Church History Matters

Take a thrilling ride through the historical twists and turns of the Doctrine and Covenants. Discover how it evolved from the 1833 Book of Commandments to its latest version, revealing major additions and deletions along the way. Dive into the dynamics of canon versus scripture, the rare Book of Commandments, and the controversies surrounding changes influenced by Joseph Smith's martyrdom. Recent textual revisions reflect ongoing efforts for accuracy, making this a fascinating exploration of religious evolution.

Guest D&C discusses the process of canonization in scripture production, exploring the significance of scripture, the definition and sources of scripture, the role of canon in measuring truth, and the messy process of compiling the Doctrine and Covenants. They also touch on the collaborative nature of scripture and the possibility of future additions to the canon.

In this insightful discussion, Kent Jackson, a Professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University and expert on Joseph Smith's Bible translation, tackles tough questions about the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). He explores whether Smith believed his work was ever complete and why subsequent prophets haven't engaged in similar efforts. Jackson also clarifies the complexities of biblical warnings against modifications and discusses potential reasons behind the tapering of revelations. Get ready for a deep dive into the intertwining of scripture and prophetic authority!

Joseph Smith's alleged plagiarism in his Bible translation project is examined, specifically the accusation of borrowing from Adam Clarke's Bible commentary without attribution. The controversy is traced back to research by Thomas Wayment and Hailey Wilson-Lemmon. Expert Kent Jackson provides a critique and refutation of their claims. The podcast explores the impact of the Joseph Smith Translation on theology, temple liturgy, and church identity. Joseph Smith's approach to the Bible and his engagement with scholarship are discussed. The controversy surrounding the alleged plagiarism is analyzed, with evidence and explanations provided. The importance of good scholarship and critical thinking is emphasized.

Delve into the intriguing complexities of Joseph Smith's Bible translation project, where its purpose remains largely speculative. Explore how the Joseph Smith Translation enhances understanding of key doctrines, ties to Enoch's legacy, and the community's aspirations for a new Jerusalem. Discover the profound implications of eternal realms in Latter-day Saint belief and the connection between divine relationships as reflected in Section 93. Engage with scripture actively to uncover personal revelations and sharpen theological insights.

Delve into Joseph Smith's ambitious Bible translation project, exploring its motivations and revelations that shaped his prophetic journey. Uncover why the Joseph Smith Translation was absent from Latter-day Saint Bibles until 1979 and the meaning of 'translate' in this context. Discover the complexities surrounding the JST and how it influenced both historical and modern interpretations of scripture. The dynamic interplay of prophecy and divine truth offers a fascinating look at the evolution of scriptural understanding within the context of Restorationist beliefs.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Paul Reeve, Chair of the History Department at the University of Utah and expert on race in Latter-day Saint history, explores the parallels between historical church policies on race and current LGBTQ+ restrictions. He delves into the implications of the priesthood ban for Black members, questions prophetic authority, and the complexities of scriptural interpretations. Reeve advocates for critical engagement with faith, promoting inclusivity and a reevaluation of past doctrines to embrace all of God’s children.

This episode of Church History Matters explores the 1978 revelation that lifted the priesthood restriction for people of African descent. It delves into President Kimball's journey towards change, the involvement of scripture and doctrine, and the efforts to build consensus and seek unity among the apostles. The episode also discusses the significant impact of the 1978 revelation in the history of the Church and reflects on the need to eradicate racism.

In 1907, the First Presidency codified the Church’s official policy about black African participation in both priesthood and temple declaring that, “No one known to have in his veins negro blood, (it matters not how remote a degree) can either have the Priesthood in any degree or the blessings of the Temple of God; no matter how otherwise worthy he may be.” By contrast, in 2020 Church President Russell M. Nelson reminded all church members that, “Your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependent upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin.” The major catalyst shifting the Church away from that discriminatory 1907 policy and toward the marvelous inclusivity encapsulated in President Nelson’s words, was the Lord’s revelation to Church leaders in 1978. But this revelation didn’t come all of the sudden nor out of the blue; in fact, it was decades in coming and grew out of the convergence of real-world circumstances in which Church leaders found themselves and the Church.  In today’s episode of Church History Matters, we take a look at some of the relevant historical developments in the Church during the 70 year period from 1908-1978—from the decades-long season of racial hardening and exclusion, to a softening and relaxing of certain Church policies under President David O. McKay in the 1950s and 60s, to disharmony and divergence of views among the apostles in the 60s, and finally to the unexpected call of Spencer W. Kimball as Church president in 1973. So today we set the stage for next week's climactic episode all about the details of the 1978 revelation itself. For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/   

Once people come to terms with the uncomfortable idea that Brigham Young committed an error in endorsing a priesthood ban on church members with black African ancestry, a puzzling question naturally follows: “If the ban was an error, then why didn’t it get corrected earlier than 1978?! There were nine Church presidents between Brigham Young and Spencer W. Kimball and 101 years between President Young’s death in 1877 and President Kimball’s revelation in 1978. So why did it take so long to correct this mistake and again offer full privileges to black Africans in the Church as they had enjoyed in Joseph Smith’s day?”     In today’s episode of Church History Matters, we attempt to offer at least the beginning of an answer to this question by tracing the key moments and decisions in the leadership councils of the Church when, instead of correcting this error, they came to conclusions that led to an unfortunate hardening in place of the priesthood ban. In this episode, the years 1879, 1904, 1907, and 1908 will sadly be added alongside the year 1852 as we piece together both the timeline and the reasoning behind this ban. For show notes and transcript for this and other episodes go to https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/church-history-matters-podcast/