Audio podcast of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture show

Audio podcast of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture

Summary: Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture is a nonprofit educational journal focused on the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, early LDS history, and related subjects. All publications are peer-reviewed and are made available as free internet downloads or through at-cost print-on-demand services. Our goal is to increase understanding of scripture through careful scholarly investigation and analysis of the insights provided by a wide range of ancillary disciplines, including language, history, archaeology, literature, culture, ethnohistory, art, geography, law, politics, philosophy, etc. Interpreter will also publish articles advocating the authenticity and historicity of LDS scripture and the Restoration, along with scholarly responses to critics of the LDS faith. We hope to illuminate, by study and faith, the eternal spiritual message of the scriptures—that Jesus is the Christ. Although the editors of the journal fully support the goals and teachings of the Church, the journal is an independent entity with no affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, nor with Brigham Young University. The Board of Editors alone is responsible for its contents.

Join Now to Subscribe to this Podcast
  • Visit Website
  • RSS
  • Artist: Audio podcast of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture
  • Copyright: ©2016 The Interpreter Foundation. Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 Unported license.

Podcasts:

 “How long can rolling waters remain impure?”: Literary Aspects of the Doctrine and Covenants - Richard Dilworth Rust | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 40:46

Many parts of the Doctrine and Covenants are literary in character. That is, their content is made appealing and more memorable and meaningful through aesthetic qualities. With content often determining form and form revealing content, profound concerns are presented in ways that reach us deeply. A statement in the Doctrine and Covenants regarding things which come of the earth applies well to the book’s literary elements: They “please the eye and … gladden the heart; [they] enliven the soul” (D&C 59:18-19). Continue reading →

 A Modern Translation of Genesis 1–11 in the Traditional Sense - Dominic Kent | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 6:35

Samuel L. Bray and John F. Hobbins, Genesis 1–11: A New Old Translation for Readers, Scholars, and Translators (Wilmore, KY: GlossaHouse, 2017). 326 pages, $14.99, paperback. Abstract: Samuel L. Bray and John F. Hobbins have recently released a new translation of Genesis chapters one to eleven. The highlight of the work is their extensive notes that provide insight into not just their translation process, but on the process of Bible translation as a whole. The book offers a great deal to interest Bible readers, scholars, and translators. Continue reading →

 Two New Studies of Biblical Repentance - Noel B. Reynolds | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 13:00

Review of Mark J. Boda, ‘Return to Me:’ A Biblical Theology of Repentance, volume 35 of New Studies in Biblical Theology, ed. by D. A. Carson (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2015), 198 pp. plus bibliography, author index, and scripture index ($24, paper); and of David A. Lambert, How Repentance Became Biblical: Judaism, Christianity, and the Interpretation of Scripture (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016), 224 pp. plus bibliography and indices of primary sources and subjects ($74, hardcover). Continue reading →

 “I Kneeled Down Before My Maker”: Allusions to Esau in the Book of Enos - Matthew L. Bowen | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:04:49

The Book of Enos constitutes a brief literary masterpiece. A close reading of Enos’s autobiography reveals textual dependency not only on 1 Nephi 1:1-2 and Genesis 32–33, but also on earlier parts of the Jacob‑Esau cycle in Genesis 25, 27. Enos’s autobiographical allusions to hunting and hungering serve as narrative inversions of Esau’s biography. The narrative of Genesis 27 exploits the name “Esau” in terms of the Hebrew verb ʿśh/ʿśy (“make,” “do”). Enos (“man”) himself incorporates paronomastic allusions to the name “Esau” in terms of ʿśh/ʿśy in surprising and subtle ways in order to illustrate his own transformation through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. These wordplays reflect the convergence (in the Genesis narratives) of the figure of Esau before whom Jacob bows and whom he embraces in reconciliation with the figure of the divine “man” with whom Jacob wrestles. Finally, Enos anticipates his own resurrection, divine transformation, and final at-one-ment with the Lord in terms of a clothing metaphor reminiscent of Jacob’s “putting on” Esau’s identity in Genesis 27. Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 49: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 45, “The Family Is Ordained of God” - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 57:18

This is Scripture Roundtable 49 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #45, "The Family Is Ordained of God," focusing on The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Continue reading →

 Their Imperfect Best: Isaianic Authorship from an LDS Perspective - Daniel T. Ellsworth | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:02:38

For Latter-day Saints, the critical scholarly consensus that most of the book of Isaiah was not authored by Isaiah often presents a problem, particularly since many Isaiah passages in the Book of Mormon are assigned post-exilic dating by critical scholars. The critical position is based on an entirely different set of assumptions than most believers are accustomed to bring to scripture. This article surveys some of the reasons for the critical scholarly position, also providing an alternative set of assumptions that Latter-day Saints can use to understand the features of the text. Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 48: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44, Being Good Citizens - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 36:54

This is Scripture Roundtable 48 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #44, Being Good Citizens, focusing on scriptures in 58, 98, 134, and Articles of Faith. Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 47: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 43, “Take upon You My Whole Armor” - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 34:15

This is Scripture Roundtable 47 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #43, "Take upon You My Whole Armor." Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 46: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42, Continuing Revelation to Latter-day Prophets - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:24

This is Scripture Roundtable 46 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #42, Continuing Revelation to Latter-day Prophets, focusing on scriptures in D&C 1, 68, 84, 107, and 132. Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 45: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 41, “Every Member a Missionary” - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 33:51

This is Scripture Roundtable 45 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #41, “Every Member a Missionary,” focusing on scriptures in D&C 1, 65, 88, and 109. Continue reading →

 The Power is In Them - Daniel C. Peterson | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 10:43

The Interpreter Foundation has spent five years dedicated to publishing quality scholarship regarding the gospel, history, and scripture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The result is a body of work both to be proud of and to stand upon as we move forward. Profound appreciation is given to those who have contributed to this effort, and an invitation is extended to be part of future explorations and exhortations of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Continue reading →

 On Doctrine and Covenants Language and the 1833 Plot of Zion - Stanford Carmack | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:51:38

Contrary to the generally accepted view, it seems likely that much of the wording of the Doctrine and Covenants was transmitted to Joseph Smith as part of the revelatory process. Apparent bad grammar and a limited reading of “after the manner of their language” (D&C 1:24) have led to the received view that “the language of the revelations was Joseph Smith’s.” This judgment, however, is probably inaccurate. Abundant cases of archaic forms and structures, sometimes overlapping with Book of Mormon usage, argue for a different interpretation of “after the manner of their language.” Scholars have chosen, for the most part, to disregard the implications of a large amount of complex, archaic, well-formed language found in both scriptural texts. As for the 1833 Plot of Zion, transmitted words in Doctrine and Covenants revelations, a key statement by Frederick G. Williams, and a small but significant amount of internal archaic usage mean that the layout, dimensions, and even some language of the city plat were specifically revealed as well. Continue reading →

 Lehi’s Dream and the Garden of Eden - David M. Calabro | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 1:10:32

Lehi’s dream in 1 Nephi 8 and Nephi’s related vision in 1 Nephi 11–14 contain many features related to the biblical garden of Eden, including most prominently the tree of life. A close reading of the features of Lehi’s dream in light of the earliest Book of Mormon text shows further similarities to the biblical garden, suggesting that the setting of Lehi’s dream is actually the garden of Eden. But the differences are also informative. These include both substantive features absent from the biblical Eden and differences in the language used to describe the features. Many of the variant features are also found in other ancient creation accounts. In view of these observations, it is likely the Book of Mormon presupposes a variant account of the garden of Eden. This variant account forms the backdrop for Lehi’s dream and for other references to the garden in the Book of Mormon. Continue reading →

 The Next Big Thing in LDS Apologetics: Strong Semitic and Egyptian Elements in Uto-Aztecan Languages - Jeff Lindsay | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 2:06:20

Review of Brian D. Stubbs, Changes in Languages from Nephi to Now (Blanding, UT: Four Corners Digital Design, 2016) and Exploring the Explanatory Power of Semitic and Egyptian in Uto-Aztecan (Provo, UT: Grover Publications, 2015). Abstract: Following several articles and presentations over the past two decades on tantalizing finds linking Uto-Aztecan languages with Near Eastern languages, LDS linguist Brian Stubbs has recently published two significant works offering extensive details and documentation. The more comprehensive volume intended for scholars and serious students of language is Exploring the Explanatory Power of Semitic and Egyptian in Uto-Aztecan, a highly technical work providing 1,528 sets of cognates with intricate details linking Uto-Aztecan languages with two versions of Semitic and with Egyptian. This is followed by an analysis of puzzles in Uto‑Aztecan explained by Egyptian and Semitic ties as well as an exploration of grammatical and morphological parallels and many other details that further strengthen the case for an ancient connection to Near Eastern languages. Stubbs has made his work more accessible to general LDS readers with a less technical and highly readable work, Changes in Languages from Nephi to Now, that relates his findings to the Book of Mormon and what we can infer about the languages of Book of Mormon peoples. The changes in those languages, correspond remarkably well with the infusions of Near Eastern language that can be seen in abundance in Uto-Aztecan. Numerous questions remain that may require lifetimes of further research, but the meticulous foundation Stubbs has laid must not be treated like past amateurish and erroneous efforts over the centuries to find Hebrew in Native American languages. This is a serious, scholarly work that rises above the standards typically used to establish authentic language families. The evidence for, say, Hebrew in Uto-Aztecan is actually more impressive than the linguistic evidence for Hebrew influence in Yiddish. While implications for these finds on the Book of Mormon can be overstated, what Stubbs has uncovered may be among the most impressive scholarly finds related to the Book of Mormon. Continue reading →

 Scripture Roundtable 44: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 40, Finding Joy in Temple and Family History Work - Administration | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 42:09

This is Scripture Roundtable 44 from The Interpreter Foundation, in which we discuss Doctrine & Covenants Gospel Doctrine Lesson #40, Finding Joy in Temple and Family History Work. Continue reading →

Comments

Login or signup comment.