Equipping Saints • Engaging Culture • Examining Claims
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 under the weight of household goods,…
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 a trail of financial devastation, shattered faith, and ecclesiastical upheaval that fundamentally altered…
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 which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon between 1827 and 1829. According…
Official LDS Positions, Critical Analysis, and the Utah Lighthouse Ministry Critique A Scholarly Journalistic Analysis I. Introduction: Understanding the Pearl of Great Price The Pearl of Great Price stands as one of the four canonical “standard works” of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alongside the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the…
THE DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS: Including an Analysis of the Utah Lighthouse Ministry Document “Changing the Revelations” INTRODUCTION The Doctrine and Covenants holds a unique and pivotal position within the scriptural canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Unlike the Bible, which believers hold to be an ancient compilation of inspired writings, or…
A Behavioral Analysis Examining Personality Traits, Motivations, and Discrepancies Between Official and Independent Accounts Prepared Using Accepted Psychological Methods of Personality and Behavioral Analysis January 2026 INTRODUCTION Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844) stands as one of the most consequential and controversial religious figures in American history. As the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Smith…
Download a PDF to print at home (11 pages): Joseph Smith and the Foundations of Mormonism A Scholarly Examination of the Origins, Doctrines, and Historical Controversies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church or LDS Church, represents one…
In April 1844, just two months before his assassination, Joseph Smith delivered what would become his most theologically revolutionary address. The King Follett Discourse fundamentally challenged traditional Christian doctrine about the nature of God, the origin of human souls, and humanity’s eternal destiny. This sermon continues to shape Latter-day Saint theology while raising profound questions…
Desert.com: Understanding Joseph Smith through the eyes of those who knew him ‘A plain, sensible, strong-minded man’: The people who knew the Prophet best describe his goodness, integrity. Somewhere along the six-hour horseback ride from Nauvoo to Carthage, Ill., where Joseph Smith was martyred in 1844, he shared with his small group of travel companions…
Detailed Summary of “Carthage Conspiracy” by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill “Carthage Conspiracy: The Trial of the Accused Assassins of Joseph Smith” by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill exemplifies a hallmark of modern Mormon apologetics, where rigorous legal and historical analysis serves as a veneer for reframing inconvenient facts—such as Joseph…