Y Religion

When we hear the name of Samuel the Lamanite, most of us know his epic story on the wall. That, however, is part of the problem. We know the drama of his escape, but often have overlooked the depths of his doctrinal teachings and prophetic message. Are some of us like the Nephites who were admonished by Jesus for overlooking the prophecies of Samuel? In this episode professor Ryan Sharp helps us remember Samuel the Lamanite from a historical, prophetic, and doctrinal perspective.

Many of us are familiar with the excitement of "show and tell" at school. There's something potent in the combination of seeing an interesting object and hearing a good narrative related to it. Latter-day Saint history has produced many important relics related to the Restoration. In this episode, Professor Casey Griffiths discusses his book publication on fifty of these important objects and takes us on a podcast version of show and tell into some of the captivating corners of Church history.

Two thousand years after the mortal life of Jesus and the expansive global spread of Christianity, we must be careful to not overlook the fundamental nature of Judaism in Christianity, and that Jesus himself was Jewish. In this episode, BYU religion professor Avram Shannon helps us understand how Jewish Rabbinic literature—which are the texts written by early Jewish sages—can help better enlighten certain aspects of the New Testament, Jesus's mortal ministry, and Christianity.

Over the last few decades in the Church, there has been an increased emphasis on the grace of Jesus Christ. This coincides with global increases in societal rates of anxiety, depression, and other challenges to mental health, including within our Church membership. Professor Daniel K Judd has dedicated much of his professional life to researching mental health and religion. In this episode he discusses how experiencing the grace of Christ can have a direct positive relationship with mental health.

Latter-day Saints are often interested in the public perception of their faith. We've long been written about, defended, condemned, praised, or vilified in national press outlets. Professor J.B. Haws has researched extensively how the public perception of the Church has shifted over time, and the reasons why. In this episode he explores the perception of the Church in the American public press, specifically since the 1950's, and the events that have shaped those perceptions, and still do today.

Although some Latter-day Saints fly American flags on July 24th to celebrate settling in the Rocky Mountains, the irony is that the pioneer Saints were desperately trying to flee the USA. After years of being persecuted, Church leaders concluded that the existing US government would not protect their civil and religious rights as a minority group, and the Saints decided to leave. In this fascinating episode, Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat shares his research on this history, along with lessons learned for today.

President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as the 17th president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2018. Things in the Church have not been the same since. BYU religion professor Mark Ogletree has recently published on President Nelson's tenure, and his remarkable life that prepared him for this moment. This episode explores the ministry of Russell M. Nelson, giving powerful lessons from this modern prophet, seer, and revelator.

While many commandments are fairly clear, how to "remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy" has been debated for millennia. Professor Gaye Strathearn from BYU Religious Education has researched this discussion during the centuries surrounding Jesus's mortal ministry. This episode explores efforts to navigate the Sabbath day by Israelites in the late second temple period, and how we can learn from them to remember and keep the Sabbath holy today.

What does it mean that our Savior is both human and divine? This is a question Christianity has wrestled with for centuries, with profound theological implications. In this insightful episode, BYU religion's Dr. Jason Combs explains four types of beliefs about the nature of Christ that were prevalent in ancient Christianity, why this dialogue was important, and how learning from ancient Christians can help Latter-day Saints to better understand the God we worship.

My God, why hast thou forsaken me? Over the years, that spiritual cry has been felt internally and uttered verbally by many believers in their most pressing trials, including by Jesus upon the cross. But does it mean what we think? BYU religion professor Shon Hopkin has published on the background and significance of that phrase. In this episode he analyzes and applies Messianic verses from its origin in Psalm 22, strengthening our hope in our trials through Christ's suffering and redemptive triumph.