Jun 18, 2017 | Church History
Question Gramps, How did Alvin get into the celestial kingdom even though he was not yet baptized and did not have a wife at that time? How is this possible? Thanks! Marcie Answer Dear Marcie, Joseph’s oldest brother, Alvin, died in November...
Jun 12, 2016 | Book of Mormon, Church History
Question Gramps, What was going on with the soldiers in the sky the night the golden plates were delivered to Joseph Smith? Steve Answer Dear Steve, Great question. You nearly had me stumped on this one. It’s a story I had not heard...
May 22, 2016 | Church History, Joseph Smith
Question Hello Gramps, Love your column … Thanks. I have been challenged lately by persons who claim the early stages of church history have been manipulated to purge some negative things about the church and the prophet Joseph Smith. They say the early...
Apr 22, 2016 | Church History, Mormon Policy
Question Gramps, Why is the church so reluctant to allow members information regarding the formation of the church? The plural wives of early leaders, the way the translation of the plates was done. It would seem to me that God is going to be pretty busy...
Oct 23, 2015 | Church History, Current issues
Question Gramps, I was reading about the members of the original 12 Apostles and realized that many of them were excommunicated due to apostasy. It happened to a lot of other members of the twelve that succeeded them. What kind of apostasy did they commit?...
Oct 20, 2015 | Church History, Scriptures
Question Dear Gramps. Who created or assembled the Urim and Thummim mentioned in the scriptures? What did they look like? And how many different ones are mentioned? Robert Answer Dear Robert, You’re questions require some background and...
Aug 9, 2015 | Church History, Mormon Policy
Question Gramps, On an anti Mormon site, I have just read the original wording for the Endowment which included all of the changes made. The writer also said that Joseph Smith had indicated that the Endowment would never be changed from its original form, as...
Jul 28, 2015 | Church History, Doctrine & Covenants
Question Dear Gramps, In D&C 8, the Lord gives Oliver Cowdery the power to translate the Gold Plates. The Lord directs him four separate times in verses 1, 9, 10 and 11 to ask Him for the translation he needs. In D&C 9, we find out that Oliver was...
May 14, 2015 | Church History
Question Gramps, I am not sure of dates but it seems that the church existed before slavery was fully abolished. Are there any instances known about where members had slaves? Liz Answer Dear Liz, Yes, the Church was established during the...
Jun 27, 2014 | Church History
Question Gramps, I was preparing a talk for church and read in a book called “Our Latter-Day Hymns” by Karen Lynn Davidson that Eliza R. Snow was married to the Prophet Joseph Smith while writing the hymn “Oh My Father”. That got me...
