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Founding Fathers Latter-day Saint History

What Was Wilford Woodruff’s Vision of the Founding Fathers?

A painting of the Founding Fathers, many of whom Wilford Woodruff described seeing in vision.

Wilford Woodruff’s vision of the Founding Fathers played a role in the development of temple doctrine. While serving as president of the St. George temple, Woodruff said that early American figures like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson asked him for temple ordinances. The Apostle didn’t describe these encounters with as much detail as his daily journal, but there are three key sources where he recounts what happened. In this interview, Jennifer Mackley explains what we know about Wilford Woodruff’s vision.

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20th Century Latter-day Saint History Theology

What Was the Latter-day Saint Chicago Experiment?

A painting of Latter-day Saint students part of the Chicago Experiment in the 1930s.

In the 1930s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent teachers to learn theology at the University of Chicago. In some cases, the Latter-day Saints returned with academic tools to supplement their faith. But, in others, they experienced faith crises and set aside critical components of the Restoration like miracles and angels. In this interview, Casey Griffiths explains more about the Chicago Experiment and why issues of faith and intellect are still relevant.

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20th Century Book excerpts Brigham Young

American Moses: The Story of Leonard Arrington’s Brigham Young Biography

A zoomed-in shot from the cover of Leonard Arrington's biography of Brigham Young.

Brigham Young is arguably the second-most important figure in Mormon history; but until the 1970s, he had not been the subject of a definitive biography [until the publication of Leonard Arrington’s Brigham Young: American Moses].

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Joseph Smith Quotes

“The Grand Fundamental Principles of Mormonism”: Joseph Smith Quotes

It can be challenging to find Joseph Smith quotes drawn from reliable historical sources. Our quotes page gives you access to his teachings about topics like love, trials, and the Holy Ghost. What makes them especially unique is that every quote is taken from dependable scholarly research such as the Joseph Smith Papers Project.

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20th Century 21st Century Theology

Is Bruce R. McConkie Treated Unfairly?

A photograph of Bruce R. McConkie speaking with a student at a BYU-Idaho devotation in Idaho.

Perhaps no one has influenced Latter-day Saint scriptural literacy more than Bruce R. McConkie. His writings were both prolific and authoritarian. Consequently, 20th-century intellectuals sought an alternative voice, paving the way for a New Mormon History which may have intentionally downplayed the Apostle’s influence. In this interview, Joseph Spencer examines Elder McConkie’s influence and suggests that it may be time to set aside unfair narratives and reexamine his legacy.

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Book of Mormon

How Does the Book of Mormon Reinterpret the Bible?

The Book of Mormon has a complex relationship with the Christian Bible. It interacts with and, in some cases, reinterprets the stories and texts of the Bible in unique ways. In this interview, Michael Austin describes some of the ways in which the Book of Mormon reinterprets the Bible.

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Bible

What Does It Mean to Be Anointed in the Bible?

A screenshot of a Bible Project video showing anointing oil falling from heaven into a person's hands.
Screenshot of the Bible Project's video about anointing.

Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed in the Old Testament. And the title Christ in the New Testament literally translates as “anointed one.” But what does that mean? This post draws from the comments of Tim Mackie and John Collins in a seven-part series by the Bible Project explaining that anointing is a ritual in which people and places are set apart as portals between heaven and earth. The story starts in the Garden of Eden and ends with contemporary Christian disciples.

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Book of Mormon Come Follow Me Cornerstone

The Book of Mormon: Academic and Devotional Insights

Come Follow Me 2024 study helps include this image of the original Book of Mormon title page.

The Book of Mormon is a religious text translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 1800s. Latter-day Saints view the scripture as canon—alongside the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. It clarifies the role of Jesus as the Son of God, details his visit to the Americas, and sheds light on the afterlife and Latter-day Saint theology. This compilation of resources provides academic and devotional insight into the Book of Mormon.

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21st Century Book excerpts Latter-day Saint History

How Was Henry B. Eyring Called to the First Presidency?

A photograph of Gordon B. Hinckley jokingly "knighting" Henry B. Eyring as a member of the First Presidency.
Credit: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

At the time, a few thoughtful observers saw Henry B. Eyring‘s assignment to speak at Mountain Meadows as a portent that he would be called to fill the vacancy in the First Presidency created in early August of that year by the death of President James E. Faust. Hal (President Eyring), though, was not among them. He had no such inkling, and certainly not a feeling strong enough to overcome the illogic of the idea.

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Book of Mormon Theology

What Did Alma in the Book of Mormon Contribute to Theology?

Conversion of Alma the Younger, by Gary L. Kapp. Image via ChurchofJesusChrist.org

The Book of Alma is one of the richest books in the Book of Mormon in both theology and narrative. Alma2 is a powerful preacher who has a remarkable conversion story and dramatic (albeit tragic) missionary journeys. Similarly, the sons of Mosiah, also have dramatic stories of missionary work. In this interview, Kylie Nielson Turley discusses the theology in Alma 1–29 found in the stories of figures like Alma, Amulek, and Abish.

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