W. Cleon Skousen Insights

BYU Lecture #2 - The Creation; The Garden; Adam and Eve Text: Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5 Supplemental Text: The First 2,000 Years - Chapters 3-5 In this 2nd University lecture, we learn that Moses has a second opportunity to inquire of the Lord. This time he learns the importance of the Human race. He is taught from "the beginning" which was actually the spiritual creation of the earth, f...

Biblical Text: Moses 1 and Abraham 3 College Text: The First 2,000 Years chapters 1 and 2 W. Cleon Skousen narrates a series of lectures on the Old Testament that were recorded decades earlier at the university and recently recovered. He recounts his return to BYU at the request of President David O. McKay, and writing three Old Testament textbooks, namely The First 2,000 Years, The Third Thousand...

In the great battle to take over the world, America is the number one target. Enemies of America, enemies of the Bible, enemies of goodness are almost always atheist, amoral, ruthless and power hungry. Knowledge is the only defense against our enemy’s deception. We must do our own homework and research to discover truth. Communists lie, cheat, misrepresent and do whatever is in their power to prom...

Narrated by the renowned Francis Urey and originally produced in the 1960s, this production unveils chapters of the historical account of the first Christmas that modern day pageants frequently omit. Performed for a time at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, discover the story of Zacharias and his divine encounter with the angel Gabriel, leading to the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. Follow th...

The beauty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes alive in the Old Testament. The backbone of learning the Gospel in the Old Testament begins with a historical understanding, which W. Cleon Skousen lays out masterfully by helping the student learn the easy hook dates of critical learning. Weaving these hook dates among the major players in the Old Testament pulls together the storyline and fasinating...

The Christmas Story as only W. Cleon Skousen can tell so beautifully and personally. Experience the birth of Christ as a living, human story from the hush of a temple’s incense in Jerusalem to the bright surprise of angelic visitations, weaving the lives of Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and Joseph into a vivid journey toward Bethlehem. Witness the shock of sudden revelation, the breaking and healing...

The Old Testament prophets saw our day, prior to Christ's return, and describe these events for our learning and preparation. 

Section 137 – Given on January 21, 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio. Historical Background: The Kirtland temple was nearing completion. In preparation for its dedication, Joseph Smith, along with other leaders of the church in Kirtland and Missouri, gathered in the upper-west room of the temple. A spiritual manifestation was received by Joseph and an extract of the vision is contained in Section 137 which w...

Section 135 - Historical Background: John Taylor and Willard Richards were witnesses to the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. John Taylor was shot several times and fell to the floor but saved his life by rolling under the bed. He was assigned to write the official declaration of the church concerning the assassination. The effort to destroy the Prophet came from two directions: One was from the a...

Often overlooked and unappreciated, the history of the early settlers who initially practiced a form of communism that led to widespread starvation and hardship. The miraculous shift to free enterprise transformed their lives, replacing scarcity with abundance. This life-saving transition is the real reason behind the Thanksgiving celebration. Learn the adventures of John Smith, the harsh realitie...

Section 133 received Nov 3, 1831 in Hiram Ohio Historical background - By November, 1831, Joseph had compiled many of the Lord’s revelations which would eventually become a Book of Commandments, later known as the Doctrine and Covenants. On November 1, 1831, the Lord revealed a “Proclamation” to the world which became the preface to the Book of Commandments, or section 1. Two days later, on Novemb...

Revelation Dates: February 1843 – July 1843 Revelation Places: Nauvoo, Illinois Section 129 - Historical Background: One of the saints in England, converted by Heber C. Kimball, was a faithful man named William Clayton. Three years after his baptism, Clayton moved his family from England to Nauvoo and in 1842 became a secretary and scribe to the Prophet Joseph. Over the next two years, William Cla...

Revelation Dates: March 1841 – September, 1842 Revelation Places: Nauvoo, Illinois Section 125 - Historical Background: As the saints from around the world gathered to Nauvoo, many of them settled on the west side of the Mississippi River (Iowa) where the land was more affordable. Two stakes were organized there. With the increasing emphasis on the gathering place in Nauvoo, the question was raise...

Revelation Date: January 19, 1841 Revelation Place: Nauvoo, Illinois Section 124 - Historical Background: It had been 2 years since receiving the prior revelation and much had happened during that time: - Joseph had finally been freed from Liberty jail by a sympathetic sheriff (who was then killed by the angry mob for allowing Joseph to escape). - Joseph fled to Illinois and the saints purchased t...

Revelation Date: March, 1839 Revelation Place: Liberty Jail, Missouri Section 121 - Historical Background: By March 20, 1839, Joseph Smith had reached the lowest depths of utter despair. The physical dimensions of the restored church had been shattered. The saints had been forced to abandon their homes and property in the depths of winter, fleeing over the entire width of Missouri to escape the mu...

Revelation Dates: April – July, 1838 Revelation Places: Farr West, Missouri Section 115 - Historical Background: The first General Conference of the church in Missouri was held at Farr West on April 6, 1838. Joseph had arrived a few weeks prior to the conference, having fled Kirtland with the saints and traveling nearly 900 miles to Farr West. Following this exodus and enduring the apostasy of man...

Revelation Dates: August 1836 – April 1838 Revelation Places: Salem, Massachusetts; Kirtland, Ohio; Farr West, Missouri Section 111 - Historical Background: In the summer of 1836, a member from Massachusetts by the name of Jonathan Burgess, came to Joseph regarding a sister member in Salem, Massachusetts who was now deceased. He explained that prior to her death she intended to give the church a l...

Revelation Dates: March 27, 1836 – April 3, 1836 Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio Section 109 - Historical Background: In December 1832, the Lord commanded the saints of Kirtland to build a temple. At that time, there were only about 100 members living in Kirtland, who lacked money, lands or knowledge to accomplish the task. Yet, at the completion and dedication of the temple in March, 1836, ther...

Revelation Dates: November 1834 – December 1835 Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio Section 106 - Historical Background: It had been 5 months since the return from Zions Camp. Joseph was engaged in the building of the Temple in Kirtland, along with visiting and strengthening each branch in the area. The previous month of March, Joseph had visited the town of Freedom, baptizing 30-40 people there, in...

Revelation Dates: February – June, 1834 Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio and Fishing River, Missouri Section 102 - Historical Background: With the rapidly increasing membership of the church, Joseph needed help in administration. A meeting was called consisting of 62 brethren, and Joseph taught about the ancient councils and how they were operated under Moses and Peter, among others. Joseph had r...

Revelation Dates: August – December, 1833 Revelation Places: Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York Section 98 – Aug 6, 1833 - Historical Background: Persecution was increasing in Missouri and Joseph was concerned for the saints, seeking help from the Lord. Joseph was 800 miles away in Kirtland and had not yet heard of the extreme violence and destruction of property, including the printing press. But th...

Revelation Dates: May – August, 1833 Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio Section 94 - Historical Background: Ever since January, 1833, Joseph Smith had been warning the church leaders in Jackson County, Missouri to stop disputing and quarrelling among themselves. Their sinful behavior was putting the whole cause of Zion at risk. As they did not repent, the threats of mobs increased. If the saints in...

Revelation Date: May 6, 1833 Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio Section 93 - Historical Background: Many of the saints had migrated from Kirtland to Jackson County, Missouri, but there were still about 150 families remaining in Kirtland, Ohio. Still, the Lord wanted to establish a Stake there and organize the building of a temple. In anticipation of this, the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith one of the...

Revelation Dates: February 27 – March 15, 1833 Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio Section 89 - Historical Background: In a small upstairs room in Bishop Whitney’s store, around 22 Elders gathered tightly together to attend the School of the Prophets. The purpose of the school was to learn the mysteries of God and sacred truths in preparation for their ministry. During the meeting, the Elders would...

Revelation Dates: December 27, 1832 – January 3, 1833 Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio Section 88 - Historical Background: Just 2 days after receiving section 87, containing the prophecies of war and terrible destruction, the Lord sends this new revelation (or series of revelations) containing words of peace. Joseph refers this revelation as an olive leaf. About a year earlier, in section 71, Jose...