Darrach Ó Duibh has such an interesting story, and I wanted to speak with him to discuss his incredible life journey and the profound, unexpected insights he gained while translating the Book of Mormon into the Irish language longhand. He’s an ancient language researcher, polyglot, and textual critic based in Ireland. Having previously worked as a bibliographic researcher for FARMS (now the Maxwell Institute) under the legendary LDS scholar Hugh Nibley, Darrach started this translation project 20 years ago while bedridden after a honeymoon car crash. Adding another dimension to his life, Darrach is also a well-respected professional mixed martial arts (MMA) referee.

We explore his unique personal interactions with Hugh Nibley, his background growing up with a father in military intelligence, and the powerful textual evidence for multiple, distinct prophetic voices that only becomes visible when translating the Book of Mormon text word by word.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• Working with Hugh Nibley: Darrach shares first hand stories from his time sitting across the desk from Hugh Nibley at BYU, including Nibley's shocking command of ancient languages, his quiet patience with students, and a legendary family story involving a moving train in Utah.
• Growing Up in Military Intelligence: From learning languages at six years old to witnessing his father barter with guards in Russian at Checkpoint Charlie, Darrach explains how his childhood in Germany unlocked his lifelong love for language.
• The Ancient Egyptian Pattern in the Text: A fascinating deep dive into the very first verses of First Nephi, Enos, Omni, Mormon, and Moroni, revealing a complex, authentic ancient narrative pattern known as the narrative infinitive or "stacking" that Joseph Smith could not have easily fabricated.
• Hearing Distinct Voices: Darrach details how his translation work forced him to recognize completely different linguistic registers, vocabulary, and tones between Nephi, Jacob, and Mormon, providing stunning textual evidence for the book’s authenticity.
• Faith, Revelation, and Suspension: A discussion on why the Lord purposely keeps archaeological and metaphysical proof in a state of suspension, allowing spiritual knowledge and true faith to flourish rather than letting it become dormant.

You can find Darrach’s Irish translation of the Book of Mormon at the following link:

• Amazon: An Leabhar Mhórmoin: Fianaise eile ar Íosa Críost (Irish Edition)
  https://www.amazon.com/Leabhar-Mh%C3%B3rmoin-Fianaise-Cr%C3%ADost-Irish/dp/B0H2W35RW4/

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For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

I have three guests joining me on the podcast this week: Hayden and Jackson Paul, the creators behind The Stick of Joseph, a popular YouTube channel dedicated to exploring the ancient roots and cultural impact of the Book of Mormon and David J. Butler (D. John Butler), an accomplished author, attorney, and entrepreneur who serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Plain & Precious Publishing.

Hayden, Jackson, and Dave were in the UK to interview biblical scholar Margaret Barker, and I had the chance to catch up with them. We dive into the true purpose of scripture, the pitfalls of living in a hyper-digital world, and how to transition from a casual religious life into a deeply prayerful, authentic relationship with God.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• The Lens of the Book of Mormon: The guys share their perspective on why the Book of Mormon shouldn't be viewed as the "Robin to the Bible's Batman," but rather as the foundational lens through which all other scripture should be read.
• The Digital "Portal to Hell": A candid conversation on how the hyper-fast context shifts of modern social media are actively eroding our memory, destroying sacred time, and cheapening real-world human relationships.
• "Be Sufficiently Humble to Aim Sufficiently Low": Practical, brick-by-brick advice on how to revive a hollow or struggling religious life using incremental improvements rather than burning out on short-lived religious fervor.
• An Answer to Someone's Prayer: Jackson shares a powerful, raw experience from their studio parking lot about the exact moment he chose to stop trying to "wiggle out" of the Spirit's promptings and humanized his faith for a total stranger.
• Governed by Ten or Ruled by a Thousand: A breakdown of how society's shift toward secularism removes self-governance, inevitably leading toward a more heavily mandated and totalitarian world.

You can find more of their work at the following links:

• The Stick of Joseph: https://thestickofjoseph.com/ and www.youtube.com/@thestickofjoseph
  
  
• Latter Daily Saints: www.youtube.com/@LatterDailySaints
  
  
• Plain & Precious Publishing: https://plainandpreciouspublishing.com

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod
https://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/

For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.

Dr. Loren Marks is a professor in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University and a co-director of the American Families of Faith project. He is a prominent researcher at the Wheatley Institute, focusing on the intersection of faith, marriage, and family relationships across various world religions. He has co-authored numerous articles and reports analyzing the profound impact of religious involvement on human flourishing.

In this episode, Loren joins me to unpack a landmark new meta-analysis evaluating the profound relationship between faith and mental health. Our conversation dives into a decade's worth of elite medical and data-driven social science, revealing why a vibrant community and hands-on religious practices move the needle on psychological health far more than solitary belief alone.

Some highlights from this episode include:
A Landmark 10-to-1 Ratio: Loren breaks down the striking data compiled by research teams at Harvard and Duke, showing that out of roughly 1,000 of the most rigorous studies on religion and mental health, 961 found significant positive connections compared to just 101 negative ones.

Belief vs. Living the Religion: A deep dive into why mere religious belief isn't enough to boost psychological well-being. Loren explains how a faith tradition requires active practices and a communal "three-legged stool" to truly animate mental and physical benefits.

Addressing "Toxic Faith" and Hurt: A candid and empathetic discussion on the dark side of religion, how faith can be hijacked or misconstrued into unrighteous dominion, and what Loren would personally say to individuals who have been deeply wounded by a religious community.

The Power of Faith in the Home: Loren highlights insights from a global 11-nation study on how practicing faith within the walls of the home—through family prayer, scripture study, and shared meals—provides a significant added benefit to individual and family resilience.

A Personal Story of Exemplary Faith: A touching personal memory from Loren’s teenage years during the 1980s recession, sharing how witnessing his mother's private, late-night devotion while his father worked abroad permanently taught him that faith is tangible, real, and a relationship with a living Father.

You can find more of the Wheatley Institute's research and the reports discussed at the following links:

• American Families of Faith Project https://americanfamiliesoffaith.byu.edu/0000019e-6a64-d21e-a7bf-6bf69b4e0000/religion-and-mental-health
• BYU Wheatley Institute
  https://wheatley.Wheatley Institutebyu.edu/

Follow For All The Saints on social media for updates and inspiring content:
www.instagram.com/forallthesaintspod
https://www.facebook.com/forallthesaintspod/

For All The Saints episodes are released every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVDUQg_qZIU&list=UULFFf7vzrJ2LNWmp1Kl-c6K9Q
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j64txm9qbGVVZOM48P4HS?si=bb31d048e05141f2
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/for-all-the-saints/id1703815271

If you have feedback or any suggestions for topics or guests, connect with Ben & Sean via hello@forallthesaints.org or DM on Instagram

Conversations to Refresh Your Faith.

For All The Saints podcast was established in 2023 by Ben Hancock to express his passion and desire for more dialogue around faith, religious belief, and believers' perspectives on the topics of our day. Tune into For All The Saints every Monday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more.

Follow For All The Saints on social media for daily inspiration.