Podcast appearances and mentions of Stephen O Smoot

Review of Stephen O. Smoot and Brian C. Passantino, eds., Joseph Smith's Uncanonized Revelations (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2024). 184 pages, $24.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In an important new volume, we now have easy access to revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that were not included in the Doctrine […] The post Uncanonized Revelations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Stephen O. Smoot and Brian C. Passantino, eds., Joseph Smith's Uncanonized Revelations (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2024). 184 pages, $24.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In an important new volume, we now have easy access to revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that were not included in the Doctrine […] The post Uncanonized Revelations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Stephen O. Smoot and Brian C. Passantino, eds., Joseph Smith's Uncanonized Revelations (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2024). 184 pages, $24.99 (hardcover). Abstract: In an important new volume, we now have easy access to revelations received by the Prophet Joseph Smith that were not included in the Doctrine […] The post Uncanonized Revelations first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and John S. Thompson, “A Guide to the Book of Abraham,” BYU Studies Quarterly 61, no. 4 (2022). 302 pages. Abstract: The new and special issue of BYU Studies containing “A Guide to the Book of Abraham” provides a welcome and easy-to-read approach to the historicity […] The post A New and Most Welcome Resource for Book of Abraham Studies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and John S. Thompson, “A Guide to the Book of Abraham,” BYU Studies Quarterly 61, no. 4 (2022). 302 pages. Abstract: The new and special issue of BYU Studies containing “A Guide to the Book of Abraham” provides a welcome and easy-to-read approach to the historicity […] The post A New and Most Welcome Resource for Book of Abraham Studies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee, Kerry Muhlestein, and John S. Thompson, “A Guide to the Book of Abraham,” BYU Studies Quarterly 61, no. 4 (2022). 302 pages. Abstract: The new and special issue of BYU Studies containing “A Guide to the Book of Abraham” provides a welcome and easy-to-read approach to the historicity […] The post A New and Most Welcome Resource for Book of Abraham Studies first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 51, “I Have Loved You, Saith the Lord” on Malachi. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the November 6th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show may […] The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 51 (Malachi) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift recapped the Temple on Mount Zion 2022 Conference. You can listen to or download the November 6th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — November 6, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 46, “I Will Love Them Freely” on Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the October 2nd broadcast of Interpreter Radio. The complete show […] The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 46 (Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot, and Hales Swift reviewed the October 2022 session of General Conference. You can listen to or download the October 2nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — October 2, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 42, “Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee” on Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the September 4th broadcast […] The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 42 (Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift discussed articles in the latest issue of BYU Studies quarterly. You can listen to or download the September 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — September 4, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  In this episode, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift with guest Stephen O. Smoot, recapped the 2022 FAIR conference. You can listen to or download the August 7th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The second portion of the show […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — August 7, 2022 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 38, “A Marvellous Work and a Wonder” on Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye and Hales Swift, with guest Stephen O. Smoot. This roundtable was extracted from the August 7th broadcast of Interpreter Radio. […] The post Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Old Testament Lesson 38 (Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35) first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Where does The Book of Abraham currently fit within the modern LDS doctrinal conscious? Why isn't it read and referenced more? Stephen and I talk about this, Kolob, priesthood, facsimiles and much more. We need more discussion on this book. Stephen O. Smoot is a PhD student in Semitic & Egyptian Languages and Literature at the Catholic University of America. Website- https://www.cwicmedia.com

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 5, “I Will Prepare the Way before You” on 1 Nephi 16-22. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal and Jasmine Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the January 5, 2020 broadcast of Interpreter Radio. […]

This is an Interpreter Radio Roundtable for Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon Lesson 5, “I Will Prepare the Way before You” on 1 Nephi 16-22. The panelists for this roundtable were Neal and Jasmine Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. This roundtable was extracted from the January 5, 2020 broadcast of Interpreter Radio. […]

You can listen to or download the January 5 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The hosts were Neal and Jasmine Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. In this episode, they discuss recent Interpreter and BYU Studies articles as well as review narrative […]

You can listen to or download the January 5 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The hosts were Neal and Jasmine Rappleye, Stephen O. Smoot and Hales Swift. In this episode, they discuss recent Interpreter and BYU Studies articles as well as review narrative […]

In this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast, Stephen Smoot interviews Grant Hardy, editor of the newly released Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. They discuss the history of publishing the Book of Mormon, and in particular the key features and motivations behind Grant’s earlier Reader’s Edition. While the Study Edition shares many of the features that made that earlier edition so useful—including paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic stanzas, and section headings—it also includes changes that reflect Book of Mormon research over the last fifteen years. The paragraphing, poetic formatting and section headings have all been revised. Bolded text in the lengthy quotations from Isaiah and Matthew indicate where there are differences between the Book of Mormon and the King James Version, making it easier to see how the Nephite record can function as a commentary on the Bible. The original chapters are more clearly marked. And there are many more footnotes pointing out literary features, narrative connections, and helpful observations about events and people. Grant shares some of his favorite new insights that have been incorporated into the volume, along with why he believes Emma Smith’s testimony deserves equal billing with those of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The Study Edition has several hundred footnotes drawn from Royal Skousen’s Critical Text Project identifying superior readings from the original and printer’s manuscripts that were lost in the process of copying, typesetting, and printing various editions of the Book of Mormon. There are also numerous footnotes suggesting alternative punctuation that clarify the meaning of particular verses. And, of course, at the end of the volume are helpful maps, charts, indexes, brief essays, and excerpts from primary sources about Joseph Smith and the translation. Together, the general formatting of the Study Edition makes the Book of Mormon easier to read, while the footnotes help focus attention on exact words and historical details. It is significant as well that while the Reader’s Edition used the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon for its base text, the Maxwell Institute received permission from the Church to reproduce the official 2013 version of the text in the Study Edition, so the words are exactly the same. This means that not only can this new edition be used as a study aid for college students, teachers, missionaries, and in personal study but also it can be read as canonized scripture. The conversation concludes with comments about the striking full-page woodcuts that were commissioned especially for this volume from the noted LDS artist Brian Kershisnik, and how this Study Edition can help teach members of the Church how to better read and understand the Book of Mormon. About Our Guest:  Grant Hardy is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has a B.A. in Ancient Greek from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature from Yale. He has authored books on diverse topics from Chinese history to Mormon scripture. He is the author/editor of two previous books on the Book of Mormon. Grant and his wife Heather have two children. Extra Resources: Episode 101 Transcript Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Christ Latter-day Saint Perspectives Podcast Episode 101: Reading the Book of Mormon with Grant Hardy This is not a verbatim transcript. Some wording has been modified for clarity, and timestamps are approximate. Stephen O. Smoot: 00:43 Welcome to another episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast. I am your host for this episode, Stephen Smoot, filling in for Laura Hales, and I am very excited to be sitting down with the one and only Grant Hardy for this episode. We’re grateful to have you here, Grant. Grant Hardy: 00:58 It’s a pleasure to be here. Thanks for inviting me. Stephen O.

The Interview: In this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast, Stephen Smoot interviews Grant Hardy, editor of the newly released Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon. They discuss the history of publishing the Book of Mormon, and in particular the key features and motivations behind Grant’s earlier Reader’s Edition. While the Study Edition shares many of the features that made that earlier edition so useful—including paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic stanzas, and section headings—it also includes changes that reflect Book of Mormon research over the last fifteen years. The paragraphing, poetic formatting, and section headings have all been revised. Bolded text in the lengthy quotations from Isaiah and Matthew indicate where there are differences between the Book of Mormon and the King James Version, making it easier to see how the Nephite record can function as a commentary on the Bible. The original chapters are more clearly marked. And there are many more footnotes pointing out literary features, narrative connections, and helpful observations about events and people. Grant shares some of his favorite new insights that have been incorporated into the volume, along with why he believes Emma Smith’s testimony deserves equal billing with those of the Three and Eight Witnesses. The Study Edition has several hundred footnotes drawn from Royal Skousen’s Critical Text Project identifying superior readings from the original and printer’s manuscripts that were lost in the process of copying, typesetting, and printing various editions of the Book of Mormon. There are also numerous footnotes suggesting alternative punctuation that clarify the meaning of particular verses. And, of course, at the end of the volume are helpful maps, charts, indexes, brief essays, and excerpts from primary sources about Joseph Smith and the translation. Together, the general formatting of the Study Edition makes the Book of Mormon easier to read, while the footnotes help focus attention on exact words and historical details. It is significant as well that while the Reader’s Edition used the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon for its base text, the Maxwell Institute received permission from the Church to reproduce the official 2013 version of the text in the Study Edition, so the words are exactly the same. This means that not only can this new edition be used as a study aid for college students, teachers, missionaries, and in personal study but also it can be read as canonized scripture. The conversation concludes with comments about the striking full-page woodcuts that were commissioned especially for this volume from the noted LDS artist Brian Kershisnik, and how this Study Edition can help teach members of the Church how to better read and understand the Book of Mormon. About Our Guest:  Grant Hardy is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. He has a B.A. in Ancient Greek from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature from Yale. He has authored books on diverse topics from Chinese history to Mormon scripture. He is the author/editor of two previous books on the Book of Mormon. Grant and his wife Heather have two children. The Transcript:  Download a PDF copy. Latter-day Saint Perspectives Podcast Episode 101: Reading the Book of Mormon with Grant Hardy   This is not a verbatim transcript. Some wording has been modified for clarity, and timestamps are approximate.   Stephen O. Smoot: 00:43 Welcome to another episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast. I am your host for this episode, Stephen Smoot, filling in for Laura Hales, and I am very excited to be sitting down with the one and only Grant Hardy for this episode. We’re grateful to have you here, Grant. Grant Hardy: 00:58 It’s a pleasure to be here. Thanks for inviting me. Stephen O. Smoot: 01:01 Before we jump into what our discussion is today,

References to a divine council of gods are found in several ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt and Canaan. There are also numerous references to the divine counsel in the Hebrew Bible. The concept was pervasive. Members of the LDS Church may not realize that references to the divine council are also found in the Book of Mormon, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the Doctrine and Covenants, and in Joseph Smith's Nauvoo discourses. The Book of Abraham's depiction of creation, which includes a divine council, fits nicely in an ancient New Eastern cultural background and has strong affinities with the depiction of the cosmos found in other ancient Near Eastern texts. This places the divine council not only within the time frame of Abraham but also within the LDS canon. Many of the Hebrew descriptions of the divine counsel mirror a heavenly court with God the Father sitting at the head of a court of angelic hosts. Joseph Smith preached in the King Follett discourse that the head of the Gods sat with the council of Gods and "concocted a plan" for God's children at the Creation. Does this mean that members of the LDS Church believe in polytheism or that the ancient Israelites did? The very concept, notes Stephen O. Smoot, may be jarring to Mormons. The answer to both questions is complicated. In fact, if Stephen were to travel back in time to ancient Israel and pose the question of whether the people were monotheistic or polytheistic, they would likely be confused. The ancient Israelites conceptualized their relationship with God more in covenantal terms, rather than in terms of strict monotheism or polytheism. Smoot also notes that undoubtedly the Israelites were aware of Caananite creation myths and the Mesopotamian creation epic known as the Enuma Elish. The creation account in Genesis may have been an engagement with or reaction to these (and other) ancient myths. Join Laura Harris Hales as she discusses with Stephen the divine council's role in the religions of the ancient Near East and what references to the divine council in the LDS canon could mean for Latter-day Saint theology. Download Transcript

References to a divine council of gods are found in several ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt and Canaan. There are also numerous references to the divine counsel in the Hebrew Bible. The concept was pervasive. Members of the LDS Church may not realize that references to the divine council are also found in the Book of Mormon, the Book of Moses, the Book of Abraham, the Doctrine and Covenants, and in Joseph Smith's Nauvoo discourses. The Book of Abraham's depiction of creation, which includes a divine council, fits nicely in an ancient New Eastern cultural background and has strong affinities with the depiction of the cosmos found in other ancient Near Eastern texts. This places the divine council not only within the time frame of Abraham but also within the LDS canon. Many of the Hebrew descriptions of the divine counsel mirror a heavenly court with God the Father sitting at the head of a court of angelic hosts. Joseph Smith preached in the King Follett discourse that the head of the Gods sat with the council of Gods and "concocted a plan" for God's children at the Creation. Does this mean that members of the LDS Church believe in polytheism or that the ancient Israelites did? The very concept, notes Stephen O. Smoot, may be jarring to Mormons. The answer to both questions is complicated. In fact, if Stephen were to travel back in time to ancient Israel and pose the question of whether the people were monotheistic or polytheistic, they would likely be confused. The ancient Israelites conceptualized their relationship with God more in covenantal terms, rather than in terms of strict monotheism or polytheism. Smoot also notes that undoubtedly the Israelites were aware of Caananite creation myths and the Mesopotamian creation epic known as the Enuma Elish. The creation account in Genesis may have been an engagement with or reaction to these (and other) ancient myths. Join Laura Harris Hales as she discusses with Stephen the divine council's role in the religions of the ancient Near East and what references to the divine council in the LDS canon could mean for Latter-day Saint theology. Extra Resources: Episode 42 Transcript The Divine Council in the Hebrew Bible and the Book of Mormon Council, Chaos, and Creation in the Book of Abraham The Divine Council (Website)