Categories
Book of Abraham

The Pure Language Project and the Book of Abraham

A photograph of Joseph Smith's original pure language project transcription associated with the Book of Abraham.

The Egyptian Language Documents (ELD) might not have been intended to aid Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Abraham. Instead, two BYU professors argue that the Egyptian Alphabet, Grammar and Alphabet, and Book of Abraham Manuscripts are associated with a “pure language project” initiated by the Prophet in 1832. In this interview, Michael MacKay and Daniel Belnap explain more and delve into the implications of their new article in the Journal of Mormon History titled “The Pure Language Project.”

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Categories
Joseph Smith

The First Vision of Joseph Smith

An illustration of Joseph Smith's First Vision by Anthony Sweat.
An illustration of Joseph Smith's first vision by Anthony Sweat.

Joseph Smith’s First Vision is a compelling entry point into a captivating exploration of history and theology. There are nine known accounts of the profound moment when Joseph Smith encountered Jesus Christ and God the Father, including one in the Prophet’s own handwriting. This article provides a snapshot of scholarly research and devotional statements about Joseph’s experience in the Sacred Grove.

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Categories
Latter-day Saint History Theology

The King Follett Sermon: A Biography

Two pages displaying the written text of Joseph Smith's King Follett Sermon.

The King Follett Sermon is one of Joseph Smith’s best-recorded and most controversial sermons. Records and memories of the sermon shaped many of the doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but have also been partly rejected within the Church. This interview with William V. Smith discusses the King Follett Sermon and its history.

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Joseph Smith Latter-day Saint History Quotes

Quotes From the Council of Fifty Minutes

An original transcript of quotes from the Council of Fifty minutes.

Joseph Smith established the Council of Fifty in 1844 to address several issues, including the potential relocation of the Latter-day Saints outside the United States. This article includes a sample of interesting Council of Fifty quotes from Part One of the administrative records, including new teachings from the Prophet Joseph and an account of his martyrdom.

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Categories
Intellectualism

Who Was Lowell Bennion?

Lowell Bennion home
A painting of Lowell Bennion's home by Al Rounds. Used by permission.

Lowell L. Bennion was the most important Latter-day Saint educator, ethicist, and humanitarian of the 20th century, according to biographer George Handley. BYU philosopher Philip Barlow has also called Bennion “the conscience of the 20th century church” and “the Latter-day Saints’ Mother Theresa.” In this interview, Handley explains more about the legacy of Lowell Bennion.

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Categories
21st Century Devotional

Elder Maxwell’s Journey of Discipleship: An Interview with Bruce C. Hafen

Elder Neal A. Maxwell standing next to his biographer, Elder Bruce C. Hafen.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s name is synonymous with discipleship (similar to Latter-day Saints like Truman G. Madsen and Henry B. Eyring). But the term meant different things to him at different times. Initially, it was a designation for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But over time, it evolved to include a wholehearted devotion to the Savior—especially during times of adversity. In this interview, biographer Bruce C. Hafen explains why Elder Maxwell is so closely associated with discipleship.

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Categories
International

How did the Church Start in Micronesia and Guam?

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has had a presence in the islands of the Pacific Ocean since the time of Joseph Smith, but it was only during the decades following WWII that it experienced extensive growth in areas like Micronesia, the Philippines, and eastern Asia. This includes the modern states of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, along with the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (all of which are referenced as Micronesia and Guam in this interview). These countries have some of the highest per capita memberships in the Church in the world. This interview with R. Devan Jensen discusses the history of the Church in Micronesia and Guam as part of the story of Mormonism around the world.

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Categories
Book of Abraham Pearl of Great Price

The Ancient Owners of the Joseph Smith Papyri

An illustration of an ancient Egyptian priest who could have been one of the original owners of the Joseph Smith papyri.
An AI-generated image depicting an ancient Egyptian priest who may have originally owned some of the Joseph Smith Papyri.

It might seem unlikely that we can know anything about the ancient owners of the Joseph Smith Papyri. However, the Book of Abraham scrolls included names and genealogies indicating that the owners were ancient Egyptian priests. In this interview, Kerry Muhlestein explains what we know about these ancient Egyptians—and how their circumstances may have made them uniquely aware of extra-biblical Abrahamic traditions.

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Categories
Latter-day Saint History

What Have Prophets Taught About the Law of the Gospel?

Black and white pioneer photos of the Nauvoo and SLC temples, setting the tone for a discussion about how definitions of the Law of the Gospel have evolved over time.

The law of the gospel is one of several covenants made in the Latter-day Saint endowment ceremony. Interestingly, definitions used by church leaders have shifted since the days of Joseph Smith. For example, David O. McKay taught that it included scripture study, and Bruce R. McConkie referred to it as the “celestial law.” In this interview, independent scholar Samuel R. Weber explains the history of the law of the gospel, culminating in a definition included in the General Handbook.

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Categories
Latter-day Saint History Scriptures

How Do Scriptures Used by Community of Christ and Latter-day Saints Compare?

The Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints share the same roots, including Restoration scriptures like the Book of Mormon. Yet these faith communities have over 170 years of divergent history and evolution, including how they approach the scriptures. This interview with Kat Goheen and Joshua Sears discusses scripture in Community of Christ and in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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