Thus Saith the Lord

Thus Saith the Lord

Understanding the Purpose of the Podcast Season 5, Episode 10 explores how early Latter-day Saint history is reconstructed through primary sources and careful historical method. The podcast emphasizes that genuinely understanding Joseph Smith and the Restoration requires direct engagement with journals, dictated manuscripts, document collections, and independent accounts. Rather than relying on modern speculation or … Read more

Stillbirths, Miscarriages, and the Question of When Life Begins

Stillbirths, Miscarriages, and the Question of When Life Begins

Stillbirths, Miscarriages, and the Question of When Life Begins Early Christian Reflections on the Moment of Ensoulment From the earliest centuries of Christianity, theologians wrestled with the question of when the soul enters the body, yet the answers they offered varied widely. Those who embraced creation ex nihilo often concluded that the soul must originate … Read more

The Historical Origins of Doctrine & Covenants 89 (Part 1 and 2) Word of Wisdom

Vintage-style illustration depicting the historical origins of Doctrine and Covenants 89, showing Joseph Smith in the School of the Prophets receiving revelation amid tobacco smoke, with surrounding scenes of early Latter-day Saint practices such as pipes, alcohol, coffee, tea, grain fields, and a temple recommend symbolizing the development of the Word of Wisdom.

The Setting: The School of the Prophets and Early Health Concerns The Word of Wisdom arose in the context of the School of the Prophets, organized in late 1832. Meetings were held in the small, upper room of Newel K. Whitney’s store in Kirtland. The space was overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and frequently filled with smoke … Read more