Posted in Doctrine Doctrine and Covenants Revelation Scholarship Scripture Translation

It Depends on What the Meaning of “It” Is: Reconsidering the “Burning in the Bosom” and “Studying It Out” in Doctrine & Covenants 9

For years many of us have read about the “burning in the bosom” in Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9 and interpreted it to mean that Oliver Cowdery, in a failed attempt…

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All Shook Up Over the Elvis Book of Mormon News

It’s Heartbreak Hotel time for any of you who have been inspired by the story of Elvis Presley’s deep appreciation of the Book of Mormon, supported by a copy of…

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Posted in Book of Mormon Problems Scholarship Scripture Translation

The Last Section of the Words of Mormon May Be Part of the Book of Mosiah

The Book of Mosiah begins in a puzzling way relative to the other books before it. For a book that is supposed to be connected to Mosiah, it starts with…

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The Evolution of Language and the Book of Mormon

Friday, if all goes well, I’ll have an article published at The Interpreter that evaluates the current status of fascinating status Orson Scott card made about the Book of Mormon…

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Elijah in the Book of Mormon

 Giuseppe Angeli, Elijah Taken Up in a Chariot of Fire, c. 1740/1755. From the National Gallery of Art. I am increasingly touched by the way in which subtle elements from…

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To the Temple and Back: The Journey of Two Faithful Peruvians

Yesterday in sacrament meeting in the Shanghai Branch (one of three meeting in Shanghai) a friend of mine shared the story of how his parents were married in the temple….

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“Arise from the Dust”: The Transcript and Slides for My 2018 FAIRMormon Presentation Are Now Available

For those who listened to my presentation live at the 2018 FAIRMormon Conference or the streaming video, the speed of my delivery may have been a bit too high for…

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Moving Away from Big Pageants: New Announcement

In a brief announcement at the LDS Newsroom, the Church has indicated a desire to move away from big pageants, the most famous of which is the Hill Cumorah Pageant….

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Primed by a Mosquito for a New Ministering Assignment

Dr. Rampa Rattanarathikul, mosquito expert, with Jeff and Kendra Earlier this week I lost some sleep here in Shanghai when a mosquito viewed me as an all-you-eat buffet. Mosquitoes seem…

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The Surprisingly Modern Book of Mormon: The Perspective of an Archivist

One of the most astounding aspects of the Book of Mormon is the intricate detail it provides regarding its sources. As largely compiled by the military leader and master historian,…

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