How can the Old Testament feel relevant and approachable to us today? In this episode, Dr. Joshua M. Sears, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses his new book A Modern Guide to an Old Testament. Designed for everyday readers, this resource helps demystify the Old Testament by providing historical context, literary insights, and practical applications for modern discipleship. Professor Sears explains why the Old Testament matters, how its themes connect to Christ, and offers tips for studying its complex narratives with confidence and faith. Whether you're a seasoned scripture scholar or just beginning your study, this conversation will inspire you to see the Old Testament in a new light.

Publications:

• A Modern Guide to an Old Testament (Deseret Book, 2025)
• "The Law of Moses and the Goodness of God: Navigating Challenging Texts," in Tender Mercies and Loving-Kindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2025)
• "Learning from People of Other Faiths," Religious Educator, 24.2 (2023)
• "'Let Me Take Another Wife': Israelite, Jewish, and the Latter-day Saint Polygamy in Historical and Literary Perspective," in The Household of God: Families and Belonging in the Social World of the New Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
• "Deutero-Isaiah in the Book of Mormon: Latter-day Saint Approaches," in They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
• "Study Bibles: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints," Religious Educator, 20.3 (2019)

· Previous Y Religion Podcast Episodes: https://religion.byu.edu/y-religion

In this episode, Church history and doctrine professor Casey Paul Griffiths discusses his book The Four Loves and the Latter-day Saints: The Nature of Love in All Facets of Our Lives. Drawing on C.S. Lewis's framework and restored gospel teachings, he explains the four forms of love—familial, friendly, romantic, and divine—and why understanding their differences matters for Latter-day Saints.

Professor Griffiths highlights the limitations of the English phrase "I love you," noting how it carries multiple meanings that other languages express more precisely. He teaches that distinguishing between these types of love deepens our understanding of ourselves, our relationships, and God. Using scriptural and prophetic insights, he shows how divine love forms the foundation of all human connections.

Throughout the episode, Griffiths offers practical ways to apply each form of love, helping listeners strengthen marriages, friendships, families, and their relationship with God. Ultimately, the conversation provides an inspiring look at what it means to love as Christ taught and how a clearer grasp of the "four loves" can elevate every relationship in our lives.

Publications:

• The Four Loves and the Latter-day Saints: The Nature of Love in All Facets of Our Lives (Cedar Fort, 2023)
• Restorations: Scholars in Dialogue from Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Religious Studies Center, 2022)
• "The First Vision Goes to the Movies," in Joseph Smith and His First Vision: Context, Place, and Meaning (Religious Studies Center, 2021)
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/bro.griffiths

Click here to learn more about Casey Griffiths

What if the only letter in the New Testament addressed to a woman has been hiding in plain sight? As one of the shortest texts in the New Testament, Second John is often overlooked and dismissed as a condensed version of First John. Traditionally, its opening line has been read as addressed "to an elect lady"–a phrase understood metaphorically as the Church personified as a woman. This interpretation has dominated Greek editions of the New Testament for over 150 years, reinforcing the view that the letter was not directed to an individual but to a community.

In this episode, associate dean of research in Religious Education, Lincoln Blumell, discusses his recently published scholarship that challenges this long-standing assumption. Drawing on evidence from papyri, manuscripts, and other sources, Dr. Blumell argues that the text should instead be rendered "to the lady Eclecte," identifying a named woman as the recipient. This reinterpretation not only clarifies the meaning of the letter but also makes Second John the only text in the New Testament canon addressed directly to a woman, reshaping its significance and offering new insight into the role of women in the New Testament Church.

Publications:

• Lady Eclecte: The Lost Woman of the New Testament (Fortress Press, 2025)
• Didymus the Blind's Commentary of Psalms 26:10–29 and 36:1–13 (Brepols Publishers, 2019)
• New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament (Religious Studies Center, 2019)
• "'Is Jesus's Yoke Easy"? Reconsidering the Translation in Matthew 11:30" (BYU Studies, forthcoming)
• "A Ptolemaic Petition from a 'Judeo-Egyptian' (Ἰουδαιοαιγύπτιος)," with Kerry Hull, in Journal of Jewish Studies, 75.2 (2024)
• "The Text of the New Testament," in The King James Bible and the Restoration (Religious Studies Center, 2011)
• "The Greek Texts of the New Testament," Y Religion Podcast, Episode 20 (2020)
• Website: https://lincolnhblumell.com/

Click here to learn more about Lincoln Blumell