The Work and the Glory is a nine-volume historical fiction series about Joseph Smith and the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The successful books also led to three Work and the Glory movies. In this interview, author Gerald Lund looks back on the series more than 30 years laterbo—and reveals that it almost never got written.
Few questions divide Christianity as much as whether we’re saved by grace or works. In this interview, Terryl Givens notes that a recent flood of talks and books by Latter-day Saints have swung the pendulum in the direction of grace. He says that while it’s an open question whether the rhetorical shift represents an overcorrection, Latter-day Saints should beware of forsaking doctrines unique to the Restoration—or embracing a false dichotomy.
The Old Testament reveals not only God, but also the historical and literature cultures of His people. The Bible’s books range from the story of Genesis to the writings of Isaiah to the controversial Song of Solomon. Robert D. Miller II provides a brief introduction to the Bible for those interested in learning more about its origin and context.
Henry B. Eyring often receives compliments for his books and General Conference talks. But the Latter-day Saint leader’s desire has always been for Church members to look beyond him and see the Savior. Biographer Robert Eaton shows how President Eyring’s life, like that of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a pattern for coming unto Christ.
The King Follett Discourse is one of Joseph Smith’s most well-known sermons. Many consider it the pinnacle of the Prophet’s teachings, although Joseph had previously taught most of the ideas. Interestingly, the King Follett Sermon rarely makes an appearance in general conference or other official sources. In this interview, James Faulconer says that the sermon’s role in Latter-day Saint theology is an open question.
Women of the Old Testament make up more than 120 of the 170 named female figures in the standard works (Emma Smith is one of only two mentioned in the Doctrine & Covenants). How many of their stories do we know? How many names can we name? Why does it matter? BYU’s Camille Fronk Olson says that the lessons of biblical women matter now as much as ever.
M. Russell Ballard, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has lived a life of entrepreneurship, leadership, and prominence—even if he considers himself ordinary. In this interview, biographer Dr. Susan Easton Black says that the real theme of his life has not been innovation or business, but devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered 75 years ago in a series of caves near the ancient settlement of Masada in the Judean Desert. The manuscripts include the influential Book of Enoch and Book of Isaiah, and have even inspired modern forgeries. Scholars continue to debate related mysteries, such as who wrote the scrolls. In this interview, Jean-Pierre Isbouts discusses his National Geographic special feature, The Dead Sea Scrolls: 75 Years Since Their Historic Discovery.
The LDS Living All In podcast hosted by Morgan Pearson (formerly Morgan Jones) has a simple premise: What does it mean to be all in the gospel of Jesus Christ? It’s a relevant question in the internet age where questions about Joseph Smith swirl and religious values increasingly conflict with social norms.
The Book of Abraham has a fascinating history. For example, Joseph Smith charged visitors to see four mummies he purchased with the scrolls of Abraham. The topic also raises a number of questions, such as whether the Egyptian manuscripts catalyzed Joseph’s Smith’s revelatory process.