How the Book of Mormon Challenges Creedal Christianity
When Joseph Smith entered a quiet grove in the spring of 1820, he expected a simple answer to a simple […]
Doubt, Fear, and the Journey of Faith: A Gospel Perspective
In today’s world, doubt is often praised as a virtue—a sign of intellectual honesty or emotional depth. But in the
The Priesthood, the Curse of Canaan, and God’s Counter-Cultural Message
The history of God’s dealings with His children is rarely simple. From Adam to the Restoration, the Lord has worked
From Innocence to Understanding: Why Baptism Begins at Eight
A Biblical Pattern of Growth Before Accountability Throughout scripture, God distinguishes between innocence and accountability. Moses described a time when
The Meaning Behind: “As Far as It Is Translated Correctly”
When Joseph Smith wrote in the Eighth Article of Faith that “We believe the Bible to be the word of
The Book of Mormon: Historical Context and the Mystery of Its Origins
Few works of American religion have generated as much debate as the Book of Mormon. Published in 1830 by Joseph
From Apostles to Empire: The Transitional Period that Shaped Early Christianity
The first-century Church, born in the fire of Pentecost and led by apostles who had walked with Jesus, was marked
From Keys to Councils: How Authority Shifted After the Apostles
For Latter-day Saints, the history of Christianity between the death of the New Testament apostles and the rise of imperial
Coffee & the Word of Wisdom: From Beverage to Covenant
Learning Trust Early My grandparents drank coffee. I was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and
The Bible and the Restoration: Partners in Truth, Not Rivals
Among Latter-day Saints, a common phrase is that the Book of Mormon is “the most correct book” (Joseph Smith, History
Blood Oaths, Frontier Struggles, and the Temple’s Journey into Light
What Critics Say—and Why It Matters When people hear about “blood oaths” or dramatic gestures in early LDS temple ceremonies,
Lehi, Zedekiah, and the Siege of Jerusalem: A Test Case for the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon begins in a very specific moment of Old Testament history: “in the commencement of the first
Jesus, Joseph Smith, and Sacred Symbols: Transformation, Not Imitation
One of the most persistent critiques of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the claim that Joseph
From Galatia to Nicaea: Paul’s Caution Against Altering the Gospel and the Rise of the Trinitarian Creed
Among the most persistent debates in Christian history is the question of God’s nature. Is He one essence in three
“Owning Your Own Planet”? A Fun Defense of a Misunderstood Doctrine
Among the many one-liners critics throw at Latter-day Saints, one of the most enduring is the idea that faithful members
No Other God? How Isaiah’s Idol Smackdown Fits With the Rest of the Bible
When Isaiah declares, “Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me” (Isaiah 43:10) and “I
Part 3: Did Satan Accidentally Make Himself Part of the Plan?
By now we’ve seen how Lucifer wasn’t required for God’s plan to work, and yet, by his own rebellion, he
Part 2 – The Devil’s Backstory: What the Bible Confirms About the Premortal Life
In Part 1, we explored how God’s plan could still work without Satan. But the fact that the devil isn’t
Prophets, Forgeries, and Treasure Digging: Lessons from the Hofmann Episode
In the mid-1980s, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced a crisis of history and faith. Rare document
Part 1 – Would God’s Plan Still Work Without Satan?
In Latter-day Saint belief, Lucifer’s rebellion happened before mortality, in the premortal spirit world. He didn’t fall while on earth—he