FAIR

Doctrine and Covenants

The Triumph of Hope: Finding Light Through Christ in Times of Darkness

by

What sustains us when life feels unbearably heavy or when answers to our prayers seem delayed? The answer lies in a living, vibrant gift—hope in Jesus Christ.

In his General Conference talk, The Triumph of Hope, Elder Neil L. Andersen invites us to anchor ourselves in the Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Atonement as the ultimate source of light and joy. Elder Andersen reminds us that hope is not passive wishfulness; rather, it is a divine gift that grows as we strengthen our faith. This talk is particularly relevant for those grappling with questions about faith, adversity, and God’s plan, offering profound insights for overcoming the trials and uncertainties of mortality with confidence in the Savior. Hope, as Elder Andersen teaches, is the antidote to despair and the promise of peace amidst the storms of life. [Read more…] about The Triumph of Hope: Finding Light Through Christ in Times of Darkness

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65 – Autumn Dickson

by

Podcast: Download (18.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

What is Required of Us

by Autumn Dickson

Like last week, I’d like to dive into Joseph’s story and find parallels to our own stories. We were not given the responsibility to restore the church in the last days, but we do have responsibilities given to us by the Lord. Every single one of us will hold callings, but even beyond that, every single one of us has more to give. When I speak of responsibilities given by the Lord, I am expanding that definition beyond formal church service. There are other labors you have been given to perform in this life. Some of those labors may include things like career choices and hobbies. We all have gifts to give. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Joseph Smith—History – Mike Parker

by

Podcast: Download (16.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Joseph Smith’s childhood; the First Vision; Moroni, & the gold plates

(Joseph Smith—History)

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 [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Joseph Smith—History – Mike Parker

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26 – Autumn Dickson

by

Podcast: Download (20.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Turn to God

by Autumn Dickson

For this week, we read the account of the First Vision of Joseph Smith. It is nearly impossible to overestimate the gravity of this event in the backdrop of the history of mankind, and we have it readily available to read and learn about it. When we read about what Joseph learned through this experience, we can learn a lot of direct truths that had been lost over time. There were doctrines that were explicitly laid out. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 1 – Mike Parker

by

Podcast: Download (17.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Introduction; reception, editing & publication of Joseph Smith’s revelations

(D&C Section 1)

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 [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 1 – Mike Parker

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 1 – Autumn Dickson

by

Podcast: Download (21.0MB)

Subscribe: RSS

He Cannot Allow Sin

by Autumn Dickson

By the time Doctrine and Covenants 1 was written, Joseph had already written 60 revelations. In my mind, I imagine Joseph receiving communication from the Lord and writing it down so that he could try and follow and teach it. As time went on and more and more were received, it became clear that the Lord had plenty to say and that these sacred revelations should be made available to others. It hadn’t been originally considered that these words could be considered scripture; it wasn’t until later that the revelations were recognized for what they were. Joseph Smith and other church leaders decided to put them together in a book; this was obviously an inspired decision because the Lord stood ready to write the preface to His own book. This preface is Doctrine and Covenants 1. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Doctrine and Covenants 1 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Mormon 1–6 – Autumn Dickson

by

Podcast: Download (24.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Irreplaceable to Him

by Autumn Dickson

When I read Mormon, I feel as though I’m reading his journal. He had been commanded by Ammaron to find the records that had been hidden and add his own observations. These sacred writings were always meant to come to us, the House of Israel in the latter days, and yet, Mormon also seemed to simply write about his own experiences and life. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Mormon 1–6 – Autumn Dickson

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi – Autumn Dickson

by

Podcast: Download (19.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

A Utopian Society

by Autumn Dickson

Fourth Nephi describes a people who were all converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ together. It talks about what their lives looked like and how they felt. Fourth Nephi also describes how everyone was wicked again within three hundred years. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi – Autumn Dickson

“Beware lest ye are deceived”

by

While traveling to western Missouri in the fall of 1830, Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, Peter Whitmer Jr., and Ziba Peterson made a stop in Kirtland, Ohio to preach the gospel to some of Parley’s friends and former religious associates. While there, they taught and baptized more than a hundred individuals! They then ordained some of the men as Elders and placed them in charge of the affairs of the Church in that area. The missionaries then continued on to their assigned mission in Missouri.

Left to their limited understanding of the restored gospel, which included a renewal of the gift of the Holy Ghost and spiritual gifts, a few of these newly ordained Elders and members began experiencing unusual spiritual phenomena during their worship services. These included ecstatically jumping up and down, swinging from ceiling joists, falling into trances and unconsciousness, seeing visions of parchments with written messages from heaven, crawling around like snakes on the floor, preaching in tongues to invisible congregations of Lamanites, wielding invisible swords of Laban, and so forth.

Of course, these practices drew the ridicule of outsiders in the community, including in the local press, and gave plenty of fodder for the first anti-Mormon book, Mormonism Unvailed.

Come, Follow Me with FAIR: Faithful Answers to New Testament Questions – Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21

by

Podcast: Download (37.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Evangelical Questions: Baptism for the Dead

by Jennifer Roach, MDiv, LMHC

Welcome back to Come Follow Me with FAIR: Faithful Answers to New Testament Questions. My name is Jennifer Roach and today we’re going to talk about baptism for the dead. As you know we’re going through the Come Follow Me readings and addressing common questions that Evangelicals ask about our faith as we go along. Our purpose here is not to fuel debate but to help you understand where your Evangelical friends and family are coming from so that you can have better conversations with them, and perhaps even be able to offer them a bit of our faith in a way they can understand. [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR: Faithful Answers to New Testament Questions – Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20–21