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American West Brigham Young Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Brigham Young? Life, Wives, Teachings, and Legacy

Brigham Young has been called an "American Moses" who led a mass exodus of Latter-day Saints from Nauvoo to the Salt Lake Valley

Brigham Young is one of the most influential figures in the history of the American West. As the prophetic successor to Joseph Smith, he engineered a westward exodus of tens of thousands of pioneer Latter-day Saints, earning the nickname “American Moses.” Young’s subsequent leadership in Utah evoked both praise and scorn. On one hand, he founded 350+ settlements, built the Salt Lake Temple, and testified of Christ. On the other hand, the pioneer prophet married 55 wives, instituted a racial priesthood ban, and used violent rhetoric that sparked the Mountain Meadows Massacre. In the end, he was a complex man who could inspire both love and fear.

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20th Century Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Marion D. Hanks?

A headshot of Marion D. Hanks, a Latter-day Saint general authority.

Marion D. Hanks was called as a general authority in 1953 at the age of 31. During his 40 years of service, he cleaned up the mess left by “baseball baptisms,” worked with youth, and trained general authorities such as Dallin H. Oaks, Russell M. Nelson, and Jeffrey R. Holland. Hanks also developed a reputation as someone who advocated for Christlike service over institutional statistics. His son, Richard D. Hanks, talks about the first biography of his father in this interview.

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New Testament

Who Were the Pharisees? A Historical and Biblical Guide

A screenshot of a Pharisee from "The Chosen" creating a mixed feeling that depicts modern stigmas that the Pharisees were bad people.

The Pharisees were a group of people at the time of Christ with a set of beliefs recognizable by outsiders. However, exactly what those beliefs were remains a hotly debated question. Scholars have begun to agree upon several common characteristics of Pharisees, can clearly distinguish them from Sadducees, and often note that the sect receives unfair treatment in the gospels. In this interview, New Testament scholar Thomas Wayment discusses what scholars currently think about who the Pharisees were.

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Old Testament

What Is the Meaning of Hesed in the Bible?

Two human hands pulling in opposite directions while gripping the same rope, symbolizing hesed as a shared bond of covenant loyalty under strain.

In the Bible, ḥesed signifies a bond of steadfast loyalty and kindness that defines a relationship’s enduring commitment. While the word is often rendered as “mercy” in the King James Version, it more accurately describes a “pact” requiring mutual fidelity between Israel and God. This bilateral bond is especially exemplified in the Book of Ruth and the Psalms, where human devotion mirrors the unbreakable nature of God’s covenant: even in moments of exile or despair, ḥesed offers a reassuring promise of God’s empathetic concern. In this interview, translator Robert Alter discusses the nuanced meanings of ḥesed in the Hebrew Bible.

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Quotes

The Best Joseph F. Smith Quotes

Joseph F. Smith (remember the “F”) was not only the son of Hyrum Smith, but an important leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his own right, whose quotes are important, even today. He was known for his focus on Church organization and the cosmology of the afterlife and the resurrection, as well as for laying the foundations for the systematic theology that would later be expressed through his son (Joseph Fielding Smith) and his grandson-in-law (Bruce R. McConkie). Much like the Dallin H. Oaks Quotes page, this page is a curated collection of quotes dealing with topics ranging from advice to the priesthood, the scriptures, and more.

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Devotional

The Bells at Temple Square: The Tabernacle Choir’s World-Class Handbell Ensemble

Members of the Bells at Temple Square performing in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, showcasing the handbell choir’s synchronized technique and musical precision.

The Bells at Temple Square is a premier handbell ensemble in Salt Lake City that performs intricate music with hundreds of handbells and handchimes as part of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. Since its founding in 2005, the ensemble has inspired audiences through its musical skill and spiritual purpose, performing in semiannual concerts, at national events, and in broadcasts such as Music and the Spoken Word. In this interview, Conductor Geoff Anderson explains what the group is, recounts how he got involved, and discusses the evolving legacy of the Bells at Temple Square.

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19th Century

What Music Did Utah Pioneers Perform?

The Salt Lake Theatre Orchestra in 1880, which performed 19th-century Utah pioneer music.

Utah pioneer music was a sophisticated and cosmopolitan blend of European tradition and local ingenuity that went far beyond simple folk tunes or choral hymns. While early settlers are often associated with rustic campfire songs, archival discoveries demonstrate a thriving culture of brass bands, theatrical orchestras, and virtuosic instrumental performances. From the recovery of a lost march once thought to be buried in the Salt Lake Temple capstone to the complex arrangements used in the Salt Lake Theatre, these scores demonstrate the high technical standards maintained in Latter-day Saint settlements. In this interview, BYU trumpet professor Randy Lee explains how he is reviving these forgotten 19th-century manuscripts through his Legends of Deseret project.

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Vast Early America

What Role Did Genealogy Play in the Founding of America?

An image of George Washington writing his genealogy, associated with Karin Wulf's Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America

Genealogy in early America functioned as a vital legal and political infrastructure rather than a simple personal hobby. While Revolutionary leaders publicly rejected inherited political power, they still relied heavily on family trees to dictate property rights, establish social credit, and enforce the laws of coverture and slavery. From George Washington tracking inheritances on a two-sided chart to everyday citizens recording lineages in almanac margins and on stitch samplers, ancestry acted as an inescapable cultural currency. In this interview, historian Karin Wulf explores how tracing these deeply embedded family connections reshapes our understanding of the nation’s founding.

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Theology

What Do Evangelical Christians Think About Latter-day Saints?

An Evangelical Christian and a Latter-day Saint engaging in interfaith dialogue across a deep chasm, symbolizing the theological divide and neighborly love between Mormons and Evangelicals.

Evangelical Christians typically view Latter-day Saints as moral neighbors while holding that their distinct doctrines on the Godhead and salvation remain outside historic Christian orthodoxy. This theological divide creates a “Different Jesus” paradox where shared devotion to Christ’s life often masks fundamental disagreements over his nature and humanity’s eternal potential. Truly loving one’s neighbor requires navigating these boundaries—from the “prophet puzzle” of Joseph Smith to the restored authority of the priesthood—with clarity rather than caricature. In this interview, Baptist pastor Kyle Beshears discusses the research and conviction behind his book, 40 Questions About Mormonism.

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Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Zerah Pulsipher?

An image of Zerah Pulsipher baptizing Wilford Woodruff in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"I did not feel the cold," by Sam Day. Used with permission from the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation

Zerah Pulsipher, a member of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventy who is mentioned in Section 124 of the Doctrine and Covenants, is best remembered as the man who baptized Wilford Woodruff and helped guide early Latter-day Saint communities through some of their most challenging migrations. From organizing the Kirtland Camp to supporting the spiritual and practical needs of ordinary Saints, Pulsipher’s life reflects both devotion and complexity, including a later disciplinary trial over plural-sealing practices. In this interview, Chad L. Nielsen explores Pulsipher’s leadership, faith, and enduring influence, drawing on historical records and personal insights to bring his story vividly to life.

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