byu religious education WINTER 2016 REVIEW

CALENDAR COMMENTS INTERVIEWS & SPOTLIGHTS STUDENT & TEACHER UPDATES BOOKS

Restoring Harmony Restoring Harmony The Priesthood Restoration Site The Priesthood Restoration Site message from the deans’ office

The RSC: A Center of Enduring Scholarship

I have long been intrigued by the notion of endur- ing scholarship. Generally defined as “durable” or “lasting” scholarship, placed into the context of gospel writing, at least one definition might be that it is scholarship which informs, nourishes, and testifies of the good news of the gospel and of the Restoration. In 2015, we witnessed the centennial celebration of the publication Jesus the Christ, by Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This volume has been a standard in Latter-day Saint literature for generations. Over a million copies have been published, and it has been translated into more than twenty-five languages. This text has been a mainstay for LDS mission- aries for decades. It is true that a volume of this quality is unusual and rare. However, there are many other remark- able scholarly works which have likewise blessed large numbers of Latter-day Saints and others interested in the Mormon view of scriptures, doctrine, history, and other related topics. Just as we celebrate and honor great works written by outstanding scholars, such as Elder Talmage, who have devoted their talents to the purpose of edifying and lifting others, similar accolades are deserved by those who work for publishing entities dedicated to the same purposes. The Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University is one such organization. Over the years, the RSC has emerged as a remarkable and trustworthy source of both intellectual and spiritual enlargement for those who have been nourished by its publications. Much of this is due to the remarkable work and dedication of the leadership and staff of the RSC. Of course, another key ingredient to the success of the RSC has been the many authors who have contributed terrific talents. As of January 2016, the RSC had published approximately 185 books along with many journal and magazine issues for a total of 3,000 articles or chapters. Thanks to all who have contributed to the legacy of the RSC. As we begin 2016 and the forty- first year of the RSC’s existence, we say, “Well done, and the best is yet to come!”

Robert C. Freeman Associate Dean of Religious Education

ii BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW contents

BYU Religious Education Review A Publication of the Religious Studies Center

WEB: rsc.byu.edu/review RESEARCH UPDATE FEATURE OUTREACH Excavations at Khirbat ‘Ataruz, Jordan Restoring Harmony: Boston and Beyond by Aaron Schade The Priesthood Restoration Site by Barbara E. Morgan by Mark Lyman Staker and Alexander L. Baugh

6 8 20

Foreword ...... 2 Q&A ...... 24 Celebrating Success in Religious Education Update on the Church in Ghana, Africa: A Conversation with by Thomas A. Wayment Daniel K Judd | Interview by Brent R. Nordgren

Calendar of Events ...... 3 Notes on Faculty and Staff...... 31

Faculty & Staff Highlights ...... 4 New RSC Publications...... 38

Cover photo: Priesthood Restoration Site. Courtesy D. Brent Walton, Cr.Photog, CPP

RELIGIOUS REVIEW STAFF Subscriptions Editorial Interns DESIGN & PRODUCTION STUDIES CENTER Manager Hadley Griggs Hales Creative, LLC Editor Joany O. Pinegar Kimball Gardner Director Thomas A. Wayment Creative Director Allyson Jones Brent L. Top Photographers Kelly Nield Managing Editor Leah Welker Brent R. Nordgren Associate Director Brent R. Nordgren Lauren Whitby Designer Richard B. Crookston Dana M. Pike Matisse Hales Executive Editor Publications Director Devan Jensen Thomas A. Wayment

To obtain a free subscription for the BYU Religious Education Review magazine, please visit review.byu.edu, or call 801-422-6975.

WINTER 2016 1 foreword

Celebrating Success in Religious Education

Welcome to this edition of the Review magazine, a resource that seeks to connect Religious Education at Brigham Young University with the public and others who are interested in the events and activities we spon- sor. We have attempted to highlight the exciting developments in faculty research that took place in the second half of 2015. One of our faculty members spent the last year servings as the director of the MIT institute in Boston, another of our faculty members spent time excavating in Jordan with several undergraduate students, and from the list of publica- tions you will see that the faculty have been productive in many different ways. One event that took place in Priesthood Restoration Site, visitors’ center, Oakland (formerly Harmony), Pennsylvania. 2015, to which I’d like to draw your Courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh. attention, is the service of assistant professor Barbara Morgan, who spent opportunity to advise both LDS and of this site in the early events of the the last year on a one-year assignment other students on religious questions. Restoration. in Boston coordinating the seminaries I would also like to call your Part of the goal in publishing the and institute program there. While attention to a timely article on Review magazine is also the oppor- there, Barbara was appointed to be the Church’s restoration efforts in tunity to share the exciting work the the first and now only female Harmony, Pennsylvania. Mark Staker that the RSC is doing and has done chaplain-at-large over higher educa- and Alex Baugh have documented in the previous months and year. We tion. While serving as chaplain at the Church’s approximately decade- had an exceptional publication year MIT and Harvard, Barbara had the long efforts to restore the site and in 2015, and we continue to receive draw attention to the pivotal position excellent submissions of manuscripts

2 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW calendar of events Open to the campus community and the general public and articles. As publications direc- tor of the RSC, I can say that the MARCH 2016 flood of information regarding the 2016 BYU EASTER CONFERENCE history of the Church has had posi- Good Friday, March 25, 2016 tive consequences for our publication The conference is at 7 p.m. in BYU’s Joseph Smith Building auditorium, spon- agenda. For publications in the past sored by BYU’s Religious Education and the Religious Studies Center. Sheri year, we would draw your attention Dew will be the keynote speaker this year, and accompanying her will be Eric Huntsman and Daniel Judd. Each speaker will talk about various aspects of the to some of our important offerings: Savior, his life, his mission, the Atonement, and his influence in our lives today. From Darkness unto Light: Joseph Attending the BYU Easter Conference is an ideal way to prepare to celebrate Smith’s Translation and Publication the Easter season. Come early. of the Book of Mormon; Approaching Antiquity: Joseph Smith and the OCTOBER 2016 Ancient World; The Coming Forth of SIDNEY B. SPERRY SYMPOSIUM the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Friday and Saturday, October 28–29, 2016 The Sidney B. Sperry Symposium at BYU has become one of the premier Work and Wonder; and Far Away in venues for Latter-day Saint religious study and influences thousands through the West: Reflections on the Mormon seminars and publications. The symposium originated to encourage faith- Pioneer Trail. While this short list is based religious scholarship on Latter-day Saint topics. The 45th Annual BYU by no means comprehensive, it does Sperry Symposium will begin in the Joseph Smith Building (JSB) auditorium represent some of the fine work that on BYU campus. This year’s symposium will address the foundations of the Restoration. Religious Education faculty have produced. I welcome you into the pages of These events are free of charge, and registration this edition of the Review and hope is not required. Some event details are subject to that you find something of value, change. For more details, please visit us online at rsc.byu.edu/conferences or contact Joany something uplifting, and something Pinegar at 801-422-6975. to cause a moment of reflection.

Thomas A. Wayment Publications Director Religious Studies Center

WINTER 2016 3 highlights

Faculty Highlight: Terry B. Ball TERRY B. BALL ([email protected]) IS A PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AT BYU.

Brother Ball received his BS extensively about this prophet and in botany and BS in education from his writings. In addition to teaching BYU. His MA is from BYU in ancient and researching in ancient scripture, Near Eastern studies, and his PhD is Brother Ball is an active researcher from BYU in archaeobotany with an in the field of archaeobotany. He is emphasis in the ancient Near East. He married to the former DeAnna Hill, has taught and traveled extensively and they have six children. in the Holy Land, including teach- ing at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. Brother Ball’s recent research has focused primar- ily on the prophet Isaiah. He has researched, lectured, and written

Faculty Highlight: Scott C. Esplin SCOTT C. ESPLIN ([email protected]) IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY AND DOCTRINE AT BYU.

Scott C. Esplin was born in Richfield, Utah, and was raised in Washington and Ohio before finally finding home in southern Utah. After serving in the Italy Catania mission, he earned a BS in business administration from Southern Utah University (1997). Scott later received an MEd and PhD in educational leadership and foundations from BYU (2001, 2006), focusing his studies on the history of LDS Church academies. Prior to joining Religious Education at BYU, Brother Esplin taught for the Church Educational System for nine years. His current research continues to examine the history of Latter- day Saint education as well as the development of Church historic sites. He and his wife, Janice Esplin (formerly Garrett), live in Lindon, Utah, and are the parents of four children.

4 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Faculty Spotlight: Matthew J. Grey MATTHEW J. GREY ([email protected]) IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AT BYU.

Matthew J. Grey was born and raised near Chicago and served an LDS mission in California. He received a BA in Near Eastern studies from BYU, an MA in archaeology and the history of antiquity from Andrews University, an MSt in Jewish studies from the University of Oxford, and a PhD in archaeol- ogy and the history of ancient Judaism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Before joining the Ancient Scripture faculty at BYU, he taught courses on the New Testament, early Judaism, sacred architecture and ritual, and archaeology at UNC–Chapel Hill and various scripture courses at LDS Institutes of Religion at Notre Dame, Oxford, and Duke/UNC. Dr. Grey has worked on archaeological excavations in Jordan and Israel, including south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He is currently a supervisor on the Huqoq Excavation Project, which is a team working to uncover an ancient Jewish village and synagogue near the Sea of Galilee. Dr. Grey and his wife, Mary, have three children.

Faculty Highlight: J. B. Haws J. B. HAWS ([email protected]) IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY AND DOCTRINE AT BYU.

J. B. Haws is the author of America. As for his interest in history, the award-winning book The generally he asks, “How could Mormon Image in the American Mind: you not be interested in history when Fifty Years of Public Perception. He you come from a place that in pioneer is also a Richard L. Evans Fellow Utah was known as ‘Muskrat Springs’ and member of the BYU Religious (now Hooper)?” He is married to Outreach Committee. He received the beautiful Laura Favero, which a PhD from the University of Utah is evidence that miracles have not in American history. Before coming ceased! He and his wife are the to BYU, Dr. Haws taught seminary parents of three boys and a daugh- in northern Utah in Salt Lake and ter, and they love living in Provo and Weber Counties. His research focuses cheering (sometimes too fanatically) on the place of Mormonism in for the Cougars. twentieth- and twenty-first-century

WINTER 2016 5 Research Update

Excavations at Khirbat ‘Ataruz, Jordan

By Aaron Schade | AARON SCHADE ([email protected]) IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AT BYU.

During the spring semester of 2015, Dr. Aaron Schade and Sarah Palmer and John Harrison (BYU ancient Near Eastern studies majors) participated in the Khirbat ‘Ataruz Excavation in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan is rich in cultural heritage and famous for its ancient peoples, such as the Moabites, Ammonites, and the Nabateans, along with their spectacular dwelling at Petra (and yes, of course, Indiana Jones). Based in the city of Madaba, the location of the famous Byzantine “mosaic map,” BYU participants commuted 30 minutes each morn- Dr. Schade (far right) and Sarah Palmer (middle) with team and local ing to dig the Iron Age site of ‘Ataruz and traveled weekly workers. on educational fieldtrips throughout the country. These on the mountains overlooking the Dead Sea. It is roughly trips provided a thorough exposure to the rich history 3 km east of the Roman fortification of Machaerus, which and culture of Jordan and afforded exciting glimpses into Josephus associated with the location of John the Baptist’s the history and archaeology pertaining to the Old and beheading. Throughout its history during the biblical New Testament worlds. Along with teams consisting of period, ‘Ataruz held a place of strategic and religious students and faculty from La Sierra, Averett, and Andrews importance. Universities and workers from the local beni-Hamidah Under the direction of Dr. Chang-Ho Ji of La Sierra tribe, the participants worked to uncover city walls, rooms, University, the last several dig seasons at ‘Ataruz have and extensions of an ancient Iron Age temple (ninth uncovered numerous religious artifacts and structures, century BC). It was an experience never to be forgotten. shedding light on the historical and religious practices Filled with a history of ancient battles and cultic described in ancient written sources. The Bible states that worship, the archaeological site of ‘Ataruz is located on the ‘Ataruz was built by the Israelite tribe of Gad (Numbers ridge of Jabal Hamidah in central Jordan and is perched 34:32). Centuries later, the famous Mesha Inscription

6 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Left: remains of standing figure. Middle: bovine statue. Right: decorated pottery. These artifacts may represent the deity worshipped at ‘Ataruz. Photos courtesy of Chang-Ho Ji.

Under the direction of Dr. (written in Moabite from the mid-ninth century BC), Chang-Ho Ji of La Sierra describes wars between King Mesha of Moab and the “men of Gad” who were still dwelling in the region and at University, the last several this site. (A similar scenario is described in 2 Kings 3 from dig seasons at ‘Ataruz have a different perspective.) While Israel was preoccupied uncovered numerous religious with the Assyrians to the North, King Mesha rebelled and artifacts and structures, shed- overtook the Israelite tribe of Gad and devoted his victory ding light on the historical and to his god. Religious structures pervade ‘Ataruz, and the site bespeaks the defensive measures put in place to religious practices described protect it. Our work in the field attempted to answer some in ancient written sources. of the enigmas surrounding ‘Ataruz, including issues asso- ciated with its fortification and defense, its cultic activities, Israel.” . . . I took it. . . . I devoted it to Ashtar-Kemosh. And and the history of its occupation. I took from there the vessels of YHWH and dragged them BYU participants were able to get a closer look at the before Kemosh” (author’s translation). historical realities of the events that ensued at ‘Ataruz The BYU team’s summer experiences brought new and in its surroundings. Among the findings at the site perspectives and insights into biblical events, religious are a spectacular Iron Age temple and its cultic objects, practices, and conflicts which are portrayed in the Old which underscore the religious practices and priestly Testament, since they were able to daily witness the cultic service performed by those occupying ‘Ataruz. The Mesha structures and objects that were on the site or housed in inscription describes the worship of deities in this region, local museums. including Kemosh, Ashtar-Kemosh, and YHWH/Jehovah. Along with valuable experiences gained through It also mentions temples and cultic objects such as altars the fieldwork of the archaeological excavation, BYU and vessels which were used at these sites, things with participants also enjoyed immersion in the Islamic which BYU participants became intimately acquainted. and Arab-Christian cultures. Working alongside local A portion of the text reads as follows and highlights the Jordanians and university teams of other faiths, BYU cultic significance of ‘Ataruz/Ataroth and nearby Mount participants developed an awareness of and apprecia- Nebo: “So I brought from there [Ataroth] its Davidic altar tion for cultural and religious diversity as well as created hearth and I dragged it before Kemosh in Kerioth. . . . And friendships that will always be cherished. Kemosh said to me, “Go! Take possession of Nebo from

WINTER 2016 7 Restoring Harmony, Part I By Mark Lyman Staker MARK LYMAN STAKER SERVES AS LEAD CURATOR IN THE CHURCH HISTORY DEPARTMENT OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN HISTORIC-SITES RESTORATION FOR MORE THAN FIFTEEN YEARS. HE HOLDS A PhD FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY.

On September 19, 2015, Elder Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, dedicated the Priesthood Restoration Site in Oakland, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. During the dedica- tory prayer, Elder Nelson entreated on behalf of the site, “I dedicate it as a place of faith, a place of prayer, a place of learning, a place of glory, indeed, a place of holiness. . . . I dedicate these buildings, grounds, and groves, all to the end that faith in Thee will increase and that families may be strengthened and qualify for Reconstruction of the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale home. Photos courtesy of author except where noted. exaltation according to Thy great plan of happiness.”1 To accomplish helped review published material, Even the landscape these purposes, the renovation of the search the Church Archives collec- Priesthood Restoration Site under tion, and think about the significance received attention to direction of Church leadership was of the historical events connected bring it in line with a joint effort of the Church History with Church history in Pennsylvania. Department, Missionary Department, Once each week, a scholar, including the historic record. and Special Projects Department, many BYU faculty members, came to with many others contributing the Church History Museum to share Archives, we learned extensive details toward the effort, including staff and his or her perspective on significant about Wilford C. Wood’s acquisition students at BYU. historical events related to the site, of sections of the Joseph Smith and BYU connections developed which helped in pondering the big Isaac Hale farms from 1939 to 1946, early in the process. The Church events. These scholars included Larry and about additional land purchases History Department’s Historic Sites Porter, Jack Welch, Royal Skousen, over the ensuing years, culminat- program hired a team of bright Carol Madsen, and Craig Manscill. ing in the dedication of the Aaronic students from BYU as interns several As the Historic Sites group (now Priesthood Monument by Presiding years before the project was publi- the Historic Sites Division) searched Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin on June cally announced. These students the collections of the Church 18, 1960. We also amassed a large

8 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW amount of information that helped shed light in subsequent years on significant details of the story during the 1820s (when the site was still known as Harmony, Pennsylvania), which would help us better share a more accurate account of events at the new Priesthood Restoration site. The Church History Department commissioned Hartgen Archeological Associates Inc. in 2004 to do initial archaeology at the Joseph and Emma Translation table in the reconstructed Joseph and Emma Smith home (see page 11 for more details). Smith homesite, and hired them from 2011 to 2012 and in 2014 to do additional work at the Joseph and Emma Smith home and the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale farm. I was privileged to travel to many archives, libraries, and other repositories of historical materials connected to Susquehanna County to search for additional source material that could shed light on the Hale family, their property, and Joseph Smith’s history in Harmony. Through careful review of the Parlor in the reconstructed Isaac and Elizabeth Hale home with a writing desk typical of the archaeological work and documen- time and place. The color and design of the wallpaper reflects what was in homes of prosperous tary sources, the history of the sites families in the 1820s. began to yield itself. Land records, tax floor. We could do this through rely- with general information about the records, correspondence from neigh- ing on numerous photographs, letters possessions of many of their neigh- bors and other documents suggested from individuals who lived in the bors and the typical furnishings found important details about both the Hale home and described its details, and in the homes of the Susquehanna home and the Smith home which, even a small model of the home built Valley, taking into account the owners’ when combined with information in the late 1950s by an elderly resident birthplace, education, and economic from the archaeology investigation, who had been inside numerous times situation. The capable staff at Old suggested we could reconstruct both before it burned down June 23, 1919. Sturbridge Village also allowed homes with the confidence that In order to accurately replicate careful study of their vast collection significant details would be correct. furnishings in the homes, we turned of period artifacts. Several Church- While we knew mostly the large to the archaeological remains that service missionaries and volunteers picture for the Hale home, for Joseph were recovered, Isaac Hale’s probate with skills in early American furni- and Emma’s home we could recon- records, and Lucy Mack Smith’s ture construction, tinsmithing, textile struct with confidence small details account of her visit in Joseph and production, and numerous other site such as the style of their rain gutter, Emma’s home, which mentioned furnishings replicated pieces found the style of their baseboards, and even various items in the home. We in museums, local historical societies, the species of wood used for their supplemented these specific details and private collections. Their talents

WINTER 2016 9 Pantry adjacent to the kitchen in the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale reconstructed home. The pantry Original 1810s stone sink on a period-correct includes replica food and period-correct food storage, processing, and eating implements. replica base in the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale kitchen.

were supplemented by work from Hampshire workshop for use in the in landscaping. Numerous docu- nationally renowned artisans. Steve Harmony homes. ments and a careful look at soil and Larson, who made wallpaper for Even the landscape received water levels suggested the “woods” the renovation of the White House attention to bring it in line with where Joseph and Oliver went to Lincoln bedroom, replicated 1820s the historic record. Doctrine and pray when John the Baptist appeared wallpaper for Isaac and Elizabeth Covenants 24:3 indicates Joseph and restored the Aaronic Priesthood Hale’s home. Joel Pardis, who made Smith planted a field in July 1830. A grew at the north end of Joseph’s the lamps for Thomas Jefferson’s study of soil in the area, entries in property rather than in the soggy restored Monticello, found time local farmers’ garden journals for July, ground by the Susquehanna River. during that project to repair a lamp and Joseph’s September departure Bob Parrott, the caretaker of the for the Hale home. And Ron Raiselis, from the valley indicated he likely Sacred Grove in Manchester, New who made the coopered items planted buckwheat, which ripened York, carefully examined the flora for Jefferson’s Monticello and the the week he left. A grass suggestive of Joseph’s property and delineated Smithsonian’s American History of buckwheat now grows in Joseph’s walking paths that would take visitors Museum, and the large lye vats for field, delineating its boundaries as through the wooded areas on the the reconstructed Kirtland ashery, defined by aerial photography. Some mountain foothills, and that would made a number of items in his New of Emma’s favorite flowers were used help foster healthy growth in the

10 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW sugar-maple groves on the north end An employee of the Church History Department, of Joseph’s property. Much of the data that helped us understand the LaJean Carruth, volunteered her time to hand- nature of the Susquehanna River and weave the m’s-and-o’s patterned tablecloth the landscape of the area on May 15, that replicated Emma’s tablecloth Joseph used 1829, was shared with the faculty of BYU’s Church History and Doctrine to wrap the plates. Department and reviewed by Church leadership before our team moved to restore the wooded landscape on the north end of the Joseph and Emma Smith farm. The setting of the Book of Mormon translation area received particular attention to get the details correct. Steve and Ben Pratt of Cove Fort, Utah, carefully replicated the gold plates, relying on eyewitness descriptions and a sketch of the rings provided by David Whitmer. The young men and women of several stakes used images of Book of Mormon characters from several Close-up of the translation table in the reconstructed Joseph and Emma Smith home. Items on the table suggest those used by Joseph Smith and his scribes during translation of the Book of Mormon, pre-1844 sources and followed including a beaver-pelt hat, quill pens, an inkwell, a pounce (full of sand to sprinkle over each finished detailed instructions to replicate manuscript page), a 1790s water pitcher with repaired handle and mugs (typically used by a beginning family), facsimile gold plates, and a handwoven replica tablecloth used to conceal the plates. Photo the characters on specially prepared courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh. copper and gold alloy plates. An employee of the Church History 1790s “make-do” water pitcher on the who had worked hard to understand Department, LaJean Carruth, volun- translation table, with its tin handle and replicate the setting where teered her time to hand-weave the replacing the original that broke two significant events of Church history m’s-and-o’s patterned tablecloth that centuries ago, replicates something took place. Elder Nelson recognized replicated Emma’s tablecloth Joseph Joseph and Oliver may have used in these efforts as he expressed prayer- used to wrap the plates. The hat that their poverty to keep their mouths ful gratitude, saying: “We thank Thee sits on the table in the reconstructed wet as they repeated the words of the for the skills and artistry of crafts- kitchen is made of beaver pelt with translation back and forth, hour after men and women who actually did the a hand-stitched hatband, which fits hour. work. Wilt Thou bless them and their eyewitness accounts of the hat Joseph When President Nelson dedi- families for their efforts.”2 used in translation. Royal Skousen’s cated the furnishings of the site in his Notes careful study of the original manu- prayer and dedicated “the groves of 1. “Transcript: President Russell M. Nelson Remarks and Dedicatory Prayer at Priesthood script suggested Oliver wrote it using trees—those sacred woods—where, Restoration Site,” Mormon Newsroom, http:// quill pens, and surviving 1820s pens under the direction of Peter, James, www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/priesthood- in the Old Sturbridge Village collec- and John, the Aaronic Priesthood restoration-site-dedication-transcript. tion became models to replicate the was restored by John the Baptist,” he 2. “Transcript: President Russell M. Nelson ones Oliver used. Even the original made holy the efforts of many people Remarks.”

WINTER 2016 11 Restoring Harmony, Part II: A Photo Essay

By Alexander L. Baugh and Mark Lyman Staker ALEXANDER L. BAUGH ([email protected]) IS A PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY AND DOCTRINE AT BYU. MARK LYMAN STAKER ([email protected]) IS LEAD CURATOR OF CHURCH HISTORY SITES, CHURCH HISTORY DEPARTMENT.

The dedication of the Priesthood Restoration Site in rural Oakland Township (formerly Harmony Township), 1 Pennsylvania, by President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, on September 19, 2015, marked the culmination of a project that spanned more than a decade. The restoration of this important location in early LDS Church history was the most extensive resto- ration project undertaken by the Church since the opening of Historic Kirtland Village in 2003. The LDS Church first acquired property at the Priesthood Restoration Site in 1939 through Wilford C. Wood, of Woods Cross, Utah. Presiding Bishop Joseph L. Wirthlin originally dedicated a monument at the site on Photos courtesy of Alexander L. Baugh except where noted. June 18, 1960, to commemorate the bestowal of the Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist upon research at the site and placing informational signs marking Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on the location of the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale and Joseph and May 15, 1829. The Church has since Emma Smith’s homesites. Beginning in 2004, the Church continued to maintain the prop- has undertaken archaeological studies and carried out more erty and make improvements extensive research to ensure an accurate restoration and from time to time. interpretation of the site. This included The actual site development and building construc- doing some tion took place over a two-year period (2013–15) and included the following: a rerouting and construction of a new segment of State Road 171 and an overpass, the construction of a new LDS meetinghouse/visitors’ center and the placement of replicas of Avard T. Fairbanks’s Aaronic Priesthood Restoration and Melchizedek Priesthood Restoration monuments, a walking trail from

12 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW 2 3

Beginning in 2004, the Church has undertaken archaeological studies and carried out more extensive research to ensure an accurate restoration and interpretation of the site.

the meetinghouse/visitor’s center under the State Road > Reconstructed Isaac and Elizabeth Hale 171 overpass leading to the Smith and Hale homes, the Home (2) restoration of the Hale and Smith homes, a restoration of Isaac Hale moved from Wells, Vermont, to Harmony, the dirt road that crossed the Smith and Hale properties Pennsylvania, around 1787. Soon after he bought a 15 µ 30, when Joseph lived there, new landscaping around the 1½-story log home on a 150-acre farm from Jonathan Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood Monument, a road Bennett. In 1790, Isaac went back to Vermont, where he and parking area on the south side of the railroad line to married Elizabeth Lewis on September 20, 1790. Following allow public access to the Susquehanna River, a walking their marriage, Isaac returned with Elizabeth to Harmony, trail from the parking area to the river, a walking trail from where they eventually repurchased 130½ acres through the meetinghouse/visitor’s center to the wooded area Pennsylvania. The Hale family occupied the log home from where John the Baptist appeared to Joseph Smith and 1790 to 1810. All nine of their children were born in this Oliver Cowdery, and maintenance facilities. home, including Emma, their seventh child, born in 1804. By 1810, Isaac moved the log home to another location > Walking Trail from the LDS Meetinghouse/ on his property (probably to the east) and built a larger, Visitors’ Center to the Hale and Smith Homes (1) two-story frame home on the foundation of the original Access to the reconstructed Isaac Hale and Joseph Smith log structure. Sometime between 1820 and 1822 he added a homes and the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood rear section to the home. In November 1825, when Joseph Monument is by a short walking trail from the LDS Smith and his party from Manchester came to Harmony to Meetinghouse/Visitors’ Center. A distinctive feature of work for Josiah Stowell in search of a purported Spanish the trail is an underpass beneath the new segment of State silver mine, they did not live with the Hales in their frame Road 171 that allows visitors access to the properties with- home but boarded in the log home. Later, in December 1827, out interference from traffic. when Joseph and Emma relocated to Harmony, they also

WINTER 2016 13 4

Photo (above) courtesy of Mark Lyman Staker. 5 6

7 likely stayed in the log home until February 1828, when they moved into the home built by Emma’s brother Jesse, located a few hundred yards to the east.

> Hale Home Kitchen (3) The Hale home was very comfortable for its day. Because Methodist meetings, local elections, and some court sessions were held in the Hale home, it included social space such as an entry with a decorative stairwell, a dining room, a parlor or sitting room with a pantry, a sleeping chamber where the family cook slept (princi - pally Emma before her marriage), a large storage room on the back porch, a cellar, and four bedrooms on the second floor. In February 1829, Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith visited Joseph and Emma in Harmony, and

14 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Isaac and Elizabeth Hale entertained them in their home. Lucy remembered the Hale home was “neatly 8 finished” and included every “convenient appendage.”

> See also: Hale Home Dining Room (4) Hale Home Parlor (5)

> Reconstructed Joseph and Emma Smith Home (6) Jesse Hale, Emma’s older brother, built the original home in 1815 on property owned by his father, Isaac Hale. Before Joseph and Emma arrived in Harmony in early December 1827, Jesse had moved into a new home across the Susquehanna River, and David Hale, another of Emma’s 9 brothers, and his wife, Rhoda Jane, temporarily lived in the home. In February 1828, David and Rhoda moved out and Joseph and Emma occupied the home. It was not until April 6, 1829, that Joseph made his first payment of $64 to Isaac Hale as a down payment on the $200 property, which consisted of the home and 13½ acres. Joseph made the last payment to Isaac Hale on August 25, 1830, just before his move with Emma near Fayette, Seneca County, New York, in September. Although Joseph and Emma no longer lived in the home, Joseph owned the property until June 1833, when he sold it to Joseph McKune Jr. for $300. The original foundation of the home is preserved as the slate rock wall in front of the home, as shown in the photo on the previous page. Joseph Smith and his scribes translated the majority of the Book of Mormon in the original home. These scribes > Smith Home Lean-to Addition (8) included Martin Harris, Emma, Reuben Hale (Emma’s Joseph purportedly added an east side addition to his brother), and Oliver Cowdery. Joseph also received fifteen home to give Emma additional workspace as he translated. revelations now recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants Joseph may have also anticipated using the room as a in the home. meeting place following the organization of the Church.

> Smith Home Kitchen, Workspace, and Sleeping > Oquago Road (9) Chamber (7) Oquago Road, an established east–west thoroughfare from Joseph and Emma spent most of their time in the kitchen, Great Bend village to Lanesville, passed through Isaac which also served as a dining area, a sitting room, and a Hale’s and Joseph Smith’s properties. This road subse- translation room. The home also included a pantry and quently became State Road 171. As plans for the proposed storage area, two rooms on the second story, and a cellar. Priesthood Restoration Site developed, it became apparent Joseph translated the Book of Mormon at this location. that the existing highway would have to be moved in order to create a landscape that would more closely resemble

WINTER 2016 15 10

what would have existed in the early 1800s, and to provide Fairbanks and depicts the resurrected John the Baptist for the safety of visitors. After receiving approval from the conferring the Aaronic Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, State Road Oliver Cowdery. The monument was not moved during 171 was rerouted to the north. the renovation of the property, but the landscaping was The Prophet Joseph, Emma, and the Hales would returned to a setting similar to the site when it was origi- have traveled on this road frequently. In addition, nally dedicated. members of the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family, Josiah Stowell, Martin Harris, Joseph Knight, Oliver > McKune Cemetery Grave Markers (11) Cowdery, and members of the Whitmer family would also Situated on the east side of the McKune Cemetery is have traversed this route. When David Whitmer came to the Hale family plot, which includes the grave marker Harmony at the request of Oliver Cowdery to take him of Joseph and Emma’s firstborn son, who was born on and Joseph to the Whitmer home in Fayette to finish the June 15, 1828, and who died that same day. The inscrip- translation, David recalled that as he was coming down tion on the headstone reads: “In Memory of An Infant the road he was surprised to see Joseph and Oliver coming Son of Joseph and Emma Smith June 15th 1828.” Emma’s toward him some distance from the house. David learned parents are buried here as well. Isaac Hale died in 1839 later that Joseph had seen his location in the seer stone, so and was buried in a garden located to the south of his Joseph knew the time he would arrive. home but was later reinterred in the cemetery. Following her father’s death, Emma wrote her family from Illinois > Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood and invited her mother, Elizabeth, to move to Nauvoo, but Monument (10) she remained in Harmony, where she died in 1842. Both On June 18, 1960, Joseph L. Wirthlin, the Presiding Isaac and Elizabeth lived to age seventy-five. The McKune Bishop of the Church, and his counselors Carl W. Buehner Cemetery is not owned by the LDS Church, so no improve- and Thorpe B. Isaacson, presided at the dedication of ments were made to the property, but several years ago the the monument commemorating the restoration of the gravestones of Joseph and Emma’s infant son and those of Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist in May 1829. The Isaac and Elizabeth Hale were encased in granite blocks. monument features a bronze relief sculpture by Avard T.

16 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW 11 13

12

> Map of the Isaac and Elizabeth Hale and Joseph and Emma Smith properties, Harmony, Pennsylvania (13) This map shows the property owned by Isaac Hale (130½ acres) and Joseph Smith (13½ acres). The gray > Aaronic Priesthood Restoration Trail (12) area marks the probable site of the Aaronic Priesthood After translating the account of the Savior’s resurrected ­restoration. Map courtesy of Mark Lyman Staker, LDS ministry to the Nephites in the Book of Mormon (3 Nephi), Church History Department, and Andrew R. Anderson, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery sought for divine Brigham Young University. understanding regarding the authority to baptize. They retired to the woods, or more specifically the “sugar > Walking Trail to the Susquehanna River (14) bush” or maple groves, located in the northern section Access to the Susquehanna River and the probable of Joseph Smith’s property. It was in this area that the location where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were resurrected John the Baptist appeared and conferred the baptized is made possible by a short walking trail that Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver. Joseph Smith leads from a small parking lot situated south of the railroad is also known on occasion to have hidden the gold plates line that passes through the property owned by the LDS in the same area. A distinctive feature of the Priesthood Church. Along the path are signs that provide information Restoration Site is a short walking trail into the area where about historical activities of life along the river. One sign the maple groves were located. reads: “Cutting through this valley is the Great Bend of the

WINTER 2016 17 14

15

Susquehanna River, one of the oldest rivers in the world. Another sign reads: “Joseph and Emma’s property extended In the early nineteenth century, river boatmen navigated to the river’s midpoint. During spring floods, the water level vessels laden with lumber and other goods to urban markets rose enough to cover the area just ahead of this marker. such as Philadelphia. Settlers typically cleared the river- Hundreds of boats and rafts could pass by in a single day.” banks, leaving open fields for grazing cattle and sheep.”

18 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW 16 17

> Susquehanna River (15) meetinghouse and visitors’ center, located in the rear of After receiving the authority of the Aaronic Priesthood, the building. The exterior of the building features blue Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery made their way to the slate rock native to the area. The building serves as the Susquehanna River. A portion of one of the signs near the meetinghouse for the Susquehanna Branch. river states: “They likely made their way to the river in the evening, after the river traffic had ceased for the day. The > Priesthood Restoration Site LDS Visitors’ water level was high enough for them to baptize one another Center (17) without leaving the Smith’s pasture. Joseph first baptized The west part of the LDS meetinghouse houses the visitors’ Oliver, and then Oliver baptized Joseph.” A few days after center. At the entrance to the visitors’ center are repli- their baptism, Samuel Smith, the Prophet’s younger brother, cas of the original Aaronic Priesthood and Melchizedek came to Harmony. During his visit, Samuel learned about Priesthood statues sculpted in 1957 by the renowned the recent appearance of John the Baptist and Joseph and LDS sculptor Avard T. Fairbanks. The original statues are Oliver’s baptisms and requested baptism. He was baptized located on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. on May 25, 1829, which baptism likely occurred in the The LDS visitors’ center is a state-of-the-art facility same place where Joseph and Oliver were baptized. that includes a number of exhibits, interactive displays, audiovisual demonstrations, photographs, and original > LDS Meetinghouse and Visitors’ Center (16) artwork, and a large geographic model of the region that A major project associated with the development of the tells the story of the people who lived in the Susquehanna Priesthood Restoration Site was the construction an LDS Valley in the 1800s and the early events of the Restoration.

WINTER 2016 19 outreach Boston and Beyond By Barbara E. Morgan

BARBARA MORGAN ([email protected]) IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF CHURCH HISTORY AND DOCTRINE AT BYU. SHE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A ONE-YEAR ASSIGNMENT IN BOSTON COORDINATING SEMINARIES AND INSTITUTES IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. SHE CURRENTLY SERVES AS THE LDS HIGHER EDUCATION CHAPLAIN-AT- LARGE AND AS A MEMBER OF THE RELIGIOUS OUTREACH COMMITTEE.

Speaking at the Parliament of World Religions with Reverend Lucy Forster-Smith (Sedgwick Chaplain to Harvard University and senior minister in the Memorial Church), Maytal Saltiel (assistant university chaplain at Yale University), Barbara Morgan, and Kathy Schnurr (university chaplain at Johns Hopkins University). Photos courtesy of Barbara E. Morgan.

Living in Boston had always I knew that I was held classes at the institute build- been a dream of mine, but I never charged with teaching ing for all young single adults in the imagined that I would be direct- and ministering to some area. Additionally, we taught classes ing the LDS Church’s institute of in chapels for spouses of gradu- religion program there, serving as of the brightest minds in ate students and others who were a chaplain at MIT and Harvard, the world. My assump- interested. and coordinating seminaries and tions of the students were I admittedly went to Boston with institutes in eastern Massachusetts. immediately validated high expectations of the students. I After much thought and prayer knew that I was charged with teach- and a bit of personal and profes- as I began my first week ing and ministering to some of the sional coordinating, I headed to teaching at Harvard, MIT, brightest minds in the world. My Cambridge, Massachusetts, for a and Wellesley. assumptions of the students were one-year assignment. immediately validated as I began my With instruction to focus my first week teaching at Harvard, MIT, attention on the institute program, higher education, including Harvard, and Wellesley. These students were I immediately began to familiarize MIT, Wellesley, and Tufts, I quickly stretched to the maximum capacity myself with the young single adults in realized that this institute program in their academic and extracurricular the area. The Boston metro area is a would be quite different than those activities, yet they made institute a hub for Latter-day Saint young adults found along the Wasatch Front. top priority. At Harvard, we met in enticed by education, history, intern- Rather than students coming to us, an old brick building on campus and ships, work, and other opportunities. we went to them. They determined gathered around a large, dark-wood, The Cambridge stake alone has three the time according to room availabil- rectangular table, with pictures of old YSA wards and a mid-singles ward. ity on campus and their own personal campus administrators and teach- With over one hundred institutions of schedules. One night each week we ers on the walls and leather-bound

20 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW dissertations and theses on the at the time. At Harvard, due to the bookshelves. At MIT, we met in an campus set-up and schedule, under- old gray structure identified only as grads were separated from graduate Building 4, overlooking the beautiful students, The undergrads were a Charles River and the Boston skyline. mixture of different genders and ages At Wellesley, an all-women’s college, as well as membership time in the class was held in an open space Church, although the majority were with a three-story ceiling, where lifetime members. Their mixture students of other faiths could listen of confidence and humility was not to our conversations and hear us only intriguing but also inspiring. It singing a hymn and offering a prayer seemed that they innately understood at the beginning of each class. The and owned the responsibility associ- students came in during their lunch ated with their opportunities. hour, ready to discuss the topic of the What all of these classes and day. Having studied the assignments students had in common, which beforehand, they were ready and was a pleasant surprise, was their willing to ask pertinent and profound genuine kindness. Without being questions not only of me but also prompted, they looked out for Ashley Armand, Haitian student at BYU, former seminary student in Cambridge, of each other. They expected and each other, sending text messages, Massachusetts, with Barbara Morgan. desired truth and deeper testimonies. researching answers to difficult Each class and each university questions, listening intently, pray- mixed with the kindness towards had a different feel and makeup ing for one another, testifying of and those asking the questions, was of students. At MIT, for example, explaining the gospel, and offering inspiring. At MIT, the faculty direc- the majority of my students were sincere compliments. I was surprised tor over student interfaith dialogue returned missionaries. Most were as I sat down with a class of students openly acknowledged her desire to born and raised in the Church, and one snowy and bitter cold afternoon have LDS students involved because the manner in which questions to find a pair of iPhone-compatible they “were not only the most confi- were asked and answered, often by gloves on the table in front of me. dent in sharing their beliefs, but themselves, was influenced greatly The students had noticed my one equally respectful of others.” by how and what the students were reddish-purple hand clasping my cell Although we had incredible learning at a renowned institute of phone the previous week and quietly young adults attending institute technology. At Wellesley, the major- and selflessly resolved the problem. classes, my thoughts were often ity of the students who were enrolled The students were also kind as they preoccupied with those not in in institute were converts of two boldly shared the gospel with those attendance. In the Boston metro area, years or less. In fact, two students not of our faith. At Harvard, for I learned from priesthood leaders were baptized during the year I was example, a handful of undergrads that only approximately 10 percent there, and one student was taking the invited the entire student body to of YSAs were actively participating missionary discussions. Most were a “Meet the Mormons 101” event. in church or institute. As I worked in undergrad programs studying the After sharing a brief overview of the closely with local Latter-day Saint social sciences and were heavily influ- Church, the students spent the next leaders, including the Area Seventy, enced by feminism and modern social couple of hours answering ques- stake presidencies, the mission ideologies, which led to thoughtful tions from about a hundred peers presidency, the regional public affairs and poignant class discussions. None of different faiths and countries director, and their spouses, as well of them had served a mission, nor regarding various aspects of the LDS as local members, I was impressed were any of them planning on serving faith. Their knowledge of the gospel, with the planning, work, and sacrifice

WINTER 2016 21 Barbara Morgan with interfaith chaplains at Harvard University. Chaplains at Harvard have had reserved prestigious seating on the stand at graduation since the university’s inception.

in the Lord’s work. In conversations who expressed concern for the with members of the Church’s public decreasing number of undergraduate affairs and research departments students who participated in cultural both by phone and in person, I also and religious events sponsored by witnessed the interest and concern Hillel. His frustration and concerns leaders in Salt Lake had for the young in so many ways paralleled not only adults’ conversion, their testimonies, my own but also those of many other and their reactions to recent difficult chaplains with responsibility over the social issues, including same-sex religious involvement of young adults. marriage and gender roles. I was I’ll always remember the Catholic grateful to provide feedback and chaplain who sat beside me on a participate in these discussions. religious panel at MIT and publicly One of my unique assignments praised, in front of a large student body, in Boston was to serve as chaplain the Latter-day Saints’ stance on the at Harvard and MIT. My assignment family and gender roles. A highlight was to be a religious adviser, mostly of my assignment was the opportunity to Latter-day Saint students but occa- to speak at the Harvard Memorial Wellesley student Helen Ford strutting her sign at the Boston Marathon: “Kiss me (on the sionally to others as well. As I met Church as part of their Easter Week. cheek) I’m Mormon.” with leaders of other faiths on campus They thought it was unprecedented as part of this assignment, I recog- to have a Mormon chaplain partici- they put into strengthening and nized that concern for young adults pate, but as I spoke about the hope reaching out to the young adults in and religiosity was not unique to our that comes through the Resurrection, the area. I came to appreciate even church but was widespread through- I was grateful to show this ecumeni- more the fundamental principle of out the area. I remember a poignant cal audience that members of The unity and the critical role of councils conversation with a Jewish chaplain Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day

22 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Their knowledge of the gospel, mixed with the kindness towards those asking the questions, was inspiring.

was to visit early-morning seminary classes held in homes, churches, and even online. On Martha’s Vineyard, only three students enrolled—two immigrant cousins from Brazil and the son of the teacher. In Belmont, students met in a stake presidency member’s home. The eleventh- and twelfth-graders met around the dining-room table, while the twenty or so ninth- and tenth-graders crowded

Barbara Morgan with Laurie Low (LDS Northeast Area public affairs director) at Mormon Day in around tables in the basement. The Fenway Park. feeling in the home was electric as students, teachers, and leaders filled the house from top to bottom while studying scriptures together. In Cambridge, a class taught by an MIT graduate student consisted primarily of recent immigrant youth from Haiti and other third-world countries who gained increased hope from their LDS mentors. One of these students from Haiti was beaming as she walked into my religion class at BYU. This multifaceted one-year assignment blessed me with an expanded vision of the Church, current issues, and certainly my role as a religious educator, among Stalwart LDS institute students at MIT. other things. I will ever appreciate Saints have a deep faith in the Savior. in eastern Massachusetts. As part of the opportunity to influence and be (A future article will discuss my role my assignment, I conducted monthly influenced by Church members and as an LDS chaplain.) training meetings for early-morning leaders, colleagues from other faiths, , In addition to my institute assign- seminary as well as some volunteer and my wonderful students. ment, I also coordinated seminaries institute teachers. What a thrill it

WINTER 2016 23 Q&A

Update on the Church in Ghana, Africa: A Conversation with Daniel K Judd

Interview by Brent R. Nordgren

DANIEL K JUDD ([email protected]) IS A PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT SCRIPTURE AT BYU WHO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF THE GHANA ACCRA MISSION FROM 2011 TO 2014.

BRENT R. NORDGREN ([email protected]) IS PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR AT BYU’S RELIGIOUS STUDIES CENTER AND MANAGING EDITOR OF THE REVIEW MAGAZINE.

Q: You recently served as the president of the Ghana Accra Mission in Africa. Would you please share with us some inspiring expe- riences in Ghana? A: The first Sunday we were in Africa, we attended one of the local wards in Accra. It was beautiful. There were probably two hundred people in attendance, and except for three of us, my wife, myself, and another person whom we didn’t Daniel and Kaye Judd in the Missionary Training Center. All photos courtesy of Daniel K Judd. know, all of those attending appeared to be from Africa. After sacrament but perhaps the Lord has sent us to I’ve just described who you taught meeting we met the other visitor. We help make some connections to the when you were here ten years ago learned that his name was Tanner academic community in Ghana. We who wasn’t baptized?” Ainge and that he had been a mission- do know that there are many univer- He didn’t even blink. He said, “I know ary in Ghana some ten years earlier. sities and different kinds of schools exactly who you’re talking about.” I Tanner told us how much he loved here, but we don’t know much about was surprised. He said, “There was Ghana and that he had returned for a them.” I then explained, “Tanner, I a very educated and well-connected visit. During our conversation Tanner love the world of ideas—teaching and fellow that was associated with the asked an interesting question, some- research, and I have loved teach- Supreme Court of Ghana. He went thing like, “Well, President and Sister ing at BYU. Maybe that’s why we’re through the temple open house with Judd, do you have a sense of why the here. Maybe we will find and baptize us. He loved everything we taught Lord has called you to Africa?” people with similar interests.” I then him, but he didn’t join the Church. We explained, “We don’t know, asked him, “Do you know anyone like One time he told us, ‘I love what I’m

24 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW learning, but I would lose too much if I joined your church. I would lose my political standing and perhaps even my employment. I’m not sure if my wife would support me. So, I’m sorry. I can’t join.’” Tanner explained to us that he had stayed in touch with the man over the years and then suggested we visit with him. That night I emailed this fellow, not really expecting that he would email back. But the next morning when I arose I had received an email from him. It read, “Dear President Judd, thank you so much for making contact with me. I have thought about The Church of Jesus Christ of Southern coast of Ghana. Latter-day Saints most every day for ten years. I would love to meet with invited. As he listened, I could sense learned, the wise, and the noble.” I you. May I come to your office?” So very quickly that he was a very intel- then explained to him that he was he came to the mission office. He ligent and spiritually sensitive man. the very kind of person the Lord was told me much of what Tanner had In the verses, the Lord continues by describing in these verses. I then said, shared with me earlier, of his experi- specifically describing who is going “I hope in these next few months and ence with the Church, how much he to be invited: “First, the rich and years that Sister Judd and I are here enjoyed the temple open house, and the learned, the wise and the noble; in Ghana we can get to know you well how he loved the young missionaries and after that cometh the day of my and have a great friendship. I know and what the Church seemed to do power; then shall the poor, the lame, you have had reservations in the past, for their maturity and so forth. He and the blind, and the deaf, come in but I’d love to see you reconsider and told me how happy it made him to unto the marriage of the Lamb, and become a member of the Church of think back to all the pleasant memo- partake of the supper of the Lord, Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” ries of the times he met with the prepared for the great day to come” He turned his head and looked missionaries. (verses 10–11). I then explained, “I away. I was worried that I had I responded by telling him that know I’ve only been in Africa for a offended him. I said, “Oh, I just did the story he was sharing with me short while, but what I have observed something that I didn’t want to do. reminded me of a scripture in the is that the missionaries are doing a I’ve offended you.” He said, “Oh, Doctrine and Covenants. I said, “The wonderful job baptizing—for the most President Judd, no, you haven’t Lord’s words to Joseph Smith begin part—the poor and the less educated. offended me. I know what you are in section 58, verse 9: ‘Yea, a supper of Now, we know that everyone needs saying is true—I’ve had a dream.” He the house of the Lord, well prepared, the gospel of Jesus Christ, rich and then described a beautiful dream he unto which all nations shall be poor alike; please don’t misunder- had had a few years before where he invited.’” I explained the verse to him stand me. I love that we’re teaching saw himself being baptized. He had and told him that the Lord is compar- and baptizing the poor, but we need even seen the church building where ing the Restoration of his gospel to to follow the Lord’s instructions he would be baptized and some of the a wonderful meal or feast, to which here and spend more time teach- people who would take part. all of the nations of the world are ing and baptizing “the rich, and the

WINTER 2016 25 q&a

Kpando Group, Kpando, Ghana.

My immediate thought about his first arrived in Accra, Sister Judd and can tell you what I know. I would love dream was, “This is too good to be I met with all of the stake presidents to do that.” true.” In the three years that I served in Accra and their wives. The testi- He asked many questions in the in Ghana, I learned that the Ghanaian monies they all shared had two major days that followed, but it didn’t take people are dreamers of dreams. Each things in common: (1) they had each long for him to become a member of time I would hear of such a dream, I had a prophetic dream that was a part the Church. In fact, he lived in the area would think of the prophesy in the of their conversion, and (2) the Book where my assistants had been assigned book of Joel: “Your old men shall of Mormon had been central to their to work when they weren’t away on dream dreams, your young men shall conversion. other assignments, so they were his see visions. . . .” It’s Joel all over again. After sharing his dream with me, missionaries; it couldn’t have been a It includes young men, old men, and this wonderful man asked if he could coincidence. Sister Judd and I were young women and older women too. meet with me on a regular basis. He blessed to meet with him on several They see visions and dreams. Every also said, “I know I must become occasions as well. His wife hasn’t missionary who serves in Ghana soon a member of The Church of Jesus joined the Church yet, but most of his learns that having an inspired dream Christ of Latter-day Saints, but I have children have. He has also been instru- is more of the rule than the exception some questions that you’ll have to mental in starting a new branch of the for the people they teach. help me with: the revelation on the Church in Kpando, the village where Being trained as a psychologist, priesthood in 1978 was a major event he was raised as a child (see photo). I was first quite skeptical of many of that I need to know more about. I The story gets better. So a year the dreams I would hear described, want to understand. I believe that went by, and the Church’s legal but I changed my mind when I began God speaks through prophets and that department was having difficulty with to see that these dreams were often God’s ways aren’t man’s ways, but some legal/political issues that could prophetic. It was rare for someone help me understand that. Can you?” have had serious implications for the to join the Church in Ghana who had I said, “I don’t know all the continued growth and well-being of not experienced a dream. When we answers, but I think I can help you. I the Church in Ghana. Long story short,

26 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW the Church attorney called me and were sending letters to the First Q: I am curious how the mission said, “President Judd, I understand Presidency asking for materials and has changed since then. What was it that your missionaries baptized a for missionaries to be sent. like when you served more recently? politician not long ago.” I explained A: When we first arrived in July that we had baptized such a man and Q: So there were several congre- 2011, there were two missions: Ghana that he was soon to be going through gations that were meeting in Africa, Accra and Ghana Cape Coast. By the the temple to receive his endowment. and there were a lot of similarities time we left three years later, there After the attorney explained some of to LDS meetings, but there were a were four missions—Ghana Accra, the details of the problem, I said, “I lot of things wrong too. When the Ghana Accra West, Ghana Cape Coast, don’t know if he can help, but why Mabeys asked one such group, “So and Ghana Kumasi. The fact that our don’t you call him?” So the attorney what do you call yourselves?” The mission divided twice during the time called my friend and asked for his help. answer was, “The Church of Jesus we were there illustrates the growth The attorney then called me back the Christ of Latter-day Saints, Inc.” the Church is experiencing in Ghana next day and said, “President Judd, And when they asked why the “Inc.” and throughout all of West Africa. thank you. The good brother to whom they were told how that’s what you referred me solved the problem was printed on the back of the Q: So it’s still growing? we we discussed in fifteen minutes.” pamphlets the locals received. A: Oh yes! It could even grow faster Isn’t that amazing? To see that the A: What several of the Ghanaian if all we were after was numerical Lord had raised up this man to solve people did, at least some of those who growth, but what we are working this weighty problem at this particu- would later became leaders in the for is “real growth” people who are lar time. This is the kind of story that Church, was to leave Ghana to obtain genuinely converted to the Savior and can be repeated over and over again. a graduate education, and while to his kingdom. Ghana is a sacred land whose people they were away they would learn Watching the Lord work, in have a special destiny. I felt like I was about the Church and be baptized. preparing a nation and a people on sacred ground almost everyday Several of these individuals, after was one of the great blessings of my meeting with people like the brother receiving their degrees in medicine, life. Here’s an example of how such whose story I have shared. The people business, or engineering, etc., would growth happens (this would happen a of Ghana are intelligent, sensitive, and then return to Ghana and tell their couple times a month): I would get a most important—they are men and family and friends about the restored phone call from an individual asking women of deep faith in Christ who gospel. Even before they returned to for permission to start a branch of have a sense of their prophetic mission. Ghana, they would share missionary the Church in an area where the pamphlets, and copies of the Book Church was not yet established. This Q: You mentioned the 1978 revela- of Mormon with their family and person would tell me their name and tion on the priesthood. Rendell friends. In fact, some will say that explain their situation. For example, and Rachel Mabey were one of two the first missionary to Ghana was the he would say, “I’ve been working missionary couples called after Book of Mormon. The people would outside of Ghana the last few years, that revelation in 1978 to open the read it and gain a testimony, but there but I’ve returned to Ghana to accept missionary work in Africa. They was no one to whom they could go to a new job and to raise my family. I’m came to my mission in Scotland for be baptized. As you mentioned, there a returned missionary, and so is my a short vacation. They told us how, were several congregations started wife, and we’ve moved to a location in when they arrived in Africa, unbap- in both Ghana and Nigeria, but they Ghana where the Church hasn’t been tized congregations of people were knew they did not have the necessary established. May we have permission already meeting. authority to proceed. to begin a group?” I would respond by A: Yes, missionaries were sent to explaining, “Well, let’s visit. Let me Africa in part because these groups come to your city, and let’s sit down

WINTER 2016 27 q&a

before teaching anyone of the Muslim faith—out of respect for them, their families, and their faith. Again, we were there to bless families, not divide them—even if doing so would bring us more members. Another example of the caution we exercised in monitoring the growth of the Church in Ghana has to do with the Church’s policy regarding those who are living in polygamous families. Polygamy is legal in Ghana and is still practiced by many. Like the policy regarding the teaching and baptizing of our Muslim friends, missionaries were required to obtain

Elder Anderson and Elder Vaetoe in front of the sign board outside the Tsito Branch, Ho District. special permission before teaching those who had ever had been a part of and see what the potential is and of our Church.” He would say, “What? a polygamous family. Husbands and what can be done.” And so Sister Judd You must have my wife’s permission? wives who were currently living in a and I (or one of my able counselors) I’m a man.” We would then explain polygamous relationship couldn’t be would travel to this remote location that the policy was the same for both baptized and the same was true for and spend the afternoon with them. husbands and wives—one spouse must children living in the home. During the next several weeks and have the consent of the other before months that followed, we would they could be baptized. Our goal was Q: So it’s not just personal begin a group, assign missionaries to to unify families, not divide them. reasons of why you needed to be join them, and soon a branch would Another situation has to do careful, but also political reasons. be created. One thing I learned early with the baptizing of children. Our A: Political reasons are a factor, on in my mission is that the Lord is missionaries were asked to obtain but familial and eternal reason way ahead of us in this work. permission from both the mother and revelation have a higher prior- and father before a child could be ity. I have always appreciated what Q: You said that you could be baptized. Several churches, and I think President Packer regularly taught growing quicker, but you’re being even some missionaries in years past, priesthood leaders about the relation- careful. How careful do you have haven’t been that careful, but we were. ship between following the handbook to be? Our numbers of Muslim converts and seeking revelation: “But notwith- A: That’s a good question. Here are also increased during the time we standing those things which are some parameters: The missionaries were in Ghana. My first counselor written, it always has been given to would sit down with a man whom in the mission presidency, Mahmud the elders of my church . . . to conduct they had met and ask, “Tell us about Labinjo, is a convert from Islam. A all meetings [and make all decisions] your wife. May we meet with both of finer man couldn’t be found. as they are directed by the Holy Spirit” you together?” He would say, “No, she Teaching and baptizing our (D&C 46:2). Following the direction belongs to another Church. She’s not Muslim brothers and sisters is a of those with priesthood keys and interested.” The missionaries would sensitive issue—one that we took discerning revelation are both vital in say, “Well, we must have her permis- very seriously. Our missionaries were making such decisions. sion before you can become a member required to obtain my permission

28 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW and light, and they were often lead by a returned missionary or some- one who had been a pioneer in the Church. The group leader or branch president would be a loving mentor, and his wife would be as strong as he was. It was joy to watch and to be a part. We are starting to see a new generation of returned missionaries who are becoming the leaders of the Church in Ghana. The training and experience they gained as mission- aries is going to take the Church forward in ways we can’t even imagine. We baptized between 180 and

An investigator family attends stake conference with Sister Ogunto Lu (third from right) and Sister 200 people every month. That’s about Kaile (right). what we were comfortable with. You have to have strong leadership and All of the policies I have briefly A: That was true in their day, but we allow there to be assimilation of the mentioned are for the protection and approached the conversion process new converts. As a young mission- blessing of the people. Before making “one by one.” I remember being ary in San Diego, California, I saw any decision regarding who could be approached by the leaders of a large more baptisms in a month than I saw taught and baptized, or who couldn’t, orphanage who wanted to be baptized in Ghana, but it was difficult to stay mission presidents attempt to discern along with all of the children in their close to the people and to prepare the Lord’s will—for the individual, care. We explained to them that we them for the temple. In Ghana, the the family, and the Church where would need to teach the children one missionaries would baptize an indi- they preside. Handbooks are vital, but by one, getting to know them individu- vidual or a family, and then stay right revelation is the real key. ally and attempting to find their parents with them. The elders and sisters We want the Church to grow as or family if guardianship hadn’t been were not finished when the baptism it should, and it’s growing rapidly in established. They declined. Again, it’s and confirmation were completed. the way the Lord and his servants personal conversion to the Savior we The missionaries were instructed would have it grow. There were times are hoping for, not large numbers. to help prepare their new converts in Ghana where I felt like I was just In our mission we didn’t baptize to enter the temple to do baptisms barely hanging on—the work was congregations like others before for the dead as soon as possible, and moving so rapidly. Have you ever us, but congregations were created then to help the people work towards been trying to get into a moving quickly. There were little groups that their endowment and sealing. With vehicle while it is accelerating? That would start with a nucleus of six or permission, the missionaries were is what it is like being a mission presi- ten, and they would grow and become allowed to go to the temple with their dent in Ghana. branch’s rapidly. It was typical for a new converts, which the missionar- group to start with six to ten people ies were thrilled to do. They just kept Q: The Mabeys explained how, as and be eighty to one hundred in a teaching them. The home teach- missionaries, they were convert- year’s time. It was all so miraculous. ers would become involved, and it ing congregations rather than just The members of these new groups worked the way it is supposed to, person by person. and branches were full of enthusiasm much of the time. I had been a part

WINTER 2016 29 q&a

of the rapid growth in San Diego wonderful Church members during mission to Ghana that would be of when I was a young missionary, and this difficult period. At that time, great interest to our readers? I understood why we did it that way, members could meet in their homes A: Ghana is a Christian nation. but I felt better about the growth that but not in the chapels. I person- Everywhere you go, from the back of we were experiencing in Africa. My ally believe that experience was a taxicabs to the names of shops along experiences as a young missionary in pruning. Some of the people who the highway, to the clothes they wear, San Diego prepared me in many ways left the Church during the Freeze Jesus Christ is everywhere. Ghana is for my mission in Ghana. were ambitious and didn’t like the unapologetically a Christian nation. negative publicity the Church was Islam is growing rapidly in Ghana as Q: As you consider the early getting, and they left. Others left for well, but it’s amazing to watch the missionary work of the late 1970s other reasons. With the Freeze, the harmony between Christianity and and the large numbers that were strong became stronger and the weak Islam. While there are exceptions, being baptized so quickly, how became weaker. The Freeze pruned most religions support one another. I would you characterize most of us back, but I believe it was necessary. think there is something we can learn those early baptisms; are most As a mission president, I was ecclesi- from them about religious freedom of them still active, or was there astically responsible for the districts and toleration. significant falling away because of that included many of the people that Secondly, our missionaries came the rapidness of the conversions? had left during the Freeze, people to us from twenty-four different A: Here’s another story that will who were educated, but perhaps not nations from throughout the world. partially answer your question, and so wise—like I mentioned before. So Half of our missionaries were from I’ll try and finish the other part of your I went to many of them and invited Western nations, and half were from question as well. In 1989, the Ghanaian them to return to the Church. Some Africa. And I can’t think of any time government made the decision that the did return, but it became clear to me during my three-year tenure where LDS missionaries were CIA opera- why the Lord allowed the Freeze to we had racial or cultural strife of any tives. Furthermore, there were some occur, because it really was a prun- kind. We learned to love one another. that believed the Church was a racist ing back. So my interpretation of why While there were a lot of reasons for organization. They had read anti- the Lord allowed the Freeze to occur the love and affection we felt for one Mormon publications, and there were is that while it was tragic for some another, and the success we expe- other political factors as well, that led of the people to become disaffected rienced, I give the majority of the to what is called “the Freeze.” Soldiers and to fall away, it was also a bless- credit to the Book of Mormon and locked the churches, disbanded the ing because it allowed the Church its power to bring us to Christ. Our congregations, and sent all the Western to grow in meaningful ways. While constant use of the Book of Mormon missionaries home. One of the ques- there are certainly differences, I also in our ministry allowed revelation to tions my friend, the man we discussed think there are some similarities to flow. Studying and utilizing the Book at the beginning of this interview, what’s happening in the Church today. of Mormon in most all that we did wanted me to help him answer was the We’re losing some great people, and allowed us to experience the love of question: “How am I going to explain it’s sad, but this present-day pruning God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and to my friends that I’m becoming a will allow lives to be blessed and for the direction and sanctifying influ- member of the Church that we the the Church to grow in ways that it ence of the Holy Ghost. Speaking for Ghanaian government once attempted wouldn’t otherwise. both Sister Judd and myself, even to get out of the country?” though it was the most difficult It took some time to work Q: I like your word “pruning,” calling we have ever had, serving in through the relevant issues, but because that’s exactly what pruning Ghana has been one of the greatest the Freeze only lasted for eighteen does. Is there anything about your blessings we have ever experienced. months. We did, however, lose some

30 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW notes faculty and staff

APPOINTMENTS edited by Esplin, Bennett, Phytolith Morphometrics.” Gerrit J. Dirkmaat was appointed Black, and Manscill, 205–30. Journal of Archaeological editor of Mormon Historical Provo, UT: Religious Studies Science (2015): pages to come. Studies. Center, 2015. Baugh, Alexander L. “The Release Scott C. Esplin, Frank F. Judd Jr., ———, and Richard E. Bennett, eds. of Joseph Smith and the and Jared W. Ludlow were An Eye of Faith: Essays in Honor Liberty Jail Prisoners from appointed to teach at the BYU of Richard O. Cowan. Provo, Missouri, April 1839.” Pioneer Jerusalem Center in 2016–17. UT: Religious Studies Center; 62, no. 3 (2015): 37–43. Kerry Muhlestein was made Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, ———. “Excerpts of Letters Written an associate fellow of the 2015. See copublication with by Parley P. Pratt during William F. Albright Institute JeanMarie Stewart. his Missouri Incarceration.” of Archaeological Research in Ball, Terry B. “Isaiah and the Pioneer 62, no. 3 (2015): 20–21. Jerusalem. Latter-day Temple.” In An Eye ———. “Excavating the Past: The of Faith, edited by Alford and 1888 Church History Mission AWARDS AND HONORS Bennett, 31–46. of Andrew Jenson.” In In October 2015, Richard O. Cowan ———, and Spencer S. Snyder. “The Rediscovering the Sites of the received a Lifetime Service Place Which God for Us Restoration: The 1888 Travel Award from the BYU Emeriti Prepared: Presettlement Writings of Mormon Historian Alumni Association. Wasatch Range Environment.” Andrew Jenson, Edward In Far Away in the West, edited Stevenson, and Joseph S. Black, SELECTED RECENT by Esplin, Bennett, Black and edited by Reid L. Neilson, FACULTY PUBLICATIONS Manscill, 99–134. Justin R. Bray, and Alan D. Alford, Kenneth L. “‘And a Bitter ———, Luc Vrydaghs, and Yannick Johnson, 50–65. Provo, UT: Experience It Was’: The Devos. “Beyond Redundancy Religious Studies Center, 2015. Utah War and the 1858 Move and Multiplicity: Integrating ———. “‘For Their Salvation Is South.” Proceedings of the South Phytolith Analysis and Necessary and Essential to Our Carolina Historical Association Micromorphology to the Salvation’: Joseph Smith and (2015): 17–31. Study of Brussels Dark Earth.” the Practice of Baptism and ———. “Prophets Rendering Journal of Archaeological Confirmation for the Dead.” Christlike Service: Looking to Science (2015): pages to come. In An Eye of Faith, edited by Peter as an Example.” In An ———, et al. “Phytoliths as a Tool for Alford and Bennett, 113–38. Eye of Faith: Essays in Honor Investigations of Agricultural ———. “John C. Frémont’s 1843–44 of Richard O. Cowan, edited by Origins and Dispersals Western Expedition and Alford and Bennett, 213–34. around the World.” Journal of Its Influence on Mormon ———. Review of Allan Kent Powell, Archaeological Science (2015): Settlement in Utah.” In Far ed., Nels Anderson’s World War pages to come. Away in the West, edited by I Diary. BYU Studies 54, no. 1 ———, et al. “Morphometric Esplin, Bennett, Black, and (2015): 197–200. Analysis of Phytoliths: Manscill, 23–55. ———. “Utah’s Role in Protecting the Recommendations towards ———. “Joseph Smith: Seer, Mormon Trail during the Civil Standardization from the Translator, Revelator, Prophet.” War.” In Far Away in the West, International Committee for In Brigham Young University

WINTER 2016 31 notes

Speeches, 2014–2015, 25–37. In The Coming Forth of the Book ———. “New Christian Epitaphs Provo, UT: Intellectual Reserve of Mormon: A Marvelous Work from the Fayum.” Zeitschrift für and Brigham Young University, and a Wonder, edited by Largey, Papyrologie und Epigraphik 193 2015. Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, (2015): 202–206. ———. “Parley P. Pratt’s Missouri 103–15. Salt Lake City: Deseret ———, Matthew J. Grey, and Imprisonment, 1838–1839.” Book, 2015. Andrew H. Hedges, eds. Pioneer 62, no. 3 (2015): 22–35. ———. “The Mormon Exodus as Seen Approaching Antiquity: Joseph ———. “Publishing Mormon History: through the Horace K. Whitney Smith and the Ancient World. A Conversation with Alexander Journals.” In Far Away in the Provo, UT: Religious Studies L. Baugh.” Religious Educator: West, edited by Esplin, Bennett, Center, 2015. Perspectives on the Restored Black, and Manscill, 135–59. ———, and Thomas A. Wayment, Gospel 16, no. 1 (2015): 151–61, ———. “‘This Is a New Day’: A Look Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, interview by Devan Jensen. Back in Anticipation of the Documents, and Sources (Second ———. Review of Alex Beam, Future.” In Writing Mormon through Fourth Centuries). American Crucifixion: The History 41, no. 1 (January 2015): Waco, TX: Baylor University Murder of Joseph Smith and 14–25. Press, 2015. the Fate of the Mormon Church. ———. “‘The Upper Room’: The Boone, David F. “The Mississippi BYU Studies Quarterly 54, no. 4 Nature and Development of Saints: A Unique Odyssey of (2015): 198–202. Latter-day Saint Temple Work, Southern Pioneers.” In Far ———, and Reid L. Neilson, eds. 1846–55.” In Journal of Mormon Away in the West, edited by Conversations with Mormon History 41, no. 2 (April 2015): Esplin, Bennett, Black, and Historians. Provo, UT: Religious 1–34. Manscill, 161–86. Studies Center, 2015. See copublications with Kenneth L. Boyd, Hal Robert, and Susan Bennett, Richard E. “‘A Very Alford and Scott C. Esplin. Easton Black, eds. Psalms of Particular Friend’—Luther Black, Susan Easton. “Monument Nauvoo: Early Mormon Poetry. Bradish.” In Approaching to Women Memorial Garden.” Provo, UT: Religious Studies Antiquity, edited by Blumell, In An Eye of Faith, edited by Center, 2015. Grey, and Hedges, 63–82. Alford and Bennett, 189–212. Brown, S. Kent. “Missionaries in ———. “From Calgary to Cumorah: ———. “The Economic Sacrifice of War and Peace (Helaman 4–5).” The Significance of ‘Sacred the Nauvoo Exodus.” In Far In An Eye of Faith, edited by Space.’” In Talking Doctrine: Away in the West, edited by Alford and Bennett, 305–19. Mormons and Evangelicals in Esplin, Bennett, Black, and Chadwick, Jeffrey R. “Dating the Conversation, edited by Richard Manscill, 57–80. Death of Jesus Christ.” BYU J. Mouw and Robert L. Millet. Blumell, Lincoln H. “Palmyra and Studies Quarterly 54, no. 4 Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Jerusalem: Joseph Smith’s (December 2015): 135–91. Academic Press. Scriptural Texts and the Cope, Rachel. “Discovering a ———. “‘I Mean to Be Baptized for Writings of Flavius Josephus.” Pilgrim’s Progress.” Lifewriting Scores More’: Baptisms for the In Approaching Antiquity, Annual: Biographical and Dead among the Latter-day edited by Blumell, Grey, and Autobiographical Studies 4 Saints, 1846–67.” In An Eye of Hedges, 356–406. (2015): 223–41. Faith, edited by Alford and ———. “A New LXX Fragment ———, Amy Harris, and Jane Bennett, 139–58. Containing Job 7:3–4 and 7:9.” Hinckley, eds. Family Life in ———. “Martin Harris’s 1828 Visit Tyndale Bulletin 66.1 (2015): Britain and America, 1690–1820. to Luther Bradish, Charles 95–103. 4 vols. New York: Routledge, Anthon, and Samuel Mitchill.” 2015.

32 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW ———. “Mormon/Evangelical Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, Farnsworth, Brad, John Hilton Dialogue: Embracing a 155–72. III, Jaclyn Nielson, and Hermeneutic of Generosity.” In Draper, Larry W., and Kent P. Jonathan Ogden. “Prophetic Talking Doctrine: Mormons and Jackson, eds. A Missionary’s Use of the Pauline Epistles, Evangelicals in Conversation, Story: The Letters and Journals 1970–2013.” Religious Educator edited by Robert L. Millet of Adolf Haag, Mormon 16, no. 1 (2015): 77–104. and Richard J. Mouw, 71–79. Missionary to Switzerland and Fischer, Lane, John Hilton III, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Palestine. Provo, UT: Religious T. Jared Robinson, and David Academic Press, 2015. Studies Center, 2015. A. Wiley. “A Multi-Institutional ———, and Amy Easton-Flake. Draper, Richard D. “A Scriptural Study of the Impact of Open “A Multiplicity of Witnesses: Basis for the Doctrine of Sexual Textbook Adoption on the Women and the Book of Purity.” In An Eye of Faith, Learning Outcomes of Post- Mormon Translation.” In The edited by Alford and Bennett, Secondary Students.” Journal of Coming Forth of the Book of 277–94. Computing in Higher Education Mormon, edited by Largey, Easton-Flake, Amy, and Rachel 27, no. 3 (2015): 159–72. Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, Cope. “A Multiplicity of Easton-Flake, Amy. Review of 133–53. Witnesses: Women and the Flunking Sisterhood by Jana Hutchins, Zach (editor in chief ), Translation Process.” In The Reiss. BYU Studies Quarterly 54, and Rachel Cope, Christopher Coming Forth of the Book of no. 2 (2015): 189–91. Philips, and Christopher Jones Mormon, edited by Largey, Frederick, Nicholas J. (founding editors). Transcribing Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, “Deconstructing the Sacred Early American Manuscript 133–54. Narrative of the Restoration.” Sermons Project. Colorado Esplin, Scott C. “‘Beginning at the In An Eye of Faith, edited by State University, 2013–present. Rebellion of South Carolina’: Alford and Bennett, 235–56. http://earlyamericansermons. Joseph Smith’s Civil War ———. “Evaluating the Interaction org. Prediction and Its National between the New Testament Cowan, Richard O. “The Pioneer Reception.” The Proceedings of and the Book of Mormon: Trail: Routes of the Iron Horse the South Carolina Historical A Proposed Methodology.” and the Horseless Carriage.” In Association (2015): 61–71. Journal of Book of Mormon Far Away in the West, edited by ———, “Lucy Diantha Morley Allen: Studies, 24 (2015): 1–30. Esplin, Bennett, Black, and A Legacy of Communalism ———. “Of ‘Life Eternal’ and Manscill, 233–48. and Consecration.” Mormon ‘Eternal Lives’: Joseph Smith’s ———, and Justin R. Bray. Provo’s Historical Studies 16, no. 2 Engagement with the Gospel of Two Temples. Provo, UT: (2015): 118–47. John.” In Approaching Antiquity, Religious Studies Center, 2015. ———, “Lest Thou Forget.” In Far edited by Blumell, Grey, and Dennis, Ronald D., ed. Zion’s Away in the West, edited by Hedges, 194–228. Trumpet: 1854 Welsh Mormon Esplin, Bennett, Black, and Gaskill, Alonzo L. and Stanley Periodical. Provo, UT: Religious Manscill, 279–307. B. Johnson, eds. Our Savior’s Studies Center, 2015. ———, Richard E. Bennett, Susan Love: Hope and Healing in Dirkmaat, Gerrit J., and Michael Easton Black, and Craig K. Christ. Provo, UT: Religious Hubbard MacKay. “Joseph Manscill, eds. Far Away in the Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Smith’s Negotiations to Publish West: Reflections on the Mormon Deseret Book, 2015. the Book of Mormon.” In The Pioneer Trail. Provo, UT: ———, and Seth G. Soha. “The Coming Forth of the Book of Religious Studies Center, 2015. Women at the Veil: The History Mormon, edited by Largey, and Symbolic Merit of One of

WINTER 2016 33 notes

the Salt Lake Temple’s Most Harper, Steven C. “The Eleven of the Journals series of The Unique Symbols.” In An Eye Witnesses.” In The Coming Joseph Smith Papers, edited by of Faith, edited by Alford and Forth of the Book of Mormon, Ronald K. Esplin and Matthew Bennett, 91–111. edited by Largey, Hedges, J. Grow. Salt Lake City: The Grey, Matthew J. “‘The Word Hilton, and Hull, 117–32. Church Historian’s Press, 2015. of the Lord in the Original’: ———. “The Probation of a Teenage See copublications with Lincoln H. Joseph Smith’s Study of Hebrew Seer: Joseph Smith’s Early Blumell and Dennis L. Largey. in Kirtland.” In Approaching Experiences with Moroni.” In Hilton, John, III. “Core Curriculum Antiquity, edited by Blumell, The Coming Forth of the Book in The Church of Jesus Christ Grey, and Hedges, 249–302. of Mormon, edited by Largey, of Latter-day Saints.” Religious ———, and Chad S. Spigel. “Huqoq Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, Education 110, no. 1 (2015): 16–23. in the Late Hellenistic and 23–42. ———, Anthony R. Sweat, and Early Roman Periods.” In Hauglid, Brian M. “The Book of Kenneth Plummer. “Factors Galilee in the Late Second Abraham and the Egyptian Related to In-Class Spiritual Temple and Mishnaic Periods Project: ‘A Knowledge of Experience: Relationship 100 BCE–200 CE: Volume 2: Hidden Languages.’” In Between Pre-Class Scripture The Archaeological Record from Approaching Antiquity, edited Reading, In-Class Note- Cities, Towns, and Villages, by Blumell, Grey, and Hedges, Taking, and Perceived In-Class edited by David A. Fiensy and 474–511. Spiritual Experiences.” Journal James Riley Strange, 359–375. Haws, J. B. “The Lost 116 Pages of Research on Christian Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Story: What We Do Know, What Education 24, no. 3 (2015): Press. We Don’t Know, and What We 271–291. ———, and Thom Wayment. “Jesus Might Know.” In The Coming See copublications with Brad W. Followers in Pompeii: The Forth of the Book of Mormon, Farnsworth, Frank F. Judd Jr., Christianos Graffito and ‘Hotel edited by Largey, Hedges, Shon D. Hopkin, Lane Fischer, of the Christians’ Reconsidered.” Hilton, and Hull, 81–102. T. J. Robinson, and others. The Journal of the Jesus ———. “Why the ‘Mormon Olympics’ Hopkin, Shon D., and John Hilton Movement in its Jewish Setting 2 Didn’t Happen.” In An Eye of III. “Samuel’s Reliance on (2015): 103–46. (The inspiration Faith, edited by Alford and Biblical Language.” Journal of for this article came as a direct Bennett, 365–87. Book of Mormon Studies 23, no. 1 result of their visit to Pompeii ———. “Wilford Woodruff’s (2015): 31–52. with our department in May Twentieth-Century Treks ———. “‘To the Convincing of the Jew 2014.) East: A Visionary’s Mission and Gentile that Jesus is the See copublications with Lincoln H. to Preserve Historic Sites.” In Christ.’” In The Coming Forth of Blumell, Jodi Magness, Chad S. Far Away in the West, edited by the Book of Mormon, edited by Spigel, Thomas A. Wayment, Esplin, Bennett, Black, and Largey, Hedges, Hilton, and and others. Manscill, 251–76. Hull, 281–301. Griffiths, Casey Paul. “The Book Hedges, Andrew H. “‘They Pursue Hull, Kerry M. “War Banners: A of Mormon among the Saints: Me without Cause’: Joseph Mesoamerican Context for Evolving Use of the Keystone Smith in Hiding and D&C 127, the Title of Liberty.” Journal Scripture.” In The Coming Forth 128.” Religious Educator 16, no. 1 of Book of Mormon Studies 24 of the Book of Mormon, edited (2015): 43–59. (2015): 84–118. by Largey, Hedges, Hilton, and ———, Alex D. Smith, and Brent M. Huntsman, Eric D. “Jesus on Jesus: Hull. Rogers, eds. Journals, Volume John 5 and 7.” In Perspectives 3: May 1843–June 1844. Vol. 3 in Mormon Theology, Volume 1:

34 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Scriptural Theology, edited by ———, and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat. Rockland, ME: Picton Press, James E. Faulconer and Joseph From Darkness unto Light: 2015. M. Spencer. Salt Lake City: Greg Joseph Smith’s Translation ———, and Anne Leishman. “What Kofford Books, 2015. and Publication of the Book of We Should Teach the Latter-day Jackson, Kent P. “How the King Mormon. Provo, UT: Religious Saints about Family History and James Translator ‘Replenished’ Studies Center, 2015. Genealogy.” Religious Educator the Earth.” In An Eye of Faith, ———, and Gerrit J. Dirkmaat. 16, no. 2 (2015): 149–60. edited by Alford and Bennett, “Firsthand Witness Accounts Morgan, Barbara E. “‘Lift Where 295–304. of the Translation Process.” In You Stand’: A Conversation ———. “Joseph Smith’s Biblical The Coming Forth of the Book with Elder Paul V. Johnson.” Antiquity.” In Approaching of Mormon, edited by Largey, Religious Educator 16, no. 3 Antiquity, edited by Blumell, Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, (2015): 11–25. Grey, and Hedges, 165–93. 61–80. Muhlestein, Kerry. “Joseph Smith’s ———. “Keith H. Meservy: Off Madsen, Ann M. “Solomon’s Biblical View of Egypt.” In the Beaten Path.” Religious Temple Compared to the Salt Approaching Antiquity, edited Education Review, Winter 2015, Lake Temple.” In An Eye of by Blumell, Grey, and Hedges, 12–17. Faith, edited by Alford and 449–73. Judd, Frank F., Jr., and John Bennett, 69–90. ———. “Sacred Violence: When Hilton III. “The Apostle Paul Magness, Jodi, Shua Kisilevitz, Ancient Egyptian Punishment as Master Teacher.” Ensign, Karen Britt, Matthew was Dressed in Ritual September 2015, 66–69. Grey, and Chad Spigel. Trappings.” Near Eastern Largey, Dennis L., Andrew H. “Huqoq (Lower Galilee) Archaeology 78, no. 4 (2015): Hedges, John Hilton III, and its Synagogue Mosaics: 229–35. and Kerry M. Hull, eds. The Preliminary Report on the ———. “Transitions in Pyramid Coming Forth of the Book of Excavations of 2011–13.” Journal Orientation: New Evidence Mormon: A Marvelous Work and of Roman Archaeology 27 (2014): from the Seila Pyramid.” a Wonder. 327–55. Studien zur Altägyptischen Ludlow, Jared W. “‘They Are Not Manscill, Craig K. “Hyrum Smith’s Kultur 44, no. 1 (2015): 249–58, Cast Off Forever’: Fulfillment Building of the Kirtland tables 37–38. of the Covenant Purposes.” In Temple.” In An Eye of Faith, ———. “Violence.” In UCLA The Coming Forth of the Book edited by Alford and Bennett, Encyclopedia of Egyptology, of Mormon, edited by Largey, 47–68. edited by Willeke Wendrich and Hedges, Hilton, and Hull, Minert, Roger P. Against the Wall: Elizabeth Frood. Los Angeles: 265–80. Johann Huber and the First UCLA, 2015. http://www.uee. ———. “A Narrative Approach to the Mormons in Austria. Provo, UT: ucla.edu. Joseph Smith Translation of the Religious Studies Center, 2015. Newell, Lloyd D. “Richard O. Synoptic Gospels.” BYU Studies ———, ed. German Immigrants Cowan: Fifty-Three Years as Quarterly 54, no. 2 (2015): in American Church Records, a BYU Teacher, Scholar, and 35–62. Vol. 17: Michigan Detroit II Mentor.” In An Eye of Faith, MacKay, Michael Hubbard. “‘Git Protestant. Rockland, ME: 1–30. Them Translated’: Translating Picton Press, 2015. ———. (with Susan Easton Black the Characters on the Gold ———, ed. German Immigrants in and Mary Jane Woodger). Plates.” In Approaching American Church Records, Vol. Men of Character: Profiles Antiquity, edited by Blumell, 18: Minnesota, South Dakota, of 100 Prominent LDS Men. Grey, and Hedges, 83–116. North Dakota Protestant.

WINTER 2016 35 notes

Salt Lake City: Covenant “The Impact of Open Textbooks Learning Videos.” The Teaching Communications, 2015. on Secondary Science Learning Professor 29, no. 10 (December ———. “‘Walk in Newness of Life.’” Outcomes.” Educational 2015): 5, 7. In Our Savior’s Love, edited by Researcher 43, no. 7 (2015): See copublication with John Hilton Gaskill and Johnson, 103–22. 341–51. III. Ogden, D. Kelly. “Our Savior’s Love Schade, Aaron P., and Matthew Swift, Charles. “‘For Our Profit Manifest in Resurrection.” In L. Bowen. “‘To Whom Is the and Learning’: One Method Our Savior’s Love, edited by Arm of the Lord Revealed?’” for Likening the Scriptures.” Gaskill and Johnson, 77–102. Religious Educator 16, no. 2 Religious Educator 16, no. 2 Ostler, Craig James. “The (2015): 91–112. (2015): 161–74. Promises Made to and the Right Skinner, Andrew C. Dead Sea ———. “Gray Noise.” Massachusetts Belonging to the Fathers.” In An Scrolls Electronic Library 4, Review 56, no. 3 (2015): 374–83. Eye of Faith, edited by Alford edited by Donald W. Parry and Taeger, Stephan. “Using Elements and Bennett, 159–74. Andrew C. Skinner. Leiden: of Narrative to Engage Ogletree, Mark D. Just Married. Brill, 2014. Students.” Religious Educator 16, American Fork, UT: Covenant ———. “The Dead Sea Scrolls: no. 3 (2015): 131–42. Communications, 2015. Contradiction or Confirmation Top, Brent L. “The Mormon Pierce, George A., and Daniel M. of Scriptural Teachings?” Pavilion at the 1964–65 New Master. “Ashkelon as Maritime Journal of the Collegium York World’s Fair.” In An Eye Gateway and Central Place.” In Aesculapium (Fall 2014): 34–45. of Faith, edited by Alford and Ashkelon 5: The Land Behind ———. “From Jesus Christ to John Bennett, 321–48. Ashkelon, edited by Y. Huster. Wycliffe: The Formation of the Wayment, Thomas A. “A Christian Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, New Testament.” Deseret Book Amulet Containing Colossians 2015. Digital Single, 2014. 3:9–10.” Vigiliae Christianae 69 Platt, Jennifer Brinkerhoff. Stewart, JeanMarie and Kenneth L. (2015): 528–33. “Walking in the Light of His Alford. “Visions of Faith: Early ———. “Joseph Smith’s Developing Love.” In Our Savior’s Love, Church Pioneers in Ghana.” In Relationship with the edited by Gaskill and Johnson, An Eye of Faith, edited by Alford Apocrypha.” In Approaching 123–50. and Bennett, 349–63. Antiquity, edited by Blumell, Properzi, Mauro. “Learning about Sweat, Anthony R. “By the Gift and Grey, and Hedges, 331–55. Other Religions: False Obstacles Power of Art.” In From Darkness ———. “The Fortieth Anniversary and Rich Opportunities.” unto Light, edited by MacKay of the RSC: A Conversation Religious Educator 16, no. 1 and Dirkmaat, 229–43. with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland.” (2015): 129–50. ———. “Hefted and Handled: Tangible Religious Educator 16, no. 2 ———. Mormonism and the Emotions: Interactions with Book of (2015): 1–7. An Analysis of LDS Scriptural Mormon Objects.” In The Coming ———. “Religion Matters: A Texts. Madison, NJ: Fairleigh Forth of the Book of Mormon, Conversation with Kevin J Dickinson University Press, edited by Largey, Hedges, Worthen.” Religious Educator 16, 2015. Hilton, and Hull, 43–60. no. 1 (2015): 33–41. Richardson, Matthew O. “The ———. “The Role of Art in Teaching ———, and Lincoln H. Blumell. Savior’s Love.” In Our Savior’s LDS History and Doctrine.” Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, Love, edited by Gaskill and Religious Educator 16, no. 3 Documents, and Sources. Waco: Johnson, 47–76. (2015): 41–58. Baylor University Press, 2015. Robinson, T. J., Lane Fischer, David ———, and Kenneth L. Alford. ———, and Matthew J. Grey. “Jesus Wiley, and John Hilton III. “Getting Started with Blended Followers in Pompeii: The

36 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW Christianos Graffito and ———. “Gathering Early Saints ———. “The Wreck and the Rescue of the ‘Hotel of the Christians’ through Liverpool.” Pioneer 62, the Julia Ann,” Pioneer 62, no. 2 Reconsidered.” Journal of the no. 2 (2015): 2–6. (2015): 24–31. Jesus Movement in Its Jewish ———. “Gathering to Zion during the Wright, Mark Alan. “Joseph Smith Setting 2 (2015): 102–46. American Civil War.” Pioneer 62, and Native American Artifacts.” Wilkinson, Greg, and Mauro no. 2 (2015): 38–41. In Approaching Antiquity, Properzi. “From Sectarian ———, coproducer. Laie: A Refuge edited by Blumell, Grey, and to Holistic: The Practice of from the Storm. Documentary Hedges, 119–40. Meditation in Modern Japan.” film. Brigham Young University, The International Journal of 2015. RETIRING Religion and Spirituality in ———. “‘Is Truth Stranger than Stanley A. Johnson (ancient scrip- Society, no. 4 (2015): 29–38. Fiction?’ A Conceptual Look ture) and Patty Smith (Faculty Woods, Fred E. “The Appointment at the Societies of Zion and Support Center) announced of Church Immigration Agents.” Babylon and the Search plans to retire on May 1. Ray L. Pioneer 62, no. 2 (2015): 8–9. for a Promised Land.” Acta Huntington (ancient scripture) ———. “BYU–Hawaii: A Conversation Comparanda 26 (2015): 65–78. announced plans to retire on with Steven C. Wheelwright.” ———. “‘With All Diligence of Mind.’” September 1. Religious Educator 16, no. 3 Religious Educator 16, no. 2 (2015): 27–39. (2015): 77–90.

IN MEMORIAM

Hyrum L. Andrus (scripture) passed away on Milton V. Backman Jr. (Church history and October 23, 2015. doctrine) passed away on February 6, 2016.

WINTER 2016 37 new rsc publications

Sacred Space: Exploring the Birthplace of Mormonism Michael Hubbard MacKay

Many Church members may not realize that the birthplace of Mormonism is not just a cut-and-dried bit of historical trivia. In fact, initial Church publications referring to the organizational meeting mistakenly claimed it happened in Manchester, New York. To compli- cate the issue, the authors of the book Inventing Mormonism challenged traditional Latter-day Saint history by pointing out inconsistencies concerning the Church’s birthplace. This book, Sacred Space, sorts through this complicated history. Building on Dr. MacKay’s work for The Joseph Smith Papers, this volume examines what the existing historical documents really tell us. ISBN: 978-0-8425-2979-2, Retail: $17.99 new rsc publications To purchase any of the following publications, please visit www.byubookstore.com and search by book title or ISBN, or call the BYU Bookstore toll-free at 1-800-253-2578.

Let Us Reason essays as a monument to his remark- effort to “teach all nations” (Matthew Together: Essays able career as an administrator, 28:19). In the past thirty years, the in Honor of the teacher, and writer. Church is becoming an increasingly Life’s Work of ISBN: 978-0-8425-2968-6, international church. This volume Robert L. Millet Retail: $29.99 is a compilation of scholarly papers Edited by presented at the BYU Church History J. Spencer Fluhman The Worldwide Symposium where President Dieter and Brent L. Top Church: F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the A single volume cannot accurately Mormonism as a First Presidency, gave the first keynote measure the influence of a beloved Global Religion address. He emphasized the impor- colleague, but this one nevertheless Edited by Michael tance of learning our history. The stands as modest evidence of Robert A. Goodman and second keynote speaker, Terryl Givens, L. Millet’s prodigious impact over Mauro Properzi highlighted the universal nature of the a career that spanned nearly four From Samuel gospel of Jesus Christ. Seventeen other decades. His retirement provided an Smith’s first missionary efforts in 1830 papers by notable historians, scholars, opportunity to gather some of us who to the more than 88,000 mission- educators, and leaders are included. count him as a mentor, colleague, and aries now serving worldwide, the ISBN: 978-0-8425-2973-0, friend. We offer this collection of Church continues the modern-day Retail: $31.99

38 BYU RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REVIEW History Department to publish The Joseph Smith and the early Latter-day Far Away in the Joseph Smith Papers have provided Saints. Topics include Joseph Smith’s West: a fuller, richer understanding of the fascination with the ancient Americas, Reflections on translation and publication of the Book his interaction with the Bible, his the Mormon of Mormon. study of Hebrew and Greek, his Pioneer Trail ISBN: 978-0-8425-2888-7, reading of Jewish and Christian apoc- Edited by Scott C. Retail: US $24.99 ryphal writings, and his work with Esplin, Richard E. the Book of Abraham in the context of Bennett, Susan Provo’s Two nineteenth-century Egyptology. Easton Black, and Craig K. Manscill Temples ISBN: 978-0-8425-2966-2, The story of the Mormon exodus from Richard O. Retail: $34.99 Nauvoo to a new mountain home “far Cowan and Justin away in the West” still stirs the imagi- R. Bray Rediscovering nation of writers, artists, historians, Provo, Utah, is the Sites of the and musicians. Letters, diaries, and the home of two Restoration: The other manuscript sources continue to LDS temples, each with a distinctive 1888 Travel be discovered that recount this stir- story. This volume includes a compre- Writings of ring chapter in Mormon history when hensive account of each of these two Mormon Historian Andrew Jenson, an entire believing people came to temples, which have very differ- Edward Stevenson, and Joseph S. trust that they would find their place ent histories. One temple was built Black to worship without fear of persecu- from the ground up and dedicated Edited by Reid L. Neilson, Justin R. Bray, tion if they followed their God. in 1972. The other is like a phoenix, and Alan D. Johnson ISBN: 978-0-8425-2969-3, born again of the ashes of a building On September 6, 1888, three Church Retail: $27.99 destroyed by fire. This book includes history missionaries—Andrew Jenson, richly illustrated pictures and text Edward Stevenson, and Joseph S. From Darkness that traces the unique construction, Black—left on a fact-finding mission unto Light: history, and many other details that to the Church’s historic sites in Joseph Smith’s help tell the stories of each of Provo’s Missouri, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Translation and two temples. and Iowa, spending a majority of their Publication of ISBN: 978-0-8425-2965-5, time visiting the sacred spaces of the the Book of Retail: $29.99 Restoration. The observations they Mormon made were the subjects of a lengthy Michael Hubbard Approaching correspondence to the Deseret News. MacKay and Gerrit Dirkmaat Antiquity: Joseph These letters were later compiled into This book was written to provide a Smith and the a pamphlet, allowing the Saints in the detailed explanation of how Joseph Ancient World west to vicariously experience the Smith and the scribes who served with Edited by Lincoln H. early days of the Restoration. Some him described the process of translat- Blumell, Matthew J. notable historical themes included in ing the gold plates and the difficulties Grey, and Andrew their observations include a desire for encountered as they sought to publish H. Hedges the establishment and redemption of the completed book. Although both This volume is a collection of essays Zion and the promise that righteous members and academics alike often by prominent LDS scholars, including Saints would be restored to their lands think of this story as well known, keynote speakers Richard Bushman to build up Zion. recent insights and discoveries associ- and David Holland, that discuss the ISBN: 978-0-8425-2960-0, ated with the efforts by the Church interest in the ancient world shared by Retail: US $31.99

WINTER 2016 39 n 2013 the Religious Studies Center (RSC) hired I Maddie Swapp as a research assistant. When the center needed a designer, Maddie, who’s majoring in art history and curatorial studies, jumped at an opportunity to try her hand at design. DrawingON DONATIONS Since then Maddie has worked as a graphic designer laying out and typesetting book interiors, designing book covers, and creating brochures and flyers. The job has blessed her life. “Soon after I started designing books, I discovered how much I love graphic design,” Maddie says. “The RSC has not only given me a job but allowed me to find a skill that I can use in many other aspects of my life, now and in the future.” To illustrate her gratitude, Maddie says, “I would like to thank the generous donors for their donations that have allowed me to work here and find something I love to do. My job also makes it possible to help support my husband and me while we finish our schooling.” It’s easy to support Religious Education students: just go to give.byu.edu/religion. 0316_BYU16-001_PMPC#P006938

If you’d like to help fund Religious Education, contact Garrett Rose at 801-919-7622 or email [email protected]. LDS Books Uplifting Conferences Educational Symposia Review Magazine Inspiring Journal 0316_BYU16-001_PMPC#P006938 Everything Online

rsc.byu.edu Your Lifelong Gospel Study Resource You will love the conferences sponsored by the Religious Studies Center. They feature popular speakers discussing outstanding gospel topics. And they are free!

Don’t miss out! Make time for these upcoming Religious Education events.

2016 BYU Easter Conference ...... Good Friday, March 25, 2016

Sidney B. Sperry Symposium ...... Friday and Saturday, October 28–29, 2016

See page 3 for more information.