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.
The Lord promised early Latter-day Saints an endowment of power that began at the Kirtland Temple in 1836. It was a time of great spiritual outpourings and the receipt of power from on high. However, the “Kirtland endowment” didn’t explicitly refer to rituals and ordinances. For example, it wasn’t until 1842 that Joseph Smith introduced “the endowment” that gave rise to the ceremony familiar to modern church members. Scott Woodward explains more about what the Kirtland endowment was in this interview.
Joseph Smith once stated that the Gospel would go forth, “till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear.” The establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Japan is one of the fulfillments of his statement about Mormonism around the world. Today, there are 268 congregations and four temples in Japan, representing the growth of the Church in that country. This interview with Shinji Takagi discusses Latter-day Saints in Japan.
Bruce R. McConkie planned to release an abbreviated version of the Journal of Discourses in a series named Sound Doctrine. The volumes were to feature selected sermons that Elder McConkie felt best showcased Latter-day Saint doctrine, excluding controversial topics like Brigham Young’s Adam-God theory. However, the First Presidency advised against publishing it. Biographer Devery S. Anderson tells the story of Elder McConkie’s unpublished book in this interview.