Informed Saints

Archaeologist Matthew Gray reveals that the Garden of Gethsemane was likely a cave — not an open garden of olive trees. What does that mean for how we understand Jesus’s final night? The archaeology changes everything. Most people picture Jesus kneeling beside a rock in a peaceful grove of olive trees. But the word “Gethsemane” literally means “oil press” — and archaeology now shows that ancient oil press facilities were housed inside caves and grottos, not open fields. In this episode of Informed Saints, BYU professor and archaeologist Matthew Gray walks us through what a 1st-century Gethsemane actually looked like, what the 1950s excavation of the grotto on the Mount of Olives uncovered, and how each Gospel writer — Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John — frames Jesus’s experience there differently. We also explore how Luke’s “agony” language may actually evoke athletic imagery rather than suffering, how the Latter-day Saint emphasis on Gethsemane developed primarily in the 1980s, and how understanding the oil press process opens up powerful new symbolism for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Guest: Matthew Grey, BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture Shout out to Messages of Christ for their visual reconstruction of the Gethsemane grotto: https://youtu.be/F_Yl87PzTKM?si=JX6yQxrc-UJ1Zp_5 https://youtu.be/7VaBzEb34FQ?si=s4aVk3HB93jGD2JH https://youtu.be/XefTby7Cj0Y?si=C4BP4KKQekOwvvYj ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye SUBSCRIBE for more scholarly explorations of scripture and history. FURTHER READING AND RESOURCES Matthew J. Grey and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel — A Place Called Gethsemane: Seeing the New Testament Story and Site in Its First-Century Context Deseret Book: https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6074789.html Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Place-Called-Gethsemane-Testament-First-Century/dp/1639934022 Matthew J. Grey — “What Was Gethsemane Like in Jesus’s Time?” (interview and 3D reconstruction overview) https://www.fromthedesk.org/gethsemane-in-jesus-time-archaeology-history/ Joan E. Taylor — “The Garden of Gethsemane: Not the Place of Jesus’ Arrest” (Biblical Archaeology Review, 1995) https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/the-garden-of-gethsemane-not-the-place-of-jesus-arrest/ Joan E. Taylor — Christians and the Holy Places: The Myth of Jewish-Christian Origins (Oxford University Press) https://global.oup.com/academic/product/christians-and-the-holy-places-9780198147855 Virgilio Corbo — Ricerche Archeologiche al Monte degli Ulivi (1965 excavation report, in Italian) https://www.tsedizioni.it/shop/ricerche-archeologiche-al-monte-degli-ulivi/?lng=en Truman G. Madsen — “The Olive Press” (BYU Fireside, May 9, 1982) https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/truman-g-madsen/olive-press/ Truman G. Madsen — “The Olive Press: A Symbol of Christ” (chapter in The Allegory of the Olive Tree) https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/olive-press-symbol-christ John Hilton III — Considering the Cross: How Calvary Connects Us with Christ https://www.amazon.com/Considering-Cross-Calvary-Connects-Christ/dp/1629728713 John Hilton III — “Joseph Smith, Gethsemane, and the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ” (BYU Scholars Archive) https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/4657/ John Hilton III — “Teaching the Scriptural Emphasis on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ” (BYU Scholars Archive) https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/3255/ Gustaf Dalman — Arbeit und Sitte in Palastina, Vol. 4: Brot, Ol und Wein (free download, in German) https://publikationen.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/handle/10900/43658 Messages of Christ — “Secrets of Gethsemane: Unearthing the Place of Jesus’ Agony” (visual reconstruction consulted with Matthew Grey) https://scripturecentral.org/shows/messages-of-christ/episodes/secrets-of-gethsemane-unearthing-the-place-of-jesus-agony Study deeply. Believe boldly. ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #Gethsemane #JesusChrist #Easter #BiblicalArchaeology #HolyWeek #MountOfOlives #Atonement #InformedSaints #BibleHistory #NewTestament

Did Nephi really have the five books of Moses on the brass plates? Critics say it’s impossible—that the Torah didn’t exist in its current form by 600 BC. But is that the full story? In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot break down the documentary hypothesis, source criticism, and the dating of the Pentateuch—and explain why the so-called “consensus” isn’t as settled as Wikipedia makes it sound. Drawing on the research of scholars like Richard Elliott Friedman, Jacob Milgrom, Menahem Haran, and William Schniedewind, they show that a proto-Torah existing by Lehi’s time is far more plausible than critics admit. We also explore: What the J, E, D, and P sources actually are (and why no one agrees anymore) Why archaeology and historical linguistics challenge the late dating of the priestly source How the tabernacle traditions connect to Bronze Age Egypt Why Nephi’s “five books of Moses” may not have looked like our Bible today The case for Moses as an originator—not necessarily the “author”—of the Pentateuch How the brass plates may preserve lost Northern Kingdom traditions ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Neal’s full paper is available in “Open Thou Mine Eyes: Defending the Old Testament and Latter-day Saint Doctrine” published by FAIR. https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/open-thou-mine-eyes-defending-the-old-testament-in-latter-day-saint-doctrine/ Further Resources: https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/king-benjamins-speech-context-ancient-israelite-festivals https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-the-nephites-stay-in-their-tents-during-king-benjamins-speech https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/abinadi-andpentecost https://scripturecentral.org/archive/media/chart/did-abinadi-prophesy-against-king-noah-pentecost https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/did-abinadi-prophesy-during-pentecost https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/the-sonsofthepassover https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/were-nephite-prophets-familiar-with-the-passover-tradition https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/did-alma-counsel-his-sons-during-the-passover https://www.thetorah.com/article/the-tabernacle-in-its-ancient-near-eastern-context http://www.sofiatopia.org/maat/shabaka_stone.htm https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/the-brass-plates-can-modern-scholarship-help-identify-their-contents/ https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/a-backstory-for-the-brass-plates/ https://rsc.byu.edu/book-mormon-second-nephi-doctrinal-structure/influence-brass-plates-teachings-nephi https://www.amazon.com/Wrote-Bible-Richard-Elliott-Friedman/dp/0060630353 https://www.amazon.com/How-Bible-Became-Book-Textualization/dp/0521536227 Study deeply. Believe boldly. ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #BookOfMormon #BrassPlates #BibleScholarship #LDS #LatterDaySaints #Torah #Pentateuch #InformedSaints #BiblicalStudies #OldTestament #Moses #DocumentaryHypothesis #FiveBookOfMoses #AncientScripture #FaithAndScholarship

Are the names in the Book of Mormon ancient or invented? Names like Alma, Nephi, Abish, and Paanchi have been dismissed by critics as fictional — but what does the scholarship actually say? In this episode of Informed Saints, we sit down with Professor Matthew L. Bowen at BYU–Hawaii to explore the fascinating world of Book of Mormon onomastics (the study of names). Prof. Bowen reveals how names like Alma are attested as ancient male Semitic names, how Nephi derives from the Egyptian word "nefer" meaning "good" or "fair," and how the Book of Mormon authors appear to deliberately play on the meanings of these names throughout the text. ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Further Readings: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1986/10/i-have-a-question/is-the-writing-in-the-book-of-mormon-characteristic-of-the-hebrew-language?lang=eng https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/insights/vol30/iss4/3/ https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/personal-name-alma-ebla https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1192&context=jbms https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/more-evidence-for-alma-as-a-semitic-name https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/alma-young-man-hidden-prophet https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/he-did-go-about-secretly-additional-thoughts-on-the-literary-use-of-almas-name https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2026-small-plates-of-nephi-conference https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/revisiting-sariah-at-elephantine https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/father-is-a-man-the-remarkable-mention-of-the-name-abish-in-alma-1916-and-its-narrative-context https://www.learner.org/series/art-through-time-a-global-view/dreams-and-visions/lintel-25-of-yaxchilan-structure-23/ https://smarthistory.org/yaxchilan-lintels/ https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-19-no-1-2018/abish-theophanies-first-lamanite-restoration https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/swearing-by-their-everlasting-maker-some-notes-on-paanchi-and-giddianhi https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-pahoran-paanchi-and-pacumeni-have-such-similar-sounding-names https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/nephis-good-inclusio https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/he-is-a-good-man-the-fulfillment-of-helaman-56-7-in-helaman-87-and-1118-19 https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/o-ye-fair-ones-revisited https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/becoming-sons-and-daughters-gods-right-hand-king-benjamins-rhetorical-wordplay-his-own https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/and-there-wrestled-a-man-with-him-genesis-3224-enoss-adaptations-of-the-onomastic-wordplay-of-genesis https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/they-were-moved-with-compassion-alma-274-5313-toponymic-wordplay-on-zarahemla-and-jershon https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-was-jershon-called-a-land-of-inheritance Prof. Bowen is the author of "Name as Key-Word" and "Ancient Names in the Book of Mormon" (Interpreter Foundation) and a contributor to the Routledge volume "Perspectives on Latter-day Saint Names and Naming." Subscribe for more deep dives into Book of Mormon scholarship! ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #BookofMormon #InformedSaints #LDS #BookofMormonNames #MattBowen #BYUHawaii #BookofMormonScholarship #Onomastics #AncientNames #Nephi #Alma #Abish #LatterDaySaints #FaithAndScholarship #BookofMormonEvidence #HebrewNames #EgyptianNames #Paranomasia #BiblicalStudies #AncientNearEast

Did Joseph Smith copy the Book of Mormon from View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith? In this episode, we examine one of the most common critical claims about the Book of Mormon’s origins and ask whether the evidence really holds up. We break down what View of the Hebrews actually is, why critics compare it to the Book of Mormon, where the plagiarism theory came from, and whether the supposed parallels are truly compelling. We also look at issues like Oliver Cowdery, Ethan Smith, B.H. Roberts, Fawn Brodie, the CES Letter claims, and whether there is any real evidence of direct borrowing. If you’ve heard the claim that Joseph Smith copied from View of the Hebrews, this episode gives historical context, textual analysis, and a clear response to one of the most repeated arguments against the Book of Mormon.  ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Show Notes and Further Sources: https://mormonr.org/qnas/vFzgdj/the_book_of_mormon_and_view_of_the_hebrews https://archive.org/details/adissertationon01smitgoog/page/n6/mode/1up https://bhroberts.org/records/0rGxg3-bStRSd/s_w_l_scott_reports_on_debate_where_view_of_the_hebrews_was_claimed_to_be_a_source_of_plagiarism_for_the_book_of_mormon https://bhroberts.org/records/8Lyyfk-vrdPjg/fawn_brodie_argues_that_voth_was_a_source_of_inspiration_for_joseph_smith https://mormonr.org/qnas/sk58P/b_h_roberts_testimony https://bhroberts.org/records/8Lyyfk-b4jsdk/richard_s_van_wagoner_speculates_that_oliver_cowdery_provided_js_with_voth_and_may_have_helped_print_the_book https://bhroberts.org/records/jpNwrg-R4Fwqg/john_l_brooke_postulates_a_connection_between_ethan_smith_and_oliver_cowdery https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol39/iss1/7/ https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book/view-hebrews-1825-2nd-edition https://scripturecentral.org/archive/presentations/report/finding-answers-bh-robertss-questions-and-unparallel https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V20N01_68.pdf https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1068&context=msr https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/EoM/id/4310 https://bhroberts.org/records/jpNwrg-qHmshg/terryl_givens_reviews_the_view_of_the_hebrews_issue_as_it_relates_to_the_book_of_mormon https://rsc.byu.edu/book/view-hebrews ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #BookOfMormon #ViewOfTheHebrews #JosephSmith #LDS #Mormon #BookOfMormonEvidence #Apologetics #ChurchHistory #Restoration #EthanSmith #CESLetter #ReligiousDebate #ScriptureStudy #FaithAndReason #InformedSaints

The “dark secret” narrative about the Book of Abraham often gets reduced to a 30-second claim: the Church found papyri fragments in 1967, Egyptologists translated them, and they don’t match the Book of Abraham—case closed. In this conversation, we slow down and add the missing context: what the recovered fragments actually are, why the assumption that the adjacent text must equal the Book of Abraham text is questionable, and what multiple eyewitness accounts say Joseph Smith was translating from. We also talk about the “missing papyri” question, how long the larger roll may have been, and why the relationship between the surviving fragments and the published Book of Abraham text can’t be settled conclusively by fragments alone. If you’ve only heard the simplified version, this episode is for you—full story, better questions, and a clearer framework for thinking about a complex historical issue.  This segment is taken from a full episode we have published previously with Kerry and hope you enjoy this bonus segment! https://youtu.be/RSI7knxTAqc ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Watch, share, and tell us what stood out most. Further Readings: Gospel Topics Essay (Official): “Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham”  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng •Joseph Smith Papers (Official hub): “Book of Abraham and Egyptian Material”  https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/book-of-abraham-and-egyptian-material •Joseph Smith Papers (Primary documents context): “Introduction to Egyptian Papyri, circa 300–100 BC”  https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/introduction-to-egyptian-papyri-circa-300-100-bc/1 •Joseph Smith Papers (Publication history): “Book of Abraham and Facsimiles, 1 March–16 May 1842”  https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-abraham-and-facsimiles-1-march-16-may-1842 •BYU Religious Studies Center: “Joseph Smith and the Papyri” (Intro volume page)  https://rsc.byu.edu/introduction-book-abraham/joseph-smith-papyri •BYU Religious Studies Center: “Relationship of the Book of Abraham Text to the Papyri”  https://rsc.byu.edu/introduction-book-abraham/relationship-book-abraham-text-papyri •BYU Studies Quarterly: “The Relationship Between the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Papyri”  https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-relationship-between-the-book-of-abraham-and-the-joseph-smith-papyri •Pearl of Great Price Central: “What Egyptian Papyri Did Joseph Smith Possess?”  https://pearlofgreatpricecentral.org/what-egyptian-papyri-did-joseph-smith-possess/ •Pearl of Great Price Central: “The Relationship Between the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Papyri”  https://pearlofgreatpricecentral.org/the-relationship-between-the-book-of-abraham-and-the-joseph-smith-papyri/ •FAIR (Faithful Q&A): “What is the Book of Abraham ‘Missing Papyrus theory’?”  https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question%3A_What_is_the_Book_of_Abraham_%22Missing_Papyrus_theory%22%3F •FAIR: “Book of Abraham/Joseph Smith Papyri—Identity and nature”  https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Book_of_Abraham/Joseph_Smith_Papyri/Identity_and_nature •Church History video (Official): “Episode 42—The Book of Abraham”  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2009-02-1042-episode-42-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #InformedSaints #BookOfAbraham #LDS #Mormon #JosephSmith #ChurchHistory #GospelTopics #Egyptology #Papyri #Facsimile1 #FaithAndHistory #LatterDaySaints #ReligiousStudies

Could Joseph Smith have fabricated the Book of Mormon gold plates in a garage? In this episode, we take a serious look at that claim by comparing it with the actual historical record, eyewitness descriptions, and the physical requirements the witnesses described. We break down the dimensions, weight, thickness, rings, sealed portion, engravings, and appearance of the plates, and then explore whether a natural explanation really fits the data. We also tackle the “plate math” question: Could the full Book of Mormon text (including the lost 116 pages) realistically fit on the plates? Along the way, we discuss: •Witness descriptions of the plates •Why “just use tin/brass/printing plates” doesn’t fully match the evidence •Translation density and how ancient scripts compare to English •Character size, compact writing, and ancient metal inscriptions •Why critics and believers alike should use the right parameters This is a thoughtful response to the claim that “gold plates aren’t a miracle” and a deeper dive into what the historical and physical evidence actually suggests. ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Watch, share, and tell us what stood out most. Further Readings: •Neal Rappleye, “Written Upon Gold Plates” – Comparing Witness Descriptions with Artifacts from the Pre-Modern World (FAIR 2023 conference page) https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference_home/virt-2023_defending-the-bom •Josh Coates, “Plate Math: A Combinatorial Approach to Modeling All Possible Golden Plates” (FAIR conference presentation/transcript) https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference_home/august-2025-fair-conference/plate-math-a-combinatorial-approach-to-modeling-all-possible-golden-plates •Sonia Hazard, “How Joseph Smith Encountered Printing Plates and Founded Mormonism” (Cambridge / Religion and American Culture) https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/religion-and-american-culture/article/how-joseph-smith-encountered-printing-plates-and-founded-mormonism/FA3DCD9FBDD5CA3DF335B3360DF655E5 •Neal Rappleye talk on YouTube (FAIR), “Written Upon Gold Plates” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAgzJ8MYrcw •Joseph Smith Papers, Testimony of the Three Witnesses (primary source) https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-4-testimony-of-three-witnesses-late-june-1829 •Joseph Smith Papers, Testimony of the Eight Witnesses (primary source) https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-5-testimony-of-eight-witnesses-late-june-1829 •Church History Topics, Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (official Church resource) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/witnesses-of-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng •Scripture Central, Why Did Martin Harris Sometimes Say He Saw the Plates with “Spiritual Eyes”? https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-martin-harris-sometimes-say-he-saw-the-plates-with-spiritual-eyes •Scripture Central, Are the Accounts of the Golden Plates Believable? https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/are-the-accounts-of-the-golden-plates-believable •BYU Religious Studies Center, The Testimonies of the Book of Mormon Witnesses https://rsc.byu.edu/reason-faith/testimonies-book-mormon-witnesses ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #BookOfMormon #GoldPlates #JosephSmith #LDS #Mormon #InformedSaints #Apologetics #BookOfMormonEvidence #AncientArtifacts #ReligiousHistory #FAIR #ScriptureStudy #Restoration

In the 1980s, around 80% of people raised Latter-day Saint still identified with the Church as adults—today it’s closer to 50%. Online, that gets framed as “the Church is uniquely hemorrhaging members.” But when you zoom out and compare to broader U.S. religious trends, the story looks more complicated—and in key ways, more hopeful. In this episode, social scientist Justin Dyer (BYU) breaks down major national datasets and new research on Latter-day Saint religiousness, well-being, and retention in the United States. We talk: •Why “big data” needs careful context (forest vs trees) •How LDS retention compares to other Christian traditions (especially active participation) •The surprising reality of “ex-Mormon” profiles (including the “faith keepers/leaners” groups) •Why daily connection with God matters for retention •How political identity—on the extremes—can pull people away from faith •What the data actually suggests about mental health, happiness, and well-being •Why you shouldn’t burn bridges—and why the story isn’t finished ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Materials mentioned / core context •https://foundations.byu.edu/0000019b-1343-d613-a59b-17df82980000/latterdaysaintreligiosity-pdf •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/religious-landscape-study-executive-summary/ •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/02/26/decline-of-christianity-in-the-us-has-slowed-may-have-leveled-off/ •https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/12/15/why-do-some-americans-leave-their-religion-while-others-stay/ •https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Bowling-Alone-Revised-and-Updated/Robert-D-Putnam/9781982130848 •https://medicine.utah.edu/psychiatry/news/2015/05/key-mountain-states-suicide-belt-thin-air-u-of-u-school-of-medicine Positive, faith-supporting resources (for audience) •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2013/10/come-join-with-us?lang=eng •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/54uchtdorf?lang=eng •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/51nelson?lang=eng Mental health & resilience resources (Church) •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/ldsorg/topics/self-reliance/4-10-20-Emotional-Self-Reliance-Manual_updated.pdf?lang=eng  •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/ministering-with-mental-health-in-mind?lang=eng •https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/5-ways-to-help-someone-going-through-a-mental-health-challenge •https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-seminary-teacher-manual-2025/575-coping-with-sadness-and-depression?lang=eng Watch, share, and tell us what stood out most. ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #InformedSaints #LDS #Mormon #LatterdaySaints #JustinDyer #BYU #Faith #JesusChrist #Religion #ReligiousDisaffiliation #FaithCrisis #LDSRetention #MormonStudies #ReligionAndPolitics #PoliticalPolarization #BigData #PewResearch #WellBeing #MentalHealth #ComeFollowMe #ScriptureStudy #Restoration #bookofmormon

The restored gospel didn’t “start” in 1830, it’s ancient, and Abraham’s story is one of the clearest windows into the covenant pathway and temple worship. In this conversation with Jeff Bradshaw (senior research scientist and leading Latter-day Saint temple scholar), we explore how the Abraham narratives in Genesis (and the restoration through the Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Abraham) point to: • The Abrahamic Covenant as the New & Everlasting Covenant (and the Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood) • How Abraham’s life models obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and promised blessings • Melchizedek and what “king and priest” can mean spiritually • The sacrament as a renewal of all our covenants (not just baptism) • New names (Abraham/Sarah) and initiatory connections • Sealing “welding links,” messy family stories, and God’s power to heal and gather If you’ve ever wondered why Abraham’s story matters for your discipleship and temple worship today—this episode is for you. ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Resources mentioned: Jeffrey M. Bradshaw — Look Unto Abraham and Sarah (In the Beginning, Vol. 3)  https://amzn.to/45Ua5Xd • Jeffrey M. Bradshaw et al. — In God’s Image and Likeness, Vol. 3 (Abraham)  https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/in-gods-image-and-likeness-3 • Jeffrey M. Bradshaw — Temple Themes in the Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood  https://fairlatterdaysaints.org/store/product/temple-themes-in-the-oath-and-covenant-of-the-priesthood-pdf/ • “An article on temple themes in the Book of Abraham” (referenced by the host)  A solid, relevant academic PDF on this theme (BYU ScholarsArchive): https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=ifb&filename=5&type=additional • Doctrine and Covenants 84 (Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood)  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84?lang=eng • Doctrine and Covenants 132 (sealing / Abrahamic covenant connections referenced in discussion)  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang      https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/abr/2?lang=eng • Bradshaw’s publication hub (tons of PDFs & links you can mine for show notes)  https://www.templethemes.net/publications.php • Dura-Europos / “hand through the veil” imagery context (ties to their Isaac discussion)     https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-ezekiel-mural-at-dura-europos-a-witness-of-ancient-jewish-mysteries • 11 K tradition mentioned https://www.marquette.edu/maqom/11QMelchizedek.pdf https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/ancient-affinities-within-the-lds-book-of-enoch-part-one https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/ancient-affinities-within-the-lds-book-of-enoch-part-two https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/revisiting-the-forgotten-voices-of-weeping-in-moses-7-a-comparison-with-ancient-texts https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/moses-6-7-and-the-book-of-giants-remarkable-witnesses-of-enochs-ministry ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #lds #latterdaysaints #jesuschrist #temple #abrahamiccovenant #bookofabraham #genesis #josephsmith #melchizedek #priesthood #sacrament #endowment #sealing #covenantpath #comeFollowMe

If the Book of Mormon were historical, wouldn’t we see clear “Israelite DNA” in the Americas? That’s the viral claim online—and it’s built on a misunderstanding of how population genetics works. In this episode, we walk through key misconceptions highlighted by geneticists John M. Butler (forensic genetics—think CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and Ugo Perego (population genetics / Native American ancestry research), and we explain why “no DNA = fake” is way too simplistic. We cover: •Why the absence of a specific “Israelite signature” doesn’t settle anything (we don’t have Lehi’s reference genome) •The difference between forensic DNA matching and population genetics (real life isn’t The Simpsons / CSI) •Why the Book of Mormon text doesn’t require a “hemispheric / everyone-descends-from-Lehi” model •Why “we can sequence Neanderthals, so why not Nephites?” is an apples-to-oranges comparison •How drift, bottlenecks, founder effects, and later migrations can overwhelm small founding lineages over time ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Further Readings: https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/archive/publications/the-book-of-mormon-and-the-origin-of-native-americans-from-a-maternally-inherited-dna-standpoint https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1658&context=msr https://scholar.google.com/scholar?oi=gsb40&q=ugo%20a%20perego&lookup=0&hl=en https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aax0061 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5100745/ https://gcbias.org/2013/11/11/how-does-your-number-of-genetic-ancestors-grow-back-over-time/ https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1308&context=jbms https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=eng https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/DNA_and_the_Book_of_Mormon https://mormonr.org/qnas/37RI8b/dna_and_the_book_of_mormon https://www.deseretbook.com/product/6054479.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo3Wz0Hoix0kuKzEXHUTkStm8Qu-nHzrWx6Nm4f22-cXbyTWG_S Subscribe for more faithful deep-dives into scripture, history, and the claims people make online. ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #BookofMormon #DNA #LDS #Mormon #LatterDaySaints #Apologetics #Christianity #Religion #Bible #Genetics #PopulationGenetics #NativeAmericanHistory

Latter-day Saints have relied on the King James Version for generations—but the Church recently updated the handbook to clarify that other Bible translations may be helpful for personal study. So what does that mean for your Old Testament, Come, Follow Me year? In this episode, BYU professor Joshua Sears (author of A Modern Guide to an Old Testament) walks through why comparing translations can change your study overnight, especially in difficult books like Isaiah, and how modern manuscript discoveries (like the Dead Sea Scrolls) affect what you see on the page.  What you’ll learn: •Why the Church still prefers the KJV in classes, but encourages helpful study tools for individuals  •The best “starter” translations to compare side-by-side (ESV/NRSV, NIV/NLT, etc.)  •Why “missing verses” in modern Bibles often reflect better manuscript evidence, not “tampering”  •How covenants in the Old Testament are about relationship—not contracts  •Key covenant terms to watch for (like ḥesed, often translated “lovingkindness”) ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Get the book: A Modern Guide to an Old Testament — https://amzn.to/4rarPWh  Favorite takeaway? Comment your go-to Bible translation and why. Further Readings: https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-20-no-3-2019/study-bibles https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/holy-bible-translations-editions-church-of-jesus-christ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/38-church-policies-and-guidelines?lang=eng#title_number139 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/translations-and-downloads/scriptures/holy-bible?lang=eng “Why Bible Translations Differ: A Guide for the Perplexed” (Ben Spackman, BYU Religious Studies Center): https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-15-no-1-2014/why-bible-translations-differ-guide-perplexed    “How Excellent Is Thy Lovingkindness”: the principle of ḥesed (RSC, BYU): https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/how-excellent-thy-lovingkindness    “The Divine Council” (BYU Studies): https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-divine-council    “The Textual Problem in 1 John 5:7–8” (the “Johannine Comma” topic you mention): https://bible.org/article/textual-problem-1-john-57-8    ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #OldTestament #ComeFollowMe #BibleStudy #LatterDaySaints #LDS #ScriptureStudy #BibleTranslations #KingJamesVersion #KJV #NRSV #ESV #NIV #Isaiah #CovenantPath #Covenants #AncientScripture #BYU #ReligiousEducation