Scripture Central

Join host Lynne Hilton Wilson and special guest Susan Easton Black, one of the foremost experts on Nauvoo, Illinois, for a captivating episode exploring the creation of one of the most remarkable cities in early Latter-day Saint history. In this groundbreaking podcast, they uncover new insights and fascinating details about how the Saints transformed a swampy stretch of Mississippi River shoreline into the thriving “City Beautiful.” Together, Lynne and Susan dive into Nauvoo’s spiritual, social, and architectural legacy—from the vision behind its city planning and the building of the majestic Nauvoo Temple to the stories of the faith-filled people who made it all possible. Viewers will discover how Nauvoo became a center of innovation, faith, and community—and why its legacy still inspires members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

In the winter of 1838–1839, the Prophet Joseph Smith and several Church leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were imprisoned in Liberty Jail, Missouri — a cold, cramped dungeon that became a “prison-temple” of revelation. Doctrine and Covenants sections 121, 122, and 123 capture Joseph’s heartfelt cries to God and the Lord’s powerful response about enduring adversity with faith, patience, and charity. This episode explores the intense persecution of the Saints in Missouri, the unlawful imprisonment of Church leaders, and the spiritual lessons that arose from one of the darkest times in early Church history. As Joseph faced betrayal, loss, and despair, God taught eternal truths about priesthood, humility, and the refining power of trials. Join us as we uncover how these revelations can help you face your own Liberty Jail moments — finding strength when everything seems turned against you, and trusting that “all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.”

In this episode, we explore Doctrine and Covenants sections 115 through 120—some of the most defining revelations in the history of the early Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These revelations, given in 1838, officially establish the divinely revealed name of the Church, emphasizing that it must bear the name of Jesus Christ to clearly identify whose Church it is. The Lord also directs the Saints to build up the sacred gathering place of Adam-ondi-Ahman in Missouri—a site tied to ancient prophecy and the future return of the Savior. Through these commands, the Saints are reminded that their work is not only about organizing a church but about preparing a people and a place for the coming of Christ. Sections 119 and 120 introduce the law of tithing, a principle that would bless both individual Saints and the Church collectively. This revelation set a divine pattern of sacrifice and stewardship, where the faithful contribute one-tenth of their increase to sustain the Lord’s work on earth. These sections show how the Lord guides His people in both spiritual and temporal matters—establishing identity through His name, unity through sacred gathering places, and consecration through the law of tithing. Together, these revelations reflect the growing maturity of the restored Church and the Lord’s ongoing pattern of preparing His Saints for Zion.

The story of the early Latter-day Saints in the 1830s is one of both trial and triumph. In Kirtland, Ohio, the Saints faced a heartbreaking financial crisis with the collapse of the Kirtland Safety Society Bank. Hopes of building Zion seemed threatened as many lost money, and critics pointed to the failure as evidence against Joseph Smith and the Church’s future stability. It was a season of doubt, testing, and refinement for the faith of the Saints. Yet, at the very same time, remarkable success unfolded across the Atlantic. Missionaries sent to England began preaching the restored gospel with such power that entire congregations were converted. In less than a year, over 1,600 baptisms took place—an astonishing outpouring of faith that infused the struggling Church with new life and strength. In this episode with professor Lynne Hilton Wilson, listen to details about how both the trials of Kirtland and the miracles in England shaped the destiny of the Church. The failures of man stood in stark contrast to the Lord’s triumphs, showing how God’s hand continued to guide His people through opposition, ultimately moving the work forward in miraculous ways.

Section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants is a revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith that lays out the organization and structure of priesthood authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It explains the two priesthoods—the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Aaronic Priesthood—detailing their offices, responsibilities, and governing councils. The revelation establishes the presiding quorums, such as the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventy, and gives instruction on their roles in guiding and administering the Church. It also highlights the principle that all Church leaders are to act in righteousness, humility, and under the direction of revelation. The section further emphasizes the eternal nature of the priesthood, teaching that it was first given to Adam and passed down through his posterity, continuing in an unbroken line of authority. It underscores the order, unity, and accountability required in priesthood service and notes that bishops serve as judges in Israel, caring for the temporal and spiritual welfare of members. The revelation concludes with a call for diligence, urging all who serve in the priesthood to learn their duty and act with exactness, promising that those who do so will magnify their callings and bring honor to God’s work.

Join host Lynne Hilton Wilson and expert guest Steven Harper as they explore one of the most miraculous and thrilling chapters in Latter-day Saint history—the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836. Often called a modern “Day of Pentecost,” this sacred event was filled with spiritual outpourings, visions, and manifestations that confirmed the hand of God in the lives of the early Saints. Lynne and Steven dive into the rich history of how the temple came to be, the sacrifices made by the Saints, and the joy they experienced as heaven and earth seemed to meet within its walls. From angels appearing and the Savior Himself being seen, to the rushing of spiritual power that many compared to the day of Pentecost in the New Testament, this conversation brings to life the extraordinary events surrounding the opening of the first temple in this dispensation. With Lynne’s engaging questions and Steven’s deep expertise, viewers will gain not only historical understanding but also spiritual appreciation for why the Kirtland Temple remains a cornerstone of faith and miracles in the story of the Restoration.

From May to June 1834, approximately 230 men, women, and children marched to Missouri to help the Saints who had been expelled from Jackson County, Missouri, the previous year. This expedition, known today as Zion’s Camp, was initially called the Camp of Israel. It was formed after Joseph Smith received a revelation in February 1834 commanding him to call up the strength of the Lord’s house to redeem Zion from its enemies. The revelation instructed Church leaders to recruit at least 100, and preferably 500, men to travel to Missouri. In March, Joseph Smith and others traveled through New York to obtain volunteers and funding for the expedition. And don't forget Zelph's bones! What were they? Were they real? Were they a figment of Jospeh's imagination? Were the records of the experience accurate? Join Lynne Hilton Wilson as she dives into the context and controversies of this exciting part of Latter-day Saint Church History.

Independence, Missouri, was to be the culmination of the Saints' dreams and revelations for the establishment of Zion in the last days. Many were obedient and gave everything they had to create Zion and others were disobedient and lacked Faith. A number of mistakes were made by the Saints and the Missourians. The results were tragic. What went wrong in Missouri? Was the prophet Joseph Smith wrong about the revelations he received? Why did the Lord send the Saints to Independence, if he knew they would fail? If the failure of the establishment of Zion was due to sin, what sins did the Saints commit that brought them such horrible troubles? As relations between the Saints and the Missourians soured, Jackson County leaders demanded a meeting. At the July 20th meeting, the Jackson County leaders gave the Saints a list of demands: 1) No more Mormonites could settle in Jackson County. 2) Those already in the county must sell their property and leave as soon as possible. 3) Printing of 'The Evening and the Morning Star' must stop immediately. 4) The church storehouse and shops must close as soon as possible. Not knowing exactly what to do and needing to seek the prophet's counsel, Bishop Edward Partridge asked for three month stay to communicate with the Prophet in Ohio. The Missouri leaders refused. In the end, they gave the Bishop fifteen minutes to decide to accept the terms. His unwillingness to obey the order led to him being tarred and feathered in front of the Independence courthouse. The expulsion of the Saints from Missouri had begun. Join Lynne Hilton Wilson and professor Janiece Johnson as they discuss the details behind this exciting and tragic period of Church History. Thank you for joining us at Scripture Central! We hope that you have enjoyed this content.

With the Saints in Independence struggling to fulfill the Lord's command to build a temple, the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, get the invitation from the Lord to build a temple there. The Saints in Kirtland dig in and begin construction as the miracles start to commence. Join Lynne Hilton Wilson and special guest Steven C. Harper, Church History professor at BYU, for the stories, insights and experiences surrounding the construction of the first temple of God in the latter days. In addition to learning about the historical events related to the construction of the Kirtland Temple, Professor Harper offers a deep dive into how the temple is designed to prepare us to return to our Heavenly Father. Thank you for joining us at Scripture Central! We hope that you have enjoyed this content.

The Lord points to the purpose of the revelation as soon as His commentary begins on John’s record. D&C 93:19 explains what he wants to teach Saints what is needed to receive the Father’s inheritance: “I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness” (93:19) Interestingly, the etymology of our word “worship” comes from an Old English and West Saxon word that means “condition of being worthy.” Thus, we can increase our worship when we increase our worthiness. We then worship more as we become more like our Savior.

When Christopher Columbus brought tobacco to Europe, it became a miracle drug. It was used for over 250 maladies (e.g., warts, asthma, ulcers, arrow wounds, toothaches, bad breath, deafness, tonsillitis, nosebleeds, epilepsy, etc.). From 1790 to 1830, alcohol consumption rose in America. Most men and some women and children drank alcohol regularly. Steven Harper recorded that in 1820, the upstate New York region near Joseph's home made a lot of corn whiskey and exported 65,277 gallons and 69 tons of beer. However, by 1830, temperance movements across the states—including a 239-member society in Kirtland—began attacking alcohol, tobacco, and other social ills (Harper, Making Sense of the D&C, 322-323). Several other food issues were discussed in local newspapers. A 19th-20th century contemporary of the Saints, Catherine Beecher, spoke against tea and coffee specifically as dangerous as alcohol. On February 1, 1833, four weeks before Joseph received this revelation, a Kirtland distillery (1819- 1833) closed due to a local temperance society's work to decrease their clients (P.H. Peterson, 13). It was part of a national organization, with the nearby larger city of Albany, NY, boasting twelve temperance societies. Joseph subscribed to local newspapers that also denounced alcohol consumption. It was a national issue, and it was on Joseph's mind. These local issues, and Emma's request, probably contributed to the Prophet Joseph's desire to learn the Lord's will on the subject. The Word of Wisdom differs from regularly published temperance society claims as it never claimed to be a cure for a list of ills, nor the cause of many illnesses (including cholera). Temperance societies also built on biblical warnings like Ephesians 5:18, that denounces excessive use of wine, or Proverbs 23:2 on gluttony (and 23:21; Deut. 21:20; Luke 21:34). Revelation in Kirtland, Ohio On February 27, 1833, Joseph met on the upper level of the Whitney's Store with a group of about 22 Saints for an institute-style class called "the school of the prophets." Zebedee Coltrin remembered that Joseph received this revelation in an adjoining room with only two or three others present, right before the school met. When he entered the school of the prophets, he had the revelation in his hand. As he began to read, all but one were using tobacco, but all put down their pipes as he read. Also at the School of the Prophets a remarkable vision occurred in which several members of the group saw Jesus Christ and/or Heavenly Father. Eye witness accounts are explored in this video podcast. Finally, information on the Apocrypha is given and Dr. Wilson goes into detail about each book including the ones she considers to be her favorite. Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson as she examines these exciting elements of Church history.

Emma was twenty-nine years old—and seven months pregnant—when, in the fall of 1832, their family moved from the John Johnson farm in Hiram Ohio to Kirtland, approximately thirty miles north. Joseph and Emma set up their humble home in the rooms above Newel K. Whitney’s store. Shortly thereafter, Joseph left for New York City to buy supplies for the Missouri saints. A little over a month later, on 6 November, Emma gave birth to Joseph Smith III, her fourth child, but the first to survive. Joseph returned from New York City just hours after his birth. Their adopted daughter, Julia Murdock Smith, was eighteen months old. In addition to the family’s quarters, Joseph used one of the rooms for an office to complete his Bible translation. Shortly after Christmas, on December 27, Joseph asked nine high priests to join him in his office to teach them about revelation. They each came focused and unified on receiving God’s will, and exercising their faith. They each knelt and prayed individually to be of one heart and one mind. Following the prayers, Joseph began to receive the revelation, with Fredrick G. Williams acting as scribe. By 9:00 p.m., the revelation was not finished, so the nine men returned the next day when the Lord revealed even more. These instructions and revelations formed the basis of the School of Prophets, a unique organization meeting to discuss revelation, future plans and challenges faced by this early community of Saints. Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson as she examines these exciting elements of Church history.

The leaders of the Church in Missouri grew troubled. Saints were gathering there by the hundreds. Relatively few of them were obeying the law of consecration when they arrived. “Have you all fulfilled the law of the church,” William Phelps wrote to them in the Church’s newspaper, “which saith: Behold thou shalt consecrate all thy properties, that which thou hast, unto me, with a covenant and a deed which cannot be broken? Meanwhile, in Ohio, the community of Saints continues to grow in size. Efforts to build a city of believers moves forward. However, challenges abound as the two communities enter into competition with each other generating some problems between the groups. Another revelation to Joseph from the Lord outlines one of the gifts of the Spirit that Joseph often mentioned as being the most important: the understanding of spirits. At the same time, one of Joseph Smith's most compelling prophecies was released: The prophecy on the American Civil War, recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 87. It outlines a future conflict beginning in South Carolina, escalating into a global war, and involving slaves rising against their masters. It also mentions the involvement of Great Britain and other nations. This prophecy, given on December 25, 1832, has been interpreted as a prediction of the American Civil War and subsequent global conflicts. But how well known was the prophecy? Was it easy to manufacture because of events going on in the nation at the time? Did Joseph tell people about it in advance or wait until the war started and conveniently say he had received a prophecy? The truth will surprise you. Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson as she explores these exciting moments in LDS Church History.

The Prophet Joseph often refers to God’s all-encompassing power as the priesthood. This overarching definition acts like an umbrella that covers all of God’s works—from the Creation to the Gifts of the Spirit. In Doctrine and Covenants sections 84 and 107, we especially see the priesthood used in the work of organizing the church and male ordinations. Yet, in D&C 84, we also see both the expansive definition of the priesthood power and the specific definition of priesthood keys and offices used. In the Book of Mormon alone, we find over 464 attributes and references to priesthood power; the Doctrine and Covenants has over 833 similar references Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson and guest Janiece Johnson as they discuss the Oath and the Covenant of the Priesthood and how it is so much more than we realize as members of the Church.

Doctrine and Covenants 81-83 represents the restoration at work—addressing immediate historical needs while establishing eternal principles. They demonstrate that revelation is not abstract doctrines, but universal divine truths that can be applied to specific circumstances. The progression from individual calling in section 81 to community organization in section 82 to institutional responsibility in section 83 mirrors the development of both individual discipleship and Church organization. Divine revelation addresses all aspects of human experience—personal, economic, social, and spiritual—as integrated elements of the restored gospel rather than separate spheres of concern. Join Dr. Lynne Hilton Wilson and guest Janiece Johnson as they discuss the impact of the Book of Mormon on early Latter-day Saints. The restoration was signal to the world that the heavens were now open and that God was speaking to His children. How did this affect new members of the Church who were raised believing that the heavens were closed? Did the early Saints cherish the Book of Mormon as much as we do today?

The Book of Revelation is known as Apocalyptic literature and has fascinated scholars for centuries, each giving his or her own interpretation. It wasn’t until the Restoration, though, that we received the keys to understand its message. With the help of Joseph Smith’s questions and the Lord’s answers, we learn that the Book of Revelation discloses vital information about the last days. It is filled with God’s direction for Jesus’ Second Coming and the end of the earth. The keys to understand it were given in the day it was needed. It is a book for our day. Join Dr. Lynn Hilton Wilson as she unfolds the keys of the Book of Revelation that help decipher its teachings and prophetic direction.

One of the most prolific visions in Church history unfolds to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1832. Lasting an amazing 90 minutes, the pair see God the Father, Christ, Satan and the three degrees of heavenly glory. The revelation meant so much to the prophet that he reworked it as a beautiful poem and included it in a letter to W.W. Phelps, with whom he shared correspondence. To others though, this revelation signified the end of their relationship with the prophet. But why? Join Dr. Lynn Hilton Wilson as she tackles some of the tough questions surrounding one of the most significant revelations of the Restoration. Were there any witnesses to this amazing vision or was it explained to members of the Church at a later date? Was the content of the vision accepted by members of the Church or did it create controversy? How similar were the revelations that Joseph received to the teachings of other Christian leaders of the time?

As the work on the Book of Commandments continues, opposition comes knocking. Two former members of the Church turn from their covenants and seek to destroy it. Symonds Ryder and Ezra Booth each concoct several devious methods to stop the Restoration. Meanwhile, Joseph Smith begins to make minor changes to previous revelations and draws criticism from detractors who accuse him of trying to cover up folk magic and the use of previous editors. From this work comes a key question that members now and in the past must grapple with. Why did Joseph make Changs to God's word? Join Dr. Lynn Hilton Wilson as she takes a critical look at these changes to revelation in the early Church. With point by point instruction and several detailed examples, viewers will examine specific stories, details and history behind this challenging period of Church history. This is an episode not to be missed.

Modern-day revelation is a contentious topic among Christians. Does God continue to reveal His will to His prophets or have His followers received all they need as found in the Bible? Joseph Smith went against the prevailing thoughts of the day by helping God restore a Church with an open canon of scripture. For this belief there was much persecution. In this episode, viewers will discover the history of the coming forth of the Doctrine and Covenants. Understand the problems modern-day revelation created for the early Saints and why persecution could be found both inside and outside of the Church.

How is it possible that some early Church members could be eyewitnesses to the miracles of the Restoration but still lose their testimonies and fall away from the Church? Join Lynn Hilton Wilson and special guest Steven C. Harper, Church History professor at BYU, for a frank discussion about the keys to maintaining a strong testimony in the gospel. Lynne and Steven will examine the lives of some of the early Saints and share their stories. What miracles did they see? What revelations were given to them specifically? Why did they choose to leave even though they witnessed some of the strongest spiritual manifestations on record? Don't miss this discussion, it may help someone you love or strengthen your own testimony.