The Book of Mormon, Digging Deeper

The arrival of Oliver Cowdery was  an answered prayer for Joseph Smith. He had asked the Lord for a scribe and Oliver arrived three days later. His contribution was invaluable and together they finished the translation in just two months. but there was...and there is always... more to the story!

The effort to translate the Golden Plates was an arduous and complicated one, with drama an intrigue at every turn. Tough it was the Lord's work, it took every ounce of energy that Joseph Smith had to bring it to pass. Here now is the story of Martin Harris' contribution and complication to that effort. 

This is the extraordinary story of Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith on only the second heavenly visit he received. He was still young, (Just 17years old), and had no plans at the time, to form a new church, but the things the angel told him then would unalterably change his life, and the world forever. Please join me for this special episode.

We step back from the Doctrine and Covenants for just two weeks so that we can review the Joseph Smith History as found in the Pearl of Great Price. This personal account , written by the prophet himself, will give us a better understanding of the times and the pressures that were mounted against the young prophet during the first steps of the restoration of the Gospel. This week we will learn of...

come listen to this powerful message from the Lord as he personally dictates the preface to the Book of Commandments, later called the Doctrine and Covenants. The story of how it came to be is quite fascinating and the message is for all the inhabitants of the earth.

Ever wonder why the Book of Mormon begins in 600BC? Why specifically then...that year? What was  happening in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Egypt at that time? Was it just a lucky decision by Joseph Smith to pick that particular year? Join us on this inaugural episode and find out the answer to this and many other fascinating questions and evidences found in the pages of the Book of Mormon.

We begin the new year with the Doctrine and Covenants. It has been said that the Book of Mormon gets us to Christ - the Doctrine and Covenants gets us to Christ's kingdom. tune in and find out why.

At last! I finally get to present this regular episode of Digging Deeper. I have wanted to present this podcast on the Dead Sea Scrolls for a long time.  The Scrolls present a big problem for modern Christianity because they conflict with  the common narrative; but for the LDS people they are a wonderful confirmation of our most cherished beliefs.

This is my opportunity to reflect on this past year of study of the Book of Mormon. I get a chance to share with you what I have learned and how this effort has affected me throughout the year. I hope you find it inspirational.

In this last episode for the Book of Mormon Come Follow Me program this year we are taking a close look at Moroni's last words of wisdom to us. His promise to those who read this book and his testimony of the power of the Holy Ghost are the perfect way to end this otherwise tragic story.

Moroni takes the time to share with us three letters that his father wrote to him as their civilization collapsed and ended. These are the last words of Mormon and they relay not only the horror and tragedy of those closing scenes but also words of hope and the Lord's promise to those who can live their lives with Faith, Hope, and Charity.

We begin closing out our study of the Book of Mormon this year with the final words of Moroni. This first episode of the next three weeks will look at his words to the Lamanites as he explains the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.

The end of the Jaredites is a tragic and unnecessary story that never needed to happen. The Lord gave Coriantumr every chance to stave off the pending doom and very clear warnings as to what would happen if he didn't repent. Well, he didn't repent and the results were horrific for is more than two million people. 

The tale of the Jaredite barges and their journey across the Pacific Ocean is one of the most controversial stories of the Book of Mormon. But there is a remarkable story to be told and close examination finds ample evidence for such a voyage. And that evidence is very compelling. I invite you to listen and form your own opinions on these extraordinary scriptures.

Thee incredible story of the brother of Jared as he goes before the Lord and pierces the veil. The Lord touches sixteen stones and makes them glow. He stands before the Lord and receives his personal redemption from the fall. 

The Book of Ether is an anachronism in the Book of Mormon; it is a bump, it sticks out. It is about a people from a completely different place, a completely different time,  and a completely different race. The people were not Israelites...the Israelites didn't even exist yet. So what is it doing in the Book of Mormon. Well, it is the story that was on the 24 gold plates that king Limhi'...

It may seem odd that there would be a book inside of the Book of Mormon titled "the Book of Mormon" but Mormon was a prophet just like any of the other prophets and was entitled to write his own account just as they had. He didn't know, at the time, that he would end up writing a larger abridgment of the entire record as well.  His own record was a tragic account of the total destru...

As Jesus finishes up his visit to the Nephites he grants the disciples their desires regard his work. Three of them have a very special request and because of that, they are among us today. 

As Jesus continues his teaching to the Nephites, he speaks of the Millennium and their contribution to its bringing about. Through these words we get to fully understand just how critical the Book of Mormon is to all the events of the last days and the coming of the Savior in glory as the his millennial reign begins. Please join me, won't you?

On the second day of his visit, the Savior healed the people and blessed the little children. He then showed the people the power of prayer without ceasing, and the value of pondering and meditating. Great miracles were manifest and heavenly visitations of angelic messengers abounded. It was a very blessed and powerful experience.

As he did in Jerusalem, the Savior delivered an sermon to the Nephites and Lamanites in the New World. It would stand to reason that it would be similar to his sermon on the mount, and indeed, it was; however, a different setting, a different place and a different people would dictate that the it not be exactly the same sermon; so let's see what differences there are...and why.

We have finally come to the time when the signs of the Savior's death were shown to the people of the Book of Mormon. For the people that survived the cataclysms that followed, these were miraculous times. First the Savior's voice came to them and then the Savior himself appeared to these people.  these are extraordinary chapters of 3rd Nephi and well worth the time to listen and to lear...

As we move into 3rd Nephi we finally get to the events surrounding the Birth, Death, Resurrection of the Savior and his Visit to the Americas. The Gadianton Robbers were in there causing all kinds of trouble, and the people were tossed back and forth between righteousness and wickedness. It was quite a time. Join me as we explore this story.

The appearance of a Lamanite named Samuel, a Prophet, portended the great signs of the Savior's birth. A day and a night and a day without darkness would be the most dramatic but many signs and wonders were to come. Join me and let's hear how this all came about.

As we approach the time of the Savior's birth, the Gadianton Robbers gain hold of the Nephite government while the Lamanites turn to the Lord and become righteous. They are able to expel the Gadiantons from their midst.