Church History Matters

How did the early Latter-day Saints navigate one of the most difficult and divisive issues in American history—slavery? In this episode of Church History Matters, hosts Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward are joined by historian and author Paul Reeve for an in-depth discussion on slavery, race, and the Latter-day Saint experience in nineteenth-century America. Together, they explore the broader his...

What happens when a prophet runs for President of the United States? In this fascinating episode of Church History Matters, hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths are joined by historian and author Derek Sainsbury to explore the remarkable 1844 presidential campaign of Joseph Smith. Together they examine why Joseph Smith entered the race for the nation's highest office, the political and religio...

What happens when faith and politics collide? In this episode of Church History Matters, Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore one of the most fascinating and controversial chapters in Latter-day Saint history: Joseph Smith’s views on religion, government, and the United States Constitution. What happened when Joseph Smith met with President Martin VanBuren? What concerns did he have about th...

This final episode in the Church History Matters series on the Word of Wisdom untangles the difference between revelation, policy, science, folklore, and culture, showing how modern-day science on health matches up against a revelation on health from 1833. Through historical sources, prophetic statements, and changing scientific principles over time, we explore the Word of Wisdom verse by verse an...

In this episode of Church History Matters, we trace the fascinating and sometimes surprising history of the Word of Wisdom throughout the 1900s. How did a revelation originally framed as “not by commandment or constraint” become one of the defining markers of Latter-day Saint identity? Along the way, we explore the influence of Elder John A. Widtsoe and Leah Widtsoe’s influential book The Word of...

Join hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths for a fascinating deep dive into the evolution of the Word of Wisdom from the era of Brigham Young to Heber J. Grant. Discover how early Church leaders viewed the revelation as inspired counsel rather than a strict commandment, why enforcement varied across generations, and how attitudes toward tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco gradually changed over t...

In this episode of Church History Matters, hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore the Latter-day Saint perspective on the divinely inspired nature of the United States Constitution as taught in the Doctrine and Covenants. What did Joseph Smith and early Church leaders think about the Constitution? What does it mean that God “established” the Constitution? Why is it applicable to all nati...

What did the Word of Wisdom actually look like in the days of Brigham Young? In this fascinating episode of Church History Matters, Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore how early Latter-day Saints understood, practiced, and sometimes struggled to live the Word of Wisdom during the pioneer era. From frontier medicine and tobacco use to coffee, tea, and homemade alcohol, Brigham Young’s genera...

In this episode, we explore how Joseph Smith personally kept the Word of Wisdom as a divine principle of health, spiritual strength, and wise living—not just a list of restrictions. Revealed in 1833 and recorded in Doctrine and Covenants Section 89, the Word of Wisdom was originally given as “a principle with promise,” offering guidance on caring for the body and drawing closer to God. Join us as...

In this exciting new series, hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths dive into one of the most talked-about and most requested topics from listeners of the show: the Word of Wisdom. First revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833 as a revelation from the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants Section 89), the Word of Wisdom began as loving counsel for the Saints and has grown into a vital commandment and covenant m...

In this episode, hosts Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths and Lisa Tait explore the powerful and often overlooked theme of Joseph Smith’s vision of women as part of a “kingdom of priests.” From the earliest days of the Restoration in 1830, Joseph Smith taught expansive ideas about spiritual authority, inviting women into sacred spaces like the temple and organizing the Relief Society with language th...

In this episode, hosts Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths, and Lisa Olsen Tait explore the rich and often overlooked history of women’s interaction with temple worship in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Beginning in the era of Joseph Smith, they examine how women participated in sacred ordinances, contributed to temple preparation, and understood their relationship to priesthood powe...

In this episode, hosts Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths and Lisa Tait explore the sweeping changes that reshaped The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the mid-20th century, focusing on the rise of the correlation movement under Harold B. Lee. As the Church experienced rapid global growth, leaders sought to simplify complex programs, unify curriculum, and create a structure that could f...

In this episode, hosts Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths, and Lisa Olsen Tait explore the vital ecclesiastical presence of women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and how their roles have developed alongside the history of the priesthood. Drawing on historical records and doctrinal context, they examine how women have actively participated in the work of the Church through leadershi...

In this episode, hosts Lisa Tait, Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward explore a fascinating and often overlooked chapter in Latter-day Saint history: the role of women in performing healing rituals. Drawing on early Church records, personal journals, and historical accounts, they highlight how women in the 19th-century Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exercised profound faith by administ...

Join Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths, and special guest Lisa Olsen Tait as they explore a fascinating chapter in LDS history: the role of women in performing healing blessings and administering to the sick in the early church. In this episode, the hosts examine how women participated in priesthood-related blessings and ministering practices in the 19th century—practices that, while common in the e...

Join hosts Scott Woodward, Casey Griffiths, and special guest Lisa Olsen Tait as they explore the fascinating history of the priesthood in the Latter-day Saint tradition. In this episode, the team delves into the 19th century, examining how church leaders, scripture, and policies shaped the understanding of the priesthood—and where women fit within that evolving framework. From early church practi...

In this episode of Church History Matters, hosts Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward sit down with special guest Lisa Olsen Tait to explore one of the most frequently asked and historically complex questions in Christian history: Were women ever allowed to be priests or hold priesthood authority? Together they examine the evidence not only within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but...

This week on Church History Matters, hosts Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths kick off an important new series exploring women and the priesthood, joined by cohost Lisa Olsen Tait, a respected scholar of Latter-day Saint women’s history. In this opening episode, the team lays a thoughtful historical foundation—examining how women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have understood,...

In this final episode of the Church History Matters Science and Religion series, hosts Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward sit down with BYU religion professor Ben Spackman, whose groundbreaking dissertation explores the historical relationship between science, the Bible, evolution, and Latter-day Saint thought. Together they trace how interpretations of Genesis, debates over Darwinian evolution, a...

In this episode of the Church History Matters podcast, we explore the long-standing tension many Latter-day Saints have felt between scientific discovery and religious belief. From the rise of evolutionary theory to advances in geology and biology, new ideas have sometimes seemed to challenge traditional readings of scripture. Historically, some Church leaders spoke strongly against evolution and...

Explore the ongoing debate between science and religion through the lens of fundamentalism versus modernism, a conversation that has shaped religious thought for over a century. Scott and Casey dive into the historical roots of the conflict—highlighting modern scientific thought and modern Latter-day Saint thinking. Learn how cultural shifts led some believers to defend scripture strictly while ot...

In this episode, Scott Woodward and Casey Griffiths explore one of the most enduring questions in the science-and-faith conversation: how should religious believers approach evolution? Using the famous Scopes “Monkey” Trial as a historical touchpoint, they unpack how the early 20th-century clash between fundamentalist and modernist perspectives shaped the broader American debate over science and t...

How should Latter-day Saints think about evolution—and has that thinking changed over time? In this episode, hosts Casey Griffith and Scott Woodward explore why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are uniquely positioned to engage the conversation between evolution and Christian faith without fear or false dichotomies. Drawing on LDS scripture, prophetic teachings, and histo...

In this episode, hosts Casey Griffiths and Scott Woodward sit down with BYU biology professor Jamie Jensen to explore how science and religion can work together rather than compete. Drawing on her experience in the classroom, Professor Jensen shares how today’s students wrestle with big questions about faith, evolution, scripture, and evidence—and how honest inquiry can actually strengthen belief...