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Articles by John Gee
The Creation and Its Relation to God’s Covenants
The Creation and Its Relation to God’s Covenants Keywords creation narrative, covenant theology, Sinai covenant Abstract The creation narrative in Genesis was not written to provide a how-to manual for how the earth was created. The creation narrative instead serves as a backdrop to the covenant that we are expected to keep.
A Perspective on How to Read the Creation S" by John Gee and Taylor Halverson
Joseph Smith restored ancient scriptures that explicitly mention our existence, and also the existence of matter, before the world was formed. There are hints of this in the biblical account in the original Hebrew and in the pattern of Hebrew storytelling, though subsequent bible translations obscure these insights. In telling the story of the creation, the author of Genesis draws on a number of storytelling conventions.
Insights on Covenants from the Five Books of Moses
covenant structure, Law of Moses, covenant stipulations The Covenantal Structure of the Old Testament: Plain and Precious Parts Restored, John Gee and Taylor Halverson, Meridian Magazine, February 13, 2018. Gee, John and Halverson, Taylor, "Insights on Covenants from the Five Books of Moses" (2018). Faculty Publications. 10032. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/10032 Peer-Reviewed Article Meridian Magazine Marriott School of Business DOWNLOADS COinS
What We Learn About Marriage from the Garden of Eden
What We Learn About Marriage from the Garden of Eden Keywords Adam and Eve, eternal marriage, ancient Hebrew marriage terminology Abstract Latter-day Saints believe that God married Adam and Eve in (or before) the garden of Eden. We believe this on the basis of teachings of modern prophets, but there are indications in the text of Genesis that this is the case. Marriage takes two individuals from different families and creates a new family from them.
Israel’s Abuse of “Blood Libel” Claim
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, November/December 2026, pp. xx-xx Special Report IN THE SUMMER OF 1255, in the English town of Lincoln, a 9-year-old boy named Hugh went missing. His body was later discovered in a well. Accusations were made that he had been kidnapped by members of the local Jewish community and held prisoner.
Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon III—Behold
Keywords Book of Mormon verbal punctuation, Hebrew correspondence, Joseph Smith usage contrast Abstract As an ancient book, the Book of Mormon employed verbal punctuation rather than typographical punctuation. An example of this verbal punctuation is the word behold, which is used in the Book of Mormon to point things out, to highlight unexpected effects of situations, and to modify a previously expressed proposition. This corresponds to ancient Hebrew usage.
Beyond Adolescence
WITH its story of a boy accused of murdering a girl after his mind is poisoned through his social media reading, the Netflix series “Adolescence” has deservedly won praise from its many viewers and stimulated debate on how to counter the toxic influences to which many young males’ online viewing exposes them. However, this focus may be too narrow. The culture of male entitlement and violence is a broader problem.
Dictionary of Proper Names & Foreign Words in the Book of Mormon
Download Download Full Text (8.8 MB) Download 01_Table of Contents.pdf (573 KB) Download 02_Acknowledgments.pdf (512 KB) Download 03_Introduction.pdf (528 KB) Download 04_What to Know.pdf (612 KB) Download 05_Summary Observations.pdf (549 KB) Download 06_Dictionary.pdf (6.9 MB) Download 07_Variants.pdf (1.7 MB) Download 08_Bibliography.pdf (883 KB) Download 09_Indexes.pdf (1.1 MB) Interpreter Foundation Interpreter Foundation Book of Mormon, proper names, onomasticon, ancient languages Mormon...
Massachusetts Democrats want opposition to Trump. The rest of the state? Not so much.
THIS WEEK, Sen. Cory Booker held the Senate floor for a record-breaking 25 hours to protest actions taken during the first two months of the Trump administration. The New Jersey Democrat said the harm being caused demanded action that would call out the administration and show a willingness to fight back.
The Day After in Gaza
by John Gee From early on in the war in Gaza, there was talk at an international level about who would run that densely populated enclave on “the day after”—rather more than what would become of its people. Various ideas were floated. Pushed to offer any definite ideas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proposed that a council composed of heads of clans and prominent families opposed to Hamas could be appointed, but none wished to play along.
Tariffs and the US’ fentanyl problem
Published Wed, Feb 5, 2025 · 05:00 AM THE tariffs that US President Donald Trump has threatened to slap on his country’s three largest trading partners have been justified, in part, as measures to counter the flow of the drug fentanyl into the United States. The US government claims that China produces fentanyl and Mexico and Canada allow it to pass through their territory into the US.
Of Tolerance and Intolerance
Keywords tolerance, intolerance, childhood innocence Abstract In graduate school I was disheartened to find that while the school promoted tolerance as the highest virtue, such tolerance was more often honored in the breach. Tolerance was used as an excuse for hatred and bigotry. This is because it is simply impossible to tolerate everything. One cannot tolerate both childhood innocence and pedophilia (to take an extreme example). One must choose what one will tolerate.
Superheroes checked
Where it once made moviegoers believe “a man can fly!”, CGI no longer dazzles these days, especially if the film’s script and storyline don’t fly Published Sat, Dec 7, 2024 · 05:00 AM SOME film genres have enduring appeal, others come and go. The Western perhaps had its heyday in the 1950s, but since then has had limited appeal, despite the occasional film such as Silverado (1985) prompting speculation about a revival of the Western’s fortunes.
Shulem, One of the King’s Principal Waiters
Keywords Shulem, Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith papyri Abstract Shulem is mentioned once in the Book of Abraham. All we are told about him is his name and title. Using onomastics, the study of names, and the study of titles, we can find out more about Shulem than would at first appear. The form of Shulem's name is attested only at two times: the time period of Abraham and the time period of the Joseph Smith papyri.
Not Just Sour Grapes: Jesus’s Interpretation of Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard
Home > Journals > INTERPRETER > Vol. 28 () sour grapes, Jesus's interpretation, Isaiah's song of the vineyard Gee, John (2018) "Not Just Sour Grapes: Jesus’s Interpretation of Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 28, Article 5. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol28/iss1/5 COinS
Conclusions in Search of Evidence
Keywords attitudes, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jana Riess Abstract Riess’s book surveying the beliefs and behaviors of younger members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was supposed to compare the attitudes of younger generations with those of older generations. Unfortunately, flaws in the design, execution, and analysis of the survey prevent it from being what it was supposed to be.
"Taking Stock" by John Gee
Keywords Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith Papers, commentary Abstract In a response to my review of their Book of Abraham and Related Manuscripts volume, the series editors of the Joseph Smith Papers provided feedback and commentary on two important items. There are other, unaddressed issues this rejoinder examines. Recommended Citation Gee, John (2020) "Taking Stock," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 34, Article 11.
Jesus’s Courtroom in John
Keywords Jesus's courtroom, John, New Testament, divine judgment Abstract John Gee gives us a sketch of the divine judgment as presented in the gospel of John.
Four Idolatrous Gods in the Book of Abraham
Keywords Book of Abraham, idolatrous gods, Joseph Smith Abstract Although unknown as deities in Joseph Smith’s day, the names of four associated idolatrous gods (Elkenah, Libnah, Mahmackrah, and Korash) mentioned in the Book of Abraham are attested anciently. Two of them are known to have connections with the practices attributed to them in the Book of Abraham. The odds of Joseph Smith guessing the names correctly is astronomical.
Fantasy and Reality in the Translation of the Book of Abraham
Keywords fantasy, reality, translation, Book of Abraham Abstract The volume editors of The Joseph Smith Papers Revelations and Translations: Volume 4 propose a theory of translation of the Book of Abraham that is at odds with the documents they publish and with other documents and editorial comments published in the other volumes of the Joseph Smith Papers Project.
"Prolegomena to a Study of the Egyptian Alphabet Documents in the Josep" by John Gee
Home > Journals > INTERPRETER > Vol. 42 () Egyptian Alphabet documents, Joseph Smith Papers, translation process Gee, John (2021) "Prolegomena to a Study of the Egyptian Alphabet Documents in the Joseph Smith Papers," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 42, Article 8. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol42/iss1/8 COinS
“Put Off Thy Shoes from Off Thy Feet”: Sandals and Sacred Space
Keywords sandals, sacred space, Egyptian temple, Egyptians Abstract While many have written on ancient temples looking at the big picture, John Gee discusses one small detail on a single Egyptian temple from the New Kingdom. He focuses on depictions of Ramses III in and out of the temple of Medinet Habu. Outside the temple and when entering and leaving there are depictions of him wearing sandals. Inside the temple proper the king is always shown barefoot.
The Implications of Some Standard Assumptions of New Testament Scholars: Responding to a Modern Anti-Christ
Keywords atonement, Jesus Christ, Raphael Lataster, Bart Ehrman Abstract In a recent book, Raphael Lataster correctly argues that the acceptance of the general premises of New Testament scholarship, exemplified in the writings of Bart Ehrman, brings into question whether Jesus ever existed.
US election points to growing public alienation
AMID all the post-US presidential election analyses, one thing that’s not receiving as much attention as it should is the high percentage of non-voters. Some 40 per cent of the estimated 244.7 million Americans eligible to vote in 2024 did not do so. This means that “Did Not Vote” accounted for a bigger share of the electorate than Donald Trump or Kamala Harris gained individually.
Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon I: (And) Now
Home > Journals > INTERPRETER > Vol. 50 (2024) Book of Mormon, verbal punctuation, and now Gee, John (2022) "Verbal Punctuation in the Book of Mormon I: (And) Now," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 50, Article 5. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol50/iss1/5 DOWNLOADS COinS
Ten Views on the Falling Away
Latter-day Saints have long known about the falling away or Apostasy of Christianity from the Church established by Jesus Christ. The two terms both come from 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Falling away is the expression used by the King James translators to render the Greek word apostasia, which came into English as a loan word: apostasy. The terms are thus synonyms for the same thing.
British Election: Little Choice for Palestine Supporters
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, August/September 2024, pp. xx-xx Special Report CONTRARY TO EXPECTATIONS that he’d call a general election in the fall, British premier Rishi Sunak announced that elections would take place on July 4. His Conservative Party has seen its support plummet in successive opinion polls, and matters did not improve for it as the election campaign unfolded. The Labour Party was expected to achieve a decisive majority.
Britain votes
Published Thu, Jul 4, 2024 · 05:00 AM IN BRITAIN, there’s a time in late summer when media people talk about being in the “silly season”. That’s when there does not seem to be much real news to report and so pages and screens are filled with trivia. This year, it came early, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unexpectedly called a general election. The Conservatives were expected to lose heavily, but might have done even worse if the voting had taken place in the autumn.
How important is competitiveness? Consider history of Fall River and New Bedford mills Original
It’s rare for a work of academic history to brim with as much contemporary relevance as Manufacturing Catastrophe: Massachusetts and the Making of Global Capitalism, 1813 to the Present. Through 200 years of manufacturing in the South Coast communities of Fall River and New Bedford, Shaun Nichols outlines cycles of growth and decline in multiple industries.
Questioning competitiveness
Manufacturing Catastrophe: Massachusetts and the Making of Global Capitalism, 1813 to the Present By Shaun S. Nichols 378 pages, Oxford University Press IT’S RARE FOR a work of academic history to brim with as much contemporary relevance as Manufacturing Catastrophe: Massachusetts and the Making of Global Capitalism, 1813 to the Present.
What We Learn About Marriage from the Garden of Eden
Sign up for Meridian’s Free Newsletter, please CLICK HERE Cover image via Wikimedia Commons. Latter-day Saints believe that God married Adam and Eve in (or before) the garden of Eden. We believe this on the basis of teachings of modern prophets, but there are indications in the text of Genesis that this is the case. Marriage takes two individuals from different families and creates a new family from them.
Girl Upstairs - HorrorBuzz
For many of us, part of our daily routine involves stepping outside our homes for a variety of reasons – be it for our jobs, for appointments, or to send our kids off to school or activities. It’s a normal, repetitive aspect of human existence to have to cross the threshold of our private domiciles and interact with the outside world. What happens, though, when the mere thought of this aspect becomes something of paralyzing, all-consuming fear?
Solidarity With Palestine in Europe and Singapore
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, June/July 2024, pp. xx-xx Special Report Mr. President, as you know, the Irish people are deeply troubled about the catastrophe that’s unfolding before our eyes in Gaza. And when I travel the world, leaders often ask me why the Irish have such empathy for the Palestinian people. And the answer is simple: We see our history in their eyes.
Ructions Over Palestine in Britain, France and Germany
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, May 2024, pp. xx-xx Special Report THERE WAS MUCH SOUND and fury in Britain’s parliament on Feb. 21 over the Scottish National Party (SNP) motion for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war. It wasn’t the ceasefire that generated discord but rather a row over procedure. A Labour Party amendment to the SNP motion was given first preference in debate in the House of Commons by the speaker over both the SNP’s motion and a Conservative amendment.
Retaliation? Revenge? Or Policy?
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, March/April 2024, pp. xx-xx Special Report IN INTERNATIONAL LAW and in the eyes of the global public—at least, in non-belligerent countries—war should not be waged on civilians. They may unavoidably be killed or injured in the course of military operations, but they must not be deliberately targeted. And yet, they often are. In Israel’s campaign in the Gaza Strip, more than 24,000 people had been killed by mid-January—1 percent of the population.
No middle ground on campus McCarthyism
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No middle ground on campus McCarthyism
WITH CLAUDINE GAY’S resignation, the McCarthyism that has been ravaging public higher education in red states has notched a victory against Harvard. University leaders there and elsewhere must be clear-eyed: The right-wing activists who saw this through will not be satisfied to draw blood from their great nemesis, and they will not rest content with a sacking based on real misconduct.
Voices from South-East Asia
Washington Report on Center East Affairs, January/February 2024, pp. 15-16 4 Views: The World Reacts to Israel’s Assaults on Gaza THE STRONGEST REACTION in South-East Asia towards Israel’s assault on Gaza got here, predictably, from its Muslim-majority states—Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, however as Palestinian civilian casualties mounted, there was broad help for requires a direct ceasefire. When the United Nations Normal Meeting voted on the Jordanian ceasefire decision on Oct.
Voices from South-East Asia
… More people are reading the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Our independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters – because it might well be your perspective, too. Unlike many news organizations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want our journalism to remain free and open to everyone.
Hundreds of Thousands Defy Campaign of Lies and Intimidation in Britain
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, January/February 2024, pp. 44-45 Special Report BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS condemned Hamas’ killing of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 and asserted that Israel had the right to act in self-defense when it launched its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Over the following weeks, both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer voiced concerns over the suffering of Palestinian civilians, but cleaved loyally to the U.S. position of opposing a ceasefire.
Hundreds of Thousands Defy Campaign of Lies and Intimidation in Britain
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, January/February 2024, pp. xx-xx Special Report BRITISH PARLIAMENTARIANS condemned Hamas’ killing of Israeli civilians on Oct. 7 and asserted that Israel had the right to act in self-defense when it launched its attacks on the Gaza Strip. Over the following weeks, both Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer voiced concerns over the suffering of Palestinian civilians, but cleaved loyally to the U.S. position of opposing a ceasefire.
Abrahamic Legends and Lore
Keywords Book of Abraham, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, legends, lore, Bible studies Abstract As a central figure in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, there are many extrabiblical traditions about the life of the patriarch Abraham. These sources are important to study because they may contain distant memories of real events in Abraham’s life.
"Ask the Right Questions and Keep Looking" by Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee et al.
Keywords Book of Abraham, investigation, scripture study, facsimiles Abstract As the preceding has shown, the Book of Abraham is an inexhaustible source of exploration and critical investigation, and the work of scholarly examination into this book shows no signs of slowing. On the contrary, we see multiple welcoming avenues for additional study.
The Plain of Olishem
Keywords Book of Abraham, location, Olishem, Ur of the Chaldees Abstract The opening chapter of the Book of Abraham mentions a location called “the plain of Olishem” (Abr. 1:10). It isn’t clear from the text whether the plain itself was Olishem, or whether Olishem was some city or region in the area to which the plain was adjacent, or whether the plain takes its name from a major city on the plain.
The "Kirtland Egyptian Papers" and the Book of Abraham
Keywords Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith papyri, translation Abstract Associated with the translation of the Book of Abraham is a collection of documents commonly known today as the “Kirtland Egyptian Papers.” This name was coined by Hugh Nibley in the early 1970s to describe a corpus of manuscripts that can be classified into, broadly, two categories: Book of Abraham manuscripts and Egyptian-language manuscripts (or manuscripts that “focus on alphabet and grammar material that the authors...
"The Relationship between the Book of Abraham and the Joseph Smith Papy" by Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee et al.
Abstract It is clear that Joseph Smith’s inspired translation of the Book of Abraham was connected to the Egyptian papyri he acquired in summer 1835. However, less clear is the precise relationship between the Book of Abraham text and the papyri. “Several theories posit ways in which the Book of Abraham text relates to the papyri. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints maintains that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Abraham from papyri, but they do not specify which papyri.
The Priesthood Ban and the Book of Abraham
Keywords Book of Abraham, priesthood ban, curse in the land, Pharaoh Abstract The Book of Abraham preserves an account of the founding of Egypt (Abr. 1:23–27) and mentions the origins of a “curse in the land” (v. 24) pertaining to the priesthood among the descendants of Ham. “The land of Egypt,” the text says, was “first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus” (v. 23).
The Name of the Lord
Abstract On two occasions in the Book of Abraham, the Lord reveals to Abraham his true name: Jehovah. The first incident was when Abraham had a “vision of the Almighty,” wherein “the angel of [the Lord’s] presence” rescued him from being sacrificed in Ur of the Chaldees and made early allusions to a future covenant relationship (Abr. 1:15).
"Potiphar's Hill" by Stephen O. Smoot, John Gee et al.
Keywords Book of Abraham, Potiphar, Olishem, location, priest of Pharaoh, Shagreel, idol worship Abstract Besides Ur of the Chaldees and the plain of Olishem, one of the geographical features of the Book of Abraham is a location called Potiphar’s Hill, which is said to be “at the head of the plain of Olishem” in the land of Chaldea (Abr. 1:10). It was at this hill that “the priest of Pharaoh”— who was also in the service of a solar deity named Shagreel—made offerings on an altar (vv. 9–10).
By His Own Hand upon Papyrus
Keywords Book of Abraham, Joseph Smith papyri, translation Abstract In the current (2013) edition of the Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Abraham is prefaced with this explanatory head: “A Translation of some ancient Records that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt.
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