Religion Today

The Dead Sea Scrolls are an important find for Jews, Christians and especially Latter-day Saints.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner demonstrates that the Qumran Community called themselves "Latter-day Saints."  The DSS vindicated Joseph Smith's claim that ancient records were written on thin metal sheets and stored to come forth in the "Last Days."  The DSS "Copper Scroll" was such a scroll.  The DSS also include a scroll which describes the Messiah as "Son of God" and "Son of the Most High" as we read in Luke 1:32.  The DSS "Pierced Messiah" text shows some pre-Christian Jews believed the Messiah would be crucified.  Other information about the DSS significant for LDS and other Christians is included.

Latter-day Saints sometime speak of a "Mother in Heaven".  But most know little about her.  In honor of Mothers everywhere, on this Mothers' Day, in this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner gives a thumb-nail sketch of ancient Jewish belief in a Hebrew Goddess, Early Christian belief in a Heavenly Mother and the origins and belief of a Mother in Heaven in LDS belief, as explained by General Authorities and others.

Host Martin Tanner interviews the researchers and film makers of the first documentary on experiences, communications and encounters in near-death experiences, visions and dreams, with spirits waiting to be born into life on earth.  Film makers and researchers Sarah and Brent Hinze new documentary describes their 30 years of research in compiling, recording and analyzing over two hundred such experiences.  Their book Life Before Life has been a favorite for many years.  Now their documentary adds a unique documentary to their efforts. Opening in theaters this week "Remembering Heaven" has one first place and "people's choice" awards in four independent film festivals.  For more information go to:

sarahhinze.com 

Last week was Easter for Protestant ,Catholic and all Western Christian faiths.  But today is Easter Sunday for the Eastern Christian faiths, including the Orthodox Church.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner continues with last weeks Easter theme by providing descriptions of Jesus by those who actually saw him, during his life on earth, in vision thereafter, and, in recent Near-death Experiences.  His appearance may not be quite as you thought or imagined.  

In this Easter Sunday edition of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains what the word "resurrection" means.  He mentions the four Old Testament verses which describe resurrection and a few of the many New Testament scriptures which mention resurrection.  He explains how Mary could mistake newly resurrected Jesus for a gardener, and how the Apostle Thomas could put his fingers inside Jesus' unhealed wound on his side after the resurrection; and, why these accounts do not contradict the description of Jesus in Joseph Smith's First Vision of a bright and glorious resurrected Jesus.  Martin explains how parents can raise their deceased children in the Millennium and how people who's physical body has been obliterated can still be resurrected.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is renovating the Salt Lake Temple which was completed in 1893. Many wonder at the meaning and purpose of its design and the origin of the "Endowment" or primary ritual inside the LDS Temple.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes the origin of the "Endowment" and how Joseph Smith conceived its purpose.  He also describes how the location for the Salt Lake Temple was chosen, and describes the detailed and rich symbolism of its design and exterior features.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner discusses details about the King James Bible you ought to know.  For example, it was not a translation from the early Greek manuscripts.  Well over half was taken word-for-word from William Tyndale's translation.  It was in 1611 easy to read and understand for ordinary people.  Ironically today, it is difficult to understand and its archaic English is difficult to understand.  But it has contributed to phrases still in use today like "in the twinkling of an eye" and "by the skin of your teeth" and "knock and you will find."  But is has miss-translations, including in the Book of Revelation where we read "the book of life" which should read "the tree of life."  Erasmus just plain got it wrong on that one.

In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner presents a brief history of music in pre-earth life, in the Bible, in Judaism, in Christianity, in Heaven, and how music in Heaven has been described in Near-death Experiences.  Music has the ability to elevate feelings, mood, happiness and resolve.  By implication, in Genesis and Job, music is a gift from God.  The Book of Psalms, today in modern English would be titled, "The Book of Songs" or "The Book of Hymns."  Music in Heaven has been described as soft (not loud at all) complex, yet very pleasing and uplifting, something like an exquisitely detailed symphony, yet soft and of uncertain musical instruments or sources.

Host Martin Tanner explains "Hell" is a northern-European Norse word for the underworld.  Jesus used the Aramaic word "Gehenna" which is poorly translated as "Hell" in the King James and other Bible versions.  Gehenna is a small gorge at the edge of ancient Jerusalem where garbage was tossed and burned.  When Jesus tells people they are in danger of Gehenna, he is saying you are in danger of becoming worthless.  Martin also explains how St. Catherine's Monastery at the base of Mt. Sinai has an ancient, exquisite painting entitled the "Ladder of Ascent to Become Divine" or "Ladder of Divine Ascent, of special meaning to Latter-day Saints.  Martin also explains why the ancient Mar Saba Library adjacent to the Kidron Valley is of importance because the "Secret Gospel of Mark" was found there, which contains what appears to be a description of an early Christian ritual like the LDS Temple Endowment.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes how traditional Christianity believes there was a time in the beginning when God alone existed.  Nothing else, not space, matter, energy or life existed.  God created everything ex nihilo out of nothing.  In LDS theology, not just God, but all matter, energy and life, in the form of intelligence or spirit, has always existed.  Joseph Smith explained, as recorded in D&C 93:33 "[T]here is no immaterial matter."  Anything that is created can be destroyed.  Ultimately, LDS theology would say God, through eternal progression, moved from being like humans are now, through progression, into the being he is now.  In that sense, God through progression turned himself into God.