Digital Commons Network^™

Mere Mormonism, Thomas B. Griffith

BYU Studies

Devotees of C. S. Lewis will recognize that I have adapted the title of my remarks from Mere Christianity, his classic exposition of the fundamentals of the Christian faith. An hour lecture is not the forum to attempt for Latter-day Saint Christianity what Lewis achieved for traditional Christianity. In any event, I lack the skill to pull that off. What follows is something much more modest. I will speak from my own observation and try to identify what is at the heart of the Mormon experience in an attempt to provide an introduction to the faith. A disclaimer is …

Robert J. Matthews And The Rlds Church's Inspired Version Of The Bible, Thomas E. Sherry

BYU Studies

Matthews' developing reputation as a scholar, along with his persistent interest in and efforts to gain access to the original New Translation manuscripts, occurred during a period in RLDS Church history that included evolving views relative to the publication, assessment, and use of the Inspired Version. Those developments, along with advances in archival preservation of the original manuscripts, resulted in the phone call with RLDS Church Historian Richard Howard, allowing Matthews to study the documents. Ironically, as the RLDS Church's interest in and commitment to Joseph Smith's revelations decreased, they rose to new prominence in the LDS Church.

Twisted Thoughts And Elastic Molecules: Recent Developments In Neuroplasticity, James T. Summerhays

BYU Studies

During the twentieth century, many in the emerging fields of brain science operated under the assumption of absolute biological mate- rialism—the idea that all reality in life can be reduced to our natural, physical dimension. For example, some neuroscientists sought to explain the deep mysteries of human consciousness not as any cosmic intercon- nection of spirit and matter but merely as a series of chemical reactions in the brain. Such assumptions in reductive materialism and pure determin- ism may sometimes be necessary within the realm of controlled scientific inquiry; but when adopted as a way of life, determinism has profound …

Proclamation To The People: Nineteenth-Century Mormonism And The Pacific Basin Frontier, Kimberly W. Reid, Reid L. Neilson, Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp

BYU Studies

Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp (Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and author of Religion and Society in Frontier California) and Reid L. Neilson (Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Brigham Young University and author and editor of several books, including Taking the Gospel to the Japanese) combine their expertise in this latest volume, Proclamation to the People: Nineteenth-Century Mormonism and the Pacific Basin Frontier. The Pacific Basin extends "from the west coast of the United States and South America, across the Pacific Islands from Hawaii to Tahiti, down to New Zealand and …

A Different God? Mitt Romney, The Religious Right, And The Mormon Question, Roger Terry, Craig L. Foster

BYU Studies

As can be expected from a book published by Greg Kofford, Craig L. Foster's A Different God? is well researched and engaging. This book begins by examining the rise of the religious right and the power it exerts on the current political landscape. Foster presents a good deal of information that most Latter-day Saints will not be well acquainted with, such as the difference between evangelical and fundamentalist Christians, the emergence of the charismatic movement, the rise and fall of the Moral Majority, and the subsequent establishment of the Christian Coalition. This background is particularly pertinent to the majority of …

In God's Image And Likeness: Ancient And Modern Perspectives On The Book Of Moses, Michael D. Olsen, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

BYU Studies

Author Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, PhD in cognitive science and a senior research scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), has written professionally on various topics in human and machine intelligence, has presented at meetings of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), and has published articles on Mormon themes appearing in 2009 and 2010. The central focus of this book is an exegesis of the "book of Moses, a revelatory expansion of the first chapters of Genesis" and "Joseph Smith's translation of the early narratives of Genesis."

At 1,102 pages, this tome is not for …

The Ezekiel Mural At Dura Europos: A Witness Of Ancient Jewish Mysteries?, Jeffrey M. Bradshaw

BYU Studies

One of the most stunning archaeological finds of the last century was the accidental discovery in 1920 of the ruins of Dura Europos, "a frontier town of very mixed population and traditions" located on a cliff ninety meters above the Euphrates River in what is now Syria. This Helenistic city had been abandoned following a Sassanian siege in AD 256–57 and was eventually buried by the shifting sands. Among the structures uncovered by excavation was a small Jewish synagogue with elaborately painted walls, preserved only because the building had been filled with earth as a fortification during the siege.

Full Issue, Byu Studies

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Revelation, Text, And Revision: Insight From The Book Of Commandments And Revelations, Grant Underwood

BYU Studies

This article is one of several in this issue about the Book of Commandments and Revelations (BCR), a foundational document of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This article explores how the textual revisions preserved in the BCR shed important light on the process by which Joseph Smith received, recorded, and published his revelations. It has long been recognized that revelations published in the 1833 Book of Commandments were revised for publication in the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants. Less well known is that those texts were also edited prior to publication in the Book of Commandments or The …

From Manuscript To Printed Page: An Analysis Of The History Of The Book Of Commandments And Revelations, Robin S. Jensen

BYU Studies

This article is one of several in this issue about the Book of Commandments and Revelations, a foundational document of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Commandments and Revelations (BCR) is a surprisingly unpretentious document, judging by its physical condition. Instead of appearing regal and glorious as would befit its important contents, the Book of Commandments and Revelations looks ragged, worn, and somewhat fragile. But for anyone interested in historical artifacts, the Book of Commandments and Revelations provides a rich experience. This article discusses the physical description and provenance of the BCR—why, how, and when …

The Patterns Of Missionary Work And Emigration In Early Victorian Buckinghamshire, England, 1849–1878, Ronald E. Bartholomew

BYU Studies

Latter-day Saint missionaries from America began proselyting in Buckinhamshire, England, in the 1840s and established the first branches of the Church here in 1849, but they did not experience the same dramatic successes their colleagues encountered in other regions of the British Isles.

Singing The Word Of God: Five Hymns By President Frederick G. Williams, Frederick G. Williams

BYU Studies

Frederick G. Williams (1787–1842) was a member of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under Joseph Smith and served as his personal scribe. His descendant of the same name now examines evidence proving that the Church leader, historian, doctor, editor, and Kirtland landowner also composed hymns. The article discusses the subject matter of Williams's hymns, including Joseph Smith's vision of Enoch, Zion, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and Williams's own experience with the gift of tongues.

Before The Manifesto: The Life Writings Of Mary Lois Walker Morris. By Melissa Lambert Milewski, Editor, Cherry B. Silver

BYU Studies

Melissa Lambert Milewski, editor. Before the Manifesto: The Life Writings of Mary Lois Walker Morris. Logan, Utah: Utah State University Press, 2007.

The Great Transformation: The Beginning Of Our Religious Traditions. By Karen Armstrong, Eric D. Huntsman

BYU Studies

Karen Armstrong. The Great Transformation: The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions. New York: Anchor Books, 2007.

The Nature Of The Pen And Pencil Markings In The New Testament Of Joseph Smith's New Translation Of The Bible, Paul W. Lambert, Thomas A. Wayment

BYU Studies

After Joseph Smith's death, Emma Smith kept the marked Bible and manuscripts of Joseph's New Translation of the Bible. These eventually became the property of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Because of random marks made on the pages of this collection, scholars have questioned whether or not any markings were added after Joseph Smith's death. The authors examine the notations made in the printed Bible Joseph used during his translation, and they conclude from the evidence that the manuscripts were not significantly changed after his martyrdom. They also point out that Joseph had finished translating …

An Epistle Of The Twelve, March 1842, Josh E. Probert

BYU Studies

On March 20, 1842, ten members of the Twelve Apostles composed a long epistle to the Saints in Europe providing directives for immigration. The document reveals the way the Twelve planned to move converts from Europe to the Nauvoo area and the way resources would be provided for the Nauvoo Temple and Nauvoo House. The document also provides a window into the broader contours of Church governance during this for- mative time and the larger responsibilities of the Twelve after their return from their mission to the British Isles.

Blake T. Ostler. Exploring Mormon Thought: The Attributes Of God And The Problems Of Theism And The Love Of God., James Mclachlan

BYU Studies

Blake T. Ostler. Exploring Mormon Thought. The Attributes of God. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2001

Blake T. Ostler. Exploring Mormon Thought. The Problems of Theism and the Love of God. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2006

In The Footsteps Of Orson Hyde: Subsequent Dedications Of The Holy Land, Blair G. Van-Dyke, Lamar C. Berrett

BYU Studies

In October 1841, Orson Hyde traveled to Jerusalem and dedicated the Holy Land for the gathering of Judah. Hyde's dedication was the first of eleven formal dedications performed in the Holy Land in this dispensation, and while each one was given for the purpose of preparing the land for the return of Israel, each dedication also contained unique content. The authors discuss each dedication and the historical and political contexts affecting each prayer. They assert that repetition indicates importance, and no other place has been repeatedly dedicated like the Holy Land.

Andrew Jenson's Illustrated Journey To Iceland, The Land Of Fire And Ice, August 1911, Fred E. Woods

BYU Studies

In 1911, Andrew Jenson was serving one of his ten missions, this time as mission president of the Danish-Norwegian Mission. Headquarters were in Copenhagen, where he had been presiding since February 1909. Jenson was familiar with Scandinavia, having been born and raised in Denmark until age sixteen (1866), when he immigrated to Utah.

Donald W. Musser And David L. Paulsen, Eds. Mormonism In Dialogue With Contemporary Christian Theologies, Jennifer Lane

BYU Studies

Donald W. Musser and David L. Paulsen, eds. Mormonism in Dialogue with Contemporary Christian Theologies. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 2007

Donald W. Musser And David L. Paulsen, Eds. Mormonism In Dialogue With Contemporary Christian Theologies, Douglas J. Davies

BYU Studies

Donald W. Musser and David L. Paulsen, eds. Mormonism in Dialogue with Contemporary Christian Theologies. Macon, Ga.: Mercer University Press, 2007

What Hymns Early Mormons Sang And How They Sang Them, Michael Hicks

BYU Studies

Hymns reveal a denomination's minds and hearts, but not every published hymn is sung frequently—or at all. Hicks claims that to understand early Mormon thought and belief, one must not only study published Mormon hymnals but also consider which hymns were favored by congregations. He examines the few meeting notes that exist as well as over two hundred Saints' diaries to get a small sample of what hymns Mormons sang. Among the favorites were "The Spirit of God" and "Adam-ondi-Ahman." Hicks also discusses the kinds of hymns sung in home devotionals and other informal meetings and the way Mormon congregations …

Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music In World Religions. By Guy L. Beck, Editor, Greg Hansen

BYU Studies

Guy L. Beck, editor. Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music in World Religions. Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2006.

The Forging Of Races: Race And Scripture In The Protestant Atlantic World, 1600-2000. By Colin Kidd, Armand L. Mauss

BYU Studies

Colin Kidd. The Forging of Races: Race and Scripture in the Protestant Atlantic World, 1600–2000. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

The Reverend Dr. Peter Christian Kierkegaard's "About And Against Mormonism" (1855), Julie K. Allen, David L. Paulsen

BYU Studies

Born on July 6, 1805, the Danish Lutheran priest Peter Christian Kierkegaard, brother of philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, was an exact contemporary of Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Both men devoted their lives to the refinement and advancement of their religious beliefs, albeit within very different sociohistorical contexts, and both had profound impacts on the shape of the religious landscape in their home countries. While Peter Christian Kierkegaard, as the most eloquent and influential advocate of the views of the controversial nineteenth-century Danish religious reformer N. F. S. Grundtvig, concentrated on bringing …

Book Notices, Doris R. Dant, Carl Cranny, Steven C. Harper, J. Michael Hunter, John M. Murphy, Saul A. Speirs, Jennifer Hurlbut

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Byu Studies

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Joseph Smith And The United Firm: The Growth And Decline Of The Church's First Master Plan Of Business And Finance, Ohio And Missouri, 1832-1834, Max H. Parkin

BYU Studies

The United Firm was a business management company established by Joseph Smith (founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) that oversaw both the Church's economic pursuits, such as maintaining properties, and some spiritual matters, such as publishing revelations and planning the city of Zion. Its board of managers essentially fulfilled roles later taken on by Church leaders when quorums were created. The term "United Firm" does not appear in the scriptures, and therefore the organization's role has been misunderstood and underestimated. One of Joseph Smith's pseudonyms for the United Firm was the United Order, but the United …

The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, The Investigation, And The Evidence That Could Change History. By Simcha Jacobovici And Charles Pellegrino, Kent P. Jackson

BYU Studies

Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino. The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, the Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History. New York: HarperSanFrancisco, 2007

Pandemonium: A Review Essay Of Douglas J. Robinson, Who Translates? Translator Subjectivities Beyond Reason, Daryl R. Hague

BYU Studies

In 1975, Cambridge’s George Steiner published After Babel. That book, now in its third edition, is considered a classic for several reasons. For translation scholars, however, After Babel’s principal contribution is that it legitimized translation studies as a discrete academic field rather than as a mere appendage to comparative literature, linguistics, or language studies. Shortly after Steiner’s work was published, two other influential works on translation appeared: Louis Kelly’s The True Interpreter (1979) and Susan Bassnett-McGuire’s Translation Studies (1980). Together, these three works provided a historical and theoretical foundation on which translation scholars could build.