Printing the Book of Mormon
From our modern day perspective, it seems that the printing of the Book of Mormon would be an obvious success, but the true history varies greatly from the popular LDS narrative. When exploring the circumstances and motivations of the [...]
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon suggests that the original Native Americans descended from a small band of Israelites who migrated in 600 BC (and an earlier group from 2,200 BC) from the Middle East. However, there exists no credible archaeological [...]
Anthon Script
As his affiliation and financial commitment to Joseph Smith deepened, immediately prior to the publishing of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris sought greater confirmation of Smith's prophetic calling. In 1828 at Harmony, Pennsylvania, Joseph Smith copied some characters from [...]
Witnesses
In the LDS Church, much emphasis is placed on the “witness” of three men who said that they saw ancient plates of gold which were translated by Joseph Smith into the Book of Mormon, as well as eight additional [...]
Sources of Inspiration and Content
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of the LDS religion. It is declared to be a literal record of the original inhabitants of the Americas, as recorded on gold plates. The thesis of the book is that the [...]
Translation Process
For generations, the LDS Church has promoted the inspiring story of Joseph Smith translating ancient text while diligently scrutinizing a stack of golden plates before him. Many faithful members are surprised to learn that nearly every eyewitness and direct [...]
Cultural Context Preceding the Book of Mormon
While Europeans grew weary of ongoing wars and economic stagnation, vanquishing Napoleon in 1815, America remained for them the land of promise and discovery. Lewis and Clark first glimpsed the Pacific Ocean in 1805; and the Erie Canal, the [...]
Sources
OFFICIAL LDS CHURCH RESOURCES LDS Gospel Topics Essays LDS.org - Search Church History Journal of Discourses The Book of Commandments The Book of Mormon Doctrine & Covenants The Pearl of Great Price The Joseph Smith Papers Journal of Discourses [...]
Priesthood Restoration
The hallmark that sets the LDS Church apart from all other religions is its claim that God’s authority has been restored on Earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. LDS historians suggest that the first restoration occurred sometime in May [...]
Book of Abraham
The Book of Abraham is a document unique to Mormonism. The fact that the actual source papyri has been thoroughly compared to Smith's purported translation provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate his abilities as an inspired translator of ancient [...]
First Vision
Since the early twentieth century, LDS leaders have emphasized the First Vision as the foundational event of the Restoration. In 1971 Joseph Fielding Smith wrote in Doctrines of Salvation: “Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on [...]
Joseph Smith
Devoted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints honor its founder, Joseph Smith, with saint-like reverence. For many believers, their faith relies significantly on the belief that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God. LDS scripture instructs [...]
964-967: Jeanne and Jason Booth on Losing Your Faith as Bishop and Bishop’s Wife
What would cause a sitting Mormon bishop and his wife to lose their testimonies while he is serving as bishop - leading him to resign as bishop? Jeanne and Jason's story is another in a series of episodes where we [...]
My Reflections from My Interview with Richard Bushman
Most of you will likely consider this a rambling mess, but I wanted to post my reflections from my interview with Richard Bushman somewhere–so I’m doing it here. I include these comments in audio form at the beginning of [...]
Lunch with Lou Midgley, and Musings from the FAIR conference
I spent 11 hours at the FAIR conference on Friday, and I believe that I spent about 5 of them with Lou Midgley. The time with Dr. Midgley, and with the folks at FAIR (including Daniel Peterson), reinforced an [...]
1561: When a Mormon Missionary Reads the CES Letter – Kolby Sorensen
https://youtu.be/tlwvj7mEzII Join hosts John Dehlin and Gerardo Sumano as they explore what happens when a Mormon missionary reads the CES Letter. Kolby Sorensen was raised a devout Mormon in West Valley and West Jordan, Utah. In 2020, he [...]
Chronology of Mormon History
597 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar takes Jerusalem, installs Zedekiah as tributary king. City is not destroyed. 2 Kings 24:14 "None remained except the poorest people of the land." 587 B.C. Zedekiah revolts against Nebuchadnezzar, allies with Pharaoh Hophra of Egyptrevolts, siege [...]
