Shiloh and Ben move into talking about the fulfillment of Samuel's prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. Nephites who were baptized into the Church because they had seen signs did not experience deep conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Nephites and Lamanites combine forces to thwart the Gadianton Robbers. While Mormon explains that "it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy" and that "Gidgidoni was a great prophet" (3 Ne 3:19), there is still ample evidence that the depth of the Nephite "righteousness"…

Ben and Shiloh talk about Samuel the Lamanite preaching to and calling the Nephites to repentance. Why did the Lord send a Lamanite to call repentance to the Nephites when they already had Nephi, the prophet, there preaching the same message? The pattern of Samuel’s preaching reflect the same patterns of Abinadi and Alma the Younger, as he preaches the good news and signs of the Savior’s birth. Shiloh and Ben discuss the nature of God in how it relates to Helaman 12:3 and to Samuel’s words of God’s active vengeance. Is there a different way to view God than as an actively vengeful God?

Shiloh and guest-host Christopher Hurtado talk about the state of Nephite affairs after the official "War Chapters" conclude. Political intrigue, pride in the Church, international conflict, and a failed military bid to regain lost lands find the Nephites at a loss. Christopher and Shiloh discuss myth narratives and find interesting verses that combine the Garden of Eden myth together with the Lehi/Nephi Dream myth in how to become one with God. Nephi and Lehi go out to preach the world of God and follow the pattern set forward by their great-grandfather, Alma the Younger, as the Lamanites repent and become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We see another…

Shiloh and Ben discuss the last half of the War Chapters in the Book of Mormon and question some possibilities that the War Chapters may have been the first thing that Mormon compiled in the Book of Mormon as a young military general. Why and in what way are the Anti Nephi Lehis talked about differently in Alma 53 and 56 than in Alma 26? Captain Moroni is a complicated character that is often quick-to-anger and condemnation, but he consistently expresses a strength of heart and mind to cease bloodshed and fighting mid-battle to let the enemy go free with an oath. After Captain Moroni breaths many threatenings and admonitions…

Ben and Shiloh continue their discussion on the first half of the War Chapters in the Book of Mormon. There is a lot to say about the the Nephite narratives and identities in how they view themselves and the Lamanites that frame and contextualize the discussion and that are sometimes taken for granted in analyzing the text. Were there missed opportunities for the Nephites to end war through other non-military means? Were the Nephites always truly expressing the seeming justness of their cause? Did the Nephites always live up to their standards of belief concerning war? Just how much like the Nephites are we today, and can we gain any…

Shiloh and Ben begin a preliminary discussion to contextualize the war chapters. They explore the observations for the Lord's stated means of deliverance in Mosiah 7:33, the Lord's standard for "justified" self-defense and warfare in D&C 98, and what it means to go beyond what is merely justified into the realms of what is counted as "righteousness." In Alma 43:47 it states "the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed." Yet, in this seeming universal command to take up arms to spill the blood of brother's or sister's life in defense of our families, we see righteous examples counter to the popular interpretation of this…

Ben and Shiloh talk about Alma's fatherly admonitions to his sons Helaman and Shiblon. They talk about clues that Alma leaves us into the foundations of his own testimony, and discuss about the nature of and doctrine of "Christ" as found in these chapters. While we typically talk about the "doctrine of Christ" in general terms as simply the gospel, there is another more nuanced discussion that Shiloh and Ben explore as to what "Christ" is as the archetype of our humanity and what it means to take that name upon ourselves.

Ben and Shiloh continue their talk about the Zoramites, as they explore the concept and principle of faith in Christ. What is the relationship of faith and hope, and how do we regain our hope if we feel that we've lost it? They explore ideas pertaining to experiencing God and of how to develop a relationship with the Spirit. Amulek warns that "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God," and Shiloh and Ben discuss various transactional and transformational ways of interpreting the meaning of this passage of scripture and how that impacts how we see God, ourselves, and each other.

Shiloh and Ben discuss the conversation between Alma and Korihor, Korihor's teachings, and how Alma sees that all of creation denotes the existence of God. Alma is seeking to give Korihor an experience with God, whereas Korihor is looking for rational proof that -- in itself -- will never lead to true conversion and the experience of just sitting with and being enveloped in the love of God. Through this story we can also begin to see different ways of viewing God from transactional and transformative ways. In chapter 31, the Zoramites pray from the Rameumptom in glory of their separation from those less spiritual, as Alma prays to God…

Shiloh and Ben discuss the story of the Anti-Lehi-Nephis, the Doctrine of Perhaps, nonviolence, and the history of how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has viewed and used the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis over the last hundred years. There is much more to the story and conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, and we are very excited to have this discussion. We hope you enjoy!