AuthorCast
Authorcast #130: Joseph M. Spencer, The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volumes 1 and 2 December 19 2021
Show description: In this episode, we talk with Joseph M. Spencer, author of The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volumes One and Two. We discuss how this project emerged, highlight some of the essays in the collection, and talk about the development of Book of Mormon studies over the past two decades as well as where Joseph sees the field going in the next ten years.
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Authorcast #122: Kofford Lecture Series - Charles R. Harrell and the Development of Mormon Theology, Part 4 May 01 2020
Show description: Part 4 of our lecture series with Charles R. Harrell, author of This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology. In this final installment, we discuss the developing theology of premortal existence within Mormonism examining early Christian and Second Great Awakening thought and Joseph Smith's teachings of spirit creation and spirit birth.
Part 1 - What is Doctrine?
Part 2 - Joseph Smith and Restoration
Part 3 - The Godhead
Part 4 - Premortal Existence
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This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology “Succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.” —James McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University |
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Authorcast #118: Joseph Spencer: 1st Nephi, Isaiah, and a Message of Hope March 30 2020
Show description: In this episode, we chat with Joseph M. Spencer about his newest book, 1st Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction (Maxwell Institute) and how this new work ties into his previous work on Nephi's use of Isaiah: The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi's Record. We then switch gears and analyze a few passages in Isaiah that discuss despair and hope and relate them to current events.
Through Easter, you can get 30% off all Book of Mormon-related titles. Also, be sure to check out our massive ebook sale also running through Easter where you can pick up Joseph Spencer's first book, For Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope for only $1.99!
The Greg Kofford Books Authorcast is now available through Spotify
Authorcast #117: The Book of Mormon with Brant Gardner, Part 5 of 5 February 26 2020
Show description: We are pleased to bring you part five of our five-part conversation with Brant Gardner about the Book of Mormon. In this final episode, we discuss the purpose of the Book of Mormon. Topics discussed in this series include anthropology, Joseph Smith's translation process, authorship of the Book of Mormon, historicity and anachronisms, archaeology, geographic models, and more. Brant Gardner is the award-winning author of the Second Witness commentary series, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon, and Traditions of the Father: The Book of Mormon as History. We are grateful to the staff of Book of Mormon Central for hosting this series and allowing us to use their recording facilities.
| Brant A. Gardner earned his M.S. in anthropology (specializing in Mesoamerican ethnohistory) from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon and The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon. He has presented papers at the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), the Book of Mormon Archaeological Symposium, and Sunstone. His other published works include chapters in Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl and Symbol and Meaning beyond the Closed Community: Essays in Mesoamerican Ideas, and articles in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and Meridian Magazine. Brant and his wife, Valerie, have four children and eleven grandchildren. |
Authorcast #116: The Book of Mormon with Brant Gardner, Part 4 of 5 February 19 2020
Show description: We are pleased to bring you part four of a five-part conversation with Brant Gardner about the Book of Mormon. In this episode, we discuss geographic models for the Book of Mormon. Topics discussed in this series include anthropology, Joseph Smith's translation process, authorship of the Book of Mormon, historicity and anachronisms, archaeology, geographic models, and more. Brant Gardner is the award-winning author of the Second Witness commentary series, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon, and Traditions of the Father: The Book of Mormon as History. We are grateful to the staff of Book of Mormon Central for hosting this series and allowing us to use their recording facilities.
| Brant A. Gardner earned his M.S. in anthropology (specializing in Mesoamerican ethnohistory) from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon and The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon. He has presented papers at the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), the Book of Mormon Archaeological Symposium, and Sunstone. His other published works include chapters in Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl and Symbol and Meaning beyond the Closed Community: Essays in Mesoamerican Ideas, and articles in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and Meridian Magazine. Brant and his wife, Valerie, have four children and eleven grandchildren. |
Authorcast #115: The Book of Mormon with Brant Gardner, Part 3 of 5 February 12 2020
Show description: In this episode, we are pleased to bring you part three of a five-part conversation with Brant Gardner about the Book of Mormon. Topics discussed in this series include the organization of the small and large plates, Joseph Smith's translation process, authorship of the Book of Mormon, historicity and anachronisms, archaeology, geographic models, and more. Brant Gardner is the award-winning author of the Second Witness commentary series, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon, and Traditions of the Father: The Book of Mormon as History. We are grateful to the staff of Book of Mormon Central for hosting this series and allowing us to use their recording facilities.
| Brant A. Gardner earned his M.S. in anthropology (specializing in Mesoamerican ethnohistory) from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon and The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon. He has presented papers at the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), the Book of Mormon Archaeological Symposium, and Sunstone. His other published works include chapters in Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl and Symbol and Meaning beyond the Closed Community: Essays in Mesoamerican Ideas, and articles in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and Meridian Magazine. Brant and his wife, Valerie, have four children and eleven grandchildren. |
Authorcast #114: The Book of Mormon with Brant Gardner, Part 2 of 5 February 05 2020
Show description: In this episode, we are pleased to bring you part two of a five-part conversation with Brant Gardner about the Book of Mormon. Topics discussed in this series include the organization of the small and large plates, Joseph Smith's translation process, authorship of the Book of Mormon, historicity and anachronisms, archaeology, geographic models, and more. Brant Gardner is the award-winning author of the Second Witness commentary series, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon, and Traditions of the Father: The Book of Mormon as History. We are grateful to the staff of Book of Mormon Central for hosting this series and allowing us to use their recording facilities.
| Brant A. Gardner earned his M.S. in anthropology (specializing in Mesoamerican ethnohistory) from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon and The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon. He has presented papers at the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), the Book of Mormon Archaeological Symposium, and Sunstone. His other published works include chapters in Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl and Symbol and Meaning beyond the Closed Community: Essays in Mesoamerican Ideas, and articles in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and Meridian Magazine. Brant and his wife, Valerie, have four children and eleven grandchildren. |
Authorcast #113: Brant Gardner on the Book of Mormon, Part 1 of 5 January 29 2020
Show description: In this episode, we are pleased to bring you the first part of a five-part conversation with Brant Gardner about the Book of Mormon. Topics discussed in this series include the organization of the small and large plates, Joseph Smith's translation process, authorship of the Book of Mormon, historicity and anachronisms, archaeology, geographic models, and more. Brant Gardner is the award-winning author of the Second Witness commentary series, The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon, and Traditions of the Father: The Book of Mormon as History. We are grateful to the staff of Book of Mormon Central for hosting this series and allowing us to use their recording facilities.
| Brant A. Gardner earned his M.S. in anthropology (specializing in Mesoamerican ethnohistory) from the State University of New York at Albany. He is the author of the six-volume Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon and The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon. He has presented papers at the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR), the Book of Mormon Archaeological Symposium, and Sunstone. His other published works include chapters in Estudios de Cultura Nahuatl and Symbol and Meaning beyond the Closed Community: Essays in Mesoamerican Ideas, and articles in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and Meridian Magazine. Brant and his wife, Valerie, have four children and eleven grandchildren. |
Authorcast #112: Don Bradley, live author event at Writ & Vision January 20 2020
Show description: In this episode, we bring you a recording of a live author event with Don Bradley at Writ & Vision rare books and gallery in Provo, UT. Don discusses his new book, The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories. He discusses his background, faith journey, research into the missing pages, and how piecing together many of the missing stories changed his view of the Book of Mormon.
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The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories “Extraordinary. Sparkling with fresh and important insights into the history, nature, and contents of the lost portion of the Book of Mormon—and of the portion that we still have.” —Daniel C. Peterson, editor, Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship |
Authorcast #111: Don Bradley, author of The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories January 14 2020
Show description: In this highly anticipated work, author Don Bradley presents over a decade of historical and scriptural research to not only tell the story of the lost pages but to reconstruct many of the detailed stories written on them. In this interview, Don Bradley discusses his methodology for reconstructing the missing stories as well as provides insight into how the missing stories reframe our view of the existing text of the Book of Mormon.
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The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories “Extraordinary. Sparkling with fresh and important insights into the history, nature, and contents of the lost portion of the Book of Mormon—and of the portion that we still have.” —Daniel C. Peterson, editor, Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship |
Authorcast #110: Bradley J. Kramer, author of Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament September 24 2019
Show description: For devotees of Christian scripture, the suggestion that the New Testament contains anti-Semitic rhetoric is challenging. After all, how could the New Testament, largely written by Jewish authors about the Jewish Messiah contain any trace of disdain towards its own people? However, centuries of Christian hatred towards Jews demonstrates its roots in the New Testament portrayals of the Jews as a corrupt, conspiring, and murderous people. Take for example the near absolution of Pontius Pilate regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. The Gospels make clear that the blame for Jesus’s death rests upon the corrupt Jewish leaders and people who handed the Savior over to Roman authorities and, when given the chance to redeem him, shouted: “crucify him!” This New Testament depiction has led to the labeling of Jews as “Christ-killers.” Horrifically, this attitude has inspired pogroms against the Jewish people, the killing of Jews during the Crusades, and, in more recent times, the Jewish Holocaust. We are still dealing today with negative stereotypes of Jews that stem from early Christian attitudes.
For author Bradley Kramer, a scholar dedicated to interfaith studies and relations between Jews and Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon offers a different, decidedly pro-Jewish take while not undermining the authority of the New Testament. In his book, Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament, Bradley demonstrates how The Book of Mormon contains an intentionally pro-Judaic stance. For example, Bradley argues that the Book of Mormon minimizes Jewish involvement in the crucifixion of Jesus and rejects supersessionist claims by portraying the Jewish people as still being God’s covenant people. Taken together with the New Testament, the Book of Mormon smooths out the sharp edges of anti-Semitic imagery, settings, and language.
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Gathered in One: How the Book of Mormon Counters Anti-Semitism in the New Testament “His thesis is fresh, provocative, and rigorously argued. A signal contribution to Book of Mormon studies.” — Terryl Givens |
Authorcast #103: The Expanded Canon August 24 2018
Episode 103: The Expanded Canon
Hosted by Brian Whitney
On this episode, editors Blair Van Dyke, Brian Birch, and Boyd Petersen discuss the development of the Mormon Studies program at Utah Valley University, their annual conferences, the new UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series with Greg Kofford Books, as well as the contributors and topics in the first volume: The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts.
For those in the Utah area, please join us for the following events with the editors:
Tue Sep 18 | Writ & Vision (Provo) at 7:00 PM | RSVP on Facebook
Wed Sep 19 | Benchmark Books (SLC) at 5:30 PM | RSVP on Facebook
The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts
Edited by Blair G. Van Dyke, Brian D. Birch, and Boyd J. Petersen
Part of the UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series
Pre-order your copy
Authorcast #8 - Reading from "Beholding the Tree of Life" (Cleaned Sound) October 23 2015
In our latest episode we have author Bradley J. Kramer reading the preface to Beholding the Tree of Life: A Rabbinic Approach to the Book of Mormon.
Subscribe in Pocket CastsPreview Beholding the Tree of Life
Check out Bradley Kramer's recent article, titled "Teaching One Another the Doctrine of the Kingdom" in Meridian Magazine.
Other related articles:
Thanking the Jews: A Passover Tribute
Being Taught after the Manner of the Jews: A Personal Journey
Being Taught After the Manner of the Jews, Again
Questioning the Book of Mormon
AuthorCast #8 - Reading from "Beholding the Tree of Life" October 21 2015
In our latest episode we have author Bradley J. Kramer reading the preface to Beholding the Tree of Life: A Rabbinic Approach to the Book of Mormon.
Preview Beholding the Tree of Life
Check out Bradley Kramer's recent article, titled "Teaching One Another the Doctrine of the Kingdom" in Meridian Magazine.
Other related articles:
Thanking the Jews: A Passover Tribute
Being Taught after the Manner of the Jews: A Personal Journey
Being Taught After the Manner of the Jews, Again
Questioning the Book of Mormon