Historian Keith Erekson’s book teaches Latter-day Saints how to separate fact from fiction regarding faith-promoting stories. For example, he gives readers the tools needed to assess the accuracy of a purported photograph of Joseph Smith—or identify the myth about Brigham Young miraculously leaving space in the Salt Lake Temple for future elevators. In this interview, he explains how Latter-day Saints can gauge the accuracy of church history stories.
Translation efforts for the first Portuguese Book of Mormon began in 1937. Concerns that the resulting volume incorporated Catholic doctrine were largely overblown, but the book nonetheless suffered from many translation errors and doctrinal simplifications. As a result, the First Presidency created the Church’s Translation Department and catalyzed the retranslation of the Book of Mormon into several other languages to serve Mormonism around the world. In this interview, Jeremy Talmage discusses the history of translating the Book of Mormon into Portuguese.
The Doctrine and Covenants includes an invitation to develop an eye single to the glory of God. A volume from the Maxwell Institute’s Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series looks at what this means and how it can be accomplished. It also examines various ways sight can serve as a devotional tool. For instance, the book offers strategies for managing visual distractions like social media and explains how pornography prevents seeing others as God does. In this interview, author Mason Allred discusses his new book, Seeing.
Many times in the scriptures, we read of the Lord’s outstretched hand or arm. It serves as a metaphor both for his forbearance and for his invitation to come to him. Nephi reports the Lord’s assurance that “mine arm is lengthened out all the day long (2 Nephi 28:32). We find such references scattered throughout Isaiah’s writings. “His anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
Very little is known about the personal life of this extraordinary woman. Both her given name and her surname have been lost to time. She acquired the forename Julian because that was the name of the small Benedictine church to which she was attached. Her surname, Norwich, is the name of the city in Norfolk located in the region of East Anglia where she resided her entire life. Hence, she is known as Julian of Norwich. Based on her writings it is believed that she was born in the year 1342 or 1343.
Herod the Great is perhaps best known for the massacre of the innocents portrayed in the Gospel of Matthew. Interestingly, many scholars believe that Herod claimed to be a messiah, and Ehud Netzer’s discovery of King Herod’s tomb at Herodium led to additional evidence. In this interview, biblical archaeologist and Masada expert Jodi Magness expounds on her related article in the Journal of Ancient Judaism.
The relationship between Jim Bridger and Brigham Young makes up an interesting chapter in the story of the American West. The two men had a unique association that began on friendly terms but eventually soured. A low point for the mountain man saw him watching from a concealed position as Latter-day Saint pioneers took possession of Fort Bridger. In this interview, author Jerry Enzler shares what his Jim Bridger biography reveals about the prominent pioneers.
Joseph Smith has been a fascinating figure since the day of his “First Vision” in 1820. Scholars and believers continue to ask questions about the Prophet’s character, his use of golden plates to translate the Book of Mormon, his relationship with Brigham Young and Emma Smith—and much more. This article presents snapshots of academic and devotional insights about the life and teachings of Joseph Smith Jr.
Jacob Hamblin was a Latter-day Saint missionary to the indigenous peoples of the Southwestern United States, an explorer, and a negotiator in conflicts with Native Americans. His life was full of adventure and difficulties as he worked to carry out the callings that Brigham Young extended to him. In this interview, Todd Compton discusses Jacob Hamblin’s life and accomplishments.
There was a coverup in the aftermath of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. It was perpetrated by local religious leaders and massacre participants, some of whom purposefully deceived Brigham Young about what happened. The cover-up set in motion a confusing series of events with consequences that can still be seen today. The tragic story of the massacre’s aftermath is now available in a new book by Rick Turley and Barbara Jones Brown, published by Oxford University Press. In this interview, they explain the complicated aftermath of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.