Informed Saints

Breaking news in biblical studies: the “elect lady” in 2 John may not be a metaphor for the Church after all—she may be a real woman with a real name: Eclecte. In this episode, New Testament papyrologist Lincoln Blumell (with research assistant Spencer Kraus) explains the textual and grammatical puzzle behind 2 John’s opening, why the traditional reading created problems, and how ancient letter-writing conventions + manuscript evidence point to a restored reading that makes sense of the Greek.  We also talk about why this matters: what it could mean for how we read 2 John, what it suggests about women’s roles and authority in early Christian house churches, and how this connects with Restoration history—including Joseph Smith’s use of 2 John when organizing the Relief Society.  The book and other resources: https://amzn.to/4q2a5Mb https://www.deseret.com/education/2025/11/08/stunning-find-meet-the-missing-woman-in-the-bible-rediscovered-by-a-byu-researcher/ https://interpreterfoundation.org/journal/finding-the-elect-lady ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #InformedSaints #BibleStudy #NewTestament #2John #BiblicalStudies #TextualCriticism #ChristianHistory #WomenInTheBible #GreekNewTestament #LatterDaySaints #ReliefSociety #ScriptureStudy

In 1828, Martin Harris carried copied characters from the gold plates to Professor Charles Anthon in New York City—and walked away more convinced than ever that the Book of Mormon was real. Anthon, however, later claimed the whole thing was nonsense. So who do we believe, and what actually happened in that office?  In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye sits down with Neal Rappleye and Stephen Smoot to walk through every major source on the Anthon visit—from Martin’s own accounts to Anthon’s three conflicting letters and the memories of people who knew them both. We talk about “shorthand Egyptian,” the strange list of languages (Egyptian, Chaldean, Assyriac, and Arabic), early 1800s Egyptology, and new scholarship on what the characters Martin showed might have been. We also dig into Isaiah 29 and the famous line, “I cannot read a sealed book,” and how both skeptics and believers have used this story. If you’ve ever wondered whether Martin Harris was duped or whether the Anthon episode can still fit a believing, historically informed view of the Restoration, this conversation is for you. Come study the evidence, think through motives and memory on both sides, and see how you can study hard and believe boldly as a Latter-day Saint today. Resources: Get the FAIR volumes mentioned in the episode now! https://linktr.ee/fair.bookstore Primary Sources & Scripture •Joseph Smith—History 1:63–65 (Pearl of Great Price) – Canonized account of Martin Harris’s visit to Charles Anthon.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng •Joseph Smith Papers – “Appendix 2: Copies of Book of Mormon Characters” – High-res images and background on the various “characters” documents (including those related to the Anthon story).  https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-2-copies-of-book-of-mormon-characters-introduction ⸻ Scripture Central & Doctrine and Covenants Central •Scripture Central – “Anthon Transcript” (Encyclopedia Entry) – Clear overview of what the Anthon Transcript is, what happened with Martin Harris and Charles Anthon, and why it matters.  https://scripturecentral.org/archive/articles/encyclopedia-entry/anthon-transcript •Doctrine & Covenants Central KnoWhy – “What Do We Know About the ‘Anthon Transcript’?” – Accessible summary that walks through the documents, competing accounts, and how this episode fits into the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.  https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/knowhy/what-do-we-know-about-the-anthon-transcript/ •Doctrine & Covenants Central KnoWhy – “Why Did Martin Harris Consult with Scholars like Charles Anthon?” – Explores why Martin sought outside validation and how multiple scholars (not just Anthon) fit into the story.  https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/knowhy/why-did-martin-harris-consult-with-scholars-like-charles-anthon/ ⸻ Faithful Scholarship & Deep Dives •BYU Studies – “The Anthon Transcript: People, Primary Sources, and Problems” by Stanley B. Kimball – Classic study that gathers the main historical sources and analyzes what we can (and can’t) know about the visit.  https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-anthon-transcript-people-primary-sources-and-problems •Journal of Book of Mormon Studies – “The Anthon Transcripts and the Translation of the Book of Mormon: Studying It Out in the Mind of Joseph Smith” by David E. Sloan – Looks at how this episode connects to Joseph’s translation process and “studying it out” (D&C 9).  https://scripturecentral.org/archive/periodicals/journal-article/anthon-transcripts-and-translation-book-mormon-studying-it-out-mind-joseph-smith •Interpreter / Scripture Central – “Looking Again at the Anthon Transcript(s)” by John S. Thompson (2025) – A recent article arguing that Harris likely showed Anthon more than one transcript and what that means for the history and the characters.  https://interpreterfoundation.org/looking-again-at-the-anthon-transcripts/ •FAIR – “Book of Mormon/Translation/Anthon transcript” – Faithful Q&A-style overview that addresses common questions and criticisms about the Anthon Transcript and related issues.  https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Book_of_Mormon/Translation/Anthon_transcript ⸻ ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #AnthonTranscript #BookOfMormon #LDSHistory #Mormonism #JosephSmith

The Pearl of Great Price is the most unstable book in the Latter-day Saint canon. It started as an 1851 pamphlet in Liverpool, was reshaped by Orson Pratt in the 1870s, canonized in 1880, streamlined by James E. Talmage in 1902, expanded in 1976, and reworked again in 1979–81. And in the 1970s, Elder Bruce R. McConkie even drafted a never-published edition that would have added huge chunks of the JST, the Wentworth Letter, the Lectures on Faith, and two brand-new Articles of Faith.  In this episode of Informed Saints, we walk through the wild, moving target that is the Pearl of Great Price and ask what it teaches us about an open — and living — canon. We talk about Franklin D. Richards’ original British pamphlet, Orson Pratt’s edition that briefly included D&C 132 and a canonized hymn, Talmage’s quiet changes to the Articles of Faith, the short life of Joseph Smith’s and Joseph F. Smith’s visions inside the Pearl of Great Price, and the “McConkie edition” that almost changed everything.  Along the way, we explore: • How something goes from newspaper article to canonized scripture • Why some revelations and theological texts never made it into the standard works • What criteria leaders actually use when they consider new scripture • Why canonization is a community process, not a solo prophetic decree • What it really means to have an “open” and “living” canon as Latter-day Saints  We also introduce The Pearl of Great Price Study Edition by Stephen O. Smoot, published with the Interpreter Foundation and Scripture Central, and talk about how textual variants, facsimile changes, and manuscript history can actually strengthen faith when we understand the human side of scripture.  If you’ve ever wondered, “Could we get new scripture?” or “Should I be worried that our canon has changed so much?” — this episode is for you. At Informed Saints, we show that you can study deeply and still believe boldly. ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye Donate today: ancientamerica.org/donate/ Resource Guide: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/the-pearl-of-great-price https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/EoM/id/4040/ https://interpreterfoundation.org//books/the-pearl-of-great-price-study-edition https://biblecentral.info/library/book/pearl-of-great-price-study-edition/ https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/content/library/pearl-of-great-price-first-edition-1851?lang=eng https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/the-pearl-of-great-price ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/ ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. #InformedSaints #PearlOfGreatPrice #LDS #Mormon #Restoration #LatterDaySaint #ScriptureStudy #ChurchHistory #DoctrineAndCovenants #BookOfMormon #OpenCanon #LivingCanon #BruceRMcConkie #ScriptureCentral #InterpreterFoundation

Are “anachronisms” proof that the Book of Mormon is a modern forgery—or are critics leaning on outdated data? In this intro episode, we break down what anachronisms actually are and walk through a massive new study that tracks 226 critical claims from 1830 to today. The result? About 77% of those supposed anachronisms now have archaeological or historical support in the ancient Old and New Worlds.  We’ll explain in plain language: What an anachronism is (and why George Washington with a machine gun is a "perfect" example) How horses, steel, cities, roads, cement, and other “impossible” Book of Mormon details have fared as archaeology has advanced Why translation, loan-shifting (like calling a peccary a “pig”), and limited excavation in the Americas matter for this discussion How Matt Roper’s new Interpreter Foundation study updates earlier work by John Clark and shows the Book of Mormon aging surprisingly well in light of new evidence  At Informed Saints, we study hard and bring our receipts. This episode is your intro to anachronisms: what critics claim, what the data actually say, and why Latter-day Saints can be both faithful and intellectually honest about ancient texts. Sources: https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/jmh/article-abstract/48/4/1/318163/Apologetics-and-Antiquity-Book-of-Mormon-Reception https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/john-bernhisels-gift-to-a-prophet-incidents-of-travel-in-central-america-and-the-book-of-mormon https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-the-lord-command-the-three-witnesses-to-rely-upon-his-word https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/john-bernhisels-gift-to-a-prophet-incidents-of-travel-in-central-america-and-the-book-of-mormon/ https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/591852 https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/jeffersons-excavation-native-american-burial-mound/ https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/anachronisms-accidental-evidence-in-book-of-mormon-criticisms-introduction/ https://www.nsf.gov/science-matters/horses-part-indigenous-cultures-longer-western https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/why-things-move-a-new-look-at-helaman-12-15 https://www.byui.edu/speeches/kim-b-clark/the-prophet-joseph-smith #InformedSaints #BookOfMormon #Anachronisms #BookOfMormonEvidence #LDS #Mormon #Restoration #FaithAndScholarship #Apologetics #ScriptureStudy #ChurchHistory #Christianity #ReligiousStudies

Did the Church change its story on the Book of Mormon translation—or are critics missing something important?   In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye sits down with Neal Rappleye and Stephen Smoot to unpack recent online controversy over the Church’s new “Translation of the Book of Mormon” article and statements that the text came by “divine revelation.” Drawing on Doctrine and Covenants passages, early witness accounts, and Joseph Smith’s own statements, they explore how early Latter-day Saints understood the relationship between translation, revelation, seer stones, and the Urim and Thummim, and why calling the Book of Mormon both a translation and a revelation is not new language at all.    In this episode: Why a viral ex-Mormon Reddit thread claims the Church “changed translation to revelation” What Joseph Smith meant by translating “by the gift and power of God” How early Saints— including the witnesses—described the Book of Mormon Whether “revelation” implies backing away from historicity What a “revelatory translation” tells us about God’s purposes for the Book of Mormon   Resource Guide: Official Church Resources •Book of Mormon Translation – Topics & Questions (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) Concise Q&A overview of how the Church currently explains the translation, including seer stones, plates, and eyewitnesses. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/book-of-mormon-translation-joseph-smith-plural-marriage    •Gospel Topics Essay: “Book of Mormon Translation” In-depth official essay with historical context and primary sources about the mechanics of translation and the phrase “by the gift and power of God.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng    •Elder Ulisses Soares – “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon” (April 2020 General Conference) Apostolic perspective on why the Book of Mormon’s coming forth is best understood as a miracle of revelation and translation together. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/23soares?lang=eng    •Gerrit J. Dirkmaat, “The Miraculous Translation of the Book of Mormon,” Liahona, Mar. 2024 Recent Church magazine article summarizing eyewitness accounts and explaining the role of seer stones, interpreters, and the plates. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2024/03/united-states-and-canada-section/02-the-miraculous-translation-of-the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng      Faithful Scholarship & Deep Dives •Stephen O. Smoot – “Is the Book of Mormon a ‘Translation’ or a ‘Revelation’?” FAIR 2023 Conference Explores how early Latter-day Saints used “translation” and “revelation” as overlapping categories of seership, and what that means for the Book of Mormon today. https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/2023-defending-the-book-of-mormon-conference    •“Firsthand Witness Accounts of the Translation Process,” in The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon (BYU Religious Studies Center) Collects primary statements from Emma Smith, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Joseph Knight Sr., and others describing how the translation actually looked in practice. https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/Firsthand_Witness_Accounts_of_the_Translation_Process.pdf    •Stephen D. Ricks – “Translation of the Book of Mormon,” in Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon (FARMS/Book of Mormon Central) A brief, faithful scholarly summary of what it means that Joseph translated “by the gift and power of God.” https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/pressing_forward_63_-_translation_of_the_book_of_mormon.pdf    If you’re navigating questions about how the Book of Mormon came forth, or have heard that the Church is rewriting its narrative, this conversation offers historical context and a faithful, clear explanation. — Subscribe to Informed Saints for more thoughtful Latter-day Saint discussions, and if you find this episode helpful, please leave a rating and review so others can discover the show.

Can Latter-day Saints and other Christians actually be closer in theology than most people think? In fact are “Mormons” Trinitarians? In this episode we sit down with BYU historian and theologian Grant Underwood, author of Latter-day Saint Theology Among Christian Theologies, to talk about where Latter-day Saint beliefs line up with Protestant, Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox traditions—and where they really are distinct. We get into God’s nature, the Trinity, embodiment, salvation, and why words like “Christian,” “orthodox,” and even “theology” get used so differently online.    Underwood shows that a lot of the online “Mormons aren’t Christian” arguments come down to definitions, not devotion—and that many Latter-day Saints would benefit from seeing themselves inside the wider Christian conversation, not outside it. This episode is perfect for Latter-day Saints who talk with evangelical friends, for Christians who are curious about LDS beliefs, and for anyone who wants a calmer, better-informed way to talk about God. ⸻ In this episode you’ll hear about: •Why Latter-day Saints should care about “theology,” not just “doctrine” •How Latter-day Saints and other Christians talk past each other using the same words differently •LDS belief in an embodied God and how that compares to creedal Christianity •“Separate-being” or “social” Trinitarianism and why it’s closer than people assume •LDS inclusivism: affirming the Restoration while honoring centuries of sincere Christians •How publishing with Eerdmans opened the door for real dialogue between traditions •Surprising overlaps with Eastern Orthodoxy on deification and theosis •Why better definitions can “bulldoze down” unnecessary walls between believers  ⸻ For viewers coming from other Christian traditions: This episode is not a debate. It’s an attempt to show the actual range of Christian belief across 2,000 years, and to place Latter-day Saints inside that bigger story instead of outside it. If you’ve only seen LDS beliefs described in polemical books or social posts, this conversation will feel very different.  ⸻ Subscribe for more long-form, faithful, informed conversations on Latter-day Saint history, doctrine, and how we fit in the wider Christian world.   #LatterDaySaint #Mormonism #Christianity #InformedSaints #GrantUnderwood #LDSTheology #Restoration #Trinity #Theosis #BYU #FaithAndReason #Interfaith

Who Is President Dallin H. Oaks? Biographer Rick Turley on the Life of the LDS Church’s New Prophet In this Informed Saints exclusive, church historian and biographer Richard E. “Rick” Turley Jr. (author of In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks) helps us answer the big question: Who is President Dallin H. Oaks, the 18th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? From a humble Utah childhood marked by loss, to graduating #1 at the University of Chicago Law School, clerking for Chief Justice Earl Warren, leading BYU, serving on the Utah Supreme Court, and decades as an apostle—including time presiding in the Philippines—Turley shares human, surprising, and faith-building stories that reveal what kind of prophet President Oaks may be.   What you’ll learn Early experiences that forged President Oaks’s work ethic and faith (including dramatic near-misses with death) Why he pivoted from big-firm law to scholarship and service—and how that shaped his leadership BYU years: academic rigor, religious freedom advocacy, equal pay for women faculty, and yes… Cosmo the Cougar Why the Utah Supreme Court was his “most enjoyable job” and how that legal mind informs his ministry The call to the Twelve alongside Russell M. Nelson—and why he delayed ordination to finish court opinions Family insights: June Dixon Oaks’s refining influence and Kristin McMain Oaks’s later partnership What “a witness of the name of Jesus Christ” means to President Oaks—and to the global Church today   Guest: Rick Turley—longtime Church historian; co-author on Mountain Meadows Massacre volumes; author on the Mark Hofmann forgeries; forthcoming biography Joseph the Prophet. Watch next: More Informed Saints conversations on modern Prophets, Church history, and faith in action. #DallinHOaks #LDS #InformedSaints #LatterDaySaints #BYU #RickTurley #Prophet

Today we are tackling the age old question of, "Do 'Mormons' celebrate Halloween?"   While the short answer is, yes. There is a lot of fun nuance to this topic and also it gave us an excuse to dress up and have some more fun with one of these episodes! Thanks for sharing and watching!   ===Informed Saints Credits=== Produced by The Ancient America Foundation Producer: Spencer Clark Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye   ===Discover=== If any of our thoughts resonated with you, consider learning more about the single most influential book in our lives. https://www.discoverbookofmormon.org/   ===Content Disclaimer=== The views expressed represent ours alone and do not necessarily reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   #mormon #lds #halloween #spooky

What do the actual documents say about Nauvoo-era plural marriage? In this episode, we walk through the primary sources behind the claims—reading what was written, when, and by whom—so you can see the evidence for yourself without the noise.   In this video you’ll learn: • What D&C 132 (July 12, 1843) says and how it surfaced • Why William Clayton’s journal entry matters for dating and context • How the Whitney letter (Aug 18, 1842) and related instructions fit the timeline • What the Nauvoo High Council minutes and affidavits contribute • How the Nauvoo Expositor became part of the public controversy • How faithful historians weigh converging, independent sources   Why this matters: Latter-day Saints and honest seekers deserve a source-based understanding—one that’s faithful and rigorous. We focus on documents, context, and methods, not internet rumors.   Sources & Further Reading (Primary + Faithful Scholarship)   Official overviews • Gospel Topics Essay — Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo • Scripture — Doctrine & Covenants 132 (Celestial Marriage): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132   Key primary sources (Joseph Smith Papers) • Revelation, 12 July 1843 (D&C 132) (text & images): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-12-july-1843-dc-132 • William Clayton journal (entry noting the 12 July 1843 revelation): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org (Search: “William Clayton journal July 12 1843”) • Letter to Newel K. Whitney, 18 Aug. 1842 (Joseph in hiding; private visit re: Sarah Ann Whitney): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-to-newel-k-whitney-18-august-1842 • Revelation, 27 July 1842 (Whitney sealing instructions): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-27-july-1842 • Nauvoo High Council minutes (Hyrum reading the revelation; contemporary references): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org (Search: “Nauvoo High Council minutes July–Aug 1843”) • Nauvoo Expositor, 7 June 1844 (includes affidavits; early public controversy): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-expositor-7-june-1844 • Affidavit of Austin Cowles (context for the High Council reading): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org (Search: “Affidavit Austin Cowles June 1844”)   Witness & late reminiscence samplers • Emma Smith—late statements on Nauvoo polygamy (compiled): https://www.josephsmithpapers.org  (Search: “Emma Smith polygamy statements”) • David Whitmer, Address to All Believers in Christ (full text scan): https://archive.org/details/addresstoallbeli00whit   Faithful scholarship (accessible) • Gerrit J. Dirkmaat & Michael H. MacKay, From Darkness unto Light (RSC): https://rsc.byu.edu/book/darkness-unto-light • Dirkmaat & MacKay, Let’s Talk about the Translation of the Book of Mormon (context for seer stones/translation): https://www.deseretbook.com/product/P6012373.html • Michael H. MacKay & Nicholas J. Frederick, Joseph Smith’s Seer Stones (RSC): https://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-smiths-seer-stones • Brian C. Hales—document archive on Joseph Smith’s polygamy: https://MormonPolygamyDocuments.org • Hales, “Joseph Smith: Monogamist or Polygamist?” (Interpreter): https://interpreterfoundation.org/?s=Joseph+Smith+Monogamist+or+Polygamist   Context quick-reads • Turley, Jensen & Ashurst-McGee, “Joseph the Seer” (Ensign, Oct 2015): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/10/joseph-the-seer • Saints, Vol. 1 — early Restoration narrative (free online): https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/saints-v1   If this helped, like, comment, and subscribe to support more faith-building, source-driven conversations.   #InformedSaints #JosephSmith #PluralMarriage #Nauvoo #LDSHistory #PrimarySources

Neal Rappleye, a Book of Mormon researcher, and Stephen Smoot, an expert on Latter-day Saints history in Nazi Germany, dive into the complex relationship between the Church and the Nazi regime. They explore survival strategies of members—resistance, collaboration, or neutrality—amidst Nazi scrutiny. Smoot reveals shocking findings from Gestapo dossiers, highlighting arrests and mistrust of the Church. They dissect infamous photos and discuss the tragic story of Helmut Hübener, a young resistance fighter. It's a deep look at doctrine, survival, and moral dilemmas during a dark time.