The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

Our hosts return to Nauvoo to explore the tragic events of June 1844 leading up to Joseph Smith’s martyrdom. John Wilson interviews local historian Joseph Johnston, who explains how these tensions escalated into calls for violence. Meanwhile, Camrey and Dan visit the Mansion House to discuss Joseph and Emma Smith’s relationship and their heart-wrenching final days, as well as to delve into Joseph’s painful decision to return to Nauvoo—knowing it likely would mean his death.

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In this episode of Conversations with Interpreter, John E. Cochran II and Joseph Cochran explore the societal and cultural changes that seem to have allowed the Lamanites to be receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Cochrans lay out their argument in an article entitled, “From Wilderness to Covenant Threshold: Land, Literacy, and Religious Readiness in the Book of Mormon,” published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. In this episode, they observe that the descriptions of Lamanites in early parts of the Book of Mormon do not always coincide with what the sons of Mosiah find in their missionary journey. They argue that it is the language and culture brought by Amulon and the wicked priests actually helped prepare the Lamanites for the gospel of Jesus Christ, showing how God prepares people in ways that are sometimes different from what we expect. God wants all of his people to return to him and he is constantly finding ways to prepare people, including cultural and societal changes.

The post Conversations with Interpreter: John Cochran II and Joseph Cochran — Covenant Thresholds first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the April 9, 2026, 2026 episode of The Interpreter Insights Podcast, our host Terry Hutchinson and his guest Mark Johnson review Moses literature and sources for study as well as Interpreter resources on Moses.

The post Interpreter Insights Podcast — April 9, 2026 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In this episode our hosts dive deeper into Brigham Young’s dramatic first meeting with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and highlight a surprising detail: Brigham was not immediately welcomed into Joseph’s inner circle or invited to stay in Kirtland. Our hosts also explore Brigham’s remarkable humility, obedience, and his lifelong, deeply personal devotion to Joseph.

Provocative questions addressed:

Did Joseph Smith prophesy that Brigham Young would one day lead the Church—and how did that affect Brigham?
Why didn’t Joseph immediately bring this impressive new convert into his inner circle, even after such a powerful spiritual experience?

The post Becoming Brigham Episode 11: In Search of a Prophet first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

This episode features Dr. Daniel C. Peterson, professor emeritus and president of the Interpreter Foundation. Dr. Peterson discusses the exciting new web series Becoming Brigham, which presents a fuller picture of the person and ministry of Brigham Young than is sometimes presented in our broader discourse. Although definitely a product of the Nineteenth Century, the historical evidence shows that Brigham Young was not the authoritarian leader of popular imagination. In the podcast, Dr. Peterson shares some of his favorite stories about President Young that give a different perspective on him, including on issues of race and plural marriage. This episode serves as a taste of what is available to watchers of Becoming Brigham.

The post Conversations with Interpreter: Daniel Peterson and Becoming Brigham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.