![\"I](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2024\/11\/IMG_6578.jpg\")
<\/a>Have you marked your calendar for this upcoming Interpreter Foundation conference? \u00a0We would love to see you there:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a Wise Purpose in Him\u201d<\/h2>\n\nPerspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi
\n(1 Nephi \u2013 Words of Mormon)<\/h3>\n
A Conference on the Small Plates of Nephi in the Book of Mormon<\/p>\n
May 29-30, 2026<\/p>\n
Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation<\/em><\/p>\nIn the interest of deepening Latter-day Saint understanding and appreciation of the text, context, and doctrine of 1 Nephi through Words of Mormon<\/em>, we will hold a two-day conference on May 29-30, 2026 in Provo, UT at a venue yet to be announced. The conference proceedings will \u201cthrow greater views\u201d on the authors of the small plates of Nephi and its contents, thus showing how the small plates \u201cthrow greater views\u201d on Jesus Christ and his everlasting gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 10:45).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2016\/03\/12928214_845677532210345_8259848485943525852_n-1.jpg\")
<\/a>An empty tomb in Jerusalem dating to the Herodian period. The photograph was taken by my friend and colleague Dr. Jeffrey Chadwick, and I use it here with his kind permission. Neither of us is persuaded that either the Garden Tomb or the Holy Sepulcher is the right place, so this will have to represent the as-yet unknown site of Christ\u2019s burial and resurrection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI\u2019ve read a fair amount about the so-called \u201cShroud of Turin,\u201d but have done so only sporadically and not systematically. \u00a0I\u2019m open to its potential authenticity, and \u2014 although nothing in my faith depends<\/em> upon its possibly miraculous provenance \u2014 I would actually be happy to see it proven authentic. \u00a0But I haven\u2019t made up my mind: \u00a0Here\u2019s a recent article on the topic in the popular press: \u201cNew evidence strengthens case of the Shroud of Turin as Jesus\u2019 burial cloth\u201d<\/a><\/p>\nThe Church of the Holy Sepulcher, located in Jerusalem\u2019s Old City, is the site that is venerated by most Christian traditions as the location of the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. \u00a0Some Protestants have pointed, instead, to the so-called \u201cGarden Tomb\u201d as the most likely place \u2014 and, in this preference, they\u2019ve been joined overwhelmingly by Latter-day Saints. \u00a0I\u2019m committed to neither view. \u00a0But a discovery that was reported eleven months ago in the Times of Israel<\/em> does tend, I think, to strengthen the Holy Sepulcher\u2019s claim, at least a little bit: \u00a0\u201cEchoing Gospel account, traces of ancient garden found under Church of Holy Sepulchre:\u00a0A landmark excavation, set to conclude soon at Old City of Jerusalem church, has offered unprecedented historical insights. ToI gets a sneak peek.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\nOn a related note, here\u2019s a joke from the conclusion of our final speaker in sacrament meeting today: \u00a0A prominent member of the Sanhedrin is reproving Joseph of Arimathea. \u00a0\u201cYou spent a huge sum of money constructing that new tomb of yours, and now you\u2019re simply handing it over to somebody who\u2019s been executed by the Romans?\u201d \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s not a big deal,\u201d replies the wealthy man. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s just for the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"BYU](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2015\/12\/800px-BYU_Football_Stadium.jpg\")
<\/a>LaVell Edwards Stadium at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nI love to hear and to read about lives that have been well lived. \u00a0(That\u2019s why I can really enjoy a good funeral.) \u00a0Hers was one of those well-lived lives: \u00a0\u201c\u2018End of an era\u2019: Funny, tender moments fill funeral for Patti Edwards, BYU football\u2019s \u2018grand dame\u2019:\u00a0Andy Reid, Kalani Sitake, Elder Clark G. Gilbert, former Cougar stars and wives fondly remember the woman who taught them to \u2018enjoy the now\u2019\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Idaho's](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2026\/02\/20260111081943Nilsson__LES1887.jpg\")
<\/a>The Burley Idaho Temple, shown here in a 2026 Intellectual Reserve photograph, was dedicated by President Dallin H. Oaks in January 2026. I hope that my employment of the photograph here will be acceptable as \u201cFair Use.\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIf you want to get to know the new leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>, President Dallin H. Oaks, this relatively brief Church News podcast will give you a good sampler of things that he has recently had to say: \u00a0\u201cEpisode 281: President Dallin H. Oaks and his recent invitations to \u2018be optimistic\u2019 and \u2018stay on the covenant path\u2019: Hear President Oaks\u2019 impressions and invitations from the Burley Idaho Temple dedication and his devotional at BYU\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Our](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2024\/05\/DSCF4072-color-scaled.jpeg\")
<\/a>Prepping the stagecoach on a set for the 2024 Interpreter Foundation film Six Days in August<\/em> in Tennessee, from left to right: James Jordan (1st AD\/Producer), Brandon Christensen (DP), Mark Goodman (Writer\/Director\/Producer), Russell Richins (Producer\/BTS). Brothers Jordan, Goodman, and Richins constitute Redbrick Filmworks, in partnership with which the Interpreter Foundation has created Robert Cundick: A Sacred Service of Music\u00a0<\/em>(2017), Witnesses<\/em> (2021), Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon<\/em> (2022), and Six Days in August<\/em> (2024), and with which it is now creating Becoming Brigham<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou shouldn\u2019t be surprised that I\u2019m once again calling your attention to the Interpreter Foundation\u2019s series of mini-documentary videos, which are collectively titled Becoming Brigham<\/em> and which are available for free viewing at becomingbrigham.com<\/a>. \u00a0At the time that I\u2019m writing this (which is early in the evening of Sunday, 22 February 2026), we have released four episodes of the series. \u00a0A fifth installment will be released tomorrow (Monday), and a trailer or teaser for it is already available here<\/a>.<\/p>\nWe\u2019ve made these short videos \u2014 actually, we\u2019re still<\/em> making them \u2014 and we would really like people to watch them. \u00a0And to share them with others. \u00a0And to subscribe to them. \u00a0I will make no money from them, but I would<\/em> like them to reach the widest possible audience.<\/p>\n![\"London](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2025\/05\/Bunhill_Fields_2020-1.jpg\")
<\/a>In the Bunhill Fields graveyard, in London (Wikimedia Commons public domain photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Perspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi
\n(1 Nephi \u2013 Words of Mormon)<\/h3>\n
A Conference on the Small Plates of Nephi in the Book of Mormon<\/p>\n
May 29-30, 2026<\/p>\n
Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n In the interest of deepening Latter-day Saint understanding and appreciation of the text, context, and doctrine of 1 Nephi through Words of Mormon<\/em>, we will hold a two-day conference on May 29-30, 2026 in Provo, UT at a venue yet to be announced. The conference proceedings will \u201cthrow greater views\u201d on the authors of the small plates of Nephi and its contents, thus showing how the small plates \u201cthrow greater views\u201d on Jesus Christ and his everlasting gospel (Doctrine and Covenants 10:45).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n I\u2019ve read a fair amount about the so-called \u201cShroud of Turin,\u201d but have done so only sporadically and not systematically. \u00a0I\u2019m open to its potential authenticity, and \u2014 although nothing in my faith depends<\/em> upon its possibly miraculous provenance \u2014 I would actually be happy to see it proven authentic. \u00a0But I haven\u2019t made up my mind: \u00a0Here\u2019s a recent article on the topic in the popular press: \u201cNew evidence strengthens case of the Shroud of Turin as Jesus\u2019 burial cloth\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, located in Jerusalem\u2019s Old City, is the site that is venerated by most Christian traditions as the location of the burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. \u00a0Some Protestants have pointed, instead, to the so-called \u201cGarden Tomb\u201d as the most likely place \u2014 and, in this preference, they\u2019ve been joined overwhelmingly by Latter-day Saints. \u00a0I\u2019m committed to neither view. \u00a0But a discovery that was reported eleven months ago in the Times of Israel<\/em> does tend, I think, to strengthen the Holy Sepulcher\u2019s claim, at least a little bit: \u00a0\u201cEchoing Gospel account, traces of ancient garden found under Church of Holy Sepulchre:\u00a0A landmark excavation, set to conclude soon at Old City of Jerusalem church, has offered unprecedented historical insights. ToI gets a sneak peek.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n On a related note, here\u2019s a joke from the conclusion of our final speaker in sacrament meeting today: \u00a0A prominent member of the Sanhedrin is reproving Joseph of Arimathea. \u00a0\u201cYou spent a huge sum of money constructing that new tomb of yours, and now you\u2019re simply handing it over to somebody who\u2019s been executed by the Romans?\u201d \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s not a big deal,\u201d replies the wealthy man. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s just for the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n I love to hear and to read about lives that have been well lived. \u00a0(That\u2019s why I can really enjoy a good funeral.) \u00a0Hers was one of those well-lived lives: \u00a0\u201c\u2018End of an era\u2019: Funny, tender moments fill funeral for Patti Edwards, BYU football\u2019s \u2018grand dame\u2019:\u00a0Andy Reid, Kalani Sitake, Elder Clark G. Gilbert, former Cougar stars and wives fondly remember the woman who taught them to \u2018enjoy the now\u2019\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n If you want to get to know the new leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>, President Dallin H. Oaks, this relatively brief Church News podcast will give you a good sampler of things that he has recently had to say: \u00a0\u201cEpisode 281: President Dallin H. Oaks and his recent invitations to \u2018be optimistic\u2019 and \u2018stay on the covenant path\u2019: Hear President Oaks\u2019 impressions and invitations from the Burley Idaho Temple dedication and his devotional at BYU\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n You shouldn\u2019t be surprised that I\u2019m once again calling your attention to the Interpreter Foundation\u2019s series of mini-documentary videos, which are collectively titled Becoming Brigham<\/em> and which are available for free viewing at becomingbrigham.com<\/a>. \u00a0At the time that I\u2019m writing this (which is early in the evening of Sunday, 22 February 2026), we have released four episodes of the series. \u00a0A fifth installment will be released tomorrow (Monday), and a trailer or teaser for it is already available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve made these short videos \u2014 actually, we\u2019re still<\/em> making them \u2014 and we would really like people to watch them. \u00a0And to share them with others. \u00a0And to subscribe to them. \u00a0I will make no money from them, but I would<\/em> like them to reach the widest possible audience.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>