Category: Scriptures

Categories
Book of Mormon Theology

Are There Demons in the Book of Mormon?

An artificially-generated image depicting Book of Mormon demons and evil spirits, in the style of Michelangelo.

Two distinct classes of demonic entities exist in the Book of Mormon: “unclean spirits” and “devils.” While some of the book’s teachings mirror demonology from the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, others introduce new concepts. For instance, the prophet Jacob describes Satan as the leader of disembodied devils, Lehi1 characterizes the adversary as “miserable,” and Jesus refers to the devil as the “father of contention.” Theologian Daniel Becerra explores these unique perspectives on Book of Mormon demonology in this interview.

Continue reading “Are There Demons in the Book of Mormon?”
Categories
Book of Mormon

How Does the Book of Mormon Reinterpret the Bible?

The Book of Mormon has a complex relationship with the Christian Bible. It interacts with and, in some cases, reinterprets the stories and texts of the Bible in unique ways. In this interview, Michael Austin describes some of the ways in which the Book of Mormon reinterprets the Bible.

Continue reading “How Does the Book of Mormon Reinterpret the Bible?”
Categories
Bible

What Does It Mean to Be Anointed in the Bible?

A screenshot of a Bible Project video showing anointing oil falling from heaven into a person's hands.
Screenshot of the Bible Project's video about anointing.

Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed in the Old Testament. And the title Christ in the New Testament literally translates as “anointed one.” But what does that mean? This post draws from the comments of Tim Mackie and John Collins in a seven-part series by the Bible Project explaining that anointing is a ritual in which people and places are set apart as portals between heaven and earth. The story starts in the Garden of Eden and ends with contemporary Christian disciples.

Continue reading “What Does It Mean to Be Anointed in the Bible?”
Categories
Book of Mormon Come Follow Me Cornerstone

The Book of Mormon: Academic and Devotional Insights

Come Follow Me 2024 study helps include this image of the original Book of Mormon title page.

The Book of Mormon is a religious text translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 1800s. Latter-day Saints view the scripture as canon—alongside the Bible, Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants. It clarifies the role of Jesus as the Son of God, details his visit to the Americas, and sheds light on the afterlife and Latter-day Saint theology. This compilation of resources provides academic and devotional insight into the Book of Mormon.

Continue reading “The Book of Mormon: Academic and Devotional Insights”
Categories
Book of Mormon Theology

What Did Alma in the Book of Mormon Contribute to Theology?

Conversion of Alma the Younger, by Gary L. Kapp. Image via ChurchofJesusChrist.org

The Book of Alma is one of the richest books in the Book of Mormon in both theology and narrative. Alma2 is a powerful preacher who has a remarkable conversion story and dramatic (albeit tragic) missionary journeys. Similarly, the sons of Mosiah, also have dramatic stories of missionary work. In this interview, Kylie Nielson Turley discusses the theology in Alma 1–29 found in the stories of figures like Alma, Amulek, and Abish.

Continue reading “What Did Alma in the Book of Mormon Contribute to Theology?”
Categories
Ancient history Book excerpts Old Testament

How Did the Urim and Thummim in the Bible Work?

An illustration of an Old Testament priestly breastplate featuring the Urim and Thummim in the Bible.

When the Urim and Thummim are identified [in the Old Testament] with the gems of the breastpiece, light is often associated with them. 4QpIsa i 4–6 can be interpreted in this way. Josephus clearly links a miraculous light with the divine revelation. The oracular shining or dimming of a stone on the breastpiece is also found in subsequent Jewish and Samaritan tradition.

Continue reading “How Did the Urim and Thummim in the Bible Work?”
Categories
Book of Mormon Theology

What Does Mosiah Contribute to Theology?

A famous Latter-day Saint painting from Mosiah in the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mosiah is a theologically rich collection of stories and sermons in the Book of Mormon. The sermon of King Benjamin, the story of Abinadi, and the conversion of Alma1 all bring some important thoughts to the table. This interview with James E. Faulconer discusses some of the theological contributions in the Book of Mosiah.

Continue reading “What Does Mosiah Contribute to Theology?”
Categories
Bible

Reading the Bible Through the Septuagint

An ancient figure reading the Bible through the Septuagint.

Here is a question. If you are trying to do any kind of serious research into ancient documents, why would you ever prefer to use a translation, rather than the original texts themselves? In the case of the Bible, however, there is one translation that it really pays to know. Often, when we read Scriptures, we might debate exactly how they were read and understood in very early times. In the case of the Septuagint, we have a reliable snapshot of just how Jewish people did just that at a particular moment in time, and the resulting picture is often startling.

Continue reading “Reading the Bible Through the Septuagint”
Categories
Ancient history Book excerpts Old Testament

Who Is Melchizedek in the Dead Sea Scrolls?

An AI-generated image of Melchizedek from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Melchizedek is a fragmentary exegetical work from the Dead Sea Scrolls collection (11QMelch) that may be classified as a thematic pesher.1 The author quotes or alludes to biblical passages2 and reveals their true hidden meaning in connection with his main theme: the eschatological victory of good over evil.

Continue reading “Who Is Melchizedek in the Dead Sea Scrolls?”
Categories
Book of Mormon Come Follow Me

How Did Abinadi Influence Book of Mormon Prophets?

The Nephite prophet Abinadi teaches in King Noah's court.

The prophet Abinadi may be best known for being burned to death after testifying before King Noah’s Court in Mosiah. At the time of his death, he likely thought that he had only one convert, namely Alma the Elder. But Abinadi’s example was far-reaching. He devotes more of his teachings to the resurrection of Jesus Christ than any other Book of Mormon prophet, and noticeably influenced Alma, Amulek, King Benjamin, and Mormon. In this interview, John Hilton III explains more.

Continue reading “How Did Abinadi Influence Book of Mormon Prophets?”