Gives seventeen reasons listed by Lord Kingsborough why the Indians are Israelites.

Latter-day Saints are not unique in their belief that the Indians have Hebrew origins. Quotes The History of the American Indian by James Adair (1775) to support this claim.

A series of communications between A. T. Schroeder and D. H. Bays that appeared in the Christian Evangelist, 9 Aug. 1899—2 Nov. 1899, discussing the possibility that the Spaulding manuscript was the basis of the Book of Mormon.

Old Indian and Spanish histories that are preserved in Mexican libraries and museums provide evidence of the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon.

A reprint of an article written in the Register and Leader by E. H. Robb who finds that America has been inhabited from a very early period of time, which recalls the statements of the Book of Mormon concerning the Nephites and Jaredites.

Analyzes 2 Nephi 3 and finds that a choice seer will be a blessing to the descendants of Lehi. The choice seer may be Jesus Christ, whose work was the Book of Mormon.

The mission of the Book of Mormon and the work of this dispensation is to save souls, to gather Israel, to teach the covenants of God, and to build Zion.

Letters to the editor defend or condemn the advertising of a historical time chart containing biblical and Book of Mormon events. Some maintain that the events of the Book of Mormon do not represent a historical reality, while others believe that the events do represent reality.

The Book of Mormon’s claim that it is a record of God’s people in America cannot be sustained by archaeological evidence. Members of the LDS church approach archaeology only in an amateur way.

Author considers it his duty to warn humanity of the dangers of the Church and its false prophet. Joseph Smith was given power to translate the Book of Mormon by God and no other gift was given to him.

“This social justice commentary of the Book of Mormon empowers readers to understand the text as a book that speaks to issues of racism, sexism, immigration, refugees, and socioeconomic inequality. The Book of Mormon : For the Least of These offers an unflinching examination of some of the difficult and troubling sections of the Book of Mormon, while also advocating for a compassionate reading of holy text. As a verse-by-verse close reading, this book examines new layers of interpretation and meaning, giving even those deeply familiar with scripture innovative tools for engaging powerfully with the Book of Mormon.” [Amazon summary]

In this four part song, written in the key of D flat Major, Salter uses the words of Moroni 10:4-5 exhorting the listener to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true.

This song, written in the key of F Major for a soprano voice, uses the text of 3 Nephi 15:21-24, which states that the Nephites are the other sheep of whom Jesus spoke in John 10:16.

An examination of the Lord’s prayer in the Book of Mormon. Believes that Joseph Smith did not copy the Bible in translating the Book of Mormon. [A.C.W.] ook of Mormon. Believes that Joseph Smith did not copy the Bible in translating the Book of Mormon. [A.C.W.] ”

Presents a history, description, and photographs of the original manuscript of the Book of Mormon.

Presents notes concerning the origin of the Book of Mormon. The nature of the book is sacred history as well as profane history, it teaches morality and spiritual truths, and it presents a perfect philosophy of life. Its primary purposes are to witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ and to combat the controversies that exist between the Bible and the modern philosophies of men.

Presents notes concerning the origin of the Book of Mormon. The nature of the book is sacred history as well as profane history, it teaches morality and spiritual truths, and it presents a perfect philosophy of life. Its primary purposes are to witness of the divinity of Jesus Christ and to combat the controversies that exist between the Bible and the modern philosophies of men.

I hope in our time together this morning we can think carefully and seriously about what we really are and, more important, what we desire and need to become. I am satisfied that this aim of a BYU education—to build character—cannot be neglected or diminished because all of the aims and the mission of this great university are so intimately related to one another.

…my hope is that we can as colleagues across campus think faithfully and diligently together about how we can make inquiry, creativity, and research a more effective part of how we not only transmit known information but, more important, how we enhance teaching by participating personally in the process of discovery and the creation of new knowledge.

I believe being acceptable to God and having the approval of the right kind of men and women are the ultimate accreditation that we should each personally seek. And the basic standard by which we will be measured is whether or not we serve Christ.

I hope we will commit ourselves today and continue this commitment throughout our lives to contribute in every way that we can to building the kingdom of God on earth and also in supporting our alma mater.

In order to live with God once again, you cannot deviate from the strait and narrow path or lose your firm grip on the iron rod or you will be as those who were lost in Lehi’s vision.

Contains essays on the Book of Mormon including José Sánchez, “Las Traducciones y Ediciones del Libro de Mormón al Espa–ol”; José Sánchez, “MuŽstrenme a un ‘Lamanita’ “; José Sánchez, “Bibliograf’a Selecta del Libro de Mormón”; José Sánchez, “El Libro de Mormón y Yo”; Mark L. Grover, “Bibliograf’a de la Iglesia Mormona en LatinoamŽrica”; and a small “Encuesta S—bre el art’culo MuŽstrenme a un ‘Lamanita,’ ” compiled by Sánchez.

Letters responding to C. L. Sainsbury’s letter (July/August issue) seeking inclusion of Nephite history on an international timeline. Contributors contend that no archaeological evidence exists for the Book of Mormon, point out the book’s similarity to the Bible, and enclose the Smithsonian Institution’s statement concerning the Book of Mormon.

There is much evidence of an ancient civilization in Arizona. According to the author, the legends that surround these people closely resembled the story of the Nephites chronicled in the Book of Mormon.

There is much evidence of an ancient civilization in Arizona. The legends that surround these people closely resemble the story of the Nephites chronicled in the Book of Mormon.

A poem about Moroni and the Title of Liberty.

A poem about Moroni and the Title of Liberty.

A poem about Moroni and the Title of Liberty.

This chapter examines the importance of written text in the Book of Mormon and the way in which its writers transcend time, communicating directly with readers in the present day. It argues that the Latter-day Saint community is influenced largely by voices from the past, and that similarly, America’s national culture formed due to the societal connections created by print culture.

A polemical work against Mormonism. The writer notes what he perceives to be several anachronisms in the Book of Mormon, asserting that there is not a “scrap of evidence” in support of the antiquity of Book of Mormon names. The Book of Mormon is merely the “production of an over-imaginative mind”

A detailed polemic against the Book of Mormon that claims that the Spaulding manuscript was the primary source of the Book of Mormon. Includes background historical material, a brief bibliography, and eight appendices. Attempts to demonstrate a connection between Sidney Rigdon and Solomon Spaulding.

Despite deep popular interest in Mormon culture, scholars have not given significant attention to the religion’s central scripture. The Book of Mormon is relevant to literary studies at a moment when the turn to religion and debates over the secularization thesis have captured scholarly attention. Until recently, scholarship on The Book of Mormon was largely polemical and divided between apologists and skeptics. The rise of the new Mormon history beginning in the 1960s helped bring studies of Mormonism tentatively into the mainstream academy. Historians and scholars of religious studies have examined the reception of The Book of Mormon, the rise of the religion in early American culture, and the story of its founder, Joseph Smith. By studying the long-neglected internal workings of the text, literary critics have the opportunity to bring new scholarly techniques to bear on this highly influential American scripture. [Article’s abstract]

“The Book of Mormon is the story of how ancient Israelites established a civilization in the Americas, but it is also the story of the book itself : how the records were acquired, composed, labored over, protected, lost, abridged, preserved for a thousand years, and finally buried so that the plates could, as prophesied, be discovered by Joseph Smith centuries later. The prominence of the reader and writer is not just an incidental feature of this scripture, but is essential to the Mormon understanding of the relationship between human and divine. This essay identifies three key narrative features of The Book of Mormon : the centrality of readers and witnesses to the creation of scripture, the primacy of the act of writing in revelation and prophecy, and the mediation that allows a single person to inhabit multiple narrative categories. Biblical prophets, especially “writing prophets” like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, share some features with the prophets of The Book of Mormon , such as first-​person narration and dialogue with God. Yet there is little biblical precedent for The Book of Mormon’s intense focus on its own textuality and its own narrative practices or for the ways in which prophets transcend their passive, anointed roles and become authors of scripture in their own right. Its insistent textuality does, however, link The Book of Mormon to other scriptural and prophetic forms that arose in the antebellum United States. While the Mormon prophets vary in their literary style, narrative techniques, and personal presence, the centrality of reading, writing, and the system of scripture-​craft is persistent.” [Author]

The costume design for the Hill Cumorah Pageant reflects a strong understanding of the physical and artistic needs of the production as well as a good grasp of the historical setting of the Book of Mormon. Through a rich blending of theatrical techniques, the pageant dramatically re-creates scriptural episodes to underscore the wisdom of human agency based on moral choice—a message made poignantly relevant by the historical realism conveyed in large part by authentic costuming. This article explores the physical challenges of creating costumes for an outdoor drama and the historical research that influences the costume construction while staying true to the message of the script.

Over the last twenty years, various objective author-attribution techniques have been applied to the English Book of Mormon in order to shed light on the question of multiple authorship of Book of Mormon texts. Two methods, one based on rates of use of noncontextual words and one based on word-pattern ratios, measure patterns consistent with multiple authorship in the Book of Mormon. Another method, based on vocabulary-richness measures, suggests that only one author is involved. These apparently contradictory results are reconciled by showing that for texts of known authorship, the method based on vocabulary-richness measures is not as powerful in discerning differences among authors as are the other methods, especially for works translated into English by a single translator.

The abundance of skeptical theories about who wrote the Book of Mormon has led many scholars to seek scientific data to discover the answer. One technique is stylometry. Having first been developed in the 1850s, stylometry seeks to find the ” wordprint” of a text. Although these stylistic studies are not as accurate as a human’s fingerprint, they can give researchers a good idea either of differences in style between authors or of who might have written a text from a list of possible authors. Beginning in the 1960s individuals have completed four major stylometric studies on the Book of Mormon, studies that varied in both findings and quality of research. In addition to these four studies, this article presents a fifth study—using extended nearest shrunken centroid (ENSC) classification—that incorporates and improves on the earlier research.

While on assignment from the LDS prophet Joseph Smith to visit Jerusalem in 1840, Elder Orson Hyde of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles suggested opening a mission in Germany and translating the Book of Mormon into German. By April 1852, the new prophet, Brigham Young, had sent Daniel Carn to Germany to be the mission president and to help with the translation, and by May of the same year, Das Buch Mormon had been published. However, when East Germany was created and placed behind the “Iron Curtain,” matters grew worse for the Latter-day Saints. Because they were unable to print anything themselves, they relied on missionaries and members of the church in West Germany to smuggle copies of Das Buch Mormon into East Germany so they could have the scripture that was so central to their beliefs. Members still had to burn all manuals and church material that had been published after 1920 to avoid arrest, but since Das Buch Mormon had been published in 1852, the Saints were able to keep their copies of that scripture.

Responds to charges made against Mormonism in the book The God Makers

Itzamna the Dew of Heaven, the blonde, blue-eyed god of the ancient Mayan civilization, has qualities that recall the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

Includes numerous photographs and maps, demonstrating that the archaeological ruins of Latin America have an affinity with Egyptian culture, and correlate with the Book of Mormon.

Teachings about grace in the Book of Mormon are more at home in the worlds of the Bible and the ancient Mediterranean than in the modern understanding that grace is a free, unearned gift. The Book of Mormon teaches that grace is part of a covenant that places requirements on the receiver. Grace manifests God’s goodness to humankind and is closely aligned with mercy and Christ’s Atonement to meet the demands of justice and make salvation possible. It parallels the meanings of hesed (mercy) from the Old Testament and the concept that all gifts give rise to reciprocal obligations, which prevailed in the ancient world.

While most modern Christian theologians have concluded that grace is an unconditional pass guaranteeing salvation or a mystical abstraction, few know that the principle of grace (hen: Hebrew or charis: Greek=a gift) was relational in antiquity. Unfortunately, the active, relational, covenantal nuances of grace (hen and charis) were lost during the apostasy but were remarkably restored in the Book of Mormon. Grace (hen/charis)was an obliging, reciprocal and relational gift in its original, Mediterranean context. Ancient, archaic Greek and Hebrew writers in 600 BC conventionally expected to form a relationship with others by gift-giving and thereby expected to create a binding relationship of future gift-giving in return. Archaic gift-giving forged alliances and covenants and inspired later rounds of gift-giving in the Near East that gradually empowered both the giver and the recipient. However, in late-antiquity and during the Reformation, Christian intellectuals transformed this covenant-inspiring gift of grace into an emotional, one-directional freebie that allegedly provided immediate salvation. In contrast, the Book of Mormon clarifies that God’s grace encourages action, invites, obliges, enables and empowers disciples to restore broken covenant relationships and thereby become like Heavenly Father because of His Son’s obliging, atoning gift.

Notes briefly some problems he sees with the Book of Mormon and archaeology: the horse did not exist in Mesoamerica contemporaneously with the Nephites; natives with white skin and beards migrated in the Paleo- Mesolithic period; there are no remains of the Middle-Eastern seeds the Nephites planted (1 Nephi 18:25); many aspects of Nephite culture are not evidenced by archaeology.

Cartoon message for children. A nine-year-old boy presents a book report on the Book of Mormon in his school, impressing his teacher to the point that she desires to read it.

Students of Brigham Young University walk from Jerusalem to the Red Sea to relive “Lehi’s Trek”

Reprint of article in American Journal of Psychology 30 (1919): 66-72, wherein Schroeder replies to Walter F. Prince, who conducted rigorous psychological tests of the Book of Mormon and the Spaulding manuscript and concluded that it is doubtful that the two works had any connection. Schroeder disagrees with the conclusions of Prince, and reaffirms his position that the Book of Mormon was produced in collaboration with Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, Oliver Cowdery, and perhaps Emma Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Joseph Smith.

Pamphlet. Provides a brief history of Solomon Spaulding and proposes that a second, re-written, Spaulding manuscript formed the basis for the Book of Mormon.

Desires to demonstrate the Spaulding origin of the Book of Mormon. In spite of the rediscovery of Spaulding’s manuscript by President Fairchild, Schroeder proposes that there was a “second” Spaulding manuscript from which Joseph Smith plagiarized in writing the Book of Mormon.

Attempts to explain the Book of Mormon on the basis of Spaulding’s Manuscript Found. Does not discuss the 1884 discovery of the manuscript.

A review of W. F. Prince’s psychological aspects of the Book of Mormon. Debunks the idea that the Book of Mormon grew out of the anti-Masonic movement, but thinks that it was the Spaulding manuscript, revised by Sidney Rigdon, and finished with a group of people, including Parley P. Pratt, whom the prophet had not yet met.

Game theory has been applied to a number of disciplines, including economics, law, politics, sociology, and Bible studies, but this article is the first serious attempt to apply it to the Book of Mormon narrative. One particularly important model in game theory is known as the Prisoner’s Dilemma, which emphasizes the possibility and benefits of cooperation in the face of conflict. The Book of Mormon account is an almost constant narrative based on conflict, first within the family of Lehi and then between two warring factions that arise from a split in that original Book of Mormon family. These conflicts tend to fit the Prisoner’s Dilemma model extremely well. In a final estimation, the Prisoner’s Dilemma and its application in the Book of Mormon provide another way of looking at the Book of Mormon’s core messages of atonement, redemption, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Schwarz’s biography of Arnold Friberg includes a history of Friberg’s artistic work on the Book of Mormon and reproduces many of his paintings, including the brother of Jared, discovery of the Liahona, Abinadi in Noah’s court, and Christ’s appearance to the Nephites.

A comparison made between Egyptian hieratic phonetics found in the Book of the Dead and the Book of Mormon characters found in the Anthon transcript shows amazing similarities.

Discusses how certain Latin American artifacts confirm the Book of Mormon. Contains several pictures.

Tells about baptismal fonts that existed among the QuichŽ Mayas in Guatamala and another font is identified in Peru.

Reports on the increasing number of archaeological finds that do not conflict with the Book of Mormon, and that in some cases support the historical accuracy of the book. The remains of horses and wheels have been discovered.

An update on the translation and publication of the Book of Mormon into various languages, and the mention of certain scriptures that pose translation problems (e.g., 1 Nephi 16:10, 2 Nephi 1:22, 1 Nephi 5:16, Jacob 7:5).

Update on the publishing history of the Book of Mormon, missionary tracts, and LDS magazines. Includes a chronology of Book of Mormon printings.

Points out two different findings in Mexico that show how archaeology converges with the Book of Mormon. The two excavations uncovered a Maya Codex in a city close to San Salvador and a lost fort found in Guatemala.

A large engraved stone with hieroglyphics and a picture of a fully clothed man was discovered in the Acula River, southeast of Veracruz, Mexico in 1986. Many scholars believe the hieroglyphics represent an earlier version of the Maya language, probably Olmec.

RLDS activity book designed for teaching the Book of Mormon to children.

An account of why the author left the Mormon church. A chapter on the Book of Mormon explains why it is not a divine work and the manner in which it contains errors made by Joseph Smith. Scott uses archaeological, historical, and linguistic evidence and the Bible to demonstrate the errors of the Book of Mormon.

Contradictions shown in two letters written by Professor Charles Anthon about his dealings with Martin Harris including whether or not he gave Harris a written opinion on the authenticity of the characters shown to him.

The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment.

Many things mentioned in the Book of Mormon have been questioned in times past, but modern scientists are finding evidence that substantiates the Book of Mormon: archaeologists have found that the Wady Rumen flows into the Red Sea and is about three day’s journey down the Arabian shore of the Red Sea, answering objections to the route of Lehi from Jerusalem; archaeologists have verified that brass was used as a medium upon which records were kept; links have been found between New World and Old World cultures in modes of worship, architecture, and skeletal structure of ancient inhabitants.

Seeking a testimony with real intent and counseling with the Lord allows a testimony of the Book of Mormon to grow.

A booklet containing commentary and scriptural quotes from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants that pertain to prophecies of the second coming, the new Jerusalem, judgment, and the degrees of glory.

Abstract: A recent review of Joseph M. Spencer’s book The Vision of All: Twenty-Five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record made the case that the book contains several challenges and problems, in particular that it advocates a theologically deficient interpretation of Isaiah that denies Isaiah’s witness of Jesus Christ. This response provides an alternative reading of Spencer’s work and suggests these assertions are often based on misunderstanding. At stake in this conversation is the question of whether or not there is more than one valid way to read Isaiah that draws upon a faithful, Restoration perspective. While Spencer may interpret and frame some things differently than some other Latter-day Saint scholars, the prophecies of Isaiah provide enough richness and possibility to accommodate a chorus of faithful approaches.

This volume aims to assist in the personal and family study of the history and teachings of the Old Testament. The book gathers some of the clearest writings on the Old Testament that have been published by the Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University. The Old Testament is not only foundational to our understanding of the birth, life, atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection of the Savior, as found in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and other scripture, but it also teaches us about God, our faith history, and the spiritual heritage of the house of Israel. ISBN 978-1-9503-0420-2

The 42nd Annual Brigham Young University Sidney B. Sperry Symposium The Psalmist asks, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?” This year’s Sperry Symposium discusses ascending into the Lord’s mountain within the context of theophany, ancient temple worship, sacred space, sacrifice, offerings, and hymns and songs in the text of the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. The scriptures contain a rich treasury of information of how ancient Israelites and the people in the Book of Mormon worshipped God and expressed themselves through ritual and devotions as found in the Psalms. These explorations of ancient temple worship help us to better understand and appreciate latter-day temple and worship traditions. ISBN 978-1-60907-581-1

Review of The House of the Lord: A Study of Holy Sanctuaries: A special Reprint of the 1912 First Edition (1998), by James E. Talmage.

“The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) was founded by John W. (Jack) Welch in 1979 as a private nonprofit educational organization dedicated primarily to the study of the Book of Mormon but eventually branching out into many other issues related to Latter-day Saint scripture. Welch founded FARMS in California and brought it with him (with permission of Associate Vice President Robert K. Thomas and Law School Dean Rex E. Lee) when he was hired at the Brigham Young University (BYU) Law School in 1980. FARMS became officially affiliated with BYU in 1997 and was eventually subsumed by the formation of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship in 2006. After the formation of the Maxwell Institute, the FARMS initiatives were gradually phased out, and with the dissolution of the FARMS Review in 2012, virtually all vestiges of FARMS, except the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, disappeared from the Maxwell Institute. FARMS originally defined its research interests to include ’ancient history, language, literature, culture, geography, politics and law,’ all related primarily or comparatively to the Book of Mormon. Indeed, a review of FARMS publications throughout the years demonstrates that its research is found in all of these areas. FARMS aimed to produce peer-reviewed scholarship that would be reputable to scholars, and also to present their scholarship to a general (Latter-day Saint) audience. The organization developed a host of venues for creating and disseminating its works on the Book of Mormon. The number of publications is remarkable, in addition to their breadth and significance. This short paper will attempt to review and evaluate the contribution of FARMS to Book of Mormon studies and scholarship during the period from 1979 to 2011.” [Author]

Available for free at BYU ScholarsArchive.
A review of Teachings of the Book of Mormon: Sememster 3 (1992), by Hugh W. Nibley.

The image of the hand of God in both the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon stands for the Lord’s power to intervene in the affairs of men and the events of history. Comparison between the ways this image is used in the two scriptures supports what the Book of Mormon claims about its own origin.

Review of Reexploring the Book of Mormon: The F.A.R.M.S. Updates (1992), edited by John W. Welch

Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and Book of Mormon prophet Lehi were contemporaries, and both preached repentance to the people of Jerusalem. Despite their common love for the truth, these men led very different lives because the first was commanded to remain in Jerusalem and the latter was commanded to leave. This article examines the lives and teachings of Jeremiah and Lehi and compares them to each other, suggesting that Jeremiah’s life symbolizes God’s justice and that Lehi’s life symbolizes God’s mercy.

After the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi left Jerusalem with his family, he built an altar in the wilderness and offered a sacrifice to God. This practice appears to contradict biblical law as outlined in Deuteronomy 12, which states that sacrifices should be made only on an altar within a temple. However, David Rolph Seely provides three possible explanations as to why Lehi was not breaking the law of Moses.

Contents:

Preface / Paul H. Peterson, David F. Boone, David R. Seely
A Tribute to Sidney B. Sperry / Ellis T. Rasmussen
Rending the Veil of Unbelief / Jeffrey R. Holland
The Destiny of the House of Israel / Daniel H. Ludlow
The Power and the Purpose of the Written Record / Robert J. Matthews
The Regeneration of Fallen Man / Robert L. Millet
The Power of Evidence in the Nurturing of Faith / John W. Welch

Review of From Jerusalem to Zarahemla: Literary and Historical Studies of the Book of Mormon (1998), by S. Kent Brown

This is a continuation of the comprehensive bibliography of LDS writings on the Old Testament published in BYU Studies 37, no. 2 (1997–98), available at byustudies.byu.edu. This bibliography includes publications from 1997 to the end of 2005 as well as a few older publications that were not included in the first bibliography. Since that bibliography, there has been a Sperry Symposium dedicated to the Old Testament; all of those printed proceedings (Covenants, Prophecies, and Hymns of the Old Testament) are included in this bibliography. Published in 2005 is the volume Sperry Symposium Classics, a collection of papers from previous symposia; since many of those articles were revised for the 2005 volume, they are included here. Also relevant to the Old Testament is a volume published by FARMS entitled Glimpses of Lehi’s Jerusalem. Of note but not included in this bibliography because of space considerations are the many Old Testament topics discussed in encyclopedic form in The Book of Mormon Reference Companion, edited by Dennis Largely (Deseret Book, 2003).

Abstract: David Seely provides a wide-ranging survey of interpretations of the prophecy in Deuteronomy 18:15–18 concerning “a prophet like unto Moses.” He examines relevant passages in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls and shows how the prophecy has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ and others, continuing with Joseph Smith’s role in the Restoration and onward to the present day.
[Editor’s Note: Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article is reprinted here as a service to the LDS community. Original pagination and page numbers have necessarily changed, otherwise the reprint has the same content as the original.See David R. Seely, ““A Prophet Like Moses” (Deuteronomy 18:15–18) in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls,” in “To Seek the Law of the Lord”: Essays in Honor of John W. Welch, ed. Paul Y. Hoskisson and Daniel C. Peterson (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation, 2017), 359–74. Further information at https://interpreterfoundation.org/books/to-seek-the-law-of-the-lord-essays-in-honor-of-john-w-welch-2/.].

The Prophet Joseph Smith described the Restoration as a bringing forth of treasures of “things new and old,”1 and indeed modern revelation has shed great light on ancient truths. From Oliver Cowdery’s commentary on Zephaniah published in The Evening and the Morning Star in 1833 to the present outpouring of publications in preparation for the Sunday School course of study on the Old Testament in 1998, Latter-day Saints have generated a wealth of writings on the Old Testament which examine anew this ancient book of scripture in light of the Restoration. Through the spectacles of the Restoration we are able to remember the patriarchs Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and the great things the Lord has done for our fathers. We are able to understand the covenants the Lord has made in past dispensations and in the latter days. We are also able to better comprehend the writings of ancient prophets such as Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel and to discern from them the timeless message of repentance, the themes of scattering and gathering, and the prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah—first in the flesh to atone for the sins of the world and again at the end of time. Just as the Old Testament provides a foundation for reading the rest of the scriptures, the light of the Restoration can reveal hidden treasures in the Old Testament. This bibliography is an attempt to guide readers to this treasury of “things new and old.” Criteria for Inclusion. This bibliography is meant to be a comprehensive listing of books and articles written by Latter-day Saints to Latter-day Saints about the Old Testament from 1830 through 1997. To be included, a book or an article must be primarily on an Old Testament topic. Consequently we have not included New Testament, Book of Mormon, or Pearl of Great Price topics unless they are specifically related to the Old Testament.2 Nor have we included writings on apocryphal or pseudepigraphical books unless they are relevant to the Old Testament. We have included general conference addresses published in the Ensign (1971–), but we have not included conference talks before this time. We have included a few articles by non-Latter-day Saints aimed at an LDS audience, but have not included biblical studies presented by LDS scholars in non-LDS settings. The Old Testament has been the course of study in Sunday School from September 1972 to August 1974 and September 1980 to August 1982, and from January to December in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. Numerous Old Testament items have been published in those years. The articles that appear weekly in the Church News and coordinate with Sunday School lessons have not been included in this bibliography. The following periodical or recurring sources were surveyed for this bibliography: BYU Studies (1959–); Church Educational System symposia and manuals; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints manuals; Contributor (1879–1896); Dialogue (1966–); Encyclopedia of Mormonism; Ensign (1971–); The Evening and the Morning Star (1832–34); Improvement Era (1897–1970); Millennial Star (1840–1970); New Era (1971–); Sperry Symposia; Sunstone (1981–); theses and dissertations at BYU; and Young Woman’s Journal (1889–1929). Three Lists. The entries are organized in three overlapping lists. First, all entries are listed by author’s names with complete bibliographic information and a very short abstract in cases where the contents of the publications are not adequately described by their titles. This is followed by a list of the entries organized by canonical books of the Old Testament. A third listing is divided into subject categories. All the entries are found in the author list and are found again listed either in the canonical or the subject categories. Many entries are found both in the canonical listing as well as in one or more subject listings. Gaining Access. Most, if not all, of the entries in this bibliography are available at the Harold B. Lee Library at BYU. Many of them are readily available on the shelves, but some are kept in Special Collections. The bibliography itself can be accessed electronically at http://humanities.byu.edu/BYU Studies/homepage.htm. Acknowledgments. This bibliography began with a work by Dane Robertson entitled Index of Mormon Literature on the Old Testament, compiled for the History and Religion Library at BYU, which included entries up through 1981. Originally we intended to simply update that index, but in the course of our work we adopted somewhat different criteria for collecting and organizing the entries, and we ended up surveying the corpus of LDS writings again. We remain indebted to this earlier work. Many have worked in various capacities on the bibliography over the last several years: Eryn Johnson Gibson, Brian Jones, Jennifer Hammond Merrill, Becky Schulthies, and Luke Todd have worked through Religious Education on compiling, typing, abstracting, and checking the entries. Daniel B. McKinlay helped with the compilation. Jennifer Hurlbut, David Allred, and the interns and staff at BYU Studies rechecked and formatted the entries. We invite corrections and additions. A master list is kept in electronic form and can readily be expanded and reorganized. Hopefully, a supplement can someday be issued including future publications and additions to this bibliography. This work is one of collection and description. We have not attempted to evaluate the entries in terms of scholarly accuracy or doctrinal correctness.

Some Latter-day Saint commentators deem a phrase that appears in 2 Nephi 12:16 but not in the parallel passage in Isaiah 2:16—“and upon all ships of the sea”—as evidence that the Book of Mormon preserves a version of this verse from the brass plates that is more complete than the Hebrew or King James readings. One scholar’s conclusions in this regard are reviewed and then critiqued for ignoring the complexities of the ancient Hebrew and Greek versions of the Bible. The authors examine Isaiah 2:16 in its broader literary context, noting that the 2 Nephi reading alters a pattern of synonymous couplets; analyze the Greek and Hebrew texts of the verse; and relate their findings to the Book of Mormon reading. They discuss the inherent limitations of textual criticism in this kind of study and conclude that LDS and non-LDS scholars are open to different interpretive possibilities owing to the role that faith plays in one’s approach to and interpretation of textual evidence.

This study presents the basic Latter-day Saint beliefs about the Bible and documents the relationship between these beliefs and the approach and results of historical biblical criticism. Latter-day Saints believe the Bible is the word of God but do not believe it is inerrant or sufficient and thus is supplemented by other revealed ancient texts—most notably the Book of Mormon. Latter-day Saints believe in the pursuit of truth through “study and faith” and are thus not opposed to intellectual examination of scripture. In fact LDS scholars selectively use biblical critical methods in defending of their scripture. At the same time Mormons are defensive about the historicity of the Bible and the Book of Mormon—and thus find themselves with a tradition of conflict with the results of modern biblical criticism that challenge these assumptions. A growing number of LDS scholars in the church who are trained in the historical critical approach to scripture has resulted in renewed discussions and studies about the relationship between faith and scholarship. These discussions are enhanced by a greater openness in the church regarding the critical study of its history, and the results of this approach have also generated biblical and Book of Mormon studies relating to historical critical issues.

Cites the teachings and prophecies of Zenos included in the Book of Mormon to demonstrate his importance as a prophet.

The chronology of the use of plant imagery

Review of The Book of Mormon Text Reformatted according to Parallelistic Patterns (1992), by Donald W. Parry

Old Testament prophet Jeremiah and Book of Mormon prophet Lehi were contemporaries, and both preached repentance to the people of Jerusalem. Despite their common love for the truth, these men led very different lives because the first was commanded to remain in Jerusalem and the latter was commanded to leave. This article examines the lives and teachings of Jeremiah and Lehi and compares them to each other, suggesting that Jeremiah’s life symbolizes God’s justice and that Lehi’s life symbolizes God’s mercy.

Book review.

A polemical work against Mormonism. The author discusses what he considers to be various anachronisms and absurdities in the Book of Mormon.

A historical work that discusses Joseph Smith and Mormonism on pages 1-23. The author considers the Book of Mormon to be “crude in style and inane in contents” He accepts the Spaulding Theory regarding its origin.

Book review.

In this article, the South African Mission celebrates the anniversary of Moroni’s visit by organizing a campaign to sell and distribute copies of the Book of Mormon.

In this article, the South African Mission celebrates the anniversary of Moroni’s visit by organizing a campaign to sell and distribute copies of the Book of Mormon.

Two polemic lectures. Considers Joseph Smith to be an impostor. Tells about the origin of the Book of Mormon and comments on its feasibility or lack thereof.

This chapter examines the Book of Mormon in light of the popular pseudo-biblical genre of the time period in which it was published. It hypothesizes that the Book of Mormon could not have gained the traction it did if not for the existence of contemporary texts written in biblical style.

This article illustrates the Nephite notions of priesthood and church in order to show that the Book of Mormon conception of priesthood is based on Judahite notions of kingly priesthood and ideas firmly rooted in the biblical law of Moses and the Sinai Covenant. This is the underlying idea behind Alma2’s discussion of Melchizedek in Alma 13. In this article, I first look at “priest” in the biblical record and tradition. I follow this with a discussion of Book of Mormon “priesthood” notions up to Alma1 and Alma2 (including the interaction with Nehor). Finally, I examine the conflict between Alma2 and the Nehorite people of Ammonihah, where Alma2 draws on a narrative expansion of the Melchizedek tradition in Genesis 14 to make his point about his priesthood order and its superiority to the order of Nehor.

This volume represents some of the more compelling articles on the Book of Mormon that have appeared in Religious Studies Center publications. Each has advanced the field of Book of Mormon studies in unique and innovative ways and has provided insights into the doctrine, history, and message of the Book of Mormon.

“In this essay I have presented three concrete examples that I believe illustrate what is needed in the future from comparative and historical approaches to the Book of Mormon. There is value in pointing out parallels, but the future of these approaches in Book of Mormon studies must not stop there. It must use gathered data to aid in more sophisticated readings of the Book of Mormon, increasing understanding of both what the book is presenting and how it is presenting it. For me, this is one of the most important elements for the future of Book of Mormon studies--the recognition that finding parallels with the biblical text or other ancient cultures is not, in and of itself, sufficient as a point of scholarly interest. It is an excellent starting point, but the future of Book of Mormon studies will move on from that point. Future scholarship naturally builds on what has gone before, but standing on the shoulders of giants will allow future Book of Mormon scholars to see even further than before.” [Author]

An alphabetical listing of nearly every word occurring in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price with context entries. Words found in the title page and the thirty original chapter headings of the Book of Mormon are also included.

In response to the accusations of three traveling Methodist preachers, the author attempts to prove through archaeology the existence in pre-Columbian Central America of horses, cement, and jewelry—things mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

Discusses several archetypal patterns that occur in the Book of Mormon. These include the archetypal night journey, the Cain-Abel archetype, the Oedipal statement, the Great Mother archetype, and the resulting masculinity of the book. She provides several examples of each archetype, and relates them to the scriptural context.

Sharp tells the history of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the early Church and persecution of the Saints, Joseph Smith’s martyrdom, and the pioneer journey, as well as Nephi’s story as told in the Book of Mormon, in an epic poem format.

Abstract: The word Gentiles appears 141 times in the Book of Mormon (the singular Gentile appears only five times.) It appears more frequently than key words such as baptize, resurrection, Zion, and truth. The word Gentiles does not appear with equal frequency throughout the Book of Mormon; in fact, it appears in only five of its fifteen books: 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, 3 Nephi, Mormon, and Ether. Additionally, Book of Mormon speakers did not say Gentiles evenly. Some speakers said the word much less often than we might expect while others used it much more. Nephi₁ used Gentiles the most (43 times), and Christ Himself used it 38 times. In addition to analyzing which speakers used the word, this study shows distinctive ways in which Book of Mormon speakers used this word.

Quotes Revelation 14:6-8 and explains that Moroni was the angel who held the keys of the gospel and came to earth in the latter days to commit them to Joseph Smith. Gives a biographical outline of Moroni’s mortal life and discusses his latter-day work in bringing the Book of Mormon to light.

Discusses the wickedness of the American nation as related to the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite. He includes numerous quotes from the Book of Mormon and information about early explorers of America, and promotes the idea that the earth is a live animal.

Quotes Revelation 14:6-8 and explains that Moroni was the angel who held the keys of the gospel and came to earth in the latter days to commit them to Joseph Smith. Gives a biographical outline of Moroni’s mortal life and discusses his latter-day work in bringing the Book of Mormon to light.

Quotes Revelation 14:6-8 and explains that Moroni was the angel who held the keys of the gospel and came to earth in the latter days to commit them to Joseph Smith. Gives a biographical outline of Moroni’s mortal life and discusses his latter-day work in bringing the Book of Mormon to light.

A visit to the public library led Joseph Palozzolo to read the Book of Mormon, which eventually led to his conversion.

This article discusses newly discovered fossils of elephants that were found on an island off the coast of California. This discovery may indicate that the Book of Mormon contains the truth.

A nine-stanza poem dedicated to the Book of Mormon. The ninth stanza summarizes the entire poem: “Now I behold thee, open to my gaze, The Stick of Ephraim sent in these last days, To warn the nations, gather Israel in, Bring Christ to earth, and make an end of sin”

Archaeological and historical concepts associated with the Americas and parallels between the Old and New Worlds (i.e., Hebrew and Egyptian languages and customs found among the Indians) are discussed in light of many claims made in the Book of Mormon.

Explains how the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel.

“In Book of Mormon, Book of Lies, authors Meredith Ray Sheets and Kendal M. Sheets expose The Book of Mormon and the story surrounding its creation as one of the greatest deceptions in the history of America, if not the entire world. The result of twenty-five years of research, Book of Mormon, Book of Lies will alter the course of global religion, finance, and politics. Book of Lies proves that Smith’s manuscript, which he published in 1830, is nothing more than cleverly disguised plagiarism of The Travels of Marco Polo, the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World as recorded by his son, histories of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, and travel journals… all readily available to Smith.” [Abstract]

“In Book of Mormon, Book of Lies, authors Meredith Ray Sheets and Kendal M. Sheets expose The Book of Mormon and the story surrounding its creation as one of the greatest deceptions in the history of America, if not the entire world. The result of twenty-five years of research, Book of Mormon, Book of Lies will alter the course of global religion, finance, and politics. Book of Lies proves that Smith’s manuscript, which he published in 1830, is nothing more than cleverly disguised plagiarism of The Travels of Marco Polo, the voyage of Christopher Columbus to the New World as recorded by his son, histories of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, and travel journals… all readily available to Smith.” [Abstract]

A polemical work against Mormonism and the Book of Mormon. The author notes several examples of what he terms anachronisms and absurdities in the book, such as the use of a compass, animals, pre-Christian knowledge of New Testament events, modern terms and phrases, lack of archaeological evidence, and Jaredite barges. The author considers it ridiculous that the Book of Mormon does not agree with the prevalent belief of biblical scholars that certain passages of Isaiah belong to the post-exilic period.

Writes concerning the gift of seership, the Urim and Thummim, and the Book of Mormon’s warning against centralized power.

An eight- part instructional aid to study of the Book of Mormon that includes lesson outlines and questions arranged in the same chronological order as the events in the Book of Mormon.

A polemic against Mormon scriptures. The Book of Mormon contradicts the Bible and is full of gross anachronisms and absurdities.

The Book of Mormon conflicts with itself and with the Bible and contains internal proof of its fallacy. One hundred such fallacies are listed, i.e., the Book of Mormon date of the death of Christ disagrees with the Bible, the date of the birth of Christ does not coincide with world history.

Book review.

Book review.

Book review.

Explores themes found in 1 Nephi: the Nephite sojourn in the wilderness, the tree of life, Nephi’s vision, the olive tree, and the Liahona.

Studies in 3 Nephi: the birth of Christ, Jesus Christ, the son of God, Jesus visits the Nephites, the Sermon on the Mount, other sheep.

“Steve Shields presents the argument of Eritrean-born Embaye Melekin that the Book of Mormon conforms more closely to the geography, culture, and lore of Africa than to the Americas.” [Publisher]

Presents a document written by Lucy Mack Smith to her sister-in-law, Mary Pierce, dated January 23, 1829, which mentions the process of translation. (Editor’s note: this document has since been shown to be a forgery.)

A study guide with scriptural paraphrases, questions, and activities designed to aid the reader in understanding the book of Alma.

A study guide with scriptural paraphrases, questions, and activities designed to aid the reader in understanding the book of Helaman.

The first two chapters of this book describe the history of the Mormon church until the publication of the Book of Mormon. The author stresses the importance of the Book of Mormon in converting people to Joseph Smith’s cause. Only later did the First Vision begin to take prominence. This work is reviewed in A.026.

Letters praising the Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture and responding to articles published therein.

A polemical tract against the Book of Mormon attempting to demonstrate that many of its claims are false and unsupported by archaeological evidence. Author asserts that there is no evidence for the Hebrew origin of the American Indian, pre-columbian iron and steel, transoceanic migration, and Egyptian language in American white Indians. Other alleged anachronisms are noted.

An attempted refutation of the Book of Mormon’s historical claims. Author accepts the Spaulding theory for its origin; he asserts that there is no archaeological evidence that supports the Book of Mormon’s claims; he contests the claim that American Indians were once white, that they were of Hebrew descent, or that they had a knowledge of the Egyptian language. Numerous “anachronisms” are noted.

A polemical work attempting to discredit the Book of Mormon and show that it was derived from an unpublished manuscript written by Solomon Spaulding. The writer attempts to show that some Book of Mormon witnesses such as Oliver Cowdery denied their Book of Mormon testimony.

An examination of the North Americans of antiquity, from the aspects of archaeology, linguistics, geography, science, calendars, and religion. The Book of Mormon theory regarding the origin of the early North Americans is mentioned “only on the ground of its romantic character, and not on the supposition for a moment that it contains a grain of truth”

Uses historical, linguistic, and archaeological evidence to prove the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Basing his facts on research done by noted linguists and archaeologists of the time, the author writes concerning the god Quetzalcoatl, religious customs and ruins of advanced civilizations, comparisons between the Hebrew and Mayan languages, and the Egyptian hieroglyphic writings. Shreeve also tells of similarities in biblical beliefs between early people of both the western and eastern hemispheres and explains why Joseph Smith was incapable of writing the Book of Mormon without divine aid.