198. Seven Gospels — A Conversation with Adam Miller and Rosalynde Welch
Jan 6, 2024
auto_awesome
Adam Miller and Rosalynde Welch discuss their new book, 'Seven Gospels: The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon.' They explore the different witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon and how they reflect our personal questions and circumstances. They emphasize the importance of close reading scripture and how it can teach us unexpected things. The podcast also delves into topics such as belief versus faith, Mary's perspective and the condescension of God, the role of prophets, confession and withholding the sacrament, and the uniqueness of Christ's teachings in the Book of Mormon.
Christ's message in the Book of Mormon reflects personal questions and circumstances.
Close reading of the scriptures reveals unexpected lessons and interpretations.
Inclusion of women's perspectives in the Book of Mormon highlights the transformative power of the gospel.
Deep dives
The Unique Perspective of Christ in the Book of Mormon
The book 'Seven Gospels, The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon' explores the diverse ways that Christ is portrayed in the lives of individuals such as Nephi, Abinadi, Abish, and others. These distinct witnesses of Christ both affirm and challenge each other, highlighting how Christ's message relates to personal questions and circumstances. By closely examining the scriptures and delving into details like punctuation and phrasing, the authors demonstrate how scripture can teach unexpected lessons. The book also emphasizes that the scripture offers endless interpretations that speak to individual spiritual needs.
Understanding the Gospels in the Book of Mormon
The podcast episode delves into the new book 'Seven Gospels, The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon' by Adam Miller and Roslyn Welch. The authors discuss their unique approach to analyzing the diverse ways in which Christ is depicted in the Book of Mormon, drawing parallels to the portrayal of Christ in the New Testament Gospels. They highlight the importance of close reading and informed imagination in uncovering hidden meanings and messages within the scriptures. Through their analysis, they aim to provide readers with a deeper understanding of Christ's role in the lives of the Book of Mormon prophets and the potential for personal transformation through scripture.
The Power of Close Reading in Scripture Study
The podcast episode explores the concept of close reading and its application to scripture study. The authors emphasize the importance of slowing down and carefully examining the details and nuances of the text in order to uncover deeper meanings and insights. They explain that close reading allows readers to go beyond surface-level understanding and engage with the scriptures in a more transformative and personal way. By using close reading techniques, readers can gain a richer understanding of Christ's message and its relevance to their own lives.
Exploring Women's Perspectives in the Book of Mormon
The podcast episode highlights the inclusion of women's perspectives in the Book of Mormon through the examination of the gospel of Abish. Abish, a woman servant in the Book of Mormon, plays a significant role in the conversion of Lemona and his household. The authors emphasize the importance of using informed imagination to uncover the perspectives of women in the scriptures, while also being mindful not to impose modern perspectives on the text. By exploring Abish's story, readers gain insights into the transformative power of the gospel and the vital role of women in sharing that message.
Dealing with Challenging Texts and Difficult Passages
The podcast episode addresses the challenge of wrestling with difficult texts and passages in scripture, such as the book of Helaman. The authors acknowledge the presence of troubling passages in the scriptures and encourage listeners to engage with these texts, even if they initially elicit discomfort or confusion. They suggest approaching challenging texts with an open mind and heart, allowing for interpretation and understanding to evolve over time. They highlight the potential for personal growth and transformation through continued engagement and interpretation of scripture.
To kick off the new year, we recently had the privilege to speak to academic duo and long-time friends, Adam Miller and Rosalynde Welch about the new book they co-authored together, titled Seven Gospels: The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon.
Their book examines the many ways that Christ shows up in the lives of individuals in the Book of Mormon, including Nephi, Abinadi, Abish, and others. Like the New Testament gospels, these distinct witnesses both affirm and challenge each other, showing how Christ’s message for each of us intimately reflects our personal questions and circumstances.
This episode not only guides us through these distinct witnesses but also describes the close reading process that allowed Adam and Rosalynde to observe such differentiation in the first place. By slowing down with the scriptures and zooming in on details—even supposedly mundane ones like punctuation and phrasing—scripture can teach us things we don’t expect to learn. Just as there are a multiplicity of witnesses of Christ in the Book of Mormon, Adam and Rosalynde make a case that our scriptural canon is a springboard to endless interpretations that speak to us according to our spiritual needs.
For those who don’t yet know these two, Adam is a professor of philosophy at Collin College, and Rosalynde is the Associate Director and Research Fellow at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute. Adam and Rosalynde are two of the brightest minds in Latter-day Saint studies, so to have them team up on a book is a special privilege, and we loved talking with them, as we always do.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
