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Jared W. Ludlow (jared_ludlow@byu.edu) is the Publications Director of the BYU Religious Studies Center.
The appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith in 1820 opened a new era of the most significant spiritual experiences since the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the miracles of the early Apostles. The subsequent bringing forth of new scripture and the restoration of teachings and authority advanced God’s salvation history for his children here in mortality. An intermediate step between the First Vision and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon was Moroni’s visit to Joseph Smith on September 21, 1823. The ancient prophet began preparing a new prophet to receive and translate sacred records. In the bicentennial commemoration of this event, Steve Harper reviews the impact this visit had on young Joseph Smith as he began maturing in his spiritual role as God’s instrument of the initial Restoration.
In this issue, we highlight the publication of the first of several planned volumes of Brigham Young’s journals. The first volume preserves the journal entries by Brigham Young himself (rather than by church historians or secretaries, as later happened) and includes helpful descriptions of people and places named.
We review the development and growth of several BYU activities that help teach and expand our knowledge of the gospel and restored church. Ken Alford and Anthony Sweat discuss the formation of one of the cornerstone required religion courses: “Foundations of the Restoration” (Rel C 225). Anthony Sweat shares how the Y Religion podcast came about and its efforts to share research by Religious Education faculty. Devan Jensen showcases a new book on religious liberty and the Latter-day Saints. And Adi Marshall examines efforts to help mentor students in their textual and artistic interactions with scripture and religious doctrines with the Student Symposium and Visualizing Learning Student Art Exhibit.
Truly we are blessed to have the opportunity to live in these days of the Restoration with expanded knowledge and additional scripture to aid and inspire us along the path back to our Heavenly Father!
Jared W. Ludlow
Publications Director
