Mormon Interpreter Foundation

Steven Peck, a BYU Professor of Biology, takes it as “axiomatic that evolution in its broad sense is the way the biological world works, although details are still being worked out and amazing discoveries will continue for centuries.” Using vivid examples, he explains both the compelling nature and the complexity of evolution. He also describes the weak science behind what is popularly called the “Intelligent Design” movement. However, “evolution does not negate by one iota the idea of a purposeful universe that was organized by a loving, intelligent God.”

  In the January 8 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 6 covering Matthew 4 and Luke 4–5, “The Spirit of the Lord Is upon Me.” You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of […]

Note: Because of the understandably limited scope of the official Come, Follow Me curriculum, this resource will continue to include additional scripture references not found in the Church curriculum, when appropriate. Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus (see also Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13) Some mistakenly believe that this account of Jesus being tempted by Satan […]

  In this episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Bruce Webster, Kris Frederickson, and Martin Tanner. You can listen to or download the January 15th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

  In this episode of The Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts are Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen. You can listen to or download the January 8th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. These audio tracks are also included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The “New Testament in Context” portion of this show, […]

Abstract: Believers in the God of Abraham — who include not only Jews and Christians but also Muslims — are exhorted to call upon him every day, as well as in times of need. We are promised that he will respond to petitionary prayers. Moreover, we are assured that, in the end, believers will prosper, […]

Given their status as targets of humor and caricature, the well-worn stories of Adam, Eve, and Noah are difficult for many people to take seriously. However, we do an injustice both to these marvelous records and to ourselves when we fail to pursue an appreciation of scripture beyond the initial level of cartoon cut-outs inculcated upon the minds of young children. In the words of the world-renowned Latter-day Saint chemist, Henry Eyring, “There are all kinds of contradictions [in religion] I don’t understand, but I find the same kinds of contradictions in science, and I haven’t decided to apostatize from science. In the long run, the truth is its own most powerful advocate.”

  In the December 18 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Bruce Webster and Kris Frederickson discuss New Testament lesson 5 covering Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 18th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3 The Ministry and Message of John the Baptist As we encounter multiple Gospel accounts of the same events, we will sometimes study an event in only one of the Gospels, while at other times we will consider more than one account. In the case of John the Baptist, we […]

Review of Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick III, and Nicholas S. Literski, Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration (Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2022). 544 pages. $44.95 (hardback); $34.95 (softcover). Abstract: There is much to celebrate in this important new study of Freemasonry and the Latter-day Saints. To their credit, the authors have succeeded […]

Amy L. Williams describes and counters the arguments of the “New Atheism,” a loose movement that some have characterized as espousing the belief that religion should be actively countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument. She also describes the role of faith and verifiability in scientific inquiry and in Latter-day Saint theology.

This lectures suggests that joy is the main message prophets bring to mankind.

  In the December 11 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discuss New Testament lesson 4 on John 1. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 11th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It […]

John 1:1-18 The Word This book was written by the apostle John, also known as John the Beloved. Some consider the Gospel of John to be the most important of the Bible’s 66 books. Much of John’s Gospel appears to be directed to church members, showing Christ’s divine nature as the Son of God. Brother […]

Review of Nate Oman, “A Welding Link of Some Kind,” Thoughts from a Tamed Cynic (Substack, September 27, 2022). Abstract: Nate Oman claims to demonstrate a theological path that allows for same-sex sealings within existing Latter-day Saint doctrine. In fact, he claims that such an adjustment would be not only compatible with most Church doctrine but more scripturally […]

Geology professor Bart J. Kowallis takes readers to the realm of “deep time,” referring to that vast length of time it took for the earth and heavens to reach their current form and station. On the way, he discusses three myths about time and creation

This lectures is a discussion of how prophets are essential to a True Church.

  In the December 4 Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, our hosts Neal Rappleye, Jasmin Rappleye, and Stephen Smoot discuss New Testament lesson 3 on Matthew 2 and Luke 2. You can listen to or download the New Testament in Context segment of the December 4th broadcast of the Interpreter Radio […]

Luke 2:1-20 The Babe of Bethlehem In addition to our focus on the newborn Savior, think about Joseph and Mary, very young and somewhat alone: Verses 1-5 Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome, and he called for an “enrollment” or census of everyone living within his empire, for purposes of taxation. People were required […]

This post is a summary of the article “Stained Swords: A Psalm of Redemption” by Loren Blake Spendlove in Volume 54 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter series is available at https://interpreterfoundation.org/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought/.   The Takeaway Spendlove writes short, accessible abstracts that you can read for […]