Religious Education Commons^™

Pressing Forward With The Book Of Mormon: The Farms Updates Of The 1990s, John W. Welch, Melvin J. Thorne

Maxwell Institute Publications

This book presents the FARMS Research Updates of the 1990s, plus some similar short notes from the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, in a new collection edited by John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne. Aimed at a general audience, these updates are brief, easy-to-read reports of new research on the Book of Mormon. Each contributor offers intriguing ideas and developments that have emerged from exploring the Book of Mormon from many perspectives. Pressing Forward will interest all people who want to know what’s new in Book of Mormon research.

Romans 1: Notes And Reflections, James E. Faulconer

Maxwell Institute Publications

The book of Romans can be difficult to understand, and it is used more than any other biblical book to challenge LDS doctrine. “When we understand Romans, it is obvious that not only need we not fear having others discuss Paul’s teachings, but we can use those very teachings to teach the truthfulness of the gospel understood through latter-day revelation.”

In commenting on Romans 1 verse by verse, author James E. Faulconer touches on such topics as faith, holiness, obedience, service to Christ, personal conversion and repentance, and becoming true saints. Romans 1: Notes and Reflections can be a valuable …

Scripture Study: Tools And Suggestions, James E. Faulconer

Maxwell Institute Publications

Cultivate your love for the scriptures and deepen your knowledge with the help of a scripture study process compiled by James E. Faulconer. Rich scripture study is facilitated by tools and techniques that help us focus on what the scriptures can teach us. This study aid offers pointers and suggestions that will familiarize beginning students of the scriptures with the many resources available to them, as well as help more experienced students improve the overall effectiveness of their scripture study.

In this fascinating book, Faulconer discusses a helpful method and the purpose of outlining, an in-depth method of cross-referencing, how …

The Temple In Time And Eternity, Donald W. Parry, Stephen D. Ricks

Maxwell Institute Publications

The Temple in Time and Eternity, edited by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks, is the second volume in the series Temples Through The Ages. The importance of the temple to a religious community of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean world can scarcely be exaggerated. The eleven articles in this volume are divided topically into three sections: “Temple in Ritual,” “Temples in the Israelite Tradition,” and “Temples in the Non-Israelite Tradition.”

The “Temple in Ritual” section features Hugh Nibley’s discussion on “Abraham’s Temple Drama,” which identifies elements of the creation drama that appear in the book of …

Illuminating The Sermon At The Temple And Sermon On The Mount, John W. Welch

Maxwell Institute Publications

Understanding the Sermon on the Mount (meaning both texts in their shared, collective meaning) as a temple text reveals that it has far more power and unity than a mere collection of miscellaneous sayings of Jesus. John W. Welch examines the teachings and commandments of the Sermon on the Mount in its Book of Mormon setting—at the Nephite temple, in connection with sacred ordinances of covenant making. This context opens new insights into the meaning and significance of the Sermon whereby readers never again see the Sermon the same.

Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple & Sermon on the Mount …

King Benjamin's Speech Made Simple, John W. Welch, Stephen D. Ricks

Maxwell Institute Publications

The speech of King Benjamin in the Book of Mormon is a masterpiece of Christian literature. These inspired words influenced later Book of Mormon prophets for generations, and they continue to reach across time to stir countless people today. King Benjamin’s Speech Made Simple is a popular abridgment of the expansive volume King Benjamin’s Speech: “That Ye May Learn Wisdom.” Prepared with the general reader in mind, this streamlined version presents the essential contents of the original book. Eleven studies examine the classic speech from many angles, viewing it as a manual for Christian discipleship, a coronation and covenant-renewal text, …

Finding Biblical Hebrew And Other Ancient Literary Forms In The Book Of Mormon, Hugh W. Pinnock

Maxwell Institute Publications

One important and fruitful area of Book of Mormon studies has focused on ancient Hebrew literary forms present in the text. After years of studying these fascinating forms, Hugh W. Pinnock offers his perspective on their beauty, function, and background. By design this book offers a basic working knowledge of only some of the ancient literary forms identified in the Book of Mormon. Together they represent a significant percentage of the types of ancient forms drawn upon by the Nephite prophets.

The author explains that knowledge of ancient Hebrew writing forms and Jewish poetry is incomplete even today, and much …

Chiasmus In Antiquity: Structures, Analyses, Exegesis, John W. Welch

Maxwell Institute Publications

The study of ancient literature has been enriched in the second half of the 20th century by the growing awareness and understanding of chiasmus in ancient literature. This form of inverted parallelism has been found in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and in many other ancient writings.

The essays in Chiasmus in Antiquity, first published in Germany in 1981, examine the use and effect of chiasmus in the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon, as well as in Sumero-Akkadian, Ugaritic, Talmudic, Greek, and Latin literatures. These essays have been reprinted in this first American edition …

King Benjamin's Speech: "That Ye May Learn Wisdom", John W. Welch, Stephen D. Ricks

Maxwell Institute Publications

For readers of the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin’s speech is a treasure trove of inspiration, wisdom, eloquence, and spiritual insight. King Benjamin’s Speech: “That Ye May Learn Wisdom” is the most substantial collection of studies ever to focus exclusively on this landmark address.

The contributors examine this speech in the multifaceted contexts in which it was delivered: as a classic speech of a departing leader near the time of his death, as the focus of an annual festival season mandated anciently under the law of Moses, as part of a covenant renewal ceremony delivered within the sacred precinct of …

Latter-Day Christianity: 10 Basic Issues, Robert L. Millet, Noel B. Reynolds

Maxwell Institute Publications

With the rapid and visible growth of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was inevitable that doctrinal differences would arise between the Latter-day Saints and people of other faiths. Members of the LDS Church profess to be Christians, yet others doubt or do not understand this claim.

The contributors to Latter-day Christianity hope that the 10 essays contained in this full-color, illustrated book will help Latter-day Saints who want to explain their beliefs and will be useful to people outside the LDS Church who want a simple and clear statement of those beliefs. The essays address such …

Mormons, Scripture, And The Ancient World: Studies In Honor Of John L. Sorenson, Davis Bitton

Maxwell Institute Publications

This multidisciplinary volume of essays was written by colleagues and former students of John L. Sorenson as a tribute to his lifetime of contributions to our understanding of Book of Mormon and anthropological scholarship.

The contributing authors present their original research findings on such diverse topics as nineteenth-century Mormon funeral sermons, the question of Nephite kingship, the Isaiah commentaries in the Book of Mormon, early Mormon publishing efforts in the Pacific Mission, and evidences of transoceanic diffusion in pre-Columbian times.

Isaiah In The Book Of Mormon, Donald W. Parry, John W. Welch

Maxwell Institute Publications

The essays in this book, written by some of the finest LDS scholars, take a variety of approaches to help readers make the most of the Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon. These scholars use the prophets of the Book of Mormon as knowledgeable guides, examining how and why those ancient writers used and interpreted Isaiah in order to clarify for modern readers what the Isaiah sections in the Book of Mormon are all about.

Ancient Scrolls From The Dead Sea: Photographs And Commentary On A Unique Collection Of Scrolls, Miles Gerald Bradford

Maxwell Institute Publications

About the Scrolls M. Gerald Bradford Scrolls from Qumran The scrolls found at Qumran form a signi cant body of religious literature. Chief among them are many biblical manuscripts, along with a number of what could be called parabiblical manuscripts, texts that were circulating at the time but were not considered part of the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). In addition, because they appear to describe the religious beliefs and practices of a speci c religious community—presumably the one centered at Qumran—many of the Qumran scrolls can best be described as sectarian in nature.

Feasting On The Word: The Literary Testimony Of The Book Of Mormon, Richard Dilworth Rust

Maxwell Institute Publications

Though the King James Version of the Bible has long been admired for the elegance and beauty of its language, its companion volume, the Book of Mormon, has only recently begun to be truly appreciated for its own literary merits.

In Feasting on the Word, Richard Rust shows the Book of Mormon to be not only a bounteous doctrinal storehouse but also a treasury of literary riches, bidding us to taste, touch, see, and hear in order to experience things of the Spirit. Rust explains that the text was planned purposefully and shaped artistically so that form and content …

Lds Perspectives On The Dead Sea Scrolls, Donald W. Parry, Dana M. Pike

Maxwell Institute Publications

Since the 1947 discovery of ancient scrolls hidden in caves along the shores of the Dead Sea, many Latter-day Saints have been intrigued to learn what these sacred writings contain and how they might relate to their own religious tradition.

Although the Dead Sea Scrolls do not contain the lost records that Latter-day Saints await, they do help answer some important questions related to the gospel: How has the Bible been transmitted to our day? What did the Jews believe between the end of the Old Testament and the time of Christ? How much of the full gospel was known …

Book Of Mormon Authorship: New Light On Ancient Origins, Noel B. Reynolds

Maxwell Institute Publications

The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS)

The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies encourages and supports research and publication about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and other ancient scriptures.

A Comprehensive Annotated Book Of Mormon Bibliography, Donald W. Parry, Jeanette W. Miller, Sandra A. Thorne

Maxwell Institute Publications

A.

A.001 “Aaron Teaches Lamoni’s Father.” Friend 23 (March 1993): 32-33. Scenes from Aaron’s conversion of King Lamoni’s father illustrated in color for children. [S.H.]

A.002 Abbott, John S. C. The History of the State of Ohio. Detroit: Northwestern, 1875. Brie y discusses Mormonism and the Book of Mormon. The author accepts the Spaulding theory for the origin of the Book of Mormon. He also discusses the 1834 Anthon denial regarding the “sealed book” incident. [M.R.]

Expressions Of Faith: Testimonies Of Latter-Day Saint Scholars, Susan Eaton Black

Maxwell Institute Publications

The news media often characterizes some detractors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “Mormon intellectuals” and presents them to the public as the thinking Mormons who know the inside story of the church. In this rush to produce controversial news, an obvious truth has been overlooked—that the LDS intellectual and academic communities are composed of strong believers in the Prophet Joseph Smith’s revelations and solid supporters of LDS Church leadership. Only at the fringes is there noticeable dissent.

Readers of Expressions of Faith will discover a marvelous, uncoached unity in these testimonies of LDS scholars. Although …

The Allegory Of The Olive Tree: The Olive, The Bible, And Jacob 5, Stephen D. Ricks, John W. Welch

Maxwell Institute Publications

In the Book of Mormon, the allegory of the olive tree—written by a prophet named Zenos and later quoted by the prophet Jacob to his people—stands out as a unique literary creation worthy of close analysis and greater appreciation. Besides its exceptional length and exquisite detail, this text conveys important teachings, deep emotion, and wisdom related to God’s tender devotion and aspirations for the house of Israel on earth.

In The Allegory of the Olive Tree, 20 scholars shed light on the meaning, themes, and rhetorical aspects of the allegory, as well as on its historical, cultural, and religious …

Brother Brigham Challenges The Saints, Hugh Nibley

Maxwell Institute Publications

This volume in the collected works of Hugh Nibley features the gifted Latter-day Saint scholar’s reflections on the thoughts of Brigham Young regarding politics, education, leadership, and the environment. Nibley has brought together a priceless collection of the early Mormon leader’s counsel to the Saints of his era—counsel that is still relevant today. Add to these prophetic insights the scholarship and plain speaking that characterize Dr. Nibley’s works and the result is an eye-opening and sobering invitation to reevaluate our priorities.

The timeliness of Brigham’s counsel on these topics will quickly become apparent to readers, as will the unique insights …

Temples Of The Ancient World: Ritual And Symbolism, Donald W. Parry

Maxwell Institute Publications

Three essays by Hugh Nibley, plus papers presented at the 1993 FARMS symposium, other important papers on the temple, a keynote address by Elder Marion D. Hanks (former president of the Salt Lake Temple), striking illustrations by Michael Lyon (who illustrated Nibley’s Temple and Cosmos)—these features and more make Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism one of the most significant volumes ever published on the temple. Twenty-four essays in this 1994 publication focus on the temple in the Hebrew Bible and ancient Near East, the New Testament, Jewish writings, and the Book of Mormon and ancient America.

Of All Things! Classic Quotations From Hugh Nibley, Gary P. Gillum

Maxwell Institute Publications

When you hear the name “Hugh Nibley” what do you think of? Intellect? Scholarship? Ancient religions? Temple worship? The study of civilizations? Surely, but there’s more. Brother Nibley has a keen sense of humor. And he turns a pithy phrase as no one else can. Here in one volume are many of the most entertaining and also the deepest of Brother Nibley’s thoughts on society, science, education, Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and other sacred writings, the temple, sustaining church leaders, and many other topics. These are not the jottings of some stuffy scholar. These are gems of thought …

Reexploring The Book Of Mormon: A Decade Of New Research, John W. Welch

Maxwell Institute Publications

The Book of Mormon invites exploration and reexploration. After more than 150 years of careful reading, we are still learning to appreciate its fullness, understand its origins, and comprehend its messages. Reexploring the Book of Mormon yields a wealth of new insights. More than ever before, patient and skillful research during the past decade has led from one discovery to another. Since 1981, the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (F.A.R.M.S.) has issued articles and updates—brief, readable reports on current discoveries about the origins and contents of the Book of Mormon. Eighty-five of these findings published through 1991 have …

Offenders For A Word: How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games To Attack The Latter-Day Saints, Daniel C. Peterson, Stephen D. Ricks

Maxwell Institute Publications

This book reveals the tactics many anti-Mormons employ in attacking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In clear, straightforward terms, the authors explain the true beliefs of the church and how to see through the word games that critics use to attack it.

Offenders for a Word answers critics’ objections to Latter-day Saint beliefs regarding the Godhead, polygamy, salvation by grace and works, eternal progression, the premortal existence, the role of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the nature of the Holy Ghost, and much more.

Rediscovering The Book Of Mormon: Insights That You May Have Missed Before, John L. Sorenson, Melvin J. Thorne

Maxwell Institute Publications

This book shares the exciting results of scholarly research on the Book of Mormon undertaken during the 1980s. As an ancient religious text and cultural artifact, the Book of Mormon rewards close analysis along many lines of inquiry. Twenty-three essays by prominent LDS scholars cover such topics as warfare, repentance, Exodus motifs, Hebraisms, kingship, politics, Isaiah, Mormon as editor, chiasmus, covenant renewal, and poetry.

These studies aim to demonstrate that the Book of Mormon contains complex patterns not previously recognized—that is, subtle patterns of style, ideas, history, and actions that, once made visible, shed much light on the power and …

The Ancient State: The Rulers And The Ruled, Hugh Nibley

Maxwell Institute Publications

One important key to understanding modern civilization is a familiarity with its ancient background. Many modern principles and practices–social, political, and even economic–have clear parallels in antiquity. A careful study of these forerunners of our traditions, particularly as they contributed to the downfall of earlier civilizations, may help us avoid some of the mistakes of our predecessors.

The Ancient State, by Hugh Nibley, is a thought-provoking examination of assorted aspects of ancient culture, from the use of marked arrows to the surprisingly universal conception of kinship, from arguments of various schools of philosophy to the rise of rhetoric. Author Hugh …

Tinkling Cymbals And Sounding Brass: The Art Of Telling Tales About Joseph Smith And Brigham Young, Hugh Nibley

Maxwell Institute Publications

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Since then, the terms “tinkling cymbals” and “sounding brass” have often been used to signify words of emptiness and confusion – describing perfectly most writings critical of the Latter-day Saints. Trained in history and interested in classical rhetoric, Hugh Nibley brings a broad perspective to his study of anti-Mormon writings.

By Study And Also By Faith: Essays In Honor Of Hugh W. Nibley, Vol. 2, John M. Lundquist, Stephen D. Ricks

Maxwell Institute Publications

Religious Validity: The Sacrament Covenant in Third Nephi

Richard Lloyd Anderson

I have just nished another reading of the Book of Mormon, and what a wonderful rejuvenation this has been as vistas of doctrine open up. The spirit is a complex thing. It comes as it will, as Jesus said to Nicodemus (John 3:8). Sometimes you feel a burning and a warmth, and sometimes you feel a peace and clarity of thought. The latter is my experience in reading the Book of Mormon this time. In the rst reading I felt the warmth intensely. I can remember my impressions of …

Warfare In The Book Of Mormon, Stephen D. Ricks, William J. Hamblin

Maxwell Institute Publications

“People may well ask: Why study warfare in the Book of Mormon? There are so many answers, among which are these: to understand better the events in the Book of Mormon, to develop a perspective against which to understand its teachings and messages, to enjoy the interesting lives of a remarkable people, and to aid in assaying the historicity of the book, ” writes John W. Welch at the beginning of Warfare in the Book of Mormon.

The Geography Of Book Of Mormon Events: A Sourcebook, John L. Sorenson

Maxwell Institute Publications

Introduction

The subject of "Book of Mormon geography" has stimulated three different responses among Latter-day Saints over the years. On the part of Church authorities caution, if not anxiety, has prevailed. For a minority of members the reaction has been persistent curiosity. Meanwhile a large majority have been satisfied to ignore the matter.