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"Virtue" In Moroni 9:9, Jason A. Kerr

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Latter-day Saint discussion of chastity often include Moroni 9:9 because of its suggestion that "chastity and virtue" constitute "that which is most dear and precious above all things:' The verse also says, however, that people can be "deprived" of chastity and virtue by the violence of rape. For the prophet Mormon, the Nephites' actions in Moriantum exceed "this great abomination of the Lamanites;' which involved "feed[ing] the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers" (Moroni 9:8). Mormon's strong language aims to condemn the rapists, not their victims. Using the verse to …

The New Mormon Theology Of Matter, Rosalynde Welch

Mormon Studies Review

No abstract provided.

Gordon Shepherd And Gary Shepherd, A Kingdom Transformed: Early Mormonism And The Modern Lds Church, Reviewed By Bradley M. Jones

Mormon Studies Review

No abstract provided.

“Blame The Due Of Blame”: The Ethics And Efficacy Of Curses In Richard Iii, Alexandra Malouf

Criterion: A Journal of Literary Criticism

Language, particularly the language of cursing, plays a powerful role in determining the outcome of events in Shakespeare’s Richard III. Gender imperatives reflected in the speech of Richard III’s characters indicate where power lies and how it is exercised across gendered spheres. While male characters in the history plays typically obtain and exert power through violence, both in war and in secret, the primary source of power held by female characters in Richard III is their use of language. Consistently, the women seal the violent ends of their enemies with curses, and Richard is perpetually given cause to …

Volume 3 Number 1 (2017)

Journal of Response to Writing

No abstract provided.

The Title Of Liberty And Ancient Prophecy, Roseann Benson

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Captain Moroni cites a prophecy regarding Joseph of Egypt and his posterity that is not recorded in the Bible. He accompanies the prophecy with a symbolic action to motivate his warriors to covenant to be faithful to their prophet Helaman and to keep the commandments lest God would not preserve them as he had Joseph.

Editorial Introduction, Grant Eckstein, Betsy Gilliland

Journal of Response to Writing

Welcome to the first issue of the third volume year of the Journal of Response to Writing. We are very encouraged by the positive response from readers to our previous issues and are excited to share several excellent contributions in this collection. Before introducing those articles, we want to also welcome you to our first issue published under new editorship. Dana Ferris has rejoined the general editorial board while Grant Eckstein and Betsy Gilliland have been appointed as the new coeditors of the journal.

L2 Learners’ Engagement With Direct Written Corrective Feedback In First- Year Composition Courses, Izabela Uscinski

Journal of Response to Writing

This study explores students’ response to direct written corrective feedback (WCF) in first-year composition courses. To that end, it focuses on analyzing students’ engagement with direct feedback and meta-awareness of the corrections provided on one of their drafts. Data include students’ revisions recorded with screen-capture software and the video-stimulated recall, which was transcribed and coded for evidence of engagement and meta-awareness. The findings of the study indicate that students’ engagement and meta-awareness may be affected by pedagogical factors, such as feedback delivery method. Based on the insights gained from this study, the author suggests that direct feedback may be more …

“I Could Express Feeling Completely”: Inviting L2 Writers To Use L1 In Peer Responses, Bee Chamcharatsri

Journal of Response to Writing

Peer response is one of the most important activities in writing classrooms because it provides a sense of audience to students. At the same time, students also receive feedback for revision. Asking L2 writers to use their L1s in providing feedback to their L1-speaking peers helps them gain confidence in peer response activities, which in turn gives them self-confidence in their writing proficiency. In this small-scale pilot project, L2 students were asked to reflect on their use of L1s providing both oral and written feedback. They reported that students felt they could express their feedback in a more meaningful way. …

On Doctrine And Covenants Language And The 1833 Plot Of Zion, Standford Carmack

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Contrary to the generally accepted view, it seems likely that much of the wording of the Doctrine and Covenants was transmitted to Joseph Smith as part of the revelatory process. Apparent bad grammar and a limited reading of “after the manner of their language” (D&C 1:24) have led to the received view that “the language of the revelations was Joseph S mith’s .” 1 This judgment, however, is probably inaccurate. Abundant cases of archaic forms and structures, sometimes overlapping with Book of Mormon usage, argue for a different interpretation of “after the manner of their language.” Scholars have chosen, for …

The Great And Spacious Book Of Mormon Arcade Game: More Curious Works From Book Of Mormon Critics, Jeff Lindsay

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

A novel theory for the origins of Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life has been offered by Rick Grunder, who argues that the story was inspired by a June 1829 visit to Rochester where Joseph could have seen a “great and spacious building,” a river, an iron railing, and even fruit trees. The purported source for the great and spacious building, the Reynolds Arcade, has even been suggested by one critic as a place where Joseph might have found “rare maps,” such as a map of Arabia that could have guided his fabrication of Lehi’s trail. As beautiful as …

Exploring Semitic And Egyptian In Uto-Aztecan Languages, John S. Robertson

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Review of Brian D. Stubbs, Exploring the Explanatory Power of Semitic and Egyptian in Uto-Aztecan, Provo, UT: Grover Publications, 2015. 436 pp. $30.

Some thirty-plus years ago, toward the beginning of my career as professor of linguistics at BYU, a young Brian Stubbs knocked at my office door to make what was, in my opinion, a wild claim — that he had found a significant number of cognates1 that would link a New World language family (Uto-Aztecan) to an Old World language family (pre exilic Hebrew2 and later others).

On Doubting Nephi’S Break Between 1 And 2 Nephi: A Critique Of Joseph Spencer’S An Other Testament: On Typology, Noel B. Reynolds

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

In 2012 Joseph Spencer published an analysis of 1st and 2nd Nephi that interprets a phrase in 1 Nephi 19:5 as implying the true break in Nephi’s writings is not between the two scriptural books we now use but rather to be found at the end of 2 Nephi 5 and that the spiritual core (the “more sacred part”) of the small plates is in 2 Nephi chapters 6–30. In this essay I have mobilized several arguments from the canons of literary interpretation and basics of the Hebrew language to demonstrate that this starting point for Spencer’s interpretation of Nephi’s …

How Joseph Smith’S Grammar Differed From Book Of Mormon Grammar: Evidence From The 1832 History, Standford Carmack

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Some of the grammar of Joseph Smith’s 1832 History is examined. T hree archaic, extra-biblical features that occur quite frequently in the Book of Mormon are not present in the history, even though there was ample opportunity for use. Relevant usage in the 1832 History is typical of modern English, in line with independent linguistic studies. This leads to the conclusion that Joseph’s grammar was not archaizing in these three types of morphosyntax which are prominent in the earliest text of the Book of Mormon. This corroborating evidence also indicates that English words were transmitted to Joseph throughout the dictation …

The Book Of Mormon Versus The Consensus Of Scholars: Surprises From The Disputed Longer Ending Of Mark, Part 1, Jeff Lindsay

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Following the account of the ministry of Christ among the Nephites as recorded in the Book of Mormon, Christ gave a charge to His New World disciples (Mormon 9:22–25). These words are very similar to the commission of Christ to His apostles at the end of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 16:9–20). According to the consensus of modern Bible scholars, Christ did not speak those words; they are a later addition. If so, this is a problem for the Book of Mormon. Fortunately, recent modern scholarship offers compelling reasons for overturning the old consensus against the longer ending of Mark. …

“By The Blood Ye Are Sanctified”: The Symbolic, Salvific, Interrelated, Additive, Retrospective, And Anticipatory Nature Of The Ordinances Of Spiritual Rebirth In John 3 And Moses 6, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, Matthew L. Bowen

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

In chapter 3 of the Gospel of John, Jesus described spiritual rebirth as consisting of two parts: being “born of water and of the spirit.”1 To this requirement of being “born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit,” Moses 6:59–60 adds that one must “be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; … For … by the blood ye are sanctified.”2 In this article, we will discuss the symbolism of water, spirit, and blood in scripture as they are actualized in the process of spiritual rebirth. We will highlight in particular the …

The Book Of Mormon Witnesses And Their Challenge To Secularism, Daniel C. Peterson

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

T here has been much comment recently on the growth in numbers of the religious “nones.” Not all of them are actually non-theists, but secularism or naturalism is undoubtedly on the rise — and Latter-day Saints have not escaped damage from the trend. Several recent books and articles have sought to help their readers live with doubt, cope with uncertainty, or find value or joy in the Mormon community even when some, most, or perhaps even all of its founding narrative has come to seem untenable. I believe, however, that naturalism should be directly challenged and that the Book of …

Full Issue

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Their Imperfect Best: Isaianic Authorship From An Lds Perspective, Daniel T. Ellsworth

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

For Latter-day Saints, the critical scholarly consensus that most of the book of Isaiah was not authored by Isaiah often presents a problem, particularly since many Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon are assigned post-exilic dating by critical scholars. The critical position is based on an entirely different set of assumptions than most believers are accustomed to bring to scripture. This article surveys some of the reasons for the critical scholarly position, also providing an alternative set of assumptions that Latter-day Saints can use to understand the features of the text.

Barlow On Book Of Mormon Language: An Examination Of Some Strained Grammar, Standford Carmack

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Comments made by Philip Barlow on Book of Mormon language for an Oxford-published book are examined. Inaccuracies are pointed out, and some examples are given that show matching with 1611 King James usage as well as with other earlier usage. One important conclusion that can be drawn from this study is that those who wish to critique the English language of the Book of Mormon need to take the subject more seriously and approach it with genuine scholarship, instead of repeating earlier errors. This has a direct bearing on forming accurate views of Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon translation.

The Next Big Thing In Lds Apologetics: Strong Semitic And Egyptian Elements In Uto-Aztecan Languages, Jeff Lindsay

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Following several articles and presentations over the past two decades on tantalizing finds linking Uto-Aztecan languages with Near Eastern languages, LDS linguist Brian Stubbs has recently published two significant works offering extensive details and documentation. The more comprehensive volume intended for scholars and serious students of language is Exploring the Explanatory Power of Semitic and Egyptian in Uto-Aztecan, a highly technical work providing 1,528 sets of cognates with intricate details linking Uto-Aztecan languages with two versions of Semitic and with Egyptian. This is followed by an analysis of puzzles in Uto-Aztecan explained by Egyptian and Semitic ties as well as …

Teachers’ (Formative) Feedback Practices In Efl Writing Classes In Norway, Drita Saliu-Abdulahi, Glenn Ole Hellekjær, Frøydis Hertzberg

Journal of Response to Writing

This qualitative study reports on teachers’ (formative) feedback practices in writing instruction. Observations and interviews were used to collect data from 10 upper-secondary school teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) writing classes in Norway. The findings indicate that while the teachers attempt to comply with the requirements of the national curriculum regarding formative assessment, and acknowledge the pivotal role of feedback in that pedagogy, the dominant tendency is still to deliver feedback to a finished text. As such, there is limited use of feedback for that text and no resubmission of the text for new assessment, while feedforward …

Moving Beyond Corrective Feedback: (Re) Engaging With Student Writing In L2 Through Audio Response, Jennifer Ahern-Dodson, Deborah Reisinger

Journal of Response to Writing

This article examines teacher feedback on student compositions in an Advanced French Composition course at a Research 1 institution. Our study suggests that when teachers combine written corrective feedback with audio comments, their engagement in grading compositions may rise significantly. As teachers bring renewed energy to familiar responding practices, they shift from “grader” to “reader.” These findings have important implications for teacher training and the role of feedback in L2 courses.

Editorial Introduction, Betsy Gilliland, Grant Eckstein

Journal of Response to Writing

Welcome to the second issue of our third year of publication. As the journal has become more established, we are seeing a wide range of fascinating research and teaching work related to response to writing in both first and second language contexts. This issue is no different. In this issue, we present two research articles, two teaching articles, and a book review. In the first piece, “L2 Learners’ Engagement with Direct Written Corrective Feedback in First-Year Composition Courses,” Izabela Uscinski examines how second language learners of English engage with feedback from their college writing teachers. Uscinski draws on Svalberg’s (2009) …

Critical Discourse Analysis Of Student Responses To Teacher Feedback On Student Writing, Hee-Seung Kang, Julie Dykema

Journal of Response to Writing

This study explores student written responses to teacher feedback and analyzes these responses through the framework of critical discourse analysis (CDA). Drawing on CDA, we examined the structural, interactional, and interdiscursive features of 21 students’ paragraph-length comments on formative teacher feedback on their first assignment draft in a first-year composition class and investigated relations between the text, interaction, and context. The structural analysis indicates that the students’ comments demonstrate their emerging academic literacy skills. Our interactional analysis shows that most students took on an active role as a good student and a hardworking writer, but some students exerted their agency …

Review Of Written Corrective Feedback For L2 Development, Taichi Yamashita

Journal of Response to Writing

Written corrective feedback (WCF) has been increasingly attracting researchers in second language acquisition (SLA) as well as second language (L2) writing practitioners. Bitchener and Storch, two renowned WCF researchers, define WCF as “a written response to a linguistic error that has been made in the writing of a text by an L2 learner” (p. 1). This increasing interest in WCF is understandable because the implementation of WCF is time-consuming as well as pedagogically imperative. However, it is widely known that learners keep making the same error, and thus teachers’ efforts do not pay off easily. Therefore, with the increasing number …

Marlowe’S Radical Reformation: Christopher Marlowe And The Radical Christianity Of The Polish Brethren, Kristin M.S. Bezio

Quidditas

Although scholars of both literature and history have made arguments for Christopher Marlowe’s religious belief in Catholicism, the Church of England, and even atheism (which could have been conflated with both by different parties during his lifetime), few consider the belief system of the Polish Brethren, a precursor to Unitarianism established by one Faustus Socinus. This essay uses historical and social network analyses to suggest a close tie between Marlowe’s acquaintances and believers in Socinianism. Clues in Doctor Faustus and Massacre at Paris suggest Marlowe’s skepticism concerning the doctrines of Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Calvinism. Furthermore, repeated references to Poland and …

“To Seek The Law Of The Lord” Essays In Honor Of John W. Welch, Paul Y. Hoskisson, Daniel C. Peterson, James R. Rasband, Stephen E. Robinson, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, James E. Faulconer, Kevin L. Barney, John Gee, Kent P. Jackson, Louis Midgley, Robert L. Millet, Steven L. Olsen, Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, Dana M. Pike, Noel B. Reynolds, Stephen D. Ricks, David R. Seely, Andrew C. Skinner, John A. Tvedtnes, Royal Skousen, Robert F. Smith, Richard E. Turley Jr., Stephen O. Smoot

Interpreter Foundation Books

John W. Welch is an LDS religion and law scholar who is credited with discovering the many instances of the ancient literary form of chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, a realization he had as a young missionary in Germany. From his undergraduate work on chiasmus, to his 1979 founding of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), to his influential role in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism and the Joseph Smith Legal Papers, and to his almost 25+ year editorship of BYU Studies, Jack has been asking—and encouraging others to ask— hard questions faithfully. This Festschrift honors him …

Heralding A New Age Of Book Of Mormon Scholarship, Steven T. Densley Jr.

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Book of Mormon Central has produced a fantastic resource for students and teachers of the Book of Mormon. Knowing Why updates prior discoveries and provides new and interesting insights based upon solid scholarship.

The Divine Council In The Hebrew Bible And The Book Of Mormon, Stephen O. Smoot

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

The Book of Mormon purports to be a record that originates from the ancient Near East. The authors of the book claim an Israelite heritage, and throughout the pages of the text can be seen echoes of Israelite religious practice and ideology. An example of such can be seen in how the Book of Mormon depicts God’s divine council, a concept unmistakably found in the Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament). Recognizing the divine council in both the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon may help us appreciate a more nuanced understanding of such theological terms as “monotheism” as …