News & Blog

Adam Miller and Rosalynde Welch's book, Seven Gospels: The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon, was released in October 2023. Seven Gospels is a collection of letters from the authors to each other that explore seven unique witnesses in the Book of Mormon. How do these witnesses vary from one another? And what are we to learn from each particular account?

This artwork and it's accompanying caption were created by Meranda Brodowski, a student artist and designer at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Meranda is from California, and has worked at the Maxwell Institute since January. She is a Fine Arts Major at Brigham Young University, with an emphasis in technology. She strives to create inspiring artwork that represents her faith and testimony.

Looking for a class to take this Winter semester? Many of the Maxwell Institute scholars and associates are teaching courses at BYU covering a variety of topics. Our scholars are specialists trained in history, humanities, and religion. For those seeking a scholarly approach, or those who would like to connect with the Maxwell Institute scholars, these courses are recommended. Classes begin January 9, 2024, and will end April 20, 2024.

This post was written by Lucy Lacanienta, an Art History major at Brigham Young University who works at the Maxwell Institute as a Front Desk Assistant and Graphic Designer. Lucy researched artwork related to the book, Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints, and wrote a series of educational posts.

Kate Holbrook (1972-2022) worked as a historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and spent her career highlighting women's stories. In her book, Both Things Are True, Kate says "I've written some books in Latter-day Saint women's history that I feel have been good contributions. I think I'll be remembered generally through favorite recipes that have come from me. I've decided that's maybe in some ways a richer and more lasting visceral experience that people will have of my having been on this earth."

The Maxwell Institute is excited to announce that Research Fellow Kristian Heal has been named a Senior Research Fellow as of October 17, 2023. Dr. Heal has worked at the Maxwell Institute since 2000 and is the author of Genesis 37 and 39 in the Early Syriac Tradition (2023) and Jacob of Sarug's Homily on Aaron the Priest (2022). Heal is a scholar of late antique Syriac Christianity, and looks at the point where scripture, poetry, reception, and transmission intersect.

In the summer of 2024, the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar, with support from the Laura F. Willes Center for Book of Mormon Studies and the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University, will sponsor a summer seminar for graduate students and faculty devoted to reading 2 Nephi 2.

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe is a Byzantine church which features stunning mosaic decorations on its interior. This particular mosaic depicts a fictive scene of Abel and Abraham bringing their respective offerings to the altar of Melchizedek.

The Gospel informs us that usually spirits are not something to be afraid of, but rather, they are something to be loved. Many of the spirits in this world are our ancestors. They are living people whom we can communicate with. There is a place where they dwell and wait for us to join.

Thank you to all who participated in the inaugural 2023 Book of Mormon Art Contest! The Book of Mormon Art Contest was inspired by President Spencer W. Kimball's call in "Gospel Vision of the Arts" to "give life and feeling and true perspective to a subject so worthy."

Upcoming event this Friday, 7 PM in the Joseph Smith Building Lobby. The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship is hosting a Book of Mormon Art Contest Reception. Listen to amazing speakers Jenny Champoux, Director of the Book of Mormon Art Catalog, J. Kirk Richards, Contemporary Christian Artist, and Anthony Sweat, BYU Religion Professor and Artist talk about art and faith. Celebrate the winners of the 2023 Book of Mormon Art Contest and enjoy refreshments.

The start of a new school year triggered thoughts about new beginnings. The ability to start over and begin again is a core belief in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although there are numerous ways that new beginnings are represented in the gospel, I love to study the first beginning.

4 of the post-doctorate fellows at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship attended their PhD graduations this summer. Congratulations to Jeffrey Cannon, Timothy Farrant, Joseph Stuart, and Ryan Tobler for their accomplishments!

Wayfare Magazine, in conjunction with Faith Matters and Blair Hodges produced a series of podcast episodes each highlighting a different chapter of the Maxwell Institute’s award-winning book, Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints. Listen now on Wayfare Magazine's website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.

Brigham Young University President C. Shane Reese announced the appointment of J.B. Haws as the executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Haws replaces Kristian Heal, who has served as the interim director since April.

Thank you to all who participated in the inaugural 2023 Book of Mormon Art Contest! The Book of Mormon Art Contest was inspired by President Spencer W. Kimball's call in "Gospel Vision of the Arts" to "give life and feeling and true perspective to a subject so worthy."

Matthew 13:1
“The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.”



This scripture is simple, and it doesn't contain any significant gospel principles. Its only purpose is to depict the atmosphere of the moment and set the scene for readers, but it is my favorite scripture. I can picture the Savior sitting on a modest untouched beach, with warm sand and a bright sun shining above. The sky is clear and small waves calmly trickle in and out.

Kate Holbrook's book, Both Things Are True is available now. Holbrook tests Joseph Smith's observation that "by proving contraries, truth is made manifest". Most aspects of a covenant life are lived in the space between contrary ideas that are individually incomplete. The process is difficult, but we can find our hearts and souls "stretched wide as eternity" (Moses 7:14).