The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

Our hosts examine the tension between the Latter-day Saint commitment to peace and the violent realities of early American history. The discussion turns to Zion’s Camp, the 1834 expedition to Missouri that Brigham Young went through as a formative spiritual experience under the guidance of Joseph Smith. Though often viewed as a military failure, the discussion turns to how Joseph Smith deliberately chose a peaceful resolution over armed conflict after receiving a revelation that the camp should return home rather than fight.

The post Becoming Brigham Episode 17: A People of Peace? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Holy stands come in all shapes and sizes. We need to be careful that we don’t unknowingly fashion a Rameumptom that blinds us to the ways in which God works with imperfect people of all eras.

The post Atop the Rameumptom first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the May 14, 2026, 2026 episode of The Interpreter Insights Podcast, our host Terry Hutchinson begins a survey of the previous Interpreter Journal articles from its inception in 2012. The survey reintroduces past articles to the current listenership. The first four volumes of the Interpreter Journal are included in this episode.

The post Interpreter Insights Podcast — May 14, 2026 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

How did Emma’s deeply personal, spousal view of Joseph differ from Brigham Young’s reverent, disciple-like view of the Prophet?

In what ways did both Emma and Brigham remain deeply loyal to Joseph Smith, even though they expressed that loyalty very differently?

Our hosts reflect on the contrasting ways Emma Smith and Brigham Young related to Joseph Smith and how those differences contributed to tension after his death. Camrey and Johnny discuss how Emma knew Joseph intimately as his young wife — seeing both his prophetic calling and his human weaknesses — while Brigham knew him primarily as a disciple knows a prophet, showing deep reverence and unwavering loyalty to every revelation Joseph taught. And yet, despite their differences, both Emma and Brigham died calling upon the name of Joseph, each cherishing the Restoration in their own way.

The post Becoming Brigham Episode 16: Sweeter than Honey first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Based on Doctrine and Covenants 131:1, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that there are three degrees within the celestial kingdom. There has been a proposal that this teaching is incorrect and instead this scripture should be interpreted as a reference to the three kingdoms described in Doctrine and Covenants 76 (celestial, terrestrial, and telestial). This proposition is based on two claims. First, the word celestial, in Joseph Smith’s day, meant heavenly or belonging to heaven, so Doctrine and Covenants 131:1 should be interpreted to mean “in heaven there are three degrees.” The second claim is that interpreting Doctrine and Covenants 131:1 as referring to three degrees in the celestial kingdom is a twentieth-century innovation based on one sermon by one Apostle, with almost no other apostolic support before or after that sermon. This article shows that the first claim is very likely incorrect and the second is demonstrably false. The article then briefly addresses the question of degrees in the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms.

The post Multiple Degrees within the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.