D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42: Some important background and resources on OD2

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:55 am By Ben Spackman

This, I think, is important enough for a post. Lesson 42 on Continuing Revelation highlights Official Declaration #2, the written aftermath of the 1978 revelation. So whether you’re teaching or commenting, you should get informed, because there’s a lot of misinformation and tradition out there. First, get familiar with the Gospel Topics Essay called Race and the Priesthood. If you’re a teacher, Elder Ballard thinks you ought to know this material “like the back of your hand” and “If you have questions about them,... Read more

Fireside books and references

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:55 am By Ben Spackman

These are books/authors I quote or allude to in the slides of my fireside/Sperry Symposium presentation. The actual paper has many more references, of course. I’ll be posting it in entirety, first in chunks as posts, and then as a complete pdf file. What is listed below will also overlap with my Recommended Resource for the Old Testament posts, coming in November. Becoming “Competent Readers,” Learning the “Rules of the Game,” Reading with Ancient Eyes Richards/O’Brian, Misreading the Bible with Western Eyes: Removing... Read more

“Reading the Old Testament in Context” Fireside in San Antonio Tx, Nov 11

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:56 am By Ben Spackman

My Oct. 8 fireside in Claremont will be repeated in San Antonio, Tx on Saturday November 11 at 6pm, in the chapel at 6240 UTSA Blvd, San Antonio, 78249. It’s on “Reading the Old Testament in Context” and is a version of my Sperry Symposium presentation which will be in Provo, October 28. The firesides and presentation are an adapted form of the 25-page paper I submitted for Sperry, so the paper has some things the presentations won’t and vice-versa. I’ve decided... Read more

Repeat of “Reading the Old Testament in Context” Fireside, in Rochester MN

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:56 am By Ben Spackman

My Oct. 8 fireside in Claremont will be repeated in Rochester MN on October 22. (Flyer) It’s on “Reading the Old Testament in Context” and is a version of my Sperry Symposium presentation which will be in Provo, October 28. The firesides and presentation are an adapted form of the 25-page paper I submitted for Sperry, so the paper has some things the presentations won’t and vice-versa. So I’ve decided to take that paper, and will just post it in sections here... Read more

Fireside Oct. 8 on Reading the Old Testament in Context

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:56 am By Ben Spackman

If you live in the Los Angeles area, I’ll be giving a fireside on October 8, entitled “Reading the Old Testament in Context.” Flyer (PDF). As you might guess, this presentation is oriented more towards understanding the Old Testament, reading it like an Israelite or a Hebrew scholar, than devotional or personal application readings of the Old Testament. Those aren’t entirely separate categories, but I assume most Mormons are experienced in the latter and not so much in the former. I will... Read more

Evolution and the Fall

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:56 am By Ben Spackman

I received a trio of books recently, so I’m providing some brief thoughts on what I’ve read so far. First, Evolution and the Fall is an anthology of essays edited by William Cavanaugh and James Smith. The latter was featured on the MI Podcast talking about secularism and his book How Not to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor. Of course, I had just submitted the final version of an article on the nature and translation of Adam in Genesis 2-3 (my paper from the... Read more

On Elder Hamula

Last updated on: August 17, 2017 at 10:02 am By Ben Spackman

You have likely heard that a member of the 70 was recently released and excommunicated. Elder Hamula was the mission president of a member of the bishopric who spoke in the ward I visited today. He reminded me of two things. First, I have sometimes wryly remarked that perhaps Mormons would be less inclined to put Church leaders on high pedestals if they fell from them more often, since the last Apostle excommunicated was Elder Richard R. Lyman in 1943.... Read more

FairMormon, Some Papers, and Books

Last updated on: March 9, 2018 at 1:16 pm By Ben Spackman

My FairMormon presentation reiterated parts of two previous papers I have presented. That text should be online soon (as I understand.) Below I offer the very rough presentation text from the two previous papers. The society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology paper, with lots of my raw material. LINK. My MSH paper,”Science, Scripture, And Secularism: Rethinking some Inherited Assumptions.” LINK Below are some books I would recommend. (These are, of course, not LDS, not approved by the Church, I have some disagreements,... Read more

Announcement: MI Seminar Conference on Thursday

Last updated on: August 3, 2017 at 11:14 am By Ben Spackman

The Maxwell Institute Seminar draws to an end with a public conference this Thursday. I’ll be speaking at 9:40 on Mormonism as Rough Stone Rolling: Towards a Theology of Encountering the World. The full schedule is below. “Mormonism Engages the World” Thursday, August 3 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM MST Brigham Young University Joseph F. Smith Building Education in Zion Theater Co-sponsored by the Mormon Scholars Foundation and the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship MORNING SESSION 9:30 AM Welcome and... Read more

Kenton Sparks on Genre

Last updated on: April 5, 2018 at 11:56 am By Ben Spackman

In the LDS Perspectives podcast, I alluded to this passage from Kenton Sparks’ section in Genesis: History, Fiction, or Neither?: Three Views on the Bible’s Earliest Chapters. I think he captures very concisely and clearly the nature of genre; A genre is a pattern, established by identifying the characteristics it has in common with other similar things. This is why it’s so important to study ancient Near Eastern literature outside the Bible. By putting the Bible in conversation with texts from roughly the same time and... Read more