Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5 - The Fortunate Fall

Was the Fall of Adam and Eve a "plan B" or the "plan all along"? Most of the world views the events in Eden as a catastrophe, but the Pearl of Great Price reveals it was the beginning of our redemption. Summary: In this episode, we dive into Genesis 3–4 and Moses 4–5 to understand the "Fortunate Fall" and the true nature of opposition. We explore how the choice made in Eden opened the door to mortality, family, and joy—on the condition of our redemption through Jesus Christ. Tactics of the Adversary: We analyze the four specific ways Satan tried to deceive Eve—distorting God's word, appealing to the flesh, lying about consequences, and mixing truth with error. The Transgression vs. Sin: We discuss why the Fall was a necessary transgression of a lower law to keep a higher one: the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth. Coats of Skins: We look at the profound symbolism of God clothing Adam and Eve, representing the Atonement of Jesus Christ covering our nakedness and vulnerability. The Contrast of Cain: We study the tragedy of Cain, who "loved Satan more than God" and introduced the first "secret combination" into human history. Finding Joy in Mortality: Adam and Eve teach us that even in a world of thorns and thistles, we can be "glad" because of the redemption of our transgression. Call-to-Action: Do you see the "thorns and thistles" in your life as a curse or as a schoolmaster? How has the Atonement "clothed" you in your difficult moments? Share your insights in the comments below! If this lesson helped you see the Fall in a new light, please like, subscribe, and share this video to help others stay "Unshaken." Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 2:07 Introducing the Fall 4:09 Stages of Faith 15:48 Proving Contraries 19:34 The Fall of Lucifer 38:00 Tempting Eve 43:38 Preserving Agency & Accountability 51:04 The Evolution of Sin 57:20 Adam's Choice & Eve's Proposal 1:04:13 The Fortunate Fall 1:13:00 Beguiled? Deciding Alone 1:18:50 Willing to Risk It 1:26:17 Hiding their Nakedness 1:37:14 Curses as Blessings in Disguise 1:42:44 And He Shall Rule Over Thee 1:51:15 Thorns & Thistles, Sweat & Bread 1:56:09 Eve as Mother 1:59:31 Coats of Skins 2:01:38 Cherubim: Time to Prepare 2:11:16 Learning the Law of Sacrifice 2:25:13 The Real Fall 2:28:49 Faith to Have a Family 2:35:03 Cain & Satan 2:43:07 Cain & Abel 2:49:52 Cain's Posterity 2:55:22 Redemption from the Fall 2:57:56 Artwork from Eden

Most people read the Creation story looking for how the world was made. But the scriptures are more interested in why it was made and who made it. Are you missing the temple hidden within the pages of Genesis? Summary: In this episode, we bridge the gap between Genesis, Moses, and Abraham to uncover the deep doctrine of the Creation. We move beyond the "scientific" debates to discover a "visionary" account of our divine origins. The 3-Story Creation: We analyze the "Cosmic Temple" by looking at the three layers of creation: the "Lower" (physical world), "Middle" (the Garden/Temple), and "Upper" (the presence of God). Spirit Before Temporal: We explore the vital truth that all things were created "spiritually, before they were naturally upon the face of the earth". Identity and Image: We discuss what it truly means to be created "in the image of God," and how our gender is an essential characteristic of our eternal identity. The Power of the Sabbath: We learn why the Seventh Day isn't just a day off, but a day of "rest" where we enter into a covenant relationship with the Creator . Agency in Creation: In the Abrahamic account, we see that the Gods did not just command, they "watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed". Call-to-Action: How does knowing you were created "spiritually" before you were here change how you face your "natural" trials today? Share your thoughts in the comments! If this lesson helped you see the world through a more spiritual lens, please like, subscribe, and share this video to help others stay "Unshaken." Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:57 Studying the Creation: scientifically or spiritually 11:59 Creation accounts 23:11 Premortal Plan / Spiritual Creation 27:38 Creation ex nihilo 33:26 Overarching lessons from Creation 45:47 Days of Creation 46:57 Day 1 51:59 Day 2 55:44 Day 3 1:00:36 Day 4 1:03:28 Day 5 1:05:41 Day 6 1:06:57 Day 7 1:13:29 Review of Days 1:14:59 Children of God 1:26:42 The Temple in Genesis 2 1:28:26 Initiatory: Dust and Rib 1:39:06 Endowment: The Garden of Eden 1:43:46 Sealing: Eve and Womanhood 2:05:40 Naked and Not Ashamed 2:09:47 Christ in Creation

When Moses stood on a "high mountain" and saw God face-to-face, his first realization was shocking: "Man is nothing." But God didn't leave him there. He revealed a truth that changes everything about how you see yourself and your purpose in this life. Summary: In this episode, we explore the profound "prefaces" to the Bible found in Moses 1 and Abraham 3. We dive into the deep doctrine of our divine identity and the Plan of Salvation. Moses 1: Identity and Discernment. We analyze Moses' encounter with God and his subsequent battle with Satan. We learn how knowing we are sons and daughters of God gives us the power to discern and dismiss the "son of the morning." Moses discovers that even though he is nothing compared to God, he is everything to God—because God's entire "work and glory" is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life. Abraham 3: The View from Above. We look with Abraham to see the "intelligences" organized before the world was. We explore the concept of "One above another" and the "Great and Noble Ones" who were chosen to lead. The Pre-mortal Council: We recount the moment we all shouted for joy: the decision to follow Jesus Christ and come to earth to be "proved" to see if we would do all things the Lord commanded us. Call-to-Action: Do you ever feel like "nothing" in the vastness of the universe? How does knowing you are a child of God change your perspective today? Share your thoughts in the comments! If this message helped you feel your divine worth, please like, subscribe, and share this video to help others stay "Unshaken." Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:55 Learning to Love the Old Testament 17:46 Finding Christ in the Old Testament 24:16 Mosaic Authorship and the Joseph Smith Translation 35:06 God's Work and Glory 45:19 God's Contraries: The Infinite and the Intimate 1:01:48 Human Contraries: Dust and Divinity 1:11:07 Identity Crisis 1:19:19 Overcoming the Adversary 1:46:45 The Why, How, and Who of Creation 2:06:11 Stars, Spirits, and the Premortal Council 2:32:18 Book of Abraham Controversy

Most people find the Old Testament confusing, dusty, or even intimidating. But what if it’s actually the essential foundation for everything you believe about Jesus Christ? Today, we unlock the "Library of Books" that makes up the first half of our scripture and discover why it is the indispensable foundation of the covenant. Summary: In this introductory lesson, we lay the groundwork for a year-long journey through the Old Testament. We move beyond seeing it as a singular book and begin to view it as a diverse library of 39 books. Key themes include: The Foundation of the Covenant: Understanding why the Old Testament is the root from which the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants grow. Structure and Organization: A breakdown of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh) and its three parts: the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The Power of Translation: Exploring how the Bible moved from Hebrew to Greek to English, and why the Joseph Smith Translation is vital for our study. Finding Christ in the Old Testament: Moving past the "dead letter" to see the "living spirit" of the Messiah on every page. Call-to-Action: Which book of the Old Testament has always felt the most "sealed" to you? Let us know in the comments, and let’s commit to opening it together this year! 

We've come to the end of 2025 and after 6 years of largely verse-by-verse scripture study following the Come Follow Me schedule, we've got some announcements to make. Amazing days behind us and incredible days ahead!

Merry Christmas to all of my beloved Unshaken Saints! In this video, I share a Christmas message I wrote as a 19-year-old missionary, linking my first Christmas in Puerto Rico to the first Christmas in Bethlehem. May this beautiful holiday season bring you a greater measure of "peace on earth, good will to men."

When "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was issued in 1995, some called it a "duh document". Today, it is a subject of controversy, dismissed by some as outdated and praised by others as a powerful, prophetic anchor. This lesson breaks down the nine paragraphs of this crucial declaration, understanding why the family is central to the Creator's plan. The Plan of God: Marriage between a man and a woman is "ordained of God" and the family is "central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children". The pre-mortal realm involved accepting God's plan to "obtain a physical body" and "gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection". Gender is Essential: Gender (male and female) is an "essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose". All human beings are "beloved spirit son[s] or daughter[s] of heavenly parents". Eternal Families: The divine plan of happiness enables "family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave" through "sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples". The Divine Design and Responsibility Parenthood & Chastity: God's first commandment to Adam and Eve to "multiply and replenish the earth remains in force". The sacred powers of "procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife". We affirm the "sanctity of life". Mothers and Fathers: By divine design , fathers are to "preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection". Mothers are primarily responsible for the "nurture of their children". Both are obligated to help one another as "equal partners". Success Principles: "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ". Successful marriages are maintained on principles of "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities". The Warning and the Call: The Proclamation warns that the "disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets". It calls upon "responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society". Call-to-Action: What is one way you can better live the principles of "equal partners" or "complete fidelity" this week? Share your commitment in the comments! If this message helped you feel the centrality of the family, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. 

How does a church navigate change, controversy, and continuing revelation while staying true to its foundation? The Articles of Faith lay the groundwork, but the two Official Declarations provide proof of a living church, led by a living prophet. We'll analyze the deep counsel given in these landmark sections. Official Declaration 1: The End of Plural Marriage President Wilford Woodruff faced a devastating dilemma: adhere to the law of plural marriage and lose the temples, ordinances, and leadership to imprisonment, or cease the practice. Honoring Authority: President Woodruff declared his "intention to submit" to the laws of Congress that the Supreme Court had pronounced constitutional. He even went so far as to order the Endowment House "taken down without delay" following one reported (but unproven) case of a marriage performed there. The Critical Question: He was commanded by God to "ask the Latter-day Saints a question" —which was the wisest course: to sacrifice the temples and ordinances, or to cease the practice, "leave the Temples in the hands of the Saints," and let the work for the dead continue. Prophetic Integrity: He declared he would have let all the temples go and gone to prison himself "had not the God of heaven commanded me" to do what he did, and when that command came, "it was all clear to me". This shows a willingness to fully embrace the opposing viewpoint before receiving the final divine guidance. Official Declaration 2: Revelation on the Priesthood Received by President Spencer W. Kimball after "extended meditation and prayer in the sacred rooms of the holy temple" , this declaration fulfilled the promises of earlier prophets. Divine Guidance: The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles "pleaded long and earnestly" and supplicated the Lord for "divine guidance". The Result: God "heard our prayers," and by revelation, confirmed that "the long-promised day has come". This revelation extended the priesthood and temple blessings to "every faithful, worthy man" so he could "enjoy with his loved ones every blessing" that flows therefrom. The Articles of Faith These 13 points, part of the Wentworth Letter, establish our fundamental beliefs: Core Doctrine (A of F 1-4): Belief in the Godhead , accountability for "our own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" , salvation through the Atonement "by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" , and the first principles of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. A Living Church (A of F 5-9): We believe in priesthood authority , the "same organization that existed in the Primitive Church" , spiritual gifts , and accepting the Bible and the Book of Mormon as the word of God. Most importantly, we believe God "will yet reveal many great and important things". The Path of Discipleship (A of F 10-13): We believe in the literal gathering of Israel , "claim the privilege" of worshiping according to conscience , are subject to the law , and seek after anything "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy". Call-to-Action: What "great and important thing" (A of F 9) do you need to seek personal revelation on this week? Share your thoughts below! If this message reinforced your faith in continuing revelation, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 5:47 Avoiding the Appearance of Evil 17:42 Precedent or President 30:13 Following Fallibility 51:40 Race and the Priesthood 1:04:22 Returning to God 1:14:30 The Church of Jesus Christ 1:22:23 Gathering Israel by Being Good 1:30:50 One-Liners

Imagine seeing your brother, who died before being baptized, standing as an heir of the celestial kingdom. This profound experience, recorded in D&C 137, opens the door to understanding God's infinite mercy. Decades later, another prophet received a vision (D&C 138) that dramatically expanded our knowledge of the work for the dead. D&C 137: The Desire of the Heart In January 1836, Joseph Smith beheld the celestial kingdom. He "marveled" to see his deceased brother, Alvin, there. The Lord revealed the magnificent principle that "all who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God". God judges all men according to their "works, according to the desire of their hearts". This section also confirms that "all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven". D&C 138: The Redemption of the Dead In 1918, during a time when death was on everyone's mind , Joseph F. Smith was "pondering over the scriptures". This act of study and reflection was crucial; he found that as he "wondered," his "eyes of my understanding were opened". Christ's Ministry: The prophet saw Christ's sojourn in the spirit world. Christ "went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient". The Mission Organization: Instead, He spent His time "instructing and preparing the faithful spirits of the prophets" who had testified of Him. He "organized his forces and appointed messengers" —Spirit World Missionaries—to "carry the message of redemption unto all the dead". The Eternal Work: This revelation clarifies that the faithful elders of this dispensation "continue their labors" after death. The great and mighty ones, including our latter-day prophets, were "chosen in the beginning" and received their "first lessons" in the world of spirits. This work of redemption and temple ordinances is truly a "continuation of the seeds"—a vast family effort. Call-to-Action: Which person—living or dead—can you extend the "great and wonderful love" of Christ to this week? Share your thoughts on "the desire of their hearts" in the comments! If this message helped clarify God's plan of mercy, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 4:41 A Vision of Heaven 13:05 Heirs of the Celestial Kingdom 28:08 Pondering the Word 44:55 No Paradise, Only Prison 59:57 The Fate of the Unevangelized 1:12:00 Spirit World Missionaries 1:23:04 Preschool 1:32:07 One-Liners

June 27, 1844. Carthage Jail. The greatest tragedy and the ultimate triumph of the Restoration. How does the Church move forward after the Prophet seals his testimony with his blood? D&C 135 and 136 answer with a powerful statement on sacrifice and a direct revelation on how to build a Zion people. Summary: This episode explores the final, foundational sections of the Doctrine and Covenants: D&C 135: The Martyrdom. Written by John Taylor, this section seals the testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants with the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. We contrast the different, yet unified, ways the brothers met their end—Hyrum falling "calmly" and Joseph attempting to leap from the window. The section declares that Joseph Smith "has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it". His innocent blood was shed , and it was "needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood". D&C 136: The Word and Will of the Lord. Received by Brigham Young in Winter Quarters, this revelation provided the blueprint for the great western exodus. It commanded the "Camp of Israel" to be organized into companies with a "covenant and promise to keep all the commandments". Collective Effort: The trek was not individualistic; the Saints were commanded to "bear an equal proportion" in taking the "poor, the widows, the fatherless," and the families of soldiers. The command was to "go to with their might, to prepare for those who are to tarry" —to be "pioneers to prepare". Preparation for Zion: The Lord warns, "my people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them". He assures them, "marvel not at these things" , and that He is the "God of your fathers" who led Israel and whose "arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel". Call-to-Action: Which person—a widow, a poor person, or a family—can you help bear their burden this week? The pioneer spirit is still needed! Share your plans in the comments below. If this message inspired you to keep striving for Zion, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 6:28 Life and Death Differences 19:33 Praise to the Man 33:39 Innocent Blood 45:10 Pioneers to Prepare 59:47 Still Hoping for Zion 1:08:35 Not My First Rodeo 1:20:29 Don't Be Surprised 1:31:12 One-Liners