Religion Today KSL Newsradio

For many people, especially those who feel lonely due to loss of a spouse, child or friend, a pet is very important to them. Many people love their pets very much like a family member. In this episode of Religion Today, the host, Martin Tanner, gives many reasons for believing that pets and other animals have souls and will be seen in the after-life. Martin shares Joseph Smith's comments showing animals have sould. He also shares near-death experiences in which the person saw their deceased pet during their experience.

"Toxic Masculinity" and "Not needed" are two of the phrases often heard in society today about men and fathers. The assumption is the men and fathers, especially white men, are privileged, while women and minorities are discriminated against.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides statistics and studies to show how men are viewed in society and how men view themselves.  Statistics show men overwhelmingly see their most important role as husband and father. Men would far rather have their children become honest, kind, hard-working, and caring, then rich. These are all good signs for a resurgence in the idea that men and fathers are important.

Where did the events in the Book of Mormon likely take place? In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner presents some of the latest evidence from geography, archaeology, LiDar scans, population studies, geology, volcanoloy,  and linguistics, which points to Central America, from southern Mexico to Guatemala on the Yucatan Peninsula, as the likely location for the Jaradite civilation, and the Nephite civilation.

Many theories have been advanced by New Testament scholars about the nature of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" he speaks of in 2 Corinthians 12:7. The theories include:  temptation, a chronic eye problem, malaria, migraines, epilepsy, a speech impediment, or even a person, perhaps "Alexander the coppersmith" who paul says did Paul "a great deal of Harm" (2 Timothy 4:14).  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner follows the clues and concludes Paul probably had a severe eye problem, which greatly hampered his vision, and which was visible to anyone who looked at Paul's face.  Perhaps Paul had such severe cataracts that he could not see well, and his eyes were visibly cloudy, and obviously diseased.  Paul's physical problem was so severe that he had a permanent physician, Luke, the man who wrote the Gospel of Luke. 

Host Martin Tanner describes the implications of ancient words and phrases in The Book of Mormon.  He describes how certain words and phrases show Joseph Smith's influence, while others show God's had tight control over the translation process.  No one has devised an explanation for the Book of Mormon translation process, which explains all of the evidence.  We know little more than that Joseph Smith could not have produced it, and, it was translated by the "gift and power of God."

In this Religion Today episode, host Martin Tanner explains that we know about the contents of the Lost 116 Pages of the Book of Mormon, which is a surprisingly large amount.  Martin explains why it is unlikely that Lucy Harris took or destroyed the lost 116 pages. He also explain the sources for what we know about the contents of the lost Book of Lehi and other details about the 116 Page.