The Interpreter Foundation: Recent Episodes

The Interpreter Foundation

Supporting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through scholarship

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This post is a summary of the article “Reading Disciple Consistently As New-world Apostle in the Book of Mormon” by Carl J. Cranney in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: New World Apostles first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In the Book of Mormon, the term disciple occurs fifty-five times. Of those, forty-eight are unambiguous references to the Twelve called by the risen Christ to preside over his new-world Church. The remaining six instances could plausibly be read either as references to more generic followers of Jesus or as references to the Nephite […]

The post Reading Disciple Consistently As New-world Apostle in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “My first day as a student […]

The post Reprint: From the Egyptian Temple through the Hebrew Bible to the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the October 7, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson discuss the passing of President Nelson and General Conference. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — October 7, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the October 5, 2025, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our host Martin Tanner discusses the shooting at the Chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). Podcast: Download […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — October 5, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 115-120 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 23rd Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner and Bruce Webster discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for October 13 – 19 covering D&C 115–120. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the September 23rd episode of […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 115–120 for October 13 – 19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 115:4-6 The Name and Purposes of the Church It is April 1838 and Joseph Smith and about 2,000 Saints are living in the area of Far West, Missouri, making it the de facto headquarters of the Church. For the first eight years of the restored Church, it was known as The Church of Christ […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — 115–120 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 14, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson interview Jonathan Stapley about his new book, Holiness to the Lord: Latter-day Saint Temple Worship. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 24, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of R. Kent Crookston, Book of Mormon Ecology: What the Text Reveals about the Land and Lives of the Record Keepers (Provo, UT: Village Lane, 2020). 267 pages. $12.95 (paperback). Abstract: As is well known, the Book of Mormon is a brief spiritual account from many centuries of Lehite and Jaredite peoples. Some of […]

The post Some Good Questions, but Large Inferences from Tidbits first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “Egyptian stelae from the First Intermediate […]

The post Reprint: The Reach, the Handclasp, and the Embrace first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 14th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for October 6 – 12 covering D&C 111–114. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the September 14th […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 111–114 for October 6 – 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 111 I am not Displeased, Notwithstanding Your Follies Read the section heading and consider this: When things do not go as we had hoped, we should not simply assume that we had made a mistake. We cannot say that Joseph Smith erred in making a 1,200-mile round-trip journey to Salem, Massachusetts, failing in his […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — 111–114 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 14, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson interview Scott Marianno and Reid Neilson about their new book, The Salt Lake Temple. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 14, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “A Textual Comparison of Masonic Rites and the LDS Temple Endowment” by David Eddington in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Masonic Endowment? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Numerous discussions of the similarities between the LDS temple endowment and Masonic rites exist, which give the impression that the two overlap considerably. Rather than focus on the similarities themselves, this paper seeks to quantify how much the two rites overlap by performing a textual analysis. In the first section, the named entities, clothing, […]

The post A Textual Comparison of Masonic Rites and the LDS Temple Endowment first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “It is with great pleasure that […]

The post Reprint: The Symbolism of Two Sons in the Parable of the Prodigal Son first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 7th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 29 – October 5 covering D&C 109–110. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the September […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 109–110 for September 29 – October 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 109 The Kirtland Temple As recorded in the section heading, this is the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland, Ohio Temple, and was revealed by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Kirtland was the first temple of this dispensation and this prayer has been a pattern for all subsequent temple dedicatory prayers. Construction on […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — 109–110 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 7, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss what is church doctrine and what is scripture. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 7, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Rodney Dieser, Cease to Contend: Healing a Nation Through Christlike Civility in Politics (Springville, UT: Cedar Fort, 2025). 136 pp., $16.99 (paperback). Abstract: In Cease to Contend: Healing a Nation Through Christlike Civility in Politics, Rodney Dieser offers a timely and faith-centered response to the growing crisis of political polarization and incivility. Grounded […]

The post Learning Political Civility from Pahoran to Lincoln first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “On Mount Sinai, Moses received the […]

The post Reprint: Remembering and Keeping the Sabbath Day in the Late Second Temple Period first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 4th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and MArtin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 22 – 28 covering D&C 106–108. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the September 4th episode of […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 106–108 for September 22 – 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 106 Warren Cowdery In verses 1-2 the Lord called Warren Cowdery (Oliver’s older brother) to preside over a Church congregation and to preach the gospel. Find: What instructions and promised blessings did the Lord give Warren in verses 3, 7-8? What did the Lord say in verse 4 about His coming? What promise did […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 106–108 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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For many Latter-day Saints, the word horror may sound like the opposite of anything uplifting or edifying. In cinema, the genre often conjures images of gratuitous violence, demonic spectacle, or nihilistic despair. Yet when handled thoughtfully, horror can be one of the most profoundly spiritual genres. At its best, it strips away complacency and forces […]

The post The Angel: A Review first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 3, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner discuss with special guest Ben Spackman the newly published The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and Evolution, edited by Jamie L. Jensen, Steven L. Peck, Ugo A. Perego, and T. Benjamin Spackman. You can listen to […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 3, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Possible Remembrance and Re-enactment of Old World’s Hieros Gamos in the Book of Ether” by Michaël Ulrich in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Ether’s Mesopotamian Marriage first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper explores the conclusions that can be drawn from a Mesopotamian origin theory for the Jaredites. The goal is to show that the story of Jared’s daughter in Ether 8 could be a ritual similar to hieros gamos, or sacred marriage, from Mesopotamia. To achieve this, etymologies are given for three names (Jared, […]

The post Possible Remembrance and Re-enactment of Old World’s Hieros Gamos in the Book of Ether first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “The Bible relates several instances in […]

The post Reprint: Restoration Insights into Barrenness and Divine Intervention first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 102–105 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the second August 21st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 15 – 21 covering D&C 102–105. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the second […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 102–105 for September 15 – 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 102 Membership Councils This section is composed of meeting minutes which give instructions regarding “important difficulties that arise in the Church,” including procedures for “hearing cases” (see the section summary, which follows the section heading). What were once called church courts, then disciplinary councils, are now designated as membership councils. Those who have participated […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 102–105 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the second August 21, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss various recent articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and recent posts on By Common Consent and Times and Seasons titled (in part) “Are Latter-day Saints Happier?”. You […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 21, 2025b first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Mustafa Akyol, The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2017). 288 pp., $17.99 (paperback). Abstract: In his book, The Islamic Jesus, Muslim author Mustafa Akyol paints a portrait of the Qur’an’s Isa (Jesus) and attempts to locate this picture within […]

The post The Islamic Jesus first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “Twice the garden of Eden narrative […]

The post Reprint: Eve’s Role as a “Help” (‘ezer) Revisited first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 98–101 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 21st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and MArtin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 8 – 14 covering D&C 98–101. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the August 21st […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 98–101 for September 8 – 14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 98:1-22 Your Afflictions Shall Work Together for Your Good This revelation from the Lord to the persecuted Church members in Missouri is significant because of the commandments and the promises He gave: Commandments Fear not, let your hearts be comforted, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks (verse 1). These commandments may seem counter-intuitive […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 98–101 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 21, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss the wresting the scriptures by critics. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). Podcast: […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 21, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Why Would God Place Adam and Eve Under Paradoxical Injunctions?: A View of the Garden Scene through the Optics of Communication Theory” by Jared Balmer in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Paradoxical Injunction first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper investigates the pragmatic aspect of communication between God and our first parents while in the Garden of Eden—the psychological impact of placing them under contradictory injunctions that result in a situation of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” God could not introduce knowledge that, by definition, also involves introducing […]

The post Why God Placed Adam and Eve Under Paradoxical Injunctions: A View of the Garden Scene through the Optics of Communication Theory first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “According to Luke Timothy Johnson, “Biblical […]

The post Reprint: Women, Eve, and the Mosaic Covenant: A Latter-day Saint Theological Reading first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 94–97 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 14th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 1 – 7 covering D&C 94–97. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the August 14th […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 94–97 for September 1 – 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 94 Church Facilities It is May 1833 and there are about 1,500 Church members in Kirtland. The Lord calls upon three brethren to form a building committee (Hyrum Smith, Reynolds Cahoon, and Jared Carter), to construct an office building for the work of the First Presidency (verse 3) and a facility for the printing […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 94–97 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 14, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson discuss an article on plausibility on the Times and Seasons blog (https://timesandseasons.org/ and the 13th annual Interpreter Foundation Birthday Party. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 14, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Death by Chocolate: Considering the Wine Imbibed by the Lamanite Guards” by Noel Hudson in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Debilitated by Chocolate first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This article examines two instances in the Book of Mormon in which captives escape through the negligence of drunken and sleeping guards. It suggests that details about the wine used to intoxicate the Lamanite guards in the city of Gid provide support for a candidate consumable, which, despite the impression the title may give, […]

The post Death by Chocolate: Considering the Wine Imbibed by the Lamanite Guards first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “English-speaking Latter-day Saints are used to […]

The post Reprint: Paragraphs and Verses in the Scriptures first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 93 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 11th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner and Brent Schmidt discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 25 – 31 covering D&C 93. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the August 11th episode of […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 93 for August 25 – 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 93:1-5 “I Am the True Light” This revelation was given in May 1833, during a time of both persecution and apostasy in Ohio and in Missouri. But the Church moved forward, led by the Prophet Joseph Smith and under the direction of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Verse 1 is another instance of the Lord’s […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 93 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 11, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner and Brent Schmidt discuss Gnosticism and Book of Mormon geography. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). Podcast: Download […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 11, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A narrator may choose to provide or withhold the name of a character for many reasons. This article hypothesizes that Mormon intentionally omitted the name of two key characters, a Lamanite king and queen. Both feature in his narration of the mission to the Lamanites and the miraculous conversion it inspires, as recounted in […]

The post Nameless to New Name: Namelessness in the Narrative of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, or the People of Ammon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Nameless to New Name: Namelessness in the Narrative of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, or the People of Ammon” by Nathan J. Arp in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Two Unknown Names first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “From the words of Moroni in […]

The post Reprint: Hebrew Words Reflected in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: This blog post is cross-posted here with permission of the Arise from the Dust blog. In reading the marvelous revelations in Section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I was intrigued by some possible parallels to the enigmatic Hebrew text, “The Words of Gad the Seer.” That long-overlooked document found among an ancient […]

The post Shared Themes Between Doctrine and Covenants 88 and “The Words of Gad the Seer” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 34 (2025) — D&C 89–92 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 30th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 18 – 24 covering D&C 89-92. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July 30th […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 89 – 92 for August 18 – 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 89:1-4 “I Have Warned You” Ask yourself, “What would my life be like if the Lord had not revealed the Word of Wisdom?” and “What does it mean to me to obey the Word of Wisdom?” After considering your answers, note: Verse 2 states that this revelation was not given “by commandment,” but it […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 89–92 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 30, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss the Abraham and His Family Conference that was held in May. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — July 30, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Early last year, I published an article on 2 Nephi as a legal text.[1] Some of my observations began as I came across 2 Nephi 6:1. When I read “The words of Jacob, the brother of Nephi, which he spake unto the people of Nephi,” I felt like a train hit me. Up to that […]

The post Theological Impact of Identifying 2 Nephi as a Legal Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Edward K. Watson, Verifiable Evidence for the Book of Mormon: Proof of a Deliberate Design Within a Dictated-from-Imagination Book (Springville, UT: Brainy Press, 2022). 252 pp.; $32.95 (hardcover). Abstract: Edward K. Watson provides a new twist in the textual evidence for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Drawing upon his expertise in […]

The post Evidence for Well-Structured Persuasive and Argumentative Essays in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “Over the last two decades there […]

The post Reprint: All Kindreds Shall Be Blessed first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 33 (2025) — D&C 88 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 24th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Martin Tanner, and Kris Frederickson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 11 – 12 covering D&C 88. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July 24th […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 88 for August 11 – 17 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 88:1-2 Pleasing to the Lord In verses 1-2 the Lord tells us that it is pleasing to Him when we assemble together, seek to know His will, and pray to Him. Also, He states that those prayers are recorded in heaven, where angels rejoice (see also D&C 62:3). How might these verses affect your […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 88 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 24, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Martin Tanner, and Kris Frederickson discuss Pioneer Day and religious freedom. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). Podcast: Download […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — July 24, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Why was the Liahona a Sphere? A New Perspective on Its Form and Function” by J. Wanless Southwick and Kyle Kinghorn in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Spheres and Spindles first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A new, simpler design for the Liahona is proposed, which, if correct, makes the reason for two spindles and a hollow-ball shape perfectly obvious. Previous proposed models of the Liahona usually show horizontal, compass-like pointers inside an open-top ball, but our model has vertical spindles protected inside a hollow ball with viewing ports to […]

The post Why was the Liahona a Sphere? A New Perspective on Its Form and Function first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “Publishing on February 10, 1831, Alexander […]

The post Reprint: A Great Leap Backwards first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 20th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 4 – 10 covering D&C 85-87. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July 20th […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 85-87 for August 4 – 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 85 We Must Take Our Covenants and Commitments Seriously As noted in the section heading, this revelation addresses Church members in Missouri who had not fulfilled their duties in regard to the law of consecration. The instructions include: A record is to be kept of all members’ consecrations/donations, along with the “inheritances” or stewardships […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 85–87 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 23, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss the Restored Gospel, Freedom, and Government. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below. The audio track is also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). Podcast: […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — July 23, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Adam Clarke and Isaiah in the Book of Mormon” by Kent P. Jackson in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Adam Clarke’s Isaiah first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A recent article alleges that in creating the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith copied Isaiah passages out of the Bible commentary of Scottish theologian Adam Clarke. The author of the article alleges that while doing so, the Prophet edited those passages based on suggestions from Clarke’s cross references and commentary. This explains the differences […]

The post Adam Clarke and Isaiah in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “The Book of Mormon contains meaningful […]

The post Reprint: The Lord Works from the Inside Out first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 8th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 28 – August 3 covering D&C 84. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 84 for July 28 – August 3 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 84:2-5 The New Jerusalem The section heading indicates that Joseph Smith called this “a revelation on priesthood,” which it certainly is, but it could also be described as a revelation on covenants and ordinances, the gathering of Israel, missionary work, the law of consecration, and the Second Coming. Verses 2-5 teach us more about […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 84 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 20, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 4 – 10 and two recent articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Podcast — July 20, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Brant A. Gardner, The Plates of Mormon: A Book of Mormon Study Edition, and its companion volume, Engraven Upon Plates, Printed Upon Paper: Textual and Narrative Structures of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2023). Study edition 598 pp.; $34.95 (paperback). Commentary 485 pp.; $24.95 (paperback). Abstract: This paper […]

The post The Plates of Gardner first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “The peoples of the ancient Near […]

The post Reprint: Manipulating Text to Reinforce the Message: Content informs Form in the Bible and Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 30 (2025) — D&C 81–83 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 15th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our host Martin Tanner discusses the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 21 – July 27 covering D&C 81 to 83. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July 15th episode of […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 81 to 83 for July 21 – July 27 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 81 From Jesse to Frederick After becoming a counselor in the First Presidency, Jesse Gause traveled with Joseph Smith to Missouri. Upon his return, he left for a mission to the Shakers—the religion to which he had previously belonged. As noted in the section heading, when Jesse failed to remain faithful, his calling—and this […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 81–83 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Recently, the church announced that young service missionaries would be integrated into teaching missions. But what is a young service missionary? Many members of the church are only now learning about service missions for young men and women, even though the program was officially started in 2019 after years of experimenting with the idea. In […]

The post A Book of Mormon Metaphor for Young Service Missionaries first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Smooth Words and Slippery Things: Samuel the Lamanite’s Prophetic Use of Hebrew ḥlq” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 66 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Slippery Wordplay first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Samuel the Lamanite expressly drew on the words of Isaiah (Isaiah 30:10) and possibly Jeremiah (Jeremiah 23:12) with a clever, powerful wordplay on forms of the Hebrew verbal root ḥlq: ḥălāqôt (“flattering words,” literally “smooth things”) and ḥălaqlaqqôt (“slippery [things]”) in Helaman 13:28–36. This wordplay established a genetic relationship between yielding oneself to those […]

The post Smooth Words and Slippery Things: Samuel the Lamanite’s Prophetic Use of Hebrew ḥlq first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom/. “Students of the Book of Mormon […]

The post Reprint: Columbus among the Lamanites first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 This series of blog posts has been a comparison between two possible real-world locations for the Book of Mormon: The Heartland and Mesoamerica. For the Heartland model, it is clear that the most important facet of the proposal is the declaration that the […]

The post The Heartland versus Mesoamerica — Part 13: Some Final Comments first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volumes 62 (2024) and 63 (2025) are now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volumes 62 and 63 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship are Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 8, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 14 – 20 and Martin then discusses the meaning of the phrase “One Eternal Round.” You can listen to or download the discussion […]

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In the July 14th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our host Martin Tanner discusses the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 14 – July 20 covering D&C 77 to 80. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July 14th episode of […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 77 to 80 for July 14 – July 20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 29 (2025) — D&C 77–80 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 77 The Book of Revelation It is March 1832 and Joseph Smith is 26 years old. He and Emma have an adopted child (Julia Murdock), but all four of their other children have died. They are living in the home of John and Elsa Johnson in Hiram, Ohio—the same location where Doctrine and Covenants […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2025 Doctrine & Covenants — D&C 77–80 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 7, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 7 – 13 and Martin then discusses the question: “Is There the Possibility of Progression Between Kingdoms in the Afterlife?” You can listen […]

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In the July 7th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for July 7 – July 13 covering D&C 76. You can listen to or download the Come, Follow Me segment of the July […]

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 76 for July 7 – July 13 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 41 covering 3 Nephi 17-19, we have lectures 85, 95, 96, 100, and 101 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 3 Nephi 16-27 and 4 Nephi 1. These are the last class in semester 3 and four classes from semester 4. During […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon — 3 Nephi 17-19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 15th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson with special guest Dan Peterson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 41, “Behold, My Joy Is Full” covering 3 Nephi 17-19. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context — 3 Nephi 17-19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2024 Book of Mormon — 3 Nephi 17-19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 22, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson with special guest Godfrey Ellis. They discuss Godfrey’s new article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 42. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 22, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Accessing Nephi’s Bountiful: A New Proposal for Reaching Irreantum” by Warren P. Aston in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Through Wadi Kharfot first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Many Latter-day Saint scholars recognize that an excellent candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful is found at the inlet Khor Kharfot in southern Oman at the end of the lengthy Wadi Sayq. Many researchers have reasonably assumed that Lehi’s eastward travel from Nahom must have led to Wadi Sayq, which then leads directly to Khor Kharfot. […]

The post Accessing Nephi’s Bountiful: A New Proposal for Reaching Irreantum first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “More Evidence for Alma as a Semitic Name” by Neal Rappleye and Allen Hansen in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Semitic Alma first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Beginning with Hugh Nibley, several Latter-day Saint scholars have highlighted a deed found among the Bar Kokhba documents as evidence of the name Alma as a Jewish male name in antiquity. Here we highlight a second attestation of the same name used for a Jewish male from a slightly earlier period, as well as […]

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“While I was investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints in 1969, after spending seven years studying to be a minister of the gospel, there were two things I was reading: the Book of Mormon and an article a ward member had given me, ‘A New Look at the Pearl of Great Price,’ […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Winder Nibley: The Man, the Scholar, the Legacy first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 40 covering 3 Nephi 12-16, we have lectures 84 and 85 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 3 Nephi 11-20. These were the last two classes in semester 3. At the start of semester 4, the lectures jump back to the beginning […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon — 3 Nephi 12-16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 8th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 40, “I Am the Law, and the Light” covering 3 Nephi 12-16. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context — 3 Nephi 12-16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps: 2024 Book of Mormon — 3 Nephi 12-16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 8, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, and Kris Frederickson with special guests Dan Peterson and Russ Richins. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 41, and the new film by Interpreter, Six Days in August. You can listen to or download the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 15, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Peter J. Williams, The Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal About the Greatest Teacher (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2023). 113 pages, $14.59 (paperback). Abstract: Peter Williams, an independent biblical scholar, has written an analysis of the parable of the prodigal son in a fascinating attempt to demonstrate two truths. The first is […]

The post A Model for Looking Deeply and Deeply Looking first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Join the director of Six Days in August alongside talented cast members sharing their unique insights and experiences on Wednesday, September 25 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem. This gathering will include behind-the-scenes conversations offering an intimate look at the creative process, as well as insight into the historical events behind this […]

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“My recollections of Hugh Nibley go back a generation. My father, Marc Ricks, and Nibley were both doctoral students at the University of California, Berkeley, in the late 1930s, my father majoring in chemistry and Nibley in ancient history. Both attended church services at the Berkeley Ward in a lovely chapel with a venerable history […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Reminiscences of Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 39 covering 3 Nephi 8-11, we have lectures 83 and 84 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 3 Nephi 8-15. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon — 3 Nephi 8–11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 1st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss Book of Mormon lesson 39, “Arise and Come Forth unto Me” covering 3 Nephi 8-11. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the September […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context — 3 Nephi 8–11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 39 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 8, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 40, “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and several other topics. You can listen to or download the September 8th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Aftermath of the Martyrdom: Aspirants to the Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith” by R. Jean Addams in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Prophetic Aspirations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In the weeks, months, and years following the murders of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, several aspirants stepped forward to claim the mantle of the prophet. Who were these individuals with claims to the leadership of the church? What were their motives? How were these men able to inspire large numbers […]

The post Aftermath of the Martyrdom: Aspirants to the Mantle of the Prophet Joseph Smith first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I was a semi-literate Idaho farm boy, something of a loner, when, in my mid-teens, I discovered Hugh Nibley’s late-1940s articles in The Improvement Era. Nibley had answers to questions I had about the Restoration in general and especially the Book of Mormon, a volume which I had only sampled and which was then very […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and Me first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 38 covering 3 Nephi 1-7, we have lectures 80, 81, and 82 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Helaman 13–3 Nephi 7. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. […]

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In the August 25th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 38, “Lift Up Your Head and Be of Good Cheer” covering 3 Nephi 1-7. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 38 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 38 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the September 1, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift with special guest John Thompson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 39, John’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and several other topics. You […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 1, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Man with No Name: The Story of the Brother of Jared as an Anti-Babel Polemic” by Walker Wright in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: An Anti-Babel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Within the text of the Book of Mormon, the name of Jared’s brother is never revealed. Various reasons have been offered for the lack of a name, but nothing conclusive has been offered. Taking a cue from the polemical nature of Old Testament theology, this paper argues that the opening of the book of […]

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“Hugh Nibley was a paradox. He often quoted Joseph Smith’s pessimistic appraisal of humankind’s inability to govern itself, but he also participated in the political process with the same commitment and energy he gave to the military, another institution for which he had scant regard. He had no patience with jingoism; but he always flew […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley, World’s Worst Politician first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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For more information on the “Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa” series, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/For more information in French, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/fr/To see all of our posts about The Church in Africa, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/africa/ On 13 February 1986, Mucioko and Régine BANZA and Dieudonné NKITABUNGI MBUYI, along with other Church […]

The post Not by Bread Alone: Just in Time: Three Converts Return Home first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 37 covering Helaman 13-16, we have lectures 79 and 80 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Helaman 11–3 Nephi 2. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 37 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 18th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner and Kris Frederickson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 37, “Glad Tidings of Great Joy” covering Helaman 13-16. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the August 18 broadcast of the […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 37 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The seventh Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Temple on Mount Zion Conference will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 in room 251 of the Tanner Building, Brigham Young University. The conference will be held live with no streaming. Recordings of the presentations will be available at a later date. Expanded, fully footnoted versions of […]

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In the August 25, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson with special guest Bradley Kramer. They discuss Bradley’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 38. You can listen to or download […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Restoring Melchizedek Priesthood” by John S. Thompson in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway Thompson argues […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Portions of Priesthood first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Church historical sources make four differing claims as to when, how, and by whom Melchizedek priesthood was restored. These seemingly conflicting sources have led to many theories about what happened, including the idea that Joseph Smith changed his narrative and rewrote history as his ideas of priesthood evolved. A closer look at the sources, […]

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“it is not surprising that the hero which the BYU community has chosen to revere through its stories is Professor Hugh W. Nibley, a man who has excelled in both scholarly and religious pursuits. Nibley’s genius and devotion have combined with his eccentricity and absentmindedness to create a man of legends.” Part of our book […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: The BYU Folklore of Hugh W. Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Readers of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship are typically unaware of how much behind-the-scenes work goes into publishing quality academic articles and reviews week after week. Most of that work is done by volunteers who give selflessly of their time and utilize their skills to help make Interpreter possible. It is […]

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 36 covering Helaman 7-12, we have lectures 78 and 79 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Helaman 6-13. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped […]

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In the August 11th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 36, “Remember the Lord” covering Helaman 7-12. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the August 11 broadcast of the […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 36 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 18, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 37, the Proclamation on the Family and the founding fathers of the United States. You can listen to or download the August 18th broadcast of the […]

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We at the Interpreter Foundation were saddened to learn on the morning of Tuesday, 20 August 2024, of the death of our dear friend and associate George Mitton. As his obituary illustrates, he and his remarkable wife, Ewan Harbrecht Mitton, had led very full lives and made many contributions before they moved back to Utah […]

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This post is a summary of the article ““That They May Know That They Are Not Cast Off Forever”: Jewish Lectionary Elements in the Book of Mormon” by Bradley J. Kramer in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Following the Jewish Lectionary first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: It is not uncommon for Jews who join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to notice connections between certain events in the Book of Mormon and modern Jewish practices associated with the feasts of Passover, Weeks, Tabernacles, and Rosh Hashanah. Aware that traditional Christianity holds not only that Jews were ousted from […]

The post “That They May Know That They Are Not Cast Off Forever”: Jewish Lectionary Elements in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“Even though what I offer is a personal remembrance, I hope that what I have to say will in some measure speak both for and to others whose lives have or should have been influenced by him. Obviously, others have their own stories of how and why they came to know (or know of) Nibley […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: A Mighty Kauri Has Fallen first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 61 (2024) is now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship is Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 35 covering Helaman 1-6, we have lectures 73 through 78 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 62–Helaman 10. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were […]

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In the August 4th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss Book of Mormon lesson 35, “The Rock of Our Redeemer” covering Helaman 1-6. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the August 4 broadcast […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 35 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 11, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 36, the FAIR Conference, books on Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith, the completion of the Critical Text Project, and Kevin’s latest article […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Insights into the Story of Korihor Based on Intertextual Comparisons” by Noel Hudson in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

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Abstract: A brief outline of the saga of Korihor, the Anti-Christ, is provided along with a discussion of his affinities with other Book of Mormon anti-Christs, including those in the order of Nehors. Literary allusions suggesting Korihor as a foil to the king of the Lamanites are examined. Evidence of a schism among the order […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Did Korihor Usurp the Words of Zeniff?” by Elliott Jolley in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The […]

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon contains several instances where a speaker or author in the Book of Mormon quotes a previous one. This article presents one such example: It appears that Korihor usurped the words of Zeniff, quoting some of them for his own purposes. The context of this reference to Zeniff’s words lies in […]

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“In a little green house one block south of BYU campus lives the widow of well-known Latter-day Saint historian Hugh Nibley. Phyllis Draper Nibley, now seventy-nine years old, has lived in her Provo home for fifty years. She was born nearby in Salt Lake City, August 2, 1926, in the home of her aunt.” Part […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: The Woman behind the Man first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On Saturday, August 10, 2024, Royal Skousen and Stanford Carmack spoke at a celebration for the completion of the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project. An audio recording and the slides used for those talks are available below. Royal Skousen’s presentation was entitled “The Innovative and Revolutionary Book of Mormon Critical Text Project.” Stanford Carmack’s […]

The post Royal Skousen Presentation on the Innovative and Revolutionary Book of Mormon Critical Text Project first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 34 covering Alma 53-63, we have lectures 70 through 73 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 52 through Helaman 1. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The […]

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In the July 28th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 34, “Preserved by His Marvelous Power” covering Alma 53-63. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the July 28 broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 34 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 34 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 4, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 35, the BYU medical school, President Nelson’s birthday, and the linguistic evidence of the Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the […]

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Abstract: Because Grant Hardy’s important book deliberately contextualizes the Book of Mormon in light of “the generally agreed upon findings of modern biblical scholars and historians,” it invites further discussion on points in which the Book of Mormon and other significant biblical scholars and historians challenge those findings. Hardy also declares that his commentary “is […]

The post Nurture and Harvest: A Continued Conversation with The Annotated Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I have known Hugh Nibley for over fifty years. He was my teacher at BYU in the winter of 1954. I can’t remember why I took Hugh Nibley’s “Rise of the Western Church to 600 A.D.,” but its impact on my intellectual horizons was enormous. Professor Nibley was the first eccentric I ever met, and […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Funeral Service for Hugh W. Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 33 covering Alma 43-52, we have lectures 57 through 70 (14 lectures!) from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 45–54. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 21st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 33, “Stand Fast in the Faith of Christ” discussing Alma 43-52. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the July […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 21, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson, with special guest Nathan Arp. They discuss Nathan’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 34. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 28, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volumes 53 (2022), 54 (2023) and 55 (2023) are now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volumes 59 and 60 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship are Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Stephen O. Smoot and Brian C. Passantino, eds., Joseph Smith’s Uncanonized Revelations (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2024). 184 pages, $24.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In an important new volume, we now have easy access to revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that were not included in the Doctrine […]

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Review of Elliott West, Continental Reckoning: The American West in the Age of Expansion (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2023). 704 pages, $39.95 (hardcover). Abstract: This review explores how Latter-day Saints are portrayed in a new landmark history of the American West. Noting the author’s generally accurate portrayal of the Saints, this review focuses on […]

The post The Anomaly: Elliott West’s Continental Reckoning and its Latter-day Saints first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“So, Hugh Nibley has two lawyers speaking at his funeral. Good thing he appreciated irony! I have laughed and wept as I have written this final examination. Speaking on behalf of all who have taken a Nibley class, attended a Nibley fireside, source checked a footnote, or have been changed by reading his gifted prose, […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley’s Articles of Faith first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 32 covering Alma 39-42, we again have lecture 56 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 36–41. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and […]

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In the July 14th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 32, “The Great Plan of Happiness” covering Alma 39-42. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the July […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 32 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 21, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 33, and a variety of topics including upcoming events and concerns about the ownership of farmland by the Church. You can listen to or […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 21, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Deidre Nicole Green and Eric D. Huntsman, eds., Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Atonement (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2024). 344 pages, $35.00 (paperback). Abstract: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Atonement promises to provide new perspectives on the atonement that reflect awareness of scriptural and theological scholarship. The essays on the scriptural background are solid. […]

The post LDS Perspectives on the Atonement? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Nameless: Mormon’s Dramatic Use of Omission in Helaman 2” by Nathan J. Arp in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Helaman’s Secret Service first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: There are many reasons why a narrator may choose to provide or withhold the names of various characters. This article hypothesizes that Mormon intentionally omitted the name of a key character from the book of Helaman related to the origin of the Gaddianton robbers. While it is not possible to know exactly what information […]

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“Nibley treats Mormon scripture primarily through parallels. While we need not pay any attention to those shallow critics of Nibley who merely shout “Parallelomania,” as if it were a magical incantation, and reject his whole methodology and corpus out of hand (drawing parallels is a necessary technique for any scholar; one must simply judge each […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Joseph or Jung? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 31 covering Alma 36-38, we have lecture 56 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 36–41. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 7th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss Book of Mormon lesson 31, “Look to God and Live” covering Alma 36-38. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the July 7 broadcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 14, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen with special guest James VanDerKam. They discuss James’s new book, R. H. Charles: A Biography (The Bible and the Humanities), Ron Hendell and his Anchor Bible Commentary on Genesis (coming in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 14, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““I Shall Gather In”: The Name Joseph, Iterative Divine Action, and the Latter-day Harvest Ingathering of Israel as Themes in 3 Nephi” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 62 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Christ-Gathered Remnant of Joseph first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The identity of “the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared” (3 Nephi 10:18) as “a remnant of the seed of Joseph” (3 Nephi 5:23; 10:17; compare Alma 46:23–27; Ether 13:6–10) or “a remnant of the house of Joseph” (3 Nephi 15:12) is key […]

The post “I Shall Gather In”: The Name Joseph, Iterative Divine Action, and the Latter-day Harvest Ingathering of Israel as Themes in 3 Nephi first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“Because Egyptology is a rarified discipline that normally takes years of training, people may wonder just how good Hugh Nibley was at Egyptology. The simple answer is that he was quite good. The complicated answer is that he had his strengths and weaknesses, as all Egyptologists do. Let me explain.” Part of our book chapter […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: “A Stranger in a Strange Land”: Hugh Nibley as an Egyptologist first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 7, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 31 and the U. S. Constitution in prophecy. You can listen to or download the July 7th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […]

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 30 covering Alma 32-35, we have lectures 55 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 32-35. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio […]

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In the June 30th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 30, “Plant This Word in Your Hearts” discussing Alma 32-35. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the June 30 broadcast of […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 30 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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NOTE: This is a pre-print of a chapter that will appear in The Temple: Plates, Patterns, & Patriarchs, Proceedings of the Seventh Interpreter Foundation Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference. As such, we have not made it available for downloading or printing. Please refrain from bypassing these restrictions. More information about the book is available at […]

The post Pre-print of Jacob’s Temple Journey to Haran and Back first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: While, for understandable reasons, Protestant Christendom tends to downplay the question, the more ancient Christian churches have historically placed considerable weight on what is often termed “apostolic succession.” The Catholic church, for instance, strongly affirms the “primacy of Peter” and the status of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as ancient Peter’s lineal successor. […]

The post Who Holds the Keys? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Hugh Nibley Observed, edited by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Shirley S. Ricks, and Stephen T. Whitlock. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/hugh-nibley-observed/. To download this chapter in PDF format, click here. About the Interpreter Foundation Book Chapter Reprint Series The purpose of […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Family Reminisces at the Funeral of Hugh W. Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 29 covering Alma 30-31, we only have lectures 54 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 30 and 31. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 23rd Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 29, “The Virtue of the Word of God” covering Alma 30 and 31. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the June […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 30, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson, with special guest Stephen Smoot during the second hour. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 30 and Joseph Smith’s Uncanonized Revelations, newly published by the BYU Religious Studies Center. You can listen […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 30, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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For more information on the “Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa” series, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/For more information in French, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/fr/To see all of our posts about The Church in Africa, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/africa/ In this short video from the “Not by Bread Alone” film series entitled “A Woman of […]

The post Not by Bread Alone: A Woman of Faith: Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Foreign Minister of Liberia first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Are There Ten Commandments for Latter-day Zion?” by Dennis Newton in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The D&C Decalogue first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: New faith traditions often modify existing religious tenets to accommodate the particulars of their membership’s needs. A specific example is how different faith communities have modified the Ten Commandments both inside and outside the historic Jewish community. This paper argues that Joseph Smith received a Latter-day Decalogue that was canonized in the Doctrine and […]

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“My personal experience of working with Hugh Nibley’s books and manuscripts began in the late 1980s when there was a big push to get several books out in time for the upcoming year when the Book of Mormon would be the focus for our Gospel Doctrine classes. Our family had spent the 1987–88 year in […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Editing Hugh Nibley: The Man and His Legacy first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Stephen Smoot spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021 on “‘I Am a Son of God’: Moses’ Prophetic Call and Ascent into the Divine Council.” In a landmark 2007 article, the evangelical biblical scholar Michael S. Heiser, writing in a Latter-day Saint academic journal, […]

The post Conference Talks: “I Am a Son of God”: Moses’ Prophetic Call and Ascent into the Divine Council first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 28 covering Alma 23-29, we only have lectures 53 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 23-27. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 16th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 28, They “Never Did Fall Away” covering Alma 23-29. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the June 16 broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 23, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 29 and, with Executive Producer and Director James Dalyrymple and Associate Producer Jonathan Farrell, “Who Actually Saw the Gold Plates?,” Episode 5 of A Marvelous Work […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Further Evidence from the Book of Mormon for a Book of Moses-Like Text on the Brass Plates” by Jeff Lindsay in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Brass Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Students of the Book of Mormon have long mined the Old Testament as a rich source of influence on Nephite writers. However, surprising recent finds suggest that an ancient text related to the Book of Moses may have been an especially significant influence as well. That possibility was raised in Noel Reynolds’s early analytical […]

The post Further Evidence from the Book of Mormon for a Book of Moses-Like Text on the Brass Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“At first light on June 6, 1944, the first of many allied landing craft began hitting the beaches of Normandy. At Utah Beach, twelve men dangling from one of the emerging jeeps cheered their driver on as they surged up from beneath the surface of the chilly English Channel waters. That driver, an army intelligence […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jonathon Riley spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021 on “Hebraisms in the Book of Moses: Laying Groundwork and Finding a Way Forward”. The Book of Moses, the early chapters of Joseph Smith’s revision of the Old Testament, presents some unique challenges. When one […]

The post Conference Talks: Hebraisms in the Book of Moses: Laying Groundwork and Finding a Way Forward first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 27 covering Alma 17-22, we have lectures 50, 51, and 52 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 14-22. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 27 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 9th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, John Gee, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 27, “I Will Make an Instrument of Thee” covering Alma 17-22. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of […]

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 27 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 16, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 28 and Father’s Day. You can listen to or download the June 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 16, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““This Stone Shall Become the Great, and the Last, and the Only Sure Foundation”: A Nephite Poetics of Dramatic Fusion and Transfer in Jacob 5” by Matthew Scott Stenson in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Stone—Great, Last and Sure first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In this study, three intersecting images are traced through the small plates until Jacob 5, where they directly (or by implication) culminate in the final section of Zenos’s allegory. The three images appear fused together in Nephi’s and Jacob’s writings. Specifically, this literary study tracks the images of the olive vineyard, the sheepfold and […]

The post “This Stone Shall Become the Great, and the Last, and the Only Sure Foundation”: A Nephite Poetics of Dramatic Fusion and Transfer in Jacob 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I left BYU in 1968 after suffering, as a passenger, in six months’ time what normally would have been two fatal automobile accidents. Already having been admitted to University of California, Santa Barbara, Professor Nibley told me that if I came back to complete advanced degrees in religion at BYU he would never speak to […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Matthew Black and Mircea Eliade Meet Hugh Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jeffrey M. Bradshaw spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021 on “Moses 6–7 and the Book of Giants Remarkable Witnesses of Enoch’s Ministry”. The Latter-day Saint story of Enoch has been called the “most remarkable religious document published in the nineteenth century.” There are […]

The post Conference Talks: Moses 6–7 and the Book of Giants Remarkable Witnesses of Enoch’s Ministry first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 26 covering Alma 13-16, we have lectures 49 and 50 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 12-17. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 26 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 2nd Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, Hales Swift, and Spencer Kraus discuss Book of Mormon lesson 26, “Enter into the Rest of the Lord” covering Alma 13-16. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 26 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 26 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 9, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, John Gee, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 27 and evidences of the Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the June 9th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 9, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““An Analysis of the Financial Incentives in Attacking the Restoration” by Ron C. Rhodes in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The Incentives of Apostasy first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: With the popularity of social media growing exponentially, prominent critics of the Church are leveraging the platforms, particularly YouTube, as a key resource to produce thousands of negative videos about the Church. The accusations made in the videos about Church history, leadership, doctrine, and culture are so numerous that it could take months or […]

The post An Analysis of the Financial Incentives in Attacking the Restoration first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“The verbal bookkeeping that is often useful in presenting complex people is hopelessly ineffective in giving a balanced account of Hugh Nibley. To begin with, on which side of the ledger do we post his glorious absentmindedness? Dental appointments missed may be a liability, but a mind unfettered by circumstance is an asset most of […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: The Influence of Hugh Nibley: His Presence in the University first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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S. Kent Brown and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Pushing upward toward the sun emerges the Son of Man as a divinely-driven, honorific title. Not surprisingly, it leaves an intriguing, visible trail across a wide spectrum of ancient literature. […]

The post Conference Talks: Man and Son of Man Probing Theology and Christology in the Book of Moses and in Jewish and Christian Tradition first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In honor of the 195th anniversary of the Three and Eight Witnesses viewing the plates this month, Scripture Central is releasing a documentary on the witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Episode 5 of A Marvelous Work will be released on June 14 on the Book of Mormon Central YouTube channel. Some have questioned whether […]

The post The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon Documentary from Scripture Central first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 25 covering Alma 8-12, we have lectures 47 through 49 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 5-14. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped […]

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In the May 26th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 25, Jesus Christ Will Come to Redeem His People covering Alma 8-12. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the May 26 […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 25 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 25 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 2, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, Hales Swift, and Spencer Kraus. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 26 and how the Book of Mormon was translated. You can listen to or download the June 2nd broadcast of the Interpreter […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 2, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““‘Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God’: Allusions to Priestly Clothing, Priesthood, and Temple in 1 Nephi 14:14” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Armed with Righteous Cloth first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nephi saw in vision that in the latter-days “the saints of the church of the Lamb” and “covenant people of the Lord” who, though scattered across the earth, “were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14). Nephi’s prophetic statement is loaded with meaning. This study explores […]

The post “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God”: Allusions to Priestly Clothing, Priesthood, and Temple in 1 Nephi 14:14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“To those who know him best, and least, Hugh W. Nibley is a prodigy, an enigma, and a symbol. The origins he pursues as a historian are sometimes obscure. His own origins are clear. More dominant than recessive is his inheritance from one of the early Jewish converts to the Church, Alexander Neibaur: that brilliant […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley: A Prodigy, an Enigma, and a Symbol first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David Calabro spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. In an earlier study, I argued that the Book of Moses is a ritual text adapted to the architecture of the Temple of Solomon. This study further explores the ancient context of the Book of […]

The post Conference Talks: An Early Christian Context for the Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 45 through 47 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Alma 4-10. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 19th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson, and Kris Frederickson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 24, “Have Ye Experienced This Mighty Change in Your Hearts?” covering Alma 5-7. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 26, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson. They discuss Robin Douglas’s recent article in Interpreter on “The Eucharist of the Latter-day Saints” and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 25. You can listen to or download the May 26th broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 26, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Seven Women Seeking the Bridegroom: Isaiah 4:1 as Transition Point in a Redemption Allegory” by Jared T. Marcum in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Seven Women Take Hold first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nephi laboriously copied many of the words of Isaiah in hopes that his readers would rejoice in Christ. While Isaiah 4:1 (2 Nephi 14:1) is generally not viewed as Messianic, there may be an allegorical interpretation that would place this verse among Isaiah’s other Messianic writings. A pre-Nicene patristic writer, Victorinus of Poetovio, interpreted […]

The post The Seven Women Seeking the Bridegroom: Isaiah 4:1 as Transition Point in a Redemption Allegory first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I’m going to be talking about Hugh Nibley and Egyptology in the Book of Abraham, and I’d like to begin by talking about how the decision was made to finally publish Hugh’s book One Eternal Round.1 On February 23, 2005, I, along with a group of colleagues, including John Welch, John Gee, Shirley Ricks, and […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley, Egyptology, and the Book of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Avram Shannon spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Book of Moses, an extract from Joseph Smith’s New Translation of the biblical book of Genesis, is an important part of the revealed […]

The post Conference Talks: The Bible Before and After Interpretation and Translation in Antiquity and the Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 42 through 45 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 29 and Alma 1-5. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 23 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 12th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson, with special guest Gregory Steven Dundas discuss Book of Mormon lesson 23, “They Were Steadfast and Immovable” covering Mosiah 29-Alma 4. You can listen to or download the Book of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 23 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 23 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 19, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson, and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 24, Spencer Kraus’s recent article in Interpreter on The Revelation of the Magi, the recent publication of a volume of tribute to George Mitton, […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 19, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Eucharist of the Latter-day Saints: The Sacrament in the Broader Christian Context” by Robin Douglas in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Latter-Day Eucharist first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper views the sacrament prayers and rituals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the broader context of Christian eucharistic worship, focusing on how the Latter-day Saint observances both resemble and differ from those of other Christian communities. It argues that, contrary to what is often supposed, the Church has […]

The post The Eucharist of the Latter-day Saints: The Sacrament in the Broader Christian Context first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I would like to establish the context for a consideration of Hugh Nibley as a mentor by turning back the calendar to an earlier time. Although the comparison I wish to make does not match up in every detail, I believe the similarities justify placing Nibley alongside a noteworthy savant from another era. It will […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley, Mentor to the Saints first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Stanford Carmack spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. About 72 percent of the language of the Book of Moses is original, independent of Genesis language (nearly 8,900 words). In this preliminary linguistic analysis, I investigate quite a few syntactic and lexical features, comparing […]

The post Conference Talks: The Original English of the Book of Moses and What It Indicates about the Book’s Authorship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 12, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, Kevin Christensen, and Mark Johnson, with special guest Gregory Steven Dundas. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 23, Greg’s new book, Mormon’s Record: The Historical Message of the Book of Mormon. You can […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 12, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 39 through 41 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 23-29. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 5th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, Brent Schmidt, and Martin Tanner discuss Book of Mormon lesson 22, “They Were Called the People of God” covering Mosiah 25-28. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““One Drop of Salvation from the House of Majesty”: An Analysis of the Revelation of the Magi and Restoration Scripture” by Spencer Kraus in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Magi-cal Insights first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: An early Christian text called the Revelation of the Magi presents itself as a history of the Magi before and after the birth of Jesus Christ. This text offers important insights into how the early Christian world may have conceptualized how other nations outside of Israel similarly looked forward to the advent of the […]

The post “One Drop of Salvation from the House of Majesty”: An Analysis of the Revelation of the Magi and Restoration Scripture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“Flannery O’Connor, a southern writer of no small reputation, was once asked how she saw her own work in relation to the writings of William Faulkner.1 She replied that no one wanted her horse and buggy stalled on the tracks the Dixie Limited was coming down. That describes my position today. If ever there was […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: “Words, Words, Words” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David R. Seely spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Based on the works of theorists like Hans-Georg Gadamer and Paul Ricouer there has emerged a model of hermeneutics based on the exploration of the three worlds of the text: the world BEHIIND the […]

The post Conference Talks: The Book of Moses: Exploring the World OF the Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 36 through 39 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 16-26. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 28th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 21, “We Have Entered into a Covenant with Him” covering Mosiah 18-24. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the April 28 […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 5, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, Brent Schmidt, and Martin Tanner. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 22 and various topics related to the Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the May 5th broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 5, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Mormon and Moroni’s Rhetoric: Reflections Inspired by Grant Hardy’s Understanding the Book of Mormon” by Val Larsen in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Mormon and Moroni’s Rhetoric first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Grant Hardy has shown that Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni have distinctive personalities, rhetorical strategies, implied readers, and thematic concerns. Mormon lived within history and wrote as a historian. He focused on the particulars of time and place and person, on political and military matters. But, Hardy says, Mormon lacked audience awareness. I argue Mormon’s […]

The post Mormon and Moroni’s Rhetoric: Reflections Inspired by Grant Hardy’s Understanding the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“Let me begin by telling you a little bit about myself via Brother Nibley. I have come to understand that has become somewhat part of the genre of speaking about Brother Nibley—to share Nibley anecdotes and how you know him. Now, here I am considerably handicapped because I’m a little bit younger than some of […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and Classical Scholarship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Kerry Muhlestein spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. We often think of the Book of Moses as one set of revelations given to Joseph Smith, and the Doctrine and Covenants as a different set. In reality, they were eventually divided into these categories […]

The post Conference Talks: The Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Moses: An Outpouring of Revelations and the Beginning of Joseph Smith’s “New Translation” of the Bible first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 33 through 36 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 10-18. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 21st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan discuss Book of Mormon lesson 20, “A Light … That Can Never Be Darkened” covering Mosiah 11-17. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 28, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson, with special guest Clifford Jones. They discuss Brother Jones’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 21. You can listen to or […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 28, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““That They May Once Again Be a Delightsome People”: The Concept of Again Becoming the Seed of Joseph (Words of Mormon 1:8 and Mormon 7:4–5)” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The Seed of Joseph Once Again first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In Words of Mormon 1:8, Mormon declares, “And my prayer to God is concerning my brethren, that they may once again come to the knowledge of God, yea, the redemption of Christ; that they may once again be a delightsome people.” The expression “that they may once again” plausibly reflects the Hebrew idiom wayyôsipû […]

The post “That They May Once Again Be a Delightsome People”: The Concept of Again Becoming the Seed of Joseph (Words of Mormon 1:8 and Mormon 7:4–5) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Dear family and friends, We wanted to make you aware of a celebratory event being held for my father George L. Mitton on Friday, May 10th from 7:00 pm. It will be held in the second floor meeting area of his apartment building: Legacy Village Provo4146 North University Ave.Provo, UT 84604 The occasion will mark […]

The post Celebration for George L. Mitton first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I am very pleased to speak at this occasion, on this program, in honor of the centennial of Hugh Nibley’s birth on March 27, 1910, and to mark the completion of the Collected Works of Hugh Nibley. We miss Hugh in many ways, he having died five years before his signature series was finally completed. […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Beyond Scholarship: Scenes behind the Nibley Written Legacy first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Kent P. Jackson spoke at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Many Latter-day Saints are unaware of the origin of “Selections from the Book of Moses,” one of the books in the Pearl of Great Price. In short, it consists of the beginning pages of […]

The post Conference Talks: How We Got the Joseph Smith Translation, the Book of Moses, and Joseph Smith—Matthew first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 31, 32, and 33 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 7-11. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 14th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 19, “In the Strength of the Lord” covering Mosiah 7-10. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the April 14 […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 21, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 20, Christology in the Book of Mormon, Church growth in Africa, and other topics. You can listen to or download the April 21st broadcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 21, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: T. J. Uriona has offered two new theories about the meaning of Nephi’s term “skin of blackness” in 2 Nephi 5:21. He suggests that Nephi’s term may indicate impending death and/or it may be a literal reference to diseased or deathly skin. Both theories are based on a motif in an ancient Neo-Assyrian treaty […]

The post Review of Two New Theories about the Lamanite Mark Recently Presented in Two Different Forums first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I’m a little bit surprised to be here tonight because I probably know less about Hugh Nibley than anyone in this lecture series. I’ve had limited contact with him. I’ve always known about him. I’ve admired his work. I really liked his priesthood manual years ago, and I had an office, when I was chair […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley and Folklore first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Six years ago, four authors (Robert Beckstead, Bryce Blankenagel, Cody Noconi, and Michael Winkelman) hypothesized that the visionary experiences of Joseph Smith and early Latter-day Saints resulted from ingesting (secretly or surreptitiously) toad secretions, magic mushrooms, peyote cacti, or other so-called entheogenic chemicals. They published their theory in 2019 in the online Journal of Psychedelic […]

The post Reality Checking the Entheogens Theory first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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I was profoundly saddened to learn just this morning of the death of Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye. I first met her a number of years ago at a small discussion-retreat in a cabin above Salt Lake City. I puzzled throughout much of that day over who this diminutive, bald, very bright Asian Latter-day Saint woman might […]

The post Melissa Wei-Tsing Inouye first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Richard L. Bushman gave the keynote address at the 2021 Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Friday, April 23, 2021. In this presentation, I will borrow a critical perspective from Erich Auerbach’s Mimesis: The Representation of Reality in Western Literature. The talk will analyze the representation of antiquity in two of […]

The post Conference Talks: Mormon, Moses, and the Representation of Reality first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 29 and 30 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Mosiah 3-6. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 18 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 7th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Brent Schmidt, Hales Swift, and Martin Tanner discuss Book of Mormon lesson 18, “A Mighty Change” discussing Mosiah 4-6. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the April 7 broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 18 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 18 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 14, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen, with special guest Jared Ludlow during the second hour. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 19, the Enoch Seminar and BYU’s Religious Studies Center. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 14, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Emer Harris & Dennison Lott Harris: Owner of the First Copy of the Book of Mormon, Witness of the “Last Charge” of Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2023). 235 pages, 67 illustrations, appendix, references, $29.00 (paperback). Abstract: Jeffrey Bradshaw has, in a single well-researched volume, provided a gift […]

The post An Exceptional Example of the Richness of Church History first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Unwritten Debates in Moroni1’s Letter” by Morgan Deane in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. The Takeaway […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Captain Moroni’s Hidden Debates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Moroni1’s letter in Alma 60 is not simply an angry and intemperate screed against the government; it also responds to arguments about just tactics (what modern readers would call ethics) taking place among Nephite leaders at this time. Moroni1’s letter argues for his preferred strategies of active defense and ambush, while interpreting defeat as […]

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“In his lecture in this series, Alex Nibley confided that he resigned from family home evening because of the strangers and foreigners who invaded the Nibley home on Monday evenings. Alex, as you recall, I was one of those people.” Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Hugh Nibley Observed, […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and the Bible: “Look! And I Looked” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jared W. Ludlow spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “‘Enoch Walked with God, and He Was Not’: Where Did Enoch Go After Genesis?” His paper traces the reception history and development of the figure of Enoch in some of the later Pseudepigrapha. It […]

The post Conference Talks: “Enoch Walked with God, and He Was Not” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 27 through 29 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Omni through Mosiah 5. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 17 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 31st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 17, “Filled with Love towards God and All Men” covering Mosiah 1-3. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the March 31 […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 17 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 17 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 7, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Brent Schmidt, Hales Swift, and Martin Tanner. They discuss General Conference and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 18. You can listen to or download the April 7th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 7, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Introduction ⎜ Part 2 ⎜ Part 3 | Part 4 ⎜ Part 5 ⎜ Part 6 | Part 7 See the Introductory blog (#1) for explanation about this series on hearing the voice of the Lord in the mind. The below are additional accounts shared by those who have experienced this spiritual gift and have thereby been able to bless and enlighten others. Most of these are […]

The post Hearing the Voice of the Lord in the Mind #7: Additional Testimonies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““Our Great God Has in Goodness Sent These”: Notes on the Goodness of God, the Didactic Good of Nephi’s Small Plates, and Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s Renaming” by Matthew L. Bowen and Pedro A. Olavarria in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Naming the Good first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s speech (Alma 24:7–16) reveals multiple allusions to significant texts in Nephi’s small plates record. Thus, when he declares “I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us,” he appears to allude to an inclusio that bookends […]

The post “Our Great God Has in Goodness Sent These”: Notes on the Goodness of God, the Didactic Good of Nephi’s Small Plates, and Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s Renaming first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I am honored to participate in this lecture series remembering the studies, life, and legacy of Professor Hugh Nibley. I did not have the privilege of personally knowing Professor Nibley. He retired before I joined the faculty at BYU, but I do happen to have two stories to contribute to the corpus of Nibley lore—both […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley and the Environment first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David M. Calabro spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “‘This Thing Is a Similitude’: A Typological Approach to Moses 5:1–15 and Ancient Apocryphal Literature.” His paper examines similarities between the account of the sacrifice and epiphany of the first parents in Moses 5:1-15 […]

The post Conference Talks: “This Thing Is a Similitude” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 25 through 27 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Jacob 5—7 through Mosiah 1. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 24th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, John Thompson, and Don Bradley discuss Book of Mormon lesson 16, “He Worketh in Me to Do According to His Will” covering Enos through Words of Mormon. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 31, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 17, the meaning of “Son of Man,” and Easter. You can listen to or download the March 31st broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 31, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Plagiary of the Daughters of the Lamanites” by Alan Goff in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Turns Out It’s Not Plagiarism first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Repetition is a feature of all ancient Hebraic narrative. Modern readers may misunderstand this quality of biblical and Book of Mormon narrative. Biblical and Book of Mormon writers believed that history repeated, with what happened to the ancestors happening again to their posterity. Fawn Brodie and her acolytes misapprehend Book of Mormon narrative when—instead […]

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“Listening to that very generous introduction, I’m reminded of a time when I was asked to chair or moderate a session in which Professor Nibley was speaking. I was sitting next to him when someone gave a prayer, and the prayer went on and on and on and on about what a great privilege it […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Nibley as an Apologist first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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For more information on the “Not by Bread Alone: Stories of the Saints in Africa” series, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/en/For more information in French, go to https://notbybreadalonefilm.com/fr/To see all of our posts about The Church in Africa, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/africa/ This episode tells the story of how an unlikely series of events that began with a […]

The post Not by Bread Alone Episode 2: An Impossible Meeting with Mobutu first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Terryl L. Givens spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “The Book of Moses as a Pre-Augustinian Text: A New Look at the Pelagian Crisis.” The principal contest over the future of Christianity occurs in the late 4th century, when Augustine’s re-interpretation of the […]

The post Conference Talks: The Book of Moses as a Pre-Augustinian Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lecture 25 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering Jacob 5—7 and Enos. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 15 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 17th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss Book of Mormon lesson 15, “The Lord Labors with Us” covering Jacob 5-7. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the March 17 broadcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 15 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 15 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 24, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley, John Thompson, and Don Bradley with special guest Andrew Miller. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 16 and Andrew’s recent article on “King Benjamin’s Sermon as a Type of Temple Endowment” in Interpreter: A Journal […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 24, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: There is no more important message than that of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s life-transforming and world-transforming. It is also the most joyous news imaginable. What Jesus did on our behalf leaves us forever in his debt and should put him at the center of our lives. Easter Sunday,” President Russell […]

The post Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen! first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I am honored to be invited to contribute to this volume celebrating the remarkable life and work of Hugh W. Nibley. I believe Hugh was one of a kind, a man that comes along about once per dispensation. He was an individual with a distinctive mission on earth, one who no doubt brought with him […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and the Church first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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John W. Welch and Jackson Abhau spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “The Priestly Interests of Moses the Levite.” The Bible states that Moses was the son of Amram, who was of the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:16-20; 1 Chron. 6:1-3). Moses’s brother […]

The post Conference Talks: The Priestly Interests of Moses the Levite first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This week, we have lectures 23 and 24 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 2 Nephi 32 through Jacob 2, and Jacob 3—4, respectively. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 10th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Mark Johnson, Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 14, “Be Reconciled unto God through the Atonement of Christ” covering Jacob 1-4. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 17, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 15, the Church’s security procedures, and the acquisitions from the Community of Christ. You can listen to or download the March 17th broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 17, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “King Benjamin’s Sermon as a Type of Temple Endowment” by Andrew I. Miller in Volume 61 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The Endowment of Benjamin first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: To more permanently unify the Mulekites and the Nephites as a reunited kingdom of Israel, King Benjamin gathered his people at the temple, and in his role as a king and priest after the order of Melchizedek, imparted teachings that bear resemblance to the Latter-day Saint temple endowment ceremony first introduced in Nauvoo. Several […]

The post King Benjamin’s Sermon as a Type of Temple Endowment first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Good morning! I’m pleased to share with you something that we have been working on at The Interpreter Foundation for quite some time. We are in the middle of a multimonth effort to rebrand the Foundation, and you’ll start to see the fruits of those efforts today. Most prominent among our rebranding efforts (at this […]

The post A New Look for the Foundation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“I am honored to inaugurate the Maxwell Institute lecture series on Hugh Nibley, surely the spiritual godfather, along with Elder Neal A. Maxwell, of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Nibley’s mind was capacious enough to encompass nearly all of the institute’s multifarious projects. He may have been the first to grasp the […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Hugh Nibley and Joseph Smith first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Matthew L. Bowen spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “‘The Word of My Power’: The Divine Word in the Book of Moses.” His paper frames the divine “word” as a narrative thread in Moses 1–8 has implications for the nature of the Genesis […]

The post Conference Talks: “The Word of My Power”: The Divine Word in the Book of Moses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 13 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 3rd Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Hales Swift, Brent Schmidt, and Martin Tanner discuss Book of Mormon lesson 13, “He Shall Rise … with Healing in His Wings,” the lesson for Easter. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 13 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 13 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 10, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Mark Johnson, Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 14, the purchase of the Kirtland Temple, and Deuteronomists in the Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the March […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 10, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editorial Note: The Church Archives has just recently scanned and posted a letter written in 1947 by Elder Spencer W. Kimball, by then an apostle for only a few years. The letter is largely doctrinal in nature, being answers to questions posed by his missionary son Andrew. The below text constitutes about half of the […]

The post An Apostle’s Letter to a Missionary Son first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Bodily weakness, along with the varied circumstances into which we were born, provide the essential initial and ongoing conditions that shape the challenges and opportunities of our mortal probation. In life, we are not expected merely to preserve our innocence in defiance of worldly tendencies, nor are we compelled to cede to cynicism in […]

The post Premortal Life and Mortal Life: A Fearful Symmetry first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the March 3, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Hales Swift, Brent Schmidt, and Martin Tanner. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 13. You can listen to or download the March 3rd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 3, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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“So for those of you who are fans and admirers of Hugh Nibley as a scholar, I have to state up front that I am not an expert on Hugh Nibley as a scholar. It’s not an aspect of his personality and his career of which I know much; probably many people here know more […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Graduate School through BYU first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Noel Reynolds and Jeff Lindsay spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “‘Strong Like Unto Moses’: The Case for Ancient Roots in the Book of Moses Based on Book of Mormon Usage of Content Apparently from the Brass Plates.” Their paper discusses research in […]

The post Conference Talks: “Strong Like Unto Moses”: The Case for Ancient Roots in the Book of Moses Based on Book of Mormon Usage of Content Apparently from the Brass Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the February 25th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, John Thompson, and special guest Kerry Muhlestein discuss Book of Mormon lesson 12, “This Is the Way” on 2 Nephi 31-33. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the February […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Recovering the Lost Concept of Truth in the Restoration Scriptures: Another Key to Understanding God’s Word” by Blaine L. Hart in Volume 60 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Oh Say, What is Truth? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The word “truth” has for practical purposes lost one of its original English-language meanings, and this has significant implications for understanding scriptures. The obvious, well-understood meaning is that which is real or factual. However, the earliest meaning in English is that which is true in an entirely different way, in the sense of fidelity, […]

The post Recovering the Lost Concept of Truth in the Restoration Scriptures: Another Key to Understanding God’s Word first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Hugh Nibley Observed, edited by Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Shirley S. Ricks, and Stephen T. Whitlock. For more information, go to https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/hugh-nibley-observed/. To download this chapter in PDF format, click here. About the Interpreter Foundation Book Chapter Reprint Series The purpose of […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: An Intellectual Autobiography: Some High and Low Points first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jeffrey Bradshaw, David Larsen, and Stephen Whitlock spoke at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020 about “Moses 1 and the Apocalypse of Abraham: Twin Sons of Different Mothers?.” Their paper highlights the striking resemblances between Moses 1 and a corresponding account from the Apocalypse of Abraham […]

The post Conference Talks: Moses 1 and the Apocalypse of Abraham: Twin Sons of Different Mothers? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the February 18th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 11, “A Marvelous Work and a Wonder” covering 2 Nephi 26-30. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the February […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the February 25, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson with special guest Kerry Muhlestein. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 12 and Kerry’s new book The Easter Connection. You can listen to or download the February 25th broadcast of the Interpreter […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 25, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Proper Names and Political Claims: Semitic Echoes as Foundations for Claims to the Nephite Throne” by Lyle H. Hamblin in Volume 60 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Kingly Names; Kingly Ambitions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon contains examples of phonemes in character names that resemble Semitic root words. The possible meanings of the names and their timing in the Book of Mormon narrative provide a deeper level of context to the Nephite political challenges in the books of Mosiah through 3 Nephi. Specifically, the English phonemes for […]

The post Proper Names and Political Claims: Semitic Echoes as Foundations for Claims to the Nephite Throne first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Rebecca Fechser Everett says in Hugh Nibley Observed of her portrait of Hugh Nibley “I have enjoyed the whole process of creating this portrait from thought to finish. I’ve developed the piece to attempt to include as many images as I could associate with Brother Nibley and his life’s interests.” Part of our book chapter […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: About the Portrait of Hugh Nibley first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Ryan Dahle spoke about “Centralizing Scriptural Resources” at the Tracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses Conference on Saturday, September 19, 2020. All of the conference presentations were filmed, and both video and audio recordings of each presentation are available. Videos, audio recordings and transcripts are available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2020-book-of-moses-conference/papers/. The videos are also available […]

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In the February 18, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 11, the recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship by David M. Belnap and Nalini M. Nadkarni, naturalistic explanations […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 18, 2024 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to listen to and valuable to your Come, Follow Me study program this […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the February 11th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss Book of Mormon lesson 10, “We Rejoice in Christ” covering 2 Nephi 20-25. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the February 11 broadcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The Book of Mormon in Context Lesson 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Editor’s Note: Four years ago, Jonn Claybaugh began writing the Study and Teaching Helps series of articles for Interpreter. We now have these wonderful and useful posts for all four years of Come, Follow Me lessons. Beginning this year we will be reposting these articles, with dates, lesson numbers, and titles updated for the current […]

The post Study and Teaching Helps — 2024 Book of Mormon Lesson 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Prophet or Loss: Mosiah1/Zeniff, Benjamin/Noah, Mosiah2/Limhi and the Emergence of the Almas” by Val Larsen in Volume 60 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the Interpreting Interpreter articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Contrasting Mosiah’s Dynasties first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Mormon’s overwhelmingly dominant rhetorical purpose is to testify of Christ, which he and his protagonists often directly do. But he also communicates his testimony more subtly through carefully crafted historical narratives. His use of frame narratives is especially artful. In the Book of Mosiah, Mormon frames the dispiriting account of Zeniff and Noah’s rule […]

The post Prophet or Loss: Mosiah1/Zeniff, Benjamin/Noah, Mosiah2/Limhi and the Emergence of the Almas first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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John Welch says in his foreword to Hugh Nibley Observed “He is sincerely comfortable thinking of himself as a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord. … In a word, Hugh Nibley is no ordinary doorman. But then, as far as that goes, he doesn’t stand by ordinary doorways either.” Part of our book chapter […]

The post Hugh Nibley Observed: Foreword first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk: Download audio recording

The post Conference Talks: “Where I Will Meet You”: The Convergence of Sacred Time and Sacred Space as the Etiological Function of the Tent of Meeting first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, the moderator is Terry Hutchinson and our hosts are Spencer Kraus, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift with special guest Don Bradley. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 40, Zina Huntington and polygamy, and the upcoming FAIR Conference. You can listen to or download the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 3, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 27 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our host Martin Tanner discusses New Testament lesson 39, “God Loveth a Cheerful Giver” covering 2 Corinthians 8-13. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the August 27 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […]

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2 Corinthians 8-9 Giving to Those in Need In 8:1-5 Paul is telling the Saints in Corinth about the generous charitable giving of the church members in Macedonia (the northern part of Greece; see also 2 Corinthians 11:9). This was in spite of the Macedonians’ enduring “a great trial of affliction” and “deep poverty” (verse […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 39 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our host is Martin Tanner. He discusses Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 39 and critical comments that say the Restored Gospel was not necessary. You can listen to or download the August 27th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 27, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Turning Type into Pi: The Destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor in Historical Context” by Craig L. Foster in Volume 58 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Expositor-Based Exposition first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor has been portrayed as an event that stands out as a unique act where Joseph Smith and the Nauvoo City Council suppressed free speech. However, rather than being an anomaly, the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor was historically and socially reflective of society in a volatile period in […]

The post Turning Type into Pi: The Destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor in Historical Context first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: Women in Ancient Israelite Temple Worship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 20 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson discuss New Testament lesson 38, “Be Ye Reconciled to God” covering 2 Corinthians 1–7. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the August 13 broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 38 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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2 Corinthians 1-2 “Comforted of God” This epistle was written by Paul in about 58 AD, about a year after writing 1 Corinthians and near the end of his third missionary journey. In the first verse Paul includes Timothy as sending his greetings and perhaps as a co-writer of this epistle: Find in 2 Corinthians […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 38 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Joseph Smith at the Veil: Significant Ritual, Symbolism, and Temple Influence at Latter-day Saint Beginnings” by George L. Mitton in Volume 58 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. All of the articles may be seen at https://interpreterfoundation.org/category/summaries/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Joseph Smith at the Veil first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The prophet Joseph Smith was paced through a life steeped in ritual and symbolism. Notable things Joseph did or experienced under angelic guidance may be seen as ritual procedures that may require careful consideration to discern their meaning, what they symbolize, their purpose, and their importance to the restoration of the fullness of the […]

The post Joseph Smith at the Veil: Significant Ritual, Symbolism, and Temple Influence at Latter-day Saint Beginnings first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: Gentiles in the Temple: Worship and Conversion in the Septuagint of Isaiah first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 13 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 37, “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace” covering 1 Corinthians 14–16. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the August […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 37 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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1 Corinthians 14 More on Spiritual Gifts Read verses 1-3, 6-9, 12, 19, 40, looking for additional teachings and counsel from Paul in relation to the gifts of the Spirit and our behavior and interactions with others. Which of these verses stand out most for you, and why? According to verses 3, 12, 26, and […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 37 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Robert Boylan, and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 38, Richard Bushman’s statements about the source of the Bok of Mormon, two recent articles in Interpreter, and the 2023 FAIR Conference. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 20, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““A Mystery to the World”: A New Proposal for Isaiah 22:20-25” by Spencer Kraus in Volume 58 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Kraus examines the temple themes associated […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Striking Him a Nail first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Isaiah’s oracle in Isaiah 22 regarding a man named Eliakim employs significant and unique language regarding a “nail in a sure place.” This language is accompanied by clear connections to the ancient temple, including the bestowal of sacred clothing and authority, offering additional significant context through which to understand this phrase. Additionally, according to […]

The post “A Mystery to the World”: A New Proposal for Isaiah 22:20-25 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On the evening of Saturday, 5 August 2023, slightly more than a hundred officers, volunteers, invited donors, and friends gathered at a chapel in the south of Orem, Utah, to celebrate the eleventh birthday of the Interpreter Foundation. Bruce Webster, one of the regular volunteer hosts for the weekly Interpreter Radio Show, generously provided and […]

The post Gerrit Dirkmaat Remarks at Interpreter Foundation’s Eleventh Birthday first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: Jerusalem Temple Imagery in Late Ancient Synagogue Ritual, Art, and Architecture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the August 6 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Spencer Kraus, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss New Testament lesson 36, “Ye Are the Body of Christ” covering 1 Corinthians 8-13. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the August […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 36 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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1 Corinthians 8 “God, the Father” The more we learn about Paul’s world, the more we see ourselves in it. For example, in what ways could you apply verses 1-2 to circumstances in our day? Paul’s teachings in verse 5 are confirmed true by this statement from the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Paul says there are […]

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This post is a summary of the article ““Upon the Wings of His Spirit”: A Note on Hebrew rûaḥ and 2 Nephi 4:25” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 58 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Bowen […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Spiritual Wind first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Jeffrey Thayne and Nathan Richardson, Temples of the Imagination: AI-Generated Temples, Human-Generated Insights (Provo, UT: The Interpreter Foundation, Verdant Press, and Eborn Books, 2023). 140 pages, $24.99 (softcover). Abstract: We’re commanded to seek out of the best books words of wisdom, but how exactly do we seek? What are the best books? Temples […]

The post Sacred Imaginings: Using AI to Construct Temples first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nephi, in composing his psalm (2 Nephi 4:15–35), incorporates a poetic idiom from Psalm 18:10 (2 Samuel 22:11) and Psalm 104:3 to describe his participation in a form of divine travel. This experience constituted a part of the vision in which he saw “the things which [his] father saw” in the latter’s dream of […]

The post “Upon the Wings of His Spirit”: A Note on Hebrew rûaḥ and 2 Nephi 4:25 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: The Choreography of Genesis: A Ritual Reading of the Book of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 30 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner discuss New Testament lesson 35, “Be Perfectly Joined Together” covering 1 Corinthians 1–7. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the July 30 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 35 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson and Kevin Christensen. During the final hour they are joined by Jared Marcum, the author of a recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, “Withstanding Satan’s Siege through Christ’s Iron Rod: The Vision of the Tree […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 13, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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1 Corinthians 1 “We Preach Christ” Corinth (in modern-day Greece) was known as a wicked place in Paul’s day, yet during his second missionary journey he had great success there, bringing many into the church (he had previously been rejected in Athens, about 40 miles away). His first epistle to the Corinthian saints was written […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 35 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Withstanding Satan’s Siege through Christ’s Iron Rod: The Vision of the Tree of Life in Context of Ancient Siege Warfare” by Jared T. Marcum in Volume 58 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Besieged by Satan first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nothing was more terrifying in the ancient world than a siege. Besiegers disregarded normal conventions of war and either utterly slaughtered or enslaved a city’s residents. Nephi used siege warfare imagery — including fire arrows, blinding, and being led away into captivity — to teach his brothers the importance of holding fast to Christ’s iron […]

The post Withstanding Satan’s Siege through Christ’s Iron Rod: The Vision of the Tree of Life in Context of Ancient Siege Warfare first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 2016https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: The Story-Cycles of the Patriarchs and Temple Progression first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 23 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Mark Johnson, Steve Densley, and John Thompson discuss New Testament lesson 34, “Overcome Evil with Good” covering Romans 7–16. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the July 23 broadcast of the Interpreter […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 34 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Romans 7-8 Old versus New In Ether 12:11 we read, “Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way.” It is clear throughout Paul’s epistles that the transition from the law of Moses (which many were not living by properly anyway) […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 34 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Spencer Kraus, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 36, the purpose of the golden plates, and the Brigham Young Papers Project. You can listen to or download the August 6th broadcast of the Interpreter […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 6, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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We are pleased to announce that Steadfast in Defense of Faith: Essays in Honor of Daniel C. Peterson is now available for purchase. This volume of scholarly essays in honor of Daniel C. Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University and the President of The Interpreter Foundation, was edited by […]

The post Steadfast in Defense of Faith: Essays in Honor of Daniel C. Peterson first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The Restoration began with the stunning divine declaration to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the Christian sects of his day were “all wrong,” that “all their creeds were an abomination in [God’s] sight.” It’s a powerful condemnation, but what, exactly, does it mean? Later in his life, Joseph reflected that he felt that creeds […]

The post Credo first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Dan Peterson was honored yesterday during the FAIR Conference with a Lifetime Achievement, Defender of the Faith award by FAIR’s President, Scott Gordon, and by the announcement of the publication of a book of essays in his honor. The announcement reads: We are delighted to announce the publication of a book of essays in honor […]

The post Celebrating the Contributions of Daniel C. Peterson first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2016 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, November 5, 20164https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2016-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Sacred Time, Sacred Space, & Sacred Meaning at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/sacred-time-sacred-space-sacred-meaning/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: “By the Blood Ye Are Sanctified”: The Symbolic, Salvific, Interrelated, Additive, Retrospective, and Anticipatory Nature of the Ordinances of Spiritual Rebirth in John 3 and Moses 6 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 35 and are joined by Stephen C. Taysom to discuss his new book, Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith. You can listen to or download the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 30, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Mark Johnson, Steve Densley, and John Thompson. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 34 and are joined by Noel Reynolds to discuss his recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 23, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 33, James Strang and the Voree Plates and the recent article by John Gee. You can listen to or download the July 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 16, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 16 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan discuss New Testament lesson 33, “The Power of God unto Salvation” covering Romans 1–6. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the July 16 broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Romans Introduction Paul’s “epistle” to the members of the church in Rome is the first of his fourteen epistles in the King James Bible. His epistles are ordered according to length, from the longest to the shortest (with the exception of Hebrews, which is last because the compilers of the Bible were uncertain of its […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Nephi’s Eight Years in the “Wilderness”: Reconsidering Definitions and Details” by Godfrey J. Ellis in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Ellis argues that Nephi’s reference to […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Eight Years in the Wilderness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A traditional reading of Nephi’s chronicle of the trek through Arabia relies heavily on two verses in 1 Nephi 17. In verse 4, Nephi states that they “did sojourn for the space of many years, yea, even eight years in the wilderness.” In verse 5, he reports that “we did come to the land […]

The post Nephi’s Eight Years in the “Wilderness”: Reconsidering Definitions and Details first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: The Future Isn’t What It Used to Be first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 9 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 32, “A Minister and a Witness,” covering Acts 22–28. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the July 9 broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 32 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Acts 22 Paul Before an Angry Mob In Acts 21:27-40, the Apostle Paul was taken from the temple by the Jews, beaten, rescued by Roman officials, arrested, and then allowed to speak to the multitude of people who were clamoring for his death: Read Paul’s opening statement to the people in Acts 22:1-4 (Gamaliel, in […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 32 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Nephite Metaphor of Life as a Probation: Rethinking Nephi’s Portrayal of Laman and Lemuel” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Reynolds […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Nephi’s Probation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Commentaries on Nephi’s first book tend to interpret the fraternal struggles it reports as historical facts that are meant primarily to invite readers’ evaluative responses. While recognizing the historical character of the facts marshalled by Nephi, this paper will argue that the author transposes that history into an allegory meant to inspire his readers […]

The post The Nephite Metaphor of Life as a Probation: Rethinking Nephi’s Portrayal of Laman and Lemuel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: In the Visions of the Night: The Human Brain and Divine Revelation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the July 2 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John Thompson discuss New Testament lesson 31, “The Lord Had Called Us for to Preach the Gospel,” covering Acts 16–21. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the […]

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Acts 16 Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Paul’s second missionary journey began about 15 to 20 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, lasted about three years, and is recounted in Acts 15:36, 40-41; Acts 16-17; and Acts 18:1-22: Verses 1-3 Paul chose Timothy (Timotheus) as another missionary companion, who was raised by a […]

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Review of John Gee, Saving Faith: How Families Protect, Sustain, And Encourage Faith (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2020). 313 pages. Abstract: Saving Faith is a truly excellent book, designed especially for families concerned about their children. It is also a book appropriate for those getting ready to serve as missionaries, or […]

The post A Truly Remarkable Book first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Spencer W. McBride, Joseph Smith for President: The Prophet, the Assassins, and the Fight for American Religious Freedom (New York: Oxford University Press, 2021). 269 pages, $29.95 (hardcover). Abstract: Spencer McBride’s book is the deepest look yet into Joseph Smith’s 1844 campaign for president of the United States. In smooth-paced and readable detail, McBride’s […]

The post A Prophet, a Candidate, and a Just Cause first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: All Abraham’s Children: A Genetic Perspective first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 25 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John Thompson discuss New Testament lesson 30, “The Word of God Grew and Multiplied,” covering Acts 10–15. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the June 18 broadcast […]

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Acts 10 Taking the Gospel to the Gentiles Throughout Acts 10-15, look for the many gifts of the Spirit that were bestowed upon the leaders and other members of the Lord’s church, including His compensatory blessings upon them, as they suffered opposition. It has been about ten years since the death and resurrection of Jesus […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 32, Jeremy Runnells and John Dehlin‘s claim that “second sight” means “imagination”, and the article this week by John Gee. They are then joined by Ron Esplin to […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 9, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Moses as Midwife: What the Exodus Birth Story Teaches about Motherhood and Christ” by Becky Holderness Tilton in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Tilton explores the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Birthing Israel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This work explores an alternative interpretation of the Exodus narrative as a metaphor for childbirth. Gleaning from Old Testament and Judaic sources, we find rich female birth and salvific imagery in the saga of the migration of the children of Israel and the Passover itself. This perspective of sacred childbirth, when coupled with traditional […]

The post Moses as Midwife: What the Exodus Birth Story Teaches about Motherhood and Christ first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon II — Nevertheless” by John Gee in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Gee notes that the word nevertheless is […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Nevertheless first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: One example of verbal punctuation that has a very clear pattern of usage in the Book of Mormon is the term nevertheless. It is used to draw a marked contrast between what the previous text would lead one to expect and what follows it. It is not clear what the ancient antecedent to the term might […]

The post Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon II — Nevertheless first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: The Burden We Cannot Bear: Humans as Deity in Late-Modern Culture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 18 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan discuss New Testament lesson 29, “What Wilt Thou Have Me to Do?” covering Acts 6–9. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the June 18 broadcast […]

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Acts 6 Additional Leadership In Acts 6:1 we are introduced to a new challenge in the church: Grecian church members (former gentiles) murmured against the Hebrew church members (converts from Judaism) because widows were being “neglected in the daily ministration” of food (perhaps a system of welfare for the poor and needy was in place): […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 31, the reliability of the translation of the Book of Mormon, and the founding of the United States. You can listen to or download the July […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 2, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John Thompson with special guest Matt Bowen. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 30, the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and Dr. Bowen’s latest Interpreter Journal article. You can listen to or download the June […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 25, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““I Will Come to You”: An Investigation of Early Christian Beliefs about Post-Ascension Visitations of the Risen Jesus” by Timothy Gervais in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The […]

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Abstract: While later Creedal Christians have come to view “the Ascension” recorded in the first chapter of Acts as a conclusive corporeal appearance of the Resurrected Lord, earliest Christians do not appear to have conceived of this appearance as “final” in any temporal or experiential sense. A careful investigation of canonical resurrection literature displays a […]

The post “I Will Come to You”: An Investigation of Early Christian Beliefs about Post-Ascension Visitations of the Risen Jesus first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: Veiled in Flesh: An LDS Perspective on the Body first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the June 11 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 28, “Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me” covering Acts 1–5. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the June 11 broadcast of […]

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The Book of Acts An Introduction The full name of this book is “The Acts of the Apostles,” and it is notable that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland has suggested his own title: “The Acts of the Resurrected Christ Working through the Holy Spirit in the Lives and Ministries of His Ordained Apostles.” Elder Holland quotes […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 29, the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Mormon History Association Conference and the Religious Freedom Annual Review. You can listen to or download the June 18th broadcast […]

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This post is a summary of the article ““They Shall Be Scattered Again”: Some Notes on JST Genesis 50:24–25, 33–35” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Bowen argues that the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Scattered JST Wordplay first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This article examines the extension of the etiological wordplay on the name Joseph (in terms of the Hebrew verbs ʾāsap and yāsap), recurrent in the canonical text of Genesis, into the JST Genesis 50 text, where Joseph learns about and prophesies of a future “Joseph” who would help gather Israel after they had been […]

The post “They Shall Be Scattered Again”: Some Notes on JST Genesis 50:24–25, 33–35 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: Dualism is Dead! Long Live Dualism! first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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<   In the June 4 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss New Testament lesson 27, “He Is Risen,” covering Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20–21. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context […]

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Mark 16:1; Matthew 27:52-53; 28:1-10; Luke 24:9-11; John 20:1-18 Death Is Conquered Have you ever received such magnificent news that you were reluctant to believe it? In Jerusalem, the cruel and dreadful events have passed and it is now early “Sunday” morning, bringing the sublime second part of the Atonement of Jesus Christ—His resurrection. Take […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Doctrine and Covenants 21: Metanarrative of the Restoration” by Steven L. Olsen in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Olsen presents a nearly word-by-word analysis of D&C […]

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Abstract: Joseph Smith dictated Doctrine and Covenants 21 at the inaugural meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ on April 6, 1830. The present study examines the literary craftsmanship of the revelation to plumb the depths of its role in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The analysis explores the meaning of patterns of usage in […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 28, the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Joseph Smith Papers project and recent book titles and Interpreter articles. You can listen to or download the June 11th […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 11, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

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In the May 28 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John Thompson discuss New Testament lesson 26, “It Is Finished” covering Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the […]

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Matthew 27:3-10 Judas’s Death After Jesus’s third trial appearance, Judas took his own life. After seeing that Jesus was condemned to die, Judas “repented himself” and tried to return the thirty pieces of ransom coin, but they rejected him (Matthew 27:3-4). Read Matthew 27:5-10 to see the fulfillment of prophecy that followed, as pointed out […]

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This post is a summary of the article “The Holy Ghost in the Book of Moroni: Possessed of Charity” by Newell D. Wright and Val Larsen in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Wright and […]

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Abstract: The role played by the Holy Ghost is an especially important connecting thread that runs through the Book of Moroni. The book illuminates the various ways in which the Holy Ghost transforms fallen human beings into redeemed members of the kingdom of God. Three phrases — “cleave unto charity,” “possessed of it,” and “that […]

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Science and Mormonism have nearly always been on very friendly terms, with Church members sharing the deep conviction that, as expressed by former scientist and apostle Elder James E. Talmage, “within the gospel of Jesus Christ there is room and place for every truth thus far learned by man, or yet to be made known.” […]

The post Conference Talks: “Astronomy, God, and the Search for Elegance” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 27, Jesus Christ as the Light and Life of the World, and the Priesthood Restoration. You can listen to or download the June 4th broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 4, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 25 and Science and Religion. You can listen to or download the May 21st broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 21, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 21 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Robert Boylan discuss New Testament lesson 25, “Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done” covering Luke 22 and John 18. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the […]

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NOTE: Luke 22 and John 18 are mostly about the same events we studied two weeks ago in Matthew 26; Mark 14; and John 13. Thus, the following portions of Luke 22 and John 18 are being skipped this week: Luke 22:1-6 The betrayal is planned by Judas and the Jewish rulers. Luke 22:7-18 The […]

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This post is a summary of the article “The Dance of Reader and Text: Salomé, the Daughter of Jared, and the Regal Dance of Death” by Alan Goff in Volume 57 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Plagiarizing Salomé? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Modern readers too often and easily misread modern assumptions into ancient texts. One such notion is that when the reader encounters repeated stories in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, Herodotus, or numerous other texts, the obvious explanation that requires no supporting argument is that one text is plagiarizing or copying from the other. […]

The post The Dance of Reader and Text: Salomé, the Daughter of Jared, and the Regal Dance of Death first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Summary: Three common views regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon, still held by some, can be summarized as follows: (1) as Joseph Smith translated, ideas came to his mind and he expressed those ideas in his own language and phraseology; (2) as a result, the original English language of the Book of Mormon […]

The post Conference Talks: “A theory! A theory! We have already got a theory, and there cannot be any more theories!” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 14 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 24, “Continue Ye in My Love” covering John 14–17. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the May 14 broadcast of the […]

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John 14 The Two Comforters Note: Jesus gave the teachings in this chapter while He and the apostles were still in the Upper Room, after the departure of Judas and before they left for Gethsemane. On this night of terrors the Savior speaks comfort to His disciples: Read verses 1-27, searching for teachings of Jesus […]

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Abstract: In the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, based upon verses composed by an eleventh-century Persian mathematician and astronomer, the English Victorian poet Edward FitzGerald eloquently portrays human life in an indifferent, deterministic universe that lacks any evident purpose and is bereft of divine Providence. The poem’s suggested response to such a universe is an unambitious […]

The post “In This Batter’d Caravanserai” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Summary: While it has often been observed that the language of the New Testament plays a key role in the English text of the Book of Mormon, how the New Testament appears in the Book of Mormon has not been thoroughly explored. This presentation will offer some preliminary suggestions on how we can adequately identify […]

The post Conference Talks: “Full of grace, mercy, and truth”: Exploring the Complexities of the Presence of the New Testament within the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the May 7 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss New Testament lesson 23, “In Remembrance” covering Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 13. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the May […]

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Matthew 26:1-5, 14-20 Conspiracy Against the Lord (see also Mark 14:1-2, 10-17; Luke 22:1-18) First, we will continue with the events of “Tuesday,” three days before Jesus’s death. Read Matthew 26:1-5, 14-16, about the plot to destroy the Savior. Then read verses 17-20 (which take us to “Thursday”), regarding the preparation for the Passover meal, […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Theosis in the Book of Mormon: The Work and Glory of the Father, Mother and Son, and Holy Ghost” by Val Larsen and Newell D. Wright in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is […]

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Abstract: While some scholars have suggested that the doctrine of theosis — the transformation of human beings into divine beings — emerged only in Nauvoo, the essence of the doctrine was already present in the Book of Mormon, both in precept and example. The doctrine is especially well developed in 1 Nephi, Alma 19, and […]

The post Theosis in the Book of Mormon: The Work and Glory of the Father, Mother and Son, and Holy Ghost first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Summary: Thomas More and William Tyndale were staunch opponents but they did agree on two things: (1) that language and theology were inseparable, and (2) that errors of language could lead to serious errors in theology. These two commonalities fueled their famous debate about Tyndale’s translation of the Greek words presbuteros, ekklēsia, and agapē into […]

The post Conference Talks: Charity, Priest, and Church versus Love, Elder, and Congregation: The Book of Mormon’s connection to the debate between William Tyndale and Thomas More first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 24, Zelph, Egyptian archeology, Church finances, the recent BYU New Testament Commentary Conference, and Mothers’ Day. You can listen to or download the May 14th broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 14, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Mark 12:28-34 The Two Great Commandments (see also Matthew 22:34-40) It is still “Tuesday” of the last week of Jesus’s life, three days before the Passover and His death. A scribe (or a Pharisee, according to Matthew 22:35) approaches Jesus and asks, “Which is the first commandment of all?” (verse 28; this was a matter […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volumes 53 (2022), 54 (2023) and 55 (2023) are now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volumes 53, 54, and 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship are Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Spencer Kraus, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 23, the windows in Jaredite barges, and the recent BYU New Testament Commentary Conference. You can listen to or download the May 7th broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 7, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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A new book, Brent Schmidt’s Relational Faith, may be one of the best resources around to help Latter-day Saints and perhaps many other Christians understand and explain what the Bible means when it talks about faith in Christ. Not only does this book help us cut through the clouds of confusion around issues like salvation […]

The post Brent J. Schmidt’s Relational Faith: An Essential Book for Understanding the New Testament Meaning of “Faith” and for Better Appreciating the Beauty of the Restoration first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Brent J. Schmidt, Relational Faith: The Transformation and Restoration of Pistis as Knowledge, Trust, Confidence, and Covenantal Faithfulness (Provo, UT: BYU Studies, 2022). 356 pages, $21.95 (softcover). Abstract: Brent Schmidt builds on his earlier book on relational grace by tackling the topic of relational faith. For those interested in historical trends in religious […]

The post A Restoration of Paul’s Understanding of Faith as a Relationship of Action first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and John S. Thompson, “A Guide to the Book of Abraham,” BYU Studies Quarterly 61, no. 4 (2022). 302 pages. Abstract: The new and special issue of BYU Studies containing “A Guide to the Book of Abraham” provides a welcome and easy-to-read approach to the historicity […]

The post A New and Most Welcome Resource for Book of Abraham Studies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Summary: The grammar of the Book of Mormon has been naively criticized since its publication in 1830. The supposedly bad grammar is a match with language found in the Early Modern English textual record. Syntactic usage, especially past tense with did and the command construction, points only to that era. Book of Mormon language exhibits […]

The post Conference Talks: Exploding the Myth of Unruly Book of Mormon Grammar: A Look at the Excellent Match with Early Modern English first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 23 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John S. Thompson discuss New Testament lesson 21, “Behold, Thy King Cometh,” covering Matthew 21–23, Mark 11, Luke 19–20, and John 12. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment […]

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Luke 19:1-11 Conversion of Zacchaeus, the Chief Publican This week’s chapters contain many movements and teachings of our Savior, and take us into the beginning of the last week of His life. His travels (from Luke 19:1 to John 12:43) take Him from Jericho to Jerusalem, then back and forth between Jerusalem and nearby Bethany, […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Understanding the Lamanite Mark” by Clifford P. Jones in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Jones argues that descriptions of the Lamanites’ dark skin may be best […]

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon describes a dark mark on the skin that distinguished people who rebelled against God and his laws from those who obeyed God. The Old Testament refers to a mark that fits this description and has nothing to do with natural skin color. The law of Moses prohibited the Lord’s covenant […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the April 16 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss New Testament lesson 20, “Thou Art the Christ” on Matthew 19–20, Mark 10, and Luke 18. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the March […]

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Luke 18:1-14 Prayer Jesus teaches a short parable about prayer. Read verses 2-5 and identify a principle or lesson you learn. Then read verses 1, 5-8 to see what Matthew, and then Jesus, said about this parable. Let us persevere in prayer. Read Jesus’s next prayer parable in verses 9-14, noting the extreme differences between […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Dan Peterson, and Terry Hutchinson. They discuss Dan’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, “How Things Look from Here.” You can listen to or download the April 30th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 30, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and John S. Thompson are joined by Newell D. Wright to discuss Newell’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, “Moving Beyond the Historicity Question, or a Manifesto for Future Book of Mormon Research.” You can listen to or download […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 23, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 30 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Dan Peterson, and Terry Hutchinson discuss New Testament lesson 22, “The Son of Man Shall Come,” covering Joseph Smith Matthew 1, Matthew 24–25, Mark 12–13, and Luke 21. You can listen to or download the New Testament […]

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This post is a summary of the article ““In the Cause … of their God”: Clarifying Some Issues Regarding the Book of Mormon and a Gospel View of War” by Duane Boyce in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Just Wars first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A recent effort to think about war concludes that the Book of Mormon displays two righteous approaches to conflict: a violent approach that is justified and therefore “blessed;” and a nonviolent approach that is higher than this and therefore “more blessed” (an approach that is also said to be effective in ending conflict). This […]

The post “In the Cause … of their God”: Clarifying Some Issues Regarding the Book of Mormon and a Gospel View of War first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: The Day of Atonement, the Mosaic Temple, and the Christian Sacrament of Communion: Links and Symbols first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 9 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 19, “Rejoice with Me; for I Have Found My Sheep Which Was Lost” covering Luke 12–17 and John 11. You can listen to or download the New Testament […]

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Luke 12 Teachings As the time draws nearer for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice and death, the anticipation strikes Him sharply, as He expressed in Luke 12:50: “I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!” But He continued on: As Jesus traveled and taught, look for the […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Unavailable Genetic Evidence, Multiple Simultaneous Promised Lands, and Lamanites by Location? Possible Ramifications of the Book of Mormon Limited Geography Theory” by Brian C. Hales in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Limited Geography first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper is composed of three parts connected consecutively because their conclusions build upon each other. The first part investigates the transportation methods used in the Book of Mormon, concluding that horse and river travel contributed little and that foot travel dominated all journeying. The second part uses that conclusion to estimate the overall […]

The post Unavailable Genetic Evidence, Multiple Simultaneous Promised Lands, and Lamanites by Location? Possible Ramifications of the Book of Mormon Limited Geography Theory first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: How John’s Gospel Portrays Jesus as the Way of the Temple first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the April 2 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Spencer Kraus, and Hales Swift discuss New Testament lesson 18, “I Am the Good Shepherd” covering John 7–10. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the March 5th broadcast […]

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John 7:1-53 “This Is the Very Christ” In addition to all else the Savior had to bear throughout His mortal life, He also suffered through the lack of support from his half-brothers, whose mocking is recorded in verses 2-5. In verses 1, 6-10 we see that Jesus delayed in the annual tradition of going to […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the April 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

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Pearls . . . gems . . . nuggets . . . whatever you want to call them. Probably 98% of President Kimball’s diary (thousands of pages) is tedious in the general sense of being notations about meeting itinerary, travelogue, mission tours, ordination names, and weather reports. But the remaining fraction is more precious than […]

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[Editorial note: most of the below comes from either official minutes or diary narrations of formal Council meetings in the Temple. Follow links to read all of the entries. A church email account is needed to access the diary.]   Journal, March 5, 1953 Thursday, Additional. Pres. McKay had asked Marion G. Romney and me […]

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Elder Kimball’s Apostolic calling had several main components: the “long-distance” telephone call from Pres. J. Reuben Clark Jr.; the mountain-top experience in which Elder Kimball received, after much mental anguish, spiritual confirmation and assurance; his visit with President McKay; and his sustaining and ordination. The journal entries below, with a few other items, describe these. […]

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This post is a summary of the article “The Teachings of Silvanus: A Little-Known Gem from Nag Hammadi” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 56 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Newton argues that The Teachings of […]

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Abstract: Scholars have recently suggested that The Teachings of Silvanus, a text from Nag Hammadi Codex VII, is the product of several authors with the earliest portion dating to the late first or early second century and the latest portion to the third or early fourth century. Silvanus’ provenance, therefore, allows this single document to […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. You can listen to or download the April 9th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

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In this episode, our hosts are Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Spencer Kraus, and Hales Swift. You can listen to or download the April 2nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for the […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the March 26 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our host Martin Tanner discusses New Testament lesson 17, “What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?” on Matthew 18 and Luke 10. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the March 26 broadcast of […]

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Matthew 18:1-6, 10-14 “Who Is the Greatest in the Kingdom?” (see also Mark 9:33-37, 42; Luke 9:46-48) Read Mark 9:33-34, which is the setting and prelude to this story. Then, in Matthew 18:1, the Lord’s disciples asked Him, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” What “object lesson” did Jesus call forth in […]

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Abstract: It is natural to wonder how the day on which Jesus was crucified could come to be known as Good Friday. In this exploration of the topic, John Welch examines the many events which occurred on that fateful day and the meaning they have for us today. [Editor’s Note: This article is based on […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the March 19 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss New Testament lesson 16, “Thou Art the Christ” on Matthew 15–17 and Mark 7–9. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the March 19 broadcast […]

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Mark 7:1-23 Conflict about Cleanliness (see also Matthew 15:1-20) Mark 7:1-5 highlights religious nit-picking about things that matter less. Read Jesus’s succinct answer to the Pharisees and scribes in verses 6-7. What did Jesus then teach to “all the people” in verses 14-16? What did He teach to His disciples in verses 17-23? What counsel […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our host is Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the March 26th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for the Come, Follow Me […]

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Abstract: Do defenders of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ see themselves as fighting a desperate rearguard battle against the evidence, hoping to save at least a faint shred of credibility for its claims? Hardly. But, at the same time, we don’t pretend to be able to prove those claims beyond any possibility of doubt. […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the March 12 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 15, “O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” on Easter. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the March 12 broadcast of the […]

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Matthew 28:6-7; Mark 16:6-7 “He Is Risen” Perhaps the greatest news of all time was expressed in three short words: “He is risen” (Matthew 28:6; Mark 16:6). These words were spoken by angels, and there was also an invitation added: “Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples […]

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Review of Daniel Becerra, Amy Easton-Flake, Nicholas J. Frederick, and Joseph M. Spencer, Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2022). 184 pages. $19.99 (hardback), $15.99 (paperback). Abstract: Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide by four Brigham Young University religion professors reviews the field […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the March 5 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, and Hales Swift discuss New Testament lesson 14 on Matthew 14, Mark 6, and John 5–6, “Be Not Afraid.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the […]

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Mark 6:14-29 The Death of John the Baptist (see also Matthew 14:1-12) Note: The events in Mark 6:1-13 were covered three weeks ago, using or referencing the versions in Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 10:1-42; Matthew 13:54-58; and Luke 9:1-6. Thus, we begin with the account of John the Baptist, being another prophet who sealed his work […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the March 19th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

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This post is a summary of the article “‘That They Might Come Again unto the Remnant of the House of Jacob’: Onomastic Allusions to Joseph in 3 Nephi 26:8–10 and 4 Nephi 1:49” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting […]

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Abstract: The prophecies in 3 Nephi 26:8–10 and 4 Nephi 1:49 are third-generation members of the same family of texts derived from Isaiah 11:11–12 and Isaiah 29:4, all of which ultimately rely on yāsap (yôsîp or yôsip) idioms to describe the gathering of Israel and the concomitant coming forth of additional scripture. Mormon, following Nephi, […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen, with special guest Brent Schmidt. You can listen to or download the March 12th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in […]

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In this episode, our hosts are Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, and Hales Swift. You can listen to or download the March 5th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for the […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the February 26 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and Mark Johnson discuss New Testament lesson 13, “Who Hath Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear,” on Matthew 13, Luke 8, and Luke 13. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of […]

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Matthew 13:1-23 The Parable of the Sower (see also Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15) A parable is a story using everyday things or situations, with a spiritual message that is revealed to some listeners, but concealed from others. This choice chapter contains seven parables taught by Jesus as He sat by the Sea of Galilee and […]

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Review of Selwyn Kātene, ed., Let Their Light So Shine: Mormon Leaders in New Zealand (Wellington, NZ: Huia Publishers, 2021). “Foreword” by Charles A. Rudd (pp. vii–viii); “Preface” by Peter Lineham (p. ix–x); “Introduction” by Selwyn Kātene (pp. 1–3); “Contributors” (pp. 215–18); “Glossary” (and “Mormon Terms”) (pp. 219–21); “Index” (pp. 222–30). NZ $30.00 Hardbound. Abstract: […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the February 19 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss New Testament lesson 12, “I Will Give You Rest,” covering Matthew 11–12, and Luke 11. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the February 19 […]

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Matthew 11:2-19 Jesus Speaks of John the Baptist (see also Luke 7:18-35) In verses 2-3 it may appear that John the Baptist is not certain whether or not Jesus is the Messiah, but we know that this is not the case, for upon the occasion of baptizing Jesus, John was given a testimony of Jesus […]

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley and Mark Johnson are joined by Jan Francisco and Jeff Lindsay to discuss Jan’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, “Elias: Prophet of the Restoration.” You can listen to or download the February 26th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Nephi’s “Bountiful”: Contrasting Both Candidates” by Warren P. Aston in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Aston provides a detailed comparison between Khor Rori and Khor Kharfot […]

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Abstract: In May 2022, George Potter published an article that makes the most comprehensive case to date that Khor Rori in southern Oman is the most likely location for the place “Bountiful” described by Nephi. However, despite its many positives, there are a number of reasons to question the suitability of Khor Rori and to […]

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Professor Richard Benjamin Crosby and Isaac James Richards are currently soliciting contributions for an anthology of speeches from Latter-day Saint history. Any scholar with a sufficient background in the humanities is welcome to submit; we invite contributions from those interested in Mormon studies, American history, rhetoric, literature, religion, theology, philosophy, textual analysis, political science, cultural […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In the February 12 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 11, “These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth,” covering Matthew 9–10, Mark 5, and Luke 9. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the […]

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Matthew 9:1-8 To Be Healed Physically and Spiritually (see also Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26) This story was referenced in Mark 2 in last week’s lesson, but let’s look a little closer: Jesus saw the faith of those who brought to Him a man sick of the palsy (paralysis); and evidently He also saw the faith […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Elias: Prophet of the Restoration” by Jan Francisco in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Francisco associates the figure of Elias with the prophet Noah, who held […]

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Abstract: The Prophet Elias is a puzzle, with a handful of pieces scattered through the standard works and the teachings of Joseph Smith. Rather than proving a point conclusively, this paper will put the pieces together to show a new picture of this important figure. The interpretation in this article weaves together the scriptures regarding […]

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

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In this episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the February 19th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. You can listen to or download the February 12th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

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In this episode, our hosts are Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, and Hales Swift. You can listen to or download the February 5th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for Come, […]

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In the February 5 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen Smoot, and Hales Swift discuss New Testament lesson 10 on Matthew 8, Mark 2–4, and Luke 7, “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment […]

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Matthew 8; Mark 2; 4; Luke 7 Jesus Heals After the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us of healings and other miracles performed by the Savior. As you read, look for these important story elements: The words and demeanor of those seeking Jesus’s help. Jesus’s words and actions in response. What […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Toward a Greater Appreciation of the Word Adieu in Jacob 7:27” by Godfrey Ellis in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Ellis provides an exploration of the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Addressing Valedictions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The phrase “Brethren, adieu” (Jacob 7:27) has been criticized over the years as an obvious anachronism in the Book of Mormon. That criticism holds no validity whatsoever, as others have pointed out, since many English words have French origins. It’s worth considering, though, a deeper meaning of the word. In French, it carries a nuance […]

The post Toward a Greater Appreciation of the Word Adieu in Jacob 7:27 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: “Let the Beauty of the Lord our God be Upon Us”: The Role of Visual Aesthetics in Ancient Israel’s Temple Worship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the January 29 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson discuss New Testament lesson 9 on Matthew 6 and 7, “He Taught Them as One Having Authority.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the January 29th broadcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 9 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Matthew 6:1-18 His Way For our happiness and salvation, Our Heavenly Father has given us commandments and principles related to our behavior, but He also wants us to do the right things in the right ways, and for the right reasons. In other words, our motives matter. The prophet Mormon taught, “For behold, God hath […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 9 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““According to the Spirit of Revelation and Prophecy”: Alma2’s Prophetic Warning of Christ’s Coming to the Lehites (and Others)” by Matthew Scott Stenson in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/. […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The Limitations of Discontinuity first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Some students of the Book of Mormon have felt that while the coming of the Lord to the Lehites was clearly revealed to and taught by Nephi1, those prophecies having to do with the subject may not have been widely circulated or continuously preserved among the Nephites, while others have argued for continuity of […]

The post “According to the Spirit of Revelation and Prophecy”: Alma2’s Prophetic Warning of Christ’s Coming to the Lehites (and Others) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Presented at: 2014 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, October 25, 2014https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2014-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: The Temple: Ancient and Restored at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-temple-ancient-and-restored/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: What Did Joseph Smith Know about Temple Ordinances by 1836? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the January 22 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and Dan Peterson discuss New Testament lesson 8 on Matthew 5 and Luke 6, “Blessed Are Ye.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the January 22nd broadcast of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Luke 6:1-16 The Sabbath (see also Mark 2:23-27; 3:1-6) Read Luke 6:1-5, then verses 6-11, and consider what these two episodes can teach us about Sabbath behavior in our day (the story of David is found in 1 Samuel 21:1-6). Matthew 5:1-12 The Beatitudes / Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount (see also Luke […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Twenty Years After “Paradigms Regained,” Part 2: Responding to Margaret Barker’s Critics and Why Her Work Should Matter to Latter-day Saints” by Kevin Christensen in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Responding to Barker’s Critics first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Here I address specific criticisms of Margaret Barker’s work. First, I set the stage by discussing Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions as a map and compass for navigating this kind of controversy. I show how his observations cast light on debates about Jesus in the Gospel of John, which in turn resemble present debates. In this […]

The post Twenty Years After “Paradigms Regained,” Part 2: Responding to Margaret Barker’s Critics and Why Her Work Should Matter to Latter-day Saints first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This panel, comprised of five Latter-day Saint scholars in the Life Sciences (Emily Bates, R. Paul Evans, Steven L. Peck, Michael R. Stark, and Trent D. Stephens), provides personal perspectives on the development of their ideas and their affinities for their professional work. Following these perspectives, they answer a pot pourri of audience questions.

The post Conference Talks: Life Sciences Panel Discussion first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson, and John Gee, discussing controversies around the Book of Abraham. You can listen to or download the January 29th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 29, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and Dan Peterson discuss the Six Days in August film project, Dan’s recent article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Joseph Smith’s First Vision. You can listen to or download the January 22th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 22, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the January 15 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner discuss New Testament lesson 7 covering John 2–4, “Ye Must Be Born Again”. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the January 15 broadcast of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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John 2:1-11 The Wedding at Cana As noted previously, 93% of the Gospel of John is exclusive (not found in the other three Gospels), therefore this lesson will not cite nor cross-reference to Matthew, Mark, nor Luke. In John 2, Jesus and his disciples are “called” or invited to a marriage. We do not know […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Assyria and the “Great Church” of Nephi’s Vision” by Todd Uriona in Volume 55 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Uriona posits that some elements of Nephi’s vision were […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: An Assyrian “Great Church” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon begins at a pivotal point in Israelite history and in the history of the ancient Near East more broadly. With the fall of Assyria and the power vacuum that grew out of Assyria’s demise, questions of sovereignty were of paramount concern. It was at that time that Lehi led his family […]

The post Assyria and the “Great Church” of Nephi’s Vision first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Steven Peck, a BYU Professor of Biology, takes it as “axiomatic that evolution in its broad sense is the way the biological world works, although details are still being worked out and amazing discoveries will continue for centuries.” Using vivid examples, he explains both the compelling nature and the complexity of evolution. He also describes the weak science behind what is popularly called the “Intelligent Design” movement. However, “evolution does not negate by one iota the idea of a purposeful universe that was organized by a loving, intelligent God.”

The post Conference Talks: Why Evolution and LDS Thought are Fully Compatible first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the January 8 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 6 covering Matthew 4 and Luke 4–5, “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 6 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Note: Because of the understandably limited scope of the official Come, Follow Me curriculum, this resource will continue to include additional scripture references not found in the Church curriculum, when appropriate. Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus (see also Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13) Some mistakenly believe that this account of Jesus being tempted by Satan […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 6 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the January 15th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 15, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. You can listen to or download the January 8th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 8, 2023 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Believers in the God of Abraham — who include not only Jews and Christians but also Muslims — are exhorted to call upon him every day, as well as in times of need. We are promised that he will respond to petitionary prayers. Moreover, we are assured that, in the end, believers will prosper, […]

The post Beautiful Patience first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Given their status as targets of humor and caricature, the well-worn stories of Adam, Eve, and Noah are difficult for many people to take seriously. However, we do an injustice both to these marvelous records and to ourselves when we fail to pursue an appreciation of scripture beyond the initial level of cartoon cut-outs inculcated upon the minds of young children. In the words of the world-renowned Latter-day Saint chemist, Henry Eyring, “There are all kinds of contradictions [in religion] I don’t understand, but I find the same kinds of contradictions in science, and I haven’t decided to apostatize from science. In the long run, the truth is its own most powerful advocate.”

The post Conference Talks: Science and Genesis: A Personal View first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the December 18 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discuss New Testament lesson 5 covering Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 18th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 The Ministry and Message of John the Baptist As we encounter multiple Gospel accounts of the same events, we will sometimes study an event in only one of the Gospels, while at other times we will consider more than one account. In the case of John the Baptist, we […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, and Nicholas S. Literski, Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration (Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2022). 544 pages. $44.95 (hardback); $34.95 (softcover). Abstract: There is much to celebrate in this important new study of Freemasonry and the Latter-day Saints. To their credit, the authors have succeeded […]

The post An Important New Study of Freemasonry and the Latter-day Saints: What’s Good, What’s Questionable, and What’s Missing in Method Infinite first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Amy L. Williams describes and counters the arguments of the “New Atheism,” a loose movement that some have characterized as espousing the belief that religion should be actively countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument. She also describes the role of faith and verifiability in scientific inquiry and in Latter-day Saint theology.

The post Conference Talks: Answering New Atheism and Seeking a Sure Knowledge of God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lectures suggests that joy is the main message prophets bring to mankind.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Glad Tidings first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the December 11 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 4 on John 1. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 11th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 4 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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John 1:1-18 The Word This book was written by the apostle John, also known as John the Beloved. Some consider the Gospel of John to be the most important of the Bible’s 66 books. Much of John’s Gospel appears to be directed to church members, showing Christ’s divine nature as the Son of God. Brother […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 4 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Nate Oman, “A Welding Link of Some Kind,” Thoughts from a Tamed Cynic (Substack, September 27, 2022). Abstract: Nate Oman claims to demonstrate a theological path that allows for same-sex sealings within existing Latter-day Saint doctrine. In fact, he claims that such an adjustment would be not only compatible with most Church doctrine but more scripturally […]

The post “We Don’t Know, So We Might as Well”: A Flimsy Philosophy for Same-Sex Sealings first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Geology professor Bart J. Kowallis takes readers to the realm of “deep time,” referring to that vast length of time it took for the earth and heavens to reach their current form and station. On the way, he discusses three myths about time and creation

The post Conference Talks: From All Eternity to All Eternity: Deep Time and the Gospel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lectures is a discussion of how prophets are essential to a True Church.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — What Makes a True Church? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the December 4 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot discuss New Testament lesson 3 on Matthew 2 and Luke 2. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

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Luke 2:1-20 The Babe of Bethlehem In addition to our focus on the newborn Savior, think about Joseph and Mary, very young and somewhat alone: Verses 1-5 Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome, and he called for an “enrollment” or census of everyone living within his empire, for purposes of taxation. People were required […]

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This post is a summary of the article “Stained Swords: A Psalm of Redemption” by Loren Blake Spendlove in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Spendlove writes short, accessible abstracts that you can read for […]

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Abstract: The author proposes a novel ideal for understanding the stained swords of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies that involves repetition, parallelism, and metaphoric Hebrew wordplay. A favorite story in the Book of Mormon recounts the miraculous conversion of many of the Lamanites from the preaching of the sons of Mosiah. Although many were converted, we are told that […]

The post Stained Swords: A Psalm of Redemption first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this article, planetary scientist Jani Radebaugh explores the creative side of our Creator with a breathtaking photographic tour of the unusual planets and moons in the outer solar system. Emerging discoveries have helped open our minds to the possibilities of other worlds with life in our galaxy.

The post Conference Talks: The Outer Solar System: A Window to the Creative Breadth of Divinity first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lectures suggests that religion is not practical for this life but is essential for the next.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Ritual first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In the November 27 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and Matt Bowen discuss New Testament lesson 2 on Matthew 1 and Luke 1. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the November 27th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

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The New Testament Some Background The world into which the Savior was born was rife with conflict and other complications (see 2 Nephi 10:3): As the New Testament era opened, most Jews remained scattered throughout the Mediterranean world, lost in spiritual darkness. Many of those in the land of Israel (Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and so […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 2 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Early American campaigns against Christmas illustrate both the irrepressibility of the impulse to celebrate Christ and what is lost when we reject the good that comes from suspect sources. Both lessons point us toward the Savior’s gracious acceptance of our own imperfect offerings. Christmas in rural New England is a mood. Snow falls softly […]

The post Puritans, Pagans, and Imperfect Christmas Gifts first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts are Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. You can listen to or download the December 18th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 18, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. During the second hour, they are joined by special guest S. Kent Brown. You can listen to or download the December 11th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 11, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts are Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot. You can listen to or download the December 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, for Come, Follow Me […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 4, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, Matt Bowen, and guest Kerry Muhlestein discuss his new book Finding Promised Blessings on the Covenant Path. You can listen to or download the November 27th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast): […]

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In this article, physicist Ron Hellings takes a look at some of the teachings of Joseph Smith to try to understand these in light of modern cosmology, the study of the foundations of matter, time, and energy throughout the universe. He finds reasonable ways to harmonize these perspectives, and concludes that naïve big bang challenges to the doctrines of the Restoration are out of date.

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This lectures discusses a scientific religion that matches exactly with human experience and suggests that this is not actually a religion but a reduced, meaningless attempt.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Prophets and the Open Mind first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this week’s Come, Follow Me segment of Interpreter Radio, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Martin Tanner introduce our new show format. Each show will be divided into a number of segments that may vary from week to week. One segment will provide information that will supplement the study of the Come, […]

The post Interpreter Radio: The New Testament in Context Lesson 1 (We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The New Testament Let Us Begin Right The Come, Follow Me curriculum for the New Testament begins with a lesson about being “responsible for our own learning.” In addition to our own learning, let us consider our responsibilities toward others as parents, teachers, or other roles wherein we have influence. These weekly “Study and Teaching […]

The post New Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 1 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““We Live in the Olden Days: Reflections on the Importance of Scientific and Theological Humility” by Steven L. Clark in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Clark […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Old-Fashioned Humility first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a unique perspective on truth. Our knowledge that Salvation likely involves participation in complex eternal activities requiring significantly more understanding than we currently possess naturally leads us to seek truth and, in addition, to seek an understanding of that truth. Under these circumstances, […]

The post We Live in the Olden Days: Reflections on the Importance of Scientific and Theological Humility first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this article, the distinguished planetary scientist John S. Lewis discusses several aspects of the creation stories in scripture for the purpose of distinguishing anachronistic modern reinterpretations from the content of the original vision.

The post Conference Talks: The Scale of Creation in Space and Time first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lectures talks about Hebrews 6:4, 6. It suggests that it is possible for men to be gifted with everything only to later lose everything; then, it is not possible for them to regain those blessings by their own works.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Reformers first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 52, “We Have Waited for Him, and He Will Save Us” on Christmas. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the November 13th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

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The Christmas story began in our pre-mortal life, when Jesus said to the Father, “Here am I, send me” (Abraham 3:27; see also Moses 4:2). Of this, Elder Neal A. Maxwell declared, “Never has anyone offered so much to so many in so few words” (April 1976 general conference). The love and works of our […]

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Review of Meir Bar-Ilan, Words of Gad the Seer (Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing, 2016); Christian Israel, The Words of Gad the Seer: Bible Cross-Reference Edition (self-published, 2020); and Ken Johnson, Ancient Book of Gad the Seer: Referenced in 1 Chronicles 29:29 and Alluded to in 1 Corinthians 12:12 and Galatians 4:26 (self-published, 2016). Abstract: […]

The post The Words of Gad the Seer: An Apparently Ancient Text With Intriguing Origins and Content first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On Saturday, 17 September 2022, we held a special tenth-birthday party for the Interpreter Foundation at the Riverside Country Club in Provo. Invited guests included Foundation volunteers and major donors. Unfortunately, limitations of space and budget precluded us from inviting everybody who has stepped forward to support and advance the work of the Foundation. So […]

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Almost all conceptions of human agency are rooted in libertarianism and grounded in a set of assumptions about the nature of the non-human world, the nature of causality, and the nature of determinism. The effect of this is that agency is always understood around two mutually exclusive positions, compatibilism and incompatibilism. Within this intellectual context, human agency is always impossible, trivial, or illusory. Human agency is drawn into discussions of science and religion because most traditional “scientific” notions of causality and determination are understood in ways that make agency impossible, and most religious positions try to reconcile themselves to the classical libertarian position, which is self-contradictory. The presentation proposed here argues for a new understanding of human agency which requires a rethinking of causality and determinism that is compatible with science. And a refutation of agency that most religious positions unwisely endorse. Agency turns out to be not so much a matter of free choice, but of a deeper matter of the nature of the human world, human ontology, and truth. The lack of clarity on issues of science, religion, and agency comes not from science or religion, but from a faulty dogmatic scientism and the naturalistic metaphysic it always imposes on intellectual discourse.

The post Conference Talks: Science, Religion, and Agency first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lecture is a radio talk on the Book of Mormon as a witness of continuing revelation and God’s dealings with mankind.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Book of Mormon as a Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 51, “I Have Loved You, Saith the Lord” on Malachi. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the November 6th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 51 (Malachi) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Malachi 1 Introduction/The Burden of the Word Our last book and prophet of the Old Testament is also the last chronologically. Malachi, whose name means “my messenger,” ministered in about 430-420 BC, likely in and around Jerusalem. For only the third time in the Old Testament, we encounter the words, “The burden of the word […]

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This post is a summary of the article ““Being of that Lineage”: Generational Curses and Inheritance in the Book of Abraham” by John S. Thompson in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Thompson argues that […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Inheriting a Curse first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The seeming appearance of a lineal or generational curse in the Book of Abraham has been used erroneously to marginalize people and justify racist ideas in Latter-day Saint history. To avoid any further misinterpretation of scripture in ways that are hurtful to others, the following attempts to elucidate the meaning of lineal curses within the […]

The post “Being of that Lineage”: Generational Curses and Inheritance in the Book of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Martin Tanner introduce our new show format. Each show will be divided into a number of segments that may vary from week to week. One segment will provide information that will supplement the study of the Come, Follow Me lesson material for 2023 and […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 20, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Have you ever had questions like the following, while preparing a talk or article or when just curious: [Question] Are there General Conference talks mentioning “many mansions”?[Answer] There have been 79 General Conference talks that include this specific phrase, the first in a 1921 talk by Elder David A. Smith of the Presiding Bishopric, as […]

The post Introducing the General Conference, Improvement Era, and Journal of Discourses Bibliography Collections first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This essay examines the details of ongoing wars between science and religion and shows why they are not only futile and senseless, but also unnecessary. Sometimes such battles cause people to forget important ideals that science and religion hold in common. It is important for religious movements to stay focused on religion and not embrace in their central belief systems some particular scientific theory or worldview that will eventually become obsolete with continued research advances. As Holmes Rolston observed, “The religion that is married to science today will be a widow tomorrow.” Both scientists and religious believers can stand in awe at the majesty of the universe. So why all the fighting?

The post Conference Talks: Science vs. Religion: Can This Marriage Be Saved? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lecture looks at the idea of miracles within the Church and compares them with those found in the world.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Miracles first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 50, “Holiness unto the Lord” on Haggai; Zechariah 1–3; 7–14. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson. This roundtable was extracted from the October 30th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-October-30-2022/. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 50 (Haggai; Zechariah 1–3; 7–14) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Haggai 1 “Consider Your Ways” Haggai was a prophet in Jerusalem about 520 BC, after a number of those of Judah, along with their descendants who were born abroad, had returned from captivity in Babylon. Haggai’s name means “feast” or “celebration.” He was contemporary in Jerusalem with Ezra and Zechariah (see Ezra 5:1). What are […]

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For various reasons — some probably having to do with the emotions and sentiments of the holiday season and others no doubt connected with American tax policy and the Internal Revenue Service — a disproportionate percentage of annual charitable donations are made during the final quarter of the year, at least in the United States […]

The post It’s the Most Generous Time of the Year first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The need to stand as a witness is not just something from historical times, but just as necessary today. President of the Interpreter Foundation, Dan Peterson, shares his witness of the witnesses, and of the Book of Mormon.

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 32: To Be a Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Rethinking the Encounter between Jacob and Sherem” by Loren Blake Spendlove in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Spendlove provides a grab-bag of insights into the story […]

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon story of Jacob and Sherem has been evaluated and interpreted from many different viewpoints over the years. In his retelling of the story, Jacob crafted a cautionary tale of religious hubris and self-importance that can serve as an important lesson for members of the church today. In this paper I use various methodologies to […]

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Review of Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick, III, and Nicholas S. Literski. Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration. Salt Lake City, UT: Greg Kofford Books, 2022, 509pp. with index. Price: $44.95 (hardback); $34.95 (softcover). [Editor’s Note: This is a pre-publication copy of a review that will, after source checking, copy editing, and typesetting, […]

The post An Important New Study of Freemasonry and the Latter-day Saints: What’s Good, What’s Questionable, and What’s Missing in Method Infinite first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This essay traces the modern-day usage and understanding of temples from the Kirtland Temple to Nauvoo and the Salt Lake Temple. Architecture was used to teach principles. While the Kirtland Temple was preparatory (think of the vision of Christ and the conference of keys by Abraham, Moses, Abraham, Elias, and finally Elijah), the Nauvoo Temple was dedicated to ritual usage. In 1879, the Church reduced temple usage to rituals, and thus assembly rooms are missing from later temples. Through his paper, Cowan shows how temples have changed according to revelation and how prophets have seen models in vision that then have been incorporated in the temples God’s people built.

The post Conference Talks: Latter-day Houses of the Lord: Developments in Their Design and Function first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed Kevin’s article in the Interpreter Journal on Margaret Barker. You can listen to or download the November 13th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 13, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift recapped the Temple on Mount Zion 2022 Conference. You can listen to or download the November 6th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 6, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Martin Tanner and Terry Hutchinson discussed various books on the New Testament. They also discussed Terry’s new book, The Temple Pathway to Heaven, co-authored with Grant Gifford. You can listen to or download the October 30th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 30, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This lecture is a discussion of rhetoric having the impression of knowledge with no actual knowledge. This is contrasted with revelation, which provides true knowledge.

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Rhetoric and Revelation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 49, “His Ways Are Everlasting” on Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah. The panelist for this roundtable was Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the October 23rd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-October-23-2022/. The Interpreter Radio Show can […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 49 (Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Nahum Nineveh Returns to Wickedness “Nahum” means consoler or comforter. This prophet’s ministry was in the southern kingdom of Judah, around 650 BC or later. Unlike other prophets in Judah, he doesn’t speak of the evils of his own people, but in all three chapters he speaks of the pending destruction of Nineveh, capital of […]

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John Whitmer was a practical, level-headed man. He was also one of the Eight Witnesses. And yet he eventually left the church along with the rest of his family. What did he actually say about his experience with the plates?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 31: John Whitmer and the Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Twenty Years After “Paradigms Regained,” Part 1: The Ongoing, Plain, and Precious Significance of Margaret Barker’s Scholarship for Latter-day Saint Studies” by Kevin Christensen in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Two Decades of Margaret Barker first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Twenty years ago, the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies published “Paradigms Regained: A Survey of Margaret Barker’s Scholarship and Its Significance for Mormon Studies” as its second FARMS Occasional Paper. The first part of this essay provides an overview of Doctor Barker’s scholarship and its wider reception through early 2022, and then includes […]

The post Twenty Years After “Paradigms Regained,” Part 1: The Ongoing, Plain, and Precious Significance of Margaret Barker’s Scholarship for Latter-day Saint Studies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On Saturday evening, 12 November 2022, Royal Skousen delivered a talk at Utah Valley University under the title of “Textual Criticism and the Book of Mormon”—a subject to which he has devoted meticulous scholarly attention extending over the past several decades. In his remarks, Skousen made two very important announcements (for which, see below). He […]

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Presented at: The 2012 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, September 22, 2012https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2012-the-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ Conference Proceedings: Temple Insights at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/temple-insights/ Listen to an audio recording of this talk:   Download audio recording  

The post Conference Talks: A Torah Harmony first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Mystics first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 48, “He Delighteth in Mercy” on Jonah; Micah. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the October 16th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-October-16-2022/. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 48 (Jonah; Micah) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jonah Introduction Jonah (whose name means “dove”) ministered in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 790-760 BC. Jonah’s reluctance to obey the Lord’s call to preach in Nineveh creates a natural doubt over whether he was actually a prophet, but the Savior referred to him as such in Matthew 12:39; 16:4; Luke 11:29. The […]

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If the Book of Mormon was a fraud, why would supposed insiders to such a fraud allow themselves to suffer incredible hardship and pain, why would they face down mobs and actually risk their lives to continue insisting it was true?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 30: No Matter the Consequence first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Miracles occur relatively often in scripture, as do people who, for various reasons, want or even need to deny their occurrence. The arguments that are deployed to justify such denial haven’t changed all that much over the centuries. In fact, they’re still around today. Most if not all present or former missionaries for The […]

The post When an Evident Fact Cannot Be Allowed to Be True first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This study seeks to compare and contrast the temple and ritual complexes alluded to in the Book of Mormon with those known from the archaeological record in Mesoamerica. Although superficially they may appear incompatible, an analysis of their underlying mythologies reveals many conceptual similarities, suggesting Nephite worship and ritual might not have been wholly out of place in that context.

The post Conference Talks: Axes Mundi: A Comparative Analysis of Nephite and Mesoamerican Temple and Ritual Complexes first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — A Substitute for Revelation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 47, “Seek the Lord, and Ye Shall Live” on Amos; Obadiah. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the October 9th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 47 (Amos; Obadiah) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Amos 1-2; 4-5 “The Lord Will Roar from Zion” The name Amos means “burden” or “to carry,” which can be taken to mean “to be carried by God.” The ministry of Amos was in the northern kingdom of Israel in about 780-740 BC, during the time that Isaiah was the prophet in the southern kingdom […]

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There are a number of unofficial witnesses of the Book of Mormon who were women—however, of the official witnesses of the Book of Mormon, there are none. Why would this be?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 29: Women Witnesses—Why and Why Not? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Diachronic Usage of Exclamation Marks across the Major Book of Mormon Editions” by Scott L. Howell, Brooke Anderson, LaReina Hingson, Lanna D. McRae, Jesse Vincent, and Brandon Torruella in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Book of Mormon Exclamations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The usage of the exclamation mark has changed over time but continues to serve as an important textual interpretation aid. Punctuation itself has not been a permanent fixture in English, rather it was slowly introduced to English documents with changing standard usages after the invention of the printing press. Here we highlight the use […]

The post The Diachronic Usage of Exclamation Marks across the Major Book of Mormon Editions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This talk from 2012 is just a prelude to the 2022 Temple on Mount Zion Conference, coming this Friday and Saturday and featuring C. Wilfred Griggs, Margaret Barker, and many others. Go to https://tmz2022.interpreterfoundation.org for full information, including abstracts and a link to the live broadcast. Presented at: The 2012 Temple on Mount Zion ConferenceSaturday, […]

The post Conference Talks: Jacob’s Sermon (2 Nephi 6-10) and the Day of Atonement first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — St. Augustine and the Great Transition first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 46, “I Will Love Them Freely” on Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the October 2nd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 46 (Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Hosea 1 Introduction/Hosea and Gomer The prophet Hosea’s name is essentially the same as the name Jesus, and it means “Salvation” or “Deliverance.” Hosea’s ministry took place between about 760 to 720 BC, laboring in the northern kingdom of Israel before its fall to the Assyrians, and during the ministry of the prophet Isaiah in […]

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In Joseph Smith’s day, people claimed that his story of ancient metal plates was evidence against him—because no such thing existed. In modern times, with the discovery of many examples of ancient plates, critics now claim that, of course, Joseph knew about ancient records on metal. What do we really know about Joseph and metal plates?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 28: Ancient Metal Plates? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The significance of the ongoing studies into the potential location of the Old World “Bountiful,” which Nephi reminds us was “prepared of the Lord” (1 Nephi 17:5), and is documented in great detail by him, can hardly be overstated. Bountiful’s resources had to be truly substantial and unique to enable the Lehites to recover […]

The post A Research Note: Continuing Exploration and Research in Oman first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our host Martin Tanner discussed the evidence supporting barley, bees, horses, and elephants in The Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the October 23rd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The first portion of the show is […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 23, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Martin Tanner discussed ways we can retain the youth of the Church. You can listen to or download the October 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 16, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed a new book produced by Interpreter, Dictionary of Proper Names and Foreign Words in the Book of Mormon. You can listen to or download the October 9th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 9, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift reviewed the October 2022 session of General Conference. You can listen to or download the October 2nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 2, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 51 (2022) and Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 52 (2022) are now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volumes 51 and 52 Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Royal Skousen will be doing a presentation on the current status of the Book of Mormon critical text project at Utah Valley University [UVU] on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 7 to 9 p.m. The location is the Sorenson Center Center Stage. The entire campus is open for parking except the parking garage, which costs […]

The post Royal Skousen Presentation on the Current Status of the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This essay makes a compelling argument for Jacob, the brother of Nephi, having deep knowledge of ancient Israelite temple ritual, concepts, and imagery, based on two of Jacob’s sermons in 2 Nephi 9 and Jacob 1-3.

The post Conference Talks: “Holiness to the Lord: Biblical Temple Imagery in the Sermons of Jacob the Priest” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — A Prophetic Event first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 45, “There Is No Other God That Can Deliver” on Daniel 1–6. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the September 25th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 45 (Daniel 1–6) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Daniel Introduction The name Daniel means “God Is My Judge,” and Daniel truly appears to be one who can stand before God in confidence. The events of the book of Daniel take place during the Jewish captivity in Babylon (in present-day Iraq); Daniel being among the first group of Jews taken to Babylon in about […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 45 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Hiram Page, one of the Eight Witnesses, claimed to have received revelations through a seer stone. What do we know about this event?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 27: The Hiram Page Revelations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “A Backstory for the Brass Plates” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Reynolds provides detailed background for scholarly views of ancient Israelite […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Brassy Backstory first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper brings contemporary Ancient Near East (ANE) scholarship in several fields together with the ancient scriptures restored through Joseph Smith to construct a new starting point for interpretation of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. It assembles findings from studies of ancient scribal culture, historical linguistics and epigraphy, and the history and […]

The post A Backstory for the Brass Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Stephen Ricks takes a close look at the literary structure of a psalm, reintroducing us to chiasmus both in modern and ancient texts, including the Book of Mormon, then uses this literary structure to show how the psalm contains the basic historic credo of the Israelites, as seen in Deuteronomy and mirrored in 1 Nephi 17.

The post Conference Talks: Covenant and Temple in Psalm 105 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Schools and the Prophets first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 44, “A New Spirit Will I Put within You” on Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the September 18th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 44 (Ezekiel 1–3; 33–34; 36–37; 47) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Ezekiel 1-3 The Prophet’s Call The name “Ezekiel” means “strength of God” or “God will strengthen.” Ezekiel’s ministry—from about 592 BC to 570 BC—was to raise his voice in both Jerusalem and Babylon (also called Chaldea). In Babylon he worked among the captive Jews who had been deported there, some 1,600 miles from Jerusalem, after […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 44 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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James Strang was a recent convert to the church who claimed to be the successor of Joseph after the martyrdom. Strang also claimed to have discovered ancient metal plates, What do we know about this man and his claims?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 26: James Strang’s Witnesses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Jonathan Neville has offered a response to my two recent reviews of his works; however, in his response, Neville offers a poor defense regarding what he wrote and misrepresents my reviews of his works. As such, I present the following rejoinder in response to Neville’s concerns. Jonathan Neville has offered some thoughts regarding my […]

The post A Rejoinder to Jonathan Neville’s “Response to Recent Reviews” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Since 1829, various theories about the production of the Book of Mormon have been proposed. Modern scholarship has moved away from the idea that Joseph Smith actually translated ancient engravings into English. Two books, A Man That Can Translate and Infinite Goodness, propose a “neo-orthodox” view, offering evidence that Joseph did translate ancient engravings […]

The post A Man That Can Translate and Infinite Goodness: A Response to Recent Reviews first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson discussed Professor Bowen’s latest paper published in the Interpreter journal. They also discuss the historical work Saints (Volume 3). You can listen to or download the September 25th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 25, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discussed Ezekiel in the CRM portion and they discussed the Interterpreter 10th Anniversary as well as Jeff Bradshaw’s new book on Masonry and the Temple. You can listen to or download the September 18th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 18, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David J. Larsen, after showing how many of the Qumran texts rely on the “Royal Psalms” in the Bible—which have a vital connection to the temple drama—then goes on to exaltation in the views of the Qumran community.

The post Conference Talks: From Dust to Exalted Crown: Royal and Temple Themes Common to the Psalms and the Dead Sea Scrolls first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Gnostics first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 43, “I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy” on Jeremiah 30–33; 36; Lamentations 1; 3. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, Kevin Christensen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the September 11th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 43 (Jeremiah 30–33; 36; Lamentations 1; 3) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jeremiah 21-29 What You May Not Want to Miss Because the Come, Follow Me curriculum skips these chapters, you may choose to read the chapter headings for Jeremiah 21-29 (as well as other chapters that are skipped). Here are some of the more significant references: 22:1-5 The four things the Lord said the kings of […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 43 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Early on Lucy Harris was a supporter of the work, but later she fell out with the Smiths—and with her own husband. Who was Lucy Harris?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 25: Did Lucy Harris Support the Book of Mormon? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““Unto the Taking Away of Their Stumbling Blocks”: The Taking Away and Keeping Back of Plain and Precious Things and Their Restoration in 1 Nephi 13–15” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Joseph-Based Stumbling-Block Removal first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In the latter part (1 Nephi 13–14) of his vision of the tree of life (1 Nephi 11–14), Nephi is shown the unauthorized human diminution of scripture and the gospel by the Gentile “great and abominable church” — that plain and precious things/words, teachings, and covenants were “taken away” or otherwise “kept back” from the texts that became […]

The post “Unto the Taking Away of Their Stumbling Blocks”: The Taking Away and Keeping Back of Plain and Precious Things and Their Restoration in 1 Nephi 13–15 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Mack C. Stirling examines the well-known story of Job, one of the literary books of the Bible and part of the Wisdom literature (which is heavy in temple mysticism and symbols), and proposes the story follows the temple endowment to the T. Following Hugh Nibley’s lead in The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri, the temple endowment is not discussed.

The post Conference Talks: Job: An LDS Reading first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Ancient Law of Liberty first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 42, “Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee” on Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the September 4th broadcast […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 42 (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jeremiah 1 Introduction and Calling After Isaiah, came Jeremiah, preaching repentance and warning of destruction to the people of Jerusalem. His ministry was from about 627 BC to 586 BC, meaning he was a contemporary (in both time and place) with the prophet Lehi of the Book of Mormon (see 1 Nephi 7:13-14; see also […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 42 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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When we discuss the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, we often overlook the first witness of the plates: Joseph Smith himself. What were his experiences with the plates?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 24: What was Joseph’s Witness? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Last Nephite Scribes” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Noel Reynolds presents a detailed description of scribal activities in the Book […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Nephite Scribal Paths first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Michael R. Ash, Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture: The Prophet’s Role as Creative Co-Author (Redding, CA: FAIRLatterDaySaints.org, 2021). 770 pages. $34.95 (paperback). Abstract: A new book by Mike Ash examines to what degree the human mind is involved in receiving revelation. Ash sums up his view by saying, “prophets have a special calling, […]

The post Understanding How the Scriptures Came to Be first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract In an earlier paper, I concluded that Lehi and Nephi were highly trained Josephite scribes and were associated with an official Jerusalem scribal school that preserved ancient Manassite traditions. There they acquired advanced writing skills and classical Hebrew and Egyptian, which would become the scriptural languages of the Nephite peoples. These they maintained in the […]

The post The Last Nephite Scribes first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This two-part essay is focused on four questions: Why, in contrast to many who study this chapter, can Latter-day Saints be confident that the Isaiah’s description of the Righteous Servant refers to Jesus Christ? Apart from the vivid word pictures in individual verses, what is the big picture being painted by Isaiah 53 (and […]

The post Why Is Isaiah 53 the Crown Jewel of the Old Testament? (Part 2 of 2) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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We are excited to announce our next Interpreter Foundation Study Tour. Based on the results of our travel survey and since we will be studying the New Testament next year in Sunday School, we have decided that our next tour will be to Turkey!

The post Interpreter Foundation Tour Announcement! first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David Calabro explores what he describes as the “divine handclasp” in the Hebrew Bible. The term refers to a handclasp between God and his human servant that had a place in ancient Israelite temple worship.

The post Conference Talks: The Divine Handclasp in the Hebrew Bible and in Ancient Near Eastern Iconography first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Martyrs first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 41, “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion” on Isaiah 58–66. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Mark Johnson and Matthew Bowen. This roundtable was extracted from the August 28th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 41 (Isaiah 58–66) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah 58:1-12 An Appropriate Fast and its Blessings This chapter offers helpful teachings about what is a true fast (verses 3-12) and what is a true Sabbath (verses 13-14). In verse 1 the Lord instructed Isaiah to “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression.” This […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 41 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Introduction Since I was a young boy, I have loved Isaiah 53. There are three reasons that I like to call it the “crown jewel” of the Old Testament: Its literary beauty—both in the original, sometimes obscure, Hebrew text and in its magnificent King James Bible translation—the latter best experienced musically in listening to […]

The post Why Is Isaiah 53 the Crown Jewel of the Old Testament? (Part 1 of 2) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Martin Harris was away from the church for many years before finally returning. Critics have tried to use the fact that he joined other denominations as something that invalidates his testimony of The Book of Mormon. What's the real story here?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 23: Why did Martin Harris Join So Many Churches? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““For Their Good Have I Written Them”: The Onomastic Allusivity and Literary Function of 2 Nephi 25:8” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: For Their Good first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days: Volume 3: Boldly, Nobly, and Independent: 1893–1955 (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2022). 757 pages. $6.90 (paperback). Abstract: Volume 3 of Saints is a readable and engaging narrative discussing a dynamic and transitional period of the […]

The post The Continuing Saga of Saints first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nephi’s writings exhibit a distinctive focus on “good” and divine “goodness,” reflecting the meaning of Nephi’s Egyptian name (derived from nfr) meaning “good,” “goodly,” “fine,” or “fair.” Beyond the inclusio playing on his own name in terms of “good” and “goodness” (1 Nephi 1:1; 2 Nephi 33:3–4, 10, 12), he uses a similar inclusio (2 Nephi 5:30–31; 25:7–8) to frame and demarcate […]

The post “For Their Good Have I Written Them”: The Onomastic Allusivity and Literary Function of 2 Nephi 25:8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this essay John Gee draws a connection between the Egyptian “Book of the Temple” and the book of Exodus, both in structure and topic, describing the temple from the inside out. Gee concludes that both probably go back to a common source older than either of them.

The post Conference Talks: Edfu and Exodus first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner with guest Cheryl Bruno discussed Cheryl’s book Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration. You can listen to or download the September 11th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 11, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift discussed articles in the latest issue of BYU Studies quarterly. You can listen to or download the September 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 4, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, Matthew Bowen and guest host Loren Spendlove discussed Loren’s article in the Interpreter Journal titled “There Is No Beauty That We Should Desire Him”. You can listen to or download the August 28th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 28, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Prophets and the Search for God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 40, “He Hath Borne Our Griefs, and Carried Our Sorrows” on Isaiah 50–57. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the August 21st broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 40 (Isaiah 50–57) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah 50 Jesus Gave Himself In verse 1 the Lord speaks to the unfaithful children of Israel, asserting that He did not “divorce” their mother, nor had He “sold” them away, but that they had sold themselves through their iniquities. Read verse 11, which tells what will happen to those who try to “walk in […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 40 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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While trying to dismiss claims that the witnesses interacted with the gold plates, critics often gloss over—or even completely ignore—the fact that many of the witnesses also interacted with other ancient objects. What were these objects?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 22: What Else did the Witnesses See? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Freemasonry and the Origins of Latter-day Saint Temple Ordinances (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation, 2022). 556 pages. $39.99 (paperback). Abstract: With the precision of a renowned surgeon, the finesse of a master politician, the insights of an eminent theologian, and the artistic skill of an eloquent poet, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw masterfully examines the influence of Masonic […]

The post Examining the Origins of Temple Worship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 39, “Comfort Ye My People” on Isaiah 40-49. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the August 14th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-August-7-2022/. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 39 (Isaiah 40-49) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Jeffrey M. Bradshaw compares Moses’ tabernacle and Noah’s ark, and then identifies the story of Noah as a temple related drama, drawing of temple mysticism and symbols. After examining structural similarities between ark and tabernacle and bringing into the discussion further information about the Mesopotamian flood story, he shows how Noah’s ark is a beginning of a new creation, pointing out the central point of Day One in the Noah story.

The post Conference Talks: The Ark and the Tent: Temple Symbolism in the Story of Noah first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — The Prophets and the Plan of Life first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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I would like to call your attention to an event — a special showing of the film Witnesses, accompanied by questions and answers and discussion — that will be held on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo this coming Friday evening, September 16. Admission is free, and there is abundant public parking that […]

The post This Friday: A Special Showing of Witnesses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah 40-49 “Wait Upon the Lord” Chapters 40-66 are highlighted by Isaiah’s prophecies of the future, mostly pertaining to the latter days. For example, in relation to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, Isaiah declared, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). Also prominent throughout […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 39 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Critics have long claimed that the various witnesses—both official and unofficial—never interacted with the plates in a physical way. First hand accounts indicate otherwise. What are we to make of such criticism?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 21: Who Felt or Saw the Plates? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Hannah’s Adversity and Peninnah’s Redemption” by Loren Spendlove in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Spendlove reframes the biblical story of Hannah, the mother of Samuel, and […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Redeeming Peninnah first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Most biblical students are familiar with the story of Hannah, who after years of barrenness, finally gave birth to the prophet Samuel. Some will remember her adversary, Peninnah, who allegedly tormented Hannah to tears. My objective in this article is to reclaim Peninnah’s good name by reinterpreting the passage found in 1 Samuel 1:6. […]

The post Hannah’s Adversity and Peninnah’s Redemption first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In anticipation of the 2022 Temple on Mount Zion Conference on Saturday, November 5, 2022 (See https://interpreterfoundation.org/conferences/2022-temple-on-mount-zion-conference/ for more information), we begin a new series of articles: Conference Talks. Each week, we will feature one talk, starting with the first Temple on Mount Zion Conference, held less than one month after the founding of The […]

The post Conference Talks: The Crown of Creation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift with guest Stephen O. Smoot, recapped the 2022 FAIR conference. You can listen to or download the August 7th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 7, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Two Ways to Remember the Dead first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 38, “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder” on Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift, with guest Stephen O. Smoot. This roundtable was extracted from the August 7th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 38 (Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah 13-35 “Blessed Are All They That Wait for Him” As we watch the signs of the times and participate in the ongoing Restoration, we can rest assured that the prophecies related to our days will be fulfilled. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 38 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Every edition of the Book of Mormon has included a copy of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses. Who wrote it? And if each of the three witnesses didn't actually write the words themselves, does that somehow invalidate that testimony?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 20: Who Wrote the Testimony of the Witnesses? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The biblical Hebrew collocation pinnâ derek or pannû derek (cf. Egyptian Ἰr wꜣ.t [n]), often rendered “prepare the way” or “prepare a way” in English, is an evident stylistic feature of Nephi’s writings. The most basic meaning of this idiom is “clear my way,” which is how it is rendered in 2 Nephi 4:33. Zenos’s […]

The post “But That Thou Wouldst Clear My Way Before Me”: A Note on the Personal and Emotional Rendering of an Ancient Idiom in 2 Nephi 4:33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. The first hour had guest Jeffrey M. Bradshaw discussing his new book on Freemasonry and the Origins of the Latter-day Saint Temple Ordinances. The second hour had guest Kerry Muhlestein discussing Isaiah for the CFM segment. You can listen to or download the July […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 31, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Creeds first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 37, “God Is My Salvation” on Isaiah 1–12. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, Martin Tanner and Kerry Muhlestein. This roundtable was extracted from the July 31st broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-July-31-2022/. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 37 (Isaiah 1–12) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah Introduction During His ministry among the Nephites, Jesus said to them, “Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah” (3 Nephi 23:1). About six-hundred years before, the prophet Nephi said that in order to “more fully persuade [my brethren] to believe in […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 37 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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What is the purpose of the Interpreter Foundation's Witnesses Project, and all the related media: the Witnesses feature film, the Undaunted companion docudrama, and the Insights videos? This episode is hosted by Camrey Bagley Fox, who played Emma Smith in Witnesses, and features Daniel C. Peterson, President of the Interpreter Foundation and Executive Producer of Witnesses.

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 19: Why the Witnesses Project? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “There Is No Beauty That We Should Desire Him” by Loren Spendlove in Volume 53 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Spendlove uses Hebrew word usage in Isaiah 52 […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Marred Appearance first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In two separate passages Isaiah appears to describe the mortal Messiah as lacking in physical beauty and perhaps as even having some type of physical disfigurement (see Isaiah 52:14 and 53:2–4). On the contrary, Joseph, David, Esther, and Judith — portrayed in the biblical text as physical saviors or deliverers of Israel — are represented as beautiful […]

The post There Is No Beauty That We Should Desire Him first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Philosophers first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 36, “The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom” on Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the July 24th broadcast […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 36 (Proverbs 1–4; 15–16; 22; 31; Ecclesiastes 1–3; 11–12) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson talked with Steven L. Olson about his recent Interpreter article about reading the Book of Mormon as literature. You can listen to or download the July 24th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 24, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Book of Proverbs Introduction and Chapter 1 The thirty-one proverbs are poetic sayings of instruction and wisdom, dating to about 1,000 BC and often attributed to King Solomon (see Proverbs 1:1). Major themes are cited below, but as an introduction: Find in Chapter 1, verses 2-4, nine purposes the proverbs can fulfill. What do […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 36 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Eyewitness testimony is used around the world in courts of law. But there's a movement today that calls into question the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Is it true that eyewitness testimony is unreliable—and thus invalid?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 18: Is Eyewitness Testimony Reliable? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: We typically teach and often even sing that we should be our brothers’ (and sisters’) keepers. And we do it with the very best and most holy of intentions. For many of us, indeed, loving and caring for our brothers and sisters is at the very heart of what it means to live a life […]

The post Should I Be My Brother’s Keeper? Yes and No first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Preachers first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 35, “Let Every Thing That Hath Breath Praise the Lord” on Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner, Kris Frederickson and Mike Parker. This roundtable was extracted from the July 17th broadcast of Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 35 (Psalms 102–103; 110; 116–119; 127–128; 135–139; 146–150) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Psalms 102-103 “Loving Kindness and Tender Mercies” Think of a time in your life when you poured out your heart in passioned pleadings to Heavenly Father. Read Psalm 102:1-9, pondering the goodness of God in receiving the prayers of His children who are feeling destitute. Indeed, the day will come when the Lord Jesus Christ […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 35 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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What does it mean to be a witness? How can you be a witness?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 17: What is your Witness? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “A Comet, Christ’s Birth, and Josephus’s Lunar Eclipse” by Charles Dike in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Dike describes how, under the right circumstances, a comet […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Proposed Morning Star first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A comet seen by the Chinese in 5 bc has been considered by some authors as a possibility for the Star of Bethlehem. This article starts with that premise and argues that Book of Mormon evidences reinforce that likelihood. The comet path can account for all events surrounding the Star of Bethlehem. Based on typologies […]

The post A Comet, Christ’s Birth, and Josephus’s Lunar Eclipse first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Martin Tanner, Kris Frederickson and Mike Parker discussed the “Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 13: Plural Marriage – Part 1” as well as the principle of forgiveness. You can listen to or download the July 17th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 17, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Crisis first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 34, “I Will Declare What He Hath Done for My Soul” on Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the July 10th broadcast of Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 34 (Psalms 49–51; 61–66; 69–72; 77–78; 85–86) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Psalms 49-50 “God Will Redeem My Soul” Read Psalm 49:6-7, 10-12, 17. “You can’t take it with you” is a phrase we hear from time to time; and it’s true—for as we depart this earth through death, we will have no possessions to take along. Now read verse 15. This great gospel truth—the eventual resurrection […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 34 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Why were witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and to the Gold Plates, necessary? What makes these claims different from others throughout history who have claimed divine visions?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 16: Why Witnesses? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Lehi’s Dream, Nephi’s Blueprint: How Nephi Uses the Vision of the Tree of Life as an Outline for 1 and 2 Nephi” by Noel Reynolds in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Visions as Scriptural Blueprint first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This essay harnesses the late twentieth-century discovery of Hebrew rhetoric by Bible scholars to identify Lehi’s dream as the foundation of the carefully constructed unity in Nephi’s writings and to identify previously unrecognized elements of that dream which are distributed throughout his final work. The teachings and prophecies in 1 and 2 Nephi are […]

The post Lehi’s Dream, Nephi’s Blueprint: How Nephi Uses the Vision of the Tree of Life as an Outline for 1 and 2 Nephi first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Office first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 33, “The Lord Is My Shepherd” on Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the July 3rd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 33 (Psalms 1–2; 8; 19–33; 40; 46) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Psalms Introduction The 150 psalms are songs and poems of praise, written about 1,000 years before the time of Jesus Christ. Scholars have determined that of the almost 300 Old Testament quotes that are found in the New Testament, more than 100 come from Psalms, including a number of times that Jesus quoted Psalms. David […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 33 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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God uses human beings as his leaders on the earth. Do these people need to be perfect to be prophets, seers, and revelators?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 15: Are Prophets Perfect? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “The Body As the Temple of God” by LaReina Hingson in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Hingson argues that the connection between temples and physical bodies […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Bodies as Literal Temples first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Metaphors occur when there is a contradiction in the senses of the words used that cause the text to be interpreted non-literally, as Paul Ricoeur has noted. The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians describing the body as a temple has been taken to be one such scriptural metaphor: “Know ye not that ye are the […]

The post The Body As the Temple of God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Robert A. Rees, A New Witness to the World (Salt Lake City: By Common Consent Press, 2020). 244 pages. $9.95 (paperback). Abstract: Robert A. Rees has written about the Book of Mormon for over sixty years. In this book are collected sixteen essays that all focus on different aspects of the text of […]

The post Witnessing to the New Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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We’re pleased to announce that, on Saturday, 23 July 2022, the Interpreter Foundation’s theatrical film Witnesses received the 2021 Film Award from the Association for Mormon Letters (AML). The citation that accompanied the AML award praises Witnesses for its “powerful screenplay” and for the “polished and professional approach to the script” taken by director Mark […]

The post Witnesses Receives the 2021 Film Award from the Association for Mormon Letters first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Easter and the Prophets first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 32, “Yet Will I Trust in Him” on Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the June 26th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 32 (Job 1–3; 12–14; 19; 21–24; 38–40; 42) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Job Background and Introduction Job is considered to be classic Hebrew poetic scripture, and offers many eternal gospel truths. However, the legitimacy of the book of Job is questioned by some because it isn’t known for certain when and where its events occurred, or even if it is an authentic account of a real person, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 32 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed the publications and importance of the scholarship of Noel Reynolds. You can listen to or download the July 10th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 10, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift were joined by Spencer Kraus. Our hosts discussed the upcoming FAIR conference. You can listen to or download the July 3rd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — July 3, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson are joined by Spencer Kraus wherein they discussed Spencer’s recent Interpreter review of Jonathan Neville’s books. You can listen to or download the June 26th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 26, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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How did the women of the early Church deal with plural marriage? How do we reconcile ourselves to this practice of that time?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 14: Plural Marriage – Part 2 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Abridging the Records of the Zoramite Mission: Mormon as Historian” by Steven L. Olsen in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Olsen points to several patterns in […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Structuring Alma’s Zoramite Mission first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Since the mid-twentieth century, scholarly studies of the literary craftsmanship of biblical texts have revealed considerable insights into the intended purposes of the authors of these scriptural narratives. The present study applies the analytical methods of these studies to Mormon’s abridgment of Alma’s records of the Zoramite mission (Alma 31–35), revealing intricate patterns of […]

The post Abridging the Records of the Zoramite Mission: Mormon as Historian first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Traditions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 31, “Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This” on Esther. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner, Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the June 19th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 31 (Esther) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Esther 1-2 Background and Beginning Like Ezra and Nehemiah, the book of Esther has its setting during the time of the Jewish “captivity” in Babylon/Persia; dating to about 475 BC. The name Esther means “star,” and so she is. Her given name was “Hadassah” (2:7), which means “myrtle tree,” but was changed to Esther (which, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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What do we know about the practice of plural marriage in the early Church? Who was Fanny Alger?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 13: Plural Marriage – Part 1 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““This Great Mystery”: Gathering Still Other Sheep through the New Covenant of Peace” by Matthew Scott Stenson in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Stenson explores three […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Mysterious Sheep first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon sheds light on a “great mystery” located in John 10:16 (D&C 10:64). In this paper, using a comparative method that traces intersecting pastoral imagery, I argue that John 10:16–18 (as opposed to merely John 10:16) not only refers to Jesus’s visit to the Lehites in Bountiful and the lost tribes of Israel (the standard LDS view), but that it […]

The post “This Great Mystery”: Gathering Still Other Sheep through the New Covenant of Peace first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Between March 7th and October 17th in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Scriptures first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 30, “I Am Doing a Great Work” on Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the June 12th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 30 (Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Ezra and Nehemiah Introductory Information In the book of 2 Kings the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel. Later, the Babylonians overthrew the Assyrian empire and subsequently conquered the southern kingdom of Judah. Then, in about 539 BC, the Persians/Medes overtook the Babylonians (see Isaiah 13:17-20). Later, the Greeks will conquer the Bible world […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 30 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1838, in reaction to persecution, some members of the Church formed a vigilante group known as the Danites. Much has been made of this group in folklore and anti-LDS propaganda. What do we actually know about this group?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 12: Who were the Danites? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Modern Near East Archaeology and the Brass Plates” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 52 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Reynolds summarizes the historical and archaeological debate on […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Recovering the Exodus first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Contemporary Palestinian archaeology has produced two major threats to traditional interpretations of the history of ancient Israel. The first threat, which derives from scientific discomfort with the exodus story as an explanation for the sudden population expansion in southern Palestine at the beginning of the Iron Age (c. 1200 bce), has led to a […]

The post Modern Near East Archaeology and the Brass Plates first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Martin Tanner, Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson talked about Fatherhood. You can listen to or download the June 19th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a roundtable discussing the upcoming Come […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 19, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Martin Tanner, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed “Under the Banner of Heaven”. You can listen to or download the June 12th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a roundtable discussing […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 12, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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From March 7 to October 17 in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Prophets and Scholars first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 29, “He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel” on 2 Kings 17–25. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Hales Swift and Stephen Smoot. This roundtable was extracted from the June 5th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 29 (2 Kings 17–25) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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2 Kings 17 The Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel This is a key chapter in the Old Testament, for it relates the tragic downfall of Israel as they became subject to the powerful Assyrians who came from the east (some 700 miles away). Some background helps: In 2 Kings 15:29 it is recorded […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1845, former member of the Church James Strang claimed to have found ancient metal plates. What were the Voree Plates?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 11: What were the Voree Plates? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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I’ve been blessed to be surrounded for many years by interesting people, and Michael Lyon was among the most interesting of them all. Michael, who passed away on Wednesday, 29 June 2022, after a lengthy illness, may not have been widely known among the general audience of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies […]

The post Michael Lyon Tributes first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: When Eliza R. Snow agreed to become one of Joseph Smith’s plural wives, she feared she would never be looked upon as a decent woman. Nevertheless, she accepted Joseph Smith’s proposal and eventually became a strong advocate of the practice. Reading about her understanding of plural marriage and the many testimonies of others who […]

The post Plural Marriage: Beauty for Ashes first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Hales Swift and Stephen Smoot discussed the Mormon History Association and ancient trans-oceanic crossings. You can listen to or download the June 5th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 5, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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From March 7 to October 17 in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — A Prophet’s Reward first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 28, “There Is a Prophet in Israel” on 2 Kings 2–7. The panelist for this roundtable was Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the May 29th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-May-29-2022/. The Interpreter Radio […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 28 (2 Kings 2–7) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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2 Kings 1-2 Elijah and Elisha We continue with the ministry of Elijah, now joined by Elisha. Their great work—and ours—is to labor against society’s relentless evil. In chapter 1, Elijah informs king Ahaziah (son of Ahab) that he will soon die. But the king rejects Elijah’s prophecy and sends fifty officers to arrest him. […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1843, six men claimed to have unearthed ancient metal plates from a burial mound. They were eventually brought to Joseph Smith. Critics have claimed Joseph was fooled by what was eventually revealed to be a fraud. What is the truth of this claim?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 10: What were the Kinderhook Plates? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Jonathan Neville, Infinite Goodness: Joseph Smith, Jonathan Edwards, and the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City: Digital Legends Press, 2021. 339 pages. $22.99 (paperback). Abstract: This is the second of two papers reviewing Jonathan Neville’s latest books on the translation of the Book of Mormon. In Infinite Goodness, Neville claims that Joseph Smith’s vocabulary and translation of the […]

The post Jonathan Edwards’s Unique Role in an Imagined Church History first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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From March 7 to October 17 in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — A World without Prophets first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 27, “If the Lord Be God, Follow Him” on 1 Kings 17–19. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the May 22nd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 27 (1 Kings 17–19) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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1 Kings 12-16 Preface to Elijah After the death of Solomon, his son Rehoboam became king: 1 Kings 12:1-11, 16-20—The “old men” who had been advisors to Solomon counseled Rehoboam to be a servant-king to the people; Jeroboam counseled Rehoboam to lighten the “heavy yoke” that Solomon had put upon them. But instead, Rehoboam followed […]

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Through the years, much has been made of the argument that a man by the name of Solomon Spaulding wrote a manuscript which was used by Joseph Smith as his source for the Book of Mormon. Is there any validity to these claims?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 9: Is the Spaulding Argument Valid? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our host Martin Tanner discussed the Founding Fathers and the concept of the United States Constitution hanging by a thread. You can listen to or download the May 29th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 29, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley and Mark Johnson discussed a new research paper about the meaning of the name “Liahona” with the paper’s author Calvin Tolman. You can listen to or download the May 22nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 22, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Jonathan Neville, A Man That Can Translate: Joseph Smith and the Nephite Interpreters. Salt Lake City: Digital Legends Press, 2020. 385 pages. $22.99 (paperback). Abstract: This is the first of two papers that explore Jonathan Neville’s two latest books regarding the translation of the Book of Mormon. Neville has long argued that Joseph […]

The post An Unfortunate Approach to Joseph Smith’s Translation of Ancient Scripture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 50 (2022) is now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volume 50 Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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From March 7 to October 17 in 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of 30 weekly lectures on KSL Radio that were also published as pamphlets. The series called “Time Vindicates the Prophets” was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Time Vindicates the Prophets — Introduction first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 26, “Thy Kingdom Shall Be Established for Ever” on 2 Samuel 5–7; 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster, Mike Parker and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the May 15th broadcast of Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 26 (2 Samuel 5–7; 11–12; 1 Kings 3; 8; 11) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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2 Samuel 5 King David David was anointed king over the tribe of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-4), and later became king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-3); about fifteen years from the time he was anointed to become king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:6-13). 2 Samuel 5:4 says, “David was thirty years old […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 26 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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What price did the witnesses pay for being witnesses—and for never denying their testimonies of the Book of Mormon?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 8: What was the Cost of Being a Witness? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: “Think not,” said the Savior at Matthew 10:34, “that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” And this has in fact been the case — too often literally, but certainly figuratively. In the Old Testament, the Lord accurately foretold the situation that we commonly see: […]

The post Contending without Contention first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 25, “The Battle Is the Lord’s” on 1 Samuel 8–10; 13; 15–18. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson and John Gee. This roundtable was extracted from the May 8th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 25 (1 Samuel 8–10, 13, 15–18) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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1 Samuel Events Preceding the First King Some of the significant happenings that came before the Israelite era of kings include: Read 1 Samuel 4:1-3, 7-12, 17-21 (the Israelite armies carried the ark of the covenant into the battlefield as they fought against the Philistines, in hopes of having the Lord’s help against their enemies; […]

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Critics of the Church have claimed through the years that one or more of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon—and of the Gold Plates—eventually denied their testimonies. Is there any truth to these claims?

The post Witnesses of the Book of Mormon — Insights Episode 7: Did the Witnesses Ever Deny their Testimonies? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““Believe All the Words”: A Key to Spiritual Outpouring” by Mark Campbell in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Campbell identifies nine examples of a pattern in […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Believing All the Words first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Blaire Ostler, Queer Mormon Theology: An Introduction (Newburgh, IN: By Common Consent Press, 2021). 152 pages. $10.95 (paperback). Abstract: Blaire Ostler attempts to show how “Mormon theology is inherently queer” and may be expanded to be fully “inclusive” of LGBTQ+ members. Unfortunately, Ostler conflates God’s love with indulgence for behavior that he has […]

The post The Queer Philosophies of Men Mingled with Scripture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In the Book of Mormon, many people received a remarkable spiritual outpouring following a declaration or demonstration of full belief in what they had already received or were about to receive. This paper examines nine examples of this that exhibit strong similarities in both language and substance. These examples demonstrate that the key to receiving a […]

The post “Believe All the Words”: A Key to Spiritual Outpouring first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Bruce Webster, Mike Parker and Kris Frederickson discussed the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven and how to raise our children in the age of social media. You can listen to or download the May 15th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 15, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and John Gee discussed processes vs. results and how that relates to our spiritual journey. Later, they discussed Emmeline B. Wells, a prominent figure in the Church of Jesus Christ’s latest volume, Saints, Volume 3: Boldly, Nobly, and Independent, 1893-1955. You can listen to or download the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 8, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 24, “My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord” on Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the May 1st broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 24 (Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Ruth 1 The Setting of the Story of Ruth The book of Ruth took place toward the end of the time of Israel’s judges, about 1,100 years before Jesus Christ. It is a sweet story of love and devotion to God and family. This is the setting: Elimelech, of the tribe of Judah, took his […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift dissected the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven. You can listen to or download the May 1st broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 1, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Sidney Rigdon was a fiery orator, a defender of the faith, and Joseph's Smith's right hand for many years, who also experienced shared revelations with the prophet. And yet, after the death of Joseph, he left the Church, founding one of his own. Who was this former minister from Ohio?

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 6: Sidney Rigdon and the Witnesses first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Khor Rori: A Maritime Resources-Based Candidate for Nephi’s Harbor” by George D. Potter in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Potter advances a comprehensive argument for an […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Reframing Nephi’s Shipbuilding first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Khor Rori, which forms the mouth of Wadi (Valley) Darbat, is the largest inlet along the Dhofar coast of southern Arabia. The khor was excavated into a harbor by the erosive action of the river that flows through Wadi Darbat. In ancient times, Khor Rori was the only harbor in the Dhofar Region that […]

The post Khor Rori: A Maritime Resources-Based Candidate for Nephi’s Harbor first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that the DVD version of Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon is now available. To order, go to https://witnessesundaunted.com/. Undaunted is a companion docudrama to the theatrical feature film Witnesses. As shown in the trailer below, Undaunted provides a deep-dive into the lives of those who claimed […]

The post DVD Now Available of Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and Matthew Bowen discussed the miniseries Under the Banner of Heaven with historian Craig Foster. You can listen to or download the April 24th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 24, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 23, “The Lord Raised Up a Deliverer” on Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Mark Johnson, and Matthew Bowen. This roundtable was extracted from the April 24th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 23 (Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Judges Introduction The events in the book of Judges took place after the children of Israel had entered into their promised land. It gives accounts of eleven men and one woman who served as “judges” among the Israelites, in between the periods of the prophets Joshua and Samuel. The judges ruled the people of Israel, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 23 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Some of the Church's darkest hours happened in Kirtland, with financial failures and large-scale apostasy. But this was also one of the greatest periods in early Church history for outpourings of revelation and miracles.

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 5: Blessings of Kirtland first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Liahona: ‘Prepared of the Lord, a Compass’” by Calvin D. Tolman in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Tolman presents a fresh translation of the word Liahona, […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: A Prepared Vessel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This study assesses some of the interpretations of the name Liahona, which are unsatisfactory from a linguistic perspective. Since a dialect of Hebrew is the most likely underlying language of the Book of Mormon, the approach taken in this study parses the word Liahona into three meaningful segments in Hebrew: l-iah-ona; a Biblical Hebrew transliteration would […]

The post Liahona: “Prepared of the Lord, a Compass” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Martin Tanner, Kris Fredrickson, and Michael Parker discussed Easter. You can listen to or download the April 17th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a roundtable discussing the upcoming Come Follow […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 17, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 9 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 22, “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” on Joshua 1–8; 23–24. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner, Kris Fredrickson, and Michael Parker. This roundtable was extracted from the April 17th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 22 (Joshua 1–8; 23–24) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Joshua 1 “Be Strong” The name Joshua comes from the Hebrew Yehoshuah or Yeshua, meaning “God is deliverance” or “God is salvation.” It corresponds to the Aramaic name Yeshua, from which we derive the name Jesus (Jesus likely spoke Aramaic as His native language). The events in the book of Joshua took place in about […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Stories of the Saints in the DR Congo: “Why I Believe” Live/virtual fireside, Boise Idaho Mission, 13 February 2022 In this presentation, an update of a presentation made a few years ago at a FAIR conference, I share six stories about loving, courageous, and faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints […]

The post Two Firesides on the Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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As an uneducated farm boy claiming to see God the Father, Jesus Christ, and various angels, Joseph Smith also claimed to translate an ancient record and receive modern revelation. Experiencing sorrow and failure as well as joy and success in his abbreviated life, he was eventually killed by a mob for his beliefs. Can someone be both very human and also a mouthpiece for God?

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 4: Joseph Smith: Man, Prophet—or Both? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On August 13 2002, Elder Neal A Maxwell delivered an address at the Twenty-Sixth Annual Church Educational System Religious Educators Conference at Brigham Young University. Through the good offices of Jeff Bradshaw, we have obtained and posted on YouTube the following full-length video of the meeting that day plus a short video of highlights from […]

The post “Our Creator’s Cosmos” – Neal A. Maxwell (2002) — Copy first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “‘Can You Suppose That the Lord Will Spare You?’: Moroni’s Charged Rhetoric in Alma 60:30–32” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Bowen […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Captain Moroni’s Spiteful Spare first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Under the duress of a lengthy war, and prompted by recent Lamanite military successes, as well as incensed at the government’s failure to resupply Helaman’s armies with provisions and to send men to reinforce the city Nephihah, Moroni sent a second scathing letter to the leaders of the Nephite nation in the Nephite capital city Zarahemla. […]

The post “Can You Suppose That the Lord Will Spare You?”: Moroni’s Charged Rhetoric in Alma 60:30–32 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Yale University Press has now published the second edition of The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text, as a trade paperback, edited by Royal Skousen. After five printings of the hardback edition (from 2009 through 2020), Yale University Press has decided to issue this durable softbound edition, which has a somewhat smaller format (6 × […]

The post Now Available! The Softbound, Second Edition of The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 21, “Beware Lest Thou Forget the Lord” on Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the April 10th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 21 (Deuteronomy 6–8; 15; 18; 29–30; 34) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Book of Deuteronomy Introduction The word “Deuteronomy” comes from Greek and means “second law” or “repeated law.” The book contains three discourses given by Moses, in chapters 1-4: chapters 5-26; and chapters 27-30. The setting is about one month before the children of Israel are to enter the land of Canaan (see 1:1). The […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed the Holy Week. They also discussed rabbinical innuendos and Joseph of Egypt. You can listen to or download the April 10th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 10, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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David Whitmer was one of the Three Witnesses, from a whole family of witnesses of the Gold Plates. Yet after falling out with Joseph Smith, David left the Church and never returned. But he also never denied his testimony of the Book of Mormon—and, in fact, emphatically repeated that witness countless times through the remainder of his life.

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 3: David Whitmer, Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Patrick Q. Mason and J. David Pulsipher, Proclaim Peace: The Restoration’s Answer to an Age of Conflict (Provo, UT: Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2021). 290 pages $19.99 (softcover). Abstract: Proclaim Peace is the first full-length volume discussing nonviolent theology in Latter-day Saint thought. It seeks […]

The post Rich Vein or Fools Gold? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of David F. Holland, Moroni: A Brief Theological Introduction (Provo, UT: The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2021). 147 pages. $9.95 (paperback). Abstract: David Holland, the youngest son of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, is the John Bartlett Professor of New England Church History at Harvard Divinity School. Consistent with his training and […]

The post An Elegant Book on Gifts, Gifting, and Remembering first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 20, “Rebel Not Ye against the Lord, Neither Fear” on Numbers 11–14, 20–24. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the April 3rd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 20 (Numbers 11–14; 20–24) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Numbers Introduction to the Book Whereas the book of Exodus covered a period of about one year and Leviticus about a month, the book of Numbers covers a time period of about 39 years; from the end of the first year after the Israelites left Egypt, up until just before their entry into the land […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Martin Harris was one of the earliest supporters of Joseph Smith and the Church. And yet, even after becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, he left the Church—though he returned many years later. Who was this wealthy farmer from upstate New York?

This is the first episode in a series of posts supporting the testimonies of all the various witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This episode focuses on the experiences of Oliver Cowdery, one of the Three Witnesses. For more information, go to https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/ or watch the documentary movie Undaunted.

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 2: Martin Harris, Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Alma’s Prophetic Commissioning Type Scene” by Alan Goff in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Goff responds to charges of plagiarism in the case of Alma the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Commissions and Conversions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The story often referred to as Alma’s conversion narrative is too often interpreted as a simplistic plagiarism of Paul’s conversion-to-Christianity story in the book of Acts. Both the New and Old Testaments appropriate an ancient narrative genre called the prophetic commissioning story. Paul’s and Alma’s commissioning narratives hearken back to this literary genre, and to […]

The post Alma’s Prophetic Commissioning Type Scene first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Under the Banner of Heaven is an 2022 American true crime drama television miniseries based on the nonfiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. The miniseries will start this week. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the book since it juxtapositions two histories: the origin and evolution of the Church […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — Review of Under the Banner of Heaven first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 6 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 19, “Holiness to the Lord” on Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 16; 19. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the March 27th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 19 (Exodus 35–40; Leviticus 1; 16; 19) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 35-39 Giving to God’s Cause The Lord doesn’t need our offerings nor our labor (see 2 Nephi 27:20-21, wherein He says twice, “I am able to do mine own work”). But His “work and glory” is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life (Moses 1:39). How does He do this? By inviting […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 19 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 48 (2021) is now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volume 49 Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is expanding its social media outreach today by adding channels on TikTok and Instagram to our channels on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. The new channels will focus on short videos complementing the longer videos available on our YouTube channel. The initial posts on both channels are a short clip from the first […]

The post Interpreter Now Has Instagram and TikTok Channels first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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From Book of Mormon scribe, to angelic visitations, and the Gold Plates, to leaving the Church—and eventually returning. Who was this scholar, lawyer, and early Church founder?

This is the first episode in a series of posts supporting the testimonies of all the various witnesses to the Book of Mormon. This episode focuses on the experiences of Oliver Cowdery, one of the Three Witnesses. For more information, go to https://witnessesofthebookofmormon.org/ or watch the documentary movie Undaunted.

The post Undaunted Witnesses Episode 1: Oliver Cowdery, Witness first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Putting Down the Priests: A Note on Royal Evaluations, (wĕ)hišbît, and Priestly Purges in 2 Kings 23:5 and Mosiah 11:5” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Some Priestly Put-Downs first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The historian who wrote 2 Kings 23:5 and Mormon, who wrote Mosiah 11:5, used identical expressions to describe King Josiah’s and King Noah’s purges of the priests previously ordained and installed by their fathers. These purges came to define their respective kingships. The biblical writer used this language to positively evaluate Josiah’s kingship (“And he put down […]

The post Putting Down the Priests: A Note on Royal Evaluations, (wĕ)hišbît, and Priestly Purges in 2 Kings 23:5 and Mosiah 11:5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift recapped General Conference. You can listen to or download the April 3rd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a roundtable discussing the upcoming Come […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 3, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Matthew L. Bowen and Mark J. Johnson discussed the anthropomorphic nature of God with special guest Daniel C. Peterson. You can listen to or download the March 27th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 27, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 18, “My Presence Shall Go with Thee” on Exodus 24, 31–34. The panelists for this roundtable were Mike Parker, Kris Frederickson and Bruce Webster. This roundtable was extracted from the March 20th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 18 (Exodus 24, 31–34) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 21-23, 25-30 What Are We Skipping? These chapters are not included in the Church’s “Come, Follow Me” curriculum. You may want to read the chapter headings and also the following, which can be helpful throughout the rest of the Old Testament: After giving the Ten Commandments to Moses, the Lord continues by revealing many […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 18 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Mike Parker, Kris Frederickson and Bruce Webster discussed the conflict in the Ukraine and the role of the prophets as emissaries of peace as well as a recent Interpreter Journal paper on the Fiery Flying Serpents. You can listen to or download the March 20th broadcast of the Interpreter […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 20, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Our Faithful Lord: Passover to Easter” by Rebecca Reynolds Lambert in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Lambert provides a deep exploration of the connections between the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: The Promise of Passover first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Studying the origins and traditions of Passover enriches our understanding of Easter. We can deepen our own worship and expand our ritual memory by an acquaintance with these traditions. Latter-day Saints possess unique understandings that further illuminate the constancy and plenitude of the Lord’s covenantal relationship with us. As the calamitous strife of war […]

The post Our Faithful Lord: Passover to Easter first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 4 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 17, “All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do” on Exodus 18–20. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the March 13th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 17 (Exodus 18–20) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 18 Moses Learns from Jethro Read verses 5-12 regarding the sweet reunion of Moses’s family, including demonstrations of great family love, respect, concern, testimony, and deep faith in the Lord. Next, Jethro (Moses’s father-in-law) observes something which leads him to teach Moses a leadership lesson. Read verses 13-26 and consider: Verse 14 says that […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 17 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen discussed the Interpreter Foundation’s latest film project “Undaunted: The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon”, a recent Interpreter Journal paper on the Fiery Flying Serpent and various aspects of the Joseph of Egypt story. You can listen to or download the March […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 13, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Experiential Knowledge and the Covenantal Relationship in Alma 7” by Godfrey J. Ellis in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/experiential-knowledge-and-the-covenantal-relationship-in-alma-7/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: According to the Flesh first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: A favorite scripture of many faithful saints is Alma 7 where it describes how the Savior came to Earth to understand, in the flesh, not only human sin, but human suffering. He did this in order to succor and heal us. Despite its obvious appeal, two points may seem curious to some readers. First, […]

The post Experiential Knowledge and the Covenantal Relationship in Alma 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 3 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 16, “He Will Swallow Up Death in Victory” on Easter. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the March 6th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 16 (Easter) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Isaiah 53 He Was Oppressed and Afflicted This chapter is perhaps the best single chapter in all the Old Testament in prophesying and testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ and His atoning mission in our behalf. Go through each verse carefully and consider His personal gifts to you, to those you love, and to all […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 16 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 48 (2021) is now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volume 48 Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““The Messenger of Salvation”: The Messenger-Message Christology of D&C 93:8 and Its Implications for Latter-day Saint Missionary Work and Temple Worship” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 51 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/the-messenger-of-salvation-the-messenger-message-christology-of-dc-938-and-its-implications-for-latter-day-saint-missionary-work-and-temple-worship/. An […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Ich Bin Ein Malachi first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Several of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s earliest revelations, beginning with Moroni’s appearance in 1823, quote the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 with the Lord “suddenly com[ing] to his temple” as “messenger of the covenant.” Malachi 3:1 and its quoted iterations in 3 Nephi 24:1; Doctrine and Covenants 36:8; 42:36; 133:2 not only impressed upon Joseph and early Church members the […]

The post “The Messenger of Salvation”: The Messenger-Message Christology of D&C 93:8 and Its Implications for Latter-day Saint Missionary Work and Temple Worship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift, discussed the Interpreter Foundation’s latest film project “Undaunted: The Witnesses of the Book of Mormon”. You can listen to or download the March 6th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 6, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 2 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 15, “Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord” on Exodus 14–17. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the February 27th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 15 (Exodus 14–17) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 14 “Stand Still” The astounding pride of Pharaoh and his servants prompted their regret over having allowed the children of Israel to depart, so they chose to pursue and overtake them (verses 5-9). But the murmuring reaction of the Israelites showed that they too were spiritually unchanged by the many miracles performed by the […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 15 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Given the knowledge of the corporeal, embodied nature of God that the Prophet Joseph Smith received in his 1820 First Vision, Latter-day Saints have argued from their earliest days that the Bible is most accurately understood as teaching precisely the same thing — that God has a body and that humans are literally created in […]

The post An Unexpected Case for an Anthropomorphic God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson discuss Hebrew rhetoric and scribal training in the Book of Mormon with guest Noel Reynolds. You can listen to or download the February 27th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 27, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Fredrickson discussed the responsibility of the Restored Church to fight against evil as well as the use of study Bibles to aid in scripture study. You can listen to or download the February 20th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 20, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In 1990, Hugh Nibley presented a series of twelve lectures on Facsimile 2 in the Pearl of Great Price. The lectures occurred almost weekly beginning on June 27, first in the Maeser Building and later in the Joseph Smith Building auditorium. All 12 recordings are available immediately as follows: In the Complete Bibliography for Hugh […]

The post Nibley Lectures: One Eternal Round — Lesson 1 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 14, “Remember This Day, in Which Ye Came Out from Egypt” on Exodus 7–13. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the February 20th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 14 (Exodus 7–13) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 7 Moses and Aaron Go before Pharaoh The Egyptians needed to learn that Jehovah is the only true God and that holding the Israelites in bondage was displeasing to Him. The children of Israel needed to learn to believe in Jehovah and to obey Him. In verse 1 the Lord told Moses, “See, I […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 14 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “‘The Wind and the Fire to Be My Chariot’: The Anachronism that Wasn’t” by John Gee in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/the-wind-and-the-fire-to-be-my-chariot-the-anachronism-that-wasnt/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Not-Actually-Anachronistic Chariots first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In the Book of Abraham, God tells Abraham in Haran, “I cause the wind and the fire to be my chariot” (Abraham 2:7). While this initially might appear to be an anachronism, as the chariot is normally thought to have been introduced later, archaeological finds of chariots at the site of Harran predate Abraham […]

The post “The Wind and the Fire to Be My Chariot”: The Anachronism that Wasn’t first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lessons 35 (D&C 93) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 13, “I Have Remembered My Covenant” on Exodus 1–6. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson and John Gee. This roundtable was extracted from the February 13th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-February-13-2021/. The Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 13 (Exodus 1–6) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Exodus 1 “There Arose Up a New King over Egypt” The events in the book of Exodus took place about 1400 to 1300 BC, a few hundred years after the end of the book of Genesis. What had happened during that intervening time? The Lord blessed the children of Israel with tremendous growth in numbers, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 13 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and John Gee discussed a new book on the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon as well as the Interpreter Foundation’s Ultimate Egypt tour. You can listen to or download the February 13th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 13, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Serpents of Fire and Brass: A Contextual Study of the Brazen Serpent Tradition in the Book of Mormon” by Neal Rappleye in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/serpents-of-fire-and-brass-a-contextual-study-of-the-brazen-serpent-tradition-in-the-book-of-mormon/. An introduction to the Interpreting […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Ancient Fiery Serpents first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The story of the Israelites getting bitten in the wilderness by “fiery serpents” and then being miraculously healed by the “serpent of brass” (Numbers 21:4–9) is one of the most frequently told stories in scripture — with many of the retellings occurring in the Book of Mormon. Nephi is the first to refer to the story, doing […]

The post Serpents of Fire and Brass: A Contextual Study of the Brazen Serpent Tradition in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce that Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, Volume 46 (2021) is now available in paperback and digital formats for ordering and downloading.

The post Volume 47 Now Available for Ordering in Paperback and E-book Formats first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lessons 33-34 (D&C 88-92) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 12, “God Meant It unto Good” on Genesis 42–50. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye and Jasmin Rappleye. This roundtable was extracted from the February 6th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-February-6-2022/. The Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 12 (Genesis 42–50) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 42-45 “There Was Corn in Egypt” The seven years of plenty ended and the seven years of “dearth” (scarcity) began, which also affected “all countries,” including Canaan, where Joseph’s family was living. Joseph “opened all the storehouses” of food, saving the Egyptians and others from famine (Genesis 41:53-57). In chapter 42 Jacob sends his […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 12 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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In this episode, our hosts, Neal Rappleye and Jasmin Rappleye, discussed the Old Testament and various poetic forms. You can listen to or download the February 6th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show is a roundtable discussing […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — February 6, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Lehi and Nephi as Trained Manassite Scribes” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/lehi-and-nephi-as-trained-manassite-scribes/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Reynolds […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Reynolds’ Scribal Proposal first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper brings together contemporary Ancient Near East scholarship in several fields to construct an updated starting point for interpretation of the teachings of the Book of Mormon. It assembles findings from studies of ancient scribal culture, historical linguistics and epigraphy, Hebrew rhetoric, and the history and archaeology of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant, […]

The post Lehi and Nephi as Trained Manassite Scribes first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Genesis 34: Judah’s Three Older Brothers Disqualify Themselves as Leaders Judah’s rise as a leader among the sons of Leah is […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 34–35:1–15: Jacob’s Ascent to the Heavenly Temple first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Jacob’s Preparations for His Encounter with Esau (Genesis 32:2–22) In chapter 31, Leah and Rachel come together in a show of […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 32–33:20: Jacob’s Wrestle with an Angel and Promise of a New Name first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Background Experience teaches that “Man proposes, but God disposes.”[2] No human folly is more common or more destructive than the attempt […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 28-31: “In His Own Time, and in His Own Way” Part 1 of 3: Jacob Ascends the Ladder of Exaltation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lessons 29-30 (D&C 77-83) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 11, “The Lord Was with Joseph” on Genesis 37–41. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the January 30th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-January-30-2022/. The Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 11 (Genesis 37–41) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 34-36 Should We Study These Chapters? The official Come, Follow Me curriculum skips Genesis 34-36, as well as many other chapters of the Old Testament, and generally with good reason. First, the Old Testament is a very long book, at over 1,200 pages in the LDS English version (including the books of Moses and […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Rosalynde Frandsen Welch, Ether: A Brief Theological Introduction (Provo, UT: The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2020). 128 pages. $9.95 (paperback). Abstract: The Book of Ether is a sometimes-overlooked gem of a text within the Book of Mormon, a history within a history that deserves careful and innovative investigation. Rosalynde Frandsen Welch offers such with a novel perspective in her entry in […]

The post Overwriting Ether: Moroni’s Transfiguration of Jaredite Scripture first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lessons 28 (D&C 76) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 10, “Surely the Lord Is in This Place” on Genesis 28–33. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the January 23rd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 10 (Genesis 28–33) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 28:1-9 The Pattern Continues The pattern continues, as Isaac counsels Jacob regarding the importance of his choice in a marriage partner, then sends Jacob to Haran (called “Padan-aram” in this chapter) to find a wife among Jacob’s cousins (the daughters of his uncle, Laban, who was the brother of Jacob’s mother, Rebekah; verses 1-2). […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 10 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation was launched about 501.5 weeks ago, over a soup and salad lunch at the Olive Garden restaurant in Provo. We had no organization, no money, no bank account, no institutional support. But, owing to unexpected recent developments, we felt that action needed to be taken very quickly in order to maintain a […]

The post 500 Weeks of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article ““We Might Have Enjoyed Our Possessions and the Land of Our Inheritance”: Hebrew yrš and 1 Nephi 17:21” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/we-might-have-enjoyed-our-possessions-and-the-land-of-our-inheritance-hebrew-yrs-and-1-nephi-1721/. An introduction to the […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Enjoying Inherited Possessions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The verbal expression “we might have enjoyed,” as used in a complaint that Nephi attributes to his brothers, “we might have enjoyed our possessions and the land of our inheritance” (1 Nephi 17:21), reflects a use of the Hebrew verb yrš in its progressive aspect, “to enjoy possession of.” This meaning is evident in several passages in the […]

The post “We Might Have Enjoyed Our Possessions and the Land of Our Inheritance”: Hebrew yrš and 1 Nephi 17:21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon I: (And) Now” by John Gee in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/verbal-punctuation-in-the-book-of-mormon-i-and-now/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: “And now” as Verbal Punctuation first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “A Comparison of the Book of Mormon’s Subordinate That Usage” by Stanford Carmack in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/a-comparison-of-the-book-of-mormons-subordinate-that-usage/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Explicating Archaic “That” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Jacob Takes Center Stage among the Descendants of Abraham (Genesis 25–27) In Genesis 25, we read about the early history of […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 25-27. Jacob Takes Center Stage among the Descendants of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Genesis 24. A Wife for Isaac Although scholars assign Genesis 22, 23, and 24 to three different sources, all these chapters […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 24. A Wife for Isaac first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Having completed Nibley’s Pearl of Great Price lectures, we return for the next few week’s to his Doctrine and Covenants lectures. During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lessons 25-27 (D&C 64-75) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 9, “The Covenant Is Renewed” on Genesis 24–27. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster and Mike Parker. This roundtable was extracted from the January 16th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-January-16-2022/. The Interpreter Radio […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 9 (Genesis 24–27) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 24 Isaac and Rebekah Have you experienced or seen the hand of the Lord in helping people come together in marriage? After the death of Sarah, Abraham set about to find a wife for his son, Isaac. Note how Abraham sought to involve the Lord: Abraham committed his eldest servant to an oath—in the […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 9 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “Nephi’s Small Plates: A Rhetorical Analysis” by Noel B. Reynolds in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. The full article can be read at https://interpreterfoundation.org/nephis-small-plates-a-rhetorical-analysis/. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Reynolds identifies […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Structuring Nephi’s Record-Keeping first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In previous and pending publications I have proposed interpretations of various features of Nephi’s writings. In this paper I undertake a comprehensive discussion of the seven passages in which Nephi and his successor Jacob explain the difference between the large and the small plates and describe the divinely mandated profile for each. While most […]

The post Nephi’s Small Plates: A Rhetorical Analysis first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Abraham’s Greatest Test (Genesis 21–23) Jewish tradition speaks of the “ten” tests of Abraham,[1] but lists of what they were vary. […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 21-23 Abraham’s Greatest Test first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Genesis 18–20 Overview. Abraham’s Welcome, Sodom’s Wickedness, and Abimelech’s Repentance In these three chapters, we encounter the story of Abraham’s welcome […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 18–20 Overview first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Pearl of Great Price Lecture Series (Joseph Smith—Matthew) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 8, “Is Any Thing Too Hard for the Lord?” on Genesis 18–23. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the January 10th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 8 (Genesis 18–23) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 18:1-19 “Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?” God had previously promised Abraham a posterity greater than the stars in the heavens and the dust of the earth (Genesis 13:16; 15:5; Abraham 3:14; see also Genesis 17:4; 18:18). In Genesis 18:1, the Lord appeared unto Abraham (verse 1), and then Abraham was visited by […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Donald W. Parry, 175 Temple Symbols and Their Meanings (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 310 pages. $26.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In a must-have book written for a Latter-day Saint audience, Donald Parry offers profound insights into 175 features of ancient and modern temples, including architectural features, aspects of ritual, and temple-related doctrine. In this book written for […]

The post A Deeper Understanding of the Temple in 175 Entries first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   The Covenant of Abraham (Genesis 12–17) No greater earthly tribute to the first patriarch of the Bible can be made than […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 12-17. The Covenant of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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[Editor’s Note: Commentaries on the Book of Moses and Genesis Chapters 1 – 10 may be found on the ScripturePlus App from Book of Mormon Central and on the Bible Central website here.]   Genesis 11 Overview. The Tower of Babel Genesis 11 is a variation on the earlier Genesis theme of human efforts bridging […]

The post Old Testament Commentary: Genesis 11 Overview. The Tower of Babel first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the January 30th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. In this episode, our hosts interviewed Ben Spackman, discussing understanding the background of the Old Testament and improving […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 30, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the January 23rd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Mark Johnson. In this episode, our hosts discussed Matt Bowen’s recent Interpreter article on Nephi’s wordplay describing the […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 23, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the January 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Bruce Webster and Mike Parker. In this episode, our hosts discussed Book of Mormon geography. The second portion of the show is a […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 16, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 7 (Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 7, “To Be a Greater Follower of Righteousness” on Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift with Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the January 3rd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 7 (Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 12:1-3; Abraham 1:1-19 Abraham Leaves His Homeland For our study of the prophet Abraham (Abram), we are blessed to have the Pearl of Great Price’s book of Abraham to supplement the Bible’s book of Genesis. Abraham left his homeland of Ur (in the land of the Chaldeans, or Babylonians; in modern-day Iraq) for several […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 7 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Kerry Muhlestein, God Will Prevail: Ancient Covenants, Modern Blessings, and the Gathering of Israel (American Fork, UT: Covenant Communications, 2021). 177 pages. $14.99 (hardcover). Abstract: Covenants are central in the Latter-day Saint temple liturgy, our scriptural canon is infused with them, and General Authorities have increasingly drawn attention to their importance in the […]

The post Covenant Theology for Latter-day Saints first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Alexander L. Baugh, Steven C. Harper, Brent M. Rogers, and Benjamin C. Pykles, eds. Joseph Smith and his First Vision: Context, Place, and Meaning (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2021). 289 pages. $27.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In the year 2020, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated the 200th anniversary of the […]

The post Honoring Joseph’s Theophany Two Centuries Later first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the January 9th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. In this episode, our hosts interviewed Casey Paul Griffiths, author of the acclaimed biography of LDS […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 9, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the January 2nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift with Martin Tanner. In this episode, our hosts talked about President Nelson’s counsel on setting spiritual […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — January 2, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 6 (Genesis 6–11; Moses 8) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 6, “Noah Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord” on Genesis 6-11; Moses 8. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Dan Peterson. This roundtable was extracted from the December 26th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 6 (Genesis 6-11; Moses 8) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 6; Moses 8 The Preface to the Flood We can use these two chapters to create a composite account of the developments that led to the Flood: When Enoch was 65 years old, his son Methuselah was born. Some time after that the Lord called Enoch to preach repentance to a wicked people (Moses […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 6 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This post is a summary of the article “‘The Lord God Will Proceed’: Nephi’s Wordplay in 1 Nephi 22:8–12 and the Abrahamic Covenant” by Matthew L. Bowen in Volume 50 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the “Interpreting Interpreter” series can be found here.   [Author’s Note: I […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: Echoes of Joseph in 1 Nephi 22 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Nephi quotes or alludes to four distinct Old Testament passages — Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 29:14; Isaiah 49:22–23; and Isaiah 52:10 — twice each in 1 Nephi 22:6, 8–12. These four texts form the basis of his description of how the Lord would bring to pass the complete fulfillment of the promises in the Abrahamic […]

The post “The Lord God Will Proceed”: Nephi’s Wordplay in 1 Nephi 22:8–12 and the Abrahamic Covenant first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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I know, I know. Here I am, having just barely finished an entire essay series for The Interpreter Foundation blog, writing yet more stuff. Apparently they weren’t sick of me yet, and If you’re not sick of me either, don’t worry—it’s only a matter of time. What the “Interpreting Interpreter” series represents is summaries of […]

The post Interpreting Interpreter: On Abstracting Thought first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the December 26th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Steve Densley, Matthew Bowen and Dan Peterson. In this episode, our hosts talked about Christmas as well as updates on the Interpreter Foundation […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 26, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 5 (Moses 7) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 5, “The Lord Called His People Zion” on Moses 7. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. This roundtable was extracted from the December 19th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreter-radio-show-December-19-2021/. The […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 5 (Moses 7) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Moses 7:1-12 “I Beheld the Heavens Open” Enoch received the priesthood at age 25, being ordained by Adam (see D&C 107:48). In this chapter, Enoch’s powerful ministry continues, and the account offers a treasure of history, doctrine, prophecy, and visionary experiences. In verses 1, 10-13 Enoch continued his invitations to the people to be baptized, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the December 19th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. In this episode, our hosts discussed the Church’s official proclamations. The second portion of the show is a […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 19, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The John A. Widtsoe Foundation is deeply committed to elevating dialogue between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other religious communities. During the 2022 calendar year, Latter-day Saints will study the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible as individuals, families, and in weekly church meetings, which presents a unique interfaith opportunity. […]

The post John A. Widtsoe Foundation “Come Follow Me” Conversations about the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The Book of Mormon, being an ancient book, was originally written without typographic punctuation and employs verbal punctuation instead. This article looks at the use of “and now” as verbal punctuation in the Book of Mormon. The phrase is used to mark major breaks in the text, not only for chapters but also within chapters of the text. […]

The post Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon I: (And) Now first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the December 12th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson and Jeffrey Bradshaw. In this episode, our hosts discussed Dr. Bradshaw’s new books on the Pearl of Great Price. […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 12, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 4 (Genesis 5; Moses 6) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 4, “Teach These Things Freely unto Your Children” on Genesis 5; Moses 6. The panelists for this roundtable were Martin Tanner, Terry Hutchinson and Jeffrey Bradshaw. This roundtable was extracted from the December 12th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 4 (Genesis 5; Moses 6) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 5 “The Generations of Adam” In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many priesthood holders value their “line of authority,” which lists the men through whom their priesthood ordinations have passed, from the Savior Jesus Christ to themselves. In Genesis 5 we have a record of the “generations” or genealogy of fathers […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 4 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper compares the Book of Mormon’s subordinate that usage with what is found in the King James Bible, pseudo-archaic writings, and the greater textual record. In this linguistic domain, the Book of Mormon manifests as thoroughly archaic, and it surpasses all known pseudo-archaic writings in breadth and depth of archaism. The implications of […]

The post A Comparison of the Book of Mormon’s Subordinate That Usage first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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On August 13 2002, Elder Neal A Maxwell delivered an address at the Twenty-Sixth Annual Church Educational System Religious Educators Conference at Brigham Young University. Through the good offices of Jeff Bradshaw, we have obtained and posted on YouTube the following full-length video of the meeting that day plus a short video of highlights from […]

The post “Our Creator’s Cosmos” – Neal A. Maxwell (2002) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the December 5th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. In this episode, our hosts discussed the First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional as well as the Church’s […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — December 5, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 3 (Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 3, “The Fall of Adam and Eve” on Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the December 5th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 3 (Genesis 3-4; Moses 4-5) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 3; Moses 4 The Fall The Bible account of the Fall of Adam and Eve is greatly enlarged and enhanced by Moses 4 in the Pearl of Great Price: Genesis 3 summary The serpent tempts Eve to partake of the forbidden fruit and she relents. Eve then offers the fruit to Adam, and he […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 3 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Can people be good without believing in God? Obviously, yes. They can. Is atheistic naturalism capable of supplying a foundation for morality? That is a separate question, to which more than a few theists have answered No. However, a relatively new book by a very prominent student of religion and society suggests otherwise. A […]

The post If God Does Not Exist, Is Everything Permitted? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 2 (Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 2, “In the Beginning God Created the Heaven and the Earth” on Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5. The panelists for this roundtable were Mark Johnson, Matthew Bowen and Kerry Muhlestein. This roundtable was extracted from the November 28th broadcast of Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 2 (Genesis 1-2; Moses 2-3; Abraham 4-5) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Genesis 1; Moses 2; Abraham 4 The Creation The book of Genesis (which means “the beginning”) was written under inspiration from God by the prophet Moses, centuries after the events it chronicles. Genesis recounts the Creation and the Fall, plus parts of the lives and ministries of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 2: Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: As religious holidays go, Christmas has been domesticated unusually well — and effectively commercialized — among people and even whole cultures that don’t accept (or even care about) the central theological claim that Christmas asserts. After all, who doesn’t like cute little babies, at least when they’re not crying? But that theological claim is […]

The post Christmas and a Condescending God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the November 28th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Mark Johnson, Matthew Bowen and Kerry Muhlestein. In this episode, our hosts discussed new books on Abraham, Moses and Isaiah. The second portion […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 28, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During the Winter Semester of 1986 at Brigham Young University, Dr. Hugh W. Nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scriptures, presented a series of 26 lectures to an Honors class on The Pearl of Great Price. This class was videotaped in the Maeser Building and made available by FARMS as both video and audio recordings. The […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 1 (Moses 1; Abraham 3) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 1, “This Is My Work and My Glory” on Moses 1; Abraham 3. The panelists for this roundtable were Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Mike Parker. This roundtable was extracted from the November 21st broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 1 (Moses 1; Abraham 3) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Old Testament and the Books of Moses and Abraham The Old Testament teaches about the Creation of the earth and the Fall of Adam and Eve, followed by portions of the history of God’s dealings with His people, covering approximately 4,000 BC to 450 BC, with numerous gaps. The Bible is a companion witness, […]

The post Old Testament Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 1: Moses 1; Abraham 3 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. Enoch and the Gathering of Zion: The Witness of Ancient Texts for Modern Scripture. Orem, Springville, and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation, Book of Mormon Central, and Eborn Books, 2021. https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/enoch-and-the-gathering-of-zion/. This Interpreter preprint reproduces the first three chapters of Enoch and the Gathering of Zion. The full citation and […]

The post Enoch and the Gathering of Zion first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of S. Michael Wilcox, Holding On: Impulses to Leave and Strategies to Stay (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2021). 128 pages. $11.99 (paperback). Abstract: In his latest book, S. Michael Wilcox has written a masterpiece on grappling with doubts and overcoming our impulses to leave the Church. Wilcox displays a refreshing degree of personal vulnerability and openness, deep empathy and […]

The post A Masterpiece on Resisting Our Impulses to Leave first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Review of Robert J. Sawyer, Calculating God (New York: Tom Doherty Associates, 2000). 336 pp. $23.99 (paperback). Abstract: In an entertaining and provocative science fiction novel, Calculating God, Robert J. Sawyer presents us with a likable alien scientist visiting earth to obtain more data about God’s ongoing work of creation. The alien is astounded that a human scientist does not believe […]

The post Beyond Calculation: A Review of Robert J. Sawyer’s Calculating God first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the November 21st broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson and Mike Parker. In this episode, our hosts introduced the Books of Abraham and Moses. The second portion of […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 21, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19 (D&C 46-48) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 52, “The Matchless Gift of God’s Divine Son” on Christmas. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. This roundtable was extracted from the November 14th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 52 (Christmas) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Living Christ, The Testimony of the Apostles As our calendar changed to the 2000s, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints determined to “commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago” (first paragraph). They issued this document and titled it, “The Living […]

The post Doctrine and Covenants Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 52 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to share here a video of an event that Deseret Book and Excel Entertainment sponsored in Provo on October 14, 2021. The event celebrated the release of the Interpreter Foundation’s dramatic film, Witnesses, on DVD and via streaming. Most though not quite all of the program was occupied by a […]

The post Deseret Book’s What is My Witness Event first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Bradshaw, Jeffrey M. The First Days and the Last Days: A Verse-By-Verse Commentary on the Book of Moses and JS—Matthew in Light of the Temple. Orem and Salt Lake City, UT: The Interpreter Foundation and Eborn Books, 2021. https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/the-first-days-and-the-last-days/. This Interpreter preprint reproduces the Joseph Smith—Matthew commentary from The First Days and the Last Days. […]

The post The First Days and the Last Days first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Racial bias is antithetical to the Book of Mormon’s cardinal purpose: to proclaim the infinite grandeur of the atonement of Jesus Christ. The book teaches that the Lord welcomes and redeems the entire human family, “black and white, bond and free” — people of all hues from ebony to ivory. Critical thinkers have struggled to reconcile […]

The post Demythicizing the Lamanites’ “Skin of Blackness” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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After summarizing the strongest pieces of evidence we’ve considered in our statistical journey, we discuss what we can conclude from our Bayesian analyses. Though that evidence doesn’t represent unassailable proof for the Restoration and all it entails, what it does is show how belief in an authentic Book of Mormon can be reasonable, which supports further reasoned belief in God and Christ.

The post Estimating the Evidence, Episode 23: On Conclusions first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 18 (D&C 45) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 51, “The Family Is Central to the Creator’s Plan” on The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the November 7th broadcast of Interpreter […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 51 (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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The Family: A Proclamation to the World Introduction What does the word “proclaim” mean to you? What truths would you wish to proclaim, announce, or declare to all the world? In the October 1995 general conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley introduced this proclamation, which was the fifth proclamation issued to all the world by the […]

The post Doctrine and Covenants Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 51 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: The word of the Lord and the word of God are common expressions in the Bible. Frequently, these phrases refer to the written or spoken covenantal words of God to his people as given through the prophets. However, exegetical study of these expressions has revealed that they also serve as metonyms, or substitutions for […]

The post The Word of the Lord as a Metonym for Christ first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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It seems unlikely that the Book of Abraham would disagree with what the most learned academic minds would have to say on the subject, or that a fraudulent one could produce any degree of agreement with an accurate translation.

The post Estimating the Evidence, Episode 22: On the Book of Abraham first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 17 (D&C 41-44) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 50, “We Believe” on The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2. The panelists for this roundtable were Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. This roundtable was extracted from the October 31st broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 50 (The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Articles of Faith Background and Introduction The Articles of Faith were written in 1842 by the Prophet Joseph Smith in response to a request from John Wentworth, editor of the Chicago Democrat newspaper, who wanted information concerning the history and beliefs of the Church. Joseph responded by writing what came to be known as “the […]

The post Doctrine and Covenants Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 50 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: This paper describes and compares the Book of Mormon’s 12 instances of complex finite cause syntax, the structure exemplified by the language of Ether 9:33: “the Lord did cause the serpents that they should pursue them no more.” This is not King James language or currently known to be pseudo-archaic language (language used by modern authors seeking […]

The post The Book of Mormon’s Complex Finite Cause Syntax first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the November 14th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. In this episode, our hosts discussed the 20th anniversary of Kevin’s important paper Paradigms Regained. The […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 14, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the November 7th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift. In this episode, our hosts discussed the The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The second […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 7, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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It seems unlikely that the Book of Mormon could have so many names that can be traced to ancient Semitic and Egyptian, and for those ancient meanings to form wordplays and other connections with the text itself. There’s been a substantial amount of faithful scholarship looking at the dozens of unique personal and geographic names in the Book of Mormon, scholarship that purports to find a large number of interesting connections with Semitic and Egyptian languages.

The post Estimating the Evidence, Episode 21: On Onomastic Origins first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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You can listen to or download the October 31st broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). This episode is hosted by Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. In this episode, our hosts discussed a list of the best books on scripture and religion. The second […]

The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 31, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were recently digitized by Steve Whitlock. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start at the beginning of the […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15 (D&C 30-36) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 49, “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” on D&C 137-138. The panelists for this roundtable were Steve Densley and Mark Johnson. This roundtable was extracted from the October 24th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may be heard […]

The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 49 (D&C 137-138) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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D&C 137 “The Heavens Were Opened Upon Us” Joseph Smith’s oldest brother Alvin had been enthusiastic about the visits of the angel Moroni and encouraged Joseph to be faithful in order to obtain the plates from which Joseph was to translate the Book of Mormon. But Alvin died at age 25 in November 1823, only […]

The post Doctrine and Covenants Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 49 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: In this fascinating article, Jeff Bradshaw details how the Book of Moses might be understood as a temple text, including elements of temple architecture, furnishings, and ritual in the story of the Creation and the Fall. Bradshaw shows how the second half of the Book of Moses follows a general pattern of a specific […]

The post The Book of Moses as a Temple Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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Abstract: Following the discovery of delocutive verbs and their likely usage in the Hebrew Bible, Meredith Kline proposed that the verb האמין (he’emin) in Genesis 15:6 — traditionally interpreted as a denominative verb meaning “he believed” — should be understood as a delocutive verb meaning “he declared ‘amen.’” Rather than reading Genesis 15:6 as a passive statement — Abraham believed […]

The post Abraham’s Amen and Believing in Christ: Possible Applications in the Book of Mormon Text first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

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It seems unlikely that Book of Mormon place names would be so similar to places in the area around Palmyra. In the early 1990s, a map presented by Vernal Holley purported to show place names in a broad area around Palmyra that were present in an altered fashion within the Book of Mormon.

The post Estimating the Evidence, Episode 20: On Place-Name Plagiarism first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.