Shiloh and Ben talk about the "Articles and Covenants" of Section 20. The Church was finally established, and the first 6 members had joined. While many structural changes within D&C 20 remain today, there were many structural changes to the Church in the ensuing years. Between the years of 1830 - 1838, the name of the Church changed several times (at least 6). The final name (as it appears in D&C 115:4) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- was revealed by the Lord in April, 1838. President Nelson has recently stated that the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ is an ongoing endeavor, and there…

Ben and Shiloh talk about the revelations given to Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer in Section 18 and to Martin Harris in Section 19. The tones are very different in each of these sections, and it is of interest to pay attention to these shifts in how the Lord is speaking to them. Repentance is a primary theme of the Restoration. We tend to talk about repentance as a process of how to obtain divine forgiveness after committing sin, but is there more to it than that? Is God simply telling the world that it is sinful and that people need to obtain divine forgiveness? While this narrative is undoubtedly…

Shiloh and Ben discuss the Sections in D&C that are directed towards the Whitmers. These Sections, while short, hold a key to understanding the power of asking questions. The questions we ask are highly indicative of the understanding that we possess of how and what we perceive we need. The Lord speaks to us in our language and understanding, and He also answers our questions accordingly. He reveals unto us "line upon line, and precept upon precept," and we receive that in which are willing and capable of receiving. Notice the different questions that the Whitmers ask and the different answers that they receive. One asks to know his "individual…

Ben and Shiloh open up an anticipated discussion of John the Baptist's appearance to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. As Moroni's thematic message to Joseph set the narrative and stage for what the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (as was discussed in Episode 34), John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ who prepared the minds and hearts of the people to receive him. John the Baptist's message, especially as contained in Luke 3, is often underutilized in understanding the radical shift the people required to recognizing the true Messiah. Until this time, the people had been expecting a violent, militaristic, and forceful leader to deliver them…

Shiloh and Ben open up a discussion to consider God's perennial nature and work. This discussion starts in an unlikely place by talking about the archetype of Satan. Section 10 contains more references to "Satan" than almost any other, and there is a lot to learn about ourselves through this archetypal recognition. Whereas Christ is our anointed advocate with the Father, Satan is "The Accuser" that interacts with and justifies the perceived existence of the "false self." In these verses we see a beautiful revelation of God helping us identify and deal with the accusing voice within each of us that we feed, nurture, and cherish. It is this accusing…

Ben and Shiloh review the sections that speak primarily to and about Oliver Cowdery. Oliver has a rich history before and after coming into the LDS narrative as a scribe to Joseph in penning the Book of Mormon. In these sections we find an incredibly supportive, compassionate, and encouraging God that is patient, merciful, and forgiving. God speaks to His children not just through their own language but according to the context of their cultural, religious, and personal understandings. Both Joseph and Oliver were (or had been) engrossed in what we would see today as a "magical" worldview of experiencing God where imbuing random objects with divine power (e.g., stones,…

Shiloh and Ben open up a discussion about Martin Harris and the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. There is so much to grasp of the grace and mercy of God throughout these three sections of scripture, and we often sidestep these conversations because they threaten the worldview of our ego-based false selves. Scripture is a beautiful thing, for it is the record of when mankind and God touch. Within the scriptural record we see God pouring through cracks of men's foibles to reveal Himself again and again between the erroneous narratives of the false self. On each page of scripture we find both a documented account of…

Shiloh and Ben open up a discussion about Joseph Smith's First Vision and his "call to adventure." Joseph lived in a day when there were arguments abounding over what was true and correct doctrine. People of all faiths around him seemed to exhibit "great love" and "zeal" at "the time of their conversion." But whatever form or façade of conversion and love that existed soon digressed, and it became evident to Joseph that God is not discovered through argument and scriptural apologetics. Joseph had no context for how to gain more light and truth, but he realized that "the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages…

Ben and Shiloh are excited to get back into the Come, Follow Me discussion as the new year rolls around in talking about Church history and the Doctrine and Covenants. Whereas the Book of Mormon was written as a basic chronological narrative, the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are not written and compiled in narrative form. This requires a separate historical conversation to contextualize each Section of the Doctrine and Covenants to really help us understand what is meant and being revealed to the early Saints in their time and place. As a Church, we have a fascinating and exciting opportunity every four years to study -- in a…

Shiloh and Ben discuss Moroni 10 and finalize this year's narrative in talking about the Book of Mormon. It is of interest that it seems that Moroni wants us to come with a heart of mercy to praying over the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Why would this be important to Moroni? At least in part is appears that Moroni is helping us to have a certain experience with the divine and that he is using us coming to God to pray over the truthfulness of the record as the catalyst to that experience. There are many things to say about the gifts of the spirit and of God,…