The Scripture Study Project

In our final episode of 2021 we look through the feast of revelations at the end of the Doctrine & Covenants and look, not at what was revealed, but at how it was revealed and how we can receive more ourselves. Cap off a great year of study with us and head into the holidays with a personal study challenge. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do...

Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. The Saints had to leave Nauvoo. Pioneers trekked and toiled to find a home. So many difficult experiences packed into such a short window of time, not unlike our own last few years. When we face those kinds of sanctifying experiences, what are we to do? In this episode we study some principles that lead us through purifying trials. Show Notes: scripturestudypr...

In this, OUR 200th EPISODE, we add an "appendix" to the past four years. As we study this week we highlight some ideas that we have either learned over in the course of this podcast or else that have driven us to make it this far. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Josh Woodward

With a block of scripture as doctrinally dense as our study this week we need some perspective in order navigate what can be some of the trickiest waters in the D&C. Join us this episode as we define doctrine and prepare our hearts to tackle some of the heaviest topics to date. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Josh Woodwar...

Despite running for his life, being forced into hiding, and being once again separated from friends and family, Joseph Smith wrote of a "voice of gladness" he heard in the gospel he believed in. In this episode we figure out how to have that kind of optimistic, "glad" perspective of ourselves and others. Show Notes: Anthony Sweat, "The Rough Stone," painting. scripturestudyproject.com or connect t...

When the Saints got to Nauvoo it was a mosquito-infested swamp. Through the Lord's grace and their hard work they were able to transform it into something "beautiful". Just like they had with Zion. Just like they would with Salt Lake City. Just like the Lord did with the Prophet Joseph Smith himself. Just like the Lord does with us. Study with us in this episode to ask yourself how to work with th...

Elder Holland (and others) have called Liberty Jail a "prison-temple" for Joseph Smith and others that were with him. For over four months they suffered; but they also changed and became something new. In this episode we take a look at our own prison-temple experiences, figure out how to endure them, and identify what we are supposed to learn from them.  Show Notes: Jeffrey R. Holland, "Lessons fr...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints combines both the teachings, example, ministry, and leadership of a divine being with everyday, imperfect, mistake-laden, and very mortal beings. Both the God and the saint make up the Church. In this episode we falling and arising and reframe our own relationship with our mortality so we can more fully participate in the Lord's plan for our growth....

It might an obvious observation, but our lives' stresses and strains are often caused, not by world-ending sins, but by small but pervasive mistakes. Even the prophet Joseph Smith was called out for his "follies". In this episode we wrestle with the anatomy of our own "follies" in pursuit of better self-understanding and, possibly, a future of fewer mistakes. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com...

We all want our prayers to be "accepted" just like those early Saints who joined with the prophet in prayer in and for the Kirtland Temple. We want to be heard and to hear God ourselves. In this episode we take a unique look at the dedicatory prayer in search of examples of prayer. Study along and see what ideas come to you to help you as you pray to God. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or c...

What is "special" about our general Church priesthood leaders? In this episode we study from Section 107 just what prophets, apostles, seventies, and other are and, by implication (or by statement), what they are not. As we better understand the calling of our leaders we can better understand our responsibility to "uphold" them with our confidence and faith. Show Notes: Faith Matters Podcast Russe...

We titled this episode (as we do each one) with a word from the scripture block, and this one is ironic because, even though the Lord promises victory (DC 103:36) these sections are all about failure. We know what that feels like: to feel assured of a certain outcome, maybe even a prophesied or prompted one, only to have it not occur. In this study we dive into failure and find out just why it's a...

Over the past few months and, more acutely, weeks, there has been an increase in contentious feelings among us as people and, unfortunately, between us a disciples of Christ. In this episode we study the Lord's directions to early members of the Restored Church in search of guidance for how we should respond to affliction and conflict ourselves. In short: we seek to proclaim peace in a world at wa...

After the past year and then some we've all had, we need to devote some time and effort to [re]building our lives. In this episode we dive into the Lord's revelations on buildings and ponder our own place in the Lord's restoration of us to His promises and blessings Show Notes: Faith Matters Podcasts scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by J...

God is full of grace, truth, light, power, and joy. Jesus received the fulness as he grew from grace to grace. And the great imperative for us is to grow grow and receive that same fulness. Study with us in this episode as we dig into a deep truth with deep meaning. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Josh Woodward

The Word of Wisdom is not just a suggestion, it is not just about physical health, and it is not just a list of do's and don'ts. In this episode break out of the traditional study of Doctrine & Covenants 89 and find principles for spiritual health that help you to receive the incredible blessings the Lord promises to those who "keep and do these sayings". Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or c...

How can I foster peace in my home/ward/community/class/etc.? This question, universally appealing, is at the heart of our study this week. In the midst conflict within the leadership of the early Restored Church, the prophet Joseph Smith received what he deemed an "olive leaf" crammed with principles of peace applicable to all. Study with us this week as we discover peace, invest our personal situ...

Division and divisiveness seem to be quite in vogue in recent years, a problem which the Lord certainly foresaw. In Doctrine & Covenants 85-87 early Church members were dealing with multiple kinds of division: religious, spiritual, and political. Join us in this episode as we study those different divisions and seek for what we can do about it. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to u...

What is the Priesthood, exactly? Who has it? What does it do? The questions (and more) occupy our focus this episode as begin our study of one of the pinnacle revelations in the Doctrine & Covenants. Discover with us the expansiveness of God's power, invest you mind and heart into your study by pondering how you can draw that power into your own life, and connect to God through greater diligence....

The word "covenant" is one of the more oft-used words in the Church. However, in our traditional attempts to scribe it we may diminish the power of the principle and, thus, diminish our own ability to be more powerfully connected to God. In this episode we discover an expanded definition of covenants and ponder how we can better covenant with God and others. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com o...

If you were asked to guess which kingdom of glory you will go to, what would you say? How confident would you be in your answer? In this episode we study "The Vision" in D&C 76 in search of truths about God's character and expansive power to save that help us feel more confident in salvation and, thus, live with more peace and joy. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagra...

Often, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, it can be difficult to delineate between what is eternal and unchanging and what is more temporary and changeable. Whether it's statements in the scriptures or by Church leaders, particular policies or practices, or even truths and teachings, identifying what is permanent and what is not can be essentially important. In this episode we approach tha...

"Abundance" is certainly a buzz word in common parlance today, but the idea of abundance, divine abundance, originates from God. This week we study dive into a study of that divine abundance, how it works, and what we can do to qualify ourselves and others for it. Show Notes: scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Josh Woodward

When the Prophet dictated the prophetic plea that the "kingdom of God go forth, that the kingdom of heaven may come" it was revealed, not just a future event, but a present one as well. We can and should belong to and benefit from the kingdom of God on earth, now. In this episode we discover how, invest in our relationships with others, and are challenged to extend forgiveness. Show Notes: Neal A....

"For better or worse, in sickness and health..." do those words describe your commitment to the Lord? This week we study, not just faith, but faithfulness and as we discover a fresh perspective, invest our mind and heart, and connect to God. Show Notes: Neal A. Maxwell, "Endure it Well," April 1990 scripturestudyproject.com or connect to us on Instagram or Facebook Music: “Do Not Go Gentle” by Jos...