Latest Expound Newsletter

[livy111us]

There is quite a bit in this months Expound newsletter:

EXPOUND

Studies in LDS History, Scripture, and Belief

Vol. 1, No. 5, May 2011

http://www.expoundlds.com

SYMPOSIUM

The first annual Expound Symposium is just a short time away and it

promises to be an informative and faith-building event. It will be

held in the ballroom of the City Library in Provo, Utah on Saturday,

14 May 2011. If you will be attending this free gathering but have not

yet pre-registered for it please be sure to do so on the Expound

website. If you know anyone who would be interested in the topics that

are going to be covered you can invite them to pre-register as well.

Join us for a ‘Mingle and Greet’ from 9:00AM to 10:00AM. Presentations

will begin promptly at 10AM and the program will run until 5:30 PM.

Publications associated with the speakers will be given away

immediately after the last talk ends. The Speakers Dinner will be held

one mile north of the symposium venue at the Provo Magleby’s

restaurant at 6:15PM. The cost for attending the dinner (which is the

regular cost for the restaurant’s gourmet buffet) is listed on the

website.

A questionnaire will be available for all symposium attendees who

would like to provide feedback about their experience and we welcome

any suggestions you might have about what you would like to see take

place at future events.

Recognition is due to all of those people who have contributed their

time, advertising efforts, organizational skills, creative thinking,

and funds in order to make this symposium possible. Your help in these

matters is greatly, and sincerely, appreciated. The speakers for this

event have also put in countless hours to research their topics and

prepare how they will be presented to the audience. Some of them will

be traveling great distances to join us and help us learn. Be sure to

take a few moments to express your appreciation to them if you get the

chance.

PUBLICATIONS

David J. Whittaker and Arnold K. Garr, eds., A Firm Foundation: Church

Organization and Administration (Provo and Salt Lake City: BYU

Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, 2011), ---.

http://rsc.byu.edu/upcoming

* David J. Whittaker, "Mormon Administrative and Organizational History:

A Source Essay," 611-95.

* Kenneth L. Alford, "A History of Mormon Catechisms," 223-44.

* Ronald W. Walker, "Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the

Succession Crisis of 1844," 161-96.

* Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith and Power," 1-13.

* John W. Welch, "The Book of Mormon as the Keystone of Church

Administration," 15-57.

* Craig J. Ostler, "The Articles and Covenants: A Handbook for New

Branches," 83-95.

* Joseph F. Darowski, "Seeking After the Ancient Order: Conferences and

Councils in Early Church Governance, 1830-34," 97-113.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” Ensign,

April 2011.

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/04/the-purifying-power-of-gethsemane?lang=eng

INTERNET ARTICLES

William J. Hamblin, “Jesus at the Festival of Sukkot, Part 1: John 7:1–24”

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Jesus-at-the-Festival-of-Sukkot-Part-1-William-Hamblin-04-29-2011.html

William Schryver, “The Meaning and Purpose of the Kirtland Egyptian Papers”

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B03QD7Z2zHZJMWY3NGZmZjQtZTAxNi00OTgzLWE0MzAtYzYyNGY3ZjNhZDA0&hl=en&pli=1

NEWS

Gold Plates from Ancient Mesoamerica

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/20679/Ancient-gold-plates-in-Mesoamerica

150 Million Copies of the Book of Mormon Distributed So Far

http://lds.org/church/news/book-of-mormon-reaches-150-million-copies?lang=eng

In view of the fact that so many copies of the Book of Mormon have now

been printed and distributed it is interesting—from an historical

point of view—to see what some early nineteenth century non-Latter-day

Saints thought about its future and about those who had brought it to

light. On 6 December 1832 the Ohio Atlas and Lorain County Gazette

published the following remarks and confident predictions: “As a

curiosity, we have carefully examined the Golden Bible, and pronounce

it not even ‘a cunningly devised fable.’ Every page bears the impress

of its human authorship. Though free from vulgar obscenities, it is an

absurd collection of dull, stupid and foolishly improbable stories

which no person, unless under the influence of powerfully excited

feelings, can mistake for truth and inspiration. With its authors, the

Book of Mormon cannot survive this generation. The next will remember

it, only to smile at the credulity of the present.” It would appear

that these commentators were markedly mistaken. In modern times the

Book of Mormon has been named as one of the twenty books that changed

America and to date it has been translated, either in whole or in

part, into more than 100 languages. Millions of Latter-day Saints hold

the translator and scribes of the text in high esteem and consider the

book to be a scriptural collection of great worth.

Upgraded Church Historical Site in Harmony, Pennsylvania

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700129199/Mormon-church-announces-Harmony-historical-site.html

EVENT

Symposium

2 July 2011

Temple Studies Group

London, England

“The Temple Hidden in the Bible”

http://www.templestudiesgroup.com/Symposia.htm

EXPOUND is a private, non-profit venture which is supportive of The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but does not have any

formal connection with that religious organization. All viewpoints

expressed in books and articles mentioned in the EXPOUND newsletter or

on its website are the sole responsibility of each individual author.

Copyright © 2011.

[Duncan]

There is quite a bit in this months Expound newsletter:

EXPOUND

Studies in LDS History, Scripture, and Belief

Vol. 1, No. 5, May 2011

http://www.expoundlds.com

SYMPOSIUM

The first annual Expound Symposium is just a short time away and it

promises to be an informative and faith-building event. It will be

held in the ballroom of the City Library in Provo, Utah on Saturday,

14 May 2011. If you will be attending this free gathering but have not

yet pre-registered for it please be sure to do so on the Expound

website. If you know anyone who would be interested in the topics that

are going to be covered you can invite them to pre-register as well.

Join us for a ‘Mingle and Greet’ from 9:00AM to 10:00AM. Presentations

will begin promptly at 10AM and the program will run until 5:30 PM.

Publications associated with the speakers will be given away

immediately after the last talk ends. The Speakers Dinner will be held

one mile north of the symposium venue at the Provo Magleby’s

restaurant at 6:15PM. The cost for attending the dinner (which is the

regular cost for the restaurant’s gourmet buffet) is listed on the

website.

A questionnaire will be available for all symposium attendees who

would like to provide feedback about their experience and we welcome

any suggestions you might have about what you would like to see take

place at future events.

Recognition is due to all of those people who have contributed their

time, advertising efforts, organizational skills, creative thinking,

and funds in order to make this symposium possible. Your help in these

matters is greatly, and sincerely, appreciated. The speakers for this

event have also put in countless hours to research their topics and

prepare how they will be presented to the audience. Some of them will

be traveling great distances to join us and help us learn. Be sure to

take a few moments to express your appreciation to them if you get the

chance.

PUBLICATIONS

David J. Whittaker and Arnold K. Garr, eds., A Firm Foundation: Church

Organization and Administration (Provo and Salt Lake City: BYU

Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book, 2011), ---.

http://rsc.byu.edu/upcoming

* David J. Whittaker, "Mormon Administrative and Organizational History:

A Source Essay," 611-95.

* Kenneth L. Alford, "A History of Mormon Catechisms," 223-44.

* Ronald W. Walker, "Six Days in August: Brigham Young and the

Succession Crisis of 1844," 161-96.

* Richard L. Bushman, "Joseph Smith and Power," 1-13.

* John W. Welch, "The Book of Mormon as the Keystone of Church

Administration," 15-57.

* Craig J. Ostler, "The Articles and Covenants: A Handbook for New

Branches," 83-95.

* Joseph F. Darowski, "Seeking After the Ancient Order: Conferences and

Councils in Early Church Governance, 1830-34," 97-113.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “The Purifying Power of Gethsemane,” Ensign,

April 2011.

http://lds.org/ensign/2011/04/the-purifying-power-of-gethsemane?lang=eng

INTERNET ARTICLES

William J. Hamblin, “Jesus at the Festival of Sukkot, Part 1: John 7:1–24”

http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Jesus-at-the-Festival-of-Sukkot-Part-1-William-Hamblin-04-29-2011.html

William Schryver, “The Meaning and Purpose of the Kirtland Egyptian Papers”

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B03QD7Z2zHZJMWY3NGZmZjQtZTAxNi00OTgzLWE0MzAtYzYyNGY3ZjNhZDA0&hl=en&pli=1

NEWS

Gold Plates from Ancient Mesoamerica

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/20679/Ancient-gold-plates-in-Mesoamerica

150 Million Copies of the Book of Mormon Distributed So Far

http://lds.org/church/news/book-of-mormon-reaches-150-million-copies?lang=eng

In view of the fact that so many copies of the Book of Mormon have now

been printed and distributed it is interesting—from an historical

point of view—to see what some early nineteenth century non-Latter-day

Saints thought about its future and about those who had brought it to

light. On 6 December 1832 the Ohio Atlas and Lorain County Gazette

published the following remarks and confident predictions: “As a

curiosity, we have carefully examined the Golden Bible, and pronounce

it not even ‘a cunningly devised fable.’ Every page bears the impress

of its human authorship. Though free from vulgar obscenities, it is an

absurd collection of dull, stupid and foolishly improbable stories

which no person, unless under the influence of powerfully excited

feelings, can mistake for truth and inspiration. With its authors, the

Book of Mormon cannot survive this generation. The next will remember

it, only to smile at the credulity of the present.” It would appear

that these commentators were markedly mistaken. In modern times the

Book of Mormon has been named as one of the twenty books that changed

America and to date it has been translated, either in whole or in

part, into more than 100 languages. Millions of Latter-day Saints hold

the translator and scribes of the text in high esteem and consider the

book to be a scriptural collection of great worth.

Upgraded Church Historical Site in Harmony, Pennsylvania

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700129199/Mormon-church-announces-Harmony-historical-site.html

EVENT

Symposium

2 July 2011

Temple Studies Group

London, England

“The Temple Hidden in the Bible”

http://www.templestudiesgroup.com/Symposia.htm

EXPOUND is a private, non-profit venture which is supportive of The

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but does not have any

formal connection with that religious organization. All viewpoints

expressed in books and articles mentioned in the EXPOUND newsletter or

on its website are the sole responsibility of each individual author.

Copyright © 2011.

I have been checking out the RSC website in hopes of looking for the Richard Bushman article but it isn't listed, are there plans to put all of them up or just the ones that are up now?-please and thank you!

[Helorum]

I have been checking out the RSC website in hopes of looking for the Richard Bushman article but it isn't listed, are there plans to put all of them up or just the ones that are up now?-please and thank you!

The book just barely hits the bookstore shelves (literally just a few days ago) so the individual articles within the book may not be linked on the RSC website for quite a while.

[Duncan]

The book just barely hits the bookstore shelves (literally just a few days ago) so the individual articles within the book may not be linked on the RSC website for quite a while.

Well, now I know!, thanks!

[Magyar]

Makes me miss living in Provo .... just a little.

[livy111us]

It looks like the latest addition to the line up of speakers is David M. Calabro "Nine Ways to Interpret Ritual Hand Gestures"

Abstract: Scholars both within and outside the Latter-day Saint community have done much to illuminate the meaning of ritual hand gestures mentioned in the Bible and in other ancient Near Eastern sources. However, little work has been done in synthesizing the various interpretations. In this paper, I present a synthesis of ways of interpreting ritual hand gestures, using categories drawn from the fields of semiotics and linguistic anthropology. I then apply these ways of interpreting to actual examples of gestures from biblical and ancient Near Eastern contexts, showing how using multiple interpretive approaches can enrich our understanding of these gestures.

Sounds *VERY* interesting.....

[livy111us]

For those of you who weren't able to make the symposium, it was a blast! Great presentations and LOTS of great food. It looks like the lectures are starting to be posted on the Expound website. Jeffrey Bradshaws lecture “Standing in the Holy Place”:

Ancient and Modern Reverberations of an Enigmatic New Testament Prophecy, was fascinating and can be read here:

http://www.expoundlds.com/uploads/2/8/2/3/2823681/jeffreybradshaw.pdf

[trim]

I was able to attend and I really enjoyed it. I thought Mark Alan Wright's presentation was very interesting. I have heard some of the speakers at FAIR Conferences before, but it was obvious that there have been a number of new insights and thoughts. It was very worthwhile. It appears that the symposium next year will focus on the temple and should be great.