From conspiracies in the Hamilton House to the political stakes of the 1844 election, this episode connects the dots in ways most Latter-day Saints never hear. Gunnar and Rebecca walk through the overlapping pressures leading to the martyrdom and examine the lone eyewitness account of the “light” at the well. They also wrestle with the moral implications of political hatred, the temptation to demonize our opponents, and the prophetic principle that God meets His people where they are. Ultimately, the episode calls us to higher discipleship and clearer thinking in a world still fueled by outrage.

As mentioned in this episode:

1. The link to Rebecca's "Anger" song:

https://youtu.be/Yn7ZMhgDf7Q?si=L163AgwFKOHwFXhU

2. The link to Chad M. Orton's article "This Shall Be Our Covenant": https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/revelations-in-context/this-shall-be-our-covenant?lang=eng

3. The link to William Daniels' account of the martyrdom:https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/a-correct-account-of-the-murder-of-generals-joseph-and-hyrum-smith-1845/1

In this episode, Gunnar and Rebecca dive into D&C 133–134 with both urgency and hope, asking what it really means to prepare to meet Christ. Exploring fear, faith, accountability, and the difference between knowing about the Savior and actually knowing Him, they draw on personal stories, early Church history, and modern prophetic counsel to reframe the Second Coming as a deeply redemptive event, not something meant to terrify believers. The discussion then turns to religious liberty, political tension, and the still-radical vision in D&C 134 of a world where every person is free to worship—or not—according to their own conscience. In a time of cultural anxiety, they make a bold case for courage, compassion, and pluralism. This is an episode that invites listeners to think bigger, stand taller, and step into discipleship with clarity and conviction.

Joseph Smith’s final years saw a torrent of revolutionary doctrine—resurrected angels, eternal marriage, exaltation, and the plurality of Gods. Gunnar and Rebecca trace the breathtaking sequence of those revelations and ask what they teach us about divine progression today. If God is still revealing truth, what might He reveal next—and are we ready to receive it?

When silver is purified, the refiner knows it’s ready when he can see his face in it. That image — the craftsman gazing into molten silver — is one of the most tender metaphors in scripture. In this conversation, Gunnar and Rebecca explore what it means for God to “see Himself” in His Saints. Through the Refiner’s fire, they look at how purification works — not all at once, but through countless, patient refinings. They connect the process of sanctification to temple worship, repentance, and the slow miracle of becoming new until “the sons of Levi shall offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness”.

Does the Lord see His reflection in you?

What if your hardest moments aren’t about God testing you—but about you discovering something about yourself? Drawing from President Hugh B. Brown’s piercing reminder that “Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham,” Gunnar and Rebecca trace that principle through D&C 124, Liberty Jail, and the building of Nauvoo. Together they wrestle with what divine testing really means, and how the Lord uses weakness to strengthen, prepare and awaken us to what He already knows about us but which we may have yet to discover for ourselves.

When Joseph Smith penned the words, “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power,” he was cold, hungry, and imprisoned. In this week’s study, Rebecca and Gunnar explore how that counsel — born in suffering — still calls us to faith today. From the siege of Far West to Emma’s letters of love, from the cry “O God, where art thou?” to the Lord’s answer, “My son, peace be unto thy soul,” this episode offers a message of courage, charity, and enduring trust in the Lord’s timing.

In this powerful episode, Gunnar and Rebecca walk through D&C 115–120 —revelations received in one of the darkest and most defining chapters of early Church history. From the exodus out of Kirtland to the command to build a temple in Far West, to Sidney Rigdon’s “Salt Sermon”, his "4th of July Oration" and the rise of the Missouri-Mormon war, we explore how faith, fear, and fortitude collided in 1838.Amid persecution, God called His people not to retreat, but to “arise and shine forth.” Their story invites us to do the same.

In this episode of Still Learning, Gunnar and Rebecca start by reflecting on a historic and emotional week—President Nelson’s passing and a tragic attack on Saints at worship. Those events set the stage for a heartfelt conversation about love, faith, and what it means to treasure others as God does. Turning to Doctrine & Covenants 111–114, they explore Joseph Smith’s desperate trip to Salem in search of money and how the Lord gently redefined “treasure” to mean something far greater.

Audio/Video Disclaimer: This episode was recorded on Zoom due to technical difficulties with our normal setup. You’ll notice lower audio and video quality as a result. Thanks for your patience and for sticking with us — the conversation was too good not to share. I suppose we’re still learning the tech side, too! You can expect future episodes to be back to our usual quality.

In this episode of Still Learning, Gunnar and Rebecca dive into Doctrine & Covenants 109–110, recounting the dedication of the Kirtland Temple and the Lord’s subsequent appearance. Together they reflect on Lord’s impossible command to build a temple with only a handful of poor Saints—and how their faith and sacrifice can inspire us to move forward in our own daunting challenges.

What difference would it make if we could see each other the way God sees us? Gunnar and Rebecca explore this question through the lens of D&C 106–108. From Warren Cowdery’s quiet calling to the heavenly confirmation of priesthood blessings, the message is the same: heaven rejoices when we turn toward the light. This conversation invites us to see beyond weakness, to recognize divine worth in others, and to let that change the way we live and love.