Religion Today

Host Martin Tanner explains by what Priesthood authority Lehi and his family went to the New World, and there, organized new Churches and Synagogues, and performed Ordinances, including baptism.  If no family of Latter-day Saints can simply decide to move to a new country, and start a new branch or stake, by what authority did Lehi, Nephi and their extensed families form new churches and synagogues in the New World, and perform ordinances there?  In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner answers these questions, and many related ones.

In Part 2 of the Visions of Joseph Smith, Religion Today host Martin Tanner describes about fifteen more of the 70 known visions of Joseph Smith, including four visions of the Father and the Son, and five additional visions of Jesus.  Although some of these accounts are in scripture, most are found in diary entries of Joseph Smith, and his close associates and friends.  Martin Tanner describes visions of the appearance of Adam and Eve, Moses, the Apostle Peter, Elias (Noah), Elijah, the future growth of the Church, future calamaties prior to the Second Coming of Jesus, a spiritual battle with Satan, and many others, especially in connection with the completion and dedication of the Kirtland Temple.  

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner interviews T.C. Christensen, Latter-day Saint filmmaker extrordinaire (filmography:  17 Miracles; Ephraim's Resccue; The Cokeville Miracle; Love Kennedy, The Fighting Preacher, and many more), who has a new film in theaters now, Escape From Germany (PG).  This historically accurate film, the story-line of which is derived from the personal diaries of the missionaries and others who experienced it, describes the miracles, and inspired decisions made by the President Heber J. Grant, the President of the LDS Germany Mission when World War II started, and many others, which enabled Mormon missionaries to escape from Nazi Germany during the final days before Hitler closed the boarders of Germany, invaded neighboring countries, and started World WW2.  This extraordinary film is a must see, accurate historical drama, from a new perspective, and is appropriate for the entire family.  Host Martin Tanner highly recommends this movie from one of the very best LDS filmmakers, T.C. Christensen    

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes most of the early, significant visions of Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith had 70 known visions, and it is likely that more were unrecorded.  There are four accounts of visions of Father and Son together. In several of these, others saw the vision along with Joseph Smith.  In four other visions, Joseph Smith and others with him, saw Jesus.  Joseph Smith also saw many Old Testament prophets, including Adam, Moses, Enoch, Elias and Elijah.  Joseph Smith saw New Testament Apostles Peter, James, John and Paul.  He also saw Nephite Apostles.  In part 2 of the Visions of Joseph Smith, learn about Joseph Smith's visions of the future, growth of the Church, future calamities, temple designs and locations, the Second Coming, and other subjects.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner defines "resurrection," explains what happens when a person is resurrected, based on science and religion, and quotes latter-day prophets promises that parents who have lost a child to death, will be able to raise them durring the Millennium. 

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why the core Protestant tenants of Sola Scriptura, a Closed Canon of scripture, and no Revelation after Jesus and the Apostles contracts the Bible.  First, Sola Scriptura, which means doctrine only from the scriptures is not Biblical.  The Bible does not say which writings are scripture and which are not, people, not the Bible have always made that decision.  Second, a closed canon is not Biblical.  The Bible does not say it is closed to new writings, people make that decision.  Third, the Bible does not say there will be no more revelation after Jesus and the Apostles.  On the contrary, the Book of Revelation specifically mentions two latter-day prophets, telling us there will be revelation in the future.

Although Protestant faiths such at Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and others, are in many ways similar to those of Latter-day Saints, there are some significant differences.  The most significant are the Trinitarian concept of God, the Priesthood of All Believers, and Salvation by Grace, solely based on belief Jesus is your Lord and Savior. In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner compares and contrasts LDS understanding of God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost as three seperate person, an ordained priesthood, and Salvation by God's Grace, based on obedience to God's laws, with Protestand beliefs.

Scholars date Moses life, his receipt of the Ten Commandments and construction of the Ark of the Covenant, to between 1,500 BCE and 750 BCE.  The Ark was about 4 feet long, 2 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/2 feet tall.  It held the 10 Commendments written by God on a stone tablet, Goliath's sword David used to cut his head off, and, according to some sources, the Urim & Thummim.  Moroni's stone box held the Golden Plates, Laban's sword Nephi used to cut his heaf off, and the Nephite Interpreters.  The Ark's main purposes were to hold the 10 Commandments, and, according to the Bible, provide a suitable place for YHWH (Jehovah) God appeared to Moses and others (immediately above the Ark).  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner give additional details about the Ark, and different theories about what happened to it.

Joseph Smith's "Inspired Version" often described as the "Joseph Smith Translation" was an inspired effort made by JS to restore plain and precious truths to the Bible which had been lost.  The IV or JST was inspired by passages in the Book of Mormon, observed during the translation process, that pertained to ther Bible.  It commenced just a few months after the Book of Mormon translaton and printing had been completed. It was never completed.  JS was working on it until the day he died in 1844. The JST/IV consists of (1) expensions of material about Moses, Enoch and Melchizedek, (2) grammatical improvements, (3) meaning changes, (4) interpretive changes or additions usually indicated by "or in other words", (5) changes that clarify, and, (6) reconciling passages that contradicted other Bible passages.  To make his JST or IV, Joseph used a King James Bible purchased from E.B. Grandin by Oliver Cowdery.  Learn more about the inspired changes from this episode of Religion Today, hosted by Martin Tanner

Is there any evidence something like the LDS Endowment was part of Jesus teachings, or part of the belief system of Early Christianity?  The answer is "yes."  The evidence is found in the "Secret Gospel of Mark" which was a longer gospel, written by John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, compiled from the notes and writings of Peter (shortly after Peter had been killed) and the notes notes and writings of Mark.  The "Secret Gospel of Mark" tells of a rich young man who was brought back to life by Jesus, after dying and being placed in a tomb.  Jesus rolled away the stone from the tomb, took the young man's hand, and brought him back to life.  The grateful young man was fascinated by Jesus's teachings.  After being taught by Jesus for six days, Jesus placed a linen garment on the rich young man and "taught him the mysteries of the Kingdom of God" and how to live one's life in a way to get there.  This appears to be very much like the Temple garment, teachings and purpose of the LDS Endowment.