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Journal – July/August 2012

July/August 2012

LATIN – apologeticus GREEK – apologetikos Apologetics: “The branch of theology that is concerned with defending or proving the truth of Christian doctrines” (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th edition, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009).

JOURNAL CONTENTS

  • Message From the President – FAIR conference
  • Very Important – Matching Donations Now!
  • 2012 FAIR Conference Talks
  • FAIR Article
  • FAIR Wiki Articles
  • Mormon Voices
  • Mormon Scholars Testify – Send in your testimony
  • FAIR Blog – Many new articles
  • FAIR Podcasts – Some great podcasts
  • FAIR YouTube
  • FAIR LDS Bookstore – GREAT SPECIALS THIS MONTH
  • Donating to FAIR * FAIR Study Aids
  • FAIR Front Page – Sign up for this Daily News Service
  • Important Links
  • Ask the Apologist
  • Copyright Notice and Disclaimer

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

This issue of the FAIR Journal is for both July and August. The first week of August, many of us were at the FAIR Conference in Sandy, Utah, and were not able to keep up with the other activities of FAIR. That is why we did not get a Journal out to you in July. That means we have LOTS of content for you in this issue.

The conference was wonderful with over 400 people in attendance. I really enjoyed listening to the speakers and meeting the various people in attendance. I had a number of people ask me how we pick our speakers, so I thought I should lay that out for you. What we do is think about what topics and individuals might be interesting and we invite those individuals to speak. We don’t prescreen their talks, and we usually don’t know what they are going to say. But, we try to invite quality people who have a track record of providing good, faithful information. Additionally, we occasionally have people who contact us to tell us they would like to speak. If they are known to us, we occasionally invite them as well. So far, that has worked out great. We already have a number of talks from this year available for you to read on the Website. They will be listed below in the Journal in our “2012 FAIR Conference Talks” section. While we have several of the talks there, we have more that have not been posted on the site yet. We hope to have that done for you soon.

You can also find MP3’s, CDs, and DVDs of prior conferences here:

Donate to FAIR

FAIR is a 501c(3) corporation, so in the United States your contributions are tax deductible.

2012 FAIR CONFERENCE TALKS

FAIR ARTICLE

An Open Letter to Dr. Michael Coe

In August 2011 John Dehlin conducted a three-part interview with famed Mesoamericanist Michael Coe. Dehlin operates the podcast series Mormon Stories, which features interviews discussing the faith and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Mormon Stories has a bias that is ultimately hostile to the truth of the Book of Mormon. It is slightly more surprising that it makes this ideological bias so clear throughout the interview with Coe. For example, Dehlin tells Coe (and his audience),

“This is . . . a tough thing for believing Mormons to hear, but I think it’s important if we are going to live in a world of reality, if we are going to benefit from all that science has provided us, I don’t think that we as Mormons can just conveniently dismiss what science and history and linguistics and anthropology and archaeology and genetics all tell us about the Book of Mormon.” Thus the interview with Coe is intended to demonstrate that those who believe in the Book of Mormon as an ancient text are not living in “a world of reality” since doing so requires either ignorance or rejection of vast amounts of scientific data. This is done not out of any animus (we are repeatedly assured) but only out of a tough-love need to “speak the truth.”

Dr. John Sorenson, an emeritus professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University and author of numerous publications on the Book of Mormon, was asked what he thought of Dehlin’s interview and Coe’s characterization of the scientific data. Sorenson provided the following “open letter” to Coe. In-text citations were provided by Sorenson for some matters; these have been moved to the footnotes for readability, and some additional citations to the extant literature have been provided by the editors for the reader’s convenience.

Readers can also look forward to Sorenson’s promised volume Mormon’s Codex, which will cap a lifetime of research on the subject. If nothing else, the interview with Coe demonstrates once again how little focused attention non-LDS scholars and critics–and even some cultural Mormons–have given the Book of Mormon or the work of serious scholars in its exploration. This is, perhaps, because most are firmly convinced that they know the answers before they begin.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 99: An Open Letter to Dr. Michael Coe

Related article: “Basic Methodological Problems with the Anti-Mormon Approach to the Geography and Archaeology of the Book of Mormon,” by William J. Hamblin

Anti-Mormon criticisms of the Book of Mormon are frequently based on a questionable set of assumptions concerning the nature of historical and archaeological evidence, the role of governing presuppositions, and the nature of historical proof. Using arguments found in a recent anti-Mormon critique by Luke Wilson as a foundation, this article analyzes issues of the difficulties of reconstructing ancient geographies, problems with the discontinuity of Mesoamerican toponyms, the historical development of the idea of a Limited Geography Model, and difficulties of textual and artifactual interpretation when trying to relate the Book of Mormon to archaeological remains.

Basic Methodological Problems with the Anti-Mormon Approach to the Geography and Archaeology of the Book of Mormon

FAIR WIKI ARTICLES

An analysis of “Why People Leave the LDS Church”

“I want to just emphasize this very, very strongly. Yes, I’ve listed a lot of things that are shocking and disturbing about the Church to some, but I want to tell you that I have a personal conviction that nothing that I’ve mentioned today proves that the Church is evil or satanic or false. And many of the stuff does not bother me at all. It has very reasonable explanations, so my point isn’t to cast stones or aspersions on the Church. I’m just trying to get you to think about what your loved one is going through right now, and I want you to think about what the gap is between what they were taught, what their understanding was growing up in the Church, and then what they’ve recently discovered. The gap is huge, and it is very troubling and disturbing.”

John Dehlin, “Why People Leave the LDS Church” (2008)

The PowerPoint screencast “Why People Leave the LDS Church” (2008) by John Dehlin deals with two different major issues related to those who leave the Church:

  • Historical and doctrinal issues which surprise and shock members.
  • Social considerations regarding the way that members who deal with these issues are treated by other church members.

We will see that member’s chief problem often lies in having heard or been taught something. When he finds that the matter is more complicated or nuanced than he had at first believed, he concludes that he must reject the Church entirely.

MORMON VOICES

MormonVoices Explains Mormons Are Christians, Just Not Evangelicals Posted on Jul 2, 2012

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) June 30, 2012 ñ MormonVoices, an online organization of Mormon volunteers seeking to provide positive input into public discussions about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, today released a statement defending the claim that Mormons are Christians while recognizing that substantive differences exist between Mormons and Evangelicals. This is in response to various articles from national news outlets discussing the role of Mormonism within the broader context of Christianity. Using polls and analysis, some news sources have sought to ascertain what the political ramifications of some Evangelicals’ negative view of Mormon theology may be.

MormonVoices Explains Mormons Are Christians, Just Not Evangelicals

Mesoamerican Scholar Responds to Criticisms of the Book of Mormon Posted on Jul 30, 2012

Salt Lake City, Utah (PRWEB) July 30, 2012 ñ Dr. John L. Sorenson, emeritus professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University and author of more than two hundred books and articles, released this week an open letter to Dr. Michael Coe, emeritus professor of anthropology at Yale. In August of 2011, Mormon dissident John Dehlin interviewed Dr. Coe about “Book of Mormon archaeology” on Dehlin’s podcast called “Mormon Stories.” In that interview, Coe, a non-Mormon, was asked about the way in which the Book of Mormon is viewed from an archaeological perspective. Coe pointed out many problems, in his view, with believing that the Book of Mormon should be viewed as a historical document.

Sign up for MormonVoices

MORMON SCHOLARS TESTIFY

Check out some of the great testimonies on Mormon Scholars Testify. Mormonscholarstestify.org If you are a scholar, please write your testimony and send it in. You may send it to president(at sign)fairlds.org

FAIR BLOG

Fundamentalist or Fundamentals? Get a Grip on Your Faith by John Lynch on July 25th, 2012

Some people cling to elements of their faith as if any threat to it would serve as a death blow to their eternal lives. Like proverbial sand in their hands, they hold it so tight that their grip presses the precious granules through their fingers, and they watch their shifting cargo slip grain-by-grain through their grasp until they finally consider there is not enough to hold, and they let go completely. They are left to wonder how quickly it was lost when they had held on so tight.

Read more here:

Fundamentalist or Fundamentals? Get a Grip on Your Faith

Is God a Moral Monster? by Daniel C. Peterson on July 28th, 2012

Many people–seekers, believing Christians, even some Latter-day Saints–have problems with the portrayal of God in the Old Testament.

Probably even more people just have problems with the Old Testament itself, because they find it hard to follow. This is, I think, very unfortunate, both because the Old Testament is at the foundation of all Judeo-Christian faith and because, among other things, it’s a rich treasure house of history, moral lessons, inspirational stories, and literature. But that’s a topic for another day.

They’re bothered because, sometimes, the Old Testament God seems to be arrogant, petty, “jealous,” harsh, and violent. The Old Testament seems to tolerate or even endorse slavery, the oppression of women, and mass murder (effectively, ethnic cleansing).

The problem is that, for Christian believers (unless, perhaps, they follow the ancient heretic Marcion), the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New. How can the loving Jesus be reconciled with the often vengeful and fierce Jehovah? (For Latter-day Saints, Jesus is Jehovah.)

Read more here:

Is God a Moral Monster?

“Are Mormons Closer to Muslims or Christians?” by Ms. Eliza Wood by Daniel C. Peterson on July 28th, 2012

A certain Ms. Eliza Wood has just posted an extraordinarily inept entry on Huffington Post entitled “Are Mormons Closer to Muslims or Christians?”

Her answer is “No.”

First of all, of course, the question is misconceived. It’s rather like asking whether Fords are closer to automobiles or water buffaloes. Fords are automobiles. And Mormons are Christians.

But perhaps Ms. Wood can’t really be blamed, because, quite plainly, she’s entirely unqualified even to have an opinion on the subject. (Read the rest of this entry ª)

Read more here:

“Are Mormons Closer to Muslims or Christians?

Learning About the Founding of Mormonism from Jon Krakauer (And Other Fallacies) by Stephen Smoot on July 30th, 2012

I like to consider myself a fairly open-minded guy. After all, I am studying history (particularly religious history) as my college major, which has exposed me a plethora of divergent world views. I know what it feels like to be an outsider of a religion looking in, so I often cut people slack when they approach Mormonism from perhaps not the greatest vantage.

That said, I have some serious misgivings when someone begins an article on the history of Mormonism like this:

“And how did Mormonism come to be, anyway? Wasn’t it founded only a relatively little while ago by some dude in upstate New York? (Upstate New York?!)

“I didn’t know the answer to any of these questions.

“So, I’ve begun searching for answers.

“My first stop, which which all the information below comes from, was John Krakauer’s 2003 book Under The Banner Of Heaven: A Story Of Violent Faith.”

Yikes! There’s a big red flag right there. Allow me to explain. Jon Krakauer has penned a popular, yet highly questionable book on Mormonism. The punchline to Krakauer’s book is something along the lines of: “Mormonism, an inherently violent faith, is a shining example of how religious fundamentalism is dangerous and will lead to killing people.”

There are so many problems with Krakauer’s book that to enumerate them here would take some considerable time. So instead I would direct the reader to this useful review of Krakauer’s book by Craig Foster. (Also don’t forget the Church’s posted review on the LDS Newsroom website.)

Read more here:

Learning About the Founding of Mormonism from Jon Krakauer (And Other Fallacies)

Why I Still Choose To Believe by John Lynch on August 8th, 2012

There are many paths by which we might return to God, or so some would claim. “Organized religion is not necessary” they might say, “and is too prone to abuse by those who would use it to control their fellow man.” Others who disbelieve in God entirely think it is but an opiate to the masses, or a delusional pacification into a state of peace by promising something that will never come in this life. I am aware of such arguments, and yet I am a decided member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Yes, I believe!

This last week, FAIR (www.fairlds.org) concluded two days of conference addresses by faithful Latter-day Saints who look deeply into issues that trouble the faith of some and which challenge their choice to believe. These individuals did not shrink from the controversies, but exercised faith as they looked at controversies and critical questions in order to provide faithful answers for those who struggle. It was something of an academic pursuit, seeking to “negate the negatives”, or eliminate reasons to disbelieve. These individuals have looked closely at that which might destroy the faith of others, and yet they believe!

Read more here:

Why I Still Choose To Believe

Misquoting Science by Ugo Perego, PhD on August 17th, 2012

I had a chance to share few thoughts about the current status of DNA research in the Americas at the recent FAIR LDS conference in Sandy, Utah. The title of my presentation was “Book of Mormon Genetics: A Reappraisal” and it began with a slide showing a quote that appeared in the June 2012 issue of Sunstone magazine:

“Unfortunately, Vinson has not kept up with advances in population genetics, where scientists like Theodore Schurr (University of Pennsylvania) now utilize nuclear DNA (SNPs), which no longer leave open a possibility that a small, successful and genetically unique group could be introduced into a larger population without detection. According to the scientists, Native Americans are exclusively Siberian. There is no longer anywhere for a successful population of Middle-easterners to hide in the Native American family tree. (Zegura et al., ‘High-Resolution SNPs,’ Molecular Biology and Evolution, 2004.)”

The purpose of this blog post is to provide a written source of what I said at the beginning of my presentation pertaining to this quote. My goal is not to attack anyone in particular, but to promote greater awareness about poorly developed statements that may have the appearance of being professional and objective, but in reality are loaded with errors and biased misconceptions.

Read more here:

Misquoting Science

The Book of Abraham and Continuing Scholarship: Ask the Right Questions and Keep Looking by Stephen Smoot on August 21st, 2012

The Book of Abraham continues to be a hotly debated book. Critics of and apologists for the Book of Abraham continue to sound forth their judgments on the fraudulence or authenticity of this controversial scriptural work. There does not seem to be any end in sight for this controversy. With the survival of some of Joseph Smith’s Egyptian papyri–ostensibly the source of the Book of Abraham–critics have, in the words of Hugh Nibley, been “endlessly dinning into the ears of the public that what was written on that small and battered strip of papyrus prove[s] beyond a doubt that Joseph Smith [is] a fraud because he thought it contained the Book of Abraham, whereas it contains nothing of the sort.” The most recent salvo aimed at thrashing Joseph Smith’s interpretation of these documents comes in the form of a respected Egyptologist publishing his highly critical material with a press known for being, at times, extremely hostile towards Mormon orthodoxy. This Egyptologist’s conclusion? “Except for those willfully blindÖ the case is closed.”

That seems to be it for the poor Mormons.

Well, maybe not.

Read more here:

The Book of Abraham and Continuing Scholarship: Ask the Right Questions and Keep Looking

AWARD WINNING FAIR PODCASTS

You can listen to Podcasts on your computer, or you can download them to put into your mp3 player or ipod. You can listen to FAIR Podcasts while you walk or exercise.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 94: Gay Mormon Finds Happiness in Church’s Teachings

by SteveDensleyJr on June 30th, 2012

Joshua Johanson, a scheduled speaker at the 2012 FAIR conference on August 2-3 in Sandy, Utah appeared recently on K-Talk radio to discuss his experience as an active Mormon who experiences same-sex attraction, and who is also happily married to a woman. “Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can find happiness in following the Church’s teachings against same-sex relationships” said Joshua.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 94: Gay Mormon Finds Happiness in Church’s Teachings

Mormon FAIR-Cast 95: The Reality of the Resurrection

by SteveDensleyJr on July 4th, 2012

Can people really come back to life? What evidence is there for the resurrection of Christ? In this episode of Religion Today, which originally aired on KSL Radio on April 8, 2012, Martin Tanner
discusses the reality of the resurrection and the hope that lies therein for all of us.
Mormon FAIR-Cast 95: The Reality of the Resurrection

Mormon FAIR-Cast 96: FAIR on the Radio Pt 1

by SteveDensleyJr on July 11th, 2012
FAIR Board Chairman John Lynch and FAIR Member Stephen Smoot appeared on K-Talk radio, in Salt Lake City, Utah to discuss the mission of FAIR, its history and to take questions from callers. Some of the issues addressed were:

  • What are the core beliefs one must maintain in order to be considered an “orthodox” Mormon?
  • What is the distinction between knowledge and belief?
  • Why are there different versions of Joseph Smith’s first vision?
  • If Mitt Romney is elected President, will he be required to adopt the political positions of the Church?
  • Is the Church a racist or sexist organization?

Mormon FAIR-Cast 96: FAIR on the Radio Pt 1

Mormon FAIR-Cast 96: FAIR on the Radio Pt 2

by SteveDensleyJr on July 11th, 2012

This is the second part of the interview with John Lynch and Stephen Smoot that originally aired on June 27 and is posted here by permission of K-Talk Radio. The opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of FAIR or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 96: FAIR on the Radio Pt 2

Mormon FAIR-Cast 97: Building the Nauvoo Temple

by SteveDensleyJr on July 17th, 2012

The Nauvoo Temple was both the second and the 113th temple constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple has remained close to the hearts of members of the Church ever since the time the Saints in Nauvoo had to leave the temple behind when they fled the city and moved West. Once the temple burned to the ground in 1848, it seemed lost to history. Yet, with its iconic Sunstones, it remained an integral part of the panorama of American religious history. So in 1999, it was with great excitement that the news was received that the temple would be rebuilt.

Steve Goodwin was the project architect on the Nauvoo Temple. In this interview, he shares his experiences researching the original design of the temple and seeing the project through to its magnificent finish. He also shares his insights regarding symbolic aspects of the temple and the way in which modern temple architects approach symbolism in their designs.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 97: Building the Nauvoo Temple

Mormon FAIR-Cast 98: John Welch on Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon

by SteveDensleyJr on July 25th, 2012

In 1967, an ancient form of Hebrew poetry, called “chiasmus,” was discovered by a young Mormon missionary named John Welch, while he was serving in Germany. When Hugh Nibley learned of the discovery, he told Welch, “Young man, I think you have made the first significant discovery to come out of the BYU.” In this episode of Religion Today that originally aired on July 22, 2012, Martin Tanner talks with FARMS founder John Welch about what chiasmus is, how he discovered it in the Book of Mormon and some of the implications of that discovery.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 98: John Welch on Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon

Mormon FAIR-Cast 99: An Open Letter to Dr. Michael Coe

by SteveDensleyJr on July 29th, 2012

In August of 2011, Mormon dissident John Dehlin interviewed mesoamarican scholar and non-Mormon Dr. Michael Coe about “Book of Mormon archaeology” on Dehlin’s podcast called “Mormon Stories.” In response, the Mormon mesoamerican scholar Dr. John Sorenson has drafted an open letter to Micahel Coe. It points out a variety of matters where Dr. Coe’s (and Dehlin’s) characterizations of both the discipline of Mesoamerican archaeology and the Book of Mormon account are either erroneous or greatly oversimplified. After quoting statements from the podcast, the “open letter” draws attention to technical literature that contradicts or modifies faulty claims, lest the errors be repeated. Instead of being a record that can be lightly dismissed, the Book of Mormon deserves to be studied with an open mind as a primary, if unconventional, source from an early Mesoamerican setting.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 99: An Open Letter to Dr. Michael Coe

Mormon FAIR-Cast 100: Dan Peterson on “apologetics”

by SteveDensleyJr on July 30th, 2012

In this episode of Religion Today that originally aired on July 29, 2012, Martin Tanner talks with Dan Peterson talks about what it means to be an “apologist,” what drew him to apologetics, the history of Mormon apologetics, and some of the evidences of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 100: Dan Peterson on “apologetics”

Mormon FAIR-Cast 101: Dan Peterson takes questions

by SteveDensleyJr on August 8th, 2012

Dan Peterson takes questions from callers who both support and oppose the Church on this live interview with Mills Crenshaw that appeared on K-Talk radio on July 31, 2012, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Brother Peterson answers questions about the Book of Abraham and a variety of questions about the Book of Mormon, including ones pertaining to DNA studies, Mesoamerican and Near-Eastern archaeology, and Joseph Smith’s production of the Book of Mormon.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 101: Dan Peterson takes questions

Mormon FAIR-Cast 102: What Can We Learn from The Dead Sea Scrolls

by SteveDensleyJr on August 16th, 2012

What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? What do they have to say about Christianity? Do they prove that the LDS Church is true? Do they prove that any other church is false? In this episode of Religion Today, which originally aired on KSL Radio on May 27, 2012, Martin Tanner introduces the history behind the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and discusses their importance to the Christian and Jewish faiths.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 102: What Can We Learn from The Dead Sea Scrolls

Mormon FAIR-Cast 103: Does DNA Research Disprove the Book of Mormon?

by SteveDensleyJr on August 22nd, 2012

Why do some people claim that DNA research proves that the Book of Mormon is not historical? Are they right? In this episode of Religion Today, which originally aired on KSL Radio on August 5, 2012, Martin Tanner interviews Dr. Ugo A. Perego about what we can conclude about the ancient inhabitants of American based on DNA research and what we cannot conclude.

Mormon FAIR-Cast 103: Does DNA Research Disprove the Book of Mormon?

FAIR YOUTUBE

Don’t forget we have a FAIR Youtube channel named fairldsorg
FAIR YouTube

FAIR LDS BOOKSTORE

Come to the FAIR Bookstore to find the Internet’s best selection of materials for LDS apologetics. Whether you are looking for books, study aids, DVDs, or audio products, the FAIR Bookstore has what you need. You can begin your browsing by going to our main site.

FAIR Bookstore – Clearance Section

Clearance Special:

 God, Family, Country: Our Three Greatest Loyalties (Limited to stock on hand)

Ezra Taft Benson. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1974. Republished by Archive Publishers, Heber City, Utah, 2010. Softbound, 5.25×8″, 243 pages.

This remarkable volume gives the reader an intimate glimpse into the deep and devout spiritual nature of the author, as he discusses the Deity, the family, and the nation. He speaks in the fearless manner so characteristic of him, giving heart and courage to the weak and the doubting. He gives strong reassurance to those who need a bolstering hand in defending true Christianity against avowed atheists, unbelieving intellectuals, and those who have political reasons for crushing true religion. To love Christ means service to Him with full heart and mind and soul. It is all encompassing. It embraces unquestioning faith, complete obedience, our day-to-day living habits, our family, and our civic life. The whole duty of man is to serve God and keep His commandments. Benson teaches that one cannot be a good Christian and be a careless or inactive church member. One cannot be a wholehearted Christian and not be a good family man, for a good family is indispensable to the highest kind of living. He also teaches that no man can be a good Christian and at the same time be a bad citizen, a law breaker, or dishonest in any form. President Benson points out the true pathway to the Lord, which is traversed only through faith in God and sincere application of His principles to daily life, including home and nation.

Retail Price: $22.95 Special FAIR Price: $14.92 (35% Discount)

Glad Tidings Near Cumorah (Limited to stock on hand)

Bruce E. Dana, Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, 2003, 6×9″ softbound, 166 pages. ISBN: 1555177239

After long centuries without priesthood authority and church organization, the restoration of the gospel began to unfold in upstate New York in the 1820s. In this peaceful area near the Hill Cumorah, young Joseph Smith spoke with Moroni, an angel sent from heaven. Moroni told Joseph a book written upon gold plates was buried in the nearby hill. Joseph Smith was also told there were other sacred items deposited with the plates. Whatever became of those sacred relics? Read about:

  • Eyewitness accounts of the gold plates that were translated into The Book of Mormon
  • Items viewed by the Three Witnesses, such as the sword of Laban, the Liahona, and the Urim and Thummim
  • Appearances by resurrected beings to early members of the Church Joseph Smith’s seer stone

Your testimony will be strengthened as you read fascinating eyewitness accounts of early Saints who lived in this sacred area, saw heavenly visitors and beheld marvelous relics from the past.

Retail Price: $10.95 Special FAIR Price: $7.67 (30% Discount)

Rise and Fall of Nauvoo, The (Limited to stock on hand)

Brigham H. Roberts, Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1900. 5.25×8″ softbound reprint by Archive Publishers, Grantsville, Utah.

Elder B.H. Roberts combines the story of Nauvoo’s history with doctrinal development taking place within the Church during the turbulent 1840s into this single classic volume. Reviewing the Missouri agitation surrounding the relocation of the Saints into the swampy bogs of Commerce, Illinois, through its transformation into Nauvoo “the Beautiful,” the reader is led through petitions for redress to the federal government for previous losses in Missouri; the intrigue of John C. Bennett; the introduction of plural marriage; blame for the attempted assassination of Missouri’s governor; the several local and state events surrounding the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith; and the subsequent transition of Church leadership to the Twelve Apostles. This is one of the most complete historical accounts of the Nauvoo Period (1840-1846); a critical era in Church development.

Retail Price: $22.95 Special FAIR Price: $17.21 (25% Discount)

Monthly Specials:

In this treatment of the temple and ancient temple symbolism, Nibley explores how the temple is a symbolic microcosm of relationships between this mortal life and the eternal worlds. From the beginning of time, the temple has been the link between the chaos and dissolution of this temporal world and the beauty and permanence of the eternal realms.

In “Temple and Cosmos,” Nibley explains the relationship of the House of the Lord to the cosmos. In the first part of the volume, Nibley focuses on the nature, meaning, and history of the temple. In the second part he discusses the cosmic context of the temple.

Review Excerpts: “Nibley’s work on Temples, ancient and modern, is incredible. Many of the articles in this book were previously unpublished works. Others are from firesides and addresses at BYU and other places. All are generally aimed towards the LDS audience.

Scholars have, in the last 10 years, expanded on many of Nibley’s proposed ideas. Scholars, LDS and non-LDS, have found similar conclusions as Nibley has proposed and have expanded on them (as one example on Nibley’s One Eternal Round see Mircea Eliade The Myth of the Eternal Return (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1954) for more on “parallelism” see John M. Lundquist’s “The Temple: Meetingplace of Heaven and Earth” and it’s respective bibliography). Many students of temples of the ancient world would find few qualms with the conclusions expressed by Hugh Nibley as they relate to the temple.

This book is mostly directed toward the LDS audience. Despite this it may be informative to the beginning non-LDS student of the temple (especially as seen by the LDS mind). Other books may be suggested but many of the conclusions would be the same.” –Kevin K. Winters, 2000

Retail Price: $49.99 Special FAIR Price: $37.49 (25% Discount)

The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon

John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 2008, 6.25″ x 9.25″ Hardcover, 522pgs.

The Legal Cases in the Book of Mormon begins with a discussion of important background information, including legal practices in the ancient Near East, the ideal of righteous judgment, and the legal cases recorded in the Bible. Welch then devotes a chapter to each of the legal cases in the Book of Mormon-from the formative cases of Sherem and Abinadi to the landmark trials of nehor and Korihor, the wrenching prosecution of Alma and Amulek, and the politicized proceedings of Paanchi and Seantum. Because the Nephites strictly observed the law of Moses until the coming of Christ, this book examines the laws, arguments verdicts and punishments of these cases in the light of biblical law.

Retail Price: $19.95 Special FAIR Price: $15.96 (20% Discount)

 The Sermon on the Mount in Latter-day Scripture

The 39th Annual Brigham Young University Sidney B. Sperry Symposium Gaye Strathearn, Thomas A Wayment, and Daniel L Belhap, Editors. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University and Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2010. Hardbound, 6×9″, 352 pages.

It is easy to love those who love us, but how do we treat those with whom we have differences? How do we respond toward political adversaries, athletic rivals, unkind neighbors, insensitive friends or family members, business associates who speak evil of us, insensitive or incompetent leaders, or critic of our religious or moral beliefs? These are among the many questions answered in this thoughtful study of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Sermon on the Mount has been described as the greatest sermon ever given. It contains both timeless truths and timely advice for the challenging circumstances of our day. It is a divine call to a higher righteousness. It is an invitation to an enlightened obedience and an elevated discipleship that incorporates the spirit of the law and invites all to become better acquainted with their Lord and be partakers of the heavenly gift.

“The teachings of Jesus Christ provide profound understanding and distinct direction concerning the relationship of good and evil in God’s plan for the redemption of his children. In addition to discussing the origin of evil and its meaning from a variety of scriptural, prophetic, and scholarly sources, this paper includes an examination of the Savior’s teachings in the Sermon on the Mount concerning humankind’s response to evil.” — Daniel K Judd (keynote speaker)

The Sermon on the Mount “has inspired and lifted millions of people throughout the globe and through the centuries, but it has special relevance to those who have come out of the world by covenant into the marvelous light of Christ.” — Robert L. Millet

“Latter-day scripture provides windows to a deeper understanding of the Lord’s words that are recorded in Matthew chapter 5 through 7. The Book of Mormon contains a similar sermon given to the Nephites that clarifies and expands on the original. We also have other scriptures that give us additional insights.” — Richard D. Draper

“The Psalms greatly influenced both the author of the sermon, Jesus Christ, and the sermon’s chief New Testament chronicler, Matthew.” — Andrew C. Skinner

This book is a valuable resource for those striving to better understand the Sermon on the Mount and implement its teachings in their lives. Those followers of Jesus Christ who gain a lifelong trust in Christ and sustain an effort to keep the commandments and walk in the light will come to know their Lord and gain the prize of everlasting life.

Contributors include Daniel L. Belnap; Matthew L. Bowen; Richard D. Draper; Matthew J. Grey; Nicholas J. Frederick; Amy B. Hardison; Eric D. Huntsman; Daniel K. Judd; Frank F. Judd, Jr.; Jennifer C. Lane; David A. LeFevre; Jared W. Ludlow; Eric Marlowe; Robert L. Millet; Matthew O. Richardson; Andrew C. Skinner; Valerie Triplet-Hitoto; Thomas A. Wayment; and John W. Welch.

Retail Price: $31.99 Special FAIR Price: $23.99 (25% Discount)

Profiles in Mormon Courage

Hartt Wixom. Springville, Utah: Cedar Fort, 2007. Softbound, 6″x9″, 153 pgs. ISBN: 1555178529

In a remarkable tribute to men of true character and valor, “Profiles in Mormon Courage” chronicles the lives of twelve individuals who had a profound impact on Latter-day Saint history. The stories included in these pages exemplify values and virtues that each of us can emulate to lead richer and more abundant live, no matter our religious persuasion. This book includes stories about Ephraim Hanks, W. W. Phelps, Ezra Taft Benson and more.

Retail Price: $12.99 Special FAIR Price: $10.39 (20% Discount)

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