Mormon Studies Commons^™

Travel Across The "Narrow Neck Of Land", Matthew Roper

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

In recent years a number of Book of Mormon scholars have associated the "narrow neck of land" mentioned by Mormon with the Mexican Isthmus of Tehuantepec. Mormon states that it was approximately "a day and a half's journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea" (Alma 22:32). This was the speed "for a Nephite," and presumably a group of people or even a non-Nephite might take longer. Moreover, since Mormon was speaking of a fortified line of defense along which communication would be desirable, the phrase "for a Nephite" …

Cpart Digitizes Archives In Lebanon And Vatican

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

In April 1999 INSIGHTS reported on negotiations between representatives of the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART) at Brigham Young University and officials in Beirut, Lebanon, and at the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome about digitally imaging ancient Syriac manuscripts for inclusion in CD-ROM databases. Since then agreements have been forged and work is under way.

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Journal Devoted To Questions Of Ancient Transoceanic Contacts

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Academia has often ignored controversial evidence of early cultural contact between the Old and New Worlds. Pre-Columbiana: A Journal of Long-Distance Contacts brings attention to rigorous scholarship supporting diffusionist claims while meeting the demands of scholarly and scientific objectivity. Developed by Stephen C. Jett, a geography professor at the University of California, Davis, the interdisciplinary journal offers studies that have been reviewed by a panel of scholars that includes John L. Sorenson, a BYU emeritus professor of anthropology and FARMS associate who has published widely on the subject.

New Festschrift Explores Scripture And Ancient World

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

When Richard L. Anderson retired from the Religious Education faculty at Brigham Young · University in 1996, the Department of Religious Education and FARMS agreed to sponsor a Festschrift (a compilation of essays written in honor of an individual) that would commemorate his distinguished academic career. The positive response from Anderson's friends and colleagues who wished to contribute to the publication has resulted in two volumes of scholarly articles.

Dead Sea Scrolls Traveling Exhibit Update

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

As reported in last month's issue of INSIGHTS, a free exhibit featuring Dead Sea Scroll replicas and artifacts is touring the Midwest until 15 August 2000. The LDS Church, BYU, and FARMS organized the traveling exhibit, which has drawn large, appreciative crowds at its various stops at LDS stake centers.

Recent Farms Books On The Dead Sea Scrolls

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Since their initial discovery in 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls have stirred public curiosity. For Latter-day Saints, who believe in the coming forth of sacred records in the last days, the scrolls give rise to such questions as Are there references to Christ or Christianity in the scrolls? Is the plan of salvation attested in the scrolls? Do the scrolls refer to Joseph Smith or other latter-day figures? This short book succinctly deals with these and other questions on topics of particular interest to LDS readers.

Farms Order Form

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Donald W. Parry and Dana M. Pike, eds., LOS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls, 1997, 225 pp., softbound.

Lecture Series Continues To Inform, Advance Research

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The noontime lecture series sponsored by FARMS continues to keep the BYU campus community and other interested persons abreast of current research on scripture-related topics. Since the beginning of the year, several researchers have reported on their work in order to share their findings, answer questions and receive constructive comment, and stimulate further research. Three lectures are reported below (next month's newsletter will continue the report).

New Edition Of Abraham In Egypt Released

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Eminent LDS scholar Hugh W. Nibley has long been a student and defender of the Book of Abraham. Now released in an enlarged and expanded second edition, Nibley's Abraham in Egypt (originally published by Deseret Book in 1981) focuses on the authenticity of the Book of Abraham. The edition includes four new chapters and several new sections within existing chapters. Additionally, more than 100 helpful illustrations enhance the text, and meticulous source checking and a new documentation format make the references easier for the reader to navigate.

Farms Web Site Features Insightful Papers

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Under both the Free Services and Member/services sections of the FARMS Web site is a link called Featured Papers, where each month (and sometimes more often) a different FARMS paper is featured . Visitors to the site can read the paper online or print it out. To print the paper in a reader-friendly format, choose the print icon at the top of the displayed paper rather than the print command from your operating system. The regular print command will print the paper but not preserve the formatting.

Divine Speech Texts In The Book Of Mormon

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Readers of the Book of Mormon may be surprised to learn just how much of the text contains words attributed to deity.

In many cases the Book of Mormon writers took special care to state when they were quoting the Lord's words. For example, in Jacob 2 the prophet Jacob introduces the Lord's words by saying, "Hearken to · the word of the Lord." Then, in the lengthy quotation that follows, he is careful to insert several attribution markers, such as "thus saith the Lord of Hosts," before closing the direct quotation with the phrase "saith the Lord of Hosts" …

Evidence Surveyed For Book Of Mormon Authenticity, Old World-New World Contacts

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Two recent magazine articles on topics of interest in Book of Mormon studies are available from FARMS as reprints (see the order form).

The first article, "Mounting Evidence for the Book of Mormon," by Daniel C. Peterson, appeared in the January 2000 issue of the Ensign magazine. The article explains the role of Book of Mormon scholarship, notes the tremendous surge in publications of that kind in recent years, and highlights secondary evidence that supports the book's claim to ancient origins and inspired translation.

To All The World: A Trove Of Book Of Mormon Studies

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

To All the World: The Book of Mormon Articles from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism conveniently gathers 151 informative articles on the Book of Mormon under one cover. This new book from FARMS offers concise, encyclopedic treatments of numerous topics that will enhance understanding and appreciation of the Book of Mormon.

The Zionist Mindset: How The Perception Of Israel Pushed Mormonism Toward Apocalypticism, Andrew Barber

Student Research Symposium

Since its very inception, and regardless of sect, the Mormon religious movement has always shared a similar ideology of Millennialism, the belief that Christ is preparing the world and especially Israel, for his imminent return. But especially, the mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has felt a parallel between their religious persecution and exodus to the Salt Lake Valley, and the similar Jewish Exodus and religious persecution both in the Old Testament and during the Holocaust.

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Forthcoming Publications

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Abraham in Egypt, by Hugh W. Nibley, second edition, edited by Gary P. Gillum. This book duplicates the original 1981 volume published by Deseret Book but adds chapters from Nibley's "A New Look at the Pearl of Great Price" series that appeared in the Improvement Era from 1968 to 1970. Nibley examines discoveries that have shed light on Abraham and his times and that help confirm the authenticity of the Book of Abraham. Available in spring 2000.

Byu Devotional Transcript On Ancient Records

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

Newly available from FARMS are transcripts of Daniel C. Peterson's BYU devotional address given on 3 August 1999. Peterson's remarks focused on BYU's role in the research and publication of ancient documents. "There is divine purpose in the things that I will treat today," Peterson began. "I believe that there is more going on here than our own merely human efforts can fully explain."

Third Volume Of Islamic Translation Series Released

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

With the release of a third volume, and with several more soon to follow, the continuity of the Islamic Translation Series is assured. The latest volume is an English translation of a newly prepared critical text of The Philosophy of Illumination, by Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi. Like the other books in the series, it belongs to a rich tradition of medieval Islamic philosophy and mysticism that has, until now, remained obscure in the Western world and largely unavailable in English translation.

Farms Web Site Features Information On The Dead Sea Scrolls

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The FARMS Web site now offers a link to material on the Dead Sea Scrolls. To access it from the Member Services section or the Free Services section of the FARMS Web site, click on the heading "Dead Sea Scrolls," found under "Links of Interest." Nine topics will appear, covering general information on the scrolls as well as information on the scroll exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago and the traveling scroll exhibit currently touring Latter-day Saint stake centers in the Midwest.