The Epic of Gilgamesh TABLET XI THE STORY OF THE FLOOD   Gilgamesh spoke to Utanapishtim, the Faraway: “I have been looking at you, but your appearance is not strange–you are like me! You yourself are not different–you are like me! My mind was resolved to fight with you, (butContinue Reading

D&C 125 – March 1841, Nauvoo, Illinois Historical Background The following is offered by Steven Harper: From the confines of a jail cell in Liberty, Missouri, Joseph wrote to Bishop Partridge in Illinois that the Saints could buy land in Iowa Territory for $2 per acre over twenty years withContinue Reading

D&C 89: The Word of Wisdom A Principle with Promise: Two layers to this idea On one level, this passage of scripture can be read as a principle with a promise. The principle essential teaches that as I take care of my physical body, heavenly wisdom, or spiritual light, canContinue Reading

D&C 18 is given June 1829 in Fayette, New York. As promised by John the Baptist, the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored to the earth by the ancient apostles Peter, James, and John. This occurred sometime after the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood on 15 May 1829, and the first partContinue Reading

1 Nephi 8-11 Coming into the presence of God in his temple There are multiple ways to read the story of the Tree of Life. Certainly this story is first and foremost about God’s love and invitation for all men to come into his presence through the Atonement of hisContinue Reading

The following message was given by Hugh Nibley on February 24, 1965. A discussion of the religious and cultural impact of Egypt, Babylon and other neighbors on events in Israel. — Midgley For an audio recording you can access part 1 here and part 2 here. I am grateful toContinue Reading

The Hymn of the Pearl and the Cosmic Myth The Cosmic Myth is a story that teaches of eternal truths even though it may or may not be totally historically accurate.[1]Michael Fishbane, Biblical Myth and Rabbinic Mythmaking, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 11. Fishbane stated, “we shall understand the word ‘Myth’Continue Reading

The Flood narrative as a composite text The Flood narrative is an account of two sources, something that is explained by what biblical scholars call the Documentary Hypothesis. This hypothesis explains that two of the sources for this flood narrative are the Priestly and the Yahwist (P and J) –Continue Reading