This episode took me deep into one of the most miraculous and defining moments in church history, the night of September 21st, 1823, when a 17-year-old boy named Joseph Smith was visited by the angel Moroni. What followed wasn’t just a spiritual experience but the beginning of a movement that would reshape the world. I unpack the details of this visitation, the scriptures Moroni quoted, and the sacred charge given to Joseph: to recover a buried record, translate it, and share it with mankind.

But beyond the story, I reflect on something even more intimate, what it means to be called, to be chosen when you're weak by the world’s standards, and to rise to that call with nothing but faith. I talk about the miracle of the Book of Mormon’s translation, the power of divine instruments, and the consistency and brilliance that simply can’t be explained away.

This episode isn’t about proving anything. It’s about feeling the fire within you, the same fire that carried Joseph through tar, poison, persecution, and relentless doubt. That fire is real. And it's still burning today.

If you’ve ever wondered if God still speaks, this one’s for you.

Key Moments:
0:00 Joseph’s Spiritual Preparation Begins
5:00 Hearts of the Fathers to the Children
9:29 The Message Repeats: Moroni Appears Three Times
14:22 Professor Charles Anthon and the Sealed Book Prophecy
19:12 269,000 Words in 65 Days
24:05 The Consistent Geography of the Book of Mormon
29:46 Literary Framing and Flashbacks
33:02 Stunning Dissertations on Faith and Doctrine
36:08 Interwoven Calendars and Genealogies

In this episode, I finally open up about something incredibly personal and foundational to my faith, the Book of Mormon. Up to now, we’ve kept things pretty universal, diving into broader Christian themes. But today, I share the roots of my own belief system, the text that acts as the keystone of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

We talk about where the Book of Mormon came from, why it matters, and what makes it more than just another book of scripture. I walk through the timeline from Christ’s resurrection to the eventual restoration through the prophet Joseph Smith. And yeah, we talk about Joseph Smith too, his character, his vision, and why his story means so much to me.

But more than that, this episode is about what it means to seek truth, to wrestle with questions that keep you up at night, to dare to ask God, and to hold on through the dark moments until the light breaks through. Whether you're LDS, curious, or skeptical, I hope this episode invites you to explore not just a book, but a relationship, with God, with truth, and with your own fire within.

Key Moments:
1:01 What Is the Foundation?
6:27 Scripture Beyond the Bible
08:20 What Is the Book of Mormon?
15:30 Logic, Faith, and Evidence
19:06 Faith and the Human Experience
25:28 The Character of Joseph Smith
30:28 Religious Chaos in 1820
36:19 The Sacred Grove
44:26 The Hero’s Journey

This episode might be the most sacred one I've ever recorded.

We talk about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, not just the theology, but the reality. The way it meets us when we are dangling over the edge, out of strength, out of hope. Like lightning in a summer storm, His hands reach out not because we’ve earned it, but because we’re His.

I share stories of the enabling and redeeming power of Christ in my life. From the quiet moments on my mission when I wondered if God even knew where I was to those tender times as a father and husband, asking for strength to be better. He’s met me every time.

We dive into scripture, baptism, prayer, the Holy Ghost and how simple, quiet obedience opens the door to revelation and divine power. You’ll also hear a profound story from Elder Holland about two brothers and the cliff that nearly took one of their lives until the other refused to let go.

If you’ve ever felt too far gone, too broken, too unsure, you’re not. His light reaches farther than your lowest moment.

This one’s for the soul.

Key Moments:
1:17 - Hearing God’s Voice
8:03 - All Things Testify of Him
13:01 - Elder Holland’s Cliff Story
16:06 - Reaching from the Abyss
23:36 - Transformative Grace
26:05 - Women, Creation & the Atonement
29:03 - The Garden of Eden Reimagined
33:20 - Phases of Resurrection
36:17 - Enduring with Grace
42:08 - Facing the Doubts