Ep. 393: Doctrine & Covenants 129 Detect the Truth
Release Date: 11/10/2025
Streaking the Scriptures
Questions to Consider Is God still revealing truth today—or did revelation end long ago? Why does continuing revelation matter in a world facing challenges never seen before? How does Article of Faith #9 explain the need for prophets in our day? Why is The Family: A Proclamation to the World considered living scripture for modern times? How do divine “guardrails” actually increase freedom, safety, and happiness? What roles, responsibilities, and principles truly lead to joy in marriage and family life? Do we allow others—and ourselves—to change through the Atonement of...
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Welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures! Today marks a powerful moment in our year-long journey. We have officially completed every section in the Doctrine and Covenants, and now we turn our hearts and minds to the Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2. Even though published revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants has concluded, revelation has most certainly not stopped. We live in a church guided by living prophets, inspired apostles, and—equally important—personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. Today we begin Article of Faith #1: “We believe in God, the Eternal...
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Welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures. I’m your host, Jeff Downs, and today we arrive at a profound moment in our journey through the Doctrine and Covenants. We are completing Section 138—the culminating revelation that opens the curtains on life after death, redemption, and the ongoing labor and progression of God’s children beyond mortality. This section reveals answers to some of humanity’s deepest questions: What happens after we die? What is the nature of the spirit world? How does redemption continue beyond the grave? Today, we’ll read, ponder, and follow wherever...
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🎙️ Introduction Good morning, and welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures. Today we continue our study of Doctrine and Covenants section 138—a section that lifts the veil and lets us glimpse the grandeur of the Lord’s redemptive work on both sides of the veil. Yesterday we explored Joseph F. Smith’s pondering, his searching, and the revelatory “recipe” that opened his understanding. Today, beginning at verse 29, we move into the heart of his vision—how Christ organized messengers among the righteous to preach the gospel to those in darkness. These verses expand our...
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Introduction Welcome back to Streaking the Scriptures! I’m Jeff Downs, and today’s study session is coming to you right in the middle of the day—a little lunchtime lift. Earlier this morning I was blessed to attend an endowment session in the Mount Timpanogos Utah Temple. Our home temple in Saratoga Springs is temporarily closed for maintenance, so a whole bunch of us just “moved temples” for a couple of weeks. What an incredible blessing it is to live where, even when one temple is closed, you can choose from several others within about 30 minutes. That thought alone sets the tone...
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The episode introduces the theme of time passing quickly and anchors the study in Doctrine and Covenants 129. The discussion centers on Joseph Smith’s instruction for discerning ministering beings—resurrected angels, spirits of just men made perfect, and counterfeit messengers. You connect these keys of discernment to modern challenges, especially the prevalence of deception, misinformation, and misplaced spiritual authority. You explore how true revelation aligns with stewardship, how to verify sources, and how to confirm truth through the Spirit. Drawing from 3 Nephi 11, Moroni 7, and 1 John 4, you teach that discerning truth is a personal responsibility grounded in doctrine, conscience, and sincere intent. You conclude with an invitation to judge righteously, seek confirmation from God, and stay anchored in Christ.
Chapters
00:00 – The swift passing of life and the perception of time
01:05 – Introduction to the week’s study: Doctrine & Covenants 129–132
02:00 – Approaching the Prophet’s martyrdom and dense final revelations
02:27 – Three grand keys for discerning heavenly messengers
04:55 – Modern deception and the relevance of D&C 129 today
06:34 – The resurrected Christ: physical proof and perfected state
08:56 – Spirits of just men made perfect and their constraints
10:30 – Applying discernment to digital, social, and spiritual messages
11:07 – Stewardship and personal revelation within proper bounds
13:25 – Online claims, source integrity, and divine confirmation
15:11 – Joseph Smith’s early persecution and the necessity of personal conviction
17:30 – Standing firm in truth despite opposition
19:53 – “I knew it, and God knew it”: the prophet’s unwavering testimony
21:57 – Moroni 7: judging good from evil through intent and works
24:27 – Real intent versus grudging obedience
26:52 – Continuous enticement to evil and responsibility to discern
27:45 – The Spirit of Christ and judgment as plain as day vs night
28:49 – Scriptural cross-reference: 1 John 4 on testing spirits
30:43 – Final reflections: judge righteously, verify truth, follow Christ
Conclusion
Section 129 reminds us that discerning truth is not passive—it is an active, personal responsibility. True messengers can be known, true revelation confirms stewardship, and true impressions align with Christ. The scriptures teach clear principles for judging good from evil, whether the test comes through an angel, a thought, a digital message, or a spiritual prompting. As you continue your daily spiritual practices, intentional consistency strengthens your ability to recognize truth and reject deception.
If you want to support that daily consistency, the MyStreaks – Streak Tracker app can help you stay anchored in the small spiritual actions that keep you connected to heaven. Tracking simple spiritual streaks keeps your heart in tune and your discernment clear.
Until we study again—keep charity in your heart, stay close to the Savior, and keep streaking the scriptures.