Distinctive Christianity

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Robert Bowman to discuss his book Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism. How comparable, both in terms of content and credibility, are the visions of Joseph Smith and the apostle Paul? How fitting are the methods analyzing harmonies, differences and potential contradictions between the New Testament accounts of the Resurrection of Christ, and the “First Vision” of Joseph Smith? Listen in as Dr. Bowman takes us into how to think about analyzing the credibility of miracle claims, and how accepting the historical reality of Jesus’ Resurrection does not logically open the Christian to the criticism that they should then accept all claims of the miraculous and the visionary. Starting with the appearance of Jesus to Paul, we ask about how to carefully think through how to understand what Paul saw and what that means – both historically and theologically. How does this compare to the LDS canonical account by Joseph Smith of his own “First Vision”? Is there a way to test the credibility of Joseph Smith’s claims in a way that is not guilty of a double-standard? Are the differences between Joseph Smith’s first vision accounts of the same category and quality as the differences we find in the New Testament accounts of the Risen Lord Jesus? We then ask Dr. Bowman why this matters – and why all people should care about what a thorough side-by-side comparison reveals about the credibility of the foundational claims of Christianity and of Mormonism.

Book: Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism

Check out website: RobertBowman.net

Some other resources by Dr. Bowman:

—“Jacob Hansen’s False Version of Joseph Smith’s First Vision”

- The Incarnate Christ and His Critics

- Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith

- The Word-Faith Controversy: Understanding the Health and Wealth Gospel

- “The Historical Jesus and the Biblical Church: Why the Quest Matters”

- “Moroni’s New Testament: Proof that the Author of the Book of Mormon used the King James Version”

- “‘Temple of Solomon’ and Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon: A Response to Robert Boylan”

Other resources:

D&C 20; JSH-1 (also here); “First Vision Accounts”

“The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” (Q15; read by President Nelson)

“What Are People Asking about Us?”; “The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith” by President Gordon B. Hinckley

“Joseph Smith: A Revealer of Christ”; “Joseph Smith – The Mighty Prophet of the Restoration” by Elder Bruce R. McConkie

First Vision: Memory and Mormon Origins by Steven Harper

Dr. Kyle Beshears on 1832 First Vision Account

Inventing Mormonism by H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley Walters (also here)

Sandra Tanner on the Character of Joseph Smith

Core Christianity by Michael Horton

Scribes and Scripture by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Testimonies to the Truth: Why You Can Trust the Gospels by Lydia McGrew

The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris

Scourby: Galatians, 1 Corinthians, Acts

In this episode, Casey and Skyler discuss and critique the official 2026 LDS Come, Follow Me manual’s coverage of Deuteronomy.

Please read (and even listen) to Deuteronomy (ESV, KJV)

Come, Follow Me – Home and Church (Old Testament Manual)

Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

“Becoming Like God”; “Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”; “Mother in Heaven” (Gospel Topics Essays)

“Light of Christ” by Elder Boyd K. Packer

Connecting Scripture New Testament

Christ and the Bible by John Wenham

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt (also, here)

Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J.I. Packer

“Jesus and the Law” sermon series by Charlie Dennison

The Pentateuch by J. Daniel Hays

God Spake By Moses by Oswald T. Allis

An Introduction to the Old Testament by Edward J. Young

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos

The Pentateuch as Narrative; The Meaning of the Pentateuch by John Sailhammer

“Indicative and Imperative: The Basic Structure of Pauline Ethics” by William Dennison

The Christ of the Covenants by O. Palmer Robertson

The Triumph of Grace in Deuteronomy: Faithless Israel, Faithful Yahweh in Deuteronomy by Paul Barker

Treaty of the Great King: The Covenant Structure of Deuteronomy by Meredith Kline

“Report of the Committee to Study Republication” (OPC)

Covenant and Commandment by Bradley Green

Now Choose Life: Theology and Ethics in Deuteronomy by J. Gary Millar

Kingdom through Covenant by Peter Gentry and Stephen Wellum

Is God a Moral Monster?; Did God Really Command Genocide? By Paul Copan

Wrestling with the Violence of God, edited by M. Daniel Carroll R. and J. Blair Wilgus

In this episode, Casey and Skyler discuss and critique the official 2026 LDS Come, Follow Me manual’s coverage of Numbers.

Please read (and even listen) to Numbers (ESV, KJV)

Come, Follow Me – Home and Church (Old Testament Manual)

Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

“Two Lines of Communication” by President Dallin H. Oaks

"The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

“Light of Christ” by Elder Boyd K. Packer

“Becoming Like God” (Gospel Topics Essays)

Connecting Scripture New Testament

Christ and the Bible by John Wenham

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt (also, here)

When Grace Transforms by Terry Johnson

“Indicative and Imperative: The Basic Structure of Pauline Ethics” by William Dennison

God's Mediators: A Biblical Theology of Priesthood by Andrew Malone

The Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology by Matthew Emadi

The Pentateuch; From Every People and Nation by J. Daniel Hays

God Spake By Moses by Oswald T. Allis

An Introduction to the Old Testament by Edward J. Young

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos

The Pentateuch as Narrative by John Sailhammer

Numbers 1-19; Numbers 20-36 by L. Michael Morales

“You Shall Be Clean”: A Biblical Theology of Defilement and Cleansing by G. Geoffrey Harper

“The Leper’s Cleansing and Our Salvation” by Matthew Emadi

Uncovering the Theme of Revelation in Romans 1:16-3:26 by Marcus Mininger

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Philip Barlow to discuss his book Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion. We start with diving into founding Prophet Joseph Smith’s relationship to and with the KJV Bible, and how we see it’s place in his prophetic project. From D&C 3 to the Book of Mormon to the “Inspired Translation” of the (KJV) Bible – how should we view Joseph Smith’s view of the authority of the Bible within the broader American context in which he lived? How does Moses 1:39 fundamentally shift the theological project and the goal of the religious life? Continuing the story, Dr. Barlow takes us into the broad unity and diversity in approaching the Bible by important figures such as President Brigham Young, Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph Fielding Smith, as well as B. H. Roberts and an important BYU educator William Chamberlin. How did this spectrum of development and engagement connect to the larger picture of higher criticism of the Bible and its introduction into more of the mainstream of American life? Moreover, why did the King James Version of the Bible become the semi-official and then official Bible in English for the LDS Church? We also get the opportunity to ask Dr. Barlow about his thoughts of the recent policy change regarding Bible translations for Latter-day Saints, and how that continues the story of the book.

Book: Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion

Also, check out: “New Guidance on Bible Translations for Latter-day Saints” (December 16, 2025) -“First Presidency Statement on the King James Translation of the Bible” (August 1992 Ensign)

Other resources by Dr. Barlow:

“To Mend a Fractured Reality: Joseph Smith’s Project”

New Historical Atlas of Religion in America

D&C 3; JSH-1; Moses 1; Abraham 4; JST John; JST Romans

Why the King James Version by Elder J. Reuben Clark

President Brigham Young: JD 14.226-227

President John Taylor: JD 1.25

Elder Orson Pratt: JD 7:23ff, 14.257-260, 15.247-249, 16.218, 17.269

Elder George A. Smith: JD 12.264

Joseph Fielding Smith: A Mormon Theologian by Matthew Bowman

- Seek Ye Earnestly; Man: His Origin and Destiny by President Joseph Fielding Smith

Harold B. Lee: Life and Thought, 1899-1973 by Newell Bringhurst

Bruce R. McConkie: Apostle and Polemicist, 1915-1985 by Devery Anderson (and here)

- “Joseph Smith Translation: The Doctrinal Restoration” by Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Conflict in the Quorum by Gary Bergera

The Next Mormons by Jana Reiss

Other resources:

WCF chapter 1

The Works of Benjamin B. Warfield, Volume 1: Revelation and Inspiration (also here)

The Pauline Eschatology; Biblical Theology by Geerhardus Vos

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (also here and here)

In The Beginning: The Story of the King James Bible and How It Changed a Nation, a Language, and a Culture by Alister McGrath

The King James Debate: A Plea for Realism by D.A. Carson

The King James Only Controversy by James White

Scribes and Scripture by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Biblical Words and Their Meaning; God, Language and Scripture by Moises Silva

In this episode, Casey and Skyler discuss and critique the official 2026 LDS Come, Follow Me manual’s coverage (or lack thereof) of Leviticus.

Please read (and even listen) to Leviticus (ESV, KJV)

Come, Follow Me – Home and Church (Old Testament Manual)

Old Testament Seminary Teacher Manual

“The Law of Sacrifice” by Elder M. Russell Ballard

D&C 13

Check out: Connecting Scripture New Testament

Christ and the Bible by John Wenham

Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus by L. Michael Morales

“You Shall Be Clean”: A Biblical Theology of Defilement and Cleansing by G. Geoffrey Harper

The Bible Among the Myths by John Oswalt (also, here)

American Awakening: Identity Politics and Other Afflictions of Our Time by Joshua Mitchell (also, here)

The Pentateuch by J. Daniel Hays

God Spake By Moses by Oswald T. Allis

An Introduction to the Old Testament by Edward J. Young

Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos

The Pentateuch as Narrative by John Sailhammer

The Book of Leviticus (NICOT) by Gordon Wenham

Leviticus by Jacob Milgrom

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Kyle Beshears to discuss his book 40 Questions About Mormonism. Is Mormonism a “global religion”, and how do we balance the unity and diversity among the various branches of the Restoration Movement? What is some of the history and taxonomy of traditional Christian engagement with the LDS? What is the LDS priesthood, and how does it connect throughout the system of Mormon doctrine and practice? Is the LDS Godhead of “separate beings and persons” a form of “social Trinitarianism”, and how is this a paradigm for understanding fundamental differences amid superficial similarity? Listen in as we ask Dr. Beshears this, and more – including how difficult it is to prioritize sources of authority when discussing LDS doctrine, and whether “Heavenly Mother” is indeed, official doctrine. We also ask about the difference between building temples and temple theology – and ask Kyle about what he thinks is the biggest challenge from Mormonism toward traditional Christianity, and vice versa.

Book: 40 Questions About Mormonism

Other resources by Dr. Kyle Beshears:

- “Wingfield Scott Watson and His Struggle to Preserve the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) After the Death of Its Founder” (Past interview: here and here)

- “’That Sacred Depository’: Biblical Content in Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision Account” (found here; past interview: here)

-"The Phrase That Came To Pass"

Other resources:

“Approaching Latter-day Saint Doctrine”

The Family Proclamation; O My Father

“What Are People Asking about Us?”; “The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith” by President Gordon B. Hinckley

"The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

"The Light of Christ" by Elder Boyd K. Packer

The Miracle of Forgiveness by President Spencer W. Kimball

The Great Apostasy by Elder James Talmage

A Rational Theology by Elder John Widtsoe

The American Religion by Harold Bloom

Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens

Mormons and the Bible by Philip Barlow

“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology by Charles Harrell

Latter-day Saint Theology among Christian Theologies by Grant Underwood

Scattering of the Saints, edited by Newell G. Bringhurst and John C. Hamer

Early Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn

The Mysteries of Godliness by David Buerger

The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History, edited by Devery Anderson

The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken

The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G. K. Beale

Rediscovering the Church Fathers by Michael Haykin

Biblical Theology; Reformed Dogmatics by Geerhardus Vos

Reformed Dogmatics (4 vol.’s) by Herman Bavinck

Simply Trinity by Matthew Barrett

The Triune God by Fred Sanders

The Trinity by Scott Swain

The Person of Christ by Stephen Wellum

The Attributes of God by Gerald Bray

In this interview, we welcome Jeff Strong to discuss his book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn From Them. What is disaffiliation, and how does it differ from inactivity? Drawing on extensive study and experience – as well as qualitative and quantitative research, we seek to understand truly what is happening when it comes to LDS disaffiliation, and why. Do we know how many once active and faithful Latter-Day Saints have disaffiliated and transitioned away from the LDS Church? Taking us through this answer – and seeking to properly understand it against the contextual backdrop of religion in America more generally, we then seek to understand why they have left. Describing the four main reasons as “waves”, we learn about how issues of Lifestyle, Church History, Social Issues and Church Experience have ranked in how people have identified their reasons for leaving. Listen in as Jeff takes us through this and how and why there has been a shift in what people have prioritized when it comes to the “primary pathways” that have “shaped religious conversion and commitment”. Moreover, we discuss some of the cultural tensions that religious communities face today – as well as a discussion of how to evaluate what is and what should be essential shared doctrinal confession and moral behavior at the base of the community.

Book: Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn From Them

Website: tornbyjeffstrong.com

Any feedback please send to [email protected]

Other resources:

“LDS Church sees a record rise in converts, but why are fewer babies being added to the rolls?” by Mark Eddington (The Salt Lake Tribune)

The Next Mormons by Jana Riess

"Closing Remarks" by President Russell M. Nelson

Shaman and Sage by Michael Horton

Spiritual Marketplace by Wade Clark Roof

The American Religious Landscape; The Nones; The Vanishing Church by Ryan Burge

Ligonier: The State of Theology Survey

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

No Place for Truth; The Courage to Be Protestant by David Wells

The Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. 25

OPC Book of Church Order

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Shelby Fisher to discuss her book Tracy Y. Cannon: Tabernacle Organist and Pioneering Musician, 1879-1961. Who was Tracy Young Cannon, and why does he matter? A highly-trained organist and accomplished musician, Tracy Cannon had a huge impact on the musical landscape of the LDS Community – both in his work as an educator, as well as his work on the General Music Committee that helped shape the development of LDS Hymnody and the music environment of Sunday services. Having trained under many then-famous experts in organ, piano and composition, Tracy Cannon had a vision of a more refined and improved musical culture among his people. This was even showcased by his playing public recitals on the famous Tabernacle organ for decades, for the enjoyment of member and non-member alike. Listen in as Dr. Fisher takes us through a tour of the development of LDS hymnody, from the Latter-day Saints Psalmody (of 1889) through to the Latter-day Saint Hymns (of 1927) to the official Hymns: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of 1948. Tracy Young Cannon wrote the music for several of the hymns for the LDS church and people – including hymns like “Come, Rejoice”, “Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice”, and “How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord”. In addition, Tracy Cannon wrote The Organist’s Manual – which aided in the improvement of the musical quality of wards throughout the LDS Church, which then had the organ as their official instrument for Sunday services. This tour will include names well-known and some less known, including a major part played by President Heber J. Grant, both in the desire for theological clarity when it comes to worship music – as well as his founding of the General Music Committee in 1920.

Book: Tracy Y. Cannon: Tabernacle Organist and Pioneering Musician, 1879-1961

Hymns of which Tracy Y. Cannon wrote the tune, and two of which he also wrote the text:

- “Come, Rejoice” (also here)

- “God of Power, God of Right”

- “Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice” (also here)

- “The Lord Be With Us”

- “Come, Let Us Sing an Evening Hymn”

- “Jesus, Mighty King in Zion”

- “How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord”

“Sing What We Believe” by Elder Heber J. Grant

“Farewell Address of Apostle Heber J. Grant”

Hymns: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1948)

- “O My Father” (also here)

George Q. Cannon: Politician, Publisher, Apostle of Polygamy by Kenneth Cannon II

Eduardo Balderas: Father of Church Translation, 1907-1989 by Ignacio Garcia

A sample of Alberto Jonas, Alexandre Guilmant (and here), and Pietro Yon (and here)

The English Hymn: Its Development and Use by Louis Benson

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Daniel Stevens to discuss his book Songs of the Son: Reading the Psalms with the Author of Hebrews. Starting with the issue of how truly interconnected are the Old and New Testaments, we ask about how the Psalms should help us to see the Bible, in its diversity, as a unified whole. Is Christ Jesus objectively in the Psalms or is the New Testament often a collection of subjective reader-responses (with privilege)? What is the teaching of Hebrews on the matter, how does the author view the Psalms - and why does this matter when it comes to the claims of Christ? Listen in as we ask Dr. Stevens about “prosopological exegesis”, and how we can see that the one God who speaks in the Epistle includes and involves the personal voices of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – with even glimpses into the Father and the Son speaking to each other, and God the Holy Spirit speaking to the congregation. Why is the “divine conversation” between God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit key to the entire argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews, as a whole? Moreover, we hear this play out in how the Psalms point to Christ Jesus, and how the author of Hebrews helps us see greater clarity and resolution in the Psalms given the life, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus. The God-man himself is the source and substance of any hope fallen and sinful man has in entering the true Promised Land and being reconciled with the unique and sovereign God who created all things and upholds them in His power. Moreover, perhaps the pattern Hebrews models directly impacted the early Church’s Creeds, both in terms of doctrine and grammar.

Book: Songs of the Son: Reading the Psalms with the Author of Hebrews

Other resources by Dr. Stevens:

- The Theme of Promise in the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Promise Remains

- “More Than Red Letters: Jesus’s Teaching Across the New Testament” (TGC)

- “Is It Valid? A Case for the Repunctuation in Hebrews 9:17” (JBL)

Other resources:

Divine Discourse in the Epistle to the Hebrews by Madison Pierce

The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews by R.B. Jamieson

The Royal Priest: Psalm 110 in Biblical Theology by Matthew Emadi

God, Grace, and Righteousness in Wisdom of Solomon and Paul’s Letter to the Romans: Texts in Conversation by Jonathan Linebaugh

Uncovering the Theme of Revelation in Romans 1:16-3:26 by Marcus Mininger

“King Follett Discourse”; “The Sermon in the Grove” by President-Prophet Joseph Smith

- See also D&C 93, 132; JST John 1; Abraham 3, 4

“Be Ye Therefore Perfect” by LDS President-Prophet Spencer W. Kimball

Wrestling the Angel; The God Who Weeps by Terryl Givens

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Matt O’Reilly to discuss his book Free To Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification. What is biblical holiness – and how does biblical holiness relate to the Gospel of Grace? What does it mean to “be holy” as God is holy, and what is the role of God, the Holy Spirit in the sanctification of the believer? From the Garden of Eden to Isaiah 6, and from the “Holiness Code” of Leviticus to our Savior’s Sermon on the Mount, Dr. O’Reilly argues that holiness is an “integrative doctrine” - aiding the attentive reader to understand one of the deep threads of Bible, from our creation in the image of God to being conformed to the image of Christ. How do we properly understand holiness and sanctification without compromising the Gospel of Grace? Does man have a “sin nature”? And when Christ calls us to “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” – how do we properly understand the text, in context? Listen in as Dr. O’Reilly helps deepen our understanding of God, man, sin, nature – and the entire purpose God has for those who are made in his image and likeness.

Book: Free To Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctification

Also, by Dr. O’Reilly:

Reconstructing Methodism: Crucial Issues Facing the Global Methodist Church

Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice

Other resources:

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen

Against God and Nature: The Doctrine of Sin by Thomas McCall

Desiring the Kingdom; Imagining the Kingdom by James K. A. Smith

Paul and the Person: Reframing Paul’s Anthropology by Susan Grove Eastman

The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul

Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee

The Miracle of Forgiveness by President Spencer W. Kimball (also here)

“Call to the Holy Apostleship” by President (then-Elder) Russell M. Nelson

1 Ne. 3:7; D&C 82:7; 130:20-21

Scourby: Romans; Isaiah; Matthew