Why should I read the Book of Mormon? Did you know the Book of Mormon has a thesis statement? And did you know you can have one as you read? Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward
There are no shortage of resources to help you study the Book of Mormon. With all of those voices, it can sometimes be overwhelming to know just exactly where, when, how often, and with what tools you should be reading. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward...
Who wrote the Book of Mormon? Want a fresh perspective as you read the Book of Mormon? Try meeting the four Book of Mormon evangelists--the primary writers behind the stories and sermons and whose personal, human, testimony touches so many hearts. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward...
Is it okay to just read the Book of Mormon? And if so, how do I do it? Is there something I should be looking for? Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward
There are some important questions we can ask as we begin our study of the Book of Mormon (and/or repeatedly during our study throughout the year) that can make all the difference in what we are able to draw from it. In this miniseries we'll ask those questions, seek for some answers, and share some ideas that could empower a study of this sacred text. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward...
Why should I trust imperfect Church leaders? This question, in one form or another, comes up frequently among latter-day saints or their friends because following living apostles, prophets, and other leaders is so central to our theology and practice. Well, it's a great question to kick off your study off the Acts of the Apostles and this episode should give you a jumpstart. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: "Memories Replaced" by Josh Woodward...
What did Peter do with himself after his denial? What did the women at the tomb do with the worry or the fear they felt? What did Cleopas do with his sadness? What did Thomas do with his doubts? What did Jesus do with his feeling of being forsaken? Studying the end of the Savior's mortal ministry provides ample evidence of how difficult continuing faith was for those closest to the Savior, and, therefore, how difficult it can be for us. This month we ask the question, "What do I do when I don't ...
"What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This question (and others like it) was asked of the Savior by His disciples, others of His followers, and by detractors. The truth--that God's eternal identity, our eternal identity, and our willing we are to convert to eternal principles--is at the crux of the Savior's answers and parables. This month gives us a great chance to study this question and consider our own understanding of eternal life. Show Notes: The Laborers in the Vineyard (churchofjesus...
Mirriam-Webster's dictionary defines the word Christian as "one who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ." Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints certainly profess belief in Christ, and yet many, especially some vocal in the wider Christian world, refuse to grant them/us the title "Christian". In this episode we explore both the why nots and, more importantly, begin a study of the whys behind our Christianity. Show Notes: Christ’s Crucifixion: Reclamation of the ...
We use the phrase "I know" in many settings and situations in our description of our faith. In this episode we ask if saying "I know" is a requirement and what might come before and after that statement that could help us have a more expanded relationship with truth and come to better "know" the Savior Himself. Show Notes: For past episodes on the Come Follow Me blocks, click below Matt 8-9 / Mark 2-5 - Miracles Matt 16-17 / Mark 8-9 / Luke 9 - Testimony Alma 31-32 - The Faith Experiment Connect...
We are back with a new season of The Scripture Study Project with an all new approach. This season we are asking questions--sometimes hard, often personal, always important--that have everything to do with our relationship with God and then studying scriptures in search of truth and understanding. This episode we start with our first question of the season drawn from Jesus' own word: do I really have to be "perfect"? The answer, and a study of that answer, takes us from the sermon on the mount t...
Malachi was a messenger, and he prophesied of other messengers to come. Of course John the Baptist stands out as one primary fulfiller of prophesy; but all of us in some small way can be messengers who prepare the way of the Lord. This episode, our final this season, and our final weekly episode of our podcast, we reflect on five years of podcasting and the "messages" we have learned, loved, and hoped to share with you. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: by Steve Oxen...
My grandfather was an architect. I remember visiting him in his office and seeing the tools laid out on his basement drafting board and being captivated by the idea that someone could plan such large buildings. As I've grown older I often think of similarities between designing and drafting a building and our efforts to conscientiously plan and live a life. In this episode we study the words of two prophets--Haggai and Zechariah--focused on the reconstruction of the temple at Jerusalem and, conc...
At the end of the book of Zephaniah, the prophet expresses that in the last days, "the king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee". Imagine for a moment: what if we took that verse literally and pictured arriving home today from work or school or shopping to find Him in our living room. What would you think and feel if He were there? Would there be relief or reservation? Would there be excitement or anxiety? Would you rush to meet him or would you want to rush to complete some procra...
The story of Jonah is a masterpiece of scriptural story that weaves together a very human and relatable character in Jonah with a compelling illustration of the true character of the Lord interlaced with suspense and surprise. It may be one of the best books in our recent study to liken to ourselves. In this week's study we do just that and ask the question, "What am I running away from?" Show Notes: Steven J. Lund, "Flashes of Light" Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: by Steve Oxen...
I remember years ago watching an episode of a hidden camera tv show where actors acted out a scene where one man, dressed as someone living on the streets, was given money by other only to have that money stolen by some mocking teenagers. The episode focused on the actions of the surrounding people who did know they were watching and actor portrayal, to see if they would intervene, comfort the victim, or just walk on. In this sort of modern day reenactment of the good Samaritan, although some di...
Recently I heard a description of some of the reasons why members of the Church have struggled or are struggling with their faith. For a small group, they struggle because they no longer believe the Church is true. For a larger group, they struggle because they do not believe the Church is good. However, for the largest group they struggle because they do not feel like they belong in the Church. In our study this week we read two prophets speaking to people who may be felt this same lack of belo...
There's a story told almost 100 years ago in a Church magazine about a young man named Creed Haymond who ran track for his college. The night before a meet his coach offered the team alcohol to help them relax for the next day's races. Creed refused, multiple times, and to the chagrin of his coach and teammates. The end of the story is powerful (and you can read it if you click the link in our show notes), but it's actually the middle of the story itself that interests us this week. In this epis...
Hebrew prophets were valued because of their ability to foresee coming events and, then, warn people in the present. However, the true test of this foresight is, of course, whether or not these visions materialize. Today we study some of the prophet Ezekiel's most far-reaching declarations and see clear fulfillment in our own day. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: by Steve Oxen...
I used to play a game with my seminary students called "Boo Speak" where I would invite a student to leave the room and then, with the students left in the room, pick a word that we would try and eliminate from that student's vocabulary by sheer peer pressure. Once we had decided on a word we would invite that student back in the room. I would have a conversation with the student and whenever he would say the word we would all say "boo" and/or provide other negative feedback. It was fascinating ...
I love art museums, and in recent years, I've had multiple chances to attend a few and one thing I've noticed, repeatedly, is the vast breadth of color and emotion represented in the displayed art. Incredible paintings of bright flower gardens on warm days are balanced by emotional paintings of dark caverns or shrouded faces. I've come to appreciate the tug on my emotions as I feel, often in the same room, enlightened and pained, lifted by beauty and confronted with ugliness. In our study this w...
There are some pressing questions we must address this week: how can you make shapes and animals out of pancake batter, what's the best way to eat a strawberry, and how cay you maximize the milk-to-cookie ratio of an oreo. These questions, as outlandish as it sounds, will help us better answer other questions. How can I fast with my eye single to God's purpose? How can I truly delight in the Sabbath? How can I better recognize and emulate the Savior's ministry? This week we study our final block...
Years ago I studied Isaiah 53 with a group of teenagers in a seminary class. As part of our experience I gave students a small piece of cardstock with a silhouette of Jesus printed on it on which I had asked them to write descriptions of the Savior they had found in their study. After class, as I was picking up the room, I noticed one card lying on the ground. I picked it up, turned it over, and read the words, "Are you really there?" That question has lodged in my mind and heart and has dramati...
I once watched as someone illustrated Isaiah's visions and prophecies by drawing him as a stick figure then drawing a telescope in front of his face which indicated that Isaiah could see, both what was really close at hand, but also what was coming in the near future (for him, 150 years away) and the distant future (our day). In our study this week we dive into what scholars often call 2nd Isaiah because his focus seems to shift to the future. While some contend that this shift indicates a diffe...
When Krista and I were first married she introduced me to the idea of "empty calories"--foods that you could eat but that would give little to no nutrition (this was how she described many of the things I had grown used to eating in college). This week we Isaiah 13-35 and look at the things Isaiah describes that are the spiritual version of empty calories and, conversely and much more importantly, the things truly feed the soul. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: by Stev...
Some commentators have described the book of Isaiah the climactic book of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. Isaiah's writings were certainly important to many later writers, including Nephi, Abinadi, Mormon, and Jesus Christ himself. When describing his own passion for the words of Isaiah, Nephi said, "my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, . . . for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. . . . And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that w...
One of my favorite things about learning from the Lord is that He teaches with images, stories, and symbols. I learned this week that the Hebrew word "māšāl" translated in verse 1 as "proverb" is translated in many other places as "parable". In other words, this book is a book of mini parables that, as we'll learn together, help us practice living a God-like life. Show Notes: Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook Music: by Steve Oxen...
I searched for the word "Psalms" on the Church homepage this week and found that almost every General Conference return going on for multiple pages was a talk with a title taken from a psalm. From Pres. Nelson's famous, "Joy Cometh in the Morning" to Elder Bednar's quotable "A Broken Heart and a Contrite Spirit" to Elder Holland's emotional "Like a Broken Vessel", it's clear that our Church leaders know and love the Psalms. Similarly, Jesus and his apostles quoted from Psalms over 100 times in t...
One thing that took getting used to as I prepared for a mission to Germany was the Germany fairy tale. Contrary to many romantic tales where heroes prevail against evil and receive rewards for their efforts, Germany fairy tales contain stories where good and bad often happen unexpectedly and to unexpected people: often the hero loses all while the village fool gets incredible fortune. I recently listened to a discussion about the history of the fairy tale which indicated that the modern, more ro...
Years ago in a seminary class where we were studying a scriptural account of a woman, one of the young men blurted out that he felt the lesson didn't apply to the boys in the class because it was about a woman in the scriptures. Immediately one of the older girls in class responded that girls spent much of their scripture study efforts applying lessons learned from stories about men, and that if they could do it, so could he. That young man, hopefully, learned a valuable truth. It is an unfortun...
