Ep. 413 Article of Faith 8 - Two Books One Testimony
Release Date: 12/20/2025
Streaking the Scriptures
Questions to Consider While Listening What does it really mean to pray “with all the energy of heart” for charity? How do you practice Christlike charity in traffic, crowds, and everyday irritations? Why does God provide more than one witness of Jesus Christ? What does it mean that the Bible is the Word of God “as far as it is translated correctly”? Why were “plain and precious” truths lost, and how were they restored? How can studying multiple Bible translations deepen understanding without weakening doctrine? What happens when the Bible and Book of Mormon truly...
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This episode of Streaking the Scriptures dives deep into Article of Faith 7 and what it really means to believe in “gifts of the Spirit” today—not just as a doctrine, but as something active and personal in your life. Jeff walks through where spiritual gifts are outlined in scripture—1 Corinthians 12, Moroni 10, and Doctrine and Covenants 46—and points out that when something shows up in three different books of scripture, the Lord is emphasizing it for a reason. He reads through the lists of gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits,...
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In this study session of Streaking the Scriptures, Jeffery shares a few tender moments from the Christmas season, including attending the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square Christmas Concert and walking as part of his daily streaks. Then we dive deep into Articles of Faith 3 and 4. Together we explore what it really means to be saved through the atonement of Jesus Christ, how justice and mercy are perfectly reconciled in Him, and why obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel matters for eternal life. Jeffery walks through powerful passages in Mosiah, Alma, Doctrine and Covenants,...
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In today’s episode of Streaking the Scriptures, we stay with Article of Faith 1 and go much deeper into the Holy Ghost. We walk through the Savior’s promise in John 14 and 15, explore Nephi’s powerful teachings in 2 Nephi 32, and look at how the Holy Ghost both tells us and shows us “all things” that we should do. I share a story about a tower of deadbolts, fifty keys, and one simple question that unlocked everything. Then we move into Article of Faith 2, what it really means to be “punished for [our] own sins,” and how Doctrine and Covenants 19 reframes punishment through the...
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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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🎙️ Introduction Honestly, December seems to have arrived in a blink. Time itself is constant, but our experience of it shifts depending on what fills our days—service, discipleship, family, the work of the Lord, everyday life. Some seasons stretch; others accelerate. I’m Jeff Downs, and this is Streaking the Scriptures, where our focus is simple: application. We study to act. We study to grow. We study to come unto Christ through small, consistent choices that change us. Today we’re entering Doctrine and Covenants section 137, a sacred and stunning glimpse into the celestial kingdom...
info_outlineQuestions to Consider While Listening
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What does it really mean to pray “with all the energy of heart” for charity?
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How do you practice Christlike charity in traffic, crowds, and everyday irritations?
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Why does God provide more than one witness of Jesus Christ?
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What does it mean that the Bible is the Word of God “as far as it is translated correctly”?
-
Why were “plain and precious” truths lost, and how were they restored?
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How can studying multiple Bible translations deepen understanding without weakening doctrine?
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What happens when the Bible and Book of Mormon truly function as one testimony?
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How does daily, consistent scripture study shape who you are becoming?
Episode Summary
In this episode of Streaking the Scriptures, Jeff Downs weaves together lived discipleship and deep doctrine, beginning with a simple but searching question: How do we live with charity when life feels crowded, rushed, and frustrating? From holiday traffic to busy gatherings, Jeff explores how charity is not accidental—it is something we pray for daily, intentionally, and by name.
That reflection leads into a thoughtful study of Article of Faith #8 and the powerful role of multiple witnesses in God’s plan. Jeff examines why the Bible is the Word of God “as far as it is translated correctly,” how plain and precious truths were removed over time, and how the Restoration brought clarity through the Book of Mormon, modern revelation, and living prophets.
You’ll hear timely insights on the Church’s recent guidance encouraging the use of additional Bible translations for greater clarity and accessibility, especially for those who struggle with archaic language. Through Nephi’s vision, Isaiah’s prophecy, Ezekiel’s “two sticks,” and the voice of modern apostles, Jeff shows how the Bible and Book of Mormon are meant to run together—one Savior, one gospel, one testimony.
This episode is an invitation to study scripture not just reverently, but actively—to compare, question, seek understanding, and apply truth with charity.
MyStreaks App Invitation
If you want to stay consistent with scripture study—even when life is full—Jeff invites you to use the MyStreaks app. A simple daily scripture streak, even just one verse, helps turn good intentions into quiet, faithful momentum. Consistency compounds, and over time, those small daily efforts shape discipleship, deepen charity, and draw you closer to Christ.
As always, keep streaking the scriptures—and keep charity alive in traffic and in crowds.