Scripture Conversations

Moroni concludes his father's book with his own potent chapters.  But in his first verse, he says he hadn't planned originally to write them. What would we have lost if Moroni hadn't added these ten chapters? Why does he include what he chooses? What do we learn about faith, hope, and charity? Why does he close the book the way he does? In this episode, BYU professors Tyler Griffin, Dan Belnap, Jared Halverson, and Josh Sears explore these chapters in an inspiring scripture conversation.

The Book of Ether is the story of the rise and fall of a nation, inserted by Moroni. But there is more going on here.  Jaredites are gentiles, or non-Israelites.  The Book of Ether seems also to be a reflection on gentiles in the promised land, an audience the Book of Mormon speaks to.  What do we learn from the powerful and tragic history of the Jaredites? What lessons does Moroni emphasize? In this episode, BYU professors Jared Ludlow, David Calabro, Josh Matson, and Joseph Spencer explore these chapters in an inspiring scripture conversation.

The books of 4th Nephi and Mormon contrast the best of times and worst of times for the people in the Book of Mormon.  After living a Zion-like society for hundreds of years where there never were a happier people, they digress into tribal warfare and destruction.  What happened? What do we learn from 4th Nephi to emulate today? Conversely, what do we learn from the societal and religious breakdown in Mormon's times to avoid? In this episode, BYU professors Josh Sears, Jared Halverson, Stephan Taeger, and Robbie Taggart explore these chapters in an inspiring scripture conversation.

Continuing the sacred ministry of the Savior to the Nephites, on his second day ministry the Lord prays with the people in an intercessory way using words that cannot be written. He then teaches the people, expounding verses from Isaiah, Micah, and Malachi and expounds all things from the beginning.   His ministry concludes with marvelous healings and events. In this episode, BYU professors Tyler Griffin, Josh Sears, Gaye Strathearn, and Hank Smith explore these chapters in an inspiring scripture conversation.

The pinnacle of the Book of Mormon is our Savior Jesus Christ's ministry to the Nephites.  On his first day ministry the resurrected Lord appears and invites the people to personally feel his wounds, teaches of his gospel, calls and commissions the twelve disciples, delivers a sermon similar to the Sermon on the Mount, heals their sick, and institutes the sacrament. These chapters are divine. In this episode, BYU professors John Hilton, Brad Wilcox, Josh Sears, and Keith Wilson explore these chapters in an inspiring scripture conversation.

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) observed that the Book of Helaman "reveals many parallels to our own day as we anticipate the Savior's second coming" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 3). The book details the Nephites vacillating between righteousness and wickedness, their wars, and secret combinations by the Gadianton Robbers. It also contains the preaching and prophecies of Helaman, Nephi, and Samuel the Lamanite.  What are we to learn from this potent book? What are its themes, structure, and messages? In this episode, BYU professors Jan Martin, Joseph Spencer, Ross Baron, and Dan Belnap explore this book and these questions in an inspiring scripture conversation.

The last quarter of the Book of Alma focuses on a series of conflicts between Nephites and Lamanites.  Amalickiah and Ammaron, with other dissenters, act as the catalysts of a long battle. Captain Moroni, Helaman, the stripling warriors, and others respond to help the Nephites survive and restore peace. Why are these battles in the Book of Mormon? How do they fit into the larger context of the Book of Alma, and what do we learn from them? In this episode, BYU professors Joseph Spencer, Ross Baron, Joshua Matson, and Robbie Taggart explore these questions in an inspiring scripture conversation.

The middle chapters of the Book of Alma have a strong emphasis on missionary stories and events. Alma 9-14 is about Alma and Amulek's preaching in Ammonihah.  Alma 17-26 centers us on Ammon with King Lamoni and Aaron with Lamoni's father. Last, Alma 30-34 take us to Alma and Amulek's missionary encounters with Korihor and the Zoramites. In this episode, BYU professors John Hilton, Jan Martin, Tyler Griffin, and Dan Belnap explore these missionary journeys and teachings in an inspiring scripture conversation.

Alma 5-7 are Alma's words and sermons to the people and cities of the Nephites.  Why does he leave the chief judgment seat to go preach as the Church's high priest? What are the problems he is seeing in the Nephite church? What are the solutions? And how do they relate to the modern church? In this episode, BYU professors Dana Pike, Avram Shannon, Shon Hopkin, and Daniel Becerra explore these questions in an inspiring scripture conversation.

Abinadi is a pivot point in the story of the Book of Mormon.  Much of the remaining text in the Book of Mormon are people impacted by Abinadi's ministry. How is Abinadi's sermon related to King Benjamin's? What are Abinadi's key messages? How is Jesus our "father," and we are to be his "seed"? In this episode, BYU professors Jared Ludlow, Nick Frederick, Jan Martin, and Joshua Sears explore these questions in an inspiring scripture conversation.