Scripture Central

In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Lynne Hilton Wilson explores Exodus 1–6, where the story of Israel shifts from refuge to oppression in Egypt. Centuries after Jacob’s family was welcomed during Joseph’s lifetime, their descendants had grown into a large and thriving people. A new Pharaoh, fearing their numbers, subjected the Israelites to harsh bondage. Yet even in this dark moment, the narrative highlights the courage and faith of remarkable women who quietly but powerfully advance God’s purposes. The Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah refuse Pharaoh’s command to kill newborn Hebrew boys, choosing reverence for God over obedience to an unjust ruler. Their bravery becomes the first act of resistance in the Exodus story, demonstrating how faithful women can stand as protectors of life and covenant. The account then centers on the women who preserve the life of the infant Moses—Jochebed, his faithful mother who entrusts him to the Lord; Miriam, his watchful sister who helps ensure his safety; and Pharaoh’s daughter, whose compassion leads her to rescue and adopt the Hebrew child. In these opening chapters of Exodus, women act with moral courage, compassion, and spiritual insight, preparing the way for Israel’s deliverance. As God begins to raise up Moses to lead His covenant people, these heroines remind us that divine work often begins through quiet acts of faith. For Latter-day Saint readers, their stories testify that obedience to God—especially in moments of risk—invites His protection and moves His covenant purposes forward.

The natural state of all things trends toward chaos. That process of degradation is broadly defined as “entropy.” Without the intervention of focused energy to counteract entropy, all things are continually breaking down, trending toward disorder. God not only offsets entropy but also creates order out of chaos. While God builds up, Satan tears down. While God’s house “… is a house of order…” Satan’s realm is confusion and chaos. While God is the Creator, Satan is the destroyer. Without intervention, entropy and chaos prevail spiritually and individually as well as physically and universally. Chaos, darkness, and death are all consequences of not keeping God’s commandments. “Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion.” How blessed we are to have God’s commandments. What safety, protection, and order come from keeping them.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

In this compelling installment of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson continues her illuminating walk through the later chapters of Genesis (42–50), bringing to life the women and cultural dynamics woven through the final act of the Joseph narrative. Viewers will hear fresh insights about the ancient Egyptian world where Hebrew women—unlike in many neighboring societies—could own property, manage legal affairs, and exercise a surprising degree of autonomy in family life and commerce in some contexts—setting the stage for understanding how Jacob’s family navigated life in Egypt’s Delta. Drawing on historical and cultural sources, Dr. Wilson highlights how these social realities shaped the experiences of Israelite women in a foreign land. This video also explores Jacob’s visit to Pharaoh in Genesis 47, a moment that underscores the dramatic rise of Joseph’s family from famine refugees to honored guests in Egypt’s royal court, with Jacob himself offering blessings and receiving respect from the king. We also meet Serah, the daughter (or granddaughter) of Asher, whose brief biblical mention belies a rich later tradition about her role in preserving family memory and legacy in the land of Egypt. Plus, Dr. Wilson ties in recent archaeological work in the Goshen region (Tell el-Dab’a)—ancient Avaris—where excavations reveal a thriving Semitic city in the Nile Delta that may illuminate the cultural backdrop of Israel’s settlement in Egypt and offer tangible context for the stories we read in Genesis.

Your Eternal Father loves you more than anyone has ever loved another. All He does is for you and His children. He offers you and all His children everywhere supernal gifts, but most of His children neither receive nor rejoice in His marvelous gifts, and as a result, they are weak and unhappy, and heaven weeps with them. Can you imagine the sadness and disappointment of Our Father if we do not accept His magnificent gifts, when His children ignore Him after all He has done? Enoch saw that not only Heavenly Father but the whole of the heavens weep when we refuse or neglect His gifts. What are the greatest gifts our Father offers all His children everywhere from the beginning of time? His Son, His Spirit, and His life. Those are God’s greatest gifts to His children. To accept and receive those gifts is the best of all human conditions. What is the inconceivably high price paid to make them available? The creation, the fall, the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all the Gods have done and do “… to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Words cannot describe, nor can we conceive or measure the height, the breadth, the depth of the gift of God’s own Son. “No tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive (anything) so great and marvelous” as Jesus Christ, the Son of God by whom salvation and all good things are possible. New episodes every Saturday at 8:30 a.m. MST

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the rich and often complicated stories of women in Genesis 37–41, shining a thoughtful Latter-day Saint lens on narratives that are frequently overshadowed by the story of Joseph. Dr. Wilson brings depth and cultural insight to the account of Dinah, whose story in Genesis 34 echoes into the later family tensions surrounding Joseph; Tamar, whose courageous and calculated actions in Genesis 38 preserve covenant lineage; and Potiphar’s wife, a powerful yet unnamed Egyptian woman whose encounter with Joseph in Genesis 39 raises questions about power, agency, morality, and voice. With careful attention to ancient Near Eastern context and covenant theology, this episode highlights how these women—whether victims, heroines, or antagonists—play essential roles in moving the Abrahamic story forward. Dr. Wilson invites viewers to look beyond surface readings and consider issues of honor, inheritance, justice, and faith in a patriarchal world. As Joseph rises from slavery to leadership in Egypt, the stories of these women remind us that God’s purposes unfold through complex human experiences—and that even the most difficult narratives in Genesis offer profound spiritual lessons for modern disciples.

"Stand Forever" Ep. 4 | The Essential Problem in Life | Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge by Scripture Central

"Stand Forever" Ep. 3 | Christ Is The Measure | Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge by Scripture Central

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

Some are hard-pressed to believe in the extraordinary or miraculous. While it is understandable that we may be challenged by the extraordinary, we shouldn’t be, because ordinary things are actually far more phenomenal. With this and the next episode, we begin at the end, with the conclusion of the entire series: to make clear our destination, believe and follow Christ to the end, and help others do the same. Today, the focus is simply “believe.” We’ll walk through the pattern of syllogisms, piecing together an important syllogism threaded throughout scripture, which I call “Reason Down.” If you understand Reason Down, not only will your faith be fortified, but you will know that with God, all things are possible, and nothing should be hard to believe. Please join me on this journey and stand forever. Transcript/Notes: https://tinyurl.com/3k73uxdz

In this episode, Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the rich Old Testament narratives surrounding the matriarchs of Israel, highlighting the faith, courage, and covenant loyalty of women in the Jacob cycle. Beginning with the well-known scene of Rebekah’s generosity in Book of Genesis—where she offers water not only to Abraham’s servant but to his camels—Dr. Wilson connects this act of selfless service to the covenant marriages that shape the house of Israel. The story then moves to Rachel and Leah, daughters of Laban, whose lives intertwine with Jacob’s through love, deception, longing, and divine promise. Through their marriages, and through the faithful contributions of Zilpah and Bilhah, the foundations of the twelve tribes are laid. Dr. Wilson carefully examines the births of Gad and Asher through Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and reflects on the complex family dynamics that shaped Jacob’s household. She also addresses the wives of Esau and the contrasting covenant paths chosen by Jacob and his brother. With insight drawn from ancient context and Latter-day Saint theology, this episode brings forward the voices of these often-overlooked women—Rachel, Leah, Zilpah, Bilhah, Rebekah, and Esau’s wives—showing how their choices, sacrifices, and faith played a central role in God’s covenant story. Thank you for joining us at Scripture Central! We hope that you have enjoyed this content.

The Stand Forever Series is about believing and following Christ to the end, engaged in His work, and helping others do the same. In Episode one, we see the big picture. Few things provide greater comfort, confidence, and clarity than looking beyond present cares to see the big picture. When we stand back, it looks like this: 1. The essential problem in life is separation from God our Father, resulting in chaos, darkness, and death. 2. Jesus Christ bridges the gap if we will believe and follow Him to the end engaged in His work and help others do the same. He is the Way offsetting chaos, the Truth offsetting darkness, and the Life offsetting death. 3. Therefore, cross the bridge and close the gap; believe and follow Christ to the end, engaged in His work, and help others do the same. The kingdom and purposes of God will not fail but stand forever. The question is whether you will. To that end, we invite you to join us on this journey and Stand Forever.

The Lord said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” How do you do that? How do you live in a troubled world and not be troubled? How do you live in a fearful world and not be afraid? How do you find peace? Introducing a new original series from Scripture Central. The Stand Forever Series is a cinematic presentation of a Christ-centered book written by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge (Emeritus General Authority Seventy), a book that may never be published. The book and now this series share the same title as a BYU devotional address given by Elder Corbridge in 2019, the elements of which are critical pieces to a larger puzzle. The Stand Forever Series is the larger puzzle revealing why we believe and follow Christ to the end, engaged in His work, and help others do the same. Although this first episode is the longest and one of the last of the series, it is being released first because it is especially timely. Subsequent episodes will be released in order every Saturday. We invite you to join us on this journey and Stand Forever. A downloadable transcript of this message can be found here: https://scripturecentral.org/shows/stand-forever/episodes/stand-forever-peace-let-not-your-heart-be-troubled-elder-lawrence-e-corbridge

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

Genesis 18–23 highlights several remarkable women whose stories, read through an LDS lens, reveal faith, covenant, and the quiet influence of righteous women in God’s plan. Sarah stands at the center: in Genesis 18 she hears the promise that she will bear a son in her old age and initially laughs, a deeply human reaction that the Lord gently turns into a lesson about divine power and timing. Latter-day Saints often see in Sarah a model of covenant partnership with Abraham—someone who grows into faith and ultimately receives the miracle promised. Genesis 19 introduces Lot’s wife and daughters, whose experiences near the destruction of Sodom show both the dangers of looking back spiritually and the complexity of preserving family in a fallen world. An LDS perspective emphasizes agency and accountability, while also recognizing the difficult circumstances these women faced. Genesis 20–23 continues to show how women are woven into the covenant story. Sarah’s protection in foreign courts underscores the Lord’s watchful care over covenant mothers through whom promises flow. Her eventual joy in Isaac’s birth (Genesis 21) fulfills God’s word and highlights the doctrine that nothing is impossible for the Lord. Hagar and her son Ishmael are also remembered compassionately in Latter-day Saint thought: though separated from Abraham’s household, they are seen as recipients of God’s mercy and promises. Finally, Sarah’s death in Genesis 23 is treated with great honor, showing her importance as a matriarch in Israel. Altogether, these chapters present women not as side characters but as vital participants in the Abrahamic covenant, whose faith, struggles, and divine encounters still teach modern disciples about trust in God’s promises.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

In this episode, Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the stories of faithful women in the Old Testament who demonstrated deep obedience, covenant loyalty, and unwavering trust in God—even when their discipleship required real sacrifice. Through an LDS lens, she highlights how women were vital participants in God’s covenant work, not merely background figures. Their lives show that faith in the Lord often requires courage, patience, and a willingness to place divine promises above personal comfort or social expectations. A special focus is given to Sarah in Genesis 12 and the Book of Abraham, following the journey she and Abraham make to Egypt during a time of famine. There, they encounter serious danger as Abraham fears for his life because of Sarah’s beauty, leading to complex moral and spiritual tests. From an LDS perspective, Sarah’s faith, unity with Abraham, and trust in God’s protection reveal a woman deeply committed to the covenant path. Her story—marked by risk, displacement, and divine deliverance—invites viewers to appreciate the spiritual strength of covenant women and to see how their examples still guide Latter-day Saints striving to live faithfully today.

Welcome to “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” To view the resources connected with this episode, visit https://johnhiltoniii.com/findingchrist. Please like and comment on this episode and subscribe @scripturecentralofficial so you can more easily see the rest of the videos and resources in this course. Whether you're using this course for personal enrichment or to help with "Come, Follow Me," we hope it will be valuable in your studies.

In this episode, we dive into Moses chapter 8 and Genesis 6–11, exploring the powerful stories surrounding Noah, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel through a Latter-day Saint lens. These chapters highlight a world struggling with increasing wickedness, yet still touched by prophetic warnings, covenants, and divine mercy. Viewers will gain insight into how the Joseph Smith Translation in the book of Moses expands the biblical account, especially in emphasizing the role of preaching, repentance, and moral agency before the Flood. The discussion connects these ancient events to modern discipleship, asking what it means to remain faithful in a corrupt society. Special attention is given to the women mentioned or implied in these chapters—such as the “daughters of men” in Genesis 6, Noah’s wife, and the wives of his sons—who are often overlooked but are essential to the story of preservation and covenant continuity. Their presence reminds us that families, marriages, and righteous women were central to God’s plan to carry humanity forward after the Flood. By noticing these women in the text, this episode invites viewers to read more carefully and see how both men and women participate in God’s work across generations, helping build a bridge from the world before the Flood to the renewed world that followed.