Podcast appearances and mentions of Thomas G Alexander

As many of you will recall, Shannon Caldwell Montez joined us on Mormon Stories Podcast in July, 2020 to tell us her own story, as well as to tell us the story of B.H. Roberts - the LDS Church historian and General Authority who was tasked to answer problems about Book of Mormon historicity, only to lose his testimony of the Book of Mormon as a historical document. During the B.H. Roberts episode we learned about a series of all-day meetings B.H. Roberts had in January, 1922 with the LDS Church First Presidency, Quorum of 12 Apostles, and the Quorum of 70 to discuss these Book of Mormon problems in-depth. Ultimately, Shannon shows in her thesis that the LDS church leadership was both unprepared and unwilling to address the problems Roberts presented - resulting in much disappointment and frustration for Roberts. In this follow-up interview with Shannon, we review evidence addressing the question as to whether or not Mormon General Authority and church historian B.H. Roberts lost his testimony of the Book of Mormon as a historical document. Resources Mentioned in the Podcast Include: Shannon's Thesis: The Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 B.H. Roberts and the Book of Mormon by Thomas G. Alexander in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought B.H. Roberts's Studies of the Book of Mormon by Brigham D. Madsen in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought "Is There Any Way to Escape These Difficulties?": The Book of Mormon Studies of B.H. Roberts by George D. Smith in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Mr. Couch and Elder Roberts, by Richard F. Keeler in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. View of the Hebrews by Mormon Handbook Remembering B.H. Roberts by Sterling M. McMurrin in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. Defending the Keystone: An Overview of the Arguments For and Against View of the Hebrews as a Possible Source for the Book of Mormon by Madison U  Sowell in Sunstone Magazine MormonThink B.H. Roberts Quotes B.H. Roberts' Secret Manuscript by Jerald and Sandra Tanner Terryl Givens Misrepresents B.H. Roberts by Rollo Tomasi B.H. Roberts Book Stirs Controversy by Ron Bitton in Sunstone Magazine The Works of B.H. Roberts on Project Gutenberg

Thomas G. Alexander, former Director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, and retired Professor of History, Brigham Young University, describes his 2019 biography Brigham Young and the Expansion of the Mormon Faith (University of Oklahoma Press) which benefits from over Alexander's forty years of research and writing in Utah history.

Thomas G. Alexander, former Director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, and retired Professor of History, Brigham Young University, describes his 2019 biography Brigham Young and the Expansion of the Mormon Faith (University of Oklahoma Press) which benefits from over Alexander's forty years of research and writing in Utah history.

Mormons have interesting proscriptions. Some are more open to interpretation than others, and how they are interpreted has changed over our history. We look at the Word of Wisdom, rated R movies, and the Sabbath day as three examples. D&C 89: The Word of Wisdom https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89 Word of Wisdom gospel topic https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/word-of-wisdom Thomas G. Alexander, "The Word of Wisdom: From Principle to Requirement", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 14:3 (1981) pp. 78–88. http://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V14N03_80.pdf Handbook 2 on Word of Wisdom (21.3.11) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/handbook-2-administering-the-church/selected-church-policies-and-guidelines/selected-church-policies “Vaping, Coffee, Tea, and Marijuana,” New Era article, Aug 2019 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2019/08/vaping-coffee-tea-and-marijuana Eric’s Twitter conversation about green tea https://twitter.com/thmazing/status/1161372166127902720 Wow there is a lot of research about the comma in vs. 13 of the Word of Wisdom.  This article especially is great: A. Jane Birch (2014). “Questioning the Comma in Verse 13 of the Word of Wisdom.”  Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 10: 133-149 https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/questioning-the-comma-in-verse-13-of-the-word-of-wisdom/ Hello Internet episode including discussion of The Game Changers, a documentary “about plant-based eating, protein, and strength” http://www.hellointernet.fm/podcast/130 https://www.netflix.com/title/81157840 Kurzgesagt: Why Meat is the Best Worst Thing in the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxvQPzrg2Wg Word of Wisdom Wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Wisdom To the “Youth of the Noble Birthright” - President Ezra Taft Benson, Spring 1986 General Conference, Priesthood session https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/04/to-the-youth-of-the-noble-birthright For the Strength of Youth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_the_Strength_of_Youth https://www.docdroid.net/eVNYkuG/1990-for-the-strength-of-youth-lds-standards-of-conduct.pdf#page=12 Gospel topic on the sabbath day https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/sabbath-day Decisions for Which I've Been Grateful by Clayton M. Christensen (specifically the fourth decision about basketball on Sunday) http://www2.byui.edu/Presentations/Transcripts/Devotionals/2004_06_08_Christensen.htm Kim Ho Jik: Korean Pioneer, by Denny Roy (starting with “Brother Kim also made a memorably bold statement of dedication to his faith..”) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1988/07/kim-ho-jik-korean-pioneer Church Updates Temple Recommend Interview Questions https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/october-2019-general-conference-temple-recommend

In this interview with our own Sarah Collett, Dr. Thomas G. Alexander covers the broad spectrum of his many historical writings and research. From Post Manifesto Polygamy, to Mormons in American Politics, to the Word of Wisdom, and Evolution, Dr. Alexander provides an overview of many topics of interest within contemporary Mormon Scholarship. Dr. Alexander's thoughts and research provide an interesting examination of how revelation, doctrine, culture, and human weakness connect and intermingle into the inspiring yet imperfect religious movement of Mormonism. Thomas Alexander explains how his awareness of what can be complicated and challenging issues have broadened and deepened his own connection to Mormonism. He stands as a brilliant model of thoughtful belief, and has provided our community an amazing legacy of wisdom, faith, and scholarship. We would like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude for Dr. Thomas G. Alexander for taking the time to share his thoughts with us and our listeners. Enjoy. Dr. Thomas G. Alexander is an American and Mormon Historian, and professor emeritus of Brigham Young University.