Wednesday Seminar,
2023
Brigham Young University
Wednesday Seminar
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Beginning in February, an informal working seminar will meet at BYU every second and fourth Wednesday, at 12:00 noon, in 919 SWKT, for lunch and to discuss Book of Mormon research in progress. Interested people are welcome to contact Noel Reynolds, 764 SWKT, BYU, (801) 378-2391, for further information .
Hofmann Admits Forgery,
2023
Brigham Young University
Hofmann Admits Forgery
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
F.A.R.M.S. members outside of Utah may be unaware of new developments regarding Mark Hofmann, who has recently pleaded guilty to reduced murder and fraud charges and has been sentenced to prison. Part of the plea bargaining included Hofmann's agreement to tell all about his forging of documents purporting to related to LDS Church and colonial U.S. history. Hofmann has admitted that the "Salamander Letter" was a hoax, and indications are that all major documents he "found" during the past nine years may prove to have been extremely clever and insidious frauds. The sadness of this situation is inexpressible. We extend …
Advisory Board,
2023
Brigham Young University
Advisory Board
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
The F.A.R.M.S. Advisory Board has recently been expanded and more specifically organized. John Sorenson has become the Chairman of the Board. Three standing committees have been formed and are now operational. They are the Research Committee (Stephen Ricks, chai r; with William Evenson, Noel Reynolds, Chauncey Riddle, and Robert K. Thomas); the Evaluation Committee (John Sorenson, chair; with Bill Hess, Kirk Magleby, Harold Miller, Douglas Phillips, and Jay Todd); and the Production Committee (Jack Welch, chair; with Merrill Bateman, Robert Driggs, and Charles Tate). All these people serve as volunteers. Their time, efforts, and wisdom are greatly appreciated in steering …
Forms Of Nephite Laws Considered,
2023
Brigham Young University
Forms Of Nephite Laws Considered
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Ancient Near Eastern and Biblical laws were written according to certain stylistic conventions. Two such formal aspects of ancient law have recently been used to sharpen our understanding of Nephite law as well. In "Series of Laws in the Book of Mormon," John W. Welch examines ten significantly consistent law lists from which one can reconstruct a fairly clear picture of the underlying Nephite law code and its relationship to the Code of the Covenant in Exodus 20-23.
Why Did Nephi Write 1 Nephi?,
2023
Brigham Young University
Why Did Nephi Write 1 Nephi?
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Nephi's primary stated purpose for writing the book of 1 Nephi was "to persuade men to come unto God" (1 Ne. 6:4). In addition, his writings served several other unstated purposes, as Noel B. Reynolds demonstrates in "The Political Dimensions of Nephi 's Small Plates." Nephi was the fourth son in his family, and, as such, he was not entitled to the rights of leadership and ownership belonging to the eldest son.
Nibley On Change, Utopians, And Sacred Vestments,
2023
Brigham Young University
Nibley On Change, Utopians, And Sacred Vestments
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Three new papers are added at this time to our Nibley Archive. The first, a speech entitled "Change Out of Control," is about the inevitable and constant role of change in the history of mankind and in the progress of the individual soul." The Gospel invites us to move toward the unknown," especially through "individual freedom to repent and go the other way."
Warfare In The Book Of Mormon,
2023
Brigham Young University
Warfare In The Book Of Mormon
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Matthew Hilton's lengthy study, "Preliminary Summary of Nephite Armed Conflict in the Book of Mormon," outlines and abstracts virtually every event and passage-and then some-dealing in any way with warfare. The paper is chronologically arranged and is designed strictly as a reference tool.
Study Of Hebrew Poetry Expands,
2023
Brigham Young University
Study Of Hebrew Poetry Expands
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Angela Crowell has published a multifaceted study of Hebrew poetry in the Book of Mormon, now available as reprint CRW-86. It originally appeared in the Zarahemla Record. This article gives scores of examples illustrating dozens of stylistic patterns and devices known to Bible scholars and also occurring in the Book of Mormon. This contribution not only deepens our reading and appreciation of the scripture, it also demonstrates the frequent subtlety and great complexity of the record.
Updates For 1986--Full Of Ideas And Information,
2023
Brigham Young University
Updates For 1986--Full Of Ideas And Information
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Each month the Foundation prepares an Update describing a new item of ongoing research. These Updates are concise statements of interesting developments, aimed at the general reader. Like executive business reports, they are factual and documented, but straightforward and practical. They are mailed each month to active researchers, contributors, and volunteers.
Expanded Book Of Mormon Bibliography Ready For Distribution,
2023
Brigham Young University
Expanded Book Of Mormon Bibliography Ready For Distribution
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
The "Comprehensive Bibliography of the Book of Mormon (through December 1986)" has reached a sufficient stage of completion that it is now available for order. Known around F.A.R.M.S. by its computer code name of "BigBib;' it lists almost 4,000 books, articles, papers, talks, and all sorts of items about the Book of Mormon. This almost doubles the size of the now superseded Book of Mormon bibliography F.A.R.M.S. has been distributing since 1982.
Full Issue,
2023
Brigham Young University
Full Issue
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
No abstract provided.
New Audiovisual Materials,
2023
Brigham Young University
New Audiovisual Materials
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
On May 10, 1988, John W. Welch gave the Devotional address at Brigham Young University. In this inspiring talk entitled "Study, Faith, and the Book of Mormon," he discussed recent studies of the Book of Mormon and how they can increase our appreciation for the book. The video and the transcript of this talk are now available.
More Nibley,
2023
Brigham Young University
More Nibley
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
"Last Call: An Apocalyptic Warning from the Book of Mormon," is an article based on a talk given by Nibley at the 1986 Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City. It is a call to modern society to learn from examples in the Book of Mormon. He stresses the fact that the Book of Mormon was written to the people of our time and that Mormons as well as gentiles must repent.
Study Aids Added,
2023
Brigham Young University
Study Aids Added
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
In the article "B. H. Roberts: The Book of Mormon and the Atonement," Truman G. Madsen looks at B. H. Roberts' view of the atonement and the importance of the Book of Mormon in understanding it. The information comes from the last book B. H. Roberts wrote, ''The Truth, the Way and the Life," which was never published.
Did Lehi Land In Chile?,
2023
Brigham Young University
Did Lehi Land In Chile?
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
This Paper examines a statement, written by Frederick G. Williams in the early days of the church, which says that Lehi landed "on the continent of South America in Chile thirty degrees south Latitude." The author, Frederick G. Williams, is the great-great-grandson of Frederick G. Williams.
Wordprint Analysis In The Book Of Mormon,
2023
Brigham Young University
Wordprint Analysis In The Book Of Mormon
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
"Since the advent of modern programmable high speed computers, a new science of computer assisted literary 'stylometry' or 'wordprinting' has been developing. By statistically analyzing the small non-contextual word patterns of a disputed document, it is now possible to test which suspected authors did not write a given work," reports John L. HIiton.
Lehi's Ocean Voyage,
2023
Brigham Young University
Lehi's Ocean Voyage
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
John L. Sorenson has taken a look at the oceanic crossing of Lehi and his family in his Reprint ''Transoceanic Crossings." To get as much as possible out of the brief account contained in 1 Nephi, Sorenson asks 36 pertinent questions and develops a body of information about the voyage.
Nephi's Vision And The Revelation Of John,
2023
Brigham Young University
Nephi's Vision And The Revelation Of John
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
''The revelations of Nephi and of John have more in common . .. than merely the apocalyptic form, for Nephi's vision anticipates that of John. The two are complementary, centering in part on the same characters and themes: the Lamb and his Church, the Apostasy, the great and abominable church of the devil, and the restoration of the gospel in the latter days," asserts Stephen E. Robinson in "Early Christianity and 1 Nephi 13-14" and 'Warring Against the Saints of God."
Who Wrote The Title Page?,
2023
Brigham Young University
Who Wrote The Title Page?
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Daniel Ludlow has taken a careful look at the title page of the Book of Mormon in his Paper ''The Title Page." Examining title pages in all major editions of the Book of Mormon, he compares printing history, wording, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. He also has studied how the original paragraphing and punctuation were added by a typesetter.
New Farms Catalog Now Available,
2023
Brigham Young University
New Farms Catalog Now Available
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
One of the main functions of F.A.R.M.S. is to make information about Book of Mormon research available to the public as economically as possible. Providing a complimentary catalog to interested individuals is the first step toward achieving this goal.
