God Never Gives Up On You
At one point, Don Bradley was convinced that Joseph Smith, the founder of the LDS Church, was nothing more than a fraud. However, as he began to research Joseph’s life and teachings, his perspective began to shift.
What Don discovered contradicted his earlier beliefs. He learned that Joseph Smith was not driven by self-interest but by a deep commitment to his faith, enduring personal sacrifices along the way. This realization helped him see that his doubts about Joseph Smith had been based on misconceptions.
Ultimately, through this journey of research and reflection, Don found that while he had given up on God, God had never given up on him. His faith was restored—not through having all the answers, but through the willingness to seek truth and open his heart. This experience reminded him that even in moments of doubt, God’s love and guidance remain constant.
@for.all.the.saints ‘My Journey From Atheist To LDS Historian’ Don Bradley is an author and historian specialising in the beginnings of the Latter-day Saint restoration. I wanted to speak to Don in line with the 195th anniversary of the publishing of the Book of Mormon, it’s always so fun to learn about Don’s Book of Mormon insights – it challenges me to ask more inspired questions in my Book of Mormon study. Some highlights from this episode include why the Book of Mormon is so intellectually and spiritually satisfying for Don, Don’s realisation that key dates in the Israelite calendar match perfectly with key Book of Mormon publishing dates, and how Don learned about the Temple Endowment from the account of the Jaredites in the Book of Mormon. Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on all podcast apps by visiting the link in my bio #faith #historian #atheist #josephsmith #bookofmormon #prolds #churchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints
