![\"Gary,](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2017\/02\/joseph-smith-carthage-jail-smith-153757-gallery.jpg\")
<\/a>(LDS Media Library)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Witnesses<\/em> had quite strong numbers at the box office over the past weekend.\u00a0 This is encouraging, and such figures are extremely important \u2014 they\u2019re vital, in fact \u2014 for keeping the film in theaters.\u00a0 We\u2019re deeply grateful for the support of those who have attended showings, just as we are for those who contributed to the movie\u2019s creation in the first place.\u00a0 And, if I may say so, tonight is Family Night.\u00a0 And, in many places, tomorrow is five-dollar Tuesday, or something of that sort.\u00a0 Hint hint!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We hope that at least some of you will also consider taking your non-member friends or less-active family members.\u00a0 We\u2019ve always known that the core, sustaining audience for Witnesses<\/em> would be believing members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/a>, but our hope was and is that others \u2014 non-members, lapsed members, wavering members, investigators \u2014 will also see the film.\u00a0 We hope that it will launch conversations and create questions.\u00a0 In fact, I\u2019ve found myself wondering whether the Sunday theater box office figures for the film, which have, quite unsurprisingly (given Latter-day Saint beliefs about Sabbath observance), been much, much lower than the figures for any other day of the week, might reflect exactly those people.\u00a0 I hope so!<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n This coming Sunday, 27 June 2021, will mark the 177th anniversary of the murder of the Prophet Joseph Smith by an anti-Mormon mob in Carthage, Illinois.\u00a0 I don\u2019t mean this to sound crassly commercial \u2014 please remember that I won\u2019t make a nickel from whatever you choose to do \u2014 but this week would be a very good time to remember the Prophet and the earliest days of the Restoration by attending a screening of Witnesses.<\/em>\u00a0 Furthermore, Monday, 28 June 2021 \u2014 a week from today \u2014 would also be a phenomenally appropriate day on which to watch Witnesses<\/em>, and not only because it will be Family Night.\u00a0 Pretty much unanimously, the historical sources and treatments that we possess put the experience of the Three Witnesses with the angel, the plates, and the voice of God toward the end of June 1829.\u00a0 By far the most common date given, though, is none other than 28 June 1829.\u00a0 What a great day next Monday will be to recall that important event, either by simply attending a regular showing of Witnesses<\/em> or by organizing a private screening for a family or neighborhood or Church group.\u00a0 (See witnessesfilm.com<\/a> for places where the film is showing or where screenings can be organized.)<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n I would also like to call your attention to a series of free virtual firesides that will commence this coming Sunday, 27 June 2021 \u2014 making it, in other words, an unusually appropriate opportunity to reflect on the life and contributions (and the sacrifice) of the founding prophet of this dispensation:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201c\u201cA Life Lived in Crescendo\u201d:\u00a0Selected Punctuation Marks of Joseph Smith\u2019s Final Years\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n And, while I\u2019m at it, I also want to note that videos of the presentations from our recent conference on the Book of Moses are now available on the website of the Interpreter Foundation, at no charge:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTracing Ancient Threads in the Book of Moses\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n By the way, my saying that these virtual firesides and these videos have been made available \u201cat no charge\u201d does not imply that they have been made available at no expense<\/em>.\u00a0 Contributions to meet our ongoing costs, whether large or small, are both tax-exempt (in the United States, anyway) and very welcome.\u00a0 See Donating to the Interpreter Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Also available at no charge (though not at no cost) are these articles\u00a0 (written by unpaid authors) from a previous number of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship:<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Daniel C. Peterson, \u201cThe Word and the Kingdom\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Abstract:<\/strong>\u00a0Members of the Church have been charged since ancient times with the covenant need to share the Gospel message with those around them. In more recent times, this has been described as a need for \u201cevery member\u201d to be a missionary. There are many ways that we can do so through the use of modern technology and the dedication of our talents. The \u201cministry of the word\u201d beckons each of us onward.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Jeff Lindsay, \u201cThe Possibility of Janus Parallelism in the Book of Mormon\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Abstract:<\/strong>\u00a0Janus parallelism, a tool evident in ancient Hebrew poetry, is documented at some length by Scott B. Noegel in\u00a0<\/em>Janus Parallelism in the Book of Job, which I recently reviewed. Since the authorship of Job predates the removal of the Lehites from Jerusalem, this tool may have been available to writers in the Book of Mormon. While we do not have the original text to analyze wordplays in the original language, it may be possible to apply some of the cases considered by Noegel to find remnants of related \u201cpolysensuous\u201d wordplays that might have been present in the original text or to consider other previously proposed wordplays that may include a Janus-like aspect.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n John Gee, \u201cNot Just Sour Grapes: Jesus\u2019s Interpretation of Isaiah\u2019s Song of the Vineyard\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Abstract<\/strong>: In Jesus\u2019s Sermon on the Mount, he heavily references Isaiah\u2019s Song of the Vineyard. An understanding of both the original Hebrew and the Greek translation in the Septuagint of this passage helps provide greater context and meaning into Jesus\u2019s sermon. In particular, it clarifies Jesus\u2019s commentary and criticisms of both society and those administrators in charge of society, especially of the scribes and those that can be considered false prophets.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Steven T. Densley, Jr., \u201cCelebrating the Work of John W. Welch\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n A review of Paul Y. Hoskisson & Daniel C. Peterson, eds.,\u00a0To Seek the Law of the Lord: Essays in Honor of John W. Welch<\/a><\/em>, The Interpreter Foundation, 2017, 543 pages. $24.95 (paperback).<\/p>\n Abstract:<\/strong>\u00a0In this collection of articles gathered in honor of John W. Welch, a wide variety of subjects are explored by authors from many different disciplines. Like the work of Professor Welch himself, these articles draw on scholarship from varied fields of study and provide many interesting and valuable insights.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Brian C. Hales, \u201cChanging Critics\u2019 Criticisms of Book of Mormon Changes\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Abstract<\/strong>:\u00a0In early 1830 Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon, a 269,938-word volume that discusses religious themes intermingled with a history of ancient American peoples.1<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Claiming it was scripture like the Bible,2<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0in 1841 he declared it to be \u201cthe most correct of any book on earth and the keystone of our religion.\u201d3<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0Yet, many changes in the text of the Book of Mormon can be detected when comparing the original manuscript to the version available today. These changes have served as a lightning rod for some critics who imply that a divinely inspired book should not require any alterations. This article examines the types of changes that have occurred while trying to assign levels of significance and identify Joseph\u2019s motives in making those alterations in the 1837 and 1840 reprintings of the book.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n