Shows
Book of Mormon History PodcastDestruction and Disaster in 3 Nephi and the Geology of Mesoamerica | Neal RappleyeIn this scholarly review, Neal Rappleye examines Jerry Grover’s geological analysis of the catastrophic events described in the Book of Mormon, particularly the destructions in 3 Nephi. While previous researchers have suggested general links between these accounts and Mesoamerican volcanic activity, Grover utilizes professional engineering and geoscience to propose a specific "best-fit" scenario involving the Veracruz fault and the San Martín volcano. The text highlights how this model explains various phenomena, such as liquefaction and volcanic ash clouds, while reinforcing the geographic framework established by John L. Sorenson. Furthermore, Grover’s res...
2026-02-2014 min
Informed SaintsThe Surprising REAL Reason People Are Leaving The ChurchIn the 1980s, around 80% of people raised Latter-day Saint still identified with the Church as adults—today it’s closer to 50%. Online, that gets framed as “the Church is uniquely hemorrhaging members.” But when you zoom out and compare to broader U.S. religious trends, the story looks more complicated—and in key ways, more hopeful.
In this episode, social scientist Justin Dyer (BYU) breaks down major national datasets and new research on Latter-day Saint religiousness, well-being, and retention in the United States. We talk:
•Why “big dat...
2026-02-1540 minInformed SaintsAbraham’s Story Is the Temple Endowment in Disguise (Jeff Bradshaw Explains)The restored gospel didn’t “start” in 1830, it’s ancient, and Abraham’s story is one of the clearest windows into the covenant pathway and temple worship.
In this conversation with Jeff Bradshaw (senior research scientist and leading Latter-day Saint temple scholar), we explore how the Abraham narratives in Genesis (and the restoration through the Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Abraham) point to:
• The Abrahamic Covenant as the New & Everlasting Covenant (and the Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood)
• How Abraham’s life models obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and promised blessings
• Melchize...
2026-02-0935 minInformed SaintsThe Biggest Mistake People Make About DNA and the Book of MormonIf the Book of Mormon were historical, wouldn’t we see clear “Israelite DNA” in the Americas? That’s the viral claim online—and it’s built on a misunderstanding of how population genetics works.
In this episode, we walk through key misconceptions highlighted by geneticists John M. Butler (forensic genetics—think CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) and Ugo Perego (population genetics / Native American ancestry research), and we explain why “no DNA = fake” is way too simplistic.
We cover:
•Why the absence of a specific “Israelite signature” doesn’t set...
2026-02-0143 minInformed SaintsWhy the Old Testament Is the Most Misunderstood Scripture | Dr. Joshua SearsLatter-day Saints have relied on the King James Version for generations—but the Church recently updated the handbook to clarify that other Bible translations may be helpful for personal study. So what does that mean for your Old Testament, Come, Follow Me year?
In this episode, BYU professor Joshua Sears (author of A Modern Guide to an Old Testament) walks through why comparing translations can change your study overnight, especially in difficult books like Isaiah, and how modern manuscript discoveries (like the De...
2026-01-2643 minInformed SaintsAbraham’s Lost Astronomy: The Forgotten Star Lore Behind KolobWas Abraham really known as an astronomer in the ancient world—and does that help us understand why the Book of Abraham is so packed with stars, hierarchy, and cosmic teaching?
In this episode we dig into a surprising (and wide-ranging) tradition found in Second Temple and later Jewish sources: Abraham as a learned observer of the heavens—sometimes described as an astronomer/astrologer—whose study of the stars connects to covenant, revelation, and even teaching kings. We walk through key texts and authors (including Jubilees/Qumran traditions, Joseph...
2026-01-1935 minInformed SaintsDoes God Live on Kolob? Egyptologists Reveal the Book of Abraham’s SecretsDoes God live on a planet called Kolob—or is Kolob a symbol? In this episode, we dive into Abraham 3 with an Egyptologist to unpack why the Lord shows Abraham the heavens before Egypt, and how the “astronomy chapter” becomes a powerful teaching tool about the plan of salvation.
You’ll learn why some scholars read Abraham’s cosmology through an ancient geocentric lens, how Kolob functions as a stand-in for Jesus Christ (near unto God, chief in authority, tied to creation), and why that actually makes the doctrine more compelling—not less.
We also ex...
2026-01-1245 minInformed SaintsEgyptologist Uncovers Evidence for Book of Abraham Facsimile 1The Book of Abraham gets more criticism than almost any other LDS scripture—partly because we still have fragments of the papyri and people assume that “settles” everything. In this episode of Informed Saints, we sit down with Egyptologist Kerry Muhlestein to talk through what the evidence actually does (and doesn’t) let us conclude—and how Latter-day Saints can approach the questions without fear.
We zoom in on Facsimile 1 and walk through details that often get ignored in quick social-media takes: the lion couch scene, ritual context, the possibility of an original ritual knife, and what t...
2026-01-0447 minInformed SaintsScholar Discovers Lost Biblical Woman...Hiding In Plain SightBreaking news in biblical studies: the “elect lady” in 2 John may not be a metaphor for the Church after all—she may be a real woman with a real name: Eclecte. In this episode, New Testament papyrologist Lincoln Blumell (with research assistant Spencer Kraus) explains the textual and grammatical puzzle behind 2 John’s opening, why the traditional reading created problems, and how ancient letter-writing conventions + manuscript evidence point to a restored reading that makes sense of the Greek.
We also talk about why this matters: what it could mean for how we read 2 John, what it sugges...
2025-12-2154 minInformed SaintsO Little Town of... Jerusalem? Evidence the Book of Mormon was Right all along!Critics have mocked Alma 7:10 for nearly 200 years: the Book of Mormon says Christ would be born “at Jerusalem,” even though the New Testament says Bethlehem. But once you dig into ancient geography, manuscripts, and archaeology, the criticism gets a lot less confident—and the evidence gets surprisingly strong.
In this episode of Informed Saints, we break down what “Jerusalem” can mean in an ancient context, why the Book of Mormon repeatedly refers to the “land of Jerusalem,” and how sources like the Dead Sea Scroll...
2025-12-1339 minInformed SaintsDid Charles Anthon Prove the Book of Mormon? Rethinking the “Anthon Transcript”In 1828, Martin Harris carried copied characters from the gold plates to Professor Charles Anthon in New York City—and walked away more convinced than ever that the Book of Mormon was real. Anthon, however, later claimed the whole thing was nonsense. So who do we believe, and what actually happened in that office?
In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye sits down with Neal Rappleye and Stephen Smoot to walk through every major source on the Anthon visit—from Martin’s own accounts to Anthon’s three conflicting letters and the memories of people who knew...
2025-12-0748 minInformed SaintsApostle Bruce R. McConkie Almost Rewrote Scripture | History of Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great Price is the most unstable book in the Latter-day Saint canon. It started as an 1851 pamphlet in Liverpool, was reshaped by Orson Pratt in the 1870s, canonized in 1880, streamlined by James E. Talmage in 1902, expanded in 1976, and reworked again in 1979–81. And in the 1970s, Elder Bruce R. McConkie even drafted a never-published edition that would have added huge chunks of the JST, the Wentworth Letter, the Lectures on Faith, and two brand-new Articles of Faith.
In this episode of Informed Saints, we walk through the wild, moving target that is the Pea...
2025-11-3046 minInformed SaintsHas the Church Changed Its Story? Why ‘Revelation’ Still Means TranslationDid the Church change its story on the Book of Mormon translation—or are critics missing something important?
In this episode of Informed Saints, Jasmin Rappleye sits down with Neal Rappleye and Stephen Smoot to unpack recent online controversy over the Church’s new “Translation of the Book of Mormon” article and statements that the text came by “divine revelation.” Drawing on Doctrine and Covenants passages, early witness accounts, and Joseph Smith’s own statements, they explore how early Latter-day Saints understood the relationship between translation, revelation, seer stones, and the Urim and Thummim, and why calling the...
2025-11-1636 minInformed SaintsDo Mormons Celebrate Halloween? LDS Halloween History Explained!Today we are tackling the age old question of, "Do 'Mormons' celebrate Halloween?"
While the short answer is, yes. There is a lot of fun nuance to this topic and also it gave us an excuse to dress up and have some more fun with one of these episodes! Thanks for sharing and watching!
===Informed Saints Credits===
Produced by The Ancient America Foundation
Producer: Spencer Clark
Hosts: Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye
===Discover===
If any of our thoughts res...
2025-10-2726 min
Informed SaintsWere Latter-day Saints Nazis? Secret Files Revealed | Informed SaintsDid the Church “support” the Nazi regime—or were members just trying to survive?
In this episode, Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot unpack Nazi secret police files, surveillance reports, banned books, arrests, and a high-level memo stating that Latter-day Saint doctrine is incompatible with National Socialism.
We also add context to the infamous Heber J. Grant photo and highlight the story of Helmut Hübener.
What you’ll learn
• How minorities navigated “three doors”: resistance, collaboration, or neutrality
• What Nazi reports say about Latter-day Saint beliefs and behavi...
2025-10-1250 min
Informed SaintsThis General Conference Was Historic | Reaction And Review | Informed Saints*THIS AUDIO IS FROM A FULL YOUTUBE LIVESTREAM, THERE ARE MISTAKES PRESENT. ALSO VISUAL ELEMENTS WHICH ARE BEST SEEN ON YOUTUBE*
https://youtube.com/live/2IpxhFWwLAQ?feature=share
Recap, review, and analysis of General Conference and more! With Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot!
#lds #podcast #informedsaints #generalconference #mormon
Chapters
(00:00:02) - General Conference 2017(00:00:44) - General Conference 2018: The tone of the Conference(00:05:30) - Sustaining the Prophet's Counselors(00:10:24) - None of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles seem to be seeking(00:12:36) - Oh No... No New Temples(00:12:52) - P...
2025-10-061h 13
Informed SaintsSeer Stones and the Miracle of Book of Mormon TranslationWas Joseph Smith’s use of seer stones evidence of superstition — or of divine power?
In this episode of Informed Saints, hosts Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot sit down with Dr. Gerrit Dirkmaat (BYU professor, historian, and author of From Darkness unto Light) to explore the historical sources behind the Book of Mormon translation. Together, they discuss what the witnesses saw, how early Saints understood seer stones and the Urim and Thummim, and why the very strangeness of the translation process actually strengthens, rather than weakens, the case for its divinity.
2025-09-211h 03
Informed SaintsThe Surprising Science Behind Joseph Smith’s First VisionWas Joseph Smith lying, forgetting, or faithfully remembering his First Vision? Critics often highlight differences between the various accounts, but few have explored the role of human memory in shaping those narratives.
In this debut episode of Informed Saints, hosts Jasmin Rappleye, Neal Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot dive into groundbreaking research that brings together history, neuroscience, and faith. Drawing on scholarship from Stephen C. Harper and a recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, the discussion unpacks how memory actually works — and what that means for understanding Joseph Smith’s earliest visio...
2025-09-1941 min
Informed SaintsInformed Saints: A Roundtable Podcast Of Study And FaithWelcome to Informed Saints, a roundtable podcast dedicated to strengthening testimonies of Jesus Christ through thoughtful study and open conversation.
Hosted by Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, and Neal Rappleye, each episode explores trending topics, difficult questions, and the latest research related to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Whether you’re diving into Church history, exploring Book of Mormon scholarship, or simply looking for meaningful insights in your gospel study, Informed Saints offers engaging discussions that are accessible, lighthearted, and testimony-building.
What to expect:
Ho...
2025-09-1802 min
BYU Studies“Dumb” Puns in Alma 30: A Mesoamerican Twist on Korihor’s Talionic PunishmentThis article by Mark Alan Wright and Neal Rappleye offers a fascinating look into Korihor being "struck dumb" in Alma 30 from an ancient Mesoamerican cultural lens. Patterns in ancient languages demonstrate instances of word-play connecting punishment to the crime, particularly in and around the Mayans. Wright and Rappleye dive into historical and linguistic clues to not only argue that Korihor's fate demonstrates an example of this, but also that this cultural similarity serves as evidence linking The Book of Mormon to Mesoamerican history.
CLICK HERE to read the article online
2024-04-0515 min
Come Back PodcastScripture Central's Neal Rappleye tells the come back story of Martin Harris, one of three witnesses of The Book of Mormon"He comes back and he doesn't know everything, he doesn't know the doctrine super well. But he has a powerful testimony that he can bear and he can share with people. A little while later he and some of the brethren in Salt Lake decide to go on a carriage ride up the eastern bench of the mountains. They decide to pull the curtains on the carriage so that they can see out the window and see the view. And when that happens, Martin sees the valley lying before him, he sees everything that's been built up, and all...
2024-04-0145 minBYU StudiesThe Place—or the Tribe—Called Nahom?This article examines the “NHM” naming pattern in Near Eastern Language to find evidence that the “place… called Nahom” described in the Book of Mormon is the "Nahm" region of the Arabian Peninsula. The author Neal Rappleye uses evidence from historical sources, such as maps and inscriptions, and linguistic studies of Near Eastern language to identify “Nahom" within its correct historical context. Despite arguments from some historians that “Nahm” should be used exclusively to refer to a tribe rather than place, Rappleye introduces a rich history of Near Eastern naming conventions, demonstrating precedence for tribal names being linked with the land they in...
2024-02-0232 min
Maxwell Institute PodcastBook of Mormon Studies Podcast: 1 Nephi with Jasmin Rappleye Gimenez (part 2)Part 2 of the 1 Nephi episode with Jasmin Rappleye.Welcome to the second episode of the Book of Mormon Studies Podcast, where Rosalynde Welch, Associate Director of the Maxwell Institute and Host of the podcast talks with Jasmin Rappleye Gimenez, the Communications Director of Scripture Central.In this episode, they discuss the scholarship surrounding the Book of 1 Nephi, giving it context for readers of the Come, Follow Me curriculum for 2024.References:Approaching the Tree: Interpreting 1 Nephi 8. Eds. Benjamin Keogh, Joseph M. Spencer, and J...
2024-01-2941 min
Maxwell Institute PodcastBook of Mormon Studies Podcast: 1 Nephi with Jasmin Rappleye Gimenez (part 1)Welcome to the second episode of the Book of Mormon Studies Podcast, where Rosalynde Welch, Associate Director of the Maxwell Institute and Host of the podcast talks with Jasmin Rappleye Gimenez, the Communications Director of Scripture Central.In this episode, they discuss the scholarship surrounding the Book of 1 Nephi, giving it context for readers of the Come, Follow Me curriculum for 2024.References:Approaching the Tree: Interpreting 1 Nephi 8. Eds. Benjamin Keogh, Joseph M. Spencer, and Jennifer Champoux. Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University, 2023. Available a...
2024-01-2942 min
Latter-day Saint FAIR-CastCome, Follow Me with FAIR – 1 Nephi 1–5 – Mike Parker
by Mike Parker
(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best.)
Class Notes
Additional Reading
Neal Rappleye, “Learning Nephi’s Language: Creating a Context for 1 Nephi 1:2,” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 16 (2015): 151–59. Rappleye explains how Nephi₁’s record could have been written in Hebrew...
2024-01-0922 min
For All The Saints With Ben HancockThe Keys To Understanding The Book Of Mormon - Neal Rappleye | 10We made it to 10 episodes! Amazed by all your support. As always, please share with friends and family who would find this valuable.My guest today is Scripture Central's Neal Rappleye. Neal Rappleye is a research project manager for Scripture Central. He is involved in on-going research on many facets of the Book of Mormon’s historical context, including: ancient Jerusalem (especially around the 7th century bc), ancient Arabia, the ancient Near East more broadly, pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and the 19th century witnesses to the discovery and translation of the Book of Mormon plates. He’s published with BYU...
2023-11-061h 28
Book of Mormon History PodcastAn Ishmael Funerary Stela Archaeological Discovery | Neal RappleyeIshmael died in the Book of Mormon and was buried in Arabia in a place named Nahom. Remarkably, archaeologists have discovered a funerary stela in the region of ancient NHM (Book of Mormon Nahom) with the name Ishmael inscribed on it. The limestone stela has the name of Ishmael, dates to the correct time period and comes from the region of NHM. The archaeological place of Nahom has well over 10 artifacts which confirm the name including several dating to Book of Mormon times. Has archaeology provided concrete evidence for Ishmael in the Book of Mormon?Book of Mo...
2021-11-081h 10
To Whom Shall We Go? PodcastBMC an Interview w/ Neal and Jasmin RappleyeIn today's interview, we are joined by Neal and Jasmin Rappleye. In this interview, we'll discuss a non-profit organization called "Book of Mormon Central" and some of it's many great resources available. We'll also take some time to discuss topics such as the Hill Cumorah and Book of Mormon Anachronisms.
To check out "Book of Mormon Central" and some of their many great resources check out the links below:
https://bookofmormoncentral.org/
https://scriptureplus.org/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSsrx8lFpeuBjNIE7FNm2CQ
2021-02-281h 01
Evidences Archives | FAIRFAIR Voice Podcast #17: Jasmin and Neal RappleyeJasmin and Neal Rappleye of Book of Mormon Central join Hanna for an exciting conversation about Book of Mormon historicity.
Jasmin is the Web Architect and Content Manager for Book of Mormon Central. She administrates all the web properties of Book of Mormon Central and provides computer support for our users. She also serves as their chief Graphic Designer and the Peer Review Coordinator for the publication of KnoWhys. She enjoys creating new ways to visualize the Book of Mormon, and enjoys managing Book of Mormon’s volunteers.
She graduated magna cum laude from B...
2020-09-181h 10Geography Archives - FAIRFAIR Voice Podcast #17: Jasmin and Neal RappleyeJasmin and Neal Rappleye of Book of Mormon Central join Hanna for an exciting conversation about Book of Mormon historicity.
Jasmin is the Web Architect and Content Manager for Book of Mormon Central. She administrates all the web properties of Book of Mormon Central and provides computer support for our users. She also serves as their chief Graphic Designer and the Peer Review Coordinator for the publication of KnoWhys. She enjoys creating new ways to visualize the Book of Mormon, and enjoys managing Book of Mormon’s volunteers.
She graduated magna cum laude from B...
2020-09-181h 10
Rare Possessions: From The Archives of Book of Mormon CentralEpisode 8: The Life of Nephi, the Son of Lehi(Chapter 8)Chapter 8 of Life of Nephi by George Q. Cannon with commentary by Jared Riddick and Neal Rappleye of Book of Mormon Central. Hosted and narrated by Nick Galieti
2018-05-1720 min
Latter-day Saint PerspectivesEpisode 5: Book of Mormon Central – Neal RappleyeWelcome to the first podcast in our Young Scholars Series. In these episodes, we introduce listeners to young scholars who are presenting scholarship that belies their ages and formal educational training.
This week Blake Dalton interviews Neal Rappleye.
Neal is the office manager at Book of Mormon Central. Like most of his co-workers, he is a Millennial. His team is young and talented.
Five days a week they pump out KnoWhys on some aspect of Book of Mormon scholarship. Each KnoWhy includes a one-minute video, a short essay, references, and an audio version of the essay.
But Book of Mormon Centra...
2016-10-1931 min
RiseUp Archives - FAIRBest of FairMormon: April 2015 General Conference – An Apologetic Review (Part 1 – Saturday Sessions)April 2015 General Conference featured presenters from the presiding quorums and general officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this podcast, volunteers from FairMormon discuss the issues and quotes from selected talks through an apologetic perspective.
Panelists in this episode are Laura Hales, Stephen Smoot, and Neal Rappleye; moderated by Nick Galieti. In this episode, Part 1, the panel reviews the General Conference sessions that were broadcast on Saturday Morning, Saturday Afternoon, and The General Priesthood Session.
Click here for a listing of all the General Conference Presentations from LDS.org
2015-04-081h 06Articles of Faith Archives - FAIRArticles of Faith Podcast #22 – Neal Rappleye – Making God in Our Own Image to Cast Aside His ProphetsNeal Rappleye volunteers with FairMormon, The Interpreter Foundation, and writes on his own blog called Studio et Quoque Fide. He is currently attending Utah Valley University and working towards a degree in History, with a minor in Political Science. He served a mission for the LDS Church in the Virginia Richmond Mission from August 2006 to August 2008. He joins us today to talk about an article that he wrote on his blog, the entry is entitled, Making God in Our Own Image to Cast Aside His Prophets.
Questions addressed in this episode:
While a more direct...
2014-12-2919 min