This podcast delves into the racial climate in America during the founding of the church, exploring the racist views held by prominent figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. It discusses the influence of science, scripture, and misinterpretation on racial prejudices, debunking misconceptions around biblical texts. The podcast emphasizes the need to understand the historical context of the church's establishment, including the discriminatory practices towards black Africans.

Dr. Brian Hales, an expert on polygamy and the history of Joseph Smith's plural marriages, discusses tough polygamy questions. He addresses Joseph Smith's regrets, denial of polygamy, marriage while men were away on missions, refusal of proposals, Emma's relationship to plural marriage, and the reasons behind its existence. The importance of unbiased historical analysis and debunking reductionist statements is emphasized. They also explore Joseph Smith's denials, approach to plural marriage, regrets, and the significance of keeping covenants.

Explore the tumultuous history of plural marriage in the LDS Church, from public announcements to legal battles and eventual decline. Learn about the impact of the Edmunds Tucker Act, the George Reynolds trial, President Woodruff's Manifesto, and the emergence of the FLDS Church. Dive into the complexities, controversies, and societal pressures that led to the end of plural marriage within the Church.

Explore the turbulent marriage of Joseph and Emma Smith in 1843, with Emma's resistance to plural marriage leading to conflicts. Learn about John C. Bennett's scandalous past and vengeful actions in Nauvoo. Dive into Emma's struggles with plural marriage, her confrontations with Joseph's other wives, and her eventual collaboration with Joseph. Discover the role of William Law in Joseph Smith's death and the motives behind the Carthage Jail attack. Uncover the history of plural marriage after Joseph Smith's death.

Explore the complexities of Joseph Smith's practice of plural marriage in Nauvoo as John C. Bennett's exposure, Hyrum Smith's opposition, and Emma Smith's struggles come to light. Learn about Bennett's illicit affairs, Hyrum's changing views, and Emma's turmoil with the concept of plural marriage. Dive into the challenges faced by these historical figures in this engaging podcast episode.

Discover the intricate world of Joseph Smith's trial and error approach to plural marriage, including sealings with married women and a 14-year-old. Explore the impact on his relationships with Emma and Oliver Cowdery. Delve into his creative use of sealing power and his struggles with the concept of polygamy.

Plural marriage—a form of religious polygamy (or polygyny to be technical)—is one of the most controversial and faith-challenging aspects of the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was difficult when it was first introduced in the early Church and, although it was discontinued over 130 years ago, it is still a difficult issue for many both within and outside of the Church to reckon with.  So why was it introduced into the Church in the first place? When did Joseph Smith first learn that this practice would be restored? Why did he delay practicing it? How did he and others who were asked to live it initially respond? And what were the four theological reasons given by the Lord in the Doctrine and Covenants to justify the practice of plural marriage?  In this episode of Church History Matters we explore the best sources to answer these and related questions. And while we know that learning the answers to these questions may not fully remove one’s wrestle with this issue, we believe it can sure help. For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/ 

In this discussion, Dr. Michael Hubbard McKay, an Associate Professor at Brigham Young University and expert on Latter-day Saint scripture, dives deep into the complexities of the Book of Mormon's translation. He unpacks Joseph Smith's use of seer stones, comparing sacred and secular interpretations. The conversation touches on why Smith made changes in later editions, the nuances of tight versus loose translation, and the cultural significance of these methods in both his time and today. A thought-provoking exploration for any history enthusiast!

The discussion revolves around the vital testimony of the Three and Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. These individuals, despite their later challenges with the Church, never denied their experiences, adding credibility to Joseph Smith's claims. The complexities of the translation process and the weight of eyewitness statements are explored, underscoring the intertwining of faith and evidence. Personal reflections on the lives of key witnesses, like David Whitmer, emphasize their consistent accounts and the emotional weight of their testimonies.

What would you say if somebody told you that a 23 year old farm boy dictated to a scribe a sacred text of 531 pages while looking down at stones placed in the bottom of his hat? And what would you think if they then told you that this book was dictated and written in one pass—from beginning to end—in approximately 60 days without any punctuation and with little to no revising? And what if they then showed you countless examples of how this book contains a high degree of literary and semitic complexity, suggesting highly skilled and detail-oriented authors who wrote in ancient Hebrew writing forms? Would you be open to accepting the proposition that this book was the product of a genuine miracle? If so, you’re not alone. And if not, you’re also not alone. In fact, several alternative naturalistic theories about the Book of Mormon’s origins have been put forth by those who reject the possibility of the miraculous.  In this episode we examine all of this—the speed of the Book of Mormon translation, the complexity of the text itself, and the naturalistic theories of the Book of Mormon’s origins. For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/