The 2016 Sampson Avard Golden Scepter Award

[_deacon blues]

I can find the Dan Peterson article, but where can I find the actual Grant Hardy talk?

[_Tom]

Hardy's address is available here.

[_Doctor Scratch]

I can find the Dan Peterson article, but where can I find the actual Grant Hardy talk?

Right here. And for what it's worth (I haven't re-read the Hardy talk so I'm going from memory here), it may be that he made the remark about non-belief in the Book of Mormon during the post-talk Q & A session.

[_Doctor Scratch]

Congratulations to Dr. Hardy! What a well-deserved award to such a well-deserving candidate.

In the write-up, the presenter wrote:

Only for them to later backtrack and insist that if anyone doubts the LGT, he or she is probably teetering on the brink of apostasy.

When you say "later," wasn't that "later" a little less than 48 hours?

Something like that, yes. Still, remarkable to see the "Old Guard" stating publicly that they are okay with non-belief in the Book of Mormon.

[Guest]

Hello All,

I don't think I have much in common with Sampson Avard, but I'm happy that you've found my FairMormon talk worth commenting on.

I wanted clear up a misunderstanding on the part of Kushkumen. The confusion may come from a post by Mark Thomas a few years ago, but since then we've been in correspondence and I think that we're back on the same page (as of Jan 2013). I have long admired Mark's work on the Book of Mormon--starting with his articles long ago in Sunstone--and I volunteered to write a review of Since Cumorah for the FARMS Review to make sure that it was treated seriously and respectfully. In fact, I still think his book has been greatly underappreciated, and I'm sorry that he was also underappreciated at BYU. It's a shame that things didn't work out for him there.

I participated in three of the Book of Mormon roundtables that Mark organized at BYU and I thought that they were well worthwhile; it was wonderful to have non-Mormons at BYU discussing the Book of Mormon. There's no reason why outsiders, who are naturally skeptical of the book's claims, should be excluded from academic discussions. Indeed, one of the best articles ever written on the Book of Mormon was Krister Stendahl's "The Sermon on the Mount and Third Nephi," which was originally given as a paper at a BYU Symposium in 1978. I wish that there was much, much more of that going on.

When we were trying to figure out what the next step might be for Thomas's roundtables, I initially suggested an academic introductory volume that would include contributions by both LDS and non-LDS scholars. After several months and further reflection, I decided that we probably weren't at the point where such a volume was possible; the quality just wasn't there yet, either on the Mormon or the non-Mormon side. I have since been working on projects that I hope will provide more of a basis for the academic study of the Mormon scripture, such as the literary analysis found in Understanding the Book of Mormon. Narratology seems to me an avenue that can be pursued both by those who view the book as a miraculous translation, and also by those who regard it as nineteenth-century religious fiction authored by Joseph Smith. Such discussions definitely belong at BYU, and I have always felt that way.

P.S. I was disappointed to discover last summer that there are no circulating copies of Dan Vogel's Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet in the BYU library. I don't agree with many of Dan's interpretations, but his close reading of the Book of Mormon has helped me see new things in the book, and I think the religious climate in Provo might be healthier if alternative viewpoints were dealt with directly and respectfully rather than hidden away in special collections. Dan's significant work deserves to be taken seriously.

[_deacon blues]

Thanks Dr.Scratch and Tom for the reference to Dr. Hardy' stalk. I read it, and it seems like Dr. Hardy honestly identifies problems and solutions to the current dialogue about Mormonism.

[_Everybody Wang Chung]

Excellent choice Dr. Scratch.

Am I the only one who thinks Dr. Hardy bears a striking resemblance to Billy Crudup?

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Thanks Dr.Scratch and Tom for the reference to Dr. Hardy' stalk. I read it, and it seems like Dr. Hardy honestly identifies problems and solutions to the current dialogue about Mormonism.

IYO, what are those problems and solutions? What does that even mean ref "solutions"?

- Doc

[_Kishkumen]

I wanted clear up a misunderstanding on the part of Kushkumen (sic). The confusion may come from a post by Mark Thomas a few years ago, but since then we've been in correspondence and I think that we're back on the same page (as of Jan 2013).

Greetings, Professor Hardy:

Actually, my information came from an eyewitness account of discussions in which you and your spouse participated. I am pleased that whatever differences between you and Prof. Thomas existed have been ironed out, and I am glad to see that you are now (or have long been) open to those who study the Book of Mormon in depth but do not necessarily believe it is divine scripture.

All best,

Kishkumen (you know, the Book of Mormon name)

[_Grant Hardy]

I'm sorry if I gave your eyewitness friend the impression that outsider perspectives on the Book of Mormon weren't welcome at BYU (to the extent that I have any input over what happens at BYU). That was certainly not my intention.