Article

“Visualizing the Vision: The History and Future of First Vision Art”

Anthony Sweat

Alice Pritchett, The Veil o'er the Earth Is Beginning to Burst

As we enjoy spring in the northern hemisphere, we remember Joseph Smith’s First Vision, which happened on an unknown day in the spring of 1820. An article by Anthony Sweat, a BYU professor of religion and an artist, presents a beautiful history of artwork of the First Vision from the first printed image in 1912 to the present. View dozens of artistic depictions of the First Vision here.

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Article

“Timing the Translation of the Book of Mormon”

John W. Welch

Happy anniversary to the Book of Mormon, published in late March 1830! After receiving the gold plates in September 1827 and working for long months on the translation, Joseph Smith submitted the manuscript to be printed. The Book of Mormon was first publicly offered for sale by the printer, E. B. Grandin, on March 26, 1830, with an announcement in the Wayne Sentinel newspaper. Read about the translation and publication here.

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Article

“Grace, Legalism, and Mental Health among the Latter-day Saints”

Daniel K. Judd and W. Justin Dyer

Researchers surveyed more than 600 BYU students to learn about how their beliefs in grace and legalism affected their mental health. Learn about their findings here.

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Come, Follow Me

Exodus 7–13

“Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt”

James Tissot, Water Is Changed into Blood

God caused plagues to punish Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but Pharaoh was slow to learn that God is in control. Finally, after the tenth plague and the loss of his son, Pharaoh released the children of Israel from bondage. The slain Passover lamb saved the children of Israel from death and is a symbol of Christ’s Atonement and our deliverance from sin.

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Book Notice

Why I Stay 2: The Challenges of Discipleship for Contemporary Latter-day Saints

This sequel to the original Why I Stay (2011) is a similar attempt to reach out to Latter-day Saints who, for any of a variety of reasons, are struggling with questions of faith and to offer them reasons to stay in the Church. Read the full book notice here.

2022 BYU Easter Conference, April 8 at 7 pm

The BYU Religious Studies Easter Conference will be Friday, April 8, 2022. Read here for details.

Learn More

New Podcast

Committed Conversations

Hosted by Kate Holbrook and Sam Brown

The first episode of our new podcast, Committed Conversations, is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon. On Committed Conversations, Dr. Kate Holbrook and Dr. Sam Brown explore key texts and topics in Church history. In their first episode, they discuss the minutes of the very first meeting of the Relief Society in Nauvoo, helping listeners learn about its origin, influences, and mission.

Listen on Apple Podcasts