Milagre 
Early Church Discipline Systems (1830s–1840s) In the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, disciplinary systems were far simpler than today. During the 1830s and 1840s, church members were either “in fellowship” or “cut off.” There were no formal stages such as probation or disfellowshipment. Because of this, individuals could be excommunicated and later … Read more
Word of Wisdom Part 1 Introduction to the Word of Wisdom The Word of Wisdom is an essential part of Latter-day Saint history and doctrine, offering guidance for physical and spiritual health. The Word of Wisdom (Doctrine and Covenants 89) was received in February 1833, in Kirtland, Ohio. Prior to this, in late 1832, Joseph … Read more
The Revelation (Doctrine and Covenants 87) Doctrine and Covenants 87 is a revelation given to Joseph Smith on December 25, 1832, while the church was in Kirtland, Ohio. This was shortly after previous revelations identifying Jackson County, Missouri, as the location of Zion. The revelation prophesies: Wars would shortly come to pass, beginning at the … Read more
Introduction Doctrine and Covenants 49 is one of the more unusual sections of the Doctrine and Covenants because it directly addresses another specific religious group: the Shakers. Most revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants present teachings without naming other churches, though Joseph Smith’s First Vision accounts include the instruction not to join other churches and, … Read more
Introduction A Latter-day Saint woman wrote to Garrett Dirkmaat asking about a video and an article claiming that Joseph Smith both received his visions and translated the Book of Mormon through the use of psychedelic drugs, including toads, “magical herbs,” and psychedelic mushrooms. She asked whether there was any evidence supporting this theory. Dirkmaat explains … Read more
Introduction Doctrine and Covenants 76 — often referred to simply as “the Vision” by early Saints — presented a radical doctrine to the nineteenth-century Protestant world. Among its teachings are the idea of degrees of glory (celestial, terrestrial, and telestial), the rejection of an eternal hell in the classical Protestant sense, and the affirmation … Read more
Doctrine and Covenants 76 in Early Latter-day Saint Thought Doctrine and Covenants 76, known among early Latter-day Saints simply as “the Vision,” was regarded as one of the most important revelations ever received by Joseph Smith. In Joseph’s time, when people said “Joseph Smith’s vision,” they were usually not referring to the First Vision, but … Read more
History of the Word of Wisdom: How Latter-day Saint Health Standards Developed The “Word of Wisdom,” now canonized as Doctrine and Covenants 89, is one of the most recognizable features of Latter-day Saint religious life. Today it functions as a clear standard: members seeking full participation in the Church, including temple worship, abstain from alcohol, … Read more
Introduction This bonus episode draws on a revealing moment in early Church history: a letter Joseph Smith wrote in 1833 addressing members who rejected or disputed revealed doctrine—particularly the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 76. By examining how early Saints reacted to prophetic teachings, the episode highlights enduring patterns seen again in the … Read more
Missouri Period and Early Persecution of the Latter-day Saints (1831–1839) Missouri became a central gathering place for early Latter-day Saints beginning in 1831, with major settlement in Jackson County by 1832–1833. Rising tensions between longtime settlers and Church members escalated rapidly. By 1833, organized mob violence erupted, resulting in the destruction of homes, physical assaults, … Read more