Ancient History – The Righteous Cause

The Wadi al-Jarf Papyri: Ancient Egypt’s Eyewitness Account of the Building of the Great Pyramid

Posted on February 17, 2026February 17, 2026 by Dennis Robbins

The Discovery, Translation, and Significance of the World’s Oldest Written Papyri A Find Without Precedent In the annals of Egyptian archaeology, certain discoveries arrive with the force of revelation — moments when the ancient world suddenly speaks in a recognizable human voice. The unearthing of the Wadi al-Jarf Papyri in 2013 was exactly such a…

Copycat productions: Blind Frog Ranch vs The Curse of Oak Island.

Posted on August 1, 2025November 25, 2025 by Dennis Robbins

Copycat productions: Blind Frog Ranch vs The Curse of Oak Island. Rotten Tomatoes: Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch There are some places on Earth where the land just seems different, and Blind Frog Ranch in eastern Utah is one of those places. Locals say the land is cursed and holding on to treasures. Landowner Duane…

Water and Grace: Unpacking the Early Church’s Baptism Obsession

Posted on February 23, 2025March 12, 2025 by Dennis Robbins

The Church History 101 lesson you didn’t know you needed. Many early church fathers viewed baptism as essential for salvation, particularly for the forgiveness of sins and regeneration. Among the strongest proponents were Cyprian of Carthage, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Justin Martyr (c.100-165 AD). These towering figures often wove baptism into the fabric of salvation,…

Engineering the Impossible: Ancient Techniques That Still Astound

Posted on November 30, 2024 by Dennis Robbins

The use of large, unwieldy stones in ancient architecture, such as those found in the Egyptian pyramids or the Puma Punku platform in Bolivia, has long fascinated scholars and enthusiasts alike. Here are several hypotheses that might explain why ancient civilizations invested such effort in these massive constructions: 1. Monumental Display of Power and Achievement:…

The devil is not fighting religion. He’s too smart for that. He is producing a counterfeit Christianity, so much like the real one that good Christians are afraid to speak out against it. We are plainly told in the Scriptures that in the last days men will not endure sound doctrine and will depart from the faith and heap to themselves teachers to tickle their ears. We live in an epidemic of this itch, and popular preachers have developed ‘ear-tickling’ into a fine art.

~Vance Havner

Email: dennis@novus2.com

The Perils of Prophetic Pattern-Matching: A Response to an LDS Member on Facebook
“The besetting sin of religious thought is not doubt but credulity — the willingness to believe what we wish were true rather than what the evidence compels us to accept.” — adapted from Sterling McMurrin, The Theological Foundations of the Mormon Religion There is something […]
Folding Away the Shroud of Turin into the Archive of Pious Imagination
Why the Shroud of Turin Cannot Be the Burial Cloth of Jesus Christ A Biblical and Historical Examination Introduction: The Seduction of Sacred Relics Few objects in the history of Christendom have generated as much fascination, reverence, controversy, and theological confusion as the Shroud of […]
The Wadi al-Jarf Papyri: Ancient Egypt’s Eyewitness Account of the Building of the Great Pyramid
The Discovery, Translation, and Significance of the World’s Oldest Written Papyri A Find Without Precedent In the annals of Egyptian archaeology, certain discoveries arrive with the force of revelation — moments when the ancient world suddenly speaks in a recognizable human voice. The […]
Mark Hofmann and the Mormon Murders
Unraveling the Dark Saga of a Master Forger Who Deceived a Church and Murdered to Protect His Lies Introduction: A Church Deceived On the morning of October 15, 1985, Salt Lake City awoke to what promised to be a crisp, beautiful autumn day. Temperatures were expected to reach a pleasant 62 degrees […]
Embracing the Cross: A Challenge to the LDS Church’s Symbolic Reluctance.
A Comprehensive Biblical and Historical Examination of the Iconography of the Cross. The crucified Jesus stands as Christianity’s central symbol of redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life—a paradoxical image that has defined the faith for two thousand years. Yet the stark contrast between […]
King James Copycat? The Truth Behind Joseph Smith’s “Translation” of the Bible
Questions of religious truth are ultimately matters of faith as well as evidence. But faith that is unwilling to examine evidence is not strengthened faith but rather faith that fears examination. Introduction In the summer of 1830, just months after the publication of the Book of Mormon, Joseph […]
The Wife Who Stayed: Emma Smith and the Fracturing of Mormonism
A Historical and Theological Examination I. The Exodus Begins The winter of 1846 descended upon Nauvoo, Illinois, with a bitter cold that matched the chill settling over what had once been the largest city in the state. Along the frozen streets that led to the Mississippi River, wagons creaked […]
The MBA Prophet: Clark Gilbert’s Ascent to LDS Apostleship Without a Single Theology Credit
An investigative examination of the newest Mormon apostle’s conspicuous absence of religious scholarship On February 12, 2026, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ordained Clark G. Gilbert as its newest apostle—a man the church now considers a “prophet, seer, and […]
More Than History: Why These Mormon Studies Are Equipping You for More Than Gospel Witness
Dear friends in Christ, I want to take a moment to share something that’s been on my heart regarding the series of articles I’ve been writing about Mormonism, Joseph Smith, and the Latter-day Saints movement. Some of you may have wondered why I spend so much time examining the […]
A Critical Examination of the LDS “Burning in the Bosom”
The Test That Cannot Fail A Critical Examination of the LDS “Burning in the Bosom” Method for Discerning Religious Truth A Traditional Christian Response to the Latter-day Saint Approach to Revelation and the Book of Mormon Introduction Among the many religious movements that have […]
Joseph Smith’s Kirtland Bank: Failed Enterprise of A False Prophet
A Scholarly Analysis of the Kirtland Safety Society (1836-1838) Introduction The Kirtland Safety Society represents one of the most controversial and consequential episodes in early Latter Day Saint history. Established in late 1836 and failing by November 1837, this quasi-banking institution left […]
“God Told Me”—Did He Really?
Is It God Who Is Really Speaking to You? The voice seemed so clear. Sarah sat in her pastor’s office, tears streaming down her face. “God told me to marry him,” she said. “I opened my Bible, and there it was—‘For I know the plans I have for you.’ It seemed like […]
The LDS Enigma of Orson Pratt: Did This Much Controversy Surround the NT Apostles?
A Theological and Historical Examination. Introduction: A Claim Worth Examining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints makes a remarkable assertion on its official website regarding its Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “Jesus Christ calls Apostles to represent Him in our day just as He […]
Fortune Mag: “Something Big is Happening in AI”
This article, written by AI entrepreneur Matt Shumer, warns that artificial intelligence has reached a transformative moment comparable to the early days of COVID-19—something most people still dismiss as overblown, but which is already disrupting knowledge work in profound ways. Fortune: Something […]
When Arguments Fail, Love Remains: Reaching LDS Hearts with Grace
A Devotional on Reaching Our LDS Friends with Grace The Ring doorbell announced their arrival. Two white shirts, two black name tags, two young men who had no idea what they were walking into. They introduced themselves with a smile, the young “Elder’s” companion shifted nervously […]
Who’s Your AI daddy? Claude for the “W!”
I can add my confirmation to this article. Congratulations on exceptional performance for my requests. Although many technical aspects of this analysis are above my “pay grade,” the consistent results for my purposes are beyond my best expectations. I am hopeful this type of stewardship […]
Heinrich Himmler’s Occult SS and the Death’s Head Rings
The SS as a Mystical Order The Nazi SS wasn’t merely a military unit—it was conceived as a quasi-religious order of “Aryan knights.” Heinrich Himmler, the founder, required members to prove racial purity and participate in elaborate pagan rituals as they advanced in rank. He […]
Sheltered by the Cross: A Fresh Vision for Gospel Witness
There is a moment in every conversation about faith when words run out. Not because we lack information, but because information was never going to be enough. The story of William—a young man preparing for his Mormon mission, armed with arguments and fortified by years of religious […]
An Assessment of Mrinank Sharma’s Anthropic Departure
I know … not the best illustration for this story, but I thought it was humorous. When a Researcher Chooses Poetry Over Panic Buttons Mrinank Sharma’s resignation from Anthropic has generated predictable headlines—“World in Peril,” “Safety Lead Sounds Alarm”—that […]
The Tool Fallacy: Why AI Critics Miss the Point About Learning
Psychology Today: Why AI Must Not Do Our Writing for Us Summary of Gunderman’s Argument Dr. Richard Gunderman, writing in Psychology Today, argues that students must not allow AI to write their essays, regardless of the technology’s ability to produce technically superior work. […]
A Critical Examination of Joseph Smith Restoration Claims in Light of New Testament Theology
THE SUFFICIENCY OF THE APOSTOLIC GOSPEL: An Academic Theological Analysis Abstract This book conducts a comprehensive theological inquiry into the claims of Joseph Smith’s Restoration Gospel, specifically examining why—if such a restoration was necessary—the original apostles of Jesus Christ […]
Moroni’s Golden Plates: History, Controversies, and Unanswered Questions.
A Scholarly Examination from Inquisitive and Historical Perspectives Introduction to the Golden Plates and Their Significance The golden plates represent the foundational artifact claim of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), serving as the purported ancient record from […]
Prophets and Apostles in the Latter-day Saint Tradition
A Comprehensive Biblical and Theological Analysis Examining LDS Prophetic Claims Against Traditional Biblical Standards 1. Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) rests upon a foundational claim that distinguishes it from the traditional Christian tradition: the […]
Joseph Smith: Failed Polygamist.
Plural Marriage in Mormon Doctrine: A Critical Theological and Historical Analysis I. Introduction: The Origins and Motivations Behind Mormon Plural Marriage The introduction of plural marriage into Mormon doctrine represents one of the most controversial and consequential developments in American […]
Absence of Scriptural Precedent for Latter-day Saint Temple Rituals
Temples Without Biblical Foundation: A Theological Analysis of the Absence of Scriptural Precedent for Latter-day Saint Temple Practices Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints places extraordinary emphasis on temples and the rituals performed within them. These magnificent […]