TRE 11.3 Contents

How to Communicate Effectively

President Thomas S. Monson

Making a Case for Church History

Elder Marlin K. Jensen

Doctrine and Covenants 21: History as Witness

Steven L. Olsen

Return to the Joseph Smith Family Farm

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Donald L. Enders, and Larry C. Porter

Angels in the Age of Railways

Steven C. Harper

On Agency

D. Morgan Davis

Egypt in the Bible

An Interview with Kerry Muhlestein

The Seal of Melchizedek

Alonzo L. Gaskill

“This Is My Gospel”: Jesus’ Discourse in 3 Nephi

Andrew C. Skinner

Suffering for the Savior’s Sake

Aaron Snyder

“The Unspeakable Gift of the Holy Ghost”

P. Scott Ferguson

A House of Faith

Margaret McConkie Pope

A Career in Seminaries and Institutes

Barbara Morgan, Gary Moore, and LaNell Moore

Called to Serve for a Season: Church Callings and Releases

Lloyd D. Newell

Half a Century of Teaching

Susan Easton Black and Richard O. Cowan

“That All May Be Edified”

In May 1831, the Lord revealed, “Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:22). Applying this revelation to publishing, the one who writes and the one who reads also understand each another, and both are edified.

This is the last issue of the Religious Educator on which I serve as editor. After my mission call, Robert L. Millet was named publications director and editor of the Religious Educator. I look forward to future issues under his able leadership.

My association with the Religious Studies Center started as it does for most people—I was a consumer reading publications produced by the Religious Studies Center (RSC). Once I came to BYU in 1993 my role changed as I became a contributor to the RSC through the submission of books and articles for publication. I remember walking from the Joseph Smith Building to the Heber J. Grant Building (HGB) to visit Kent P. Jackson, who was serving as the publications director at the time. Kent is one of the best technical editors on campus. With his amazing student staff, he produced wonderful books at the RSC. I feel fortunate to have had Kent’s hand make my projects better than they would have been otherwise.

Later, Bob Millet, then dean of Religious Education, asked me to take the reins of a new RSC project, the Religious Educator. Eventually I moved to the HGB, where I worked with Richard D. Draper, then publications director. When Richard became associate dean, I took his former position. We eventually merged operations for the Religious Educator with the publication of RSC books and the RSC Newsletter. It has been a wonderful ten-year journey—I have learned a lot along the way.

I hope that while browsing the pages of the Religious Educator during the last decade you have been edified—learning something new or something to improve your classroom experience. We have tried to publish essays that would bless not only the lives of those who produced them (writing always seems to clarify one’s thinking on a topic) but also those who would read them. It takes effort to produce three issues each year that will edify both the writer and the reader. Fortunately, we have been blessed with a number of thoughtful and well-written contributions. As I have read them several times before they were published, their messages have influenced me not only in a classroom setting or in my own research and writing activities but also in the way I think and act. Many articles have become classics—both timely and timeless. Of course, the journal would not have become what it is without the efforts of Ted D. Stoddard (associate editor), R. Devan Jensen (executive editor), Brent R. Nordgren (production manager), Joany O. Pinegar (administrative assistant), and the good people at Stephen Hales Creative. Enjoy!

Richard Neitzel Holzapfel

Editor