Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 10 Number 2 Article 13 7-31-2001 Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 10 Issue 2 Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Scholarship, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious (2001) "Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Volume 10 Issue 2," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies: Vol. 10 : No. 2 , Article 13. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jbms/vol10/iss2/13 This Full Issue is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. JOURNAL OF Book of Mormon Studies Volume 10 | Number 2 | 2001 More Altars from Nephi’s “Nahom” Two New Book of Mormon Hymns ! Brother Brigham on the Book of Mormon ! “Strait” or “Straight”? ! Serpents Both Good and Evil ! Terryl Givens on Revelation ! More Light on Who Wrote the Title Page 6 16 28 34 42 56 On the cover: Votive altars at the Bar<an temple complex and inscribed wall at the Awwam temple. Both sites are located near Marib, Yemen. Photography by Warren P. Aston. CONTENTS 2 Contributors 3 The Editor’s Notebook 4 A New Editorial Team Feature Articles 6 Brigham Young and the Book of Mormon w. jeffrey marsh Brother Brigham, as we would expect for a person of his era and background, depended heavily on the Bible, but he found con- tinual support in the Book of Mormon for his understanding of the gospel. 16 The Book of Mormon and Dialogic Revelation terryl l. givens As he explained at greater length in his most recent book, the author discerns people in the Nephite record receiving revelation in a manner different than what the Bible typically pictures—the recipient actively engages in dialogue with God. 28 More Light on Who Wrote the Title Page clyde j. williams A new analysis points to Moroni as the actual author of the introductory page of the Book of Mormon. 30 Was the Path Nephi Saw “Strait and Narrow” or “Straight and Narrow”? noel b. reynolds & royal skousen Contextual and other internal evidences from the Book of Mormon help resolve confusion readers may have felt in regard to these two expressions. 34 Two Hymns Based on Nephi’s Psalm: Texts and Commentary john s. tanner In a previous issue Karen Lynn Davidson expressed hope for more hymns based on the Book of Mormon. One composer’s response is published and commented on here. 42 Serpent Symbols and Salvation in the Ancient Near East and the Book of Mormon andrew c. skinner The serpent, which is found as a symbol in nearly all cultures, relates to the plan of salvation in both positive and negative ways. Seeing the contrast helps us understand the scriptures better. 56 Newly Found Altars from Nahom warren p. aston German archaeologists have recently found a series of altars in Yemen that identify worshippers who lived in Lehi’s day as appar- ent inhabitants of the place that Nephi called “Nahom.” Departments 62 What’s in a Word? cynthia l. hallen 66 Out of the Dust When Day Turned to Night 68 New Light Sunken Ruin off Cuba? 69 Endnotes CONTRIBUTORS Journal of Book of Mormon Studies P.O. Box 7113, University Station Provo, Utah 84602 USA W. Jeffrey Marsh is associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU, where 1 (801) 422-9229 or 1 (800) 327-6715 he received his Ph.D. in educational leadership. He is the author of seven E-mail: [email protected] Web: farms.byu.edu books, including Parables for the Latter Days, His Final Hours, and The Fax: (801) 422-0141 Light Within. , , W. Jeffrey Marsh John L. Sorenson Terryl L. Givens received his Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently professor of M. Gerald Bradford S. Kent Brown English at the University of Richmond. He is the author of The Viper on the Hearth: Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy and By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture That Launched a New World Religion, Don L. Brugger both published by Oxford. Terryl L. Givens Marilyn Arnold James P. Bell Clyde J. Williams is associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU, where Richard L. Bushman he received his Ed.D. His special interests include studying and teaching James E. Faulconer the Book of Mormon, and he is the editor and compiler of books on the Cheryl B. Mitchell teachings of Harold B. Lee, Howard W. Hunter, and Lorenzo Snow. Dana M. Pike Grant Underwood Clyde J. Williams Bjorn W. Pendleton Noel B. Reynolds, associate academic vice president and professor of Michael Lyon political science at BYU, received his Ph.D. in government from Harvard University. He is a past president of FARMS and a member of the board of Published by the Foundation for Ancient the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts. Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), Brigham Young University Noel B. Reynolds Daniel Oswald Royal Skousen is professor of linguistics and English language at BYU. He Douglas M. Chabries, Chair is the author of three books and numerous articles on linguistic theory, ana- David R. Seely, Vice-Chair logical modeling, and quantum computing. Since 1988 he has been the John E. Clark editor of the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project. John F. Hall Gary R. Hooper Donald W. Parry Daniel C. Peterson Royal Skousen Noel B. Reynolds Michael D. Rhodes Stephen D. Ricks John S. Tanner received his Ph.D. from the University of California at Andrew C. Skinner Berkeley. He is currently chair of the English department at BYU, where as John W. Welch a professor he specializes in Milton, Renaissance literature, and religious approaches to literature. His hymn on fasting appears in the LDS hymnal. Alison V. P. Coutts Don L. Brugger John S. Tanner Angela D. Clyde-Barrionuevo Paula W. Hicken Andrew C. Skinner is dean of Religious Education at BYU. A graduate of Jacob L. Rawlins the University of Colorado, he received his advanced degrees at Iliff School Shirley S. Ricks of Theology, Harvard University, and the University of Denver. Brent C. Hall © 2002 by the Foundation for Ancient Research Andrew C. Skinner and Mormon Studies. All rights reserved. Journal of Book of Mormon Studies Warren P. Aston is a researcher and author whose explorations in Yemen (ISSN 1065–9366) is a semiannual publication. and Oman since 1984 have helped lay the groundwork for increased under- Second-class postage paid at Provo, Utah. standing of the area where Lehi’s party traveled through the wilderness and Subscription is a benefit of membership in built their ship. His book, In the Footsteps of Lehi (with Michaela Knoth FARMS. Back issues can be viewed on the Internet at farms.byu.edu and may be pur- Aston), was published by Deseret Book in 1994. chased from the FARMS office. Warren P. Aston Cynthia L. Hallen is associate professor of linguistics and adjunct associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU. She specializes in the fields of lexicog- raphy, exegesis, and philology. Cynthia L. Hallen THE EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK When I offered in 1998 to take up editorship of Special thanks go to our designer, Bjorn Pendle- the Journal, it was with two provisos. First, that a ton. He has made silk purses from the sows’ ears we very different approach be taken to the format and have sometimes given him. Without his inspired contents of the valuable but underused and under- creativity, our hopes of appealing to lay readers appreciated journal as it had been built up by would have been frustrated. Michael Lyon has also Stephen Ricks and associates. And second, that I been valuable in helping identify appropriate visual would serve for a limited number of years—and materials. only if I could have the help of two proven friends We thank the members of the Editorial Advisory and scholars, Kent Brown and Jerry Bradford, to Board as well as our technical supervisors, especially hold up my hands when I tired. Mel Thorne, Alison Coutts, and Don Brugger, and Now the time has come to turn the responsibility their staff for their efforts to make up for our defi- over to new people. All of us at FARMS feel fortunate ciencies. The FARMS officers and board have sup- that Kent Brown has agreed to don the mantle of ported us at every point, and we thank them. editor. He has chosen a new set of associate editors Looking back over our combined effort, we take who promise to assist him as Kent himself has aided considerable satisfaction in the fact that such a minu- me. On the next two pages he introduces his new scule staff and limited budget have been able to do helpers. so much. While we have fallen behind our optimal We feel we have made a good start on our objec- publication schedule (not particularly due to our tives, although, of course, we have not accomplished failures), the lessons we have learned may aid the all that we hoped for. We especially wanted to pub- incoming editors in doing better in the future. lish articles that would continue to give readers real Has it been worth doing? Yes indeed. The Book substance about current scholarly research concerning of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is of the Book of Mormon.