Joseph M. Spencer has been selected as the next editor of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute's Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.
'I'm thrilled with Professor Spencer's appointment,' said Institute executive director J. Spencer Fluhman. 'He mixes academic brilliance with a contagious passion for the study of the Book of Mormon. We're excited to see the Journal continue to flourish under his leadership. This is an important moment in the field's history and I consider Professor Spencer well suited to help guide study of\u00a0our 'keystone' scripture into its next chapter.'
Spencer's editorship follows on the heels of Brian M. Hauglid's\u2014a period of\u00a0evolution in the Journal's format with increasingly diverse approaches to\u00a0the Latter-day Saint scripture. Spencer served the Institute as associate editor through that period in addition to contributing articles, co-editing the Institute's Groundwork book series, and co-directing the annual Mormon Theology Seminar.
Hauglid said Spencer has been \u201can indispensable resource in reshaping the look and direction of the\u00a0Journal.\u00a0Quite frankly, I\u2019ve not met anyone as knowledgeable about the Book of Mormon or as energetic, careful, and insightful when assessing submissions. Joe has the vision, experience, and expertise needed to aid authors in producing the very best in Book of Mormon scholarship.\u201d
Spencer accepted the appointment on Thursday, March 9 at the Maxwell Institute. 'It's been exhilarating to be associated with the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies\u00a0for the past several years,' Spencer said. 'I'm deeply honored to be invited to take the helm. The Journal\u00a0is positioned in exactly the right place to promote always-more-rigorous and always-more-charitable study of Mormonism's founding scripture. I couldn't be happier with the prospect of collaborating with bright readers of a book like the Book of Mormon.'
Spencer's three-year appointment begins June 1 when he'll begin preparing volume 27 (Spring 2018). See here for an overview of the Journal's life over the past twenty-five years, along with perspective from past editors.
About Joseph M. Spencer
Joseph M. Spencer has degrees from Brigham Young University, San Jose State University, and the University of New Mexico. He is currently a visiting assistant professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He is the author of three books:\u00a0An Other Testament: On Typology\u00a0(2nd edition 2016, Maxwell Institute), For Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope\u00a0(2014, Greg Kofford Books), and The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi's Record\u00a0(2016, Greg Kofford Books). He is also the editor, with James Faulconer, of Perspectives on Mormon Theology: Scriptural Theology\u00a0(2015, Greg Kofford Books) and, with Jenny Webb, of Reading Nephi Reading Isaiah: 2 Nephi 26-27\u00a0(second edition 2016, Maxwell Institute). Dr. Spencer has served as an associate editor of the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies\u00a0for the past three years, and is currently the associate director of the Mormon Theology Seminar. He is, with Adam Miller, editor of the Maxwell Institute book series Groundwork: Studies in Theory and Scripture. He and Karen, his wife, live with their five children in Provo, Utah.