Maxwell Institute Podcast

Maxwell Institute Podcast #175: Divine Law (Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants) with Justin Collings

Feb 25, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Justin Collings, academic vice president of BYU and a distinguished scholar, explores his new book, Divine Law. He discusses how divine law is intertwined with love and grace, reshaping the understanding of commandments as uplifting rather than burdensome. Collings dives into the eternal role of Christ, emphasizing mercy, and shares transformative insights on family life through spiritual blessings. He also highlights the significant impact of poetry in conveying spiritual truths and enhancing one's relationship with divine law.

01:03:41

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Justin Collings

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Quick takeaways

Divine law is portrayed as an expression of God's love and mercy, guiding individuals toward spiritual fulfillment and salvation.

The discussion contrasts secular laws, which often employ threats, with divine laws that offer loving warnings to foster joy and spiritual growth.

Emphasizing a relational understanding, true obedience to divine law should stem from a desire to know God rather than mere compliance for rewards.

Deep dives

The Connection Between Law and Divine Love

Divine law is framed as a manifestation of God's love and mercy, rather than a source of fear or punishment. The speaker emphasizes that the purpose of divine law is to direct individuals toward their own salvation, aligning closely with God's desire to uplift His children. A significant quote from Joseph Smith highlights the idea that laws were instituted by God to enable others to progress like Him, suggesting that law is fundamentally an expression of grace. This reframing encourages individuals to see commandments not as burdens but as guiding principles that lead to joy and fulfillment.

Intro

4min

Understanding Divine Law and Grace

24min

The Eternal Role of Christ and Mercy

7min

Embracing Divine Blessings in Family Life

3min

The Blessings of Divine Relationships

13min

The Transformative Power of Poetry

9min

The Poetry of Divine Law and Revelations

3min

Today, I'm joined by Dr. Justin Collings to discuss his new book, Divine Law, just out from the Maxwell Institute as part of its Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series. This volume is one of seven and will be featuring interviews with each of the authors over the next few months.

Justin Collings is the academic vice president of Brigham Young University and a distinguished scholar in his own right. He graduated from BYU and earned a law degree and a PhD in history from Yale, and clerked on the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In addition to his administrative duties, he remains a professor of law at BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School, where he authored two books on constitutional law and history from Oxford University Press. Justin and his wife Lia live in Orem, Utah. And as you'll hear in our conversation, are the proud parents of eight children.

As Justin admits, the topic of divine law may not strike you as immediately compelling. It might even spark some deep-seated fear or dread. But I think you'll find that he brings this book to life with careful thinking, real life examples, and most of all, a bedrock conviction grounded in the revelations that God is loving, merciful, and full of grace. Divine law and divine love in this way of looking at things are one and the same. Justin was a good sport to field some tough questions about punishment versus consequences and a threat versus a warning. But if you're expecting dry legalese, you'll be glad to find that Justin is a lively and lyrical writer and his book is studded with poetry. In fact, our discussion of poetry's relationship to scripture and its role in a spiritual life is one of my favorite parts of the interview. I think you'll enjoy it too.

Purchase at the links below.

https://a.co/d/fQPtRdB

https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P6075136.html

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