Shiloh and Ben discuss revelation. What is it? How did Joseph report receiving it? What is it like in our own lives? How we view revelation also influences how we view and experience the scriptures. It has been said that the scriptures are always true, and sometimes the scriptures are even historical. What does this mean? Is the truthfulness of scripture primarily held in their historical literalness, or is there a way to view scripture that makes them even more true for reasons beyond whether the stories literally happened as they are told? How scripture is made is a history in itself as we learn discussing the history of the “United Order/Firm.”
Shiloh and guest co-host Christopher Hurtado talk about the early Saints’ consistent divine call to create sacred space. Whether in Kirtland, Jackson County, Caldwell County, Daviess County, or Nauvoo, the Saints are instructed to construct a temple in order to perform sacred ordinances or to have revealed sacred things. When, in the New Testament, the Jews asked for a sign of authority for Jesus Christ’s actions in driving out the money changers of the temple, he answered by saying “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The people, thinking he was talking about the physical temple of stone, did not understand that “he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2:13-22). The temple is symbolic of each of us individually and of our own sacred journey. Each act in the sacred temple drama is our own story. By commanding an outward and physical edifice to perform sacred rites, rituals, and ordinances, God is presenting an outward observation of our own inward sacred, divine adventure. But what is the “sacred” and how is it created? Is it an objective thing in and of itself (sui generis) that we can step into and out of by our choices (sui generis)? Is it something that we create, experience, and deem as sacred? Perhaps it is a combination of these two things? But what would that even mean or even look like? ...
Shiloh and Ben discuss the conversation between Alma and Korihor, Korihor's teachings, and how Alma sees that all of creation denotes the existence of God. Alma is seeking to give Korihor an experience with God, whereas Korihor is looking for rational proof that -- in itself -- will never lead to true conversion and the experience of just sitting with and being enveloped in the love of God. Through this story we can also begin to see different ways of viewing God from transactional and transformative ways. In chapter 31, the Zoramites pray from the Rameumptom in glory of their separation from those less spiritual, as Alma prays to God to unify all people in the glory of God. ...
Shiloh and guest co-host Christopher Hurtado talk about Moroni's final last words. Moroni bids us "farewell" a few times, as each time he believes will be his last. There is much to consider concerning Moroni. The text offers us quite a bit of his personality and of his possible insecurities and obvious strengths. The Lord lightly chastises and liberates Moroni in Ether 12 from his worry and concern, as we see a change happen in Moroni's final message. Considering Moroni's plight and situation, having seen the ultimate destruction of his people, it is not an uncommon question to ask of ourselves what we would have included as our final witness of Jesus Christ had we seen and experienced the same thing. What did Moroni deem the most worthy messages in his final farewell? His reliance and testimony of Christ, the importance of the Holy Ghost, his love and appreciation for the Lord's servants and their calling, his focus on the promises and blessings of the sacrament, and of his focus on the association of the Saints. There is a certain level of sorrow and a greater level of appreciation that we can extend to Moroni who found importance in writing down certain aspects of the Gospel that he found important but that he would never get to experience again. ...
