Book of Mormon, Part 28 – Pesticide B

Heart of the Matter, hosted by Shawn McCraney, is a program that confronts Mormonism from a Biblical Christianity perspective while providing resources like streaming video of past shows, support through donations for the Salt Lake Rescue Mission, and guidance via Alathea Ambassadors for those transitioning out of Mormonism. Additionally, the ministry offers programs such as "Transitions" training for churches to welcome former Mormons, unique church services called CAMPUS with verse-by-verse teachings, and produces educational content, including videos and books, to aid understanding of Mormonism and its intersection with broader societal issues.

Shawn's teaching reflects on his journey from being a member of the LDS Church to embracing a Christian faith centered on Jesus, emphasizing the significance of genuine elements in communion, such as unleavened bread and fermented wine, as symbolic representations of Jesus' holiness and His power to cleanse sin. Furthermore, Shawn critiques the origin story of Mormonism, suggesting that Joseph Smith's claims about divine visions and inspiration emerged only after key events in 1828, leading his family to shift from Presbyterianism to supporting his new religious role.

Joseph Smith's storytelling about the golden plates and the Book of Mormon began well before he claimed to have received them in 1827, suggesting he had ample time to construct a storyline inspired by popular books on ancient American civilizations of his time. Despite claims of miraculous translations, Smith faced setbacks like lost manuscripts and personal tragedies, leading him to revise his work through "revelations," which conveniently guided him to alter the narrative, receive divine assistance, and continue developing the religious texts over several years.

Joseph Smith initially struggled to produce the Book of Mormon because he relied on individuals unfamiliar with his vision, but once Oliver Cowdery, who had a background in treasure-divining and familial connections to Joseph, joined the effort, they rapidly completed the translation. Cowdery's familiarity with Nathaniel Wood's sect and exposure to "View of the Hebrews," a book suggesting Native Americans were of Hebrew origin, might have influenced the swift completion and content of the Book of Mormon between April and June 1829.

Oliver Cowdery, relative of the Smith family, moved to Manchester in 1829, where he learned of Joseph Smith's claimed discovery of the Golden Plates, and later played a key role in assisting Smith in producing the Book of Mormon. Evidence suggests Cowdery was involved in treasure hunting using a divining rod and experienced a vision of the plates, implying potential collaboration or fraud with Smith.