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"I Know The Dream Mine Is True": Mormons, Mining, And The Making Of "Bad Religion" In Early Twentieth-Century Utah, Christine V. Shell

American Studies ETDs

In 1894, folksy Mormon farmer-turned-prophet John H. Koyle, Jr, dreamed that an angel from the Book of Mormon showed him where and how to mine for golden ore and Book of Mormon treasures. Shortly afterwards, Koyle and a handful of friends established the “Dream Mine” at the revealed location, and as word spread additional workers joined the cause—for this was a mine destined to save the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members from financial and spiritual ruin during the long-foretold apocalyptic “Last Days.”

Koyle’s followers took delight and solace from their participation in the Dream Mine’s …

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

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Third Nephi And Pseudo-Gospels Compared

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

The account of the ministry of the resurrected Lord in 3 Nephi has been called the Fifth Gospel of Jesus Christ One way to appreciate this record's qualities is to compare it with several works which fabricate gospel-like materials. By comparison, the Book of Mormon is categorically superior.

New Compilation Of Gnostic Scriptures Is Now Available

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

Many early Christians sought gnosis (knowledge) by revelation, inspiration and testimony; hence, they were known as Gnostics. But eventually they were branded as heretics and their writings were suppressed. Although many gnostic views were eccentric, their emphasis on revelation and ritual reflected important aspects of early Christianity that soon were lost. Now many of their writings are conveniently available in a new English translation.

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

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Book Of Mormon Critical Text Completed

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

The third and final volume of the 1200-page Book of Mormon Critical Text has now been completed. Four years in preparation, this monumental project is a significant milestone in Book of Mormon scholarship. The Critical Text is a tool for scholarly reference-not for casual reading. It shows the textual variants that exist among the manuscripts and the major English editions of the Book of Mormon, including the present-day text. In addition, numerous parallel references to Biblical phraseology and concepts are provided in the footnotes, along with philological notes and references to Judaic expressions.

Chiasmus In Helaman 6:7-13

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

Now available is John W. Welch's recent report on the discovery of a particularly fine example of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon. Welch comments, "This text seems to be among the clearest examples of chiasm in the Book of Mormon." This chiasm, found in Helaman 6:7-13, is the full report for the 64th Year of the Reign of the Judges, a year in which great change occurred among the Nephite and Lamanite peoples. During that yea r, both Nephites and Lamanites enjoyed an extraordinary peace, prosperity, and freedom of travel uncommon at any other time before in Nephite history. …

Expanded Reports Now Available

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

Four reports previously made available through the foundation have recently been upgraded, each in the following way.

Mormon Concept Of Scripture Discussed

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

The Mormon concept of scripture was one of the main topics discussed at the consultation session on the study of the Latter-day Saints held at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature in Atlanta last November. Two of the papers read at that time are now available on the attached order form.

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

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Publications Review Board Now Operative

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

The instituting of a formalized system of reviewing articles considered for possible F.A.R.M.S. publication was mentioned in the Fall 1987 Newsletter. The procedure operates under the aegis of the Evaluation Committee, whose members are Wilford Hess (BYU, microbiology), Douglas Phillips (BYU, classics), Harold Miller (BYU psychology), and Jay Todd (The Ensign). Committee chairman John Sorenson, the acting Evaluation Editor, is assisted by members of a new Publications Review Board, including Gerald Bradford (UC-Irvine, religious studies), John Clark (BYU-NWAF, anthropology), James Faulconer (BYU, philosophy), Stanley Kimball (So. Illin., history), Dan Peterson (BYU, Near Eastern languages), John Robertson (BYU, linguistics), Kent Robson …

Two More Audio Tapes Available

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

All year, Russell Peek has been organizing the F.A.R.M.S. Hugh Nibley tape archive. Several hundred recordings of firesides, Sunday School lessons, and talks have been gathered. Many of these recordings have been transferred to archive quality master, thanks especially to Gordon H. Peck in Las Vegas and Michael K. Jensen in Provo. The tapes are now being cataloged.

Audio Tapes Of Nibley Book Of Mormon Class Available, Russell Peek

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

Those interested in an additional resource for study of the Book of Mormon in 1988 will be rewarded by the audio tapes of Dr. Hugh Nibley's upper division Book of Mormon class at BYU. Russell Peek and a team of recording technicians have captured on cassette tape more than 50 hours of lectures from fall semester 1987 and winter semester 1988, one hour of lecture per cassette.

The Book Of Mormon As Literature

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

Three interpretive essays on the Book of Mormon from a literary point of view are now available.

Massive Bibliography On Pre-Columbian Transoceanic Contacts Now Available

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

A working edition of John Sorenson and Martin Raish's 900-page bibliography, Transoceanic Culture Contacts Between the Old and New Worlds in Pre-Columbian Times: A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography, is now available. Funded by a F.A.R.M.S. grant, the work ultimately will include accurate bibliographical information on all serious published works on transoceanic cultural transmissions before 1492, each with an abstract of relevant contents.

Full Issue

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

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New Version Of Scripture Index Announced

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

Last summer, a Scripture Index of F.A.R.M.S. Reprints and Preliminary Reports (CAM-87) was introduced. It lists every scripture by chapter and verse that is mentioned In F.A.R.M.S. materials. The Index is now available In a second format.

Bibliography Of Chiasmus Completed

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

John W. Welch, aided by Don Parry and DeeAnn Hofer, has compiled an extensive bibliography of scholarly books and articles dealing with the literary form of chiasmus. Listed are several hundred works from a broad range of sources, most scholarly. Collectively they demonstrate the widespread use of chiasmus in modern biblical studies. Anyone interested in thorough research into this distinctive form of parallel composition will find this bibliography indispensable.

A Service To Lds Gospel Doctrine Teachers And Students

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

The 1988 adult Sunday School curriculum will be the Book of Mormon. Free upon request are two lists of resources recommended as helpful background reading for the new curriculum.

Interest In Book Of Mormon Warfare Spurs Research

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

Although It Is a prominent Book of Mormon theme, Nephite warfare has yet to be comprehensively examined. To promote such research, F.A.R.M.S. sponsored a working conference Aug. 21-22. Papers dealing with military technology, strategies, fortifications, rituals, and other Issues were presented and critiqued. Other topics were Identified. Two new papers on war and the Book of Mormon are now available; others will be forth-coming soon.

Collected Biographies Of Book Of Mormon Scholars Available

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

In 1986, the Ensign magazine Issued a series of articles about prominent LDS Book of Mormon scholars, Including B. H. Roberts, George Reynolds, Francis W. Kirkham, Sidney B. Sperry, and Hugh W. Nibley. These articles, which have been available separately, are now combined Into a single reprint, together with the final article In that series.

Lehi's Vision In 1 Nephi 1 Analyzed

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

The Book of Mormon begins with an account of the vision in which Lehi beheld God seated in the midst of a heavenly congregation. In this experience, Lehi learned of the judgments of God that were about to befall the arrogant and unrighteous city of Jerusalem. Comparing this vision of Lehi's with similar so-called Council Visions had by other prophets near the time of Lehi is the aim of a new paper.

Full Issue

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

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Hugh Nibley Collected Works

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

In 1988, the Book of Mormon will be the study course for the L.D.S. adult Sunday School. F.A.R.M.S. feels that it is important that the Hugh Nibley Book of Mormon volumes, several of which are now out of print, should be available as teaching and study helps. Not only do they represent some of the finest work in detailing how the Book of Mormon reflects the culture and customs of the ancient Near East, but also they are written so non-scholars can understand and appreciate the wealth of these details.

Book Of Mormon Symposia Expand

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

A greater number of conferences and symposia than ever before have concentrated our attention this summer and fall on the Book of Mormon. Here is a brief description of several of these programs, making particular note of instances where F.A.R.M.S. directors or advisors are involved. In many cases, copies of the papers presented at these symposia can be obtained by writing to the organizers or to the participants.

Preliminary Reports Study Multiple Authorship Of Book Of Mormon Texts

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

The Book of Mormon, in many places, is textually complex. Careful study of the words and ideas in the book sometimes requires the reader to be sensitive to who wrote the words in question. Occasionally, for example, Mormon quoted the words of earlier prophets directly; other times, he or Moroni abridged or paraphrased those earlier statements. The task of attributing authorship to a particular verse or section can often become an intriguing and rewarding challenge.

Lehi's Trail And Nahom Revisited

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

In 1976, Lynn M. and Hope Hilton, In Search of Lehi's Trail (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, p. 94) and Ensign (September-October 1976), proposed that the place called Nahom (1 Ne. 16:34), where Ishmael died and was buried, was around Al Kunfidah near the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. Ross T. Christensen, Ensign (August 1978, p. 73), soon suggested an alternative location for Nahom, based upon a map of Yemen prepared as a result of a 1762-64 exploration by Carsten Niebu hr for Danish King Frederick V

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

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Rules For Submitting Manuscripts

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

Any researcher is welcome to submit a paper for possible publication by F.A.R.M.S. Submissions need to follow certain rules: (1) The subject must seriously involve the Book of Mormon, although it need not deal exclusively with that scripture ( exceptions will be considered); (2) it must follow basic conventions of scholarly research, including paying serious attention to previous work on this topic; (3) a particular objective or thesis must be evident; and, (4) clear logic and language is essential. One typed/printed copy (double-spaced and proofread) should be sent; it will not necessarily be returned.

Visit Of Jacob Neusner To Byu

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

Jacob Neusner, Ungerleider Distinguished Scholar of Judaic Studies and University Professor at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, an outstanding scholar in Judaic Studies and author of the book The Glory of God Is Intelligence, published by the Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University, spoke on February 22 at a lecture sponsored in part by F.A.R.M.S.