Israel’s Kings with Dana M. Pike
Laura Harris Hales interviews Dr. Dana M. Pike on Israel’s united and divided monarchies....
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The First Vision with Spencer McBride
February 5, 2020
19th Century Restorationists – RoseAnn Benson
As Joseph Smith reported his visions and revelations designed to restore the New Testament church, another preacher living nearby sought the same goals, but through very different means. RoseAnn Benson, author of Alexander Campbell and Joseph Smith: 19th-Century Restorationists explains the similarities and contrasts between Joseph Smith and Alexander Campbell....
read moreViolence in the Bible with George A. Pierce
In Deuteronomy, the Israelites were instructed to smite, destroy, and consume the inhabitants of Canaan, an act that Joshua initiates at the city of Jericho. Laura Harris Hales interviews Dr. George Pierce, a specialist in ancient Near East archaeology and anthropology about just what these chapters might be telling us. ...
read moreThe LDS Church and the Sugar Industry with Matthew C. Godfrey
The balance between the LDS Church’s operation of its non-profit and for-profit endeavors has always come with both benefits and repercussions. Historian Matthew C. Godfrey discusses with Laura Harris Hales some of the challenges that face the church when it becomes involved in business....
read moreThoughts on the Nature of Godness with Blake Ostler
In this episode, Blake Ostler elaborates on the nature of God with host Nick Galieti....
read moreBeauty for Ashes – Scott Livingston
Scott Livingston is an independent scholar whose gospel studies have been largely fueled by his ecclesiastical ministry. He is currently a Stake President, and many of the recurring concerns that surface as he counsels with individuals and couples led him to write the...
read moreAbinadi with Shon Hopkin
Laura Harris Hales interviews Shon Hopkin about different aspects of the Abinadi narrative in the Book of Mormon. Shon D. Hopkin is an associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He has published and presented papers on the Jewish concept of a premortal life and...
read moreThe Lost 116 Pages with Don Bradley
In this episode, Brian Hales interviews Don Bradley about his decades-long research into missing parts of Book of Mormon narrative. Ever since he was a youngster, Don’s wondered about the content of the 116 pages of the Book of Lehi transcript that Martin Harris lost...
read moreThe Missouri War and Liberty Jail Letters with David W. Grua
LDS Perspectives is pleased to announce a new podcast interview with David W. Grua, a historian and documentary editor with the Joseph Smith Papers. David holds a Ph.D. in American History from Texas Christian University and an M.A. and B.A. from Brigham Young...
read moreThe Kirtland Safety Society with Elizabeth Kuehn
On this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast, Russell Stevenson interviews Elizabeth Kuehn, a Joseph Smith Papers historian and documentary editor, about one of the lasting blemishes on the Mormon Kirtland experience – the failure of the Kirtland Safety Society...
read moreThe Millennial Temple with R. Jean Addams
An Interview with R. Jean Addams, author of Upon the Temple Lot: The Church of Christ's Quest to Build the House of the Lord....
read moreOld Major with Alexander L. Baugh
This week we have a little fun as we take a lighthearted look at Joseph Smith's loyal companion, friend, and pet—Old Major. Dr. Alexander L. Baugh shares the tenuous nature of historical sleuthing. Often disparate references are all that scholars have to reconstruct the past....
read moreA Global History of Black Mormons with Russell Stevenson
Laura Harris Hales interviews Russell Stevenson, author of For the Cause of Righteousness: A Global History of Blacks and Mormonism. Stevenson’s book details the relationship between African and Afro-diasporic peoples and the Mormon tradition, particularly regarding the temple and priesthood restrictions. ...
read moreA Closer Look at the Foundational Texts of Mormonism with Sharalyn D. Howcroft
Laura Harris Hales recently interviewed Sharalyn D. Howcroft on Foundational Texts of Mormonism: Examining Major Early Sources, a new book that ;carefully analyzes essential texts that are repeatedly used by historians as they reconstruct Mormonism's founding era. ...
read moreGlimpses of Nauvoo with Christopher Blythe
Christopher James Blythe is a volume editor of the Documents series of The Joseph Smith Papers. He completed a PhD in American religious history from Florida State University, an MA in history from Utah State University, and BA degrees in religious studies and...
read moreOld Testament People and Places – Jared Ludlow
In this episode, Laura Harris Hales speaks with Jared Ludlow about the ancient Near East and its peoples as part of our ongoing series on the Old Testament. They also discuss A Bible Reader’s History of the Ancient World, a textbook used at the BYU Jerusalem Center....
read moreThe Dead Sea Scrolls with Josh Madson
Joshua Madson is a PhD student in religions of western antiquity at Florida State University and a teacher at the Tallahassee Institute of Religion. Josh received his bachelor’s degree in Ancient Near Eastern studies with university honors from Brigham Young...
read moreSymbolism in the Bible and the Flood with Paul Hoskisson
The authors of the Old Testament told very few “stories” for a story’s sake. Scriptural accounts were meant to illustrate a point usually having to do with Israel’s relationship to God. Authors carefully chose how they presented their messages,...
read moreThe Council of Fifty’s Quest for Religious Liberty with W. Paul Reeve
W. Paul Reeve is a professor of history and the director of graduate studies in history at the University of Utah where he teaches courses on Utah history, Mormon history, and history of the US West. Recently he was named the director of the newly organized Mormon...
read moreBecoming Like God–Gospel Topics Essay, with Terryl Givens
A New York native, Terryl Givens did his graduate work in intellectual history (Cornell) and comparative literature (UNC Chapel Hill). He teaches courses in nineteenth-century studies and religious themes in literature at the University of Richmond, where he is...
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