reveal the "true" meaning behind their songs, we ask an important question: Are we supposed to interpret Brandon's songs… or simply experience them? From snow-covered classrooms and quiet drives through Nephi to Nashville session legends and Brandon's evolving songwriting, we explore the themes of destiny, expectations, and the plans we all make that life eventually rewrites. As always, we discuss the Nephi connections, the local history, and how our own experiences shape the way we hear Brandon's music—while recognizing that every listener may find something completely different. Whether you're a lifelong Killers fan or discovering Brandon's solo work for the first time, this episode is the perfect place to begin the journey through Thrasher.Show Notes Brandon Flowers has officially kicked off the Thrasher era with the release of "Plans," and we're diving deep into the album's opening track. Before we break down the lyrics, Derek shares a memorable experience from London that completely changed the way he approaches songwriting and lyric interpretation after hearing Stephen Wilson Jr. discuss the magic of letting listeners find their own meaning in a song. From there, we explore the themes of destiny, changing plans, Nephi, Utah, and how Brandon continues to evolve as one of today's most compelling songwriters. Whether you hear the song through the lens of Nephi, your own hometown, or your own life experiences, "Plans" reminds us that our journeys rarely unfold the way we imagined. In This Episode Brandon Flowers releases the first single from Thrasher Derek's trip to London and meeting Stephen Wilson Jr. Why songs don't always need one definitive meaning Our new approach to discussing Brandon's lyrics Breaking down the story and imagery in "Plans" Nephi references and small-town influences Charlie McCoy and the legendary Nashville session musicians Brandon's continued growth as a songwriter Country influences throughout the song Comparing "Plans" to earlier Brandon Flowers storytelling What we're looking forward to as Thrasher unfolds Mentioned in this Episode Brandon Flowers The Killers Thrasher "Plans" Stephen Wilson Jr. Charlie McCoy Kris Kristofferson George Jones Bob Dylan Nephi, Utah     Connect With Lonely Town

In the April 2026 general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, members of the Church sustained a new Primary general presidency to begin their service on Aug. 1. The current Primary general presidency has served together since 2022 and will conclude its service on July 31.On this episode of the Church News podcast, President Susan H. Porter and her counselors, Sister Amy A. Wright and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, talk with Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen about their observations of children around the world who are learning the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and in church settings.“We have tried to drink so deeply from the Savior's example in 3 Nephi,” President Porter said in the interview. “When He gathered children so often around Him, and He prayed for them, and He called down angels, and He invited them, He loosed their tongues, invited them to share.”The three members of the Primary general presidency recall favorite moments from their time serving together and the ways their own testimonies of the Savior grew through fulfilling a calling that President Porter described as initially being “overwhelming” but became a blessing in each of their lives.

This episode is part 39 in a series going through the story of the Book of Mormon.This episode covers chapters 19-30 of the book of 3 Nephi. The Mormon Jesus teaches his disciples more about prayer. He prays away from them, with them, and at them, and they all glow bright white.The Mormon Jesus also gives more prophecy about the end times, the revealing of the Book of Mormon, and the regathering of Israel and the descendants of Lehi. He gave them Isaiah chapters 52 and 54 and Malachi chapters 3-4. Three of the twelve disciples get a special gift of immortality until the end. Supposedly they and the Apostle John are still out there somewhere walking among us, but harder to find even than Bigfoot.Further research:"Question: What is known about the name Greek name "Timothy" in the Book of Mormon?" FAIR Latter Day Saints."Didn't Nephi already have authority to baptize before Christ appeared to him?" Ask Gramps, September 26, 2020.Alexander Campbell, Delusions: An Analysis of the Book of Mormon (Boston: Benjamin H. Greene, 1832).Book of Mormon in videoJoseph Smith: The Prophet of the RestorationThe Book of Mormon online: 3 Nephi [chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30]Have questions for Truthspresso? Contact us!

My friend Natalie Brown (JD, University of Virginia School of Law; PhD, Columbia University; Latter-day Saint; Salt Lake Tribune guest columnist; and mother of two) joins us to talk about her new book After Happiness: Living with Faith in a Time of Crisis. In the podcast/book Natalie talks about: How gospel messaging became entwined with individualistic formulas for happiness in the late Twentieth Century How some of the formulas the Church associated with the "plan of happiness" are now economically or otherwise out of reach for many members How happiness should not be used as measuring stick of evidence of gospel truth Problems with the “prosperity gospel” How feeling happy is not a choice for many Latter-day Saints—and they shouldn't feel judged for this or told to just be “more happy” How to find peace and opportunity after failure and unwanted disruption Finding perspective in Nephi's story on how to move forward in the face of societal collapse Why she stays in the Church How affordability is a major reality for younger Latter-day Saints Natalie is one of the “wisest and most original thinkers” in our community “tackling the profound question of what constitutes the good life.” If you want to find more peace, hope, and acceptance in your life (and become better at helping others), please read Natalie's book. Links: Natalie's book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H64LBW2B Natalie's website: https://www.nataliebrown.com/ Natalie's IG: @nataliebrownwriter Launch Event: July 30th, 6 pm-7:30 pm, Compass Gallery, 250 W, Center Street #101, Provo, UT 84601. RSVP here: https://www.thecompassgallery.com/event-details/after-happiness-book-launch-with-natalie-brown

At the age of 80, André De Shields is now on Broadway in “CATS: The Jellicle Ball.” He won a Tony in 2019 for his performance in “Hadestown” and co-stars in the new movie of the revival. He talks with Terry Gross about his Broadway debut in the original production of ‘The Wiz,' living with HIV for almost 50 years, and why he walks like a king. Also, White Mountain Apache Chef Nephi Craig explains how cooking and teaching about indigenous foods saved his life. His memoir is ‘Our Knives Will Save Us.'  John Powers reviews Will Ferrell's new series ‘The Hawk.'Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel Check out the Fresh Air ArchivesSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Episode Description Welcome back to the Lonely Town Podcast, where Derek and Jimmy explore the music, stories, and world of Brandon Flowers and The Killers. With Brandon's upcoming solo album Thrasher just around the corner, Derek and Jimmy break down the newly released trailer, discuss its striking imagery, and explain why this project already feels different from anything Brandon has released before. From classic cars and dusty highways to small-town diners, county fairs, and the familiar backdrop of Mount Nebo, the trailer paints a picture of the Utah Brandon Flowers remembers growing up. Derek and Jimmy connect the visual callbacks to Pressure Machine, discuss Brandon's relationship with Nephi, and explore why Thrasher feels like an even more personal continuation of that story. The conversation then takes an unexpected but fascinating turn into the world of classic country music. Rather than simply reviewing the trailer, the guys share the artists, albums, and songs they believe helped shape Brandon's musical upbringing—including legends like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Glen Campbell, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and The Highwaymen. If you've never listened to traditional country music, this episode serves as a roadmap for understanding the storytelling, emotion, and authenticity that appear to be at the heart of Thrasher. Along the way, Derek shares stories from growing up in Nephi, working at a local truck stop, discovering country music, traveling throughout the Southwest with his father, and why experiencing different cultures makes both music—and life—more meaningful. Whether you've already embraced Brandon's new direction or you're still unsure what to expect, this episode is designed to prepare you for the journey before Thrasher arrives. Show Notes Featured Topic Brandon Flowers' Thrasher Trailer First reactions to Brandon's official trailer The symbolism behind the classic convertible Returning to Nephi after Pressure Machine Mount Nebo, backroads, diners, and county fairs Why the trailer feels deeply personal Visual callbacks to Pressure Machine The importance of place in Brandon's songwriting Inside Brandon's Musical Influences The guys discuss why understanding classic country music may help fans appreciate Thrasher. Artists discussed include: Johnny Cash Merle Haggard George Jones Waylon Jennings Willie Nelson Glen Campbell Dwight Yoakam Dolly Parton The Highwaymen Topics include: Storytelling through country music Why Brandon isn't "going country" Traditional country vs. modern country Songs that inspired generations How to prepare yourself for Thrasher A Road Trip Through Utah Memories of growing up in Nephi Local landmarks featured in the trailer El Bambi Café White Brothers Trailers Small-town carnivals Truck stops and discovering new music Why Beaver, Utah stands in for a different era of Nephi Behind the Album Session musicians in Nashville Why session players matter Brandon's songwriting process Why Thrasher feels like the next chapter after Pressure Machine The influence of Brandon's father Country music as memory and storytelling Discussion Highlights Music as a soundtrack to life Travel, empathy, and discovering new perspectives Why stories matter more than genres The beauty of small-town America Looking forward to Brandon's upcoming tour Why fans should approach Thrasher with an open mind

In this week's episode, I speak with Hank Smith, the co-host of the followHIM podcast and a beloved religious educator. I wanted to chat with him about the insights he has gained while teaching the history and theology of the Abrahamic covenant. Hank shares how shifting our perspective toward being children of the covenant transforms our understanding of the Restoration by moving it away from a focus on an organizational church structure and toward the gathering of a people, the house of Israel, designed to bless every family of the earth.This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about doctrine that can sometimes seem too distant to have relevance for us individually. The way Hank discusses this topic can help us deepen our faith and come away feeling uplifted and ready to serve with greater conviction.Some highlights from this episode include:A Welcome Guest: One of the favourite voices in the Latter-day Saint community joins the show, discussing a mutual excitement for finally getting to sit down for this long-overdue interview.The Blueprint of the Covenant: Hank breaks down the covenant, detailing why Genesis slows down to focus so tightly on Abraham and Sarah's family because it is the family through which all the families of the earth will be blessed.The Overlooked Focus of the Book of Mormon: A deep dive into why Nephi and Jacob were so uniquely passionate about Isaiah's prophecies, revealing how reading the Book of Mormon acts as a literal detector for finding those who are willing to let God prevail. The "One-by-One" Ministry: A powerful exploration of why the Savior works through individual, micro-level relationships rather than grand macro-scales, mirroring the individual nature of the temple veil and the sacrament.The Purpose of the Scattering: An insightful look into the allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5, showing how the Lord's scattering of Israel was a deliberate act of love designed to save and preserve His tree.A One-by-One Invitation: A special invitation for listeners to actively participate in the gathering of Israel by focusing on individuals, stepping up to help those around them make and keep sacred covenants.You can find Hank's work and connect with him at the following links:Referenced article mentioned in the episode:https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-27-no-1-2026/covenant-identity-work-gathering-israelBYU Religious Studies Center, Hank R. Smith Articles:https://rsc.byu.edu/author/smith-hank-r#:~:text=RSC%20Books%20Edited%20by%20This%20Author.%20Give,Educator%20Vol.%2027%20No.%201%20%C2%B7%202026.hanksmith.comfollowHim Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannelFollow 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.

In this episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb bring their extended series on the parables of Matthew to a powerful climax with the passage most listeners have been waiting for: the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31–46). Far from a checklist of works required for salvation, this text is unpacked as the master parable of Christ's entire parabolic ministry — a sovereign declaration of divine election, not a merit-based audit of individual performance. Tony and Jesse explore why this passage has been chronically misread as a call to works righteousness, why the language of inheritance and predestination is front and center, and how a Reformed reading liberates rather than burdens the conscience. Along the way, they weigh in on Herman Bavinck's prescient warning about media distraction, and Jesse recommends a Puritan gem on anxiety worth picking up immediately. Key Takeaways The Sheep and Goats is best understood as a parable, or at minimum parable-adjacent. The Greek construction in verse 31 mirrors the same comparative language Christ uses throughout his parabolic ministry, placing this text firmly within that tradition rather than outside it. The kingdom was prepared before any works were done — this is election language. The phrase "inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (v. 34) is not a reward for performance; it is the language of sovereign predestination preceding all human action. The works of the sheep are diagnostic, not causative. What the righteous did reveals who they already were — sheep — rather than being the mechanism by which they became sheep. The beak doesn't make the bird. Both groups are surprised, and that surprise is the parabolic punchline. Neither the sheep nor the goats anticipated the verdict they received, which undermines any reading that frames this text as an encouragement to accumulate saving merit. This passage is a recapitulation of the wheat and tares parable. Sheep and goats co-mingled until the moment of final separation, just as wheat and tares grow together until the harvest — the judgment reveals what was always true. Any theology that requires a human contribution to activate or complete salvation misreads this text.Whether Roman Catholic, Arminian, or Mormon in flavor, every view that makes God's preparation of the kingdom contingent on foreseen human merit fundamentally inverts the logic of the passage. The scope of judgment — "all nations" (ta ethnos) — would have been scandalous to first-century Jewish ears. This language deliberately expands the kingdom beyond ethnic Israel, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant promise and confounding the assumptions of the religious elite. Key Concepts The Kingdom Prepared Before Your Works: Sovereign Election, Not Merit When the King says to those on his right, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34), the theological weight of that single sentence is staggering. The kingdom was not prepared in response to anything the sheep did. It was prepared before time, before works, before choice — which means the works that follow in the passage cannot be the grounds of that inheritance. Only a Calvinistic understanding of election can sustain this logic without remainder. Arminian views require God to foresee a qualifying human response; Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox views require some degree of meritorious participation; even certain Lutheran frameworks lean on non-resistance to grace. Reformed theology alone places the entire cause within God's sovereign, unconditional decree — and this passage, read plainly, says exactly that. Works as Evidence, Not Ground: The Diagnostic Function of This Parable The great pastoral error in preaching this passage is treating it as a performance rubric — a list of charitable acts that, if completed, qualify a person for eternal life. But Christ does not separate the sheep from the goats because of what they did or failed to do. He separates them, and then describes the activity that characterized each group. The works are revelatory. They surface what was already true of each person's nature, just as a bird's beak reveals its species rather than constituting it. This reframing is liberating precisely because it means assurance does not rest on tallying acts of charity. It rests on the sovereign act of a Father who prepared a kingdom and the regenerating work of the Spirit who produces, in those He has claimed, a life that looks like the one described here. "All Nations": The Scandal of an Ethnically Inclusive Kingdom The Greek phrase ta ethnē — translated "all nations" in most English Bibles — would have landed very differently on first-century Jewish ears, particularly those of the Pharisees and Sadducees who comprised a significant portion of Christ's audience throughout Matthew 24–25. To them, ta ethnē meant the Gentiles, the peoples out there, those outside the covenant. The implicit effect of Christ's language is to place every people group — including Israel — within a single undifferentiated mass standing before his throne, with no ethnic group receiving preferential standing at the bar of judgment. This is entirely consistent with the Abrahamic promise of blessing to all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3), the vision of Psalm 2, and the missionary thrust of the Great Commission. The scandal is not incidental — it is the point. The kingdom Christ is ushering in is not the ethnic-nationalist kingdom the religious establishment expected. Memorable Quotes The kingdom of heaven was prepared for those whom Christ has elected before the foundation of the world, and it was the preparation of that kingdom that brought you through this such that you did the good works that you did... That is caused by the fact that God prepared a kingdom for you in advance, not that you somehow caused this kingdom to be prepared for you. - Tony It's not the beak that makes it the sparrow, it's the sparrow that makes it the kind of beak it is. That's the kind of classification we're talking about in this parable. - Tony The best freedom is the one that turns over all things to God and takes him at his word when he says, 'In love you were predestined to inherit this as sons and daughters of the kingdom,' so that he does all the work, because we do not want to have any of that work our own. - Jesse Full Transcript [00:01:11] Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 498 of the Reformed Brotherhood. I'm Jesse  [00:01:19] Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony, and this is the podcast with ears to hear. Hey, brother.  [00:01:24] Jesse Schwamb: Hey, brother. They said it couldn't be done. They said we couldn't come back. We wouldn't come back and continue in Matthew 25. But here we are, and we're ending this chapter in this whole section about sheep and goats. Everybody was clamoring for it. Everybody wanted to know, what about the sheep and the goats? And I think the last time we all chatted together, we prefaced it by saying it's parable adjacent. Or let's just say- Yes ... we just stacked up these three other parables, lots of things going on, and then Jesus resolves this or brings all these parables to a culmination by speaking about the end times, the end of all things, and the sheep and the goats. Yeah. And so we gotta go there  [00:02:06] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, I'm stoked.  [00:02:07] What Counts Parable [00:02:07] Tony Arsenal: And y- you know, I, I was talking with a brother at, um, at church yesterday on the Lord's day, and he was asking how the podcast's going and what we're doing. And, you know, I was kind of thinking, like, I was talking about the parables and how we're kind of moving forward, and we were gonna do some of the I am sayings in John. And, and I was thinking, like, what is a parable anyways? And who decides what a parable is and what a parable isn't? Right. Um, some of the parables Christ calls a parable, others he doesn't. Uh, we'll probably talk a little bit about that when we get to, uh, some of the back half of Luke. But this, this episode I think is gonna be really, really the payoff and really the culmination of not just these, like, this trio of or trilogy of parables that we've talked about, but I think really, like, the payout of all of the parables in Matthew. It's really, like, the summary of all of Christ's parabolic teachings. So it's, it's a good place for us to round out Matthew, and then we'll, we'll dip into the parables in the other gospels, probably have a couple more months of, of, uh, parable talk before we move on to the next thing. But, uh, it's been great, and I'm super, super stoked for this. This is one of my favorite passages, actually, and there's so much to dig into. I, I, I'm just gonna say now, we probably won't make it through the whole thing- Right ... uh, because there's a lot there. But we'll see. We'll see how we do. Maybe Jesse and I will be super efficient tonight, uh, but we usually aren't, so. [00:03:27] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, that's never happened. We, we take it low and slow. Not only that- ... it was reminding me as you spoke about that kind of proverb generally of if you wanna go build a wall, you assess what you need, how many stones, and then you go gather those stones. Yeah. You should double it, or if you're gonna go out and fight an army, take stock of that army. That's basically what we do, but in reverse. Anytime, like, you just... I just heard you say- ... like, "It'll probably take us a couple more months," you should double that. That's probably how long- Yeah ... it's actually gonna take us.  [00:03:50] Faith Works Assurance [00:03:50] Jesse Schwamb: Even in this- Yeah ... conversation, I think we're gonna get stuck in the best way possible speaking about things like faith, works, and assurance because there's a lot of language here- Yeah that could seem on the surface to sit in this tension with justification by faith alone. And I think the key to resolving all that tension, as I hopefully think we'll see, lies in the readings of works as the evidence of living faith rather than its ground, and I think that's what- Yes ... Christ is leading us through all of these parables, actually, whether it goes back. And you should listen to all those episodes. In fact, I gotta ask. Th- I mean, this brother you were talking to, it just strikes me as that question had already be answered for him if you were listening to the podcast. So-  [00:04:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, I don't think he does. No, I don't think he does- ... listen to the podcast. Uh, he knows that I do the podcast, and he's very gracious to ask me about it. Tom. And I think he's probably listened to the podcast before. Got it. Um, and he's, he's just a very kind, gracious brother who, who is concerned and wants to know what I'm doing. And, um, he has, he has his own sort of, like, production stuff that he does that he enjoys that I'm, I'm not super keyed into. But, uh, it was just nice. But, but it did get me thinking, like, I was trying to explain to him where we were in the progress of the parables, and I was like, "I can't really... I don't really know," because, like, it's hard to even understand and fully... There's no, like, full comprehensive universal list of what is a parable- Right ... and what's not. And I think what we've found as we've been going through this is sometimes, sometimes you come up against a portion of a text that is often taught sort of separate from the, the rest of it. Parables get taught discreet from other parables. But then you have these sort of, like, intervening texts, or this one's kind of a summary text, that's so integrated to what the parable means you really can't do a series on these parables without also treating this text. Which is gonna be interesting, 'cause I've never, I've never encountered somebody who really roots this teaching here of Christ in the context of the parables, despite its proximity. So it'll be fun. We're gonna figure it out in real time, and, and it'll be good.  [00:05:47] Jesse Schwamb: No, it's gonna be fun.  [00:05:48] Deny Doomscrolling Bavinck [00:05:48] Jesse Schwamb: And speaking of fun, we're so glad that you're listening, and we know that you're waiting with bated breath to hear about affirmations or denials. It's of course that part of the conversation where we either affirm with something that we think is fantastic, maybe by way of recommendation, or conversely, we deny against something that isn't that great. So Tony, as is our custom in the liturgy of the Reformed Brotherhood podcast, I ask you once again, are you affirming with or deny against? [00:06:15] Tony Arsenal: I am denying against something, and I'm gonna do that by affirming a Herman Bavinck quote. Uh, so I'm gonna read it for you. This, uh... Some of the guys in the Facebook group have put... or the Facebook group, the Telegram chat, have put together a, uh, like, a reading group to work through Bavinck's, uh, Wonderful Works of God, which is great, and I'm loving it. I haven't been able to participate in the conversation as much as I would like to, but just being part of a reading group, uh, sort of keeps you on schedule, which is great. So I've been reading through Wonderful Works of God, and on the Kindle edition, on page 34, uh, which I think is still the, I think is still the, uh, introduction, he says, quote, "The reading of daily and weekly newspapers, of magazines and brochures, devours our every blink. There's a lack of desire and opportunity for the investigation of scripture and the study of old theological works," end quote. And when I read that, it just really struck me as like- If that was true like 70 years ago, 80 years ago when Bavinck was writing this, right? And all there was was hard, hard copy media. There was no, uh, there was no digital media. There was radio, but there wasn't a lot of programming. Uh, I don't think that there was much in the way of television broadcasting. If there was, it was, it was very, very limited and very rudimentary. Um, even then he was saying the daily news cycle and all of this extra stuff that is out there is consuming our, quote, "Every blink," which I thought was a really interesting phrase. Um, it's basically like it's so ingrained in us, we're so invested and obsessed with the news cycle. Uh, or you might translate that to like to our Twitter feed or our Facebook feed or our Instagram reels or whatever it might be, and dare I say it, the podcasts we listen to.  [00:08:05] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:08:05] Tony Arsenal: Um, that we don't save time for scripture and other theological works. And I think it's funny too is that the, the eternal, uh, the eternal contemporary statement of the Reformed world is like we don't read enough old theological works. Even Bavinck, who I'm reading as one of the old... I mean, not like super old, but like one of the old theological works, is saying, "Hey, we don't read enough old theological works." So I'm denying this sort of like obsession we have with the daily news cycle and with constantly being up to date and like constantly consuming all of that. Um, we've talked about how like our modern global news cycle sort of, uh, is built around the deception that we can be sort of pseudo omnipotent and know all things about everything. And, um- There's a lot of work that's been done to show that, like, the world's not really that much, not that much more of a violent place than it was 100 years ago. We just know a lot more about what's going on- Right ... in other parts of the world. And there's pros and cons to that. But I think the main con is, like, we, we feel suddenly that we have to be, you know, deeply involved in the goings on of a church on the other side of the country that we never would've even known existed otherwise. It- there's just a, there's a sense of omnipotence and omnipresence that's just not becoming for the creature that I think we try to take on. So Bavinck knew it. Uh, we've talked about it. Lots and lots of people have talked about it. This isn't new. I'm not, I'm not e- engineering anything new on this. But that quote really struck me when I was reading. I was like, "Dang, man, he, he got it right 100 years ago or, or 80 years ago, and we're still struggling with it." And I think probably, like, if you go back and you look at the, I don't know, more occasional writings of people like Martin Luther and John Calvin, um, as they're interacting with, like, people in the Reformed community or the Protestant community, I bet you would find statements like this too about how, like, we really spend a lot of time reading, like, silly things and not spending- Right our time studying the scripture or studying, um, theological works. So that's my denial. I'm sticking to it, and if that means you feel like you need to turn this podcast off and go read some John Calvin or some Herman Bavinck, then by all means. Uh, I think you're probably going to be edified by what we have to talk about. But, uh, th- the Bible's better, so if you gotta go do it, if you only got- That's true ... an hour today to study scripture or listen to this podcast, please go study scripture. Yeah. Uh, hopefully we can do a little bit of both with this podcast. But Herman Bavinck said it best. Our every blink is consumed with pamphlets and newspapers and it just is- It's true it's pretty silly.  [00:10:41] Jesse Schwamb: It's true.  [00:10:42] Meme Detour Reading Groups [00:10:42] Jesse Schwamb: I gotta take us all the way back to where you started there, and I'm going to betray, to nobody's surprise, my really strong naivete when it comes- ... to social media, and memes in particular. But this is what occurred to me, and I'm gonna try it. This is, like, what classically makes really good podcasting. Let me try to describe a meme to you that I'm not even sure I actually understand or know. So this will be great. I think, you tell me, Tony, 'cause you may have seen this. It's an old meme too, so I'm not even, like, on the cutting edge here. I think it's a meme of two panels showing, like, two pictures of Drake. In know one he's kinda, like, pushing away as if to say, like, "Get that outta here," and the other one's like, "Oh yeah, that's the stuff." Do you know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Is that accurate?  [00:11:21] Tony Arsenal: I do. I think you're gonna use it wrong, but yeah.  [00:11:23] Jesse Schwamb: Is that Drake? Okay, all  [00:11:24] Tony Arsenal: right. Yeah, that's, that's the meme.  [00:11:25] Jesse Schwamb: Okay, okay. And usually, if I understand it correctly, it's kind of like a faux juxtaposition of two things, right? Like, okay. So like here, let me try it. Uh, uh, let me just try it on everybody. Here we go. I'm gonna describe to you how I just interpret this based on what you said, 'cause something cracked me up that you said, Tony. If I were gonna make this meme just based on how you opened that up, the first panel would be like Drake pushing away the idea or being like, "That's no good," book club. The second one would be reading group, as in like, like the reading group is like the new cool way of like just kind of... Did I use it properly? Am I close?  [00:11:59] Tony Arsenal: I think the problem with this is that there's like a, there's like an ironic way to use it, and then there's like a more direct way to use it. Mm. Yeah. The direct way would be like some- like Drake's pushing away something that's bad, and he's- Yeah ... like accepting something that's good. That'd be like the direct way. Yes. The more ironic one is where like Drake is pushing away something that's actually pretty, actually pretty good, and he's- Yeah ... accepting the one that's pretty silly. Oh, okay. Um, there's a lot of memes that have that basic format. Never mind. There's one with like Jordi LaForge. I think there's a Michael Scott one. I tried. I tried. But yeah, no, I, I think yours is valid, it's just, I think it's an older usage of the meme. That's like the, that's like the middle English version of that meme. The Shakespearean use of that meme.  [00:12:36] Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. I'll take that. It's the old English style. I love a good book club or a reading group. A, a reading group just, it does have that sound like maybe somebody in the group has a monocle, or you guys have tea. Either way- Yeah ... I absolutely love it. And yes, what are our beautiful quotes. You kind of hear that general conception recapitulated among like theologians almost in every era. But it does make you think, what would Bavinck say about, like doom scrolling on the smartphone? Like- Yeah ... he's beside himself, right? It would just be beside himself. So I'm with you. I, it, there's gonna be a condemnation in every generation. Maybe I say this with some degree of like chronological snobbery, especially in ours, when it comes to not, like you said, I think kind of like not carving out or not prioritizing time in the scriptures. Yeah. There's not gonna be any excuse of like, "Well, I just didn't have time." Right. Or, "There were too many things to read." It's just, it's not gonna cut it. So I'm with you. I think you and I have talked about this at length, even just like the news media like you and I consume, like just s- set aside social media for a second. Just like how i- how much value is there in a lot of like what we cons- used to consider to be like well-informed reporting? How valuable is that to us? Yeah. And I'm certainly not saying like that everybody should be like unconcerned and uninterested in the world, but I think it's to what degree and what fascination we have with that, and how it fits into our priority as we consume information each day. That's the thing that's tricky, and there's no really-  [00:14:02] Tony Arsenal: Yeah ...  [00:14:02] Jesse Schwamb: good answer except to weigh out with the spiritual discernment- Yeah ... how we ought to consume that stuff. But certainly I think, without question, we need to be prioritizing time in prayer, time in the scriptures. I imagine if we were all doing that with a great deal of attention, that all of the other things would kind of find their way into the right place. Or let's say they would just find their way out of our lives in a significant way- Yeah ... that would remove us from distraction and anxiety, instead bring us back into the providence of God.  [00:14:31] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I'm not, I'm not gonna be the guy that tells you you can never s- you can never scroll Instagram or TikTok or whatever. Um, I, I think that's a decision that's between you and the Holy Spirit as far as how you spend your time. But I, I do think, um, I think you're right- We are accountable for the decisions we make and how- Right ... we choose to divide up our time. And I- God, I mean, God is the inventor of fun. He's the inventor of leisure, and he is, uh, I think he's pleased and honored when we, we make good use of our time f- for things that are restful and rejuvenating. Um, he doesn't expect us to just slavishly read scripture all day, every day, like every minute. That's not, that's not the biblical expectation. Um, and so I think it's fine if you wanna sit down and watch a fun show, or if you wanna watch some YouTube videos, or listen to a silly podcast, or listen to a serious podcast. Um, but I do, I agree. Like, we, we really need to be thoughtful. And I think where, where Bavinck's quote, uh, is strong is it's not so much about, "Don't read these things." Right. He, he's talking about these things consume our every blink. Like, m- he's treating blink... He's using the word blink as sort of a fill-in for like our, our finite resource of time and attention, and these things have consumed all of them. There's a very strong use of that word consume. Uh, and I, I think that's really the, the point that I'm trying to make is we often allow, either intentionally or unintentionally, we, we just let our time get all sucked up, uh, on things that maybe are good but are not pr- properly proportioned. Um- Like I said, it's, it's fine to spend some time on Twitter and to get into a debate once in a while, or to check in on your friends on Facebook, your old high school, college buddies or whatever, but we can definitely take it too far. So I think it's a good corrective for all of us to at least make a stop and think about how we're spending our time, and whether we are affording the appropriate amount of time to things like scripture, theological study, catechesis of our children, um, family worship, all of those good things. So we don't have to go much more into that. I think the point has been made. Uh, so Jesse, what are you affirming and/or denying tonight?  [00:16:43] Affirm Puritan Anxiety Cure [00:16:43] Jesse Schwamb: Perfect segue, because speaking of reading old things, you know me, I've always got some kind of Puritan work in the rotation, and the one I just finished is the one I'm affirming, which is called Special Providence for Anxious Souls by Obadiah Sedgwick, who I think is kinda... Like, people are sleeping on Sedgwick, you know? Mm-hmm. He's, he's kinda like, he's there in the wings, but we need to take him off the bench. And I came across this book and I thought, "Who doesn't want a title like that in their lives?" Like, we got some anxiety in all of our souls. And I'm affirming this because, uh, hi- his definitions, his writing is, are on point. But here's what I thought. I was embarrassed that I picked this up expecting one thing, and then in typical puritanical fashion, was delivered something else that was far better. And I was thinking about this title as you might see it, like, in your modern bookstore today, whether it's, like, in Barnes & Nobles or at any of the periodicals we were just kind of mentioning or implying that are out there. And I was expecting to get some kind of, I don't know, six or seven things, I mean, that's Puritan style, but six or seven things that would really help you diagnose the psychology, and then going back to the scripture in ways, all, all the ways we'd expect about how God loves us and cares for us, and all those things are true. And yet the only way I could describe how this book ministered to me is, like, how you might go to a physical therapist for some kind of ailment, which I have many as I get older, and have recently been to one. And the ailment I had was, um, basically like tarsal tunnel, which is like carpal tunnel for your foot. And so there was some nerves that were inflamed and causing some pain and some weirdness in my feet. And here's what I do know about physical therapy now that I think the Puritans also do for our souls, and that is the physical therapist gave me this full workup. They prodded me and poked me and rubbed things and made things hurt- And in the course of doing that, they clearly could figure out what was wrong with my foot. And so when he gave me the diagnosis, after, again, rubbing that part and, like, doing one of those things where he's like, you know, they tap on your hard and they're like, "Does that hurt?" I'm like, "Yes, it does hurt." And I presume that's because you know anatomy. And, you know, he's, he's ta- tapping on my ankle and it's causing my foot underneath to hurt. And after all that, you know, I run on a treadmill. He d- takes all this video, and this is what he says to me. He goes, "Yeah, so this is actually pretty straightforward." And I was like, "Great, so what are we talking about? Like exercises, uh, splints, like massage?" He's like, "You have a weak butt." And I was like- "I'm sorry, let's talk about that for a second." And this is what I've learned about physical therapy, is it's rarely about the thing that's actually bothering you or the thing that's hurt, right? It's something- Yeah ... far different. It's something almost seemingly, like, disjointed or removed or divorced from the very thing, maybe even non-contiguous, if only in our minds, maybe even logically. And so what I love about this is the first half of the book is just speaking about the province of God before it even gets into this idea of anxiety. And then the treatment on anxiety and worry is, he goes through, like, six or seven things in particular, are just absolutely glorious. So good that I want you to read it. I don't even want to talk about it. Uh, that, that's my admonishment to you, is that you should just go pick it up. So I'm affirming again that the Puritans in particular do this thing where there's, there's no cheap advice here. It's not even hide advice. It's really good advice, but it's the kind that says, "You have a weak butt" when you're concerned that your ankle- is messed up. Yeah. And that's sometimes what you need to hear. And in my case, after... Let's make this super weirdly spiritual. After doing a bunch of squats, I don't know what the spiritual equivalent is of that. After doing a bunch of squats, my ankle and my foot was so much better. And it, because I had somebody who cared enough for me to go through and actually diagnose the root of it, that was the reason that inevitably there was healing. So I've, this has given me so much to think about, this tiny little treatise. So much to put into practice. It's so rich, so good, so practical, and yet I think you'll find in many ways joyfully unexpected. So I highly affirm to everybody listening, and even those who aren't, Special Providence for Anxious Souls, Obadiah Sedgwick. You'll, you'll love it  [00:20:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:20:49] Physical Therapy Spiritual Practice [00:20:49] Tony Arsenal: So two thoughts. Uh, one, uh, I can confirm Jesse has a weak butt, um, flat as a board. So it's probably, probably better after, after doing some squats. Wow. Uh, two- Wow. ... uh, I can say I also am in some physical therapy right now, and I've been a little bit of a slacker. And what I will contribute to the conversation is just like in physical therapy, they can give you all of the exercises- Yeah uh, that you want. If you don't do the work, you're not going to get better. Yeah. And so whether it's Jesse doing squats or me not finding time to stretch and to do some, like, arm exercises with a, with a s- uh, like a TheraBand, uh, the same holds true. And, and maybe to unify our, uh, affir- our denials/affirmations into one mega, mega recommendation, um, the same holds true in that, one, we can take a book like this from, uh, Sedgwick, and we can turn it into the same thing we do with media where we're just... it's just devouring our blinks. Right. And we're just using it as a way to sort of, like, feed our eye hole Get better. You won't improve. Um, and that's actually the same with scripture. Like y-you can- Right ... turn scripture into, uh, into a snack food that you, you don't actually use to be nutritious. Um, I think there's probably more benefit to reading scripture sort of rote and, and almost mechanically than there is to reading anything else. But, um, but at the end of the day, you can also consume your blinks with scripture and not get a lot out of it if all you're doing is passing your eyes over text. So get in there. I think that's great. I haven't read that one. I mean, I think there's... I think there are probably many, I can't think of one off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are many, many Puritan treaties that- treatises that are similar in theme and tone and have the same kind of like spiritual antidote or spiritual medicine, um, prescribed by these guys that is good and wholesome. And again, like, like you're saying, like it's not that complicated. It's not that hard. Right. It just takes- Right ... you just actually have to do the work. Um, it's funny, my physical therapy thing is my, my shoulder has been really ba- really messed up, and I went in, I expected him to give me all these, all these shoulder exercises, and he's like, "Uh Really what you need to do is you fix your neck, uh, 'cause your shoulder is, is being in- injured because you're sleeping- Okay on that side because you're trying to stay off the other side. So, like, you really gotta fix your neck so you can sleep on the other side of your body. And I was like, "So I'm just, like, sleeping wrong?" Like, it's funny, there's a joke, it's like in your 20s you can do anything you want, in your 30s, like, you gotta be a little bit careful, and in your 40s, like, you hurt yourself just sleeping. Right. Just getting out of bed is dangerous.  [00:23:46] Jesse Schwamb: It's  [00:23:46] Tony Arsenal: true.  [00:23:47] Jesse Schwamb: It's true. So. It's a tough world. But  [00:23:48] Tony Arsenal: it's true. I feel like a really old man saying that.  [00:23:51] Read Matthew 25 Aloud [00:23:51] Jesse Schwamb: You know, it strikes me that you're right, of course, that there's so much here we always have to put into practice. There's so much here that we have to trust with God. There's a faith that works. And so I think actually that is the most lovely inroad into this final passage of Matthew, because there's a lot here for us to talk about with all of those things, and to understand it in this proper context. So as you've already set us up, Tony, the best part of our podcast is the scripture, for sure, 100%. So let's go there. So we're in Matthew 25 in case you're just joining us. And for some reason I went into, like, a full radio mode, as if this, like, this is being broadcast live, and you just came into the program. We're in Matthew 25, uh, starting in verse 31, and I'm gonna read until the end of the chapter. There's so much here that of course we're not gonna get to all of it, but in the spirit of literally having the full context of the scripture in front of us, and to hear it all, I think it's important. It w- b- better yet, you should go back and read the entire chapter and then tune in right now. But let me start at verse 31. "But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in, naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me.  [00:25:32] Judgment Scene Read [00:25:32] Jesse Schwamb: I was in prison, and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? And when did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me." Then he will say to those on his left, "Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angers-- angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me." Then they will themselves also answer saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not take care of you?" Then he will answer them saying, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me." And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life  [00:26:47] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:26:49] Parable Not Fear [00:26:49] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, it's, it's, um, it's a sobering passage. And just as I think we've seen in a lot of the other parables, um These eschatological parables and these eschatological sayings of Christ, uh, as you kind of alluded to earlier, I, I think they are really, really, um... They are not prone to being misinterpreted. Right. The church has been prone to misinterpreting and misapplying these, um, in a, in a way that's used to make, make the Christian fearful and to, uh, undermine their assurance rather than to call them to action or to accountability.  [00:27:33] Why It's A Parable [00:27:33] Tony Arsenal: Um, and I think a- as I've been reading through this and I've been sort of glancing at the Greek as we're reading, I actually think I'm on... I, I stumbled on much more better ground to treat this as a parable than I even originally thought I did. You know, I, I had this whole lead-up that this isn't technically a parable, but when you read here, when it says, in verse 31, it says, "When the Son of Man comes in glory and the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates- Right ... the sheep from the goats." If you go back to verse 14, when it says, "For it will be like a man," uh, that, that first word of verse 14 in the Greek is the same word as is used when it says, um, uh, "He separates people one from another as a shepherd." That same word is used as there, it's just translated differently because of where it comes in the, um, in the text. So Christ is still making this comparison, so it would be as though he said, um, you know, like the common, most common, at least so far, most common kind of parabolic introduction is like, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like." Um, this is the same basic language he's using here to introduce what the eschaton will be like. Right? The ga- the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them. It says people in the ESV, but will separate them one from another. You could also say the, the nations or the peoples will be gathered before him. Right. He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep. So the parable here is the s- the shepherd separating the sheep from the goats, this whole process of the separation and this, this, um, frankly, like it's, it feels and smells like a parable, right? It does. This, this, um, figure, this shepherd in the parable or the shepherd in the saying is saying these sort of like parabolic statements. He's using this language that's kind of like shocking punchline statement. Like we've talked about how in parables there's often this sort of unexpected turn of events, or there's this unexpected kind of shocking language, and this whole like twist at the end in both, sort of both s- chunks here, where like the sheep don't really understand, like they didn't really recognize that they were doing sheepy things, and the goats didn't really understand that they were being goats. That's like the parabolic twist or the parabolic punchline here. So the, the kingdom of heaven is like, basically it's like the Son of Man will come in his glory and it will be like this. It will be like a shepherd separating the sheep from the goats. That's the parabolic connection here. Mm-hmm. So I actually think that, that linguistically we're on, we're on pretty solid ground not just to treat this as a summary of all the parables, um- I think of for sure these three parables, but it, it really is like the master parable, and I think probably the master parable that kinda governs and constrains and explains all of the parabolic ministry of Christ. So I'm, I'm stoked for us to really dig into the details a little bit, but I think linguistically we're on super good ground to, to treat this as a parable. I agree. At the very least, it's stronger than just parable adjacent.  [00:30:44] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:30:44] Tony Arsenal: It- but even if we aren't saying it's a parable proper, it's stronger than that. It still is using this kinda comparative ministry, comparative language that Christ has used throughout the parabolic, um, sayings of Christ.  [00:30:57] Jesse Schwamb: The construction seems a little bit less veiled because here we have Jesus implanting himself directly into the account.  [00:31:03] Tony Arsenal: Mm-hmm.  [00:31:04] Shepherd Imagery Stakes [00:31:04] Jesse Schwamb: At the same time, though, he's drawing on all the things you just said he does, especially with this allusion to shepherding, which would've been, of course, common throughout. So it seems to me a lovely bridge to all of the overt parables he's just told, but now he's bringing them all together and placing himself clearly as, like, the interpreter, as the identifier of all the things, as the one to seal up all of the edges, as it were. So it's clear that this is about the end times. All of these were all about the end times and about Jesus' role in them. And so of course here he identifies himself as the eschatological judge just to make it clear. He's the one who sits on his glorious throne, and that's significant, and that's why I think we sometimes feel like, well, this is not a parable because he's, he's being very, like, Christologically certain and direct here. You know, throughout scripture the final judgment is God's prerogative alone, but the Father has committed all that judgment to the Son, and here's Jesus affirming that. And so again, like Reformed theology, in all our conversations we've consistently emphasized that this text is in many ways, like, proof of Christ's full deity and his role as mediatorial king, and he's exercising his office as the judge at his return in glory. And though, like you said, at the same time, here's the cool parable kind of scent or flavor is you get all these nations, every person who has ever lived, not merely Israel or merely the church. And how does Jesus describe this? He goes back into parabolic language. And we got the shepherd imagery that- Yeah is, like, similar to Ezekiel 34 where God himself is judging between the sheep of his flock. And that separation, the shockingness of it, it's immediate, it's binary. There's no third category. There's only two eternal destinies. There's no purgatory, no middle ground, no post-mortem opportunity for repentance. So all that's at stake. And then again, the beauty of the language itself or the setup of the construction of the story as it unfolds is that both groups- Get the same speech with a change in do or do not, but they both ask the same question from, like, wildly different perspectives and standings. And that's the beautiful- Yeah thing to make reconciliation over is what does all this mean then? How is all this established and how is this final judgment come to be such that there are sheep and goats if, in fact, they're both doing the same things theoretically, or they're at least both asking the same questions of, well, when did this ever actually occur? That, that's what's for us to unpack either way.  [00:33:29] All Nations Gathered [00:33:29] Tony Arsenal: Yeah, and b- before we jump into, um, into the parable itself and start to unpack that, the other element that I think is worth, uh, and this just came to me so hopefully I'm not on too far of a, of a limb here. But the other element that I think is worth at least commenting on, um, we've, we've remarked, especially in these last three eschatological, um, parables, how much these are directed at the religious leaders, right? Right. The, the, the people are, um, the, the- the parables are told, um, in the context and sort of following up on these, this real directed, um, assault against the religious leaders who thought they were the ones, right? They're the ones that have a claim to the Kingdom of Heaven, they're the ones that, um, are the, you know, they're the ones that think they're doing the right thing, they're the ones that are ushering in God's kingdom. This little phrase here, "gathered all the nations," would also have really stuck in the craw of the religious leaders, right? Because the word for nations that's translated here is the same word that would el- elsewhere get translated as Gentiles, right? And the word people, when it says, "He will separate the people," that, that word people doesn't actually exist in the Greek. So if you translate this very literally, it'd say, "Before him will, will be gathered all nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." Now, I don't wanna go the route of saying, like, this is a parable about, like, which pe- people group will be brought into the kingdom and which won't, and I've read some that go that direction. I don't wanna go there. But this idea that, like, even in the final judgment, the people who are in view here are the Gentiles, right? Right. I think most Jewish, particularly the, the Pharisees and the Sadducees hearing this, would've, would've read this and would've read ta ethnos, and would not have thought nations the way we do. Certainly would not have thought of, like, modern nation states. They might have been thinking maybe, like, people groups in general, but they would be thinking more along the lines of, like, Psalm, Psalm 2, like, "Why do the nations rage?" kind of nations. Why do the Gentiles rage? Why do the peoples plot in vain? They would've been thinking th- this, this, uh, judgment almost, at least on the face of it, almost excludes the Jews entirely when you think about it this way. It's really now sort of, like, zooming out where at the very least, at the minimal least, the Jews are just another people group within this broader judgment of the people group. Right. So again, like, we've seen this theme that Christ is continually expanding the scope of what is considered to be the Kingdom of Heaven to include not just the Jewish people, um, but all nations, all people groups, all Gentiles and Jews alike. And in a very real sense, um, and I wanna be careful how I've said this, I know I've commented this in the past, there's a very real sense of anti-Semitism that is prominent in- reform, quote-unquote reformed circles right now that is just vile and disgusting and sinful, and has no place in any sort of Biblical Christianity. But there is a reality that the Jewish people, broadly speaking, um, rejected the Messiah, at least while he was here on Earth. Um, relatively speaking, very few Jewish people, especially in the Jewish elite, like the leadership class, accepted Christ for who he was while he was here. Many Jews came to faith through the ministry of Peter, uh, and, and even through the ministry of Paul, even though he was an apostle to the Gentiles. So it's not as though it remained the case, but at this point in Christ's ministry, the Jewish people were by and large were rejecting him as Messiah. And so this idea and, and sort of this like final culmination now saying like he gathered all the, all the Gentiles, all of the peoples, all of the nations. In Jewish, in Jewish language and, and when you look in the Old Testament, and even in some of the New Testament literature, the nations were those people out there. So even if we don't translate this as Gentiles, we don't, we don't take that more like restrictive sense, even then it still implies that Christ is talking about people out there, the non-Jewish nations- Right are being gathered before his throne. And so that's not to say, absolutely not to say that the Jewish people, that, that the Jewish people of his day or the, the... This is where it gets tricky too, 'cause like we think about modern Israel and we, we import our understandings of like nation states. That's not what was in view here. The, the idea of a modern nation state was not a concept that existed in the first century. Um, you might have something like city states, but even that is kind of like a little bit ethereal. The idea here is that all people groups, and maybe, maybe we conceptualize Israel now as one of these people groups, the Israeli Jewish people as one of these people groups. All of those people groups, Jews, Gentiles, Scythians, Athenians, Spartans, like, uh, Ethiopians, you know, all of these different people- Right ... groups that are mentioned in the, the New Testament, all of those peoples, all of those nations are gathered before the throne, and then he will separate them one from another in the same way that a shepherd sep- separates the goats. [00:38:35] Group Judgment Assurance [00:38:35] Tony Arsenal: And yes, I think there is an individualistic, um, judgment element, and this is where I think, um... And, and then I'll, I'll pause for a second. This is where I think we can go wrong reading this as a parable about the individual judgment of individuals in the future That's not really what the language here is supporting. This is supporting sort of a broader group-based judgment, and the grouping is there are those who are sheep and there are those who are goats. But it doesn't appear as though Christ is saying like, "I'm evaluating each individual person, and this person is a sheep, this person is a goat." It's, it's a broader picture that, yes, has some implications for individual personal judgment, but when we read too much of that individual personal judgment into this parable that doesn't seem to be there, that's where we start to, like, rob individual Christians of their assurance. We start to say, like, "Did you do enough? Did you feed enough poor people or did you not?" That's not really, not really what's at stake here, I don't think.  [00:39:40] Jesse Schwamb: No, it's definitely not. It's, it's important to remember just the beauty of, like, the consistent theological thread that runs all the way through the Old Testament, and then that we might expect, of course, to be manifest in Christ's teachings, which happen exactly here. So he is going all the way back to that covenantal promise seed through Abraham, single seed, many people groups, many ethnicities. In this way, the gospel is ethnic inclusive. And so it is, why wouldn't he say that in this way to express that this is exactly from all time what God wanted to do is gather all people groups to himself? Which means then by the time we get to the end of this chapter in verse 46, and there is this righteousness that... or the righteous that lead or go into eternal life, then of course we're led to believe here either directly or implicitly that that means that there would be some for whom the Pharisees would find it's, like, anathema to receive that kind of righteousness and eternal life are the ones in fact who are getting it. And so even that is scandalous. So the, the whole thing is very much a setup, and I think it's the confusion again of this is Jesus saying again to the Sadducees, like, "You are confused. You do not know the power of God. You, you search for it everywhere else but do not find it in front of you. It, it's he who speak to you. I am he. You think you search the scriptures, but you do not know." Everywhere it feels like he's saying that, and here also he's saying that again, but it's in the setup. And I'm with you. I think that there would've been a lot here that would've, like, just come right off his lips that would've been like, "Say what?" Uh, that would've been, like, offensive right off- Yeah ... the top.  [00:41:16] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:41:17] Sovereign Separation [00:41:17] Tony Arsenal: And the other, the other theme that plays out really loud and clear here, um, as we start to dig into this is, um, there's a sovereignty to this separation that is baked into, um, the king's right to decide who to keep and who to cast away. Right. So I think we, we, um, understandably read into this an assessment of the productivity or the profitability or somehow the, like, merit or worth of the sheep as contrasted to the worth of the goats. Um, and we read into it like the sheep have utility and the goats don't, so the goats get cast into the- Right outer darkness. That's not really, that's not really what's going on here, right? In a, in an agrarian society, like sheep and goats both have utility. It's not as though, like, sheep are worthless and goats aren't. There's a reason people have goats. Um, th- the, the issue here is that the king has decided that there are those on his right and there are those on his left, and the ones on his right he's gonna keep, and the ones on his left he's gonna cast away. And, and so, um, there's this sovereign election and determination that precedes the rest of this, right? It's not as though he's ... And this is where the personal, sort of personal assessment part comes in. He doesn't look at a person and go, "All right, you did a g- enough good works to qualify as a sheep, so you go ahead and go over-" Right and be a sheep. And you didn't do quite enough, so you're actually a goat, so you go over and you be a goat." He looks at, he says, "Y- sheep, goat. Goat, sheep." You know, he, he's separating them out, and then he describes what sheep do versus what goats do. And I, I, like I'm even drawing some of this language out. The sheep goats part of this is actually only, like, a verse and a half. He then flips out of this parabolic language to now go back to the sort of strictly predictive eschatological ex- like explanatory language. So this is what it's like when the Son of Man is on, on his kingdom. He separates sheep and goats. We read into, and maybe with some good reason, but we read into Uh, we read into the fact that the sheeps go to one side, the goats go to another. Then we sort of like attribute the characteristics of those who go to his right to sheep, and we attribute the characteristics... And I think we do this the wrong way. How many sermons have you heard where the whole sermon is about how sheep are obedient, and they're, they're affable, and they listen, and they, they, they are sweet and kind, and goats are stubborn, and they, they just wreck everything, and they don't listen, right? And how many s- how many sermons have you heard where they talk about, like, well, sheep and goats really look the same in the Middle Eastern context, and the only way you can tell them apart is what, by what they do? I think there's probably some, uh, benefit to thinking through those elements, but Christ does not make that point in this parable- Mm ... at least not directly, right? He said, "This is the activity. Imagine a man who has sheep and he has goats. He takes the sheep, he puts them on one side. He takes the goats on another side." That's what the separation at the end of the time, at the end of time will be like. Then he goes straight back out of the parable language into saying, "This is how the king will actually make the distinction.  [00:44:29] Predestination Before Works [00:44:29] Tony Arsenal: The ones on his left, or on his right, he will say, 'Come, you're blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'" Right? This is predestination language, not eschatological judgment language. The sheep were guaranteed a kingdom from before the foundation of the world. Before they did anything bad or didn't do anything good, they were guaranteed a kingdom from before the foundation of the world. Then he says, he explains to them, like the context that, as you said before, that reveals that they were sheep all along. [00:45:02] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:45:02] Tony Arsenal: It shows them that they were already... Man, I just, just made this connection in my head. This is the parable of the wheat and of the tares- Yep ... coming to fruition- Exactly ... at the end of time. Right. Right? The sheep and the goats were allowed to mingle until the time came when they would be separated, just as the wheat and the tares were allowed to grow up until the time when they would be reaped and separated. This is what's going on. The sheep did things that sheep do. Those on the right did the things that the people on the right would do because they were part of God's blessed kingdom all along.  [00:45:34] Jesse Schwamb: Right.  [00:45:35] Tony Arsenal: And then he goes on to explain what the people on the left did not do, not because now they've been put on the left because they didn't do it, but they were shown to have always been a part of that, part of that population. They were always goats because of these things. This shows that they were goats all along, and they did these things or failed to do these things because they were goats all along.  [00:45:58] Jesse Schwamb: That's right.  [00:45:59] Works Righteousness Trap [00:45:59] Jesse Schwamb: Let me read another verse. "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children and also our brethren to believe in Christ and to be reconciled to God. For we know that it is by grace that we are saved after all we can do." My guess is everybody was with me- ... sounded kind of okay until that last part. And if you had that, like, as we say, like, that theological muscle memory that just made you flex or bristle there, or you had the Spidey Sense, as you say, Tony, good, because that's from 2 Nephi 25:23 from the Book of Mormon. And here's what I wanna say that's shocking, is if we read this passage of scripture that we're talking about as if there's something there that we need to do that proves that we've done enough and that somehow God will be pleased with that, even at the end of time in some small way, some modicum, then we're actually acting way more like Mormons than we are like Christians. That's just the bottom line. Yeah. Because Mormons, if you ask about this verse, rather than try to qualify that last statement by saying, "Well, that's misunderstood," or, "It's really not after all you can do," because of course it begs the question how do you know that you've done enough? How you don't- you've done all the things and that you're, you're exhausted. Their explanation of this is to double down on it and say, "Well, the context of that verse is following verse 23 actually does emphasize salvation only coming through Christ, but it also encourages continued observance of the law of Moses in order to be reconciled to God." Because that's all they could do until Christ fulfilled the law through his atonement. Even that is nonsense. So all of this to say, we have to be careful with this because I, I think you're right. We're aligning, we're running right up on this, and that is I would submit to you that we just get distracted because we always, of course, want to bring something to the party here. The, the salvation cake. We wanna, I don't know, we wanna make it, we wanna do. But God is doing all the things on our behalf. And so as a result of that, I think this parable is actually, it's about the divine prerogative and the agency of Christ in judgment at the end which belongs to him and him alone, and not about these actions. But we get caught up in the actions and we're missing this thri- divine prerogative. I also think that Christ gives this to us to reverse it on us and to show us that he sets about all things. It is in fact his foreordination and his providence. By grace we have been saved through faith, and that in providence being predestined is an act of his great love. And so this shows the extent of that love because those whom he has chosen himself are asking in disbelief as if to say, "When did I do the good works that you required?" And he said, "Well, you didn't because you could never do them apart from me."  [00:48:38] Tony Arsenal: Yeah.  [00:48:38] Jesse Schwamb: And so really that's the whole point. It's just so easy for us to get it twisted and say, "Well, doesn't it make sense that there are two groups?" Well, certainly there are in this passage. And doesn't it make good sense that because he said they did things or they didn't do things, then I just need to be about doing those things. And I think that is unfortunately the adventure in missing the point in this passage.  [00:48:58] Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah, I, I agree 100%. And it's funny 'cause you were reading that and I was like What translation of J- of First John is it? It sound, I mean, it sounds like, it sounds like something you'd read in First John It sounds okay  [00:49:09] Jesse Schwamb: until  [00:49:10] Tony Arsenal: the end. Yeah. No, I mean, like, it literally sounds like First John until- Yeah ... you get to that last part.  [00:49:14] Jesse Schwamb: Yes.  [00:49:15] Tony Arsenal: And, and I think you're right that, um, we'll, we'll explore this more next week, but what has always struck me about this passage is that the, the p- the, the people on His right, I've gotta stop saying sheep, because that's... I just made the point that that's not really what's going on. The people on His right who are called into the kingdom because it was prepared for them before the foundation, because they were elected unto that kingdom. The people on His right, they're surprised at the fact that they did these things. And it, I, I think the works righteousness way of reading this is like, "You better earn your salvation. You better get at it because if you haven't fed Jesus in disguise, then you just aren't gonna make it. At the end of the day- Mm ... He's gonna say, 'I never knew you.'" And it, whether intentionally or unintentionally, sometimes I think intentionally, it implies that we, uh, that Jesus comes to know us because we've done good works, right? When we say, "If you don't do these things, then Jesus will say, 'I never knew you,'" then what you're saying is Jesus doesn't know you apart from your good works. Right. And what the Bible says, what this passage says, just right on the face of it, is that the Kingdom of Heaven was prepared for those whom Christ has elected before the foundation of the world, or who the Father has elected, who are blessed by the Father before the foundation of the world. Now, obviously the Father had to know those people in some sense-  [00:50:43] Jesse Schwamb: That's  [00:50:43] Tony Arsenal: right ... before the foundation of the world in order for them to be blessed by Him and for Him to prepare a kingdom. So then to come back to the end of it and say, "Well, there are some of those, uh, who the Father never knew because they didn't do enough work," well, the problem is that those who did the good work, the Father knew before they did the good works. They didn't merit the good works. I mean- Right ... it's funny you, you bring up the, the Mormons, and that's certainly true, but, like, you could substitute in, at least on this regard, right? There are meaningful, important differences between the groups I'm about to say and Mormons, that would be the dividing line between those who are possibly saved and those who are y- definitely not saved, right? You could substitute Arminians, who wanna say God looks down the corridor of time, and the reason He prepared a kingdom in advance for them from the foundation of the world is 'cause He saw that they would do these things that would merit salvation, or He saw that they would make the proper decision to receive His grace, right? Or Roman Catholics or Eastern Orthodoxes in a different sense, but similarly who would say like, "Well, yeah, God knows in advance that you're gonna merit salvation, so He prepared- Right ... this kingdom anticipating your merit that you would contribute or your participation or, or whatever." I think in a certain sense, um, you could even apply this to some Lutheran theology, right? Which would say, like, "Well, God prepared this kingdom for you from the foundation of the world because he looked down the corridor of time and he understood that you were not going to resist the grace he gave," right? You were not gonna reject his grace. Um, it really truly only is Reformed theology that can say, "No, God prepared this kingdom in advance for you, and it was the preparation of that kingdom that brought you through this such that you did the good works that you did, such that you made the wise decision to follow Christ that you did. That is caused by the fact that God prepared a kingdom for you in advance, not that you somehow caused this kingdom to be prepared for you." A- and aga- again, again, like, this is dicey. It gets into, like, logical ordering, but fundamentally, a- as far as I can understand it, every competing view besides sort of a Calvinistic understanding of predestination election has to say that in some sense God prepares the kingdom for you as a response to something you have done, or chose- Right to do or chose not to do. The reality is that this passage is saying, "No To those who are on the right. He didn't separate them based on the fact that they did these things. He just said, "You are on the right, and now to those who are on the right, I say to you, come into the kingdom that is blessed. You're blessed by my Father. Come into this kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." So I think, you know, we're c

White Mountain Apache chef Nephi Craig had an unconventional culinary path: from a reservation to a fine dining restaurant to cooking for 7,800 inmates while in county jail. Now he's the executive chef at Café Gozhóó. He spoke with Terry Gross about Native cuisine, getting sober, and bringing nutrition education and addiction treatment to his community on the reservation. His memoir is ‘Our Knives Will Save Us.' Also, John Powers reviews the big tech heist novel ‘Cloudthief' by Nathaniel Rich. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our YouTube channel Check out the Fresh Air ArchivesSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Host Andrew Camp interviews Nephi Craig, executive chef of Café Gozhoo on the White Mountain Apache Tribe, relapse prevention specialist, and founder of the Native American Culinary Association, on the release of his memoir Our Knives Will Save Us. Craig describes writing the book as a tool about the “ingredients of a chef,” linking his 15 years of sobriety, relapse history, and healing to cooking and indigenous foods. He explains how kitchen discipline and mentors shaped him, why indigenous cultivars and foodways connect to public and mental health, and how colonization's violence and intergenerational trauma relate to addiction and health disparities. Craig details Café Gozhoo as a recovery-oriented, clinically designed, non-hierarchical kitchen emphasizing excellence, work-life balance, and Native values, discusses NACA's grassroots impact, and answers food questions, including avoiding snake and bear, loving pho, and naming a last meal featuring Apache racket bread.Nephi Craig is the executive chef of Café Gozhóó in Whiteriver, Arizona, on the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and an advanced certified relapse prevention specialist (ACRPS) and behavioral health technician (BHT) currently serving as the nutritional recovery program coordinator at the Rainbow Treatment Center. Craig is the founder of the Native American Culinary Association (NACA), an organization that is dedicated to the research, refinement, and development of Native American cuisine. His work has been recognized in national and international publications such as Newsweek, Forbes, Food & Wine, and The Guardian.Follow Nephi on Instagram: @nephi_craigBuy Our Knives Will Save UsFollow Andrew CampFacebook: andrew.camp.9Instagram: @andrewcamp80Substack: @thebiggesttableThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com. 

In this episode, meet comedian Alison Leiby, writer, photographer, and former social worker Angelica Glass, and chef Nephi Craig. Tune in to hear how Alison Leiby's audiobook differs from her stand-up comedy, Angelica Glass's favorite moments to share with listeners, and how Nephi Craig's audiobook transformed over time. I'm a Lot by Alison Leiby https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746320/im-a-lot-by-alison-leiby/9798217343089/ Scavenging Beauty by Angelica Glass https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/774522/scavenging-beauty-by-angelica-glass/9798217336791/ Our Knives Will Save Us by Nephi Craig https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/752317/our-knives-will-save-us-by-nephi-craig/9798217336708/

We want to hear from you! Send us some Fan mail! This week on Go & Do, Candis Shupe walks through the final chapters of 2 Kings as Jerusalem falls, the children of Israel are scattered, and the warnings of the prophets are fulfilled. But amid the tragedy, one righteous king reminds us of the incredible power found in God's word.In this episode, you'll learn: 

Dr. Mike Day continues to examine 2 Kings 16-25–Josiah's reforms and how the Book of Mormon may correct and illuminate what the reforms left behind, and closes with his own testimony of Jesus Christ and how scripture carried him through crisis.YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/pzsYQXMyDvASHOW NOTES/TRANSCRIPTSEnglish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT229ENFrench: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT229FRGerman: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT229DEPortuguese: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT229PTSpanish: https://tinyurl.com/podcastOT229ESFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook WEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletter SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE0:00 - Part 2 - Dr. Mike Day2:36 Hezekiah's treasures and Isaiah's dark prophecy4:49 Hezekiah's tunnel 7:01 The water-drawing ceremony9:03 Manasseh and the Isaiah martyrdom legend11:33 Josiah takes the throne12:07 Finding the Book of the Law13:00 Huldah's prophecy14:42 Josiah's seven reforms15:52 One place of worship16:43 Is Deuteronomy a later redaction?19:27 Hosts of heaven and the secret things20:20 Moses and “You only heard a voice.”21:40 Defining the Deuteronomists24:49 1 Nephi 1 counters the reforms27:13 Origins of biblical monotheism29:13 The Book of Mormon correcting the reformers32:32 Lehi's altars and brass plates testify of Jesus Christ34:04 Josiah's fatal move against Egypt36:46 Josiah's death and the editorial 40:33 The fall of Jerusalem and Zedekiah43:00 End of Kings44:16 Mulek and the Book of Mormon connection45:25 Dr Day's testimony49:05 End of Part 2 - Dr. Mike DayThanks 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

Dr. Shon Hopkin continues his exploration of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings guiding through Solomon's breathtaking temple, the universal trap of wanting something for nothing, and the Lord who waits at the window for every one of His children to return.YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/izXp3HKNI9IFREE PDF DOWNLOADS OF followHIM QUOTE BOOKSNew Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastNTBookOld Testament: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastOTBookBook of Mormon: https://tinyurl.com/PodcastBMBook WEEKLY NEWSLETTERhttps://tinyurl.com/followHIMnewsletter SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followHIMpodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastTIMECODE0:00 - Part 2 - Dr. Shon Hopkin1:11 Leadership shortcuts2:46 The Something for Nothing Principle4:38 D&C 121 as the ultimate leadership manual5:34 The temple6:30 7 years on the temple, 13 on the palace7:30 The molten sea and 12 oxen9:16 God is portable11:52 The scale of the temple14:16 The molten sea vs. baptismal fonts15:28 Cherubin in Solomon's temple 16:35 Gold, grandeur, and bringing your best to the Lord17:42 Solomon's dedicatory prayer21:26 Stranger and foreigner and becoming priests and priestesses24:23 7 themes of Solomon's dedicatory prayer25:11 The temple as a place of sending27:26 Nephi's temple and echoes of Solomon's temple30:387 Saints as OT people31:13 Isaiah's Yad Vashem–a hand and a name for the forgotten35:47 Offerings and the filled hand of Aaron38:41 Cups as hands, catching and receiving39:56 Dr. Hopkin's paper: “Christ, Covenants and the Caph”41:46 Recommended reading and the Western Wall today42:16 Glory fills the temple 43:49 Study the OT, it is the water everything else swims in49:45 Celebrities, athletes, and sports teams in place of God51:00 Hesed, hesed, hesed53:03 God never tells you, “I told you so”56:53 End of Part 2 - Dr. Shon HopkinThanks 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

The guys recorded this episode about 12 hours before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was set to consider an amendment to a potentially bipartisan bill from Sen. Mike Lee that would invalidate the 2001 Roadless Rule. Dave and Nephi discuss the implications (spoiler: the sky isn't falling, but it's not a great look). They also chat about a proposal to repeal the blanket 4(d) Rule (a wonky discussion that nearly put Nephi to sleep). They also share some stories from the trenches from their days working for former Wyoming Governor, Matt Mead. Reminder: new email address. If you want to reach the team, use yourmountainpodcast@gmail.com.