FARMS Book of Mormon Research Updates of the 2000s

            In for previous decades (the 1980s and 1990s) FARMS has published anthologies of their Book of Mormon Research Updates.[1] But the most recent decade past (2000-2009) no such volume has been forth-coming and recent events lead me to believe it will not be coming at any time in the future. I have found the previous collections to be quite helpful, and have regerted not having a similar volume for the more recent updates. So, I decided to prepare this bibliography of Book of Mormon research updates from the 2000s. I have included the few (6) additional updates from 2010 to the present. I decided I should share this with other interested parties, so here it is; with a notes and clarifications about organization, authorship attribution, etc. I have also made this available as a google doc. I hope you find this resource useful. Enjoy!

Notes and Clarifications

• I use the term “Book of Mormon Research Updates” loosely. It also includes some book excerpts printed in Insights, and a few of the studies are more geared toward the Bible, early Christianity, early Mormon history, or other topics, but have some tie-ins to the Book of Mormon that I thought would be worth having readily available. I generally avoided the announcements of a new book, etc. (even if the book was Book of Mormon related), with the exception of announcements of new volumes in the Critical Text Project, which I included because they typically included highlights from Skousen’s analysis that I thought would be nice to have all gathered up (especially for those who, like me, don’t have easy access to the bulky and expensive CTP volumes).  
• Following the pattern set by Reexploring and Pressing Forward, I organized the items by scripture reference. Of course, many of the articles are relevant to multiple scriptures, and so deciding which scripture to place it under was often arbitrary on my part. I don’t pretend that my judgment was perfect on that matter in the least bit. 
• When items were written by an unidentified author, I attributed them to the person(s) whose research was being reported. This is consistent with the authorship attribution of chapters from Reexploring and Pressing Forward in the online format, and with how I have seen those chapters cited in other works. There were a couple of items that I could not tie to anyone in particular, which are attributed to “Author(s) Unknown”
•  I identify each item by an author(s), its title, the volume/number of Insights it appears in, and link to the article. In a few instances, the article isn’t provided online. In those instances have been notated and are linked to the Insights volume/number it is in, where you can then go to the PDF file to read the article.

Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon/Introductory Information/Miscellaneous Items

John Gee, “Egyptian Writing on Gold ‘Plates’,” Insights 22/6 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=6

***URL for article doesn’t work; open PDF file***

John A. Tvedtnes, “Etruscan Gold Book from 600 BC Discovered,” Insights 23/5 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=5&id=357

Author(s) Unknown, “More Gold Plates,” Insights 25/3 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=3&id=427

Author(s) Unknown, “Another Gold Book Found,” Insights 25/6 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=6&id=442

Warren P. Aston, “The Rings That Bound the Gold Plates Together,” Insights 26/3 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=3&id=460

Michael F. Whiting, “The Book of Mormon at the Bar of DNA ‘Evidence’,” Insights 23/2 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=2&id=334

John W. Welch, “Hugh Nibley and the Book of Mormon,” Insights 25/1 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=1&id=417

Matthew Roper, Paul Fields, and Atul Nepal, “Wordprint Analysis and Joseph Smith’s Role as Editor of the Times and Seasons,” Insights 30/6 (2010); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=30&num=6&id=923

1 Nephi

Matthew L. Bowen, “Internal Textual Evidence for the Egyptian Origin of Nephi’s Name,” Insights 22/11 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=11&id=301 (1 Nephi 1:1)

John A. Tvedtnes, “More on the River Laman,” Insights 25/3 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=3&id=426 (1 Nephi 2:6)

S. Kent Brown, “Lehi’s Sacrifices in the Wilderness,” Insights 21/9 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=9&id=214 (1 Nephi 2:7)

Matthew Roper, “Lehi as a Visionary Man,” Insights 27/4 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=4&id=511 (1 Nephi 2:11)

David E. Bokovoy, “‘Let Us Be Strong’: Nephi’s Courage in the Context of Ancient Near Eastern Military Exhortations,” Insights 22/9 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=9&id=263 (1 Nephi 4:2-3)

Ariel E. Bybee, “The Mother’s Role in Teaching Religious Values – Jerusalem, 600 BC,” Insights 24/5 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=5&id=403 (1 Nephi 5:8)

Allen J. Christensen, “The Popol Vuh and Mormon Studies,” Insights 20/7 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=7&id=145 (1 Nephi 5:10-14)

Royal Skousen, “Restoring the Original Text of the Book of Mormon,” Insights 24/4 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=4&id=396 (1 Nephi 8:31)

Kevin Christensen, “Nephi, Wisdom, and the Deuteronomist Reform,” Insights 23/2 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=2&id=344 (1 Nephi 11:9-11)

John W. Welch, “Fasting in Earliest Christianity,” Insights 21/9 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=9&id=217 (1 Nephi 13:28, 39)

Matthew L. Bowen, “‘What Meaneth the Rod of Iron’?,” Insights 25/2 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=2&id=421 (1 Nephi 15:23-24)

Ronald A. Harris, Eugene E. Clark, Jeffrey D. Keith, and Wm. Revell Phillips, “Iron Ore Occurrences in Oman,” Insights 20/5 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=5&id=134 (1 Nephi 17:9-10)

John L. Sorenson, “Scholar Reviews Future Directions in Book of Mormon Research,” Insights 21/4 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=4&id=192 (1 Nephi 18:23)

Warren P. Aston, “El Nino and Lehi’s Voyage Revisited,” Insights 27/6 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=6&id=532 (1 Nephi 18:23)

Cory Daniel Crawford, “Ancient Exegesis and the Study of Scripture,” Insights 24/4 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=4&id=393 (1 Nephi 19:23)

John A. Tvedtnes and E. Jan Wilson, “The Prophet Like Moses,” Insights 27/5 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=5&id=528 (1 Nephi 22:20)

2 Nephi

Carl W. Griffin, “Early Christianity and the Question of Evil,” Insights 22/7 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=7&id=315 (2 Nephi 2:11)

David E. Bokovoy, “Inverted Quotations in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 20/10 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=10&id=158 (2 Nephi 2:15)

John A. Tvedtnes, “Joseph’s Prophecy of Moses and Aaron,” Insights 21/1 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=1&id=178 (2 Nephi 3:9-10)

Grant Hardy, “Of Punctuation and Parentage,” Insights 24/2 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=2&id=377 (2 Nephi 4:3)

John A. Tvedtnes, “Reflections of Nephi’s Vision in His Psalm,” Insights 20/2 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=2&id=108 (2 Nephi 4: 16-35)

Matthew L. Bowen, “‘He Shall Add’: Wordplay on the Name Joseph and an Early Instance of Gezera Shawa in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 30/2 (2010); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=30&num=2&id=904 (2 Nephi 25:17)

Paul Y. Hoskisson, “The ‘Familiar Spirit’ in 2 Nephi 26:16,” Insights 28/6 (2008); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=28&num=6&id=580 (2 Nephi 26:16)

Grant Hardy, “2 Nephi 26 and 27 as Midrash,” Insights 24/5 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=5&id=399 (2 Nephi 26:15-16)

Paul Mouritsen, “Bound with Flaxen Cords,” Insights 21/4 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=4&id=190 (2 Nephi 26:22)

John W. Welch, “Doubled, Sealed, and Witnesses Documents,” Insights 21/6 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=6&id=200 (2 Nephi 27:8, 15)

Royal Skousen, “Textual Analysis of Book of Mormon Continues,” Insights 25/4 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=4&id=432 (2 Nephi 30:6)

Michael B. Parker, “Nephi’s Later Reflections on the Tree of Life Vision,” Insights 22/5 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=5 (2 Nephi 31:2)

***URL for article doesn’t work; open PDF file***

Jacob

Wm. Lyle Stamps, “Divine Speech Texts in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 20/4 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=4&id=123 (Jacob 2: 27-33) 

***Chart missing on the webpage***

John A. Tvedtnes, “Atonement and the Temple,” Insights 25/6 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=6&id=441 (Jacob 4:11-12)

Kevin Christensen, “Jacob’s Connections to the First Temple Traditions,” Insights 23/4 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=4&id=355 (Jacob 4:14)

Paul Y. Hoskisson, “Missing the Mark,” Insights 29/2 (2009); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=29&num=2&id=590 (Jacob 4:14)

Royal Skousen, “The Pleading Bar of God,” Insights 24/4 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=4&id=390 (Jacob 6:13)

Enos

Matthew L. Bowen, “Wordplay on the Name ‘Enos’,” Insights 26/3 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=3&id=459 (Enos 1:1)

John A. Tvedtnes and Matthew Roper, “Jacob and Enos: Wrestling before God,” Insights 21/5 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=5&id=194 (Enos 1:2)

Royal Skousen, “The Archaic Vocabulary of the Book of Mormon,” Insights 25/5 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=5&id=436 (Enos 1:18)

Matthew Roper, “Mesoamerican ‘Cimeters’ in Book of Mormon Times,” Insights 28/1 (2008); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=28&num=1&id=546 (Enos 1:20)

Matthew Roper, “Deer as ‘Goat’ and Pre-Columbian Domesticate,” Insights 26/6 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=6&id=474 (Enos 1:21)

Mosiah

John A. Tvedtnes, “A Note on Benjamin and Lehi,” Insights 22/11 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=11&id=304 (Mosiah 1:2-6)

John A. Tvedtnes and Matthew Roper, “Firstlings, Sacrifices, and Burnt Offerings,” Insights 26/5 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=5&id=469 (Mosiah 2:3)

Barbara Cramer, “Which Path Do We List?” Insights 24/6 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=6&id=407 (Mosiah 2:32, 33, 37)

John Gee, “Book of Mormon Word Usage: ‘Seal You His’,” Insights 22/1 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=1&id=227 (Mosiah 5:15)

David E. Bokovoy and Pedro Olavarria, “Zarahemla: Revisiting the ‘Seed of Compassion’,” Insights 30/5 (2010); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=30&num=5&id=917 (Mosiah 9:2)

John L. Sorenson, “The New World Promised Lands Economic Base,” Insgihts 23/5 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=5&id=362 (Mosiah 10:4-5)

Alan Goff, “Abinadi’s Disguise and the Fate of King Noah,” Inisghts 20/12 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=12&id=175 (Mosiah 12:1)

John Gee, “Book of Mormon Word Usage: To Cross Oneself,” Insights 21/6 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=6&id=203 (Mosiah 12:19)

Matthew L. Bowen, “‘And He Was a Young Man’: The Literary Preservation of Alma’s Autobiographical Wordplay,” Insights 30/4 (2010); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=30&num=4&id=913 (Mosiah 17:2)

Brant A. Gardner, “Scourging with Faggots,” Insights 21/7 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=7&id=205 (Mosiah 17:13)

Royal Skousen, “‘Scourged’ vs. ‘Scorched’ in Mosiah 17:13,” Insights 22/3 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=3&id=234 (Mosiah 17:13)

Ross Geddes, “Patrick Henry, Gideon, and the Book of Mormon,” Insights 24/3 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=3&id=384 (Mosiah 20:22)

John A. Tvedtnes, “King Mosiah and Judgeship,” Insights 20/11 (2000) and Insights 23/1 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=11&id=163; http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=1&id=326 (Mosiah 29:1-6)

Alma

John A. Tvedtnes, “Confession of Sins before Execution,” Insights 23/5 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=5&id=358 (Alma 1:15)

Royal Skousen, “Latest Findings in the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project,” Insights 26/3 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=3&id=457 (Alma 11:2)

David E. Bokovoy, “A Place of Deliverance: Altars in the Hebrew Bible and Book of Mormon,” Insights 21/2 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=2&id=180 (Alma 15:17)

Paul Y. Hoskisson, “What’s in a Name? Sebus,” Insights 32/1 (2012); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=32&num=1&id=985 (Alma 17:26)

Matthew Roper, “Travel Across the ‘Narrow Neck of Land’,” Insights 20/5 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=5&id=132 (Alma 22:32)

Kevin L. Barney and David Linn, “Let Us Stain Our Swords No More,” Insights 22/1 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=1&id=226 (Alma 24:12)

Paul Y. Hoskisson, “Jeremiah’s Game,” Insights 30/1 (2010); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=30&num=1&id=895 (Alma 33:3)

Kristen S. Heal, “Look to God and Live,” Insights 26/2 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=2&id=454 (Alma 33:20)

Royal Skousen, “Book of Mormon Critical Text Project Continues with New Volume,” Insights 27/4 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=4&id=510 (Alma 33:21)

John A. Tvedtnes and Matthew Roper, “Scripture Insight: ‘Do Not Procrastinate the Day of Your Repentance,” Insights 20/10 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=10&id=160 (Alma 34:32-34)

Matthew Roper, “Teraphim and the Urim and Thummim,” Insights 20/9 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=9&id=154 (Alma 37:23, 25)

Royal Skousen, “Book Excerpt: Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon,” Insights 27/2 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=2&id=500 (Alma 43:13-14)

Matthew Roper, “Joseph’s Coat and Moroni’s Covenant of Liberty,” Insights 22/10 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=10&id=277 (Alma 46:21-23)

John A. Tvedtnes, “The Remnant of Joseph,” Insights 20/8 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=8&id=150 (Alma 46:23-24, 27)

Helaman

Kevin L. Barney, “‘Slippery Treasures’ in the Book of Mormon: A Concept from the Ancient World,” Insights 20/6 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=6&id=140 (Helaman 3:13)

John L. Sorenson, “Worth Repeating: ‘The Book of Mormon as a Mesoamerican Record’,” Insights 27/5 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=5&id=526 (Helaman 3:15)

David E. Bokovoy, “Repetitive Resumption in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 27/1 (2007); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=27&num=1&id=482 (Helaman 5:5-14)

Matthew Roper, “Was Aminadab a Zoramite?,” Insights 24/1 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=1&id=371 (Helaman 5:41)

John A. Tvedtnes, “Hiding the Secret Plans,” Insights 22/8 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=8&id=318 (Helaman 6:27)

Royal Skousen, “Book of Mormon Project Continues with New Volume,” Insights 28/4 (2008); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=28&num=4&id=574 (Helaman 10:8-9)

David E. Bokovoy, “Love vs. Hate: An Analysis of Helaman 15:1-4,” Insights 22/2 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=2&id=230 (Helaman 15:1-4)

3 Nephi

Matthew Roper, “Possible Book of Mormon Parallel,” Insights 20/10 (2000); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=20&num=10&id=161 (3 Nephi 7:1-4)

Benjamin R. Jordan, “Investigating New World Volcanism at the Time of Christ’s Death,” Insights 23/6 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=6&id=488 (3 Nephi 8:11-12)

Matthew Roper, “A Note on Volcanism and the Book of Mormon,” Insights 29/4 (2009); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=29&num=4&id=854 (3 Nephi 8:14)

John L. Sorenson, “The Submergence of the City of Jerusalem in the Land of Nephi,” Insights 22/4 (2002); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=22&num=4&id=238 (3 Nephi 9:7)

Mormon

Matthew L. Bowen, “‘O Ye Fair Ones’: An Additional Note on the Meaning of the Name Nephi,” Insights 23/6 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=6&id=369 (Mormon 6:17-19)

Corbin T. Volluz, “O Death, Where Is They Sting?,” Insights 25/6 (2005); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=25&num=6&id=440 (Mormon 7:5)

John A. Tvedtnes, “Inscribed Gold Plate Fits Book of Mormon Pattern,” Insights 28/1 (2008); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=28&num=1&id=547 (Mormon 9:33)

Ether

John L. Sorenson, “Towers in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 21/2 (2001); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=21&num=2&id=181 (Ether 1:3, 5, 33)

Royal Skousen, “Book of Mormon Critical Text Project Completes Text Analysis,” Insights 29/3 (2009); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=29&num=3&id=800 (Ether 1:11-12)

Matthew Roper, “Book of Mormon Swords in Mesoamerican Antiquity,” Insights 28/2 (2008); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=28&num=2&id=564 (Ether 15:30)

Moroni

John Gee, “Quotations of the Sealed Portions of the Book of Mormon,” Insights 24/6 (2004); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=24&num=6&id=406 (Moroni 2:7)

Matthew Roper, “The Baptism of Little Children in Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica,” Insights 23/3 (2003); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=23&num=3 (Moroni 8:8)

***No URL for article; open PDF***

Ben Spackman, “Negative Questions in the Book of Mormon,” Insights 26/4 (2006); http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/insights/?vol=26&num=4&id=465 (Moroni 10:4)

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[1] See John W. Welch, ed., Reexploring the Book of Mormon: A Decade of New Research (Provo, UT: FARMS, 1992); and John W. Welch and Melvin J. Thorne, eds., Pressing Forward with the Book of Mormon: The FARMS Updates of the 1990s (Provo, UT: FARMS, 1999).