![\"The](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2015\/04\/457px-The_Ladder_of_Divine_Ascent.jpg\")
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A new article appeared this afternoon in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>: \u201cWhat Happened to Nephi at the Camp of the Broken Bow? A Book of Mormon Mystery,\u201d<\/a> written by Godfrey J. Ellis<\/a><\/p>\n Abstract: <\/strong>Nephi started as the youngest son of Lehi and Sariah and ended up as the king or king-like leader of the Nephite nation. While he, in some sense, obviously grew into the role over time, there was likely some key time or event when the transition from the leadership guidance of the prophet Lehi transferred to the restrained leadership guidance of his son, Nephi. A low-key leadership style was necessitated by the absolute imperative that the group be held together. This article briefly discusses four possible time frames for that transition but favors the idea that it happened in an area often called \u201cthe Camp of the Broken Bow.\u201d This choice is based on (1) the symbolic meaning of Nephi breaking his bow, (2) the importance of Lehi murmuring \u201cagainst his God,\u201d (3) Nephi\u2019s ascension to the \u201ctop of a mountain,\u201d and (4) the subsequent near disappearance of Lehi from the narrative. These four critical events all occurred at the Camp of the Broken Bow. Evidence appears to suggest that it may have been at that time that there was a replacement of Lehi\u2019s tenure, not as a prophet, but as the recognized leader of the expedition.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n An accompanying article also went up today on the website of the Interpreter Foundation: \u00a0\u201cInterpreting Interpreter: Nephi\u2019s Leadership,\u201d<\/a> written by Kyler Rasmussen<\/a><\/p>\n This post is a summary of the article \u201cWhat Happened to Nephi at the Camp of the Broken Bow? A Book of Mormon Mystery<\/a>\u201d by Godfrey J. Ellis in Volume 63 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>. All of the Interpreting Interpreter<\/em> articles may be seen at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/category\/summaries\/<\/a>. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter<\/em>series is available at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n A video introduction to this Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=U7ZRQPO7QiY<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Takeaway: \u00a0<\/strong>Ellis argues that Nephi\u2019s transition to the logistical leadership of Lehi\u2019s band occurred at the Camp of the Broken Bow, based on the event\u2019s symbolic and practical considerations and the subsequent changes in Lehi and Nephi\u2019s roles.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n The Temple: Symbols, Sermons, and Settings<\/em>: \u201cGroup Ascension to Heaven in the Scriptures and in Early Judaism and Christianity,\u201d<\/a> written by David J. Larsen<\/a><\/p>\n Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Symbols, Sermons, and Settings<\/em>, edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Jeffrey M. Bradshaw. For more information, go to https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/books\/the-temple-symbols-sermons-and-settings\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many accounts in both ancient and modern scripture and other religious writings about individuals that ascend into heaven. We have stories of Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jesus, Paul, and others ascending up through the various levels of heaven into the presence of God. . . . However, a major difference between the ancient stories of individuals journeying to heaven and the experience of modern temple-goers is that modern temple endowments generally involve group settings.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Incidentally, it was his belated discovery of (I think) last week\u2019s installment of our book chapter reprint series \u2014 a series that has been going each and every week for at least two or three years now \u2014 that led one vigilant observer over on the Peterson Obsession Board to report to his associates there with breathless enthusiasm that the obviously failing Interpreter Foundation, finally (as long prophesied) on its last legs, has now been reduced merely to recycling old materials.<\/p>\n What\u2019s really happening, of course, is that, once our book publications have had a reasonably lengthy chance to find their market and more or less recoup their costs, we make their contents available online, at no charge. \u00a0We\u2019re not in this for the money, after all. \u00a0As do those who write for us, we want these books and these articles to reach (and to benefit) as large an audience as they can. \u00a0So it\u2019s always been our intention to, eventually, put all or almost all of what we do online, for free. \u00a0Doing so is not, alas, evidence of our approaching demise.<\/p>\n As I write, there remain only twenty-five shopping days, sixteen shopping hours, sixteen shopping minutes, and twenty-seven shopping seconds until Christmas, Utah time. \u00a0Perhaps you\u2019re already in crisis mode, bereft of ideas for the significant others in your life. \u00a0Do not despair! \u00a0Have you considered the books that the Interpreter Foundation has published? \u00a0They would make excellent gifts for people that you care about. \u00a0Including yourself. \u00a0(They would probably also make excellent gifts for people about whom you don\u2019t<\/em> care. \u00a0But that\u2019s a topic for another day, perhaps.) \u00a0Anyway, take a look at the surprisingly extensive list of our published books<\/a> on the Interpreter Foundation website. \u00a0Perhaps you can take care of your Christmas shopping needs with the gift of a book! \u00a0After all, consider the words of the famous \u201cBelle of Amherst,\u201d Ms. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886):<\/p>\n Which words, being interpreted, suggest that, as the various potential means of travel and transportation go, books are relatively cheap<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/a>
(I have been unable to find copyright information regarding this image of a work by a prominent contemporary LDS artist whom I admire, so, if anybody who holds copyright on it wishes to contact me, that would please me and put my mind at ease.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
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Wikimedia Commons public domain image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n