Y Religion

America’s history with slavery is complicated and controversial, especially when considered in a religious context. On this episode, Professor Jordan Watkins takes us into antebellum America, showing how views over slavery were shaped by interpretations of the Bible and the country’s founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. He also examines ways these nineteenth-century interpretations continue to influence people today.  

Professor Barbara Morgan Gardner discusses the priesthood power available to all who receive temple blessings. She explores the evolving understanding of women's relationship to priesthood, the role of women in presiding, and the authority and responsibilities of women in their callings and relationships. Emphasis on the connection between priesthood power and the temple.

Netflix’s 2021 docuseries Murder among the Mormons reached #2 on the most-viewed list in the week it came out. But how much did the documentary actually get right? In this episode, Professor J. B. Haws gives his perspective as a Church historian, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the docuseries as well as the theological implications of the Mark Hoffman murders—and the reason why this story still matters.

In 1903, Latter-day Saint Apostle Reed Smoot was elected by Utah to become a United States senator.  However, many in the country and Senate did not want to seat Elder Smoot due to his leadership position in the Church and because of the Church’s practice of polygamy.  In this episode, Dr. Carter Charles recounts this history and President Theodore Roosevelt’s defense of Reed Smoot and the Latter-day Saints.   

Although its stories took place thousands of years ago, the Old Testament provides potent lessons to help confront contemporary challenges, including the world’s growing refugee crisis. In this episode, Dr. George Pierce shares research insights about ancient Israel to help us care for the displaced and marginalized in our midst.

How did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon? Joseph’s brief answer was “by the gift and power of God,” sometimes adding that it was done by means of “Urim and Thummim.”  Some have asked why Joseph Smith didn’t give more specific details about the process.  In this enlightening episode, translation scholar Dr. Michael Hubbard MacKay discusses his research on the “incommensurability” of Joseph Smith’s divine translation work and why it gives insight into expressions of religious truth and experience.

The Law of Moses gives divine direction for how God’s covenant people should care for displaced refugees, foreigners, and strangers, who are referred to in the Bible as ‘gēr.’ In this episode, Dr. Krystal Pierce of BYU’s Ancient Scripture Department shares her published research on the teachings and narratives in the Old Testament and Book of Mormon related to what are commonly called the “Gēr Laws,” and discusses ways in which we can apply those teachings as covenant people today. 

How do Latter-day Saints perceive images of Christ’s suffering on the cross? How does artwork influence their understanding of the Savior’s Atonement? What does it mean that Christ shed His blood for us? In this powerful episode, Dr. John Hilton III shares findings from his continued research related to the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, and why embracing Christ’s death upon the cross can deepen our worship of Him.

For many Latter-day Saints, there is a strong desire to visit sacred sites of the Restoration, such as the Sacred Grove or Carthage Jail. These historic places can help us better understand the past as we strive to live the gospel in the present.  In this episode, Dr. Scott Esplin discusses the value of historic Latter-day Saint sites, how the Church acquired some of them, and how we can all learn from them, regardless of where we live.  

The events recorded in the gospels took place in the Garden of Gethsemane are sacred to our faith. Although we can envision the olive trees of the garden, where did they press its oil, from which the translated word “Gethsemane” derives? Thanks to archeological research, including some by BYU ancient scripture professor Matthew Grey, there are possible answers.  In this episode Dr. Grey discusses research on the Gethsemane grotto and explores potential reasons why this location matters.