I simply haven’t had time to update my Multimedia page, so here’s a list of four new videos. There’s some overlap with these, but a good bit of variation too.
There was this interview with Jennifer Roach and FAIR about the early chapters of Genesis.
This interview with Keystone and David Snell specifically about Genesis 2-3.
This interview with Mormonism with the Murph about evolution and the early chapters of Genesis.
And this roundtable with FAIR (and Sarah Allen, RIP) about reading the Bible.
January 21, 2026 at 5:50 pm
I had a couple of questions revolving around the Book of Abraham. Would you say that Joseph Smith changing the wording to “expanse” removes the overall meaning of the dome even though the language surrounding the word means the same? Also, for the wording of first, second, and so on times, the meaning of day appears to compliment the description of day that is prior to each creation or planning stage. It only appears to be different for the 7th time. Would you say that also took away the meaning of the 24 hour days even a little bit? Also in a 2020 lecture, you said that the Book of Abraham does not solve the double creation problem fully. You gave 2 reasons for it including creation language and follow through for the planning. I was a little confused because the creation language is not for animal, plant, human life but the earth and heavens themselves. Yet for the planning, it seems that Abraham 4 is giving functions to the functionaries like the other accounts but not exactly how creation of the 3 will implemented, so I am a little confused at that reasoning. Also in Abraham 5:4, I personally see the double creation problem not solved which is why the Temple is useful because it refers to an unspecified day that the plans were followed through. Maybe I am just not seeing it like you since you are the expert. Thanks for making Genesis make sense!
January 23, 2026 at 8:14 am
Instead of seeing the different creation stories as a problem to solve, I’ve learned to appreciate that having so many different viewing angles offers a more complete picture (even if conflicting) of the multifaceted gem that is the gospel. The answer for me now is not to determine which one is “right” or to try and harmonize all of them into a single coherent explanation, but to try and understand what each one is trying to emphasize about mankind’s relation to God, “from a certain point of view*” and in a particular time and place. That approach has borne much fruit for me, though your mileage may vary.
*I always love it when the Kenobi Doctrine™ comes into play (and the Book of Yoda, too).