Since we announced the journal’s first CFP, we are happy to broadcast their first issue. (Plus, the issue includes JI’s own Jordan W.!)
The Claremont Journal of Mormon Studies, the latest of the myriad of solid Mormon journals, has posted the first three articles in what will hopefully be a long and productive periodical and outlet for quality graduate work. Headed by qualified editors Dave Golding and Loyd Ericson, the journal describes itself as “a student-run online reviewed academic journal committed to the advancement of the field of Mormon studies and produced by the Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association in Claremont, California…The purpose of this journal is to establish a proficient and easily accessible forum for ongoing research in Mormon studies by qualified graduate students, exemplifying new research being done in various fields.” The first issue demonstrates their sophisticated, interdisciplinary, and intriguing potential.
Articles in the issue are:
- “The Inspired Fictionalization of the 1835 United Firm Revelations” by Christopher C. Smith
- “The Great God, the Divine Mind, and the Ideal Absolute: Orson Pratt’s Intelligent-Matter Theory and the Gods of Emerson and James” by Jordan Watkins
- “Prolegomena to Any Future Study of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon” by Joseph M. Spencer
The entire issue can be downloaded here.
The future is bright in Mormon studies!
Thanks for the plug Ben. Though Loyd’s editor’s introduction is also itself an article: “Where Is the ‘Mormon’ in Mormon Studies?”
Comment by Jacob B. — April 28, 2011 @ 12:57 pm
Excellent, Jacob; I didn’t even see the introduction. Great stuff!
Comment by Ben — April 28, 2011 @ 1:16 pm
It is already on the iPad. It will be my reading during stake conference this weekend,
Comment by Chris H. — April 28, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
Spencer’s article on Isaiah is fascinating.
Comment by DavidC — April 28, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
Looks great and congrats to Jordan!
Comment by Christopher — April 28, 2011 @ 4:29 pm
Wow, just read the Isaiah article and rarely have I been as excited to read the BoM again.
Comment by DCL — April 28, 2011 @ 4:56 pm
Congrats all!
Comment by Jared T. — April 28, 2011 @ 5:33 pm
It looks really well done. Congratulations to the team.
Comment by Kevin Barney — April 28, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
Excellent stuff!
Comment by Ben S — April 30, 2011 @ 5:18 pm
This may be the wrong place to ask this, but according to Spencer, wouldn’t 3 Ne 1:14 be an example of what he calls Abinadite theology?
Christ in the spirit says: “… the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh.
vs Mosiah 15:5 “… the flesh becoming subject to the spirit, or the Son to the Father …”
If so, then Christ is speaking consistently with Abinadite theology here, but will then correct it later in 3 Nephi 11.
Comment by DavidC — May 3, 2011 @ 1:29 am
David: I’ll send some smoke signals in Joe’s direction; hopefully he’ll stop by and share his thoughts.
Comment by Ben — May 3, 2011 @ 8:24 am
Smoke signals received (thanks Ben!). Responding now.
DavidC,
Thanks for pointing this out (I’d overlooked it). I want to think further about what might be implied, but I suspect that there are several ways this text could be interpreted. Does it suggest that Christ was willing to speak to Nephi in terms he was prepared to understand? Does it suggest that Christ didn’t want to instigate a return to Nephi until he came in the flesh? Does it suggest that Nephi interpreted and so recorded an actually ambiguous communication in terms of his inherited theology? Does it suggest that the two theologies are more deeply reconcilable than other aspects of the Book of Mormon’s structure suggest?
There are, I think, lots of possibilities here.
At any rate, thanks for reading!
Comment by Joe Spencer — May 3, 2011 @ 10:50 am
Thanks for the reply. I look forward to the typology book, and found a visit to SaltPress.org to be promising, as it appears no titles are available yet.
Comment by DavidC — May 4, 2011 @ 12:01 am