The angel Moroni is a Book of Mormon prophet who appeared to Joseph Smith as a resurrected being. His influence goes far beyond the Hill Cumorah in New York. For example, pioneers spoke about Moroni more often than the First Vision. And today, there are dozens of angel Moroni statues atop Latter-day Saint temples throughout the world.
Wilford Woodruff used symbols in his journal to make it easier to review his prolific writings each year. His journal uniquely combines ecclesiastical and personal issues, and his detailed system of symbols made it easier to comb through nearly 7,000 pages of documentation. The methodical approach not only preserves historical events related to Church history, but also emphasizes his personal reflections and broader interests. As a result, his journal is an invaluable resource for understanding the early Church. In this interview, Joshua Matson discusses the symbols used in Wilford Woodruff‘s journals.
The Book of Abraham is a volume of holy scripture translated by Joseph Smith. The text is unique because we possess some of the Egyptian papyri the Prophet may have used during his translation. However, the text on extant fragments doesn’t align with what’s found in the book—and that’s led to many debates. Ultimately, the Church says that the book’s power lies in study, prayer, and personal revelation. This article walks you through some of the latest research findings, including exclusive From the Desk interviews.
The Latter-Day Saint endowment ceremony is a temple ritual that symbolically takes participants on an upward journey that concludes in a celestial room. Participation in the ceremony brings individuals into a closer covenant relationship with God, and includes temple garments and covenants or laws such as the Law of the Gospel and Law of Consecration. In this interview, Anthony Sweat explains more about the history and purpose of the temple endowment.
Two distinct classes of demonic entities exist in the Book of Mormon: “unclean spirits” and “devils.” While some of the book’s teachings mirror demonology from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, others introduce new concepts. For instance, the prophet Jacob describes Satan as the leader of disembodied devils, Lehi1 characterizes the adversary as “miserable,” and Jesus refers to the devil as the “father of contention.” Theologian Daniel Becerra explores these unique perspectives on Book of Mormon demonology in this interview.
Dale Morgan was a historian whose work underpinned “New Mormon History,” bringing academic methodology to the study of Latter-day Saints. He championed evidence-based research and mentored figures like Juanita Brooks and Fawn Brodie. Many of his own Latter-day Saint history projects went unfinished, but Morgan completed notable works such as a study on the fur trade and the mapping of the Trans Mississippi West. In this interview, Richard Saunders discusses the life and legacy of Dale L. Morgan.
Latter-day Saints think of Joseph Smith as a visionary, and rightly so. During his life, he received heavenly manifestations, including visions from God, Jesus Christ, and angels. He introduced translated records of humanity’s past and received visions of the afterlife. If improperly interpreted, however, these experiences can turn Joseph into a caricature of himself, a man who was constantly tuned into heaven. Although Joseph received striking visions and visitations, he was a lonely soul who struggled to understand how to fulfill God’s will. But this loneliness—his experience of the absence of God’s presence or directions—was formative.
Abstract: This paper views the sacrament prayers and rituals of Joseph Smith and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the broader context of Christian eucharistic worship, focusing on how the Latter-day Saint observances both resemble and differ from those of other Christian communities. It argues that, contrary to what is often supposed, the Church has a relatively “high” eucharistic theology.
They ways in which Latter-day Saints observe the Sabbath and hold meetings have changed from time to time. Among the early Latter-day Saints, under Joseph Smith‘s leadership, flexibility was the norm. For example, pioneer church members attended worship services, used bread and water (instead of wine) for the sacrament, and visited the sick. In this interview, Richard E. Bennett discusses early observance of the Sabbath among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple in 1836. He introduced temple ordinances prior to the dedication as a way to help prepare pioneers for a future endowment of power. The temple’s history includes visions of Jesus Christ and Old Testament prophets like Elijah, a two-hour Sidney Rigdon sermon, and a few myths. The latest news came in March 2024 when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased the Kirtland Ohio Temple from the Community of Christ. This article provides relevant insights from historians, pioneers, and more.