Patheos Featured Writers

Ben Spackman
Managing Editor, Mormon Portal
Before receiving his BA in Near Eastern Studies from BYU in 2001, Ben Spackman spent a semester in Jerusalem, where he studied Judaism, Islam, and Christianity . He received a MA and did further work towards a PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago, focusing on philology and Semitic languages such as Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic. During his graduate summers, he taught New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Biblical Hebrew at BYU. He has taught various courses in a volunteer capacity for the LDS Church Education System since 2003. Ben has lived in Canada, Minnesota, Utah, Jerusalem, Chicago, France, and Brooklyn.
Works by Ben Spackman
Theological Twinkies and our Spiritual Diet
Ben Spackman | August 12, 2019
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Covenant and law, grace, works, and faith.
Ben Spackman | July 30, 2019
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News!
Ben Spackman | June 13, 2019
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On Hiatus until June
Ben Spackman | March 10, 2019
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News and updates!
Ben Spackman | January 30, 2019
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A Sacrament Meeting Sermon on Forgiveness
Ben Spackman | January 28, 2019
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 3: Luke 2, Matthew 2
Ben Spackman | January 19, 2019
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New Testament Gospel Doctrine Resources, Part 3:...
Ben Spackman | December 29, 2018
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A Reminiscence on a Missionary Christmas
Ben Spackman | December 25, 2018
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Reformation Readings for Reformation Day (Oct 31)
Ben Spackman | October 30, 2018
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"You either believe the scriptures or you don't"
Ben Spackman | October 27, 2018
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The Future Faith of Our Seminary Students
Ben Spackman | October 01, 2018
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Old Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 36: Isaiah 1-6
Ben Spackman | September 09, 2018
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Gearing Up For Isaiah
Ben Spackman | September 06, 2018
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Genesis and Evolution: A BYU Guest Lecture
Ben Spackman | September 03, 2018
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Old Testament Gospel Doctrine lesson 34: Hosea
Ben Spackman | August 15, 2018
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Some quick and short book notes
Ben Spackman | August 10, 2018
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A second blog update, and podcast
Ben Spackman | June 29, 2018
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News and blog updates!
Ben Spackman | May 13, 2018
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15: Numbers 11-14, 21
Ben Spackman | May 05, 2018
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What Prophets Know: A Short Follow-up
Ben Spackman | May 04, 2018
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 14- Exodus 15-20, 32-34.
Ben Spackman | April 07, 2018
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Fourth Sunday Lessons: Some Thoughts and Resources
Ben Spackman | February 07, 2018
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Genesis 2-3, a New Kinda "Translation"
Ben Spackman | January 18, 2018
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The Non-Clickbait Follow-up on Genesis 1
Ben Spackman | January 09, 2018
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Old Testament Resources Part 4: History and Culture
Ben Spackman | December 27, 2017
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A Christmas Plug
Ben Spackman | December 21, 2017
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Old Testament Resources Part 3: Paradigm Changers...
Ben Spackman | December 07, 2017
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Fireside books and references
Ben Spackman | October 25, 2017
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Evolution and the Fall
Ben Spackman | August 28, 2017
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On Elder Hamula
Ben Spackman | August 13, 2017
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FairMormon, Some Papers, and Books
Ben Spackman | August 04, 2017
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Announcement: MI Seminar Conference on Thursday
Ben Spackman | August 02, 2017
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Kenton Sparks on Genre
Ben Spackman | July 30, 2017
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Podcast post
Ben Spackman | July 19, 2017
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Listening to History, Science, and Evolution
Ben Spackman | July 01, 2017
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10 Things for Understanding the Old Testament
Ben Spackman | May 21, 2017
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May 4th is Not Just Star Wars Day...
Ben Spackman | May 04, 2017
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Carpe Diem: Two Book Sales
Ben Spackman | April 09, 2017
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Free Book! and It's a Good One!
Ben Spackman | April 01, 2017
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A Bit of News
Ben Spackman | March 23, 2017
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My Contribution to the SMPT Conference at Claremont
Ben Spackman | February 22, 2017
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The Complexities of History in The Ensign
Ben Spackman | February 16, 2017
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How to Use Greek and Hebrew: New and Improved
Ben Spackman | February 11, 2017
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Transitional Mormonism and Tradition: Part 1
Ben Spackman | February 01, 2017
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Mormon Said It, I Believe It, That Settles It?
Ben Spackman | January 12, 2017
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The Blog in the Coming Year and D&C
Ben Spackman | December 27, 2016
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Santa Claus is Canaanite! Really.
Ben Spackman | December 21, 2016
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New/Forthcoming books of Interest
Ben Spackman | December 01, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 45-46: Ether
Ben Spackman | November 27, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 43-44: Mormon 1-9
Ben Spackman | November 26, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42: 4 Nephi
Ben Spackman | November 12, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 41: 3Ne 22-26
Ben Spackman | November 06, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 39: 3Ne 17-19
Ben Spackman | October 27, 2016
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An update and book preview
Ben Spackman | October 16, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 38: 3Nephi 12-15
Ben Spackman | October 08, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 37: 3Ne 8-10
Ben Spackman | September 25, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 36: 3 Nephi1-7
Ben Spackman | September 25, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 35: Helaman 13-16
Ben Spackman | September 17, 2016
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Brigham Young, Studying Evil, and Living in a Bubble
Ben Spackman | September 12, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 34: Helaman 6-12
Ben Spackman | September 11, 2016
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Books, Homes, and Al-Jahiz
Ben Spackman | September 09, 2016
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David O. McKay, Genesis, and Evolution: Part 2.
Ben Spackman | August 03, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 28: Alma 32-34
Ben Spackman | July 24, 2016
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A Testimony Meeting Experiment
Ben Spackman | July 17, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 27: Alma 30-31
Ben Spackman | July 17, 2016
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New Testament Conference Announcement
Ben Spackman | July 13, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 26: Alma 23-29
Ben Spackman | July 10, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 24: Alma 13-16
Ben Spackman | July 03, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 23: Alma 8-12
Ben Spackman | July 02, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22: Alma 5-7
Ben Spackman | June 25, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 19: Mosiah 18-24
Ben Spackman | May 22, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 18: Mosiah 12-17
Ben Spackman | May 15, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 17: Mosiah 7-11
Ben Spackman | May 08, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 16: Mosiah 4-6
Ben Spackman | April 30, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15: Mosiah 1-3
Ben Spackman | April 24, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 13: Jacob 5-7
Ben Spackman | March 27, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 12: Jacob 1-4
Ben Spackman | March 19, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 11: 2Ne 31-33
Ben Spackman | March 19, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 10: 2Ne 26-30
Ben Spackman | March 13, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 9: 2Ne 11-25
Ben Spackman | March 06, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 8: 2Ne 6-10
Ben Spackman | February 20, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 7: 2 Nephi 3-5
Ben Spackman | February 14, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 6: 2 Nephi 1-2
Ben Spackman | February 05, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 5: 1 Nephi 16-18
Ben Spackman | January 31, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 4: 1 Nephi 13-14
Ben Spackman | January 23, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 3: 1 Nephi 8-12, 15
Ben Spackman | January 16, 2016
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BoM Gospel Doctrine Lesson 2: 1 Nephi 1-7
Ben Spackman | January 03, 2016
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44: 1-3 John
Ben Spackman | December 06, 2015
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42- James (updated)
Ben Spackman | November 08, 2015
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 41- 1&2 Timothy, Titus
Ben Spackman | November 08, 2015
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 39: Ephesians (updated)
Ben Spackman | October 25, 2015
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 38: Acts 21-28
Ben Spackman | October 22, 2015
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SMPT Conference at BYU: Alma 32
Ben Spackman | October 10, 2015
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New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 37: Hebrews
Ben Spackman | September 27, 2015
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New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 36: Romans
Ben Spackman | September 19, 2015
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New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 29: Acts 6-9
Ben Spackman | August 07, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 13: Matthew 14:21-17:9
Ben Spackman | April 19, 2015
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How I Taught Lesson 12
Ben Spackman | March 27, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 12: John 5-6
Ben Spackman | March 22, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 9: Matthew 6-7
Ben Spackman | February 28, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 8: Matthew 5
Ben Spackman | February 20, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 7: Mark 2:1-12
Ben Spackman | February 14, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 6:
Ben Spackman | February 08, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 5: John 3-4
Ben Spackman | January 31, 2015
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NT Gospel Doctrine Lesson 2: Matthew 1, Luke 1
Ben Spackman | January 11, 2015
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 46: Daniel 2
Ben Spackman | December 13, 2014
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Recommended NT Resources Part 3
Ben Spackman | November 28, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44: Ezekiel 43, 44, 47
Ben Spackman | November 26, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 40- Isaiah 54-56, 63-65
Ben Spackman | November 01, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 32- Job
Ben Spackman | August 23, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine lesson 29- 2 Kings 2, 5-6
Ben Spackman | July 31, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 28- 1 Kings 17-19
Ben Spackman | July 26, 2014
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The State of the Blog: A Quasi-Important Post
Ben Spackman | July 16, 2014
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A Song and a Psalm for the Sabbath: Psalm 51
Ben Spackman | June 20, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 22: 1 Samuel 9-17
Ben Spackman | June 07, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine 17: Deuteronomy
Ben Spackman | May 04, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lessons 14, 15: Podcasts!
Ben Spackman | April 18, 2014
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Gospel Doctrine Lesson 12: Genesis 40- the end
Ben Spackman | March 21, 2014
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A Follow-Up to Abraham and Isaac
Ben Spackman | March 06, 2014
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Quick Follow-up to Lesson 6 and the Flood
Ben Spackman | February 09, 2014
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Email Subscription Option and Various
Ben Spackman | January 20, 2014
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Welcome and Intro!
Ben Spackman | January 08, 2014
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Ben Spackman | January 01, 2010
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Ben Spackman | January 01, 2010
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