Every essay
67 essays since 2010, newest first.
2026
Prosper in the Land
“Keep my commandments and ye shall prosper in the land.” For Lehi’s family the commandments came by revelation, one wife among them, and prosper may mean pressing forward toward God’s presence.
Joseph and Jacob 2
Joseph never used Jacob 2:30 to justify plural marriage. On the day he and Hyrum died, five statements on record said a man should have one wife.
2025
Amulek’s Women
Some scholars read Amulek’s “my women” in Alma 10:11 as plural wives. Alma gave the same household blessing to the whole city of Gideon.
No Kings Upon the Land
Mosiah II held every record of Israel’s, the Nephites’ and the Jaredites’ kings. Each told the same story, so he ended the kings. The Book of Mormon says there shall be no kings upon this land.
The Law of the King
Why would the Lord call David and Solomon’s many wives “abominable” if no law forbade them? The law of the king did, and Jacob 1 echoes it almost word for word.
Raise Up Seed: Heirs of the Kingdom
Abinadi asks, “Who shall be his seed?” Those who hear the prophets and believe: “the heirs of the kingdom of God.” Is that the seed of Jacob 2:30?
Raise Up Seed: Levirate Marriage
In the Bible, “raise up seed” is the language of levirate marriage: a brother keeping a dead man’s name alive. Could that be the narrow exception in Jacob 2:30?
What’s in a Name?
“Lord of Hosts” appears only 52 times in the Book of Mormon, usually in warnings of destruction. Six are in Jacob 2:28–33, the verses from Lehi’s record.
2024
Jacob’s Prophecy
Jacob’s sermon ends in prophecy: break the one-wife commandment and the land is cursed, and the Lamanites will scourge you. Omni records it coming true.
Covenant Land
Lehi’s promised land came with a covenant, with blessings and curses. The one-wife commandment is one of its conditions, which is why Jacob 2:29 says “cursed be the land.”
Whose Voice?
Jacob’s sermon has several voices. Verses 27–33, including verse 30, are the Lord’s commandment to Lehi, read back to the Nephites a generation later.
Raise Up Seed
The only other time the Book of Mormon says “raise up seed,” the Lord tells Lehi’s sons to take wives, one each. Raising up seed was done through monogamy.
A Branch of Joseph
Five verses before “raise up seed unto me,” the Lord says he led Lehi out “that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch.” Seed, branch, and fruit are covenant language.
The Thoughts of the Heart
Jacob didn’t catch the Nephites in the act. He saw it in their hearts. The sin he condemns begins as a desire, and the Lord treats the desire as the sin.
Daughters of God
Jacob’s sermon is full of God’s daughters: tender wives, broken hearts, cries that reach heaven. Would the Lord command the very thing he says is breaking their hearts?
Context: Wickedness and Abominations
Read everything Jacob says around verse 30 and it’s all condemnation: abominations, whoredoms, a cursed land. Does that sound like the setup for an exception?
Alternate Universe
Ten years before Orson Pratt’s reading, Hyrum Smith preached from Jacob 2 at the temple and called its rule a perpetual principle. The historians who quote the sermon leave that part out.
Chapter and Verse
Jacob 2 and 3 were one sermon. The chapter break, verses, headings, and first footnotes came later, and the first note on verse 30 came from Orson Pratt.
The Root of the Interpretation
The conventional reading of Jacob 2:30 was first defended in print in 1853, in Orson Pratt’s The Seer, months after plural marriage was announced.
One Interpretation, Officially
Every official source reads Jacob 2:30 the same way: monogamy unless God commands otherwise, to raise up more children. The birth records don’t appear to bear that reason out.
Wresting the Scriptures
The Nephites excused their sins by misreading the scriptures about David and Solomon. The Book of Mormon warns that wresting scripture leads to destruction.
The Verse That Shaped Our History
Jacob 2:30 is the exception Mormons rely on to allow a future commandment of polygamy. This series looks at what the Book of Mormon itself says the verse means.
Hyrum Smith Discourse on Polygamy
Three times in his last year, Hyrum Smith spoke out against polygamy: a sermon at the temple, a letter, and a conference talk.
Christ Will Show unto You the Greater Things
Mormon compiled the Book of Mormon; he started with the journey of Lehi and his family and abridged the entire record up to Mormon, Chapter 7. All of this took place sometime between 385 and 400 AD.
Groups in the Book of Mormon
Groups are very important to understand, they NEVER apply to any individual. A group could almost be considered a trend or a fashion for understanding’s sake.
Types in the Book of Mormon
We know we are under condemnation for treating lightly the things we have received, and we have been told how to receive them, or how to go about letting God do his own work in us.
Nephi Is a Good Place to Start
I am going to start in 2 Nephi 11. Nephi is about to write more of the words of Isaiah, chapters 2-14 specifically, and he gives us a few reasons why he is doing this.
The Incomparable Nephi
Some things are difficult to write, or cannot be written in a manner that adequately portrays what the writer would like to share.
2023
To This End Was I Born
Okay. So Brian, in a sort of odd way, asked me to give a talk, or to speak on the subject of Christmas in conjunction with liberty and agency and freedom.
Laws of Men vs. Laws of God
This talk was given sometime in 2010 and it was given to a group of people who were interested in the Constitution and our role in saving the Constitution as a member of the LDS church.
God’s Laws vs. Commandments of God
To understand agency requires an understanding of God’s Laws and how they are used and termed. The laws of man will not be addressed.
A Christ-Centered Relationship
Understanding Agency and Liberty usually comes in stages, with those stages matching our stewardship. Although the different stages overlap and may not always come in the exact same order for everyone the basic path is quite common.
2016
Mormon Leaders Call for Zion
SALT LAKE CITY - In a brazen announcement Friday morning, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has released a new “Proclamation to the World” in what they have titled, “A Call for Zion.” The proclamation comes one day before…
2015
The Prophet’s Address to the Twelve
In the afternoon of Monday, July 2, 1839, the Prophet met with the Apostles and some of the Seventies who were about to depart on their mission to Great Britain in fulfilment of the revelation of the Lord, and instructed them.
GenCon Outtakes Vol. 3
And he said unto the children of men: Follow the prophet. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, how can we follow the prophet save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the church?
Mormons are Gentiles
I was pondering about why I believe we are qualified to be the “gentiles” who reject the fulness. (3 Nephi 16:10)
Witnesses Testify
How does one become a “special witness” of our risen Lord? Thankfully the Lord gave us an example of what a witness of the Resurrection goes through and is required to do.
Are We Still Condemned?
For the entire 2012 year I decided to count and notate every verse read during church. In my three hour block I would notate the verses read out loud in Sacrament, Sunday School, and Quorum Meetings.
Look Unto Us
The thought should be pondered: Will God remove the agency of one of His leaders? If someone is called of God, can they err and lead us astray?
The Sermon on the Mount Compared
What would it look like to compare each of the versions on the Sermon on the Mount? I decided to take Matthew, Hebrew Matthew, The Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew, 3 Nephi, Luke, and The Joseph Smith Translation of Luke to compare the…
Mingled with Scripture – GenCon 2015
Here are the words of scripture from conference as delivered line upon line, here a little and there a little. 11.5 hours of conference and this is every line read during the 11.5 hours.
The Fruit of the Tree of Life
“Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
GenCon Outtakes Vol. 2
Today brothers and sisters I will take for my text the 1st chapter, 6th verse from the book of Revelation–“And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father: to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I Saw Two Personages
When Joseph recorded his “first vision” he never mentioned The Holy Ghost in any of the versions published. See all of the accounts side by side.
Secret Works of Darkness
A friend of mine isn’t bothered that Church discipline can be directed from the top down. But what do the scriptures say about who should judge, and how?
Rend That Veil
Joseph warned the saints about reliance upon him. Here is a quote worth pondering.
Temple Ritual
I shared Denver Snuffer’s post “Stiff Necks, Ancient and Modern” with my friends on Facebook. It wasn’t well received. Why would this post be offensive?
One Day
There will come a day for every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when they will wake up and say, “What has happened to my religion?” Some have already gone through this paradigm shift years ago.
Response to A Critique Directed to Those Who Claim to Believe What Denver Snuffer Teaches
A blog post in January 2015 asked some fair questions of those who believe what Denver Snuffer teaches. Here are its questions, with my answers.
I Will Make a Spokesman for Him
In the 3rd chapter of Second Nephi, Lehi is quoting a prophecy from Joseph of Egypt. The quotation is nearly verbatim to the original given in the Genesis 50 JST.
Pure in Heart
Those who go to Zion will know Him. This is the requirement for entering and living in Zion. You need to know Him. The Second Comforter is a requirement. Temple Recommends won’t be enough. Prestigious callings are not enough.
Conditional Love
I’ve been out of work for the past six months. I’ve learned a lot. I had a good job and expected to help others with part of my paycheck. That has definitely changed. Now I’m on the other end, I need help.
2014
GenCon Outtakes Vol. 1
Wherefore, I must tell you the truth according to the plainness of the word of God. For behold, as I inquired of the Lord, thus came the word unto me, saying: [Tommy], get thou up into the [conference center] on the morrow, and declare the…
True Prophets, True Disciples, and True Messengers
This is a follow up post to the False Prophets, False Priests, and False Teachers one. These are some of the characteristics of True Prophets, True Disciples, and True Messengers.
False Prophets, False Priests, and False Teachers
There are many who claim to speak for the Lord in these the last days. Many who take upon them His name, yet He doesn’t claim them. The Lord gave us a measurement to test those who claim such high regard.
Small Tokens
I have realized that it’s a process. Think of the tokens in the temple. Small touches, that get stronger and more pronounced as you move along. Think of the exchange of a token or coin.
My Witness
On September 9th I heard the final lecture given by a servant of the Lord. I cried with joy as he read to us revelation from the Lord. God is moving, He is accomplishing His work, through His strange act.
2013
Enter Into His Rest
The doctrine on resting has been wrested: Enter into the Rest of the Lord
Why Settle for Lesser? Seek Greater!
I would add powerless, i.e. a vain attempt or laboring in vain. I would also add fruitless. i.e. Our efforts were fruitless. Why does the Lord labor in the vineyard? God is looking for fruit!
The Ironic Priesthood
“incongruity between a situation developed in a drama and the accompanying words or actions that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play —called also dramatic irony, tragic irony.”
Covenant Relationships Bear Fruit
The first commandment given to Adam and Eve given in the Garden was to ‘be fruitful’ and to ‘multiply, and replenish the earth. Understanding how they would accomplish this is no mystery, and that commandment is still in force today.
2010
Of Great Worth
Nephi quotes Isaiah 48 & Isaiah 49 and then comments on them in 1 Nephi 22. He specifically talks about a ‘marvelous work‘ among the Gentiles.
An Ensign to the Nations
The Prophet Isaiah prophesied that in the Last Days the Lord would set up an “Ensign to the Nations.” I’ve always wondered what this Ensign would be. I think the prophet Nephi knew what it was and he told us using plainness.
Come Unto Christ
The major mission of the Book of Mormon, as recorded on its title page, is “to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”
Christlike Affirmations
I focus on Christ. I think and act in a Christlike manner. I immerse myself in the scriptures and feast on the words of Christ. I know that God lives and that Jesus is the Christ. I exercise faith.
2009
As a Man Thinketh
I even bought the simple book by James Allen called, "As a man Thinketh." I liked the book, and the concepts presented. It seemed to flow with what I believed and practiced.
100+ Character Traits of Christ
The first post on this blog, Christmas 2009: character traits of Christ, each with the scriptures that show it.