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Latter-day Saint History

Matthew Harris and the Gospel Topics Essays

Historian Matthew L. Harris is the co-editor of The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement (Signature Books, 2020). The book contains a scholarly assessment of Latter-day Saint history Gospel Topics Essays like the First Vision, plural marriage, and becoming like God. In this interview, Matt Harris explains more about the book.

Categories
20th Century Latter-day Saint History

Louis Midgley Recalls Experiences with Matthew Cowley, Hugh Nibley

Retired BYU professor Louis Midgley reflects on his life and the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 20th century. A portion of his interview is quoted in the new Interpreter Foundation publication, Hugh Nibley Observed.

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Latter-day Saint History

Behind the Scenes of the Latter-day Saint Church History Library in Salt Lake City

Historian Keith Erekson takes readers behind the scenes of the Church History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. He’s also written about patriarchal blessings, Joseph Smith’s teachings about Christ, and how to dispel “Latter-day Myths.”

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American West

Who Was the Real Billy the Kid?

Historian Richard W. Etulain is a specialist in history and literature of the American West, and the author of Thunder in the West: The Life and Legends of Billy the Kid. His book is one of several contributions by the press to unique scholarship about the American West, such as Jerry Enzler’s account of Jim Bridger and Brigham Young.

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Bible Come Follow Me Joseph Smith

The Joseph Smith Translation: An Inspired Version of the Bible

Excerpts from Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible (JST) have been included as footnotes in the Latter-day Saint standard works since 1978. The translation process used by the Prophet remains a source of mystery today. Some scholars feel that Joseph Smith consulted and borrowed from Adam Clark’s commentary of the Bible. Others, like Kent P Jackson, believe there are flaws in the hypothesis.

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Book of Mormon Theology

Terryl Givens and the Maxwell Institute on 2nd Nephi

Scholar Terryl Givens is the author of 2nd Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction. He has also published a landmark biography of Eugene England and written about the theology of grace and works.

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Ancient history

Saladin, Richard the Lionheart, and the Third Crusade

Historian Jonathan Phillips is a professor of the history of the Crusades at Royal Holloway, University of London, and the author of The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saldin (Yale University Press, 2019).

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Entertainment

Do Monsters Wear Underpants? Isaac Stewart Doesn’t Think So.

Isaac Stewart is well-known for his artistic contributions to Brandon Sanderson series like Mistborn and The Stormlight Archive.

Now the talented artist is about to be an author. Stewart recently declined a publisher’s offer for Monsters Don’t Wear Underpants and turned to Kickstarter to raise $14,000. He reached the goal in only 12 hours.

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Brigham Young

John Turner on Brigham Young

Pioneer Prophet is the latest biographical contribution to the life of Brigham Young. Written by Presbyterian historian John Turner, the book examines the complexity of a man known as “American Moses,” “Lion of the Lord,” and “Brother Brigham.” In this interview, Turner reflects on the biography’s research and reflection a decade after its initial publication by Harvard University Press.

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Latter-day Saint History

Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books

Latter-day Saints have a passion for their history. Whether discussing Joseph Smith and Brigham Young or 20th century leaders, the culture has a strong affinity for the past—both its facts and mysteries. In this interview, author Joseph Geisner takes readers behind the scenes of his new book, Writing Mormon History: Historians and Their Books (Signature Books, 2020).