Welcome to the Blog at Read the Truth, where thoughtful, research-driven articles explore Latter-day Saint history, doctrine, and contemporary faith questions. From deep dives into early Church events and historical sources to discussions about doctrine, revelation, and the lived experience of believers, our blog bridges scholarship and spiritual inquiry for both curious readers and committed Saints. Whether you’re exploring historical context or seeking fresh perspectives on gospel topics, this space offers engaging content that informs and inspires.
A Journey Into the Early World of the Restoration The tour carried its participants across the foundational landscape of the Restoration, beginning in the quiet woodlands of upstate New York and extending through the early gathering places of the Saints. The first stop, the Sacred Grove in Palmyra, remains inseparably linked to Joseph Smith’s 1820 … Read more
Universal Salvation and the Degrees of Glory In this bonus episode, the discussion turns to themes emphasized in the most recent General Conference, particularly the doctrine of universal salvation as revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Unlike traditional Christian teachings that divide eternity into a simple opposition between heaven and hell, Latter-day Saint doctrine teaches … Read more
The Translation Sequence of the Book of Mormon During the live discussion, one of the first questions concerned the order in which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. Aside from Words of Mormon, is there any source that explicitly states that 1 Nephi through Omni were translated last and then placed at the beginning … Read more
The episode opens with two heartfelt listener concerns—one centered on the nature of scripture and the complexity of biblical authorship, the other on the rising tension some Saints feel when politics enters Church discussions. Both questions reflect experiences Latter-day Saints have always faced: how to remain rooted in revealed religion while surrounded by scholarly debates, … Read more
Feeling Alone in Faith Many members of the Church today experience the painful feeling that people around them—friends, siblings, spouses, or even parents—are stepping away from the faith. When this happens, it can create the profound sense of being left behind or standing alone. This feeling is not new in Christian history. Believers in the … Read more
Evaluating Safety and Reliability of Early Latter-day Saint Historical Sources Historians distinguish between what can be verified through evidence and what belongs to the realm of faith. Religious claims often involve miraculous events that lie outside the limits of historical methodology, which relies on documents, eyewitness accounts, and material evidence. For example, Christians universally affirm … Read more
Historiography and the Evolution of Sources In 1975, Elder Dallin H. Oaks and historian Marvin S. Hill published Carthage Conspiracy through the University of Illinois Press, a peer-reviewed academic publisher. This gave the book strong academic credibility and established it as the standard study of the trials connected to the murder of Joseph Smith. Like … Read more
David W. Patten and the Battle of Crooked River (October 25, 1838) Event Skirmish occurred during the 1838 Mormon conflict in Missouri. A Missouri force raided Latter-day Saint settlements and captured two men. The Caldwell County militia (a legal Mormon militia) attempted rescue. Apostle David W. Patten helped lead the charge. Patten was shot and … Read more