Part 1 The Doctrine and Covenants 18 outlines the significant role of apostles within the early Latter-day Saint movement, emphasizing the calling of the Three Witnesses as foundational leaders. Under the presidency of Thomas Marsh, the Quorum of the Twelve faced various challenges, notably during the Missouri crisis, which tested their commitment and responsibilities. Key … Read more
Early Latter-day Saint Patriotism The early Saints, including Joseph Smith, viewed themselves as strongly patriotic Americans. Joseph Smith’s ancestors fought in the American Revolution, and early members saw their faith as tied to the founding principles of the United States. They believed that the Restoration was made possible by the freedoms guaranteed in the nation’s … Read more
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
From the earliest decades of the Restoration, the question of who introduced plural marriage has been contested. Latter-day Saints have consistently taught that the principle was revealed to Joseph Smith and practiced under his direction in Nauvoo. In contrast, the Reorganized Church (RLDS, now Community of Christ) spent more than a century claiming that Joseph … Read more
The Main Issue: The “Happiness Letter” The episode centers on a very well-known quote often attributed to Joseph Smith: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence, and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the … 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
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
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