Mike Day grew up in Modesto, California. After his mission in Chicago, he met his wife Sonia at Weber State University. They have four sons, two daughters-in-law, and one grandson.
Mike co-hosts the podcast Talking Scripture with his colleague Bryce Dunford. He is also a regular contributor on The Stick of Joseph channel. He believes the Book of Mormon is exactly what it claims to be. Mike is passionate about pointing out the roots of esoteric temple instruction that are found in the Book of Mormon. He also loves to grapple with the “messiness” of the Bible and “geek out” on the original languages of the text and the ancient cultural context.
Mike has been an instructor for Seminaries & Institutes of Religion since 1993. He earned a Master’s Degree in Education in 2001 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Utah in World Languages & Cultures, Comparative Literary & Cultural Studies with an emphasis in Classical Greek and Biblical Hebrew.
Mike loves cycling, warm beaches, Tolkien, and all things Star Wars.
Disclaimer: Mike is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the opinions he expresses do not represent the official position of the church. We refer you to official church sources and the church website to clarify any doctrinal questions.
I am going to have to teach my 10th grader seminary from home this year, I’m not very creative or good at making teaching fun for her, I was hoping to find some ideas or modern stories to accompany the Old Testament lessons, If you have any ideas please let me know. I’m scared.
Angela,
I understand exactly how you are feeling! The manuals that come with the Old Testament seminary program are excellent. Use them. If you always approach the scripture block looking for ways that the message can resonate with your daughter, you will usually find an application that works. Keep working at it. My goal for this site is to do exactly what you are suggesting, to have many stories and questions that help you as a teacher and the youth to see the relevance the scriptures have in our lives. Thank you for reading. I will post more OT stuff shortly!
-Mike
Brother Day-
I am going to be submitting my paperwork in for a mission very soon. I just wanted to let you know somehow, somewhere, of the impact you and your seminary classes made on me. Knowing the truthfulness of the restored gospel has been such a blessing and a comfort through this storm that is college. I thank you for your testimony and knowledge of the gospel, and I am learning to find the same joy in studying the scriptures that I know you do. You made an extremely positive impact on my life and I cannot thank you enough.
Greg,
You will do awesome on your mission! Let me know where you will be serving! You will change lives and make a huge impact in blessing Heavenly Father’s children. I wish you all the best!
-Brother Day
Which episode is the best one to listen on the “beauty to ashes” principal?
We talk about this in a few episodes. Episode 141 discusses this in the context of Genesis 19 and Lot’s choices there. The beauty for ashes idea teaches that beauty can come to pass even through horrible circumstances. The story of Jesus’ genealogical line as outlined in Matthew 1 reveals this as well.
Dear Brother Day – I have just been called to be a seminary teacher after the former seminary teacher had to be replaced after an extended illness. I taught early morning seminary many years ago (at 24) in Hawaii and for some reason find it so much more challenging this time. Perhaps – it’s because I was oblivious at the young age of 24 about what I was doing and what was necessary to engage and touch the student’s hearts – now I feel the weight of this responsibility so much more. I know God will qualify those whom he calls and I am putting my faith in this – but I have really appreciated reading your beautifully prepared lessons – for their depth and breadth.
I cannot be you but perhaps God can work through me to touch young lives also. I have other seminary teachers tell me that I need to throw a little fun in there each day. How do you do this?
Have you started Jeremiah yet?
Thanks
Sister Gardner
Janice,
Thanks for following this site! Part of my motivation for posting these ideas is my desire to help our wonderful volunteer teachers across the world to have access to concepts and principles that have worked in a seminary classroom setting. I also want the Church to have more positive exposure on the internet, and this is just one small way that I can contribute to the overall content.
We are so blessed to have you give of your time to the Lord as you teach these youth- they are the future of the Church. Thank you for giving of your time and talent to bless their lives!
I have taught much of Jeremiah and will post soon. As far as suggestions for fun activities, that will require a much longer post. Stay tuned.
Bro Day
Mike, as usual this site is amazing. Keep up the great work. I use it almost every week planning my lessons to teach the Deacons! You rock!
Thanks Adam! Happy Father’s Day to you and your great family! Keep working with those super deacons!
-Mike
Hey Bro Day!
This is Chan from your 4th period last year. So in seminary today, we were talking about Acts 7:55-56, and someone asked why Jesus was on the right hand of God, so then we got to talking about how the right hand is the covenant hand. So I was thinking, and I remembered the lesson you taught us last year about the scripture that says “turn the other cheek”, and how that really meant to stand up for yourself because you would use one hand to hit them, and the other one you wouldn’t. So I tried to explain this to my seminary class, and they laughed at me! So, I was wondering if you had a post about that on here, or if you could just tell me what I couldn’t remember! Thanks!
Chan
I hope this helps! Good luck!
https://ldsseminary.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/matthew-5-the-sermon-on-the-mount/
Thank you!
Great site! Thanks for your comment on mine. My plate has been so full, I haven’t had much time to write lately. I hope to post something new for Christmas. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Dear Bro Day,
Hi 🙂 This is Bridges… you taught me last year. I have a question I’ve been wondering about lately, and I remembered your site, so I was wondering if you could maybe answer it for me… So in the pre-earth life, somewhere in 2nd Nephi I think, it says that we didn’t know sin and we were good and all that jazz. So my question is what caused the first sin to happen? How did Satan become tempted to commit the first sin if he’s the one who tempts us to sin? And also, what would’ve happened if Satan hadn’t decided to rebel against Heavenly Father and leave with the 1/3? Would Heavenly Father’s plan still have worked? Was it necessary for Satan to commit that first sin so that we could come to Earth and be tried and tested?
I’d love it if you can give me an answer to this. I haven’t gotten on that’s helped me out yet…
Thanks Bro Day, you’re amazing!
Great question!
In the Pre-earth life, it appears that the children of Heavenly Father were capable of some degree of agency, of choosing their destiny. In Alma 13 we read the following:
And again, my brethren, I would cite your minds forward to the time when the Lord God gave these commandments unto his children (in other words, Alma is speaking of the pre-earth life); and I would that ye should remember that the Lord God ordained priests, after his holy order, which was after the order of his Son, to teach these things unto the people. And those priests were ordained after the order of his Son, in a manner that thereby the people might know in what manner to look forward to his Son for redemption. And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such. And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren. Or in fine, in the first place they were on the same standing with their brethren; thus this holy calling being prepared from the foundation of the world for such as would not harden their hearts, being in and through the atonement of the Only Begotten Son, who was prepared (Alma 13:1-5, emphasis added).
This passage seems to indicate that there were individuals in the pre-earth life that exercised mighty faith while there were those that chose the opposite. Many of the specifics are unknown at this point and time, but one thing is certain: we all had the ability to choose who we would follow. The Adversary rebelled against the plan of Heavenly Father and did all he could to enlist followers. His rebellion existed in his own choosing- in other words before Lucifer became Satan we have no record of Satan. Another way to put it is like this: did Satan need to exist for Lucifer to rebel against God? It seems reasonable to suppose that Satan is not an essential part of God’s plan for our redemption. Let me make a couple of salient points that might strengthen this claim.
If it was a requirement that someone “volunteer” to assume the role of an adversary, what would that say about Heavenly Father’s perfect plan for his children? Would a loving, kind, merciful, and just God require that one of his children be permanently banished from his presence? It seems rational to assume otherwise. In fact the scriptures make the following claims:
Speaking of Lucifer, in D&C 76 we read that he was “called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning. And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!” (D&C 76:26-27) If it was necessary that Lucifer become Satan, perhaps this verse would be read differently. Also it is worth noting that God’s work and glory is to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). It would seem contrary to his plan that he should require one of his children to willfully rebel against his purpose for creating us in the first place. Not only this, but we are not talking about one individual, but the host that followed Lucifer in the pre-earth struggle for agency. John states that Satan “drew the third part of the stars of heaven” after him (Revelation 12:4). Whether that is 1/3 or just a “third part” represent a large number, not necessarily 1/3, we are talking about many people. Would God be just in forcing individuals to choose? Is not agency part of the entire program, the very thing that makes the plan of salvation operative?
When we read of what makes the plan operational, perhaps the clearest verses of scripture come to us from Lehi in 2 Nephi 2. Lehi lists four things that must exist for man to have agency, to be free. These are: 1)opposition, 2)laws designating right and wrong, 3)knowledge of good and evil, and 4)the power to choose. Nowhere in this text does Lehi say that Satan must exist for us to have agency. He does state that opposition is essential: “For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore all things must needs be a compound in one…” (2 Nephi 2:11) Is not possible that the conditions of mortality provide this essential opposition?
Consider the following:
We read in Mosiah 3:19 that “the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit…” In other words, the condition that man finds himself in as a fallen creature is one where his natural tendencies are to seek self-interest, to do all he can to look out for himself and benefit his own situation, even to the detriment of others. We do not have to look very far to see evidence of this in our world. It is as if man is “hardwired” to behave this way. In the New Testament book of James we read: “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:13-15 emphasis added). James seems to indicate that it is our own natural lusts that lead us to sin. We seem quite capable of committing sin without the help of the Adversary!
This being said, let us not forget that Satan is a real being, intent on our destruction. I view Satan as one who is a stirrer of the pot, one who incites man to rebellion, who “stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29). An analogy that might work with most teenagers would be the character Ursula in the film The Little Mermaid. Ursula tempts Ariel, but Ariel’s nature compels her to want that which her father has forbidden. Of course Ursula uses Ariel’s natural tendencies against her, but Ursula is not essential for Ariel to be tempted. I realize the weakness in this analogy, as Ursula provides a means whereby Ariel can fulfill her desire to change her circumstance and completely rebel against her father’s wishes, but the desire to rebel was present in Ariel without the influence of the wicked Ursula.
Probably the most persuasive verse of scripture hinting at the necessity of Satan is found in D&C 29: “And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet…” (D&C 29:39) The question I have in relation to this verse is this: is this verse saying that it was necessary that Satan should tempt us or that man should be tempted? I interpret this to mean that it was essential that God should have us in an environment where opposition exists in order that we may freely choose to follow his plan. Of course, in this mortal condition, we are subject to the weaknesses of the flesh, and would be tempted. Satan, of course only serves to exacerbate this situation. It is clear that we must have opposition in order to exercise agency, but I find it difficult to prove that someone take the role of “Satan” in order to provide this essential requirement of agency. Perhaps we will know more in the future when “the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things- Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof” (D&C 101:32-33).
One thing is certain- Satan does exist. We need not be fearful or overly focused on this fact, however.
President James E. Faust taught:
We need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. The Apostle James counseled: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them. And Nephi states that the devil “hath no power over the hearts” of righteous people. (1 Nephi 22:26) We have heard comedians and others justify or explain their misdeeds by saying, “The devil made me do it.” I do not really think the devil can make us do anything. Certainly he can tempt and he can deceive, but he has no authority over us that we do not give him.
The power to resist Satan may be stronger than we realize. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power.” (The Words of Joseph Smith, ed. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook (1980), 60.)
He also stated, “Wicked spirits have their bounds, limits, and laws by which they are governed.” (History of the Church, 4:576.)
So Satan and his angels are not all-powerful. One of Satan’s approaches is to persuade a person who has transgressed that there is no hope of forgiveness. But there is always hope. Most sins, no matter how grievous, may be repented of if the desire is sincere enough. (President James E. Faust, The Forces That Will Save Us, Ensign, January 2007.)
Bridges I wish you all the best!
Is there a way to become a follower of your site?
Go to the homepage, on the right side of the screen you can click “subscribe to talking scripture podcast,” or “subscribe to this site.” Subscribing is free, there is no charge. Thanks for reading!
I was just called to be early morning seminary in my ward here in Bay Area (starting in September). Just looking for some great teachers out there with more experience. This site looks like a great resource. Is there any way that I can get your email? I have a few questions right off the bat. Thanks so much.
Mick I wish you the best. The new manual is a tremendous resource. It was a teacher like you in California that sparked an interest in me when I was 15. You make a difference. Thank you!
hey bro. day
I was in your seminary class a few years ago, and something came up in my seminary class today that I was wondering about.
In D&C, the word of wisdom says to eat meat only sparingly, or in times of famine. I remember something, although my memory may be faulty, about how that wasn’t the case, and it wasn’t a reason why we all needed to become vegetarians.
Am I just making this up, or is this the case?
Thanks bro day!
Bridges
Bridges,
It is good to hear from you! I hope all is well. Over the course of my days, I have had some interesting experiences with this question, and I would venture to say that the answer is highly personal. I strictly followed a plant based for a few years (2013-2015) and have since switched to a diet that includes more meat. I have since been felt much better physically, had improved blood numbers, and have lost weight. One thing I think most experts can agree on is this: work to avoid processed foods and sugars. To me this seems to be universal. Eat real food. When I have gone long periods of time eating real food and avoided processed sugary foods, I have had the best health. But this is difficult as in America we have access to so many foods that contain so many things that are damaging to our health. Best wishes on this quest!
Thank you so much! That’s exactly what I was remembering 🙂 I’m so glad I remembered this site. I go here for all my questions!
Thanks again!
Bridges
The question I have been asking myself over the last month is “who are you guys (Mike & Bryce) and where did you come from?” Each episode of your Book of Mormon (CFM) podcast has left me in awe. You are not my mom’s stuffy scholars gathered a round a table personifying chloroform in speech. Your scholarly knowledge, excitement and enthusiasm accompanied with high octane Spirit lifts my soul. Thank you thank you thank you for your podcasts.
Needed to take a little break from the 2 NE 6-10 podcast to dry my eyes from Bryce’s future story. Bryce, be careful what you imagine or dream. One such dream came true for me exactly how I imagined it.
I am teaching the Book of Mormon for the third time in seminary. It has never been more alive and vibrant. Thanks for the light you have shined into my Book of Mormon class.
Mike and Bryce ROCK!
Brad
Thanks for listening and for teaching seminary! My early morning seminary teachers in California way back in the day set the table for me to read the Book of Mormon and to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ. I dedicate so much of my work on this website to those individuals working so hard with our youth. You matter. You make a difference! God bless you.
I want to THANK YOU a million times for sharing your profound insights. My understanding of the gospel has been deepened and enlarged, which enables me to love the Savior even more. (And I love the “geek out” moments!). I’m so grateful for your time and generosity and testimony. Please also thank Bryce and Mandy Green.
Thanks for listening to the podcast. It is such a blessing to live in a time where we can share the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this way. So many physical boundaries are removed due to the technology we have today! Bryce and Mandy are the best! I will pass this along! Thanks for sharing!
Hi. i write you from La repubblica di San Marino, you are reaching a lot of places. First of all i wanted to thanks you for your efforts and sacrifces in doing all this in order to teach the gospel. The work that you and Bryce have done is wonderfull, and have helped me a lot. I have a doctrinal question. I have ever have problem with the priesthood ban, in the sense that does not make shke my testimony, but i have study a bit of it, timeline and doctrine to try to understand, and e question came up to me, and is this. Joseph said that one someone is baptized if is not a literal decendent of israel, the holy spirit, trasform blood and body in order to covert that person in a isralite; so, if you are a Cannan son, and then you got baptized, and turn in a israelite, the “course” doesnt go away? thanks for your risponse
Hernan, first, thanks for listening to the podcast. I will probably do a podcast on this very subject. I am of the belief that, as Elder McConkie stated in one of his talks, that the Brethren had limited light and knowledge when they made many comments regarding the skin color of our dear and beloved brothers and sisters. I am a strong advocate of 2 Nephi 26.33, which states that “all are alike unto God.” I feel this in my bones. I do not believe God cares one whit about the color of our skin. This is a distinction that we have used to judge each other. That being said, our history as a church is somewhat messy in this regard. I loved President Hinckley’s approach to this subject. He once stated: “I remind you that no man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ”…(April 2006 General Conference)
I have posted some of the historical issues on this website that you can read here:http://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/2016/12/02/a-segment-from-the-book-lengthen-your-stride-by-edward-kimball/
This may also help: https://www.fairmormon.org/conference/august-2014/shouldering-the-cross
As will this article: https://www.fairmormon.org/answers/Mormonism_and_racial_issues/Blacks_and_the_priesthood/Understanding_pre-1978_statements
I believe prophets are men who have been given gifts to “see” spiritual things, but God has left them men. This is why they must receive revelation. But they still have personal views, and they have shown their mortality as they have striven to follow Jesus. We are the same in this sense- we follow Jesus, we receive light and knowledge, but we are still mortal, with all the weaknesses that this implies. I have a short post on this as well. See: http://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/2018/03/10/clay-and-gold-inspiration-and-incarnation/
Thank you for your willingness to reach out. God is real. Jesus is the Christ. God bless you!
I have a question about the early Israelite temple ceremonies. I’m working on a piece of art and have some questions about what the King and Queen would be wearing when they are enthroned. Does anyone have any idea?
My first answer to this is I simply do not know. Unless we can get some kind of descriptions we are working with ideas and theories pieced together like so much of the puzzle that is first temple Israelite religion. So much of this is preserved in the Psalms. LeGrand Baker has done some work on this, and he uses alot of Mowinkle’s stuff which is brilliant. J.H. Eaton’s book on the Festal Drama in Deutero-Isaiah is an excellent work as well, but he doesn’t really hit this question. You might want to spend some time on LeGrand Baker’s website. He does some stuff with the articles worn by kings and queens in England that is at least worth looking into. I must say that these accoutrements are coming from somewhere. To me, Baker is some of the best work on this topic.
First off I want to say thank you for the amazing insights that you and Bryce share every week. I love your podcast! Especially the bonus podcasts that you’ve done with Mandy Green and D. John Butler. They have been life changing for me, especially The one with Mandy Green. She is my hero! Second I would like to suggest that you do a podcast on your process and journey getting to where you are with all the insights and knowledge that you have regarding languages and deep symbolism. I’m desperate to learn more and don’t know how to go forward. Please continue to invite special guests! Please continue sharing! Hopefully you see this and feel how important your work is!
Ashley, thanks for listening and I am glad you have liked our guest speakers! It is a pleasure to work with Bryce each week and I am so glad David and Mandy were gracious enough to share their time with all of us. I am a better person for knowing them! As far as advice on moving forward, I would suggest that you listen to our podcast on this very topic: episode 1 How to get the most out of scripture study. It is only about 45 minutes, but in this episode Bryce and I share some of the things that have worked for us over the years. I am so appreciative of Bryce and how he opens up how to find “real life” application in the scriptures. I am more of a word nerd. I started in 1990 by buying a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and spent time in it every day for a few years. I found that so much of our scripture has layers and that Joseph Smith at his age did not have access to these tools, and yet incredible gems were literally everywhere in the Book of Mormon. That is what got me started. I would say probably that just reading the scriptures every day, looking to understand things that you do not “get” – reading closely, all of these things are helpful. If you liked David’s presentation, both his books that I linked in the podcast are well worth the time and money. Mine are heavily marked and read. I would also suggest that you study what draws our your personal interest. Hopefully some of the things we talk about get you going on specific questions. If you have specific questions about books that have helped me with certain questions, I am always a resource. I hope this helps. Keep on keepin’ on!
-Mike
Hello Mike! You are the BEST part of my 2020 experience with your Talking Scripture podcast w/Bryce!! Thnx4 sharing your gifts, talents, knowledge & testimony with the world in an easy & convenient format!! Bless you & your family forever!!
With Appreciation, Sis. Karen Klomp☀️
Thanks! That means a ton! My wife works hard making sure the podcast is produced well and on time. She does all the heavy lifting!
Hi, Mike. I’m a new subscriber to Talking Scripture. I just finished listening to Ep 73 (bonus episode) again and I was wondering if you have compiled a list of books to start reading. I’m simply blown away at the amount of knowledge you have and was wanting to know a good starting point. Do you, by chance, have a chronological list compiled for someone looking to get started? Not necessarily on a specific topic, but a course of action for, well, everything. Haha If you could go back and start over, where would you begin? Thank you for reading and I apologize if this has already been addressed and answered in the past. Many blessings to you and your efforts to share. 🙂
Aaron, I have a “books I recommend” page, you might want to start there. Since you listened to the podcast with David Butler, and it sounds like you liked it, so I would start with both his books. They are pretty rich (not too long to read, quite short really, but deep and rich). They may be a bit much for some readers, depending on their background. So if you read David’s books and first don’t get where he is coming from, that’s okay. Just keep going. I would also say to read all the stuff I recommend from LeGrand Baker. We could talk about books all day, there are just so many good ones. The problem, as I see it, with scholarship is this: so much of Biblical scholarship is the issue of sorting through that which bolsters faith and that which tears it down. Then there is the issue of making scholarship understandable and relatable to the common man. My favorite scholars are those who write and teach in such a way so that a normal person can understand what they are saying. Then the issue is application. Why does this matter? When you combine all of these elements, sorting through what to read can be difficult. This is partly why Bryce and I are doing this podcast, putting together some of the stuff we have worked on for almost 30 years into a relatable medium that people will actually want to participate in. Hopefully this helps! Thanks for listening!
Have learned so much from your podcasts and am so grateful for what you share with us/me.
One thought about today in section 7. “my beloved has desired that he might do more , or a greater work YET AMONG MEN THAN WHAT HE HAS BEFORE DONE.
Perhaps the Lord isn’t comparing but separating their calls. After all, surely “speedily coming to (His) kingdom” entail an equally important work, with an even greater number of souls.
Either way we learn the great lesson of becoming.
Once again….thank you so much for how you enrich our lives.
Dear Mike and Bryce,
I cannot thank you enough for your amazing podcast! I have learned so much from both of you! I am also so grateful for the show notes. They are an incredible resource! Thank you for freely sharing what you have learned over the study of many years. It is obvious you are both diligent students of the scriptures. My study has deepened, largely in part to your podcast. Thank you!
Dearest Bryce and Mike,
I thank God every day for you and your selfless response to what was certainly a personal call from the Lord to produce the Talking Scripture podcast! I’ve listened to every episode at least twice; my favorites, many more than that. I consider you both my dear friends and I so appreciate your willingness to share your talents, insights, and obvious love of Jesus and His Gospel with the world! I feel the Spirit in every episode and I always come away with new understanding which pass along in talks, lessons, and in teaching my kids. I’m an unashamed addict!
I recognize that you and many others providing supportive service make sacrifices to produce the podcast and I want you all to know that those sacrifices do not go unnoticed. Thank you, every one!!
With love,
Dianne
Thanks for the positivity!
Mike (and Bryce)
My wife and I have been listening to you for over a year now. (Book of Mormon & Doctrine and Covenants) We feel we know you both. Having been a “teacher” in many capacities, we so appreciate your directions, insights, perspectives and spirit. How you both deliver the gospel from your particular positions, you Mike with the History and the ‘geek’ outs and Bryce from his spiritual direction are truly inspired. Please, never stop….”until the time appointed”….(D&C 42:48) and that being a long time from now.
Much love to you both, in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Hello! In the recent podcast on sec 46 you mention a verse describing how the celestial see as they are seen. I have combed section 76 assuming it would be there and cannot find it. Can you share the reference? Thank you!
They who dwell in his presence are the church of the Firstborn; and they see as they are seen, and know as they are known, having received of his fulness and of his grace… (D&C 76.94)
I cannot tell you how much I LOVE your podcasts!
They are so thoughtful and enlightening.
If only every student in the gospel had teachers like yourselves.
I have been thinking about section 50 and the way that we can know whether something is from God and I fully agree that good doctrine enlightens and edifies but how do we explain this in context of things like polygamy and the priesthood and temple ban, or lgbtq issues?
I totally get that some things we’re just not going to understand in this life but when these things make so many people feel darkness or that they don’t edify at all, how can we speak to that without just writing it off as emotion?
I would really love any feedback you have on this.
But thanks again for all of the time and effort that you put in to your podcasts.
They are on my list of “can’t miss!”
?
Meredith, I do not know. There is so much depth to this question, and even while we were recording, I had questions like this go through my mind. I am still working through some of these questions myself. There is an element of “proving contraries” in religious discourse that we did not really get into in this podcast (see History of the Church, 6:428.). This proving of contraries helps to unveil truth. This is a way of expressing the meaning of truth in the Greek language, aletheia, αληθεια, a word that means “to unveil, the state of not being hidden.” So I have a nuanced approach to this issue and struggle articulating all the angles, and so every time I approach a subject like this I am only dealing in approximations, using language that doesn’t do the subject justice, as these are just forms that do not really get to the heart of the matter. So what I am saying (or trying to say) is that you are right, this is complex! I welcome truth from whatever source I can find (if you have listened to the podcast long enough you will get the gist of where I am coming from here), and I take the pragmatic view where science and religion “seem” to clash, knowing that I lack sufficient data to reconcile many of these things. I also try to be open to reframing how I view religion and scientific thought as I learn new information.
Talking Scripture is on my list of favorite podcasts for sure. This week was especially moving to me as I am a GG Granddaughter of Daniel Webster Jones. “Forty Years Among the Indians” is one of my most prized possessions. Thank you so very much for sharing this part of GG Grandpa’s amazing story. So many of our family have benefitted from his contributions and dedication to the translation of the Book of Mormon into the Spanish language. I hope someday to meet and thank him. I look forward to your podcast each week; thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing your day with us and for all the positivity! Daniel Jones is an inspiration.
I love you guys! I can hardly wait for next year and Old Testament!
Hi Mike! I love, love, LOVE your podcast!!!! Is there anyway we can hear more from you??! Your knowledge of languages and words and your ability to help people understand the scriptures on a much deeper level is amazing. I wish you would talk more in your podcast!! We want more of your nuggets, historical views, and word plays. I know the old testament has a lot more to it than what we’ve read on the surface for years. I really hope you won’t hold back when you get to those books. Your podcast is amazing as it is but maybe you could just speak up more so we can hear more of what you have to say 🙂
Thanks Sasha. A ton of this is in the show notes, so hopefully you get a chance to see those. Sometimes the language things can be interesting to some, but incredibly boring to many students. I will work on doing this. Thanks for listening!
Hello Brother Day. My husband and I are huge fans of your podcast. We tell all our friends about it. I especially love the historical background as we dive into the D&C. You recently shared a story of an early Saint who who attacked by a mob and then drug by horse and hit his head. I have been searching for more info on this story and who this person was. Can you guide me to the podcast where this was mentioned? Now that I am learning more about these early Saints this has really peaked my interest. Thank you! ~Claudia Hill
Hi, I’m fairly new to this site, but your a more seasoned scholar than myself (and i mean that in the most respectful way) I’m commenting on behalf of a challenge i was given and hoping i could request your help on finding the source because my efforts have not been successful. But i was hoping you could help me locate the prayer of Joseph Smiths final/last prayer given at Nauvoo before his death. Your help would be very much appreciated.
I am not sure to what you are referring. John Taylor was with Joseph in Carthage on June 27, 1844, and he reported that he said “Oh Lord my God!” in his last moments of mortal life. So John Taylor who was there (but not inside Joseph’s head) gives us this report. Was this a prayer? Only Joseph knows.
I began listening to your podcast early this year. It has added so much to my understanding of the gospel I love and of Joseph Smith and the work he did to initiate the restoration. One of my favorite parts of your podcast are the geek-out moments and I appreciate that so much additional information is included in the show notes. While you explain a symbol and its meaning, I have not heard reference to a source. There are many options to choose from. What would you suggest as a good first choice book on symbolism to add to my personal gospel library.
Carolyn,
Thanks for listening to the podcast! I am so glad it is working for you! In the show notes I try to give lots of references so that folks know what it is I am citing. I have lots of books and cannot really pick a favorite. If you really like temple symbolism, an LDS scholar worth reading is Matt Brown. I suggest starting with his two books on temple symbolism (Symbols in Stone and The Gate of Heaven). There are also great introductory books on the symbolism of the scriptures, many by LDS authors. Of those that are published, I sometimes suggest books like “Gospel Symbolism” or Alonzo Gaskill’s “The Lost Language of Symbolism.”
In the last ten years or so I have been really enjoying more in-depth Old Testament studies, reading into the cultures that influenced the construction of the Old Testament. Some non-LDS scholars have contributed much in the way of unlocking some of the possible meanings of Old Testament passages and the cultural context of the messages of the Hebrew Bible. Individuals such as Othmar Keel, Mark Smith, James Kugel, Margaret Barker, and Richard Friedman. You need to go through a lot of reading to find the good stuff, because there is just so much information. I probably quote LeGrand Baker and Stephen D. Ricks (both LDS authors, both taught at BYU) whenever I really get into what is going on with the temple. Their book “Who Shall Ascend?” is worth owning. They have also made a free version you can obtain here as well. I have both the hard copy and the PDF.
David Butler is a wonderful Latter-day Saint and a scholar, whom I consider a friend. His two books that we discuss in the podcast on episode 73 are excellent sources into what is going on in the background of the Hebrew Bible as well as the symbols associated with the tree in Nephi’s visionary experience. Hopefully when we do our “geek out” moments we give enough background in the footnotes for you to start going on some of these paths on your own. Once we get into the Old Testament, I am not going to write up such extensive show notes. I am a full-time graduate student and also teaching full-time, and so writing up weekly show notes is all-consuming. So in the upcoming episodes the show notes portion of the podcast will consist more of some of the slides that I use in live classroom settings. On the slides will be some book references for interested listeners. So that may be useful. Thanks for reaching out and happy reading! It is always worth it!
Mike, I just read D&C 135, historical sketch. Knowing how you like history and content. I can send you a bio of my great-great grandfather, Henry Eastman Day. He refers to the day he was working on the bridges, as an employee of the public works in Nauvoo, (Wednesday 26 June 1844) as a young man (not yet LDS). He had the bridge torn apart when a mob came to cross. You’ll like the language. Let me know if you’d like a copy.
Send it. My email is MikeDayHerriman@gmail.com
Quick question:
I have been reviewing the D&C podcasts trying to find the information you all shared regarding the council to stay with a spouse rather than leave the spouse for the church. I may have this totally wrong…trying to clarify the council and sources.
Stay with the spouse = loose the church
Loose the church = Stay with the spouse
(Still hold fast to principles)
Thank you so much
Tom
I love your podcast so much. This weeks was so good and raised a question that I’m wondering if you have any insight to, or maybe I’m just over thinking it. When thinking of the symbolic meaning of numbers I think about the continents as one, the seven, then back again as one. Do you think there is any significance with 7 continents?
I don’t know about that, but the idea of seven and completion/perfection abounds in the scriptures. Alonzo Gaskill wrote an excellent book on symbolism and he has a whole chapter on numbers that you may enjoy. It is called “The Lost Language of Symbolism.”
I want to start at the beginning of Come Follow Me in the New Testament. How doI access your podcast first in the New Testament, second in the Book of Mormon, –I see that those in the D&C are listed on your current podcast.
Just go to Talkingscripture.org and then pick from the list of podcasts. Episode 1 is at the bottom of the list and the most recent episodes are at the top. The podcasts are also on pretty much every podcast application, so pick which ever app you use and subscribe to Talking Scripture. Thanks for listening!
Studying the Doctrine & Covenants this year with you, Mike & Bryce, has been a profound experience. THANK YOU for your podcast, which I listen to each week as I study Come, Follow Me. I feel like I’m in the best institute class and I can’t get enough.
I am taking Mandy Green’s Biblical Hebrew classes and combined with Mike’s “geeking out” on Old Testament goodness (which I LOVE!), I have never felt more excited about studying the Old Testament next year. I am so grateful for your work to deep-dive in the scriptures and share your incredible knowledge and insights to bless others. I can’t wait to study with you again next year.
Thanks that means so much! I hope that we do justice to the Old Testament this year in 2022. It is a bit daunting!
First of all, I started listening to your podcast in 2020 and LOVE IT so thank you Mike and Bryce. I’m wondering if you recommend using another version like the LIV, NRSV, or another Bible translation along with the KJV as a resource to understand the Bible better as the language is simplified. Thank you!
Darci I thank you for listening to the podcast! I don’t have any one specific translation that I recommend. Some really good translations I like are The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha as well as The Jewish Study Bible by Berlin and Brettler. Another good translation of the New Testament is Wayment’s translation: The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints. I have also enjoyed The Jewish Annotated New Testament (NRSV). There are so many, so I don’t want to overload you. I think the key thing is to read the text and let it speak to you. As you do so and as you read others that have translated the text, you will find certain translators that give renderings that resonate with you. My favorite commentary on the Bible really does come from the Book of Mormon. I think that there is just so much in this that is yet to be understood and discussed. An excellent book on how to read the Bible and what Mormon is actually doing with the text is Bradley Kramer’s Beholding the Tree of Life. If you haven’t read this, I highly recommend it.
I appreciate your podcast #73 opened my eyes. I had already read Butler’s Plain and Precious, but the conversational podcast helped.
Anyway, I now see the 3 Room teachings more clearly. Recently I read President Eyring’s Oct 2021 GC address. He uses all the key elements of 3 Room teaching, and follows the pattern in the Sermon on the mount/at the temple.
I also found 3 more brethren that conference who utilized a similar pattern.
Thank you for helping us along in our study.
Mike, I just listened to episode 140 and loved the analogy of the hide and seek game. Thought you might appreciate this…when playing with a child, if you don’t seek earnestly/quickly/activity, you may find them weeping because they think you forgot them or don’t care.
Think how often we have made our heavenly parents weep because we lask earnestness in seeking.
This is a great site. Is there any way you can create an app to be able to access you easily from a phone? I don’t know what it takes, but it sure would make it easier to find you again!
If you know anyone who would willingly give of their time to make this happen, send me an email! Right now I am a full time student and working full time so my schedule is pretty tight for a couple of years!
Mike, I wanted to thank you and Bryce for your insights. I love your podcast and so appreciate the time you both take to bring so many truths to light. Particularly, I wanted to thank you for your insights around African-americans and the priesthood. I have shared episode 132 (the one that focuses on the Official Declarations 1 & 2) with several friends and family who have struggled with this part of church history. It has helped so many (including myself) to better understand. Thank you again for all your help and efforts!
Thanks Melissa. It means so much to hear that the podcast is valuable to some folks! I have also had many questions regarding this part of our history.
Thanks for the kind words and for sharing the podcast with your friends!
-Mike
Loved your most recent podcast on Gen. 24-27. Particularly your insight into using the creation pattern as a framework for looking at the patriarchs. That got me to thinking of the patriarch stories in allegorical terms.
The Abraham/ Isaac and the Joseph stories are obvious Messianic prophecies. Abraham sacrificing Isaac is a revelation on the pre-mortal council (Light/ pre-existence). Joseph being rejected by his brothers, flourishing among the gentiles, and then delivering his brothers after a long famine is a prophecy of the Saviors rejection by the house of Israel, adoption by the Gentiles, and Israel’s eventual deliverance by the Savior (Earth/ latter days)
So it made me wonder if the Rebekah/ Jacob story is also a Messianic prophecy that correlates with Water/ Mortality, and the Saviors earthly ministry.
Isaac would stand in the place of the house of Israel falling into apostasy, his eyes being dim. Rebekah is the messianic figure. She supplants the unworthy son who has a right to the birthright blessings with the worthy son who does not have a right to the blessing. This speaks to the supplanting of the rights of the Priesthood from the apostate Jewish priests and given to the humble, believing of the House of Israel who followed Christ.
In regards to the deceit, Rabbi David Fohrman makes a compelling case that deceiving Isaac was not part of Rebekah’s plan. Her plan was simply for Jacob to fulfill Isaac’s conditions for receiving the blessing (prepare him food) and present and clothe him as one worthy to receive the blessing. Jacob actually identifying himself as Esau was not part of the plan and in fact lead to confusion and strife. This could be likened to the primitive church’s identity struggle between whether they needed to follow the traditions of their fathers (halakhah) or the doctrine of Christ.
Anyhow, if these connections are valid, then it is fascinating to me just how Messianic the Torah really is. I love learning Torah from the Jewish sages. But it fascinates me how much midrash there is to try and make sense of these very difficult stories (particularly Abraham sacrificing Isaac). And how impossible it is to really make sense of these stories if you don’t have the key to unlock their meaning, which is Christ.
Nathan,
Thanks for listening to the podcast. I for one cannot state whether these connections are “valid,” as these texts have been interpreted so many ways for centuries, and so traditions have arisen as to how to read them, each with their own arguments. In a way, the ambiguity invites conversation. Each school of interpretation used these texts to emphasize what they saw in them. I just finished reading John Barton’s book “A History of the Bible,” and he gives excellent examples of the various ways Jews and Christians saw these legends. For example, Origen’s interpretation of Psalm 137, though one that I completely disagree with, is quite interesting:
Origen’s allegorical method results in the implication that the Old Testament is really a Christian text – much as we saw to be true for Barnabas in an earlier generation. Like Paul, Origen thought that references to the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites coming out of Egypt really referred to Christian baptism: ‘What the Jews supposed to be a crossing of the sea, Paul calls a baptism; what they supposed to be a cloud, Paul asserts is the Holy Spirit’ (Homily on Exodus, 5; cf. 1 Corinthians 10). The whole ritual and sacrificial system of the Old Testament is a veiled allusion to the sacrifice of Christ, just as the Letter to the Hebrews implies: its mundane form has ceased to be, but it lives on in the realm of symbol. It is hard to resist the conclusion of Soulen, discussed in Chapter 13, that this is a form of supersessionism: Judaism ceases to have any independent validity, and Christianity takes over its texts and reads them as foreshadowing the true reality, Jesus Christ. That is what most of the Christian Fathers believed, and it is a problem today for Christians who wish to affirm the continuing importance of Judaism and to reject the idea that it has been superseded by Christianity. The ‘spiritual’ reading, which is what Origen calls it, decontextualizes the Old Testament. A particularly striking instance of this is his discussion of Psalm 137, ‘By the rivers of Babylon’:
O daughter Babylon, you devastator!
Happy shall they be who pay you back
what you have done to us!
Happy shall they be who take your little ones
and dash them against the rock!
(Psalm 137:8–9)
Origen comments:
Blessed is the one who seizes . . . the little ones of Babylon, which are understood to be nothing else but these ‘evil thoughts’ that confound and disturb our heart. For this is what Babylon means. While these thoughts are still small and just beginning, they must be seized and dashed against the ‘rock’ who is Christ [cf. 1 Corinthians 10:4], and, by his order, they must be slain, so that nothing in us ‘may remain to draw breath’ [Joshua 11:14]. (Origen, Homily on Joshua, 15:3)
Allegorization removes a scandalous aspect of this psalm, its apparent encouragement of killing babies in time of war; but the price is that the psalm is lifted out of its ancient Israelite context and brought into the Christian ambit with its concentration on ‘spiritual’ matters. (Barton, p. 344)
You may find his book interesting! Thanks for checking out the podcast and commenting! -Mike
First of all, I’ll just say that I love all your podcasts! I’ve gotten very helpful insights and they have absolutely strengthened my testimony!
Anyway…let me get to the point of my message. I thought it would be fun to do a Passover Feast with the youth in my ward in April. I’d like them to experience it while learning about it from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints perspective…problem is that I am having trouble finding resources on making this happen.
The ones I’ve found from Church members/websites are not complete enough to actually host an entire dinner or if I do find in-depth information it’s coming from Jewish websites.
Do you know of anywhere I can turn to get this sort information?
Andrew,
My family does a Passover meal each Easter and we keep it pretty simple. This Jewish website has an extensive collection of things to consider if you want a deep dive. You can just scroll to the part where it says “ritual acts” to get the gist of what people “do” during the meal. There are so many sites that give an overview of the Passover. I like to keep it simple, and follow the basic pattern outlined here or here, but with an addition that in our family we talk about all of these things point to Christ, which is probably something not very many sites discuss when talking about the Passover. Also, under the “narrate” section (step 5), I teach about the Plagues, the Exodus, the nature of God’s character, and invite discussion. I also switch this portion to the part where we are simply eating and talking as a family. I think you can put this together with whatever best fits your group and the objectives you want to emphasize.
Thanks for checking out the podcast!
-Mike
I just want to personally thank you for the Talking Scriptures Podcast. I never miss a week, and in a world of chaos and confusion, I find peace and rest in the hour or so that I get to enjoy the week’s podcast.
I’m also called to teach a youth Sunday school class, and I always include the podcast as part of my preparation. It’s been such a boon to my understanding of the scriptures, and I would be a less successful Sunday school teacher without it.
I’ve been out of college for many years, but the hour or so spent with you makes me feel like I’m in the best version of an institute class. My hope and prayer is that you will continue your efforts in producing the podcast. The world needs voices like yours to be a beam of light that cuts through the darkness. I’ve shared the podcast with anyone I think would be interested, and they tell me what a blessing it is for them.
I can say with confidence that your podcast has increased my testimony in Christ, and I cannot thank you enough.
Brother Day, I cannot thank you and Mike enough for your work on this podcast. You both have certainly enhanced my study and understanding of the scriptures. But so much more than that the insights into the scriptures and also the personal stories and insights you share have often pierced and changed me.
I often listen to your podcast Sunday mornings during an early morning walk. I am so glad that I am out early as every so often I find myself stopping moved to tears and thanking my Heavenly Father for how your insight touched my heart.
I thank you, my family thanks you, and my 17 yr old Sunday School class thanks you.
Thanks Eric! That means a ton!
-Mike
I just wanted to leave a message of appreciation for your podcast. I’m a Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward, and I strive to teach only what’s in the Come Follow Me lessons, with approved church sources, but your insights and wisdom are very enlightening for me! You have really expanded my understanding of the nuances in the Lord’s ways! Everyone could benefit from your lessons! Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your podcasts!
Thanks for listening Jan! We are glad that it works for you! I wish you all the best in your calling as teacher!
Your podcast has changed my life and I just wanted you to know. It has helped me learn and grow so much, I honestly don’t know where else I would have learned so much, and continue learning! I look forward to the next podcast every week! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Thank you for such a wonderful comment! It means so much to know that this work is worthwhile to you!
-Mike
Your podcast and show notes are absolutely the foundation of my study every week. I learn so much as I listen to you and Bryce every week. I am blown away by your detailed and referenced show notes. I have printed them off and copied so many things into my scriptures every week. I have come to see that I have so far to go in my quest as a student of the gospel. The more I know, the greater the realization that I have so far to go…
Thank you so much for all the time and effort you have devoted to this website. It’s a treasure trove!
Thank you times a million for doing these lessons. It’s some of my favorite scripture study time every week, and helped me get back into studying after a long time of just floating along. You and Bryce should do an adult class! That would be amazing. Also, PLEASE do some more with Dave Butler! I’ve listened to that bonus lesson a few times and am just bowled over every time. Just starving for more.
Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge with the rest of us. It’s such an enormous gift.
Dear Mike and Bryce,
I am so grateful to you. Your spiritual and intellectual generosity has changed so many aspects of the way that I study and understand the scriptures. Your Talking Scripture Podcast is like the finest gold (trying for intertextuality with Isaiah’s imagery here!).
I wanted to share an insight that I thought you might like (although I am sure this probably already occurred to you long ago):
As you already know and have discussed so beautifully, when Enoch, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel have their encounters with deity and are called to the work there is a transfer of words: God says he will “fill Enoch’s mouth,”; also He “will put [his] words in Jeremiah’s mouth” and touches it; Isaiah’s lips are touched with the coal from the alter; Ezekiel eats the “roll of a book” with the words of lamentation that he (thankfully) says are sweet as honey to him. As I was thinking on these things–I realized something that probably you have long known–our man Lehi WAS GIVEN A BOOK when he had his epiphanic vision–and of course was told to read–and the words were regarding Jerusalem–connecting him to the same tradition of the divine transfer of words . . .
You have undoubtedly thought on this before–but it just made me very excited!
May God bless you and Bryce and your families. You have helped me on my spiritual journey, and comforted me, more than I can convey.
How or where do I find the show notes?
Jan, go here: https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/podcasts/
Then choose which episode you are listening to and then usually at the top it will say “show notes.” For example, for episode 184 the show notes are here: Show Notes: https://www.ldsscriptureteachings.org/2022/11/18/matthew-1-luke-1-ep-184-quotes-and-notes/
Once you are there, you can choose to look at the slides for this podcast or the outline that has several pages of notes and quotes attached.
Thanks for listening.
I love listening every week and I do that every time I am in my car. Great way to use my time while driving. With the start of this new year however, it seems that your new episodes are not being posted to Spotify. Do I need to find a new source for listening?
Thanks for listening Dan!
We are having issues with Spotify and are working on it. Hopefully it will be fixed soon!
Love your podcasts! Been listening to them for some time now. It looks like your New Testament ones aren’t publishing to Spotify anymore though. Any chance those will start publishing there again? (ie. Last one on spotify is 183)
It should be fixed now. Spotify was giving us some issues. Thanks for your patience!
Thank you for sharing your love for the scriptures. How would you recommend someone go about learning Hebrew and or Greek. I would like to be able to do my own translation for certain scriptures to see if there is a different meaning than the one captures by those who wrote the KJV. What resources are good for beginners, what has the journey looked like for you, would you have done anything differently knowing what you know now? Thanks
Great question! I responded in an email. Let me know if you did not receive it.
Hello Mike. I’m wondering if you’d consider a speaking event in So Utah. Specifically, our Relief Society is looking to hold an event in Snow Canyon and the Sisters have expressed an interest in learning about the traditions and languages of other cultures. Given the timing, learning New Testament times would be perfect. I regularly listen to your podcasts and have gained an invaluable education. I believe having you present, in a sermon on the mount type setting, would be an event no one would forget. Would you consider coming to So Utah and we yield to your availability.
Pennie,
I responded to your query via email and the message was bounced back as undeliverable. Please email me at MikeDayHerriman@gmail.com and I will respond to your request.
As we study the New Testament (as well as other scripture — but especially the New Testament) and learn of instance after instance of the Lord healing the sick, fixing that which is broken, I see in loved ones a mounting sadness. These are the loved ones who must contend with chronic illness and for whom years of faith, prayer, fasting, temple attendance, devotion to covenants and all else has not brought about healing or health. I find comfort in the knowledge that all will be made whole in the eternities, the resurrection will heal chronic progressive illness that slowly and painfully removes a persons function, quality of life, and sense of purpose and meaning. I have read and find comfort in teachings from modern apostles and prophets (ex: Elder Holland in “Waiting on the Lord” 2020, Elder Bednar in “That We Might Not Shrink” 2013, Elder Oaks in “Timing” 2002, Elder Maxwell in “Least Ye Be Wearied and Faint in Your Minds” 1991, Elder Simmons “But If Not…” 2004, Elder Oaks “Healing The Sick” 2010, and many others).
Despite this plethora of comfort that all will be made whole in the Lord’s time, I struggle with how to communicate that to my loved ones who have chronic illness and for whom there has been no healing in this life. I want to use the words of the Savior, an example from his life and ministry, but I don’t know of one. I see time after time that he heals and fixes and raises from the dead, but from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John I don’t find the principles of more more modern prophets. Any direction? Paul’s “Thorn in the Flesh” helps, but it’s not Jesus (despite “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same”). Any thoughts on teachings from the 4 gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) that might emphasize this same concept?
Lord, I believe, but “help thou my unbelief” (and my ability to help those who suffer much more than I do.)
Great question. Perhaps the Gospel writers had another goal in mind when they constructed their works. How would you answer this question?
Love love your podcast! Don’t miss an episode. You guys make a fantastic team spreading truth and light! Can you please provide a source for the Bruce R Mckonkie quote on the holy ghost and light of Christ being like a fog horn and lightening?
I appreciate how you teach on many levels and the effort you’ve put into the show notes. I’ve spent many years filling bookshelves, notebooks and my scriptures with insights about temple allusions and the mysteries. So, I’ve appreciated the references you’ve made this year to the Tree and the temple during our NT readings.
Very basic question: I don’t imagine the early saints would have had access to the entire Jerusalem temple – especially the debir. They were in the temple courts for the outpouring at the Day of Pentecost “to be endued with power.” Yet, Christ took Peter, Jacob and John to the Mount of Transfiguration to receive keys and sacred speakings. Where then would they — including Paul and later converts — have received their endowment into the mysteries?
Jonathan,
I responded to your question via email. Thanks for listening to the podcast!
In your podcast ep 244.1 1& 2 Thes you talk about Joseph Smith and the 3P’s Promotion Presentation and Proving, where is the source for that quote I cannot find it
Tyson,
Thanks for listening. I think Bryce was referring to Joseph Smith History 1.9 for “proving”: It mentions that the sects “used all the powers of both reason and sophistry to prove their errors, or, at least, to make the people think they were in error. On the other hand, the Baptists and Methodists in their turn were equally zealous in endeavoring to establish their own tenets and disprove all others.” Verse 6 talks about “promoting”: “notwithstanding the great a love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted, as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more b pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.”
I just want to take a minute to thank you both for your work on this podcast. It’s the best of the best. I love your take on things, I love the way you’ve taught me to understand the covenant path, I love the insights into the Hebrew or Greek or history that adds to my understanding, I love that you so often include Mother in the things you teach. You two are just doing a phenomenal job and I want you to know that!
Thanks! It is always wonderful to hear that the podcast is working for people! We are so glad you have found it useful in your scripture study.
Hello!
First, let me say how much I enjoy your podcast. I appreciate the back-and-forth nature of you and Bryce.
I love how you always begin with the end in mind, as President Nelson has been urging us to do.
I assume I’m like many of your listeners who are a little baffled by the book of Revelation. Thank you for going through it one chapter at a time. This has been hugely beneficial to me. I love how you tie things back to the JST and D&C!!
But, as a woman, I’m listening to the language in say, chapter 5…as you describe,”taking a look inside God’s house.” I love that thought.
So, I’m thinking to myself, where are the women? What home is complete without a mother, sisters, or aunts?
I know you don’t have all the answers, some things are gonna have to be answered when we cross the veil. And, I’m good with that. But, how do you teach this to women in particular?
I hear that men will become priests, but no mention of priestesses.
There are the Elders, but where are the women?
Sorry, I’m going off the rails now.
Anyway, I would love your take on this.
Keep up the good work! You and Bryce are part of my weekly study and I appreciate your dedication to the Lord.
These are excellent thoughts. I hope to be working on these in the future. There are some really good places to start, however. You might want to get a copy of Margaret Barker’s The Mother of the Lord and read it and get back to me. I would love to hear your thoughts on some of the ideas she presents. Thanks for listening to the podcast!
Do you have any links for Book of a Mormon institute classes that can be taken over the internet? My mother, 92, would love to sign up for one of your Book of Mormon classes.
Shelly, we have hundreds of hours of instruction that can be accessed on YouTube. See the page “Talking Scripture” – there we have the most up to date courses and you can scroll through to listen to what interests your mom. Thanks for listening!
Mike and Bryce,
I’d love to know any pictures of Christ that you feel are most accurate to what he truly looked like. Would you mind sharing with me any that you know of? I’m YW president and would love to have some to share with my YW and also to buy for my home. Thanks for your help! Sure appreciate your podcast!
Cathy, I don’t have any more information on this than what you have most likely found in your searches. It has not been something that I have spent a tremendous amount of time examing, I am sorry I cannot be much help here.
Hi Brother Day, I just watched your interview on YouTube with The Stick of Joseph about Christ being edited out of the Old Testament. It’s fascinating! I have a question about the Cemarim: is that the same group that is prophesied against in Zephaniah 1:4? According to blueletterbible.com that specific word/phrase (Strong’s H3649) appears in 2 Kgs 23:5, Zeph 1:4, and Hosea 10:5. Are they all referencing the same group of priests? I know Zephaniah is a contemporary of Josiah while Hosea is contemporary with Jeroboam, so maybe it is just the same order of priests? I would love to get your take on it. And I was also wondering if you could point me to some sources that they were Melchizedek priests, I would love to research that further!
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, we are looking at the same word that you are discussing, The Cemarim – הַכְּמָרִים – I placed the definite article in front of it, but yes, that is what we are looking at. Margaret Barker is my source on this one.
She writes, “Josiah removed from the temple all the vessels for Baal, for Asherah and for the host of heaven (2 Kgs 23.4), because Deuteronomy forbade dealing with the host of heaven (Deut. 4.19) despite the LORD’s ancient role as the LORD of Hosts (Isa. 6.3), a title which survived in liturgy, but not in the Deuteronomists’ materials. Josiah deposed the ‘idolatrous’ priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense at the high places, those who burned incense to Baal and to the host of heaven (2 Kgs 23.5). He also brought the Asherah out of the temple and burned it by the Kidron (2 Kgs 23.6), thus removing the female aspect of the LORD. The Enochic history remembered this as the forsaking of Wisdom, and Deuteronomy actually stated that the Law was a substitute for Wisdom: ‘keeping the commandments will be your Wisdom …’ (Deut. 4.6). Josiah broke down the houses of the ‘male cult prostitutes’ in the temple precincts, where the women wove hangings for Asherah (2 Kgs 23.7). The Hebrew consonants for ‘male cult prostitutes’ are the same as those for holy ones, angels qdsm, and, given what is known about the censorship methods of the ancient scribes, reading the letters in this way could have been deliberate. Josiah’s breaking down the houses of the holy ones could have been his suppression of the cult of the heavenly host. These two elements alone indicate that Josiah abolished what is recognizable as the veneration of Wisdom and her seventy sons, the angels.
Almost all that Josiah swept away can be matched to elements in the older religion, not in the cults of Canaan, but in the religion of the patriarchs and the prophets. As the history of Israel is presented in the Bible, the patriarchs before the time of Moses and the kings after him followed the religion that Josiah ‘reformed’ and Deuteronomy condemned. They set up altars under trees and built shrines all over the land, wherever the LORD had appeared to them (e.g. Gen. 12.6-7; Gen. 18.1; Gen. 26.25; Gen. 28.18; 1 Chron. 16.38-40; 2 Chron. 1.2-13). The ‘other’ religion was still flourishing at the time of Josiah’s reform,14 and the present sequence in the Pentateuch may indicate that the older religion of the patriarchs was superseded by that of Moses, but not in remote antiquity. El Shaddai, the God of the patriarchs who, after the advent of Moses, was to be known as the LORD (Exod. 6.3), may reflect the changes in the time of Josiah.” (Margaret Barker, The Great High Priest: The Temple Roots of Christian Liturgy, p. 149-150)
Brother Day, after hearing you on your Come Follow Me content and Stick of Joseph YouTube I decided to share your insights on a Facebook page ran by a Jeff Shoell, (Ut Republican Representative?). He shot down what I shared and said your opinions are not what they want on a Book of Mormon insights Facebook page. I asked why and he kicked me off. Did you hurt his feelings? Hahaha. He couldn’t explain why you were so polarizing. I love your content and insight. Thanks for all you do.
I am so sorry you had a negative response. I do not know Jeff, but I hope he is okay.
We have a great missionary in our ward here in Piedmont, Oklahoma. Elder Day testifies boldly of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks for sending such a great young man to us! He has blessed many lives here and is a great example to my children.
Dennis Christensen
Mike and Bryce, I wanted to thank the both of you for the time you have taken to explain scripture the way that the both of you do. You are both very knowledgeable, and I have enjoyed listening to and learning from your podcasts. A friend of mine recommended you, and it has been very inspirational to my life to gain a better understanding. Thank you again, and your work is very appreciated.
Your podcasts are fantastic! The approach that the both of you take to explaining scripture is very inspirational. I have been asked to give a talk about the blessings of service and when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God. Do you have any podcasts that are related to this subject? Thank you again
I know that it is commonly believed that Sherem was an outsider, a non-Nephite, who had not met Jacob until their fateful encounter in Jacob chapter 7 (one of you mentioned this in the Jacob 1-4 episode this morning). However, I have an alternate take on this.
If Sherem was from an existing New World people, this would mean he was a non-Israelite. Yet in Jacob 7:7, he strongly defends the law of Moses. While it is possible for a non-Israelite, a pagan, to draw lines in the Nephite religion to defend the law of Moses while attacking the doctrine of Christ, I don’t think it is likely. This is, however, the exact stance that the Jews at Jerusalem took, which Lehi and Nephi were accustomed to answering. It is also understandable that an occasional Nephite past the first generation would have learned not only their religion but also their religious history and sided with those Jews at Jerusalem.
There are two main “clues” that have been interpreted to indicate Sherem’s outsider status. Each is discussed in the following article written by Loren Blake Spendlove. https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/rethinking-the-encounter-between-jacob-and-sherem/ Here is my own summary.
Sherem “came among the people of Nephi”. This is often interpreted to mean that Sherem was not already among them, that he was an outsider. Spendlove points out that the wording is consistent with a messenger motif that is used several other times in the Book of Mormon and is not intended to describe an outsider but rather simply the beginning of a ministry (usually authorized by God, but occasionally, like in the cases of Sherem and Korihor, not).
Sherem “sought much opportunity” to speak unto Jacob. This has often been interpreted to indicate that he had been unsuccessful in numerous attempts to gain an audience with Jacob. If this is due to him “just coming to town”, then while he could have claimed he had long sought to speak to Jacob, it would not be honest to say he had been unsuccessful in attempts to do so. And, whether he was new to town or not, if Jacob had been unavailable, maybe avoiding him, that would be completely out of character for Jacob. Spendlove proposes that the phrase “sought much opportunity” does not have to imply failed attempts; that Sherem and Jacob may have had ongoing conversations. It is possible that this was simply the last in a series of conversations between them.
BTW, I know that Sherem is often used as an evidence of the claim that there were others already in the New World. I am not disputing that claim at all, just Sherem himself being from an existing New World people.
In the Jacob 5 show notes, it says, “The video (see below) is a much simpler way to see this allegory.” But I can’t find a video. Could you please help me?
Dear Sir: I very much respect your research and the way you present everything in plain English on your podcast. I no longer struggle with the Book of Mormon, and that is thanks to you and to David Butler. I still struggle with the Book of Abraham. I searched on your website and could not find podcasts about the Book of Abraham. My jobs do not allow me to spend a lot of time reading, but I do have time to listen to podcasts while working. Do you have any podcasts on the Book of Abraham? Thank you and God bless you for your work.
I want to thank you for being good at replying to your readers. Younger show hosts are doing a great job with their shows but tend to show more enthusiasm than diligence.
Thanks for listening. I don’t respond to everyone, but I try and get back with those asking questions for either clarification, further light, or perhaps giving my view in response to an objection. The obscene or rude comments, I usually just delete. But I am with you, engagement with the audience helps make it a more meaningful experience for everyone. Thanks again!
I have read the Book of Mormon many times have been a full time missionary and today I learn that the book of Moshiah is not in cronilogical order…..why is that?