Episode Details

In this episode covering Joshua 1–8 and 23–24 ("Be Strong and of Good Courage"), Taylor Halverson and Mike Harris present the Book of Joshua as an ancient military manual that serves as a powerful spiritual blueprint for modern Latter-day Saints conquering trial and temptation.

Why You Should Listen

Listeners will find answers to some of the Old Testament's most challenging and violent passages. Taylor and Mike reframe Joshua’s conquest stories not as rigid historical violence to be imitated, but as a divine pep talk and symbolic framework for how we can join God’s "battalion" in the last days to overcome evil.

What You Will Learn & Enjoy

• The "Military Manual" Genre: Learn how reading Joshua through the lens of ancient military handbooks clarifies difficult texts and highlights the principle of exact obedience—mirroring the Book of Mormon's stripling warriors.

• Rahab and the Ancestry of Christ: Discover why Rahab, a harlot in Jericho, was spared for honoring the Lord's messengers, how she became an ancestor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1), and what her story teaches about God's radical inclusivity in His covenant family.

• Geographic & Linguistic Symbolism: Unpack the deep Hebrew meaning of the Jordan River ("to go down") as a symbol for Christ’s condescension and baptism at the very spot Israel crossed into the Promised Land.

• Covenant Protection vs. Disobedience: Contrast Rahab's household blessings with the story of Achan to understand how personal choices impact our households "unto the third and fourth generation."