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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.

Zelph

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

In recent years, discussions of Book of Mormon geography have concentrated on limited areas in Mesoamerica. The story of "Zelph, the white Lamanite," is frequently cited as evidence that the Nephites occupied the entire North American continent and fought some of their final battles near the Illinois River. Who was Zelph, and are his bones relevant to the Book of Mormon? Researcher Kenneth Godfrey shows why one should be cautious in drawing specific geographical conclusions from this incident.

Full Issue

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

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Project Updates

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

The Book of Mormon Bibliography, an index of all serious studies about the Book of Mormon, should be ready for distribution this fall . It already contains over 1,850 entries. This monumental bibliography will be the first relatively comprehensive listing of articles, papers, book and theses dealing with the Book of Mormon. It will provide a solid base for the Book of Mormon Encyclopedia and facilitate other organized research on Book of Mormon topics as well as guide development of the FARMS Reprint series. It should also help prevent unnecessary duplication of research. When it is available, we hope many …

Notices And Reviews

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

FARMS will be hosting an exhibit on Book of Mormon research in the Garden Court of the Wilkinson Center during BYU Campus Education Week, August 24-27 . We will be passing out literature, selling reprints, gathering suggestions and answering questions about Book of Mormon studies and current FARMS projects. If you are attending Campus Education Week, come by and introduce yourself. Encourage your friends to visit the display and add their names to our mailing list.

Full Issue

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

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Scholars Speak At Fair Conference

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

Scholars from BYU spoke at the recent FAIR (Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research) LDS Apologetics Conference held in August at Utah Valley State College, in Orem, Utah. FAIR, which is not affiliated with BYU or the Institute, is an organization dedicated to defending LDS beliefs and practices with sound scholarship. The theme of the conference was "Turning Stumbling Blocks to Stepping Stones: Responding to Challenging Issues in Mormonism."

First Volumes In New Meti Series Published

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

The Institute's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative has published the first two volumes in its Graeco-Arabic Sciences and Philosophy series: Moses Maimonides' On Asthma and Averroes' Middle Commentary on Aristotle's De anima.

Full Issue

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

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Nibley Fellowship

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

Each year at this time we remind graduate students about the Nibley Fellowship Program and its application deadline. Named in honor of the late eminent Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh Nibley, this program provides financial aid to students enrolled in accredited PhD programs in areas of study directly related to the work and mission of the Maxwell Institute, particularly work done under the name of FARMS—studies of the Book of Mormon, the Book of Abraham, the Old and New Testaments, early Christianity, ancient temples, and related subjects. Applicants cannot be employed at the Institute or be related to an Institute employee.

“Look To God And Live”, Kristian S. Heal

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

Near the end of the children of Israel’s journey to the promised land following their miraculous escape from Egypt, they once again began to complain against the Lord and against Moses. As a result of this sin, the Lord sent “fiery serpents” among them (Numbers 21:6). Faced with physical death, the people went to Moses, confessed their sins, and entreated him to pray to the Lord to take the serpents away. However, the serpents were not taken away as requested. Instead, in what may have seemed an expression of deep irony—but was in reality a sacred symbol—Moses was instructed to …

Full Issue

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

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Institute Supports Graduates And Undergraduates

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

The Maxwell Institute continues to encourage and support the work of graduate and undergraduate students through two funds.

Each year at this time we remind graduate students about the Nibley Fellowship Program and its application deadline. Named in honor of the late eminent Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh Nibley, this pro-gram provides financial aid to students enrolled in accredited PhD programs in areas of study directly related to the work and mission of the Maxwell Institute, particularly work done under the auspices of one department of the Institute, the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, such as studies of the …

Did Abraham Lie About His Wife, Sarai?, Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, John S. Thompson

BYU Studies

Before he journeyed into Egypt, Abraham was instructed by God: “Behold, Sarai [later Sarah], thy wife, is a very fair woman to look upon; therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see her, they will say—she is his wife; and they will kill you, but they will save her alive; therefore see that ye do on this wise: Let her say unto the Egyptians, she is thy sister, and thy soul shall live” (Abr. 2:22–23).

Jews In Ancient Egypt, Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, John S. Thompson

BYU Studies

The Egyptian papyri acquired by Joseph Smith in 1835 can be confidently dated to many centuries after Abraham’s lifetime. Based on several factors, it can be determined that the papyri were written in a period when Egypt was governed by a dynasty of Greek rulers who reigned from circa 300 to 30 BC. A question that readers of the Book of Abraham might have is how a late copy of Abraham’s record originally written sometime around 2,000–1,800 BC could have ended up in the possession of an ancient Egyptian living many centuries later.

Covenant Language In Biblical Religions And The Book Of Mormon, Noel B. Reynolds

BYU Studies

Because twenty-first-century public discourse in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to feature the language of covenant more and more often, it may be helpful to step back and reexamine the scriptural and historical backgrounds for covenant theology and terminology. When the Restoration took shape in the first half of the nineteenth century, it was dependent primarily on the language of the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible and contemporary Protestant teachings for a context in which to interpret the language of Joseph Smith’s revelations and the Book of Mormon. After two centuries of modern linguistic …

Prophets, Pagans, And Papyri, Stephen O. Smoot, Kerry Muhlestein

BYU Studies

Egypt has a long history of exchange and contact with a variety of people. Ancient people of diverse ethnic backgrounds made their way into Egypt—whether as war captives, mercenaries, merchants, invading armies, members of diplomatic parties, refugees, or simple migrants—bringing with them their language and culture. One such group was the ancient Jews, whose enslavement at the hands of “a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph” (Ex. 1:8), and exodus under the prophetic leadership of Moses may be the best-remembered incident of a Hebrew presence in Egypt, but it was not the only one.

Abraham And Osiris, Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, John S. Thompson

BYU Studies

Figure 1 of Facsimile 3 of the book of Abraham was interpreted by Joseph Smith as “Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh’s throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood, as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven; with the scepter of justice and judgment in his hand.” This interpretation has clashed with those offered by Egyptologists, who have instead identified the figure as the god Osiris. What’s more, two Egyptologists have claimed to arrive at this interpretation from reading the hieroglyphs to the right of figure 1.

“It Kind Of Shows The Terrible Morality Of This Scene": Using Graphic Novels To Encourage Feminist Readings Of Jewish Hebrew Texts With Religious Significance, Talia Hurwich

Journal of Multilingual Education Research

This study considers whether and in what ways graphic novel adaptations of traditional Jewish Hebrew texts can encourage adolescent Modern Orthodox girls to adopt autonomous critical responses when encountering narratives that present women in unequal roles vis a vis men. According to scholars, Jewish literacy should teach students to read traditional Hebrew texts reverently while forming autonomous interpretations and opinions. Instead, Jewish educators teach normative readings posed by approved rabbinic authorities. This is particularly the case when teaching issues relating to gender among Modern Orthodox Jews, a conservative Jewish denomination, strives to synthesize tradition with the values of modern, secular …

Jews And Mormons: Two Houses Of Israel Frank J. Johnson And Rabbi William J. Leffler, David E. Bokovoy

BYU Studies

Frank J. Johnson and Rabbi William J. Leffler. Jews and Mormons: Two Houses of Israel. Hoboken, New York: Ktav Publishing, 2000.

Examining Six Key Concepts In Joseph Smith's Understanding Of Genesis 1:1, Kevin L. Barney

BYU Studies

Joseph Smith spent Sunday afternoon, April 7, 1844, in a grove behind the Nauvoo Temple. There he gave a funeral sermon, which lasted for over two hours, dedicated to a loyal friend named King Follett, who had been crushed by a bucket of rocks while repairing a well. Known today as the King Follett Discourse and widely believed to be the Prophet's greatest sermon, this address was Joseph's most cogent and forceful presentation of his Nauvoo doctrine on the nature of God, including the ideas of a plurality of Gods and the potential of a man to become as God. …