The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

How did Joseph Smith’s experience in Liberty Jail transform him spiritually, and why do many historians call it both a prison and a temple?

What specific leadership skills and experiences did Brigham Young gain while Joseph was in Liberty Jail that prepared him to lead the Church after the Prophet’s death?

Why is it significant that Brigham Young was already exercising authority to ordain Apostles and direct the Saints’ exodus before Joseph’s martyrdom—and what does that reveal about the foundation of Church leadership today?

The post Becoming Brigham Episode 23: Liberty—Jail or Temple? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In this episode of Conversations with Interpreter, Avram and Thora interview David Calabro about his intriguing article where he argues that there is an underlying Christian ritual context for the Book of Moses. This article, entitled “An Early Christian Context for the Book of Abraham,” was published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. Drawing on a variety of ancient Christian baptismal texts, Dr. Calabro argues that there is a distinctive ritual progression visible in the Book of Moses that gives that a distinctive structure and context to the materials in Moses. The interview discusses how Dr. Calabro came to this position, potential difficulties with it, and new evidence for this Christian background that he has discovered since the original publication of the article.

The post Conversations with Interpreter: David Calabro — An Early Christian Context for the Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: The Annotated Edition of the Book of Mormon, edited by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum, compares Caractors Document glyphs to purported Native American Mi’kmaq glyphs to support the theory that the Book of Mormon took place in the eastern United States. The glyphs used to support the theory are, in fact, taken from the Anthon Transcript document forgery produced by Mark Hofmann.

The post Mi’kmaq, Meldrum, May, and Mark first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Doubt is not the opposite of faith but functions as a constructive spiritual gift that often facilitates faith development, protects against dogmatism, and reframes faith as relational fidelity rather than intellectual certainty. Drawing on scriptural theology and developmental perspectives on meaning-making, doubt commonly—though not universally—serves as a catalyst through which belief matures from inherited assumption to reflective commitment and ultimately toward greater openness, complexity, and compassion. Doubt also performs a vital epistemic role by preventing rigid certainty and fostering intellectual humility within religious life. By reconceptualizing faith as sustained trust and commitment in the presence of uncertainty, doubt distinguishes itself from nihilism. The true erosion of faith occurs not through questioning but through the loss of meaning itself. Ultimately, doubt, when properly understood, does not weaken discipleship but frequently deepens and refines it, enabling believers to engage faith with greater resilience, relational depth, and moral maturity.

The post The Opposite of Faith Is not Doubt: The Spiritual Gift of Doubt first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the June 25, 2026, episode of The Interpreter Insights Podcast, our host Martin Tanner discusses the Constitution Hanging by a Thread and How it Could be Restored. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (The post Interpreter Insights Podcast — June 25, 2026: The Constitution Hanging by a Thread first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.