Y Religion

America's history with slavery is complicated and controversial, especially when considered in a religious context. On this episode, Professor Jordan Watkins takes us into antebellum America, showing how views over slavery were shaped by interpretations of the Bible and the country's founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He also examines wa...

Some Latter-day Saints believe that the oath and covenant of the priesthood only applies to men. But in this episode, Professor Barbara Morgan Gardner uses Doctrine and Covenants 84 and the words of prophets and apostles to share an important truth: priesthood power and promises are available to all who receive the blessings of the temple. She also speaks on what the oath and covenant of D&C 8...

Netflix's 2021 docuseries Murder among the Mormons reached #2 on the most-viewed list in the week it came out. But how much did the documentary actually get right? In this episode, Professor J. B. Haws gives his perspective as a Church historian, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the docuseries as well as the theological implications of the Mark Hoffman murders—and the reason why this s...

In 1903, Latter-day Saint Apostle Reed Smoot was elected by Utah to become a United States senator.  However, many in the country and Senate did not want to seat Elder Smoot due to his leadership position in the Church and because of the Church's practice of polygamy.  In this episode, Dr. Carter Charles recounts this history and President Theodore Roosevelt's defense of Reed Smoot and the Latter-...

Although its stories took place thousands of years ago, the Old Testament provides potent lessons to help confront contemporary challenges, including the world's growing refugee crisis. In this episode, Dr. George Pierce shares research insights about ancient Israel to help us care for the displaced and marginalized in our midst.

How did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon? Joseph's brief answer was "by the gift and power of God," sometimes adding that it was done by means of "Urim and Thummim."  Some have asked why Joseph Smith didn't give more specific details about the process.  In this enlightening episode, translation scholar Dr. Michael Hubbard MacKay discusses his research on the "incommensurability" of Joseph...

The Law of Moses gives divine direction for how God's covenant people should care for displaced refugees, foreigners, and strangers, who are referred to in the Bible as 'gēr.' In this episode, Dr. Krystal Pierce of BYU's Ancient Scripture Department shares her published research on the teachings and narratives in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon related to what are commonly called the "Gēr Law...

How do Latter-day Saints perceive images of Christ's suffering on the cross? How does artwork influence their understanding of the Savior's Atonement? What does it mean that Christ shed His blood for us? In this powerful episode, Dr. John Hilton III shares findings from his continued research related to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and why embracing Christ's death upon the cross can deepen our...

For many Latter-day Saints, there is a strong desire to visit sacred sites of the Restoration, such as the Sacred Grove or Carthage Jail. These historic places can help us better understand the past as we strive to live the gospel in the present.  In this episode, Dr. Scott Esplin discusses the value of historic Latter-day Saint sites, how the Church acquired some of them, and how we can all learn...

The events recorded in the gospels took place in the Garden of Gethsemane are sacred to our faith. Although we can envision the olive trees of the garden, where did they press its oil, from which the translated word "Gethsemane" derives? Thanks to archeological research, including some by BYU ancient scripture professor Matthew Grey, there are possible answers.  In this episode Dr. Grey discusses...

It's likely that many of you have heard of the name Hugh Nibley. Over a nearly fifty-year career as a BYU professor, he became one of the most prolific scholars and authors in the history of the Church. In this episode, Dr. Joseph Spencer shares his research publication on Nibley's influence as one of the great figures in the field of Book of Mormon studies. 

The Community of Christ, formerly known as the "Reorganized" Church or "RLDS," is a global restoration faith which traces its origins to the life and ministry of Joseph Smith.  In this episode, Dr. Keith Wilson of BYU Religious Education provides a fascinating historical and doctrinal journey of two different restoration faiths that share the same roots by comparing each church's respective views...

For over sixty years, BYU Studies Quarterly has published scholarship informed by the restored gospel of Jesus Christ on a broad range of topics that are of interest to Latter-day Saints.  In this episode, Dr. Steven Harper, the current editor of BYU Studies, discusses some of the most significant articles in the history of BYU Studies.

Because we live in a day where prejudice and discrimination of all kinds remain fundamental problems across the globe, members of the Church have been counselled "to abandon all personal prejudices." In this episode, Jan Martin of BYU Ancient Scripture shares her research publication about Samuel the Lamanite and what a past prophet's experience with discrimination can tell us about confronting an...

Although it is common to cite Isaiah's remarkable prophecies about the Savior, Isaiah's repeated teachings related to the poor usually don't receive as much attention.  In this episode, emeritus BYU Ancient Scripture professor Dana M. Pike shares his latest publication that magnifies Isaiah's teachings to provide "a strength to the poor" (Isa. 25:4)—a timeless message applicable today.  Dr. Pike a...

Latter-day Saints are a covenant-centric faith, led by the oft-repeated messages of President Russell M. Nelson to continue "on the covenant path." But what is this covenant path, and how is it a Restoration of "the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham" (1 Nephi 22:9)?  In this episode, BYU professor of Ancient Scripture, Kerry Muhlestein, shares insights from his recent publication to h...

This April, the newly remodeled Washington D.C. Temple will hold its public open house for hundreds and thousands of visitors, marking the latest in a long line of historical events related to the Latter-day Saints' presence in the nation's capital.  In this episode, Dr. Ken Alford reviews his co-edited research publication covering many of those notable events, along with his specific chapter on...

April 6th is commonly taught by Latter-day Saints to be Jesus's birth date.  Some Church leaders, however, have explored other options, saying the date "is not a settled issue." In this episode, Professor Jeff Chadwick discusses his publications that academically explore the dates of Jesus Christ's birth and death, highlighting important aspects of our faith that arise from dating theses scriptura...

In the summer of 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith began an audacious undertaking: to translate the Holy Bible.  But what was this Bible "translation"? Was he reading from other languages? Was he restoring the Bible text to its earliest condition? Was it an inspired commentary? Is the JST canonized scripture? And, did Joseph ever finish the complete translation? In this episode, Dr. Jared Ludlow shar...

Like complementary colors, women and men are meant to work in harmony to bring their inherent and unique qualities to parenting.  Dr. Jenet Erickson specializes in research related to the distinct contributions of mothers and fathers in child development. In this episode, she shares some of her research about what the spring 2020 Covid pandemic illuminated about the work and family desires of men...

For centuries, some readers of Genesis have blamed Eve for the evils of the world because she ate the forbidden fruit in Eden. But Latter-day Saint scripture opens the way for different views, including seeing Eve's decision as visionary and courageous. Our interpretations of Eve have not always been this positive, however, and historical Christianity's interpretations haven't always been that neg...

Every worthy, baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired personal direction from God. There are many common questions surrounding patriarchal blessings: Why should I get one? What will it say? Why does my lineage matter? With whom can I share it? How should I prepare? In this episode, professor Brad Wilc...

When we hear the name of Samuel the Lamanite, most of us know his epic story on the wall. That, however, is part of the problem. We know the drama of his escape, but often have overlooked the depths of his doctrinal teachings and prophetic message. Are some of us like the Nephites who were admonished by Jesus for overlooking the prophecies of Samuel? In this episode professor Ryan Sharp helps us r...

Many of us are familiar with the excitement of "show and tell" at school.  There's something potent in the combination of seeing an interesting object and hearing a good narrative related to it.  Latter-day Saint history has produced many important relics related to the Restoration.  In this episode, Professor Casey Griffiths discusses his book publication on fifty of these important objects and t...

Two thousand years after the mortal life of Jesus and the expansive global spread of Christianity, we must be careful to not overlook the fundamental nature of Judaism in Christianity, and that Jesus himself was Jewish. In this episode, BYU religion professor Avram Shannon helps us understand how Jewish Rabbinic literature—which are the texts written by early Jewish sages—can help better enlighten...