Introduction This episode addresses a listener’s question regarding the burial location of Seymour Brunson and provides historical background explaining why Seymour Brunson is significant in Latter-day Saint history—particularly connected to the first public teaching of baptism for the dead by Joseph Smith. Who Was Seymour Brunson? A respected Latter-day Saint in Nauvoo Member of the … Read more
The Question Being Answered A listener asks about the context and setting in which Joseph Smith gave the famous “Standard of Truth” statement. They want to know whether it came from a sermon, a revelation, or perhaps a response to a newspaper inquiry, and where and when the declaration was first delivered. The episode explains … Read more
Introduction This episode addresses several historical and doctrinal questions posed by participants on a Church history tour. The focus is on clarifying early Church history events, priesthood restoration timelines, Latter-day Saint marriage norms in the 19th century, offshoot movements after Joseph Smith’s death, and how faithful historians process difficult or unfamiliar historical information. Joseph and … Read more
Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith & the “Resignation” Rumor Introduction A listener asked about a story taught by a political philosophy professor claiming that Joseph Smith became frustrated with the institutionalization of the Church, wished to step down as prophet, and wanted Hyrum Smith to replace him so Joseph could “simply be a priest.” This section … Read more
Shaker Beliefs and the 1831 Mission Context The Shakers, formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, were a distinctive American religious movement practicing strict celibacy, communal property, and a disciplined lifestyle. They believed sexual relations—even within marriage—were spiritually corrupt, and their communities often raised children brought to them by outsiders, … Read more
The Doctrine and Covenants and the Question of Its Sections The Doctrine and Covenants did not always appear in the form we know today. The current Latter-day Saint edition contains 138 sections and two Official Declarations, but early editions differed as new revelations were received, written, organized, and prepared for publication. Understanding this development helps … Read more
Joseph Smith Raising the Dead– Nauvoo Malaria Outbreak & Miraculous Healings, 1839) The Nauvoo Sickness Crisis of 1839 When the Saints arrived at the swampy lowlands of Commerce, Illinois—soon to be renamed Nauvoo—they were met not with stability but disease. The stagnant Mississippi backwaters bred thick clouds of mosquitoes, and by July 1839, malaria and … Read more
Introduction Across the history of the Restoration, countless events—some dramatic, others subtle—have illustrated a divine pattern: God prepares solutions long before His children recognize their need for them. This episode explores how miracles often unfold quietly, through timing, circumstances, and the faithfulness of individuals who may not understand why their contributions matter. From Joseph Smith’s … Read more
The Lectures on Faith in Early Latter-day Saint Scripture When the Doctrine and Covenants first appeared in 1835, it contained two major parts: the “Doctrine,” which consisted of the Lectures on Faith, and the “Covenants,” a collection of revelations to Joseph Smith. The volume’s title page explained that its contents were “carefully selected from the … Read more
Introduction In the early years of the Restoration, doctrines and practices unfolded line upon line, including the wording used in sacred ordinances. This episode follows the historical journey of the baptismal prayer from the Book of Mormon text used in 1829 to the standardized wording adopted in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Alongside this development … Read more