The Isles of the Sea

Heretic Movie Review (Josh Thompson) @ Gospel Tangents
  -  Was the movie “Heretic” with sister missionaries & Hugh Grant a good...

Come Follow Me 2025: Doctrine and Covenants Resources @ From the Desk
  -  Enhance your study of Restoration scripture with these academic and devotional...

LDS, CoC, & Bickertonite General Conference (Josh Gehly 6 of 6) @ Gospel Tangents
  -  What’s the Difference between LDS, CoC, & Bickertonite General Conferences? Is...

Debunking Polygamy Skeptics Claims (Re-broadcast Mark Tensmeyer) @ Gospel Tangents
  -  This is a rebroadcast of our 2022 interview with attorney & independent historian...

Do Book of Mormon Names Have Ancient Origins? @ From the Desk
  -  This dictionary provides evidence for names in the Book of Mormon as being ancient in...

Adam Miller: The Christ Child @ From the Desk
  -  Christ became a child to save me. But to be saved by Christ, I too must become a child...

The King Follett Sermon: A Biography; The Appendices @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  With my book, The King Follett Sermon: A Biography (BCC Press, 2023)...

Did Herod the Great Claim to Be the Messiah? @ From the Desk
  -  Some ancient Jews accepted Herod as the Messiah. The post Did Herod the Great Claim to...

Margaret Barker: Why Do Latter-day Saints Like Her So Much? @ From the Desk
  -  It is the breadth of direct relevance and elaborate convergence with Latter-day Saint...

What Did Moroni Teach About the Sacrament? @ From the Desk
  -  The ordinances are a staging ground for the personal transformation to which his book...

Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals @ Gospel Tangents
  -  Have you studied, Joseph Smith’s plural marriage proposals? Dr Christopher Smith...

Is This a Photo of Joseph Smith? @ From the Desk
  -  Some historians say yes. Others want more evidence. The post Is This a Photo of Joseph...

President Nelson Repentance Quotes @ From the Desk
  -  President Nelson has emphasized the need for daily repentance, the role of the Atonement...

Who Was Fanny Alger? @ From the Desk
  -  New research suggests that the relationship between Joseph and Fanny may have begun as a...

989: New Interpretation for Fanny Alger “Affair/Scrape” (Chris Smith 1 of 2) @ Gospel Tangents
  -  Was Joseph Smith’s sealing to Fanny Alger and adoptive, rather than marriage...

N. T. Wright on the New Testament in Its World @ From the Desk
  -  Jesus didn't go around saying, 'never mind putting this world right, what you need is to...

On Gerrit de Jong Jr.’s “An Approach to Modernity in Art” @ A Motley Vision
  -  William takes a look at a 1959 essay by Gerrit de Jong Jr. on modernity in art in...

Mormon Literaturstreit Echoes: Richard D. Rust @ A Motley Vision
  -  Although in my view the Mormon Literaturstreit ends with Michael Austin’s entry, there...

Mormon Literaturstreit: Michael Austin asks “Why not the Mormons?” @ A Motley Vision
  -  William discusses Michael Austin's attempt to put forth a vision of Mormon literary...

Mormon Literaturstreit: Gideon Burton argues for both rootedness and openness @ A Motley Vision
  -  As the previous entry in this series discusses, by dividing approaches to Mormon...

Mormon Literaturstreit: Richard Cracroft fires back against the “Sophic Tide” @ A Motley Vision
  -  Richard Cracroft rejects on binary only to invoke another in order to stem the "Sophic...

Mormon Literaturstreit: Bruce Jorgensen responds to Richard Cracroft @ A Motley Vision
  -  Bruce Jorgensen responds to Richard Cracroft's review of the Harvest Mormon poetry...

Mormon Literaturstreit: Richard Cracroft’s review of Harvest @ A Motley Vision
  -  How Richard Cracroft's review of Harvest: Contemporary Mormon Poems sparked the Mormon...

Mormon Literaturstreit: A Brief Introduction @ A Motley Vision
  -  William Morris provides an overview of the Mormon Literaturstreit of the early 1990s.

Help me collect resources on Mormon aesthetics @ A Motley Vision
  -  William Morris discusses his interest in attempts to describe/define Mormon aesthetics...

Sign up for the AMV monthly-ish newsletter + a less dormant blog @ A Motley Vision
  -  A special announcement for those using RSS readers or receiving posts by email or just...

How Joseph Smith’s Preaching Remained in Evidence @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  Joseph Smith’s preaching largely disappeared after it was spoken. His preaching was...

The King Follett Sermon (New Book) @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  I recently published a new volume in the sermon project, The King Follett Sermon: A...

Come, Follow Me Week 7 – Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Abraham 1:1–19 God will bless me for my faith and righteous desires. by Jennifer...

Come, Follow Me Thoughts to Keep in Mind – The Covenant @ FAIR Blog
  -   The Abrahamic Covenant, Its Influence on Scriptures, and What that Has to Do with...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 47 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 47: CES Letter Witnesses Questions [Section C] By Sarah Allen   Last week,...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 46 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 46: CES Letter Witnesses Questions [Section B] By Sarah Allen   Today and...

FAIR Conference Podcast #77 – Jennifer Ann Mackley, “Discovering Church History: The Wilford Woodruff Papers Project” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 6 – Genesis 6–11; Moses 8 @ FAIR Blog
  -   [Reprinted with permission from The Interpreter Foundation] by Taylor...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 45 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 45: CES Letter Witnesses Questions [Section A] By Sarah Allen   When I sat...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 44 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 44: CES Letter Priesthood Restoration Questions [Section B] By Sarah...

FAIR Conference Podcast #76 – Jeff Bradshaw, “Since Hugh Nibley: Remarkable New Findings on Enoch and the Gathering of Zion” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 5 – Moses 7 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Faith and Evidence in the Witness of Ancient Texts for the Book of Moses Enoch Story by...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 43 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 43: CES Letter Priesthood Restoration Questions [Section A] By Sarah...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 42 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 42: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section F] By Sarah...

What weapon was Joseph Smith using to shoot John Taylor? – Review of the recent film, “Who Killed Joseph Smith?” @ FAIR Blog
  -   by Craig L. Foster Recently a movie titled, “Who Killed Joseph Smith?” premiered...

FAIR Conference Podcast #75 – John Gee, “Lessons on Doing Apologetics” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 4 – Genesis 5; Moses 6 @ FAIR Blog
  -   Taught in All the Ways of God: Teaching as the Theme of Moses 6 by Matthew L....

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 41 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 41: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section E] By Sarah...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 40 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 40: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section D] By Sarah...

FAIR Conference Podcast #74 – Jenny Reeder, “First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 3 – Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5 @ FAIR Blog
  -   The Two Trees by V.H. Cassler (This is from a presentation given at the 2010 FAIR...

Come, Follow Me Week 2 – Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5 @ FAIR Blog
  -  God Sanctified and Blessed the Sabbath Day by Jennifer Roach Genesis 2:2-3: 2 By...

FAIR Conference Podcast #73 – Ben Spackman, “Through a Glass, Less Darkly: The 20th Century History of Genesis and Evolution” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 1 – Moses 1; Abraham 3 @ FAIR Blog
  -  How did we get the books of Moses and Abraham? The Come, Follow Me manual poses this...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 39 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 39: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section C] by Sarah...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 38 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 38: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section B] by Sarah...

FAIR Conference Podcast #72 – Dan Peterson, “The Book of Mormon Witnesses: Sincerity and Reality” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 37 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 37: CES Letter Testimony/Spiritual Witness Questions [Section A] by Sarah...

Rethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture @ FAIR Blog
  -  Available in the FAIR Bookstore by Michael R. Ash Those who have read any of my...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 36 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 36: CES Letter Kinderhook Plates/Translation Claims Questions by Sarah...

FAIR Conference Podcast #71 – Rebekah Clark, “The Gospel of Equal Rights”: Latter-day Saint Suffragists, 1870-1920 @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 35 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 35: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section I] by Sarah Allen   Jeremy’s...

Come, Follow Me Week 51 – The Family: A Proclamation to the World @ FAIR Blog
  -  The Proclamation Is a Light Against Sophistry by Cassandra Hedelius In September...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 34 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 34: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section H] by Sarah Allen   I am what some...

FAIR Conference Podcast #70 – Stephen Smoot, “Abraham and the Stranger at Sodom and Gomorrah: Reading the Bible and Navigating LGBT Identity” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Book Review: “In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks” @ FAIR Blog
  -  Available from the FAIR Bookstore This biography of Dallin H. Oaks was written by...

Inspiration, Intellect, and Rethinking Revelation @ FAIR Blog
  -  by Michael R. Ash for FAIR Newsletter 2021 1211 Inspiration and Intellect are two...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 33 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 33: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section G] by Sarah Allen   We’re...

Come, Follow Me Week 50 – Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 & 2 @ FAIR Blog
  -  We Believe All that God Has Revealed by Cassandra Hedelius On social media and other...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 32 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 32: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section F] by Sarah Allen   Last week, we...

FAIR Conference Podcast #69 – Brian Hales, “Mind the Gap” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 31 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 31: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section E] by Sarah Allen   Today and next...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 30 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 30: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section D] by Sarah Allen   This week...

FAIR Conference Podcast #68 – Keith A. Erekson, “Real Vs. Rumor” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 49 – Doctrine and Covenants 137-138 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God by David W. Smith Many people today misunderstand...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 29 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 29: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section C] by Sarah Allen   Today, we’re...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 28 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 28: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section B] by Sarah Allen   Last week, I...

FAIR Conference Podcast #67 – Brittany Chapman Nash, “Let’s Talk About Polygamy” @ FAIR Blog
  -  This podcast series features past FAIR Conference presentations. This presentation is...

Come, Follow Me Week 48 – Doctrine and Covenants 135-136 @ FAIR Blog
  -  By René Krywult A view of the bedroom in Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 27 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 27: CES Letter Prophet Questions [Section A] by Sarah Allen   In this...

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 26 @ FAIR Blog
  -  Part 26: CES Letter Polygamy & Polyandry Questions [Section G] by Sarah...

“Ask the Egyptologist” Virtual Fireside for Sustaining Members on Dec. 1 @ FAIR Blog
  -  The Book of Abraham is an incredible book that contains many truths about the gospel. But...

New Content at Joseph Smith Papers @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  The JSP has announced some new content at their web site. All annotation for Documents...

Conference Notice: John Whitmer Historical Association 2019 Annual Conference @ BOAP.org Blog
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Kindle Version of Textual Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants for cheap @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  If you purchased your hard copy of Textual Studies of the Doctrine and Covenants: The...

Job Announcement: Civil War Governors of Kentucky Digital Documentary Edition, Editorial Assistant @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  Editorial Assistant Vacancy — Closes Feb. 8, 2019 The Kentucky Historical Society (KHS)...

Job Announcement: Associate Editor, Publications Department, Massachusetts Historical Society @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  The Massachusetts Historical Society seeks a full-time Associate Editor to work in its...

Here it is: Greg Kofford Ebook Sale. Plural Marriage Revelation Book @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  TSDC:PMR ebook along with ALL 2018 Kofford ebook titles is on sale until the end of the...

The Church History Library Goes Viral! @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  See for yourself.

Job Announcement: Einstein Papers @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  The Einstein Papers Project is engaged in one of the most ambitious scholarly publishing...

Book sale. 30% off. @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  I know you’ve all be waiting to buy my book on D&C 132 because you believe...

New Joseph Smith Papers Bulletin @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  Latest from the Joseph Smith Papers here:...

Book of Abraham Manuscripts. Revelations and Translations Vol. 4 of the Joseph Smith Papers on the shelf. @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  [Cross-posted at By Common Consent] A permanent identical “I” is a...

A Short History of D&C 132 @ BOAP.org Blog
  -  I composed this short reception/textual history of D&C 132 when my book Textual...

Featherston Family, Erstwhile Emigrants @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  One of the frustrating things about tracking emigrating members is the increasing...

John & Rebecca Denton: Repeated Returnees @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -   John & Rebecca Denton Family: Back - L to R: Ezekiel, Robert, Sam, Alma From - L to...

Katherine Alexander and Her Return from Gathering @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  There were a number of people who joined the LDS Church that decided to go west....

The Returnees: A Project to Identify Why Some Converts Wanted to Return Home @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  Sometimes when a convert moves west to join the saints, something changes their mind and...

Middle Tennessee Baptismal Record - Lessons Learned @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  Nestled in the family search catalog is something called the Record of Members. It is a...

Baptisms in 1918 by County @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -   It may not look like a lot, but baptisms in Tennessee were picking up. Yes, there was...

Alfred Douglas Young - Part 5 Leaving Tennessee @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  [This is a continuation of the Autobiography of Alfred Douglas Young, quoted and...

Alfred Douglas Young - Part 4 Seeds of Misunderstanding @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  [This is a continuation of the Autobiography of Alfred Douglas Young, quoted and...

Alfred Douglas Young - Part 3 Raised from the Dead @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  [This is a continuation of the Autobiography of Alfred Douglas Young, summarized from his...

Alfred Douglas Young - Part 2 Evil Spirits @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  [This is a continuation of the Autobiography of Alfred Douglas Young. Written from his...

Alfred Douglas Young - Part 1 Conversion @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -   [This is an excerpt from the Autobiography of Alfred Douglas Young. Written from his...

George W Brandon writes a Letter. @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -   On July 6, 1842, George wrote the following letter in Nauvoo. George was an early...

Names You Can't Read: The Badam Family @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  I can't say I found the Badam family. As far as the Church is concerned, that happened...

The Lost Records of Mary E Dukes @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  While transcribing an old baptismal record I happened across a cryptic entry...

Slate Springs Tennessee Chapel @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  I won't go into a full history of the Slate Springs branch here, but I came across some...

Speedwell Chapel @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  Speedwell Tennessee entered Mormon history in 1908 with the baptism of Josiah &...

Short Creek Chapel @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  Short Creek is a unassuming place along the east side of the Tennessee river in south...

News from Tennessee Conferences 19 Jun 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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News from Tennessee Conferences 12 Jun 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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Nashville Chapel circa 1959 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  In 1959 the Nashville branch of the LDS Church met in this building. For those who know...

A Place for the Un-Gathered: The Home of Abraham and Mary Church of Hickman County Tennessee @ Amateur Mormon Historian
  -  [Below is an abridged version of my presentation at the 2017 Mormon History Association...

News from Tennessee Conferences 29 May 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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News from Tennessee Conferences 22 May 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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News from Tennessee Conferences 15 May 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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News from Tennessee Conferences 1 May 1917 @ Amateur Mormon Historian
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