Latter-day Saint Perspectives

Russell Stevenson interviews Dr. Michael Mackay about the use of seer stones in the Book of Mormon translation process. Some may not realize that Joseph continued to use seer stones after the Book of Mormon was translated. He used them while translating the Bible, when dictating revelations, and even when giving patriarchal blessings. After his death, Joseph's stones were passed down to succeeding presidents of the church and looked upon as sacred relics. Dr. Mackay discusses how the seer stones were not simply a tool to give Joseph confidence to translate; they represent something much more significant. Download Transcript

Second Nephi has a reputation for being a bit dry. Missing is the drama of the Book of Mormon. Where the story line pauses, it is replaced with long passages containing interpolations of the words of Nephi into the Old Testament scripture of Isaiah. Nephi tells readers this departure into deeper doctrine is the "more sacred" part of the small plates. However, modern readers often have difficulty connecting with its discourses pertaining to the gathering of the house of Israel. Our guest, Joseph Spencer, has spent much of his academic career studying covenantal history, including within Book of Mormon contexts. Some have coined Isaiah's presence in the Book of Mormon as a problem; Joseph Spencer sees it more as an answer to questions that emerge within the narrative. He maintains that making sense of Isaiah's place in the Book of Mormon is the essential key to making sense of the Book of Mormon. He identifies three narrative hinges in the Book of Mormon that each begin with a quotation from Isaiah. Maybe,

Welcome to the first podcast in our Love and Relationships Series. Family and marriage are two topics that dominate church discourse, so we have asked Emil Harker, a licensed clinical social worker, to help us discuss ways to improve those relationships. In this first episode, Emil interviews Jonathan Sherman, a fellow therapist, about one of the most common behaviors they find in marital relationships. It is called by many names, but ultimately it simply involves game playing to obtain the attention one seeks in a relationship. Emil and Jonathan discuss avoiding this common pitfall that hinders rather than invites intimacy. They also suggest ideas to improve communication and satisfaction in relationships.

Download Transcript Last summer Russell Stevenson sat down with Dr. Ugo Perego to discuss his use of DNA research in historical studies. Early in his career, Ugo used genetic studies in genealogical research. Lately he has expanded his studies to shed light on historical mysteries. In this episode, Dr. Perego shares his findings on three topics: Joseph Smith's posterity, DNA of North American peoples, and victims of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Ugo's youngest son thinks he gets invited to lecture because of his really cool accent. We agree his accent is cool, but his insights are what keep us hanging onto every word.   LDS Perspectives Podcast Episode 6: DNA Detective Work with Ugo Perego   Russell Stevenson:     This is Russell Stevenson, and today we have Dr. Ugo A. Perego, a population geneticist, who will be discussing with us the meaning and significance of genetic studies for Latter-day Saint history. Thanks so much for joining us, Ugo. Ugo Perego:               It’s good to be here. Russell

Welcome to the first podcast in our Young Scholars Series. In these episodes, we introduce listeners to young scholars who are presenting scholarship that belies their ages and formal educational training. This week Blake Dalton interviews Neal Rappleye. Neal is the office manager at Book of Mormon Central. Like most of his co-workers, he is a Millennial. His team is young and talented. Five days a week they pump out KnoWhys on some aspect of Book of Mormon scholarship. Each KnoWhy includes a one-minute video, a short essay, references, and an audio version of the essay. But Book of Mormon Central is much more than a collection of KnoWhys. Neal shares some of the other resources it provides and introduces us to a new and exciting tool that may just change the way we study the Book of Mormon.  

Host Nick Galieti and Ty Mansfield openly discuss the need for dialogues regarding appropriate sexual boundaries in family, marriage, and church settings. Ty argues that sexual attraction is a phenomenon that cannot be easily identified, labeled, or codified, even if it is a natural impulse. Yet, popular culture promotes claims that science has not been able to verify. When discussing homosexuality, much of what he writes applies equally to heterosexuals as to those with same-gender attraction. We all are tugged by nature in directions that may exceed the boundaries of gospel principles. Join in as Ty offers some needed perspective on a divisive issue. Download Transcript

In this fascinating discussion, Russell Stevenson interviews Dr. Anthony Sweat, who is an artist, BYU religion professor, and illustrator of the recent publications From Darkness into Light and Joseph Smith's Seer Stones. In recent years, LDS artwork found in church curriculum and magazines has been criticized because it does not portray the Book of Mormon translation process historically accurate. Dr. Sweat shares that the first place his students often learn that Joseph Smith put stones into a hat when translating is through the television show South Park. He seeks to provide artwork that not only portrays the process more accurately but also respectfully. Russell Stevenson and Anthony Sweat discuss how artists — from Arnold Friberg to the creators of South Park — have helped shape perceptions of LDS scriptures and historical events over the past seventy years. The featured cover art is "By the Gift and Power of God" by Anthony Sweat. Used by permission of Anthony Sweat.

In this episode, Dr. Brad Wilcox joins Nick Galieti of the LDS Perspectives podcast to discuss the grace of Christ. Grace is a term often misunderstood. Dr. Wilcox sheds clarity on the concept and shows how the LDS Church proclaims a gospel of grace. The term can be found in hymns, in conference talks, and throughout the Book of Mormon. By demystifying and destigmatizing the concept of grace, he invites us to explore how this important doctrine relates to how we may use Christ's gift in our lives — not just once, but continually. Yongsung Kim painted the featured cover art. You may purchase this picture at Foundation Arts.

You may have heard discussions about the historical Jesus and wondered exactly what that term means. This episode explores the use of the phrase and why studying the New Testament differently can help us discover the Jesus of history. Often we concentrate our study of the New Testament on the teachings and ministry of Jesus, but there is value in studying the historical Jesus. Do we sometimes forget he was a man who lived over 2000 years ago in Palestine? Do we think about what kind of clothes he wore? Were they the same or different than those commonly portrayed in portraits? Does what he was wearing tell us anything about Jesus as a man or lend understanding to the stories of the miracles of Jesus? Biblical historians believe it does. These are the things that made Jesus a man living in his time who also accomplished the miraculous. In the past, the Gospels of the evangelists have often been taught through harmonization or the comparing of each authors' telling of a miracle, parable, or event in the life