FAIR

Blog

FAIR Voice Podcast #4- Sunday Special: CES Letter, and Come Follow Me

by

Podcast: Download (61.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Please register for the FairMormon Conference that is on August 5-7. It’s a great opportunity to support FairMormon, hear from amazing speakers, and ask questions directly to speakers!

Today, Hanna covers the CES letter in the scope of broader anti-Mormonism. She begins with a brief history of anti-Mormon literature and dives into how the CES letter represents broader methodological problems of critics, who neglect basic warrants of history, religion, and analyzing truth claims. She then offers some thoughts about faith and study in assessing anti-Mormon literature before closing with a brief Come Follow Me study and testimony of Jesus Christ.

Hanna SeariacHanna Seariac is a MA student in Greek and Latin at Brigham Young University. She is writing a book on the history of the priesthood and another one that responds systematically to anti-LDS literature. She works as a research assistant on a biblical commentary and as a producer on a news show. She values Jesus Christ, family, friends, hiking, baking, and really good ice cream.

Chiasmus in the News

by

by John W. Welch

Strong interest in the study of chiasmus, especially in biblical texts and in the Book of Mormon, continues to abound. Indeed, so much is being regularly published on this subject that it takes a very watchful eye and lots of effort just to keep tabs on all that is coming out.

Of special interest is a book written by Dr. Joshua a Berman of Bar Ilan University in Israel and published by Oxford University Press in 2017. Entitled Inconsistency in the Torah: Ancient Literary Convention and the Limits of Source Criticism, this study reports results that emerged from a year of study by a group “composed of eight of the most distinguished names in Pentateuch criticism.” The book challenges theories about the composition of biblical texts, and Berman’s lucid and detailed investigations cannot be ignored. [Read more…] about Chiasmus in the News

Q&A with editors of Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith’s Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity

by

Available from the FairMormon Bookstore

This book includes a mixture of scholarship about all of Joseph Smith’s translation projects, including the highly anticipated paper by Thomas A. Wayment and Haley Wilson-Lemmon on the use of the Clarke Commentary in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. We had the opportunity to discuss the book with Michael Hubbard MacKay and Mark Ashurst-McGee. A review of the book will be forthcoming.

Q1: What is the purpose of the book?

Mike and Mark: The book was conceived as an attempt to cover all of the various Joseph Smith translation projects—not only the Book of Mormon and the “New Translation” of the Bible and the Book of Abraham but also the excerpt from the new account of John (D&C 7), the excerpt from the “record of John” (in D&C 93), the Kinderhook plates, and anything else. This had actually never been done before—at least not at this depth. [Read more…] about Q&A with editors of Producing Ancient Scripture: Joseph Smith’s Translation Projects in the Development of Mormon Christianity

A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 10

by

Part 10: 3 Nephi 1 – 3 Nephi 18

The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.

This part includes examples of internal consistency from the first half of 3 Nephi which haven’t already been covered in previous parts of this series due to their relation to earlier chapters in the dictation.

77. 3 Nephi 1:1 and Mosiah 29:46 — More on the tight control of the timeline.

In 3 Nephi 1:1, we get details about two systems of time reckoning [Read more…] about A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 10

A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 9

by

Part 9: Helaman 8 – Helaman 16

The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.

This part covers the rest of the Book of Helaman. With respect to internal consistency, the prophecies of Samuel the Lamanite are particularly impressive. The fulfillment of several of his prophecies are recorded in great detail later, just as they were foretold.

69. Helaman 8:22 and 1 Nephi 1:19-20, 2 Nephi 25:12 — “they have testified of the coming of Christ”

In Helaman 8, Nephi gives a bold speech about how prophets down through the ages have “spoken concerning the coming of the Messiah.” In the process, he says: [Read more…] about A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 9

FAIR Voice Podcast #2 – Sunday Special: Overview of Historicity, and Come Follow Me with Alicia Settle

by

Podcast: Download (40.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS

On this first Sunday segment, we begin with a discussion of what historicity is as a preview for future interviews that will address Book of Abraham historicity. We talk about the methods of determining historical authenticity and how to respond to different claims. Then, we transition to our first Come Follow Me segment. This segment is done with Alicia Settle.

Alicia SettleAlicia Settle is a BYU graduate in Psychology. She plans on being a social worker and is passionate about helping people, particularly with respect to mental health.

 

Hanna SeariacHanna Seariac is a MA student in Greek and Latin at Brigham Young University. She is writing a book on the history of the priesthood and another one that responds systematically to anti-LDS literature. She works as a research assistant on a biblical commentary and as a producer on a news show. She values Jesus Christ, family, friends, hiking, baking, and really good ice cream.

 

A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 8

by

Part 8: Alma 61 – Helaman 6

The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.

This part covers the end of Alma and the first part of Helaman.

60. Alma 61:3-4,8 and Alma 51:2-5 — Internally consistent politics

In Alma 61, Pahoran (the chief judge) responds to Moroni’s chastisement and threats with a remarkably calm request for help. He explains the problem: [Read more…] about A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 8

Enduring in Faith to the End: “Take Heed That No Man Deceive You”

by

What is Enduring to the End? 

Once we have entered into the covenant path that leads to eternal life, what more is there to do? We “must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men;” we must “endure to the end” (2 Nephi 31:20).

“Endure” can carry a negative connotation in our modern language. It sounds tedious, difficult, unbearable, or boring! “The end” sounds a bit ominous, too.

Thankfully several scriptures add the important and clarifying details that we are to endure in faith to the end, and that to “endure” means to “continue” (For examples, see Mosiah 4:6, 30; Alma 5:13; Alma 27:27; Moroni 3:3; 8:3; and Doctrine and Covenants 63:20).

In other words, “enduring to the end” is “to continue in faith.” Enduring to the end isn’t just an exercise in patient suffering, it is a conscientious effort to be a committed, faithful, life-long disciple of Jesus Christ.

Three Hazards to Enduring in Faith

 In order to do that, we need to be aware of the hazards that would prevent us from continuing as faithful disciples. To help us in this challenge, Jesus predicted three specific hazards we would face in the latter-days. Each of us have or will face these hazards to some degree or another.  [Read more…] about Enduring in Faith to the End: “Take Heed That No Man Deceive You”

A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 7

by

Part 7: Alma 43 – Alma 56

The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.

This part covers the “war chapters” in Alma. They go into a lot of detail, especially concerning the geography. The examples shown in this part don’t do justice to the complexity of the Book of Mormon geography since there is more here than we can cover.

49. Alma 43:5 and Alma 31:3 — “the land of the Zoramites”

In Alma 43:5, Mormon informs us that an army of Lamanites arrived at…

…the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites

[Read more…] about A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 7

A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 6

by

Part 6: Alma 26-Alma 38

The introduction to this series on internal consistency in the Book of Mormon is found in part 1 here.

This part covers the Zoramite mission and Alma’s words to his sons.

39. Alma 26:27 and Alma 17:10-11 — “the Lord comforted us”

Ammon reflects on the early phase of their mission, saying

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. (Alma 26:27)

[Read more…] about A Detailed Look at Internally Consistent References in the Book of Mormon Text, Part 6