W. Cleon Skousen Insights

Revelation Dates: March, 1832

Revelation Places: Hiram, Ohio

Section 77 - Historical Background: As Joseph Smith resumed revising the Bible, he came to the book of Revelation. Rather than translating or revising the revelation of John, Joseph was only allowed to inquire specific questions from the revelation.

• Recap: Some of the symbols used by John are explained:
  • Sea of glass: The sanctified Earth
  • The four beasts: Figurat...

Many Americans today often fail to realize the supreme importance which the Founding Fathers originally attached to the role of religion in the structure of the unique civilization which they hoped would emerge as the first free people in modern times.

This speech uses extensive references to a booklet written by Dr. W. Cleon Skousen with the same title as the speech, Secret to America's Strength. It will be very helpful to the lis...

Revelation Date: February 16, 1832

Revelation Place: Hiram, Ohio

Section 76 - Historical Background: Having returned to Hiram Ohio from the church conference held in Amherst Ohio, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon resumed the revision of the New Testament. When they came to John 5: 28-29, the original KJV read, “Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come for...

Revelation Dates: December 1831 – January 1832

Revelation Places: Ohio (Kirtland, Hiram and Amherst)

Section 71 - Historical Background: Joseph was engaged in translating the bible with Sidney Rigdon as scribe, but was interrupted by the Lord due to a wave of bitter feelings toward the church, partially because of a series of articles published in the Ohio Star newspaper, written by apostate Ezra Booth. Joseph and Sidney were calle...

Revelation Dates: November 1 – 12, 1831

Revelation Places: Hiram and Kirtland Ohio

Section 67 - Historical Background: It was time to compile the revelations received through Joseph Smith thus far and print them in a Book of Commandments. Joseph called a special church conference and after the meeting convened, the Lord revealed the Preface to the Book of Commandments which is now section 1 of the Doctrine & Covenants. The Elde...

Revelation Dates: September – October 1831

Revelation Places: Various places in Ohio

Section 64 - Historical Background: Joseph Smith was living on the Morley farm which was now being sold for monies to purchase land in Missouri. John Johnson offered Joseph and Emma to share his home in Hiram, Ohio which they gratefully accepted. Meanwhile, a company of brethren were preparing to go to Missouri, as commanded, and this revelation wa...

Revelation Dates: August 1831

Revelation Places: Jackson County, Missouri; Banks of the Missouri River; Kirtland Ohio

Section 60 - Historical Background: After being in Jackson County, Missouri for only 3 weeks, Joseph Smith and other church leaders had accomplished much, including holding a church conference, the settlement of newly arriving saints, identified the site of the New Jerusalem and dedicated the new temple site, dedica...

Revelation Dates: August 1-7, 1831

Revelation Places: Jackson County, Missouri

Section 58 - Historical Background: In a previous revelation, contained in section 57, the Lord set up the prospect for a Zion society. To achieve the promises from a Zion society the saints were required to achieve sufficient righteousness. However, the Lord knew what would ultimately happen and tried to prepare the saints for the trials and harsh reali...

Revelation Dates: May – July 1831

Revelation Places: Ohio and Missouri

Section 51 - Historical Background: As the many converts from New York came to Kirtland Ohio, Bishop Partridge had been assigned to organize and care for them according to the law of consecration, described in section 42. Needing assistance from the Lord, the bishop asked Joseph to seek further guidance from the Lord.

• Recap: The bishop is to appoint each fa...

Revelation Dates: May 1831

Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio

Section 49 - Historical Background: A man named Leman Copley was a recent convert from a religious group called the Shakers, or the Shaking Quakers. He was so excited about the gospel that he wanted to present it to his former church members located near Cleveland, Ohio. The founder of the Shakers was a woman named Ann Lee, who had once been involved in a miserable marria...

Revelation Dates: March 8, 1831

Revelation Places: Kirtland, Ohio

Section 46 - Historical Background: New converts were now pouring into Kirtland, Ohio. Many had preconceived ideas from their former churches how weekly services should be held. Joseph inquires of the Lord how He wants it done. 

• Recap: The elders attending the meeting should preside and conduct the meeting according to the Spirit. All people should be welcomed t...

Revelation Date: March 7, 1831

Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio

Section 45 - Historical Background: The Lord was well aware of the perils that were pouring out upon the Saints. Joseph lamented, “Many false reports, lies, and foolish stories were published and circulated in every direction, to prevent people from investigating the work.” During these times of slander and abuse, the Lord provided revelations of comfort and peace, inc...

Revelation Dates: February 1831

Revelation Place: Kirtland, Ohio

Section 41 - Historical Background: Arriving in Kirtland Ohio, Joseph found many of the saints practicing “strange notions” brought with the new converts from their previous church backgrounds. As these false precepts and traditions were creeping in among the church, Joseph asked the Lord what to do.

• Recap: Blessed are they who follow God’s commandments and curse...

Revelation Dates: December 1830-January 1831

Revelation Place: Fayette, New York

Section 37 - Historical Background: Sidney Rigdon had been told earlier that new scriptures would be coming. As Joseph’s scribe, they received the book of Moses. The Lord then interrupts the translation and commands that the headquarters of the church be moved from Fayette, New York to Ohio.

• Recap: Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon are interrupted du...

Written by W. Cleon Skousen and narrated by Francis Urry, this professionally dramatized story of Easter was produced by KSL radio in Salt Lake City and was widely broadcast on radio stations during the 1960's and 1970's.

Journey through the Easter events beginning with the burial of Jesus Christ and concluding with His ascension. In the stillness of pre-dawn Jerusalem, a group of devoted women, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the m...

Section 30 - Historical Background: Following the second conference of the Church at Fayette, the Lord provided revelations to several new converts who were anxious to know what God would have them do. This revelation was to three of the Whitmer brothers, David, Peter Jr. and John.

Recap: David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses, is admonished for fearing man more than God and for not giving heed to the Spirit. Therefore he is to ...

In one of the most exhaustive, scripture based presentations on the Atonement, respected gospel scholar W. Cleon Skousen opens our understanding of the majesty and breadth of Jesus' sacrifice and how we can apply the principles of the Atonement in our lives.

As stated by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "The doctrine of the Atonement embraces, sustains, supports, and gives life and force to all other gospel doctrines. It is the foundation ...

Section 29 - Historical Background:  After Joseph and Emma arrived in Fayette from Harmony, the saints were anxious for the upcoming second conference of the church. Many of the new members had questions. Six elders were in the presence of Joseph when he received this new magnificent revelation. This was not a revelation of simple concepts like received in previous revelations, but was instead a complex, layer upon layer, doctrinal...

Section 27 - Historical Background: It had been four months since the organization of the church and the saints had been partaking of the sacrament using bread and wine. After the baptism of Emma Smith along with others, a meeting was held for the confirmation to take place followed by the partaking of the sacrament. However, there was no wine available for the sacrament so Joseph set out to obtain some. He had not gone far when he...