BYU Studies
Alphabetical by Title

Poetry. No abstract available

During the thirty years Royal Skousen has been working on the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project, he has discovered certain words and phrases that appear on the surface to be either ungrammatical or stylistically unusual. Some critics have claimed that these phrases are Joseph Smith’s dialect mixed with a crude imitation of the language of the King James Bible. But many of these phrases can be tied to Early Modern English, in use from 1530 to 1730. Skousen also identifies phrases from the King James Bible that are skillfully woven into the Book of Mormon text in unexpected ways as well as numerous issues that Protestants argued over during the 1500s and 1600s, such as infant baptism. Although the Book of Mormon contains elements from Early Modern English, it is not an Early Modern English text. It is unique. This article summarizes examples and discussion found in parts three and four of volume three of the Critical Text publications, titled The Nature of the Original Language (NOL).

Here is a very useful collection of articles that clearly explain the essential teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This anthology gives a sensitive introduction to the religious life of Latter-day Saints and what it means to be a committed follower of Christ in the Mormon tradition. The contents have been newly arranged under the convenient headings of Christianity, Church History, Scriptures, Basic Beliefs, Church Structure and Culture, and Comparative Studies. When the editors of Macmillan Publishing Company approached Brigham Young University in 1987 with the proposal of producing the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, they wanted to create a lasting resource that would help unfamiliar readers understand LDS history, scripture, doctrine, organization, and culture. They insisted that the articles be written by creditable scholars who were also trustworthy articulators of Latter-day Saint feelings. In order to know what Mormons believe, it seemed sensible to ask Latter-day Saints themselves. The articles in this ebook are selected from the 1,300 articles in Macmillan’s Encyclopedia of Mormonism. Some of these entries describe key topics that are central to the beliefs or characteristics that Latter-day Saints most fervently cherish. Others address the most basic points of LDS doctrine and practice. This selection of articles offers students of religion everywhere a concise understanding of the essentials of the Latter-day Saint faith.

This compilation of articles exploring topics related to government and politics is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies. This volume features articles on the Constitution and its amendments, political campaigns, early Saints’ involvement in the political process, reviews, and much more. Contents “Mormon Political Involvement in Ohio” by Max H. Parkin “William W. Phelps’s Service in Nauvoo as Joseph Smith’s Political Clerk” by Bruce A. Van Orden “‘It Seems Like Heaven Began on Earth’: Joseph Smith and the Constitution of the Kingdom of God” by Andrew F. Ehat “The Constitution of the State of Deseret” by Richard D. Poll “The Judicial Campaign against Polygamy and the Enduring Legal Questions” by Edwin D. Firmage “Public Virtue and the Roots of American Government” by Richard Vetterli and Gary Bryner “The Constitution as Covenant” by Lynn D. Wardle “Bicentennial Reflections on the Media and the First Amendment” by Bruce C. Hafen “One Moment Please: Private Devotion in the Public Schools” by Richard G. Wilkins “The Misunderstood First Amendment and Our Lives Online”by Cheryl B. Preston “Mormonism, Phosophical Liberalism, and the Constitution” by R. Collin Mangrum “Government in America—Master or Servant?” by John T. Bernhard “The 1968 Presidential Decline of George Romney: Mormonism or Politics?” by Dennis L. Lythgoe “Beyond Politics” by Hugh W. Nibley “A Mormon Approach to Politics” by Thomas B. Griffith “The Necessity of Political Parties and the Importance of Compromise” by David B. Magleby Conflict and Compromise: The Mormons in Mid-Nineteenth Century American Politics by J. Keith Melville, Reviewed by Jan Shipps The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America by Sarah Barringer Gordon, Reviewed by Nathan B. Oman The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America by Sarah Barringer Gordon, Reviewed by Terryl Givens

This compilation of articles on the art and architecture is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies. This volume features articles on early Mormon architects and architecture, artwork in the Nauvoo Temple, Minerva Teichert’s Manti Temple murals, symbolism in the Salt Lake Temple, and the art and architecture of the Hawai‘i Temple.

This compilation of articles exploring topics related to early Christianity is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies. This volume features articles on the Apocalypse of Peter, the Apocalypse of Adam, the Gospel of Judas, the development of the doctrines of God and creation, early Christian prayer circles, Masada fragments and the Qumran scrolls, and much more. Contents “Rediscovering Ancient Christianity” C. Wilfred Griggs “The Dead Sea Scrolls: A Mormon Perspective” S. Kent Brown “The Apocalypse of Peter: Introduction and Translation” S. Kent Brown and C. Wilfred Griggs “The Apocalypse of Adam” Stephen E. Robinson “The ‘Hymn of the Pearl’: An Ancient Counterpart to ‘O My Father’” John W. Welch and James V. Garrison “A Latter-day Saint Colloquium on the Gospel of Judas: A Note from the Editor” “A Latter-day Saint Colloquium on the Gospel of Judas: Media and Message” Richard N. Holzapfel “The Manuscript of the Gospel of Judas” S. Kent Brown “The ‘Unhistorical’ Gospel of Judas” Thomas A. Wayment “The Gnostic Context of the Gospel of Judas” Gaye Strathearn “Judas in the New Testament, the Restoration, and the Gospel of Judas” Frank F. Judd Jr. “The Apocryphal Judas Revisited” John W. Welch “The Expanding Gospel” Hugh W. Nibley “Ex Nihilo: The Development of the Doctrines of God and Creation in Early Christianity” Keith E. Norman “Clothed Upon: A Unique Aspect of Christian Antiquity” Blake T. Ostler “The Early Christian Prayer Circle” Hugh Nibley “The Masada Fragments, the Qumran Scrolls, and the New Testament” David Rolph Seely “The Noncanonical Sayings of Jesus” Stephen E. Robinson “Understanding Christian Baptism through the Book of Mormon” Noel B. Reynolds “‘With the Voice Together Shall They Sing’” Laurence P. Hemming “The Passing of the Church: Forty Variations on an Unpopular Theme” Hugh Nibley

This compilation of articles exploring topics related to the Old Testament is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies. This volume features articles on the Hebrew Bible at the end of the first century, the prophetic commission of Enoch, Joseph as a type of Christ, Moses typology in the Book of Mormon, the Book of Enoch, the Ezekiel Mural at Dura Europos, Psalm 22, singular and plural address in the scriptures, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and more. Contents “Sacred Books: The Canon of the Hebrew Bible at the End of the First Century” Robert L. Maxwell “A Prologue to Genesis: Moses 1 in Light of Jewish Traditions” E. Douglas Clark “Behold I” by Kent P. Jackson “The Narrative Call Pattern in the Prophetic Commission of Enoch (Moses 6)” Stephen D. Ricks “Joseph as a Type of Christ in Syriac Literature” Kristian S. Heal “The Israelite Background of Moses Typology in the Book of Mormon” Noel B. Reynolds “Elisha and the Children: The Question of Accepting Prophetic Succession” Fred E. Woods “The Ezekiel Mural at Dura Europos: A Witness of Ancient Jewish Mysteries?” Jeffrey M. Bradshaw “‘Wisdom’ (Philosophy) in the Holy Bible” David H. Yarn Jr. “The Psalm 22:16 Controversy: New Evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls” Shon Hopkin “‘My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me’” Shon Hopkin “Temple Worship and a Possible Reference to a Prayer Circle in Psalm 24” Donald W. Parry “‘The Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord’: The Anatomy of an Expression” Dana M. Pike “Singular and Plural Address in the Scriptures” James R. Rasband “A Bibliography of LDS Publications on the Old Testament (1830–2005)”

The talks collected in this volume are drawn from John S. Tanner’s later years at Brigham Young University, prior to his appointment as president of BYU–Hawaii. They contain a record of how, as an administrator, he tried to keep the dream of BYU alive. More broadly, they speak to a vision of learning that has been central to Latter-day Saint doctrine and practice from the earliest days of the Church. He calls it learning in the light (see Psalm 36:9). Bruce C. Hafen observes, Since I began teaching at BYU forty-five years ago, I have heard many talks and read many essays about BYU’s spiritual and intellectual mission. I’ve not heard that mission described more eloquently or with more insight than in John’s work. At his best, he is reminiscent of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, with whom he has much in common—intuitive confidence in gospel premises as the best foundation for sound reasoning; a high degree of awareness about cultural context; equally fluent, even native-tongued, in both the language of the scriptures and the language of liberal education; meek, bright, and empathic.

Typical histories of the United States talk about the American Revolution as if the only issues were secular or economic, such as offensive regulations or taxation without representation. But religion was also crucial, as demonstrated by this collection of lectures that were delivered in conjunction with the Library of Congress exhibition Religion and the Founding of the American Republic.

The acceptance of ad hoc ideas on Book of Mormon geography has been a continuing problem in Church history, and for a very good reason. Specifics are generally lacking, and attempts to quantify missing geographic data are frequently met with considerable skepticism. Some Church members find it equally difficult to accept the suggestion that naturally occurring events played a role in anything that is more easily explained by supernatural activity. Fully cognizant that addressing either subject is analogous to welcoming the African killer bees across the southern borders of our country, I offer a new idea on Lehi’s transoceanic voyage, an idea that is firmly rooted in recent atmospheric and oceanographic observations.

This compilation of groundbreaking Book of Mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies. This volume examines the first two books of Nephi, with articles on focusing on the experiences and writings of the first two Book of Mormon prophets. Contents “Nephi’s Outline” Noel B. Reynolds “Lehi’s Personal Record: Quest for a Missing Source” S. Kent Brown “1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole” Frederick W. Axelgard “The Israelite Background of Moses Typology in the Book of Mormon” Noel B. Reynolds “The Throne-Theophany and Prophetic Commission in 1 Nephi: A Form-Critical Analysis” Blake T. Ostler “The Psalm of Nephi: A Lyric Reading” Steven P. Sondrup “The Political Dimension in Nephi’s Small Plates” Noel B. Reynolds

Poetry. No abstract available.

Minerva Teichert was an avid letter writer. She carried on a vigorous correspondence, especially with her daughter, Laurie, who kept the letters her mother sent to her. Laurie Teichert Eastwood has edited and introduced these letters, published in an attractive 244-page hard bound volume produced by BYU Studies. The letters contain the artist’s thoughts on her mural projects, dealings with agents, family activities, ranch chores, personal concerns, church work, political feelings, rural town life, and many other fascinating subjects. Anyone interested in an artistic woman’s view of rural existence will not want to miss the rare opportunity to obtain a copy of this important publication.

Life in Utah has never been easy. Thin soil and thick politics challenged everyone as Utah grew toward statehood in 1896. Native Americans, Mormon and gentile settlers, federal officials, LDS Church leaders-these Utah men and women all filled crucial roles. This book contains the best articles from BYU Studies on Utah history. Looking back on life in pioneer Utah, this centennial collection includes stories that are deeply rooted in the life of this state.

The Life of Dr. Frederick G. Williams: Counselor to the Prophet Joseph Smith is a thoroughly researched documentary history of Frederick G. Williams and his immediate family. This book provides an intimate look at many significant events in the Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and pioneer Utah periods of Church history. Frederick G. Williams (1787–1842) was an important figure during the early days of the restoration of the gospel and the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a missionary on the original mission to the Lamanites (1830–1831), was a personal scribe to the Prophet Joseph Smith for four years (1832–1836), participated in Zion’s Camp (1834), was Second Counselor in the First Presidency for five years (1832–1837), was a central figure in the miraculous events surrounding the Kirtland Temple dedication (1836), and for twelve years was the principal doctor for the Saints in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois until his death in 1842.

Proceedings of the March 2001 symposium of the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute for Latter-day Saint History at Brigham Young University. This symposium was geared to a diverse audience of scholars, family historians, and students interested in how one writes about a life and more specifically the life of a Latter-day Saint.

In a previous issue of BYU Studies, John W. Welch explores the early Christian allegorical interpretation of the good Samaritan and argues that this parable “become[s] even richer when understood in terms of restored Latter-day Saint doctrines of God’s plan of salvation.” In a version of that article adapted for the Ensign, he further explains how understanding the parable in this way “adds eternal perspectives to its moral imperatives.” The same is true of the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, which, like the parable of the good Samaritan, were traditionally connected with Christ’s incarnation. In fact, I argue that this is their primary meaning and that subsequent moral lessons are valuable but subordinate.

The talks collected here represent a synthesis of the secular and the sacred. Through that synthesis, Thomas encourages us to become grown-ups. Goals without Goads is a superior example his approach. In this talk, Thomas urges scholars to add gospel insights to carefully honed, fundamental skills. He argues that as we integrate secular learning and the gospel, we will freely obey God and escape the shackles of selfishness. Such informed obedience to the difference between being an adult and a self-absorbed child. In addition, such obedience provides us the opportunity to experience joy.