Defending the Restoration

History & Teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

RichardsonStudies.com/Church

Books

Published:

Introducing Joseph Smith: The Prophet’s Life, Role, & Teachings on Revelation (Details) (Document) (Paperback)
The Fiery Preacher, Elder Bruce R. McConkie: Highlights & Commentary on the Biography of His Life & Ministry (Details) (Document) (Paperback) (Video 1.5hr)
Lives & Teachings of Latter-Day Prophets: Based on the Writings of Madsen, Haycock, Swinton, McConkie & Others (Details) (Paperback) (Document) (Note: This book combines my writings on church presidents, and the McConkie biography booklet.)
Faith Crisis Vol. 1: We Were Not Betrayed by the LDS Church, written by Hannah & James Stoddard – Highlights (86 pages) (Details) (Paperback)(PDF) (Video 147min)
Zion Building Quotes: Early LDS Teachings on Economic Cooperation, Based on Work of Jesse Fisher (99 pages) (Details) (Paperback) (Document)
Legacies of the Restoration: Historic Plural Marriage, Temples & Church Succession, with Kimberly Smith (Details) (Document) (Paperback)
Celebrating Joseph Smith, The Prophet: An Introduction to His Life, Role, Teachings, Translation, Temples, Church Succession, & Roots of the Modern Faith Crisis by Nate Richardson (Details) (Document PDF) (Paperback Amazon) Updated 10.19.25. This is a collection volume of my series on Joseph Smith.

Rough Drafts:

Navigating Revelation – Determining Doctrine, Prophets, Scripture Cannon, Restoration (PDF)
Cleon Skousen Book of Mormon Class Highlights (PDF)
Race & Priesthood (PDF)
Hyrum Andrus Highlights (PDF)
Hugh Nibley Highlights (PDF)

Videos

pending

Articles

2023

Baptism of Fire Only Available in The Church 11/05/2023

Bruce R McConkie Biography Highlights & Commentary 10/03/2023

Alma Allred LDS Institute Instructor Debates Protestants – Highlights 07/24/2023

Highlights from “Faith Crisis Vol. 1: We Were Not Betrayed,” Answering “Did the LDS Church Lie?” by Hannah & James Stoddard – Defending Progressive Historian Attacks on the Character & Teachings of Joesph Smith 07/24/2023

Is the Jesus of Mormonism the Jesus of the Bible? Alma Allred Debate Notes 06/19/2023

What is Truth? Alma Allred Debate Notes 06/19/2023

Can Men Become Gods? James White (Baptist) vs Martin Tanner (LDS) – Debate Notes 05/29/2023

*Highlights from Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: The Book of Mormon Translation on Trial by Hannah & James Stoddard 08/01/2023

*Highlights from “Faith Crisis Vol. 1: We Were Not Betrayed,” Answering “Did the LDS Church Lie?” by Hannah & James Stoddard – Defending Progressive Historian Attacks on the Character & Teachings of Joesph Smith 07/24/2023

Is the Jesus of Mormonism the Jesus of the Bible? Alma Allred Debate Notes 06/19/2023

What is Truth? Alma Allred Debate Notes 06/19/2023

Can Men Become Gods? James White (Baptist) vs Martin Tanner (LDS) – Debate Notes 05/29/2023

Thoughts on Why the New Youth Pamphlet and Related Changes in the Church – Changes Toward the “Higher & Holier Way” without Falling into “Anything Goes” Pitfalls, Emphasizing Parental Leadership – 4.23.23 04/24/2023

2022

Q&A with Jesse Fisher, Author of “Champions for Zion” on Teachings of Early LDS Leaders on Building Zion Economically & Otherwise 06/20/2022

Sustaining Church Leaders & Following Conscience 12/14/2021

Cleon Skousen Highlights the Life of J Reuben Clark 11/03/2021

On the Doctrinal Validity of Joseph Smith Papers, Journal of Discourses, “Saints” Histories, Etc. 09/16/2021

Hugh Nibley: Pros & Cons (Mostly Pros) 09/16/2021

Suggestions for Bishops 08/09/2021

General Conference Highlights: October 2020 10/04/2020

Beware Persecution From Inside the Church – Prophetic Warnings 03/30/2020

Versions of the Talmud 03/30/2020

Know, Not Just Believe 03/30/2020

Nephites in Europe: Quest for the Nephite Remnant by the Joseph Smith Foundation – Documentary Notes 03/23/2020

Hidden Bloodlines: The Grail & The Lost Tribes of the North by the Joseph Smith Foundation – Documentary Notes 03/23/2020

Where is Joseph Smith in the Bible? Come and See 03/16/2020

A Few Notes on Joseph Smith 03/16/2020

Carrying the Gospel to the “Heathen” Nations 02/17/2020

2019

What we won’t give up, keeping us from Zion 12/26/2019

Testimony: Bearing the Weight, Why We Aren’t Raptured Upon Conversion, & Some Q&A 12/26/2019

I Believe: Part 3 12/26/2019

I Believe: Part 2 12/26/2019

I Believe: Part 1 12/26/2019

President Hinckley Outlines our Top Priorities 12/26/2019

Trusting Personal Revelation (Over well-meaning words of Respected Others) 12/26/2019

Without Vision, The People Perish: Reaching for Higher Fulfilment 11/30/2019

Priesthood 03/02/2019

Obedience to God Can Bring Seemingly Unrelated Blessings 03/02/2019

Joining The Church: Salvation, Alcohol, & Sexual Chastity 02/15/2019

2018

The Crucible of Doubt by Terryl & Fiona Givens – Book Notes 09/20/2018

A Great Terror: Decreasing Sabbath Observance & Scriptural Awareness 09/12/2018

Power of the Restoration: A Firm Foundation of Faith 09/12/2018

On Conspiracy & Staying in The Church: Responding to Christian Markham’s Two Churches Only Vol. 2 09/10/2018

Belief and Knowledge unto Obedience 08/02/2018

Magnifying Your Calling in the Church & Your Calling in the Gospel 07/25/2018

Biblical Context of Latter-day Saint Doctrine, a House Divided Principle, & The Achilles Heel of Preferring Past Prophets to Modern Prophets 07/13/2018

The Prophet Joseph Smith: More Than We Know by the Joseph Smith Foundation – Documentary Notes 06/30/2018

Be One: Celebrating Priesthood for Africans – Lecture Notes 06/02/2018

God’s People are His Glory 05/21/2018

The Need to Defend Truth by Elder Christofferson to Religious Educators – Lecture Notes 02/23/2018

Should we Limit our Studies to General Authorities & Conferences? 02/05/2018

Consequences of Rejecting the Prophets, Including Less Access to the Word of God 02/05/2018

Why am I a Latter-day Saint? Personal Revelation. 02/05/2018

What Constitutes Doctrine – An Explanation from the Prophets 02/05/2018

Commandments and Councils List 02/05/2018

Tithing as taught by the Prophets 02/05/2018

Power of the Restoration: A Firm Foundation of Faith: Finally! A Good Taste in our Mouths for Religion! Welcome to the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ 02/01/2018

The Only True Church 02/01/2018

*The Mortal Messiah (all 4 volumes) by Bruce R. McConkie – Book Notes 02/01/2018

Special Witnesses of Christ: Prophets Know Him 02/01/2018

Sabbath is Not for Commerce or Sport: PMG Standard 01/27/2018

We face the frightening thought of a generation raised without any contact with scripture -Boyd Packer 01/27/2018

Why God Sometimes Instructs His People To Kill 01/27/2018

Personal Glimpses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by H. & H. Andrus, summary & audio 01/25/2018

Prophets Teach Obedience 01/25/2018

Preguntas Y Respuesas Basicas En Cuanto De Como Vivo Me Fe 01/25/2018

Basic Q & A On Living One’s Faith As A Latter-day Saint 01/25/2018

Joseph Smith brief note 01/24/2018

Isaiah Class by Byron Merrill by BYU – Notes 01/24/2018

Increased Accountability and Expectation of the Latter-day Saints: Extra-Biblical Scripture & Exaltation (Theosis) 01/24/2018

Ancient Rod of Aaron Used in Our Day by Oliver Cowdry: An Instrument of Revelation Testifying of Christ 01/24/2018

Hebrew eyes seeing the Parables of Jesus by Amy Jill Levine – Lecture Notes 01/22/2018

First Presidency Christmas Devotional 2014 – Lecture Notes 01/17/2018

The 7 Deadly Heresies by Elder Bruce R McConkie – Lecture Notes 01/17/2018

Brad Wilcox Lecture Notes 01/17/2018

Baptism 01/17/2018

400 Questions & Answers about the New Testament by Susan Easton Black – Book Notes 01/12/2018

We live in a Post-Christian Society by Elder Quinton L Cook 01/08/2018

We All Bleed The Same: Healing America Version by Alex Boye, Music Video 01/03/2018

Planted: Belief and Belonging in an age of Doubt, by Patrick Mason – Book Notes 01/01/2018

Book of Mormon Origins

Preserving Prophetic Teachings on the Translation & Geography of the Sacred Record of the Restoration

RichardsonStudies.com/BookMormon

About

While some consider these points to be of little consequence, the latter-day saints need and deserve a consistent message about how their faith’s book came to be, and what it’s message is. Is it a mere fiction, or does it represent a real history, as it claims? Fortunately, the Lord has provided messages on these points through his servants for centuries, and their word should be given higher priority than claims of scholars.

Books

Drafts:

Heartland Book of Mormon Geography (PDF)

Highlighting Seer Stone vs. Urim & Thummim: Book of Mormon Translation on Trial by Stoddards/JSF (Blog)

Articles

Moroni’s America by Jonathan Neville – Book Highlights 07/24/2024

Letter 7, Oliver Cowdry on North American Setting, by Jonathan Neville – Book Highlights 07/24/2024

Highlights from Seer Stone v. Urim & Thummim: The Book of Mormon Translation on Trial by Hannah & James Stoddard 08/01/2023

David Hocking Annotated Series Highlights – Book of Mormon, Jasher, Isaiah 10/25/2021

Selected Images from David Hocking’s Annotated Book of Mormon: Overwhelming Evidence for the North American Setting 10/19/2021

Hurlbut: The Corrupt Source of the Sources on “Magical Treasure Stone” Joseph Smith 10/01/2021

Plural Marriage

Defending Our Noble Heritage

While I don’t advocate living plural marriage and I sustain the church’s decision to discontinue the practice, I can see the noble role plural marriage played in the early days of the restoration and in the Bible. In short, plural marriage was, when sanctioned by the Lord and His church, an inspired system to bring children and welfare to the saints when needed.