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Devotional

50+ David O. McKay Quotes on Family, Priesthood, and Life

A charcoal sketch of David O. McKay with his quote, "Man’s chief concern in life should not be the acquiring of gold, or of fame, or of material possessions. It should not be the development of physical prowess, nor of intellectual strength, but his aim, the highest in life, should be the development of a Christ-like character."

David O. McKay was the ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving from April 9, 1951 – January 18, 1970. He oversaw a period of global growth and modernization in the Church in the Post-WWII era and became known for his family-focused teachings and charismatic demeanor. Similar to our Dallin H. Oaks Quotes collection, this post contains David O. McKay quotes about topics such as family, priesthood, the Word of Wisdom, and more. Please leave a comment if there’s a quote you’d like considered for inclusion.

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Old Testament

Donald W. Parry on His New Translation of Isaiah

Donald W. Parry Isaiah translation research with the ancient Hebrew Dead Sea Scrolls.

How does a premier Dead Sea Scrolls translator bridge the gap between ancient Hebrew manuscripts and modern Old Testament scripture study for Latter-day Saints? Donald W. Parry’s new translation of the book of Isaiah avoids early modern English archaisms in favor of contemporary clarity, while carefully preserving authentic Hebraisms and visually restoring over 1,000 instances of original prophetic, two-lined parallelistic poetry. By integrating textual variants from the Great Isaiah Scroll alongside insights from the Book of Mormon and the Joseph Smith Translation, this volume provides a specialized companion resource for analyzing complex biblical dialogues. In this interview, Donald W. Parry discusses how these ancient and Restoration texts harmonize to illuminate Isaiah’s witness of Jesus Christ.

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New Testament

How Did the Twelve Apostles Die?

Artistic depiction of the 12 apostles walking at dusk, evoking the mystery and tradition surrounding their deaths.

The New Testament offers only a few details about how Jesus’s apostles died. Most of what we “know” comes from early Christian writings and later legends—some historically grounded, others clearly mythical. Unlike the Old Testament’s detailed treatment of prophetic deaths, these martyrdom stories reflect the theology and historical uncertainty of early Christianity. Here’s a concise summary of each apostle’s traditional fate, noting where it occurred, what’s historically probable, and how we know.

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Old Testament Theology

Who Are the Gods in Psalm 82?

An empty throne in a heavenly divine council scene, representing the judgment and deposition of foreign gods in Psalm 82.

The “gods” of Psalm 82 were originally divine beings who governed foreign nations in the Hebrew Bible. In the scripture’s heavenly courtroom scene, YHWH stripped the lesser deities of their godhood as a punishment for failing to protect the poor and needy. In doing so, he asserted himself not just as the god of Israel, but also as the sovereign Lord of all nations. Centuries later, Jesus quoted Psalm 82:6 in John 10 to defend himself against a charge of blasphemy. By citing the famous line, “I said, ‘You are gods,'” Jesus leveraged a rabbinic tradition that applied the text to human beings, influencing the way we now view humanity and divinity. In this interview, Bible scholar Dan McClellan walks through the psalm’s historical context, its New Testament reinterpretation, and its modern legacy among Latter-day Saints.

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New Testament

Who Were the Pharisees? A Historical and Biblical Guide

A screenshot of a Pharisee from "The Chosen" creating a mixed feeling that depicts modern stigmas that the Pharisees were bad people.

The Pharisees were a group of people at the time of Christ with a set of beliefs recognizable by outsiders. However, exactly what those beliefs were remains a hotly debated question. Scholars have begun to agree upon several common characteristics of Pharisees, can clearly distinguish them from Sadducees, and often note that the sect receives unfair treatment in the gospels. In this interview, New Testament scholar Thomas Wayment discusses what scholars currently think about who the Pharisees were.

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Old Testament

What Is the Meaning of Hesed in the Bible?

Two human hands pulling in opposite directions while gripping the same rope, symbolizing hesed as a shared bond of covenant loyalty under strain.

In the Bible, ḥesed signifies a bond of steadfast loyalty and kindness that defines a relationship’s enduring commitment. While the word is often rendered as “mercy” in the King James Version, it more accurately describes a “pact” requiring mutual fidelity between Israel and God. This bilateral bond is especially exemplified in the Book of Ruth and the Psalms, where human devotion mirrors the unbreakable nature of God’s covenant: even in moments of exile or despair, ḥesed offers a reassuring promise of God’s empathetic concern. In this interview, translator Robert Alter discusses the nuanced meanings of ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible.

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Quotes

The Best Joseph F. Smith Quotes

Joseph F. Smith (remember the “F”) was not only the son of Hyrum Smith, but an important leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his own right, whose quotes are important, even today. He was known for his focus on Church organization and the cosmology of the afterlife and the resurrection, as well as for laying the foundations for the systematic theology that would later be expressed through his son (Joseph Fielding Smith) and his grandson-in-law (Bruce R. McConkie). Much like the Dallin H. Oaks Quotes page, this page is a curated collection of quotes dealing with topics ranging from advice to the priesthood, the scriptures, and more.

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Devotional Latter-day Saint Arts

The Bells at Temple Square: The Tabernacle Choir’s World-Class Handbell Ensemble

Members of the Bells at Temple Square performing in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, showcasing the handbell choir’s synchronized technique and musical precision.

The Bells at Temple Square is a premier handbell ensemble in Salt Lake City that performs intricate music with hundreds of handbells and handchimes as part of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Since its founding in 2005, the ensemble has inspired audiences through its musical skill and spiritual purpose, performing in semiannual concerts, at national events, and in broadcasts such as Music and the Spoken Word. In this interview, Conductor Geoff Anderson explains what the group is, recounts how he got involved, and discusses the evolving legacy of the Bells at Temple Square.

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Quotes

Dieter F. Uchtdorf Quotes: Inspiring Teachings on Faith, Hope, and Discipleship

A sketch of Dieter F. Uchtdorf next to the text of one of his quotes about adversity.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s quotes emphasize that the gospel is “beautifully simple” and best lived through small, daily efforts rather than grand gestures. Using aviation metaphors from his career as a pilot, President Uchtdorf illustrates how a mere two-degree course correction prevents a spiritual crash and why “forward thrust” is required to maintain spiritual lift. He describes the Church not as a showroom for the perfect, but as a service center for those seeking the transformative power of grace. Similar to our Dallin H. Oaks Quotes page, this inspiring quote collection features teachings from Dieter F. Uchtdorf that explore how centering our lives on the Savior turns the pursuit of holiness into a pursuit of happiness.

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Old Testament

Rosalynde Welch on 7 Songs in the Old Testament

An impressionist painting of an open Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) showing poetic line breaks, used in the interview "Seven Songs" with Rosalynde Welch.

Finding Jesus Christ in the Old Testament often involves learning to discern the ancient music of the Hebrew Bible. In Seven Songs, Rosalynde Welch and Adam Miller explore the “Tanakh” as a literary masterpiece, organizing seven specific poems into a narrative arc that mirrors the lifecycle of a believer’s faith. From the fiery devotion of the Song of Miriam to the “salty tears” of divine absence in the Psalms, this approach treats the text as a living witness of Jesus’s own spiritual formation. In this interview, Rosalynde Welch explains how these poetic voices offer a theology of providence that remains sufficient even when God feels far away.

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