Religious Studies Center Books

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 Torah, the Writings, and the Prophets, aiming to nurture God’s word in our hearts and enrich the lives of those we teach.

This volume explores the characteristics of God illustrated in his interactions with his people, embodied in his covenants and laws and in the revelation given to his prophets, found in the lives of his servants who emulate these character traits, and expressed particularly in the love and redemption offered to his children here in mortality. The theme is intended to inspire teaching at church and at home by bringing to light the love and compassion of God and uplifting examples of his tender mercies.

In the early months of 1902, apostle Francis Marion Lyman—then president of the European Mission—embarked on a remarkable journey to the Holy Land and the Ottoman Empire. Joining him were two fellow Latter-day Saint mission presidents: Sylvester Q. Cannon of the Netherlands-Belgium Mission and Albert Herman of the Turkish Mission. It is through the detailed and reflective writings of Sylvester Q. Cannon that this extraordinary pilgrimage comes to life.

Off for the Holy Land presents a richly contextualized and carefully curated account of their three-month expedition. Drawing from Cannon’s vivid personal journals and the nine travelogues he published in the Millennial Star, editor Reid L. Neilson constructs a compelling documentary history that opens a window into early twentieth-century Latter-day Saint missionary work, travel, and interfaith encounters in the Middle East.

The volume is framed by two introductory essays: Reid L. Neilson’s offering historical background on the travelers and the motivations for their tour, and a second—by historian James R. Swensen—featuring a stunning photographic essay. Swensen brings to light Cannon’s personal photo album, pairing rare images with selected excerpts from letters and diaries, offering a visually immersive experience of sacred and storied landscapes.

From the shores of the Mediterranean to the streets of Jerusalem, Off for the Holy Land invites readers to retrace a journey of faith, diplomacy, and devotion—one that deepened these men’s testimonies of Jesus Christ and broadened the Church’s international vision at the dawn of a new century.

This volume contains a faithful 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 translation of Genesis is also included, with its additions and revisions placed where they appear in their original context. Genesis is the foundational text for all the sacred writings that follow it. Genesis reveals the creation of the earth and the fall of Adam and Eve, and by doing so it lays the groundwork for later revelations that make known the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is the indispensable scriptural book. For the ancient Israelites and modern believers, it has been particularly important because it tells of the beginnings of human history and relates the story of Israel’s earliest ancestors. This groundbreaking volume brings Genesis to life for a new generation.

From Wilderness to Monarchy offers a Latter-day Saint perspective on Israel’s spiritual and historical journey as recounted in the Old Testament. Beginning with the book of Joshua, it explores Israel’s transition from Moses’s leadership to the hardships and difficulties in the conquest accounts—focusing on covenantal duties, military battles, and moral challenges. The book moves through the era of the Judges, highlighting both general spiritual decline and the faithfulness of individuals like Ruth and Hannah. It then follows the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon, examining their leadership, flaws, and divine interactions. The volume concludes with insights into the literary, theological, and temple-centered significance of Psalms, Proverbs, and the Song of Solomon. As a companion to From Creation to Sinai, it invites readers to see the Old Testament not merely as history but as a spiritual guide for modern covenant living.