Unshaken Saints

Most people find the Old Testament confusing, dusty, or even intimidating. But what if it’s actually the essential foundation for everything you believe about Jesus Christ? Today, we unlock the "Library of Books" that makes up the first half of our scripture and discover why it is the indispensable foundation of the covenant. Summary: In this introductory lesson, we lay the groundwork for a year-long journey through the Old Testament. We move beyond seeing it as a singular book and begin to view it as a diverse library of 39 books. Key themes include: The Foundation of the Covenant: Understanding why the Old Testament is the root from which the New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants grow. Structure and Organization: A breakdown of the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh) and its three parts: the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The Power of Translation: Exploring how the Bible moved from Hebrew to Greek to English, and why the Joseph Smith Translation is vital for our study. Finding Christ in the Old Testament: Moving past the "dead letter" to see the "living spirit" of the Messiah on every page. Call-to-Action: Which book of the Old Testament has always felt the most "sealed" to you? Let us know in the comments, and let’s commit to opening it together this year! 

We've come to the end of 2025 and after 6 years of largely verse-by-verse scripture study following the Come Follow Me schedule, we've got some announcements to make. Amazing days behind us and incredible days ahead!

Merry Christmas to all of my beloved Unshaken Saints! In this video, I share a Christmas message I wrote as a 19-year-old missionary, linking my first Christmas in Puerto Rico to the first Christmas in Bethlehem. May this beautiful holiday season bring you a greater measure of "peace on earth, good will to men."

When "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" was issued in 1995, some called it a "duh document". Today, it is a subject of controversy, dismissed by some as outdated and praised by others as a powerful, prophetic anchor. This lesson breaks down the nine paragraphs of this crucial declaration, understanding why the family is central to the Creator's plan. The Plan of God: Marriage between a man and a woman is "ordained of God" and the family is "central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children". The pre-mortal realm involved accepting God's plan to "obtain a physical body" and "gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection". Gender is Essential: Gender (male and female) is an "essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose". All human beings are "beloved spirit son[s] or daughter[s] of heavenly parents". Eternal Families: The divine plan of happiness enables "family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave" through "sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples". The Divine Design and Responsibility Parenthood & Chastity: God's first commandment to Adam and Eve to "multiply and replenish the earth remains in force". The sacred powers of "procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife". We affirm the "sanctity of life". Mothers and Fathers: By divine design , fathers are to "preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection". Mothers are primarily responsible for the "nurture of their children". Both are obligated to help one another as "equal partners". Success Principles: "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ". Successful marriages are maintained on principles of "faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities". The Warning and the Call: The Proclamation warns that the "disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets". It calls upon "responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society". Call-to-Action: What is one way you can better live the principles of "equal partners" or "complete fidelity" this week? Share your commitment in the comments! If this message helped you feel the centrality of the family, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. 

How does a church navigate change, controversy, and continuing revelation while staying true to its foundation? The Articles of Faith lay the groundwork, but the two Official Declarations provide proof of a living church, led by a living prophet. We'll analyze the deep counsel given in these landmark sections. Official Declaration 1: The End of Plural Marriage President Wilford Woodruff faced a devastating dilemma: adhere to the law of plural marriage and lose the temples, ordinances, and leadership to imprisonment, or cease the practice. Honoring Authority: President Woodruff declared his "intention to submit" to the laws of Congress that the Supreme Court had pronounced constitutional. He even went so far as to order the Endowment House "taken down without delay" following one reported (but unproven) case of a marriage performed there. The Critical Question: He was commanded by God to "ask the Latter-day Saints a question" —which was the wisest course: to sacrifice the temples and ordinances, or to cease the practice, "leave the Temples in the hands of the Saints," and let the work for the dead continue. Prophetic Integrity: He declared he would have let all the temples go and gone to prison himself "had not the God of heaven commanded me" to do what he did, and when that command came, "it was all clear to me". This shows a willingness to fully embrace the opposing viewpoint before receiving the final divine guidance. Official Declaration 2: Revelation on the Priesthood Received by President Spencer W. Kimball after "extended meditation and prayer in the sacred rooms of the holy temple" , this declaration fulfilled the promises of earlier prophets. Divine Guidance: The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles "pleaded long and earnestly" and supplicated the Lord for "divine guidance". The Result: God "heard our prayers," and by revelation, confirmed that "the long-promised day has come". This revelation extended the priesthood and temple blessings to "every faithful, worthy man" so he could "enjoy with his loved ones every blessing" that flows therefrom. The Articles of Faith These 13 points, part of the Wentworth Letter, establish our fundamental beliefs: Core Doctrine (A of F 1-4): Belief in the Godhead , accountability for "our own sins, and not for Adam's transgression" , salvation through the Atonement "by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel" , and the first principles of Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. A Living Church (A of F 5-9): We believe in priesthood authority , the "same organization that existed in the Primitive Church" , spiritual gifts , and accepting the Bible and the Book of Mormon as the word of God. Most importantly, we believe God "will yet reveal many great and important things". The Path of Discipleship (A of F 10-13): We believe in the literal gathering of Israel , "claim the privilege" of worshiping according to conscience , are subject to the law , and seek after anything "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy". Call-to-Action: What "great and important thing" (A of F 9) do you need to seek personal revelation on this week? Share your thoughts below! If this message reinforced your faith in continuing revelation, please like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay "Unshaken" in your faith. Chapter Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 5:47 Avoiding the Appearance of Evil 17:42 Precedent or President 30:13 Following Fallibility 51:40 Race and the Priesthood 1:04:22 Returning to God 1:14:30 The Church of Jesus Christ 1:22:23 Gathering Israel by Being Good 1:30:50 One-Liners