I think the Institute's Twitter feed got more traffic than ever last week when Kristin Matthews delivered the 2015 Laura F. Willes Book of Mormon Lecture, 'Come Into the Fold of God: Caring for the Poor and Needy.' Here are a few highlights in case you missed it. (For all you non-Twitterites, keep in mind Tweets are limited to 140 characters each.)
Kristin Matthews begins the 2015 Willes Book of Mormon Lecture #willesbom pic.twitter.com/ubF2UEy0TV
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
Dr. Matthews began by explaining why she, a professor of American literature and culture specializing in Cold War and African American literature, was selected as speaker, following John L. Sorenson, James Faulconer, and Terryl L. Givens of years gone by.
Begin KM: I'm a student and scholar of stories, drawn to stories that help us understand ways we can create a more humane world. #willesBoM — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015KM: BoM is a collection of stories written to teach readers how to become better humans and disciples of Jesus Christ. #willesbom
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
KM: my remarks today will focus on stories that illuminate what I see as a central theme of the BOM—poverty and social justice. #willesbom — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015By focusing on this theme, Matthews follows in the footsteps of one of the Book of Mormon's best readers, Hugh W. Nibley, who wrote and spoke frequently on precisely this subject.
KM: BOM prophets knew a primary problem of our times would be the privileging of wealth over God and His children (Ether 8:23) #willesbom
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
Then came perhaps the most favorited Tweet the Institute has Tweeted in its short Twitter life. Feel free to increase that number and re-tweet, Twitter users:
KM: I've come to believe the “pride cycle” to which Latter-day Saints so often refer is a misnomer; rather, I believe it is a “greed cycle.” — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015Dr. Matthews provided an overview of some of the worst exemplars of inequality and greed in the Nephite record, but turned quickly to better exemplars.
KM: BoM has examples, good and bad #willesbom pic.twitter.com/JUhgJ4iYZ0
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
From Lehi and company, who left their wealth when they departed Jerusalem, through King Benjamin and King Noah all the way to the Robbers who plagued Book of Mormon peoples to the end, Dr. Matthews cited example after example of greed and charity.Oh, and by the way:
Yes, that's Grant Hardy's Reader's Edition of the Book of Mormon Dr. Matthews has on the stand. pic.twitter.com/Q1zucV2Xnk — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015Like Nibley and other scholars before her—not to mention LDS leaders like Ezra Taft Benson—Dr. Matthews affirmed that if the Book of Mormon is 'for our day' we must compare its warnings with our actual circumstances, leading us to take real action with real people:
KM: BoM-Changing our attitude cannot be done in the abstract or from afar: we must engage with our poor brothers and sisters #willesbom
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
For that reason, she challenged three myths that some people hold with regard to thinking about the poor.
pic.twitter.com/Nwg3VT2WVT — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015Citing a variety of studies and reports, Dr. Matthews called on Book of Mormon readers to 'awake and arouse their faculties,' offering suggestions for how individuals, communities, the Church, and government can better succor those in need.
KM: I believe that if we commit our hearts, minds, and souls to the fourth mission of the Church, then we will see miracles. #willesbom
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
All of this because the Book of Mormon promises peace for societies who strive to fulfill these ideals.
KM: We find temporal and spiritual peace in all communities in BoM that privileged the word and children of God over riches. #willesbom — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015The BoM warns of materialism, greed, and pride. It calls from the dust. May we heed the call for the least of these.
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
Brian Hauglid, director of the Maxwell Institute's Willes Center, was on hand to thank Dr. Matthews on behalf of the Maxwell Institute and audience for her stirring address.
Willes Center director Brian Hauglid thanks professor Kristin Matthews for her 2015 Willes BoM Lecture pic.twitter.com/gDXrYMFQuz — Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015And in case you were wondering:
@ByCommonConsent Text and video of 2015 #willesbom lecture by Kristin Matthews will be available in the coming weeks/months
— Maxwell Institute (@MI_BYU) October 7, 2015
In the meantime, you can watch past Willes lectures on the Institute's YouTube channel. I made a special little playlist just for them. That's where Dr. Matthews's lecture will appear once it's been edited, so if you subscribe, you'll be notified.Of course, one of the best things about actually being there in person is that you can meet the speaker.
We hope to see you at the next public lecture event. It's the 2015 Neal A. Maxwell Lecture coming up in November. More details are coming soon.