![\"Moroni,](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2017\/04\/Hill_Cumorah_1.jpg\")
<\/a>(Wikimedia Commons public domain photo).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
It being Friday, a new article has appeared in the Interpreter Foundation\u2019s flagship publication: \u00a0Carl J. Cranney (on whom, see here<\/a>), \u201cReading Disciple<\/em> Consistently As New-world Apostle<\/em> in the Book of Mormon.\u201d Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em> 66 (2025): 385-402, https:\/\/journal.interpreterfoundation.org\/reading-disciple-consistently-as-new-world-apostle-in-the-book-of-mormon\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n Abstract:<\/strong> In the Book of Mormon, the term <\/em>disciple occurs fifty-five times. Of those, forty-eight are unambiguous references to the Twelve called by the risen Christ to preside over his new-world Church. The remaining six instances could plausibly be read either as references to more generic followers of Jesus or as references to the Nephite Twelve. If they are read as references to the Nephite Twelve, subtle themes emerge, generating insights into Mormon\u2019s life, the apostasy in 4 Nephi, Mormon\u2019s letters to his son, and the translation process of the Book of Mormon.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n And this too went up today on the Interpreter Foundation website, in company with Dr. Cranney\u2019s article: \u201cInterpreting Interpreter<\/em>: New World Apostles,\u201d<\/a> written by Kyler Rasmussen<\/a>:<\/p>\n This post is a summary of the article \u201cReading Disciple<\/em> Consistently As New-world Apostle<\/em> in the Book of Mormon<\/a>\u201d by Carl J. Cranney in Volume 66 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\/jo8TR8nuH4w<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Takeaway:<\/strong> Cranney notes the near-universal use of the term \u201cdisciple\u201d to refer to Christ\u2019s apostle-like servants in the New World, and explores what it would imply if the remaining ambiguous cases (which could refer either to apostles or to Christ\u2019s followers more generally) also referred to apostle-level figures. Such would mean that Mormon and Moroni refer to themselves as New World apostles, and that apostolic figures sometimes stood nearly alone in the faithful service of Christ.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n And another item went up yesterday: \u00a0Seek Ye Words of Wisdom<\/em>: \u201cFrom the Egyptian Temple through the Hebrew Bible to the Book of Mormon,\u201d<\/a> written by John Gee<\/a>.<\/p>\n Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in Seek Ye Words of Wisdom: Studies of the Book of Mormon, Bible, and Temple in Honor of Stephen D. Ricks<\/em>, edited by Donald W. Parry, Gaye Strathearn, and Shon D. Hopkin. For more information, go to https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/books\/seek-ye-words-of-wisdom\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cMy first day as a student at BYU I took a class from Stephen Ricks; it was his first day teaching at BYU. His was easily the most memorable course of that first semester. From him I eventually took Modern Hebrew, Ugaritic, Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac, and ancient temples. I regret not being able to take a class from him on the subject on which he literally wrote the book: Epigraphic South Arabic. Over the years Stephen Ricks has served me in various capacities: professor, mentor, classmate, boss, benefactor, house-guest, co-author, colleague, collaborator, and even student. He helped me through my first academic conference and my first international academic conference. Back when he was the committee in charge of the Nibley Fellowships, the fellowships had a greater success rate than they have ever had with any subsequent committee. Stephen has had a lengthened and quickened stride, a voracious appetite for learning languages, a bibliographic memory, and a contagious enthusiasm for his subjects. When I was a student many considered him the most likely successor to Hugh Nibley. It has proven something of a challenge to find a topic that covers both the breadth of both our association and shared interests, and so I have opted for something more modest in scope.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Here\u2019s an interesting article that emerges from a place that has long been known as a hotbed of devout religiosity: \u00a0\u201cBibles and Islam? \u2014 The unexpected roots of France\u2019s \u2018baptism boom\u2019:\u00a0Why are young people flocking to the Catholic Church 200 years after the French Revolution?\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 It appears that the tide of religious disaffiliation may no longer be clearly rising. \u00a0We seem to be seeing that in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>, as well. \u00a0If true, it\u2019s wonderful news.<\/p>\n We continued making the rounds of my regular Orange County nostalgia tour with brunch this morning, right on the beach and only a few feet from high tide, at The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove<\/a>. \u00a0Yesterday, though, we broke new ground with a somewhat early dinner at\u00a0Sol Mexican Cocina<\/a> on the marina in Newport Beach, from which we watched the sun set over the masts of dozens of sailboats. \u00a0I don\u2019t recall having been in this restaurant before, but I recommend it to you if you\u2019re ever in the area. The menu isn\u2019t your standard Mexican fare; for one thing, it emphasizes the cuisine of coastal Baja California. \u00a0But I suspect that it\u2019s a kind of creative \u201cfusion\u201d version of that cuisine. \u00a0Maybe I am<\/em> becoming a foodie.<\/p>\n Last night, we watched T. C. Christensen\u2019s Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story<\/a><\/em>, which stars our own Paul Wuthrich<\/a> in the title role. \u00a0I\u2019ve wanted to see it for quite a while. \u00a0We also talked a bit about music, and the friend who is visiting California with us \u2014 who holds a master\u2019s degree in choral conducting and is a former member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square \u2014 called our attention to a piece of which she is especially fond. \u00a0In fact, she appears in this rendition of it: \u00a0\u201cHis Voice as the Sound\u201d (2013) \u2013 The Tabernacle Choir.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0 The words sung by the Choir bear an ambiguous relationship to this text, which I\u2019ve taken from a Church website:<\/p>\n 1. His voice as the sound of the dulcimer sweet I\u2019m very happy that \u201cHis Voice as the Sound\u201d will be included in the forthcoming new hymnal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. \u00a0Both the words and the melody of the hymn are exquisitely beautiful. \u00a0Serene. \u00a0Listen to it.<\/p>\n Posted from Newport Beach, California<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00a0 It being Friday, a new article has appeared in the Interpreter Foundation\u2019s flagship publication: \u00a0Carl J. Cranney (on whom, see here), \u201cReading Disciple Consistently As New-world Apostle in the Book of Mormon.\u201d Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 66 (2025): 385-402, https:\/\/journal.interpreterfoundation.org\/reading-disciple-consistently-as-new-world-apostle-in-the-book-of-mormon\/. Abstract: In the Book of Mormon, the term disciple […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":25220,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[25411,56,39248,1197,788,23465],"class_list":["post-113219","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-balboa-peninsula","tag-book-of-mormon","tag-egyptian-temple","tag-hebrew-bible","tag-mormon","tag-newport-beach"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
(Painting by Kenneth Riley, from LDS.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
<\/a><\/a><\/a>
\nIs heard through the shadow of death.
\nThe cedars of Lebanon bow at His feet;
\nThe air is perfumed with His breath.
\nHis words like a fountain of righteousness flow
\nThat waters the garden of grace.
\nThe source of salvation all people shall know
\nAnd bask in the smile of His face.
\n2. The robes of His righteousness\u2014 who can describe?
\nTheir purity words would defile.
\nThe heav\u2019ns to His presence their beauties ascribe,
\nAnd earth is made rich by His smile.
\nThe warmth of His mercy in excellence bright
\nShines down from His kingdom above.
\nLike morning, He fills all creation with light
\nAnd comforts His people with love.
\n3. He looks, and ten thousands of angels rejoice,
\nAnd myriads wait for His word.
\nHe speaks, and eternity, filled with His voice,
\nReechoes the praise of the Lord.
\nDear Shepherd, I hear and will follow Thy call;
\nI know the sweet sound of Thy voice.
\nRestore and protect me, for Thou art my All;
\nIn Thee I will ever rejoice.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n