![\"Fernsten](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/186\/2020\/06\/3_Men_in_a_River.jpg\")
<\/a>(Still photograph courtesy of gaffer Rhett Fernsten)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Excellent news just in from our distributor, Brandon Purdie<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Good news! Big EdWeek update: As of this morning all four of these Provo\/Orem locations have confirmed that they will play Witnesses<\/em> during Education Week.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Now, somehow, we need to get this news out<\/em>.\u00a0 Will you help us?\u00a0 If you know somebody who will be in or about Utah Valley for Education Week at Brigham Young University, please call this announcement to his or her attention.\u00a0 And if you know people who haven\u2019t yet seen Witnesses,<\/em> please let them know that this may perhaps be their last opportunity to see the film \u2014 which is visually very beautiful \u2014 on a large screen.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It being Friday, a new article \u2014 this one by Amanda Colleen Brown<\/a> \u2014 has been published in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scripture<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAlma\u2019s Reality: Reading Alma as Sinful, Repentant, Traumatized, Questioning, and Righteous\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Review of Kylie Nielson Turley,\u00a0Alma 1\u201329: A Brief Theological Introduction<\/em>\u00a0(Provo, UT: The Neal\u00a0A.\u00a0Maxwell\u00a0Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2020). 162 pages. $9.95 (paperback).<\/span><\/p>\n Abstract:\u00a0<\/strong>Kylie Nielson Turley delves deep into the conversion and ministry of Alma the Younger, reading new life into a well-known narrative. By analyzing Alma\u2019s story with the full weight of his humanity in mind, she breathes emotion into Alma\u2019s conversion and missionary efforts. Her efforts to read Alma without a veneer of superhumanity result in a highly relatable figure who has known wickedness, repentance, loss, depression, and righteousness.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The opening presentation for the final day of the 2021 FAIR conference was scheduled to be by my friend Steven Mayfield<\/a>, under the title of \u201cThe Mormon Murders: The Hoffman Forgeries.\u201d\u00a0 Steve was involved with law enforcement in Hoffman\u2019s heyday, but also, as a Latter-day Saint who was deeply interested in document collecting and related matters, he knew most of the people connected with Hoffman.\u00a0 Unfortunately, Steve has contracted COVID-19 and he is immunocompromised, so he was unable to speak this morning.\u00a0 Happily, my friend John Gee<\/a> was able and willing to fill in for him at the last minute.\u00a0 John discussed some basic principles or lessons for doing apologetics.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Jenny Reeder<\/a> was the second speaker.\u00a0 The title of her remarks \u2014 \u201cFirst: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith\u201d \u2014 is the title of her still relatively new book<\/a>.\u00a0 She gave a beautifully illustrated and very interesting presentation on, well, Emma Smith.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Mike Ash, a veteran participant in FAIR and the author of the well-known book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One\u2019s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt<\/em><\/a>,\u00a0 spoke on <\/span>\u201cRethinking Revelation and the Human Element in Scripture: The Prophet\u2019s Role as Creative Co-Author.\u201d\u00a0 (Not coincidentally, that is also the title of his new book<\/a>.)\u00a0 It was quite interesting.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n During the lunch break, there was a brief time devoted to FAIR business.\u00a0 And it included some important news:\u00a0 After many years in office, John Lynch<\/a> has stepped down as chairman of the FAIR board.\u00a0 He will remain a member of the board, but is being replaced as FAIR chairman by Paul McNabb<\/a>.\u00a0 Trevor Holyoak<\/a>, a longtime FAIR volunteer, will become vice president of FAIR.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Keith A. Erikson<\/a> has recently written a book titled Real vs. Rumor: How to Dispel Latter-Day Myths<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 Unsurprisingly perhaps, his very helpful and entertaining presentation today was on the theme of \u201cReal vs. Rumor.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n
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