***   In this space the other day, I mentioned the death of Professor David C. Montgomery, a former teacher of mine.  I share, now, his obituary; the photograph that accompanies it is much closer to the way I remember Dr. Montgomery as my intimidating tutor in Turkish and as the teacher who introduced me to the utterly unfamiliar but fascinatingly exotic world of pre-modern Central Asia:   David Christopher Montgomery   ***   Some of you are… Read more

    ***   This short article went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation earlier today:   Book of Moses Essays #66: Moses Witnesses the Fall: (Moses 4): The Challenges and Blessings of Celestial Marriage (Moses 4:22–26)   And here’s an advance look at a little four-minute spot that will run perhaps as many as three times during this next week’s 2021 FAIR conference.  Thanks. to Tom Pittman for putting it together with little time, and to Kristine… Read more

    ***   As I say, I’ve fallen a bit behind on my blogging.  The fourth installment of Kyler Rasmussen’s series of Bayesian essays appeared on the website of the Interpreter Foundation on Wednesday:   “Estimating the Evidence Episode 4: On Nephite Genetics”   ***   “Announcing the Interpreter Foundation Ultimate Egypt Tour Lecture Series” The Interpreter Foundation is pleased to announce a new Lecture series in anticipation of The Interpreter Foundation Ultimate Egypt Tour. The first lecture will be… Read more

    ***   [What with recent travels, and recovery from recent travels and catching up after them, and, most importantly, having just returned my computer to Brigham Young University (as is required upon retirement) and bought a new one, I’ve fallen behind on blogging and on many other things.  I will try to make up the deficit over the next few days.  If I can figure out how to make my new computer work.]   A new article went… Read more

    ***   [Yet again, owing to a recurring technical glitch on the part of Patheos, I’ve been unable until just a few minutes ago to post an image to accompany this blog entry.  And, yes, this recurrent problem is beginning to get on my nerves.  I’ve already been thinking for various reasons about lowering the level of my involvement on Patheos, if perhaps not abandoning it altogether.  This issue, over the course of the past month or two,… Read more

    ***   The domestic theatrical run of Witnesses continues to wind down.   I’m happy to report, though, that the movie — which represents the initial portion of the Interpreter Foundation’s overall “Witnesses” film project — will commence screening for the first time at the Avon Theater up in Heber, Utah, later this week.  So, if you live in the area of Heber or Midway or anywhere in or near the Heber Valley, this will be a good… Read more

    I learned today that Robert Ritner, an Egyptologist at the University of Chicago and formerly at Yale University, has died after a lengthy illness.  He had become a popular figure among critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his willingness to criticize faithful Latter-day Saint scholars who defend the Book of Abraham.  I wish him well on the next stage of his journey.  (John Gee, a former student of Professor Ritner’s at Yale, reflects… Read more

    ***   I’m a bit behind in my posting here — travel and obligations will do that to you — but I still want to share with you an item that went up on the website of the Interpreter Foundation on Saturday:   Book of Moses Essays#65: Moses Witnesses the Fall: (Moses 4); A Curse for the Serpent (Moses 4:14–21)   And I also want to share some links to articles from a previous number of Interpreter: A… Read more

    ***   In the wake of my two recent falls — chronicled here and here — several people have responded with suggestions (whether amused or concerned) that I buy and use a walker, that I have myself checked for transitory ischemic strokes, and so forth.  I have not felt such measures necessary, since both falls can be explained simply and adequately as the result of my not paying attention to where I was walking.  I’ve had no episodes… Read more

    ***   A new article, written by Taylor Halverson, appeared just a few minutes ago in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship.  I have very limited time at the current moment, but I can at least find a few minutes to call the article to your attention:   “The Origin and Purpose of the Book of Mormon Phrase “If Ye Keep My Commandments Ye Shall Prosper in the Land”” Abstract: We are told in the Title Page… Read more