Authorcast #126: Oliver Olney, Nauvoo's Dissident Mormon Prophet June 12 2020

Show description: In this Kofford Lecture Series livestream event, we will be talking with Richard G. Moore about Oliver H. Olney, a little-known figure in Mormon history. Despite his falling out from the Church, and subsequent excommunication, Oliver remained part of the Nauvoo community, writing down the events he witnessed and publishing booklet criticisms against church leadership and "spiritual wifery." Additionally, Oliver claimed to receive his own visions, revelations, and other-worldly visitations. Oliver Olney's writings are not only entertaining (and bizarre), but also informative for historians of the Nauvoo period.

Richard G. Moore received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BYU in American History and his doctorate in Education from the University of the Pacific. He retired after teaching thirty-eight years for the Church Educational System as a seminary teacher, institute instructor and director, and as an instructor for the Ancient Scripture Department at BYU. Dr. Moore is a Richard L. Evan’s Fellow, serving as a member of BYU’s Office of Religious Outreach. The author of four published books and more than a dozen articles, Richard presents often at BYU’s Education Week and the John Whitmer Historical Association Conference. Richard and his wife, Lani, live in Orem, Utah. They have three children and nine grandchildren.

The Writings of Oliver H. Olney: April 1842 to February 1843 — Nauvoo, Illinois
Edited by Richard G. Moore

“Such a rare collection of documents . . . is crucial to gain an understanding of Nauvoo during the time of Joseph Smith.” —Steven L. Shields

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Authorcast #124: Richard Moore, editor of The Writings of Oliver H. Olney May 21 2020

Show description: In this episode, we chat with Richard G. Moore, editor of The Writings of Oliver H. Olney: April 1842 to February 1843—Nauvoo, Illinois. We discuss this lesser-known figure in Mormon history and what makes him important to the Nauvoo era, his falling out with church leadership, his own reports of visions and revelations, and some of the bigger takeaways from his writings.

The Writings of Oliver H. Olney: April 1842 to February 1843—Nauvoo, Illinois
Edited by Richard G. Moore

“An important contribution to the body of Latter-day Saint history.” — Alonzo L. Gaskill, Professor of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young University

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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

Charles R. Harrell is a retired associate professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Technology. He is also the founder and director of ProModel Corporation, which is a leading provider of simulation software. In addition to his professional activities, Charles is an ardent theological hobbyist and has published articles on Mormon theology in BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Studies in the Scriptures. He also taught seminary and institute for many years. Charles and his wife, Yvonne, are the parents of five children and live in Orem, Utah

This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology
By Charles R. Harrell

“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 #121: Kofford Lecture Series - Charles R. Harrell and the Development of Mormon Theology, Part 3 April 24 2020

Show description: Part 3 of our lecture series with Charles R. Harrell, author of This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology. In this installment, we discuss the developing theology of Godhead within Mormonism examining shifts through Joseph Smith's scriptural output as well as later developments in Utah under Brigham Young.

Part 1 - What is Doctrine?
Part 2 - Joseph Smith and Restoration
Part 3 - The Godhead
Part 4 - Premortal Existence

Charles R. Harrell is a retired associate professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Technology. He is also the founder and director of ProModel Corporation, which is a leading provider of simulation software. In addition to his professional activities, Charles is an ardent theological hobbyist and has published articles on Mormon theology in BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Studies in the Scriptures. He also taught seminary and institute for many years. Charles and his wife, Yvonne, are the parents of five children and live in Orem, Utah

This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology
By Charles R. Harrell

“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 #120: Kofford Lecture Series - Charles R. Harrell and the Development of Mormon Theology, Part 2 April 17 2020

Show description: Part 2 of our lecture series with Charles R. Harrell, author of This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology. In this installment, we discuss Joseph Smith's theology of restoration, examine the use of restoration in the Old and New Testaments, and compare how restoration was understood among evangelical, Universalist, and Christian Primitivist movements during the Second Great Awakening.

Part 1 - What is Doctrine?
Part 2 - Joseph Smith and Restoration
Part 3 - The Godhead
Part 4 - Premortal Existence

Charles R. Harrell is a retired associate professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Technology. He is also the founder and director of ProModel Corporation, which is a leading provider of simulation software. In addition to his professional activities, Charles is an ardent theological hobbyist and has published articles on Mormon theology in BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Studies in the Scriptures. He also taught seminary and institute for many years. Charles and his wife, Yvonne, are the parents of five children and live in Orem, Utah

This is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology
By Charles R. Harrell

“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 #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.

The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories
By Don Bradley

“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

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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

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AuthorCast #101: Interview with Blake Ostler July 11 2018

Episode 101: Interview with Blake Ostler
Hosted by Brian Whitney

Blake T. Ostler is an independent scholar residing in Salt Lake City, Utah,and the author of the multi-volume Exploring Mormon Thought series. Volume 1: The Attributes of God has recently been re-issued in paperback. In this interview, Blake discusses his background, the series, some of the key philosophocal discussions in The Attributes of God, such as the nature of free will, God's existence within time, and Mormon Christology.

“These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes.” — FARMS Review, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University

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AuthorCast #90: Interview with William V. Smith February 22 2018

Interview with William V. Smith
Hosted by Brian Whitney

In this episode, we interview William V. Smith about his new book, Textual Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants: The Plural Marriage Revelation

Read Bill's article, "A Very Brief History of D&C Section 132: The Plural Marriage Revelation"

William V. Smith will be signing books and speaking at a panel discussion hosted by Writ & Vision in Provo on Tuesday, March 13th. The panel will also feature Lindsay Hansen Park (Year of Polygamy podcast) and independent historian Don Bradley. The event is free to attend and begins at 7PM. Writ & Vision is located at 274 W. Center Street, Provo, UT.

Textual Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants: The Plural Marriage Revelation
By William V. Smith

Part of the Contemporary Studies in Scripture series

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