Recent Posts
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 4: Modern Scholarship and First-hand Sources on the Workings of Secret Combinations
“And it [the Book of Mormon] shall come in a day when the blood of saints shall cry unto the Lord, because of secret combinations and the works of…
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 3: Circumstantial Evidence of Further Secret Combinations
In Part 1, we considered the question of why secret combinations, one of the most prolific themes in the Book of Mormon, are so rarely discussed. In Part 2,…
Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 2: Identified Secret Combinations
In Part 1 of this series (available at Meridian Magazine and in my recent post here), we considered why secret combinations, one of the most pervasive themes in the Book…
A Practical Guide to Secret Combinations in the Book of Mormon, Part 1: Conspiracy Theories vs. Corruption Reality and Our Unjustified Reluctance to Apply the Book of Mormon
This post provides Part 1 of a four-part series for Meridian Magazine (https://latterdaysaintmag.com/) on secret combinations in the Book of Mormon. The series is based on a recent post here at…
Recalling the Tragic Tuskegee Experiment: A Case Study in “Secret Combinations” and How They Can Thrive for Decades
My recent post, “A Practical Guide to the Book of Mormon’s Most Neglected Theme, Secret Combinations,” examined the Book of Mormon’s teachings on “secret combinations” and how they are a…
Register for Margaret Barker’s Master Classes on the Hebrew Scriptures
The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to offer two seminars from noted scholar Dr. Margaret Barker. Her presentations will be on two successive Saturdays, November 9 and November 16, both beginning…
A Practical Guide to the Book of Mormon’s Most Neglected Theme, Secret Combinations: A Source of Surprising Evidence and Urgent Modern Value
One of the most common themes in the Book of Mormon is also one of the least discussed, or perhaps, the most embarrassing to address. This topic, however, demands…
Possible Benefits of the Broad Early Modern English Elements in the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon as dictated by Joseph Smith contains a wide spectrum of Early Modern English (EModE) elements that distinguish it from the language of the King James Bible…
David French of the New York Times Speaking at BYU on Sept. 24: Some Thoughts and Questions for Students and Faculty
Update, Sept. 25 & 26, 2026: David French’s speech at the the BYU Forum on Sept. 24 was refreshingly non-political. It was rather short and light but very upbeat, with…
I’ve Stepped Down from My Executive Editor Role with Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship, but Remain a Fan
I hope to write more frequently here, now that I’ve made a big change in my life. Over four years ago, shortly after returning to the United States from my…