Abstract: The curse of the serpent in Genesis 3:15 is presented as an archetype for the battle between good and evil. An ancient Hebrew literary form that ties together multiple stories through a common set of images, situations, repeated words, and phrases, is termed a leitmotif. A biblical leitmotif based on the curse of the serpent in Genesis 3 and the curse of Cain in Genesis 4 is found throughout both the Old and New Testaments and is referred to as the seed of the serpent leitmotif....

This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 43 covering 3 Nephi 27 and 4 Nephi, we have lectures 101 through 104 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 3 Nephi 19 through Mormon 2. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were made of the lectures. We believe these recordings will be interesting to...

  In the September 29th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Martin Tanner and Mark Johnson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 43: “There Could Not Be a Happier People” covering 3 Nephi 27-30 and 4 Nephi. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the September 29 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The other segments of the...

Abstract: In preparing the next generation, it really is helpful when parents don’t stand alone and they have the help of others outside the family. This is one of the reasons why the seemingly growing gulf between gospel values and the values of the societies around us is such a cause for concern: “The truths and values we embrace are mocked on ev’ry hand.”1 All of us have benefited from innumerable influences—from teachers in and out of the Church, from writers, from youth leaders, from...

  In the September 22nd Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Steve Densley and John Thompson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 42, “Ye Are the Children of the Covenant” covering 3 Nephi 20-26. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the September 22 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The other segments of the September 22 radio...

Abstract: Centuries-long speculation continues regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of the Savior. Over the past century, the Savior’s tribulations between the Last Supper and his death on the cross have been scrupulously examined from a medical viewpoint. In this article I review many of these studies and, using current medical acumen, propose additional inferences and explanations based on scriptural, medical, and historical accounts. The evidence suggests that at some point...

This week for Come, Follow Me lesson 41 covering 3 Nephi 17-19, we have lectures 85, 95, 96, 100, and 101 from Hugh Nibley’s Book of Mormon classes at Brigham Young University, covering 3 Nephi 16-27 and 4 Nephi 1. These are the last class in semester 3 and four classes from semester 4. During 1988, 1989, and 1990, Hugh Nibley taught Honors Book of Mormon classes for four semesters at Brigham Young University. The lectures were video-taped and audio cassettes and printed transcripts were...

  In the September 15th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson with special guest Dan Peterson discuss Book of Mormon lesson 41, “Behold, My Joy Is Full” covering 3 Nephi 17-19. You can listen to or download the Book of Mormon in Context segment of the September 15 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The other segments of...

  In the September 22, 2024 episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Steve Densley and John Thompson with special guest Godfrey Ellis. They discuss Godfrey’s new article in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and Come, Follow Me Book of Mormon lesson 42. You can listen to or download the September 22nd broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed...

Abstract: Many Latter-day Saint scholars recognize that an excellent candidate for Nephi’s Bountiful is found at the inlet Khor Kharfot in southern Oman at the end of the lengthy Wadi Sayq. Many researchers have reasonably assumed that Lehi’s eastward travel from Nahom must have led to Wadi Sayq, which then leads directly to Khor Kharfot. However, there is a second route, through Wadi Kharfot, that leads to Khor Kharfot, joining Wadi Sayq near the inlet. Although almost unknown, this second...

Abstract: Beginning with Hugh Nibley, several Latter-day Saint scholars have highlighted a deed found among the Bar Kokhba documents as evidence of the name Alma as a Jewish male name in antiquity. Here we highlight a second attestation of the same name used for a Jewish male from a slightly earlier period, as well as other evidence from Hebrew toponymy that helps corroborate not only that Alma is a Hebrew name, but also supports the etymology proposed by Latter-day Saint scholars and is...