Category: Come Follow Me

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Doctrine and Covenants Polygamy

D&C 132: What Is the Plural Marriage Revelation?

Doctrine and Covenants 132 is the revelation on plural marriage dictated by Joseph Smith in 1843. Shared in secret during his lifetime and later canonized in 1879, it became one of the most consequential and controversial texts in Latter-day Saint history. The revelation introduced the sealing of marriages for eternity, provided the theological foundation for polygamy, and continues to influence Church teachings about family and exaltation today. In this interview, scholar William V. Smith explores D&C 132’s origins and lasting impact.

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Doctrine and Covenants Theology

Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants: A Maxwell Institute Book Series

All seven volumes of "Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants" presented on a table at the Maxwell Institute at BYU.

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship has released a seven-volume series exploring themes in the Doctrine and Covenants. Each book tackles a specific topic from Latter-day Saint scripture, with contributors like Terryl Givens (Agency), Janiece Johnson (Revelation), and Justin Collings (Justice). Over the coming year, we’ll update this series introduction with exclusive author interviews, offering behind-the-scenes insights into their work.

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Doctrine and Covenants Theology

Time: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants

Cubist-style painting of a serene Latter-day Saint woman before a Roman numeral clock and stylized temple, evoking the Doctrine and Covenants’ sacred theology of time.

The concept of time is one of many themes in the Doctrine and Covenants—and all of scripture. A new book from the Maxwell Institute calls it the “0th principle” of the gospel, a foundational value underlying every other principle we live by. Seeing time in this way can change how we worship, how we remember the past, and how we act in the present. In this interview, scholar Philip Barlow discusses Time: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants, exploring how becoming “time literate” can transform relationships, expand agency, and deepen joy.

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Doctrine and Covenants Joseph Smith

What Was Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy?

Split painting showing Joseph Smith’s 1832 prophecy on the left, with a parchment and quill on a desk, and a Civil War battlefield with cannon smoke and divided flags on the right, symbolizing Doctrine and Covenants 87.

In 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation now known as the Civil War Prophecy. Early Latter-day Saints saw it as evidence of his prophetic calling, while contemporary newspapers responded skeptically. Initial interpretations emphasized conflict between the Northern and Southern States. Over time, the prophecy was also applied to later wars, including World War I and the Cold War. Today, it’s call to “stand ye in holy places” is the most commonly cited application in General Conference. In this interview, historian Scott C. Esplin discusses the origin and evolving interpretations of Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy.

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Doctrine and Covenants New Testament

What Does D&C 77 Say About the Age of the Earth?

A split image featuring an hourglass contrasted with a view of the earth from space, illustrating the literal-symbolic tension about the age of the earth in D&C 77.

Section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants contains statements indicating that the Earth will exist for 7,000 years. Some Latter-day Saints interpret this literally, while the revelation’s historical context also allows for scientific understandings of how old the Earth is. For instance, Joseph Smith’s focus in D&C 77 was the Book of Revelation, known for its symbolism. His later teachings also seem to challenge a strict 7,000-year timeline. In this interview, Nicholas Frederick examines the background of Doctrine and Covenants 77, emphasizing the central role of Jesus Christ.

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Doctrine and Covenants

Rosalynde Welch on 7 Visions of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants

The Doctrine and Covenants reveals Jesus Christ through themes of glory, suffering, intimacy, and presence. A new book from Deseret Book portrays a Savior whose power comes through submission, whose bleeding body crosses porous boundaries, and whose nearness is both cosmic and personal. In this interview, Rosalynde Welch explains how writing Seven Visions: Images of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants with co-author Adam Miller helped her recognize an invitation to see Christ—here and now.

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Devotional Theology

What I’ve Learned From 30 Years of Interfaith Dialogue

A group photo of Robert L. Millet, Richard Mow, and many other interfaith leaders.

Beginning in 1991, when I was appointed dean of Religious Education at BYU, and continuing well past my retirement from BYU in 2014, my interactions with men and women of various faiths have profoundly impacted me. They have broadened my horizons dramatically and reminded me—a sobering reminder we all need once in a while—that we are all sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.

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Latter-day Saint History Theology

What Did the First Presidency Say About Evolution in 1909 and 1925?

Sepia illustration of early 20th-century Latter-day Saint leaders symbolizing the Church’s evolution discourse—featuring Joseph F. Smith, B.H. Roberts, James E. Talmage, and Joseph Fielding Smith, with background elements representing science and scripture.

In 1909 and 1925, the First Presidency stated that the Church has no official position on evolution. Shaped by their historical contexts, these statements reflected a range of views among Church leaders at the time. Decades later, Joseph Fielding Smith reinterpreted the statements, promoting a rigid anti-evolution stance that was not originally intended. Due in part to his prominence, this interpretation soon became the prevailing view among many Latter-day Saints. In this interview, Dr. Ben Spackman discusses his chapter about the First Presidency statements in a new BYU evolution book.

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Quotes

Wilford Woodruff Quotes: A Prophet’s Insights

A side by side graphic featuring Wilford Woodruff next to a prophetic quote.

This collection of Wilford Woodruff quotes highlights his teachings on revelation, temple work, record keeping, the Holy Ghost, and more. He kept a detailed journal that has served as a core resource for historians, enabling the compilation of Woodruff sayings similar to our Dallin H. Oaks quotes page. This curated collection deals with topics ranging from the afterlife to true religion. Please leave a comment if there’s a quote you’d like considered for inclusion.

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Ancient history New Testament

How Close Were Jesus and the Pharisees?

A painting of Jesus healing a blind man while surrounded by Pharisees, as portrayed by Jorge Cocco in "I was Blind, but Now I See."
"I Was Blind, but Now I See," by Jorge Cocco. Used by permission.

The relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees is often reduced to hostility and hypocrisy. But the New Testament tells a more complicated story—one of shared meals, theological debate, and overlapping commitments to the Torah. Far from being outsiders to Judaism, Jesus and the Pharisees were part of the same religious world, sometimes clashing, sometimes converging. In this interview, New Testament scholar Jens Schröter helps unpack that complexity.

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