{"id":110528,"date":"2025-05-30T12:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T18:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=110528"},"modified":"2025-05-30T12:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T18:32:33","slug":"beware-the-chains-of-hell-and-mark-the-dates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2025\/05\/beware-the-chains-of-hell-and-mark-the-dates.html","title":{"rendered":"Beware the chains of hell! And mark the dates!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Teichert's<\/a>
\u201cAlma Baptizes in the Waters of Mormon\u201d by Minerva Teichert (1888-1976)
Wikimedia Commons public domain image<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two new articles have just appeared in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>:<\/p>\n

The first of the two is\u00a0\u201cThe Bands of Death, the Chains of Hell, and the Seed Motif,\u201d<\/a> written by\u00a0Noel Hudson<\/a>,<\/p>\n

Abstract:<\/strong> This article continues a discussion of the imagery, words, and phrases that make up a specific <\/em>leitmotif, called the seed motif. Two instances of the seed motif found in Alma are discussed as a seemingly intentional diptych in which one narrative reflects the other, but in the negative. Five specific examples from the motif are examined in greater detail, with a look at their origin and usage throughout the record. The narrative of Abinadi is presented as a unique iteration of the seed motif wherein the concept of the bands of death is introduced. The paper concludes by discussing the relationship between authorship of the Book of Mormon, the seed motif, and the metaphor of the bands of death and the chains of hell.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The second of the new pair of Interpreter<\/em> articles is Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms<\/em>, Chapter 5, \u201cBook of Mormon Names,\u201d<\/a> written by Matthew Roper<\/a>:<\/p>\n

[Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> We are pleased to present chapter 5 from a book entitled Anachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms. It is presented in serialized form in this volume of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship.<\/em>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

See also these two new summaries from the indefatigable Kyler Rasmussen<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\u201cInterpreting Interpreter<\/em>: Bands, Chains, and Seeds\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

This post is a summary of the article \u201cThe Bands of Death, the Chains of Hell, and the Seed Motif<\/a>\u201d by Noel Hudson in Volume 64 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>.<\/p>\n

A video introduction to this Interpreter article is now available on all of our social media channels, including on YouTube at https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/E2nTCK8o4F8<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Takeaway: <\/strong>Hudson continues to explore the seed motif (i.e., the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman), showing how that theme is detailed in the Book of Mormon, particularly by Alma, using the image of the \u201cchains of hell\u201d or the \u201cbands of death.\u201d That image also appears to be intentionally contrasted in various ways, including by the image of the encircling arms of the love of God.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

\u201cInterpreting Interpreter<\/em>: (Non-)Anachronisms \u2013 Names\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

This post is a summary of the article \u201cAnachronisms: Accidental Evidence in Book of Mormon Criticisms \u2014 Chapter 5: Book of Mormon Names<\/a>\u201d by Matthew Roper in Volume 65 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:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/1-Wyh0HBDlc<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Takeaway: \u00a0<\/strong>Roper continues his examination of claimed Book of Mormon anachronisms, this time looking at 34 names included the text that have drawn criticism over the years. He concludes that 55% of these anachronistic names have received subsequent confirmation, with only 10 names partially confirmed and 5 that have yet to trend toward confirmation (Ether, Jonas, Timothy, Com, and Kim).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter <\/em>series is available at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought\/<\/a>. All of the Interpreting Interpreter<\/em> articles may be seen at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/category\/summaries\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Come<\/a>
Please note the discount code that is mentioned in the upper lefthand quadrant of this meme. The offered discount is intended to reduce the overall cost of enduring my presentation \u2014 emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and financial \u2014 so that it won\u2019t be as punitively high as it would otherwise have been. \u00a0Please note, however, that earplugs will not be provided at the venue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I hope to see you in the Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point on 6-8 August. \u00a0Do you really have any valid reason not to be there? \u00a0Come on. \u00a0It\u2019s only fair. \u00a0If I have to listen to myself, there\u2019s no good justification for your<\/em> being exempt from the obligation.<\/p>\n

\"lawn<\/a>
This photograph of the Fairview Texas Temple, taken in 2045 \u2014 having recently seen \u201cBack to the Future,\u201d I\u2019ve added time travel to my toolkit \u2014 shows part of the final solution (the \u201cEndl\u00f6sung,\u201d as it were) to the problem posed by the temple. In this view, the temple is situated fifty feet below the surface of the grassy building site. The entrance tunnel for the temple opens discreetly on the opposite side of Stacy Road, in the much more welcoming town of Allen, Texas. (Wikimedia Commons public domain photo). For background, see \u201cFairview residents challenge temple approval vote, claim protests were \u2018diluted,\u2019 attorney says: Fairview approved a temple plan by a 5-2 vote, but scrutiny has arisen over procedural protest zone issues.\u201d<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n
I received the following just this morning. \u00a0I think that some of you may be interested in it:<\/div>\n
\n
Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail Kick-Off event in Salt Lake City!<\/strong><\/div>\n
We will see you on Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th <\/b>for the celebration\u00a0of Utah\u2019s Buffalo Soldier Heritage Trail and the intriguing\u00a0legacy\u00a0these soldiers left in the American West.<\/div>\n
Please read the agenda carefully and reach out if you have any questions.<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
Friday, June 6th<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n