Imagine being unjustly imprisoned for months, watching your family and people suffer, and asking the piercing question: "O God, where art thou?" The revelations given to Joseph Smith in the darkest dungeon of his life are some of the most beautiful and powerful in all scripture.
Summary: In this profound episode, we explore the transcendent revelations of Doctrine and Covenants 121, 122, and 123, written from the confines of Liberty Jail.
D&C 121: The Power of Righteousness. We delve into Joseph's heartfelt plea, "How long shall thy hand be stayed?" The Lord answers with a staggering lesson: authority and power are inseparably connected with the principles of righteousness. We analyze the fatal trap of "unrighteous dominion"—covering our sins, gratifying pride, and exercising compulsion—which instantly causes the heavens to withdraw. Crucially, we learn the six principles of Godly Influence: persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, and kindness. This section is a master class in Christlike leadership.
D&C 122: Eternal Perspective in Suffering. The Lord reassures Joseph: "My son, peace be unto thy soul." He validates every trial Joseph has faced, from false accusations to the "jaws of hell," and promises that "all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." This section confirms that the "Son of Man hath descended below them all," granting Him perfect knowledge to comfort us in our extremities.
D&C 123: The Duty to Record. Finally, we discuss the duty to collect a "catalog of catastrophes" detailing the Saints' sufferings and abuses. This was not for vengeance, but to "leave the whole nation without excuse" and to help those who are "kept from the truth because they know not where to find it." The lesson culminates with the principle of total effort: "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God."
Call-to-Action: What principle from D&C 121 is helping you the most right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If this discussion brought peace to your soul, please like this video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith.
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
4:55 Divine Hiddenness
15:47 Hitting Rock Bottom
29:19 Damning the River & Praying for Rain
40:48 Unrighteous Dominion
54:25 Godly Influence
1:12:36 A Catalog of Catastrophes
1:26:08 Work and then Wait
1:35:19 One-Liners
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1:38:11
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1:38:11
D&C 115-120 - Sacred Sacrifices
When a people face "fightings without" and "fears within", what keeps them standing? Is it possible to serve God without constantly worrying about your property, or even your family?
D&C 115–120 answers these questions, providing counsel for a Church struggling to survive. Summary: In this episode, we explore revelations given as the Saints faced intense persecution in Missouri and internal apostasy in Kirtland.
D&C 115 renames the Church, emphasizing that "thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". The Lord calls Far West to be a "holy and consecrated land" , providing a "refuge from the storm".
D&C 116 identifies "Spring Hill" as the sacred place of Adam-ondi-Ahman , where Adam shall come to visit his people.
D&C 117 focuses on material priorities. The Lord asks, "what is property unto me?" , commanding the Saints to "let them go" and focus on the "more weighty matters". We highlight the incredible faith of Oliver Granger, whose sacrifice was deemed "more sacred...than his increase". The Lord also warns against a "littleness of soul" and the deeds of the Nicolaitane band.
D&C 118 issues a stunning challenge to the Twelve Apostles: to depart for their mission on April 26th from the cornerstone of the Far West temple, a site surrounded by enemies. The Lord promises to "provide for their families" as they go forth.
D&C 119-120 reveals the Law of Tithing: first, all "surplus property" , and subsequently, "one-tenth of all their interest annually". This law is declared a "standing law...forever" because sacrifice sanctifies , helping to "sanctify the land of Zion".
D&C 120 reveals that the disbursement of these funds must be managed by a presiding council.
Call-to-Action: What "stuff" or "property" do you need to "let go" of to focus on the "more weighty matters"? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If this discussion helped strengthen your faith, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith.
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
5:37 What's In a Name?
18:24 Holy People Make Holy Ground
26:28 It's Just Stuff
39:19 Walk the Walk
48:02 Win or Lose
56:56 Mission Impossible
1:12:03 Tithing
1:29:03 One-Liners
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1:31:15
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1:31:15
D&C 111-114 - More Treasures than One
Joseph Smith and his counselors were deep in debt, so they went searching for buried treasure in Salem, Massachusetts, leading to one of the most remarkable sections of the Doctrine and Covenants! Did God really approve of their "follies," and what did they find that was "more treasures than one"?
SUMMARY: Join us as we explore D&C 111–114, covering a pivotal and often misunderstood moment in early Church history and the profound doctrinal answers God gave in response to conflict and confusion.
D&C 111 | The Salem Trip: We analyze the search for wealth to settle Church debt, the warning against "get-rich-quick" schemes , and the Lord’s promise to Joseph Smith: "I have much treasure in this city for you" , shifting the focus from temporal silver to the spiritual treasure of souls and ancestry.
D&C 112 | The Quorum of the Twelve: The Lord speaks directly to Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Twelve, to address "some few things in thine heart". The revelation is a powerful call to humility, urging him to "Be not partial" and let his "love abound unto all men". This section also outlines the authority given to the Twelve to "unlock the door of the kingdom" in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.
D&C 113 | Q&A on Isaiah: Joseph Smith seeks clarity on Isaiah 11. The Lord reveals that the "Stem of Jesse" is Christ , and the "Rod" that comes from it is a servant in the hands of Christ—identified as Joseph Smith. We also discuss what it means for Zion to "put on thy strength" (priesthood authority) and loose the "bands of her neck".
D&C 114 | Taking the Opportunity: In a stark warning against apostasy , the Lord calls David W. Patten to "settle up all his business" for a mission. The revelation teaches a critical principle: if leaders deny the Lord, others "shall be planted in their stead and receive their bishopric".
CALL-TO-ACTION: Which of these four sections spoke most powerfully to you? Was it the call to patience with debt, the need for humility in leadership, the promised keys for the gathering, or the warning to take the "lifetime of an opportunity"? Let us know in the comments below! If you're studying the Doctrine and Covenants, hit the like button and subscribe for more deep dives into the scriptures.
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
6:36 Get Rich Quick
18:14 Playing Favorites
31:03 Opening the Door
44:51 The Last Dispensation
55:28 Jesus Christ & Joseph Smith
1:12:12 Getting In on the Action
1:18:08 The Lifetime of an Opportunity
1:28:41 One-Liners
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1:31:06
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1:31:06
D&C 109-110 - House of Glory
When Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple, he said the first word that came to his mind was "Thanks". But why? He and the Saints had built the temple through "great tribulation" and "out of our poverty". This act of faith, however, was about to unlock a cascade of blessings that would change the world forever.
Summary: Join us as we dive deep into the dedicatory prayer of the Kirtland Temple (D&C 109) and the incredible heavenly visitations that followed (D&C 110). This isn't just a historical event; it's a blueprint for spiritual growth and power in our own lives.
In this video, we'll explore: How the temple is a place of God's holiness, where all who enter can "feel thy power" and "grow up in thee." The incredible promise of being "restored to the blessings" when we "speedily repent and return" to the Lord. What it means to be "clothed upon with robes of righteousness" and "armed with thy power" as we go forth to share the gospel. The profound moment when the Lord appeared and manifested Himself "in mercy." The powerful restoration of the "keys of this dispensation" by Moses, Elias, and Elijah, which unlocked the gathering of Israel, the Gospel of Abraham, and the sealing power. The Kirtland Temple dedication was just "the beginning of the blessing". Discover how these restored keys and blessings continue to roll forth "in great power and majesty" to fill the whole earth.
Call-to-Action: What does "armed with thy power" mean to you personally? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Don't forget to like this video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the notification bell so you don't miss our next Unshaken study.
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
6:02 Thanks
17:20 Recognizing Holy Ground
28:49 Growing Up in God
39:03 Back on Track
59:14 Clothed with Glory
1:14:48 Manifest in Mercy
1:23:35 Keys of the Kingdom
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1:39:18
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1:39:18
D&C 106-108 - God's Power in Human Hands
Do you feel like your sins are unforgivable, or that you're not doing enough? What is the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood, and how did it get its name? D&C 106-108 offers answers that will bring peace to your soul and deepen your understanding of the Lord’s kingdom.
Summary: In this episode, we explore D&C 106-108, beginning with two lesser-known members, Warren A. Cowdery and Lyman Sherman. Their personal revelations provide powerful insights into scrupulosity and toxic perfectionism. We'll learn how to "let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing" while still being "more careful henceforth".
Next, we dive into the organizational and doctrinal revelations of D&C 107. We will uncover the true nature of the Melchizedek Priesthood, its authority to "administer in spiritual things" and the incredible blessing to "enjoy the communion and presence of God". We'll also explore why the "Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God" was renamed out of "reverence" for God's name, and how this applies to us today. The section on the organization of quorums, including the First Presidency, the Twelve Apostles, and the Seventy, will help us understand the unique blend of hierarchy and democracy in the Lord’s Church. We'll examine the principle of unanimous decisions and the attributes required for righteous counsel.
Finally, we'll look at the powerful, prophetic gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman, where Adam gave his last blessing and predicted all that would befall his posterity. This lesson is a profound reminder of the Lord's mercy, the power of His priesthood, and the sacred history that connects us to our first parents.
Call-to-Action: What spiritual blessings have you experienced through the Melchizedek Priesthood? Share your thoughts in the comments below! If you found this discussion insightful, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith.
Chapter Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
2:36 Scrupulosity
16:28 The Power of the Melchizedek Priesthood
27:48 That's My Name, Don't Wear It Out
37:55 Hierarchy and Democracy
52:25 Making Decisions
1:10:19 Adam-ondi-Ahman
1:20:45 Strike a Blow for the Kingdom!
1:29:31 One-Liners
Seismic shifts in the religious and secular landscapes are destabilizing the faith of millions. Join religious educator Jared Halverson as he explores restored scripture, doctrine, history, and practice; examines patterns and pitfalls in navigating faith crisis; and wrestles with ways to make your faith unshaken.
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Hello my friends, I’m Jared Halverson and this is Unshaken. I’ve spent my life studying the scriptures, my professional career teaching them, and my education at a Bible-belt divinity school exploring ways they have been used and abused, attacked and defended. And I’d like to share with you some of the things I’ve learned. In March of 2020 I created a YouTube channel called Unshaken, and six months later we hit our one millionth view, as people around the world are eagerly pursuing an unshaken faith in God by immersing themselves in His word. More and more viewers have been asking for an audio-only version of the lessons on Unshaken, and this podcast is my attempt to meet those needs. What it lacks in the visuals shown on YouTube, or the polished sound of a podcast-only production, it hopefully makes up for in its accessibility to the drivers, joggers, and multi-taskers out there who want to study their scriptures “on the go.” To you, welcome to our verse-by-verse, Come Follow Me study of the scriptures. I pray that it helps your faith in Christ become unshaken.
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Disclaimer: The content of these podcasts is the sole responsibility of their creator and does not reflect the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or the Church Educational System.
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