The Book of Abraham includes an account of the foreordination of Abraham as one of God’s noble and great ones. Latter-day Saints often interpret these verses as a reference to rulers in God’s earthly church, but there are also other potential meanings. For instance, the verses may refer to divine members of God’s heavenly council. In this interview, Stephen Smoot discusses the history, theology, and ancient Egyptian context of Abraham’s foreordination.
The King Follett Sermon is one of Joseph Smith’s best-recorded and most controversial sermons. Records and memories of the sermon shaped many of the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but have also been partly rejected within the Church. This interview with William V. Smith discusses the King Follett Sermon and its history.
Joseph Smith established the Council of Fifty in 1844 to address several issues, including the potential relocation of the Latter-day Saints outside the United States. This article includes a sample of interesting Council of Fifty quotes from Part One of the administrative records, including new teachings from the Prophet Joseph and an account of his martyrdom.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s name is synonymous with discipleship (similar to Latter-day Saints like Truman G. Madsen and Henry B. Eyring). But the term meant different things to him at different times. Initially, it was a designation for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But over time, it evolved to include a wholehearted devotion to the Savior—especially during times of adversity. In this interview, biographer Bruce C. Hafen explains why Elder Maxwell is so closely associated with discipleship.
It might seem unlikely that we can know anything about the ancient owners of the Joseph Smith Papyri. However, the Book of Abraham scrolls included names and genealogies indicating that the owners were ancient Egyptian priests. In this interview, Kerry Muhlestein explains what we know about these ancient Egyptians—and how their circumstances may have made them uniquely aware of extra-biblical Abrahamic traditions.
The Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share the same roots, including Restoration scriptures like the Book of Mormon. Yet these faith communities have over 170 years of divergent history and evolution, including how they approach the scriptures. This interview with Kat Goheen and Joshua Sears discusses scripture in Community of Christ and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The genealogy of Jesus in the New Testament includes several women with a hint of sexual scandal. When combined with the wicked men in the Savior’s ancestry, it teaches several subtle lessons—including how Matthew may have prepared his audience for the virgin birth. In this interview, Camille Fronk Olson explains what we can learn from the women in the lineage of Jesus.
Joseph F. Smith is known for many things. He was the son of Hyrum Smith and nephew of the Prophet Joseph. He served a legendary mission to Hawaii. And he received the vision of the redemption of the dead (D&C 138). The prophet’s life was also filled with lesser-known complexities that make him an especially fascinating figure. In this interview, Stephen C. Taysom elaborates on his new biography of Joseph F. Smith.
B. H. Roberts was a prolific and influential writer and speaker in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the turn of the 20th century. He’s been called the Church’s most eminent intellectual,[1] its best officially accepted theologian,[2] one of our most important historians,[3] and possibly the most prolific and most effective defender of the Church.[4] He wrote at a furious pace throughout his adult life, publishing 35 books, over 300 articles, and scores of manuals, pamphlets, tracts, and sermons, becoming, in the words of biographer Truman G. Madsen, “the most prolific interpreter of Mormonism’s first century.”[5] Similar to our Dallin H. Oaks quotes collection, this article provides Elder Roberts quotes about topics such as scriptures, salvation, and the Church’s history.
Witnesses recorded seeing more Joseph Smith Papyri than we currently have—and a sizeable portion perished in the Great Chicago Fire. Nonetheless, we know a great deal about the surviving records—including their potential impact on the translation of the Book of Abraham and the origins of Latter-day Saint temple rites. In this interview, Kerry Muhlestein explains what we know and don’t know about the Prophet’s Egyptian Papyri.