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46: “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It Is by Obedience” (Doctrine and Covenants 129–132)

Albert Einstein once said "the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” Excluding our years as know-it-all teenagers, many of us can pinpoint a time when we’ve felt this way. Perhaps that time for you was when you began learning more about plural marriage and how it relates to the Restoration. You’re not alone. As we study Doctrine and Covenants 129–132 this week, we invited two Church historians to help us understand why plural marriage was practiced and what it has to do with the Restoration.

Bonus: Polygamy

A couple of weeks ago we asked our listeners if they had any questions about polygamy. And boy, did you guys do not disappoint! We received many questions on Facebook and Instagram about this practice in early Church history that we decided to create a special bonus episode to answer a few of them. So if you have ever wondered why polygamy was practiced or if it will be practiced in heaven, sit tight. Our guests and Church historians Jenny Reeder and Brittany Chapman Nash will answer these questions and more as we dig into this bonus episode about polygamy. Find the full bonus episode here.

47: “Prepare Ye for the Coming of the Bridegroom” (Doctrine and Covenants 133–134)

Okay, let’s be real. Doctrine and Covenants section 134 probably isn’t on our radar very often. All that talk about government can be pretty complex and hard to understand, but don’t worry—we’ve got your back. In this week's study group, we break down Doctrine and Covenants 133–134 as we discuss God’s purposes for governments and how we can learn to be better disciples of Jesus Christ, no matter where we live.

49: “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (Doctrine and Covenants 137–138)

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who die without a knowledge of the gospel? Or what about those who didn’t get a chance to accept it because of mental illness, physical disability, or other life circumstances? If these questions and others about the spirit world have weighed on your mind, Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 can help. These verses are filled with hope and information about what happens to our loved ones after they die and how everyone will have the opportunity to receive the gospel. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into these last two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.

J. David Pulsipher: Making Peace with Book of Mormon Violence

Millions around the world have found peace within the pages of the Book of Mormon; beautiful teachings about the Prince of Peace and His atoning sacrifice calm our fears and instill hope. But the Book of Mormon also covers a great deal of contention and violence. Why were such graphic events included and what are we supposed to learn from all the accounts of war and conflict? In this week’s episode, we talk with J. David Pulsipher, PhD, who has spent the last decade exploring the answer to this question.

Mary Holland McCann: Characteristics of the Mother of the Son of God

A National Geographic headline in 2015 read, “How the Virgin Mary Became the World’s Most Powerful Woman.” Our world is full of people seeking power and influence, but two millennia ago it was a young girl’s choice to have faith in the Lord and become a mother that left the greatest everlasting impact on all mankind. Some may cheapen the value of a mother, but on this week’s episode, Mary Holland McCann helps us look closer at the characteristics that made Mary who she is and how the example she set for her son changed our world.

Shawn Nelson: “The Blessing Is the Mission”

Lovesac was the fastest-growing furniture company in America in 2019 according to Furniture Today. Shawn Nelson can’t be certain if the company he founded would still be in existence if he hadn't served a Latter-day Saint mission, but he doesn’t think it would be. After all, it was his ability to speak Mandarin that made fulfilling the company’s first big order possible. But Nelson says his mission also taught independence, mental toughness, and how to build relationships of trust—all skills he has since used to build his business.

46: Lost and Found

Stories in this episode: Laric breezes through sleep deprivation games on the Netflix show "Awake," but the final results leave him wondering if God cares about what matters most to him; A lost set of scriptures devastates Mark, but how they come back to him years later is nothing short of a miracle; David struggles to adjust to his mission in the Philippines until losing a contact lens in the mud helps him gain a new perspective.

God Needs Mothers of All Kinds

The daughter of a prophet’s wife, a young woman who recently adopted her first child, and a stepmother of teenagers—these are just three “kinds” of mothers highlighted in this week's "All In" episode. You may know many other types of mothers. There are those who are unable to have children of their own, single women, grandmothers, birth mothers who give someone else the opportunity of motherhood through adoption, and mothers who share their children with a stepparent. The world is full of women who are actively involved in mothering—for as Sheri Dew famously said, “Are we not all mothers?”

47: Love Lessons

After a devastating breakup, broadcast journalist Tamara decides to do something a little different for her 31st birthday: 31 dates in 31 days. But what starts as a fun blogging experiment quickly turns into big news and an even bigger spiritual eye-opener than Tamara initially assumed as she discovers more about who she is and how God sees the potential in all of us.