Much of the background to this section is related in the previous discussion surrounding the events in D&C 115-120, events surrounding the details of the Mormon War of 1838.[1]Leland Gentry and Todd Compton, Fire and Sword: A History of the Latterday-Saints in Northern Missouri, 1836-1839, Greg Kofford Books, 2010.; Stephen LeSueur, TheContinue Reading

Doctrine and Covenants 29 Historical Background Joseph Smith received Doctrine and Covenants 29 in September 1829. John Whitmer is our source of the historical background of this section. Whitmer informs us that this revelation was given to “to six elders of the Church and three members” and explained that thisContinue Reading

Show Notes: D&C 23-26 Quotes and Notes To enroll in an institute class, go to https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/si/institute?lang=eng 01:22 – Overview of the three interpretive layers to Section 25. 06:30 – Second layer: the Lord speaking to and about women. 27:45 – Third layer: the symbolism of the prophet and his bride.Continue Reading

In this podcast, we will cover Section 25 first, examining three ways to interpret and apply this scripture. In the subsequent podcast we discussed sections 23, 24, and 26. The Show Notes reflect an overall view of all of these sections. D&C 23-26 Show Notes D&C 23 April 1830 revelationContinue Reading

Show Notes: D&C 2; JSH 1:27-65 Quotes and Notes 00:34 – Joseph describes spiritual sight. 04:59 – The weakness of youth is lack of experience. 20:46 – The definition of a true friend. 27:14 – Interpretations of Malachi 4:2. 44:10 – The significance of the temple. 53:02 – Joseph Smith’sContinue Reading

Joseph Describes Spiritual Sight How could Joseph have had this vision of Moroni as he was in a room with his siblings at the time? Perhaps we are looking at this from a Western mindset and need to ask a different question. What kind of vision was this? What doContinue Reading

Textual composition – how we “get” Scriptural Texts For Latter-day Saints, one of the best examples of an complex and merged scriptural text that corresponds with the fundamental notion of the Documentary Hypothesis is Doctrine and Covenants 132. In the Journal of Mormon History, Danel Bachman wrote an article illustratingContinue Reading

The Translation Process of the Book of Mormon Daniel C. Peterson wrote an excellent article in which he cites witnesses to the Book of Mormon translation process, giving modern readers insight into what eyewitnesses saw regarding how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I cite just a few ofContinue Reading

Emma Smith (Wife of Joseph Smith) The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline andContinue Reading