A translation of Facsimile #2 I appreciate the work that Michael Dennis Rhodes has put forward in our understanding of Facsimile #2. Below is an article that he published several years ago which has helped me in my quest to further understand how this text relates to Abraham, the gospelContinue Reading

Moroni 10:4 Ask if these things are not true? Negative Questions in the Book of Mormon Ben Spackman Much research has been devoted to identifying and examining language patterns in the Book of Mormon that appear to reflect the book’s underlying Semitic character.1 One possible Hebraism in the Book of MormonContinue Reading

On Difficult Questions The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “by proving contraries, truth is made manifest” (HC 6:248). To “study it out in your mind” is often a prerequisite to heavenly assistance (D&C 9:8), and communication from God may sometimes be recognized by its effect on the mind. Latter-day Saints wereContinue Reading

The god Zedek in the Ancient Near East The West Semitic deity Zedek, ‘Righteousness’, is found in the Old and New Testament in the personal names Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 5:6; 6:20-7:17) and Adonizedek (Joshua 10:1), both Canaanite kings of pre-Israelite Jerusalem. The term “zedek” is found throughout the variousContinue Reading

The Priesthood of the Nephites This is from Joseph Fielding Smith, in his book Answers to Gospel Questions, Volume 1 Related: Were the Nephite Disciples Apostles? Question: “While studying our Book of Mormon lesson in our Sunday School class our attention was called to the statement in the Teachers’ SupplementContinue Reading

I am of the belief that when Lehi and Nephi and their families arrived in the new land that they were not alone. Although the text of the Book of Mormon does not tackle this issue head on, and understanding that there were many in the 19th and 20th centuryContinue Reading

The Baal-Peor Incident – Problems with Numbers 25 Who caused the Israelites to worship the false god of Baal of Peor: the Moabites or the Midianites? (Numbers 25:1-2 vs Numbers 25:16-18, 31:15-16) Numbers 25:1-5 is a Yahwist text, and Numbers 25:6-18 is a Priestly account, which helps to explain theContinue Reading

3 Nephi 20:15-16 15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people— 16 Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall beContinue Reading