More on the Financing of Mopologetics

[_Trevor]

From the Maxwell Institute's site:

"In the 1990s, FARMS enjoyed rapid growth, fueled by donations that considerably increased its yearly operating budget. During the mid-1990s, the BYU administration became interested in the prospect of incorporating FARMS into the university. As FARMS took on important projects that depended more and more on BYU resources, the relationship between the two became increasingly complex. Something needed to be done to clarify their mutual relationship. On 10 September 1997, President Hinckley proposed that FARMS be invited into the university."

From that point on the site emphasizes the directing role of the university in major decisions affecting FARMS:

"When the university decided to separate traditional FARMS activities from the manuscript preservation and archiving work of the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), it was also decided to bring BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI) under the same umbrella. BYU needed to contain these three separate areas in an administrational organization, and so the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) was established. The Research Technology Group, which developed the WordCruncher program, was also incorporated. In 2006, the BYU Board of Trustees renamed ISPART the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. "By renaming ISPART, BYU honors the memory and life's work of Elder Maxwell," said BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson. "This change firmly sets the future direction of the institute, which is to promote profound scholarship supporting the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ—something Elder Maxwell cared about deeply." With the change of name, BYU Studies, the signature publication of the University, was invited to join the Maxwell Institute."

[_Trevor]

To see the kinds of folks who renamed ISPART as the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship, here is a list of the Board from 2002-2003:

Gordon B. Hinckley, Chairman
Thomas S. Monson, First Vice Chairman
James E. Faust, Second Vice Chairman
David B. Haight
M. Russell Ballard
Richard G. Scott
Robert D. Hales
Henry B. Eyring
Earl C. Tingey
Mary Ellen Smoot
Margaret D. Nadauld
Roger G. Christensen, Secretary

[_harmony]

To see the kinds of folks who renamed ISPART as the Neal A. Maxwell Institute of Religious Scholarship, here is a list of the Board from 2002-2003:

Gordon B. Hinckley, Chairman
Thomas S. Monson, First Vice Chairman
James E. Faust, Second Vice Chairman
David B. Haight
M. Russell Ballard
Richard G. Scott
Robert D. Hales
Henry B. Eyring
Earl C. Tingey
Mary Ellen Smoot
Margaret D. Nadauld
Roger G. Christensen, Secretary

Somebody seriously needs to point out that there are two women on this board. Surely that is unacceptable. That would mean women would have some authority over men, and we know we can't have that. Unless, of course, this board has no authority.

[_Trevor]

Somebody seriously needs to point out that there are two women on this board. Surely that is unacceptable. That would mean women would have some authority over men, and we know we can't have that. Unless, of course, this board has no authority.

I noticed that.

Of course, in my experience, there is a difference between being present and having power.

[_Gadianton]

Thank you Trevor for the quotes. Unquestionably, the Maxwell institute is an increasingly well-organized and might I add, heftily funded institution of LDS apologetics.

[_Trevor]

Thank you Trevor for the quotes. Unquestionably, the Maxwell institute is an increasingly well-organized and might I add, heftily funded institution of LDS apologetics.

I really don't know how well funded they are through BYU.

[_Mister Scratch]

"When the university decided to separate traditional FARMS activities from the manuscript preservation and archiving work of the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART), it was also decided to bring BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative (METI) under the same umbrella. BYU needed to contain these three separate areas in an administrational organization, and so the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (ISPART) was established. The Research Technology Group, which developed the WordCruncher program, was also incorporated. In 2006, the BYU Board of Trustees renamed ISPART the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. "By renaming ISPART, BYU honors the memory and life's work of Elder Maxwell," said BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson. "This change firmly sets the future direction of the institute, which is to promote profound scholarship supporting the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ—something Elder Maxwell cared about deeply." With the change of name, BYU Studies, the signature publication of the University, was invited to join the Maxwell Institute."

(italics mine)

Well, I guess this is what Harmony was asking for earlier. Part of it, anyways. What this says is that everything within ISPART is meant to further this mission of "supporting the restored Gospel", including stuff which, on the surface, may not seem related to Mormonism at all. Thus, though DCP may be a Professor of Arab Studies, it seems that, within the context of ISPART and its various branches, his Arab work is expected to support "the restored Gospel."

Thank you Trevor for the quotes. Unquestionably, the Maxwell institute is an increasingly well-organized and might I add, heftily funded institution of LDS apologetics.

Yes, there can be no question that this organization is growing at an alarming rate. It reminds me of all the other moments in Mormon history in which armies/militias of various kinds were raised up to do battle with the Church's enemies. We are presently living in an Information Age, so it makes sense that the new army would be apologetic in nature, and that it would be housed at The Lord's University.

[_Gadianton]

Scratch,

I'd like to thank you for protecting the privacy of your informant on this matter. Kathleen busted this one wide open, and no doubt the repercussions would be serious if she were ever found out. True to form, the apologists are saying, just as in the case of unflattering Joseph Smith history, "This was public knowledge all along! anyone could have found out and the church can't be held responsible!" while secretly in panic.

Trevor,

I don't think a whole lot flows through BYU either, especially now that we know of a compensated, professional fundraiser working the elite of the church. No doubt leveling veiled threats of the doom if the anti-Mormons aren't stopped and stern lectures on all the saint's posessions belonging to God. While the church will use tithing money as needed, it's order is to first solicit extra donations. Gold fillings in Peru would be sold above funds released directly through BYU.

[_antishock8]

Mission Statement

"The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship exists to
Describe and defend the Restoration through highest quality scholarship
Provide critically edited, primary resources (ancient religious texts) to scholars and lay persons around the world
Build bridges of understanding and goodwill to Muslim scholars by providing superior editions of primary texts
Provide an anchor of faith in a sea of LDS Studies"

Italics mine.

That's funny, I did the same thing..

[_Mister Scratch]

Scratch,

I'd like to thank you for protecting the privacy of your informant on this matter. Kathleen busted this one wide open, and no doubt the repercussions would be serious if she were ever found out. True to form, the apologists are saying, just as in the case of unflattering Joseph Smith history, "This was public knowledge all along! anyone could have found out and the church can't be held responsible!" while secretly in panic.

Yes, precisely. And, by the way: No problem vis-a-vis "Kathleen." Like any responsible journalist, I always protect my sources.

Trevor,

I don't think a whole lot flows through BYU either, especially now that we know of a compensated, professional fundraiser working the elite of the church. No doubt leveling veiled threats of the doom if the anti-Mormons aren't stopped and stern lectures on all the saint's posessions belonging to God. While the church will use tithing money as needed, it's order is to first solicit extra donations. Gold fillings in Peru would be sold above funds released directly through BYU.

You know, Gad, I think you were right on the money when you used those odd, space-warping aliens from David Lynch's Dune to illustrate your point. Just like those Spice-addicted aliens, the Church, it seems, is "addicted" to money, and to endlessly increasing membership. Thus, the alien/fundraiser, representing the Church, must step it up in terms of getting the Emperor (i.e., wealthy LDS) to take care of matters. I guess this would make the apologists the Harkonens, which would mean---dare I say it?---that DCP is the Baron. Anyways, the parallels are striking. Yet another rich and intellectually rewarding analogy, Gad, thank you. I admit that I'm still at a bit of a loss in terms of who the Fremen would be. Likewise Paul Atreides, and the sandworms.