Author: Chad Nielsen

The King James Version of the Bible has profoundly shaped the Latter-day Saint vocabulary, but its 17th-century translation choices sometimes obscure the rich nuances of ancient Hebrew. One of the most misunderstood words in our scriptural lexicon is ?esed, famously rendered in the KJV as “mercy” or “lovingkindness.” But does this translation capture the true…

When we think of the musical landscape of 19th-century Utah, our minds tend to default to rustic campfire songs or simple four-part choral hymns sung by weary travelers. However, recent archival discoveries reveal a surprisingly sophisticated frontier culture, boasting a vibrant scene of theatrical orchestras, virtuosic brass bands, and complex original compositions. A fascinating new…

The history of Latter-day Saint interactions with Native Americans is a complex tapestry of theological affinity, colonization, cooperation, and conflict, often oversimplified in traditional pioneer narratives. How did Indigenous converts navigate this fraught reality to forge their own unique spiritual and cultural identity within the Church? A new interview over at the Latter-day Saint history…

We often think of genealogy as a deeply personal religious pursuit or a modern hobby driven by DNA tests and online databases, but in the founding era of the United States, tracing your lineage was a matter of survival, property, and freedom. While the American Revolution publicly rejected the British system of inherited political power,…

For decades, the theological relationship between Evangelical Christians and Latter-day Saints has been characterized by a complex mix of social admiration and doctrinal suspicion, leaving many to wonder what our Protestant neighbors actually think of us. While Evangelicals often praise Latter-day Saints as highly moral neighbors with strong family values, they simultaneously draw a hard…

In the late nineteenth century, Utah Territory was increasingly flooded with “stage loads” of East Coast fiction and novelettes that Church leaders feared would poison the minds of Latter-day Saint youth. To combat this influx of “Gentile” literature, Apostle George Q. Cannon founded the Juvenile Instructor Office in 1866, a private printing press dedicated to…

For decades, the story of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints arrived in Brazil has been wrapped in a romanticized, institutional narrative—often centering on a faithful German family in a remote village whose letter pleading for missionaries supposedly sparked the opening of the country. But what happens when a professional historian actually…

For generations, society has been conditioned by Lord Acton’s cynical—and historically accurate—observation that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Because we see power abused every day to control, dominate, or exploit others, we naturally assume that giving anyone ultimate power would lead to ultimate tyranny. But does this hold true in the eternities? A notable new article…

For many Latter-day Saints, President David O. McKay is remembered as a grandfatherly, charismatic prophet who presided over an era of mid-century stability, but behind his affable charm and love of fine automobiles was a pragmatic, visionary leader who fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Church. Long before the era of global correlation, McKay was…

For generations, English-speaking Latter-day Saints have relied almost exclusively on the King James Version of the Bible, often wrestling with its archaic language and 17th-century translation choices. But as the Church increasingly opens the door to modern Bible translations—highlighted by recent updates to the General Handbook in late 2025—how can members start exploring these resources…

For decades during her lifetime, Eliza R. Snow was known primarily as “Zion’s Poetess,” lifting the Saints through her private writings and hymns while remaining safely behind the scenes. But when Brigham Young called her to reorganize the Relief Society across Utah Territory in 1868, she was forced to step out of her comfort zone…