Nibley Fellowships Assist Rising Scholars,
2023
Brigham Young University
Nibley Fellowships Assist Rising Scholars
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
For a number of years FARMS has sponsored a graduate fellowship program that gives financial aid to students pursuing advanced degrees in fields of special interest to FARMS. Named in honor of eminent Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh Nibley, the Nibley Fellowship is made possible by generous donations from individuals committed to helping further the mission of the Foundation.
Dulling Occam's Razor,
2023
Brigham Young University
Dulling Occam's Razor, John W. Welch
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
William of Occam, an important medieval philosopher, became famous for using a rule of logic that has become a fundamental building block of modern scientific analysis. In one of its more popular formulations, this principle, known as Occam's Razor, considers it axiomatic that the simplest possible solution is the best solution. In many cases, this approach is reasonable. For example, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line (on a Euclidean plane), and a simple computer program takes less memory and therefore runs faster than a more sophisticated one. In other cases, however, Occam's Razor does not seem …
Why Nephi Wrote The Small Plates: Serving Practical Needs,
2023
Brigham Young University
Why Nephi Wrote The Small Plates: Serving Practical Needs, John W. Welch
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Nephi wrote his small plates soon after important events such as Lehi's death, Nephi's separation from his rebellious brothers, and the establishment of the reign of kings (see last month's research update). Recognizing when he wrote, we can better appreciate not only Nephi's stated reasons for writing the small plates but also subtle underlying motivations behind his inspired selection and treatment of this material.
Cpart Assesses Manuscript Archives In Be_I_Rut, Vc;1,~L~~N,
2023
Brigham Young University
Cpart Assesses Manuscript Archives In Be_I_Rut, Vc;1,~L~~N
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
In February, Daniel C. Peterson and E. Jan Wilson of the FARMS Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART) visited with officials in Beirut, Lebanon, and at the Vatican Apostolic Library in Rome to determine the feasibility of digitally imaging ancient religious manuscripts for inclusion in a CD-ROM database. If undertaken, the project stands to benefit not only the many communities whose religious heritages will be preserved, but also Westerners who know very little about Syriac, Christian Arabic, and Armenian theology, liturgy, philosophy, and history-much of it relevant to the study of early Christianity.
Farms Lecture Series Focuses On Book Of Abraham,
2023
Brigham Young University
Farms Lecture Series Focuses On Book Of Abraham
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
During a March lecture series at Brigham Young University, three Latter-day Saint scholars shared recent research on the Book of Abraham. This research supports the ancient origin and character of the Book of Abraham. Sponsored by FARMS, the free public lectures drew large crowds, filling an auditorium to capacity and necessitating overflow accommodations. (The final lecture, "Abraham's Creation Drama," given by Hugh Nibley on 6 April, will be covered in next month's newsletter.)
Full Issue,
2023
Brigham Young University
Full Issue
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
No abstract provided.
Nibley On The Infancy Gospels,
2023
Brigham Young University
Nibley On The Infancy Gospels
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
A mass of popular fables and miracle stories about Jesus' childhood have come down to us as the "Infancy Gospels." In Mormonism and Early Christianity, Hugh Nibley calls these stories unabashed daydreams in which Jesus is always the "super-boy" whose tricks are the dread and envy of all his fellows.
New Book, Video On Dead Sea Scrolls,
2023
Brigham Young University
New Book, Video On Dead Sea Scrolls
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
FARMS is pleased to make available a new volume containing the proceedings of the international conference on the Dead Sea Scrolls held at Brigham Young University on 15-17 July 1996. Sponsored by BYU and FARMS, the conference attracted scroll scholars from around the world, many of whom presented their latest research. Edited by Donald W. Parry and Eugene Ulrich, The Provo International Conference on the Dead Sea Scrolls: Technological Innovations, New Texts, and Reformulated Issues marks a milestone in scroll research.
A Literary Analysis Of Moroni 7,
2023
Brigham Young University
A Literary Analysis Of Moroni 7, Richard Dilworth Rust
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Moroni 7 is one of the most tightly woven and forceful sermons in the Book of Mormon. Recorded by Mormon's son Moroni, this sermon on faith, hope, and charity is particularly poignant because Mormon has been killed by the Lamanites and Moroni is the solitary survivor. We can picture Moroni rereading this sermon in order to strengthen his own faith, hope, and charity-topics he addresses in his concluding words in the Book of Mormon.
When Did Nephi Write The Small Plates?,
2023
Brigham Young University
When Did Nephi Write The Small Plates?, John W. Welch
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
In reading 1 Nephi, few people stop to think when Nephi actually wrote this account of his family's flight from Jerusalem and journey across the sea to a land of promise. Knowing when Nephi began to write the small plates (beginning with the account we now have in 1 Nephi) clarifies the purposes that stand behind that record and influenced its final form and content.
Bookstore Discounts For Farms Members,
2023
Brigham Young University
Bookstore Discounts For Farms Members
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
FARMS members can now enjoy an additional benefit of membership. Upon presenting a membership card at participating bookstores, they will receive the same 20 percent discount on FARMS products that they currently receive on many items by ordering directly through FARMS. The membership card is enclosed in this mailing.
Sermon On The Mount Symposium Convened,
2023
Brigham Young University
Sermon On The Mount Symposium Convened
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
At a FARMS symposium held on the BYU campus on 6 February 1999, John W. Welch discussed his newly revised and updated book, Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple and Sermon on the Mount: An Approach to 3 Nephi 11-18 and Matthew 5-7. He also responded to comments from a panel of five BYU professors who explored the implications of his thesis that the Sermon on the Mount is best understood in a temple context.
Full Issue,
2023
Brigham Young University
Full Issue
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
No abstract provided.
Dead Sea Scrolls Documentary Available On Video,
2023
Brigham Young University
Dead Sea Scrolls Documentary Available On Video
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the status of ongoing scroll research by scholars from Brigham Yow1g University and FARMS were the focus of a one-hour KBYU-TV documentary that premiered on 24 January 1999. Titled LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls, the program is available on videocassette from FARMS (see the order form).
Study Guides On New Testament Themes Available,
2023
Brigham Young University
Study Guides On New Testament Themes Available
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
Richard Lloyd Anderson, professor emeritus of church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University, has made available two outstanding course supplements on the New Testament. His expansive knowledge of the New Testament and early Christianity is readily apparent in Guide to the Life of Christ and Guide to Acts and the Apostles' Letters.
The Sermon On The Mount: Restoration Of The Higher Law,
2023
Brigham Young University
The Sermon On The Mount: Restoration Of The Higher Law, John A. Tvedtnes
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus introduced a higher law that had not been in force since the days of Moses. In order to fully understand the sermon, we must begin by examining the law of Moses.
Ancient Manuscripts Fit Book Of Mormon Pattern,
2023
Brigham Young University
Ancient Manuscripts Fit Book Of Mormon Pattern, John Gee, John A. Tvedtnes
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
The Prophet Joseph Smith's claim that he translated an ancient text from gold plates he had found buried in the ground was greeted with disbelief in the press and in early anti-Mormon literature. Alexander Campbell, a prominent American religious leader who wrote the first book critical of the Book of Mormon, scoffed at the fact that it had been translated "from the reformed Egyptian!!!" Critics derided the Book of Mormon by calling it the "gold Bible," reflecting the skepticism about scripture being written on metal plates.
Chiasmus Bibliography Marks Thirty Years Of Research,
2023
Brigham Young University
Chiasmus Bibliography Marks Thirty Years Of Research
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
As a missionary in Germany in 1967, John W. Welch, along with his companion, attended a theological lecture in which the professor explained chiasmus, a kind of literary parallelism prevalent in the Bible. Soon thereafter Welch was the first person to discover superb examples of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, a strong indication of that record's ancient and artistic composition. Bringing this to the professor's attention, Welch was unceremoniously dismissed. But the response a few months later from a Jesuit priest who was an authority on the subject was encouraging, even prophetic: "You are very fortunate. I think you …
Was Mulek A "Blood Son" Of King Zedekiah?,
2023
Brigham Young University
Was Mulek A "Blood Son" Of King Zedekiah?, John L. Sorenson
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
The Book of Mormon identifies Mulek as the only son of King Zedekiah to escape execution during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem (Omni 1:15; Helaman 8:21). Like the Lehites, Mulek and those with him fled Jerusalem and were "brought by the hand of the Lord across the great waters" (Omni 1:16). Descendants of the group later settled in the land of Zarahemla, where the people under Mosiah discovered them and Mosiah became king when the two groups merged into a single polity (Omni 1:19).
Imaging Charred Scrolls: Petra And Herculaneum,
2023
Brigham Young University
Imaging Charred Scrolls: Petra And Herculaneum
Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship
FARMS is involved in two overseas projects in which its use of state-of-the-art multispectral imaging technology is helping illuminate the writing on ancient scrolls damaged by fire long ago.
