Audio podcast of the Interpreter Foundation

Abstract: This article continues a discussion of the imagery, words, and phrases that make up a specific leitmotif, called the seed motif. Two instances of the seed motif found in Alma are discussed as a seemingly intentional diptych in which one narrative reflects the other, but in the negative. Five specific examples from the motif […] The post The Bands of Death, the Chains of Hell, and the Seed Motif first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the May 11th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Mark Johnson, Kevin Christensen, and Martin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for June 2 – June 8 covering D&C 58 and 59. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 58 and 59 for June 2 – June 8 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the May 18, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster and Martin Tanner. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for June 9 – June 15, Church leadership, Hugh Nibley, the three Nephites, and Matt Roper's serialized book in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 18, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: The classical formulation of God as the sole, self-existent Being and ground of all that exists poses a philosophical problem. If God is omniscient and omnipotent, why does evil exist? Why does he not save humankind from moral and natural evil? If we embrace the full set of classical assumptions of creedal Christianity, these […] The post Latter-day Saint Theology and the Problem of Evil first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the May 4th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 26 – June 1 covering D&C 51-57. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context segment of […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 51-57 for May 26 – June 1 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the May 11, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Mark Johnson, Kevin Christensen, and Martin Tanner. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for June 2 – June 8; the Abraham and His Family Conference; Matt Roper's serialized book in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 11, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: This paper examines Joseph Smith's approach to translation, using the Book of Abraham as a case study to explore the interplay between divine revelation and human participation in scriptural production. While the Book of Abraham incorporates both ancient and modern elements, its unique synthesis resists simple categorization as either an unblemished Abrahamic autograph or […] The post Joseph Smith Jr. as a Translator: The Book of Abraham as a Case Study first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 27th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts John Thompson and Martin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 19-25 covering D&C 49 and 50. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context segment of the April 27th […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 49-50 for May 19 – 25 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the May 4, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, Hales Swift, and Brent Schmidt. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 26-June 1 covering D&C 51-57. You can listen to or download the May 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — May 4, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Jarom strongly evidences the use of chiasmus to structure his short book. This paper seeks to uncover, display, and discuss the chiastic patterning of the book and hopefully suggests an enhanced understanding of the hidden beauty and deep meaning of this brief but important text. The book of Jarom indeed offers more than what […] The post Chiasmus in the Book of Jarom first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 20 (2025) — D&C 46–48 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 20th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 12-18 covering D&C 46 through 48. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context segment of the April 20th […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 46-48 for May 12 – 18 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 27, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are John Thompson and Martin Tanner with special guest Loren Spendlove during the first hour. They discuss Loren's recent article in Interpreter and the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 19-25 covering D&C 49 and 50. You can […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 27, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

[Editor's Note: We are pleased to present the Introduction from a book entitled Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms. It is presented in serialized form in this volume of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship.]    Introduction All the scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm […] The post Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms — Introduction first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Jeffrey M. Bradshaw, ed., Joseph Smith: A Life Lived in Crescendo, 2 vols. (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation; Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2024). 1,101 pgs., $24.95 per vol. (softback), $69.95 per vol. (hardback). Abstract: Joseph Smith: A Life Lived in Crescendo is one of the most extensive and ambitious scholarly works on […] The post A Fitting Tribute to the Prophet of the Restoration first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 13th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 5-11, covering D&C 45. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context segment of the April 13 […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 45 for May 5-11 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19 (2025) — D&C 45 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 20, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 12-18 covering D&C 46 through 48, Easter, the BYU Medical School, and future happenings in the Church. You can listen to or download […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 20, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: This article, which focuses on the role of Jeremiah as a prophet, is based on a study of the Hebrew Bible and the Greek Septuagint. It also analyzes references to Jeremiah in the Book of Mormon and connects those references to current scholarly research on the book of Jeremiah. Consistent with the general consensus […] The post Jeremiah “the Prophet” first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 18 (2025) — D&C 41–44 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 6th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for April 28 to May 4, covering D&C 41-44. You can listen to or download the Doctrine & Covenants in Context segment of […] The post Interpreter Radio Come, Follow Me: Doctrine & Covenants 41-44 for April 28 to May 4 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 13, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen, with special guest Ignacio Garcia during the second hour. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for May 5-11 covering D&C 45, the book by Ignacio Garcia about Eduardo Balderas, […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 13, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Using the context of Easter, this personal essay explores perceptions of God's presence and absence during human suffering. There is a theological thread that ties Christ's suffering for our griefs and sorrows during his Atonement directly to his ability to succor us as we enter into despair due to our own trauma. Our suffering […] The post Easter as Threshold: Trauma, Transformation, and God's Presence in Liminal Spaces first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the April 6, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift. They discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for April 28 to May 4, covering D&C 41-44, General Conference, and AI. You can listen to or download the April 6th broadcast […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — April 6, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Centuries-long speculation continues regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of the Savior. Whether he died sooner than would have been expected, as some scholars believe, or lived longer than expected, statements from the scriptures and modern-day prophets indicate that the Lord died at the exact moment of his choice. According to the Gospels and […] The post Spiritual Implications of the Timing of the Death of Jesus Christ first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the March 30, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner. They discuss Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 17 covering D&C 37-40, various biographies of Joseph Smith, and the new temple garments. You can listen to or download the March 30th broadcast of the […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 30, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: In this article, I discuss how the ancient analogue to what President Nelson has called “the covenant path” might be seen in the Book of Mormon and elsewhere in scripture not so much as a journey of covenant-keeping that takes us to the temple but as a journey that takes us through the temple. […] The post The Covenant Path of the Ancient Temple in 2 Nephi 31:19–20 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15 (2025) — D&C 30-36 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the March 23, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Martin Tanner, John Thompson, and Stacey Thompson with special guest Brant Gardner. They discuss Brant's recent article in the Interpreter Journal and Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 16 about Easter. You can listen to or download the March […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 23, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: This paper considers the well-known account of Paul having been struck blind on the road to Damascus and his equally well-known statement that “for now we see through a glass darkly.” Both are examined in light of a solar eclipse that occurred across the Mediterranean in AD 49. It is possible that Paul could […] The post Through a Glass Darkly: Was There a Twentieth-Century Corruption of 1 Corinthians 13:12? first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 14 (2025) — D&C 29 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the March 16, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson. They discuss Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 15 and Easter. You can listen to or download the March 16th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 16, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Warren P. Aston, Godfrey J. Ellis, and Neal Rappleye, Into Arabia: Anchoring Nephi's Account in the Real World (Orem, UT: The Interpreter Foundation; Salt Lake City: Eborn Books, 2024). 298 pages. $44.99 (hardback), $39.99 (paperback). Abstract: Into Arabia is a collected reprint of six articles. The first chapter reprints an article that first […] The post Wonder No More: A Review of Into Arabia first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 13 (2025) — D&C 27 & 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In the March 9, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, Mark Johnson, and Kevin Christensen, with special guest Sam Brunson during the second hour. They discuss Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson 14 and Sam's new book Between the Temple and the Tax Collector. You can listen […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — March 9, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: James Lucas has made a passionate response to the negative review I offered for his and Jonathan Neville's book By Means of Urim & Thummim. Though we agree on many important issues, there are some troubling gaps that readers of their book need to understand. Some of these issues may be illustrated in the […] The post Honorable Intentions with an Unreliable Methodology: Lucas's Response Underscores the Problems first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: James Lucas had the opportunity to respond to the review of the book that he and Jonathan Neville wrote, By Means of the Urim & Thummim. He elected not to really respond to the issues I brought up but rather summarized his essential points. That doesn't leave much to respond to. However, there is […] The post Responding to a Non-Responsive Response first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Two recent reviews of By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration by Jeff Lindsay and Brant Gardner seriously misrepresent the book's argument. Perhaps most significantly, they largely sidestep the book's central thesis that the statements by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that the Book of Mormon was translated from […] The post Joseph and Oliver Told the Truth about the Translation: A Response to Brant Gardner's and Jeff Lindsay's Reviews first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don't stop or start […] The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 12 (2025) — D&C 23-26 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.