Religious Studies Center Books

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not established in any part of South America until a hundred years after the restoration of the Church. In 1925 Elders Melvin J. Ballard, Rulon S. Wells, and Rey L. Pratt dedicated South America for the preaching of the gospel and organized the South American Mission. This book examines the beginning of the Church in South America and the different approaches to missionary work during this period. As Elder Ballard accurately predicted, “The work of the Lord will grow slowly for a time here just as an oak grows slowly from an acorn. . . . The South American Mission will be a power in the Church.” South American members now represent over 25 percent of all Church members worldwide.

The latter part of the Book of Mormon’s book of Alma is sometimes referred to as “the war chapters.” However, the relevant chapters are much more complex than often assumed, focusing on the nature of covenant, the love of God, and the way human beings establish their identities. The record alerts readers to challenges uniquely faced by women, the difficulty of handling complicated relationships, and the need to make good choices. The text enlightens its adherents about the meaning of scripture in different contexts, how prophets intervene on behalf of the downtrodden and look to God’s future interventions in the world, and what it means to see God in the concrete details of life.

This collection of essays is designed to assist teachers and students of the Old Testament in deepening their understanding of this sacred scripture and fostering a closer relationship with God. Recognizing that Old Testament cultures and peoples may be unfamiliar to many readers, the editors have compiled works from Latter-day Saint scholars to enhance comprehension. The essays, written from diverse perspectives, explore the law, the writings, and the prophets, aiming to nurture God’s word in our hearts and enrich the lives of those we teach.

This volume contains a new English translation of Genesis, translated directly from the Hebrew Bible into the language of today’s English speakers. The translation is followed by commentary intended to help readers navigate through this first book of the Bible. Joseph Smith’s 1830–32 translation of Genesis is also included, with its additions and revisions placed where they appear in their original context.