The Maxwell Institute

Kate Holbrook (1972-2022) was a leading voice in the study of Latter-day Saint women and Latter-day Saint foodways, a Specialist in Women's History, Managing Historian of Women's History, and Academic Outreach Director at the Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Throughout her career, Kate preserved and showcased women's voices. Now, in a special book written before her passing, readers can hear Kate's own personal voice.

Janai, a senior studying Philosophy and Ancient Near Eastern Studies at Brigham Young University, is the 2023 Woolf-BYU joint intern. She has been a research assistant at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship for the last three years as well as a teaching and research assistant for the Survey of World Religions course at her university for the last two years. She is a Wheatley Scholar and has enjoyed collaborating in conferences for the Wheatley Institute in research-supported work that fortifies the core institutions of the family, religion, and constitutional government.

Acting academic vice president Brad Neiger has announced the appointment of Kristian Heal as interim executive director of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, effective May 1. Dr. Heal begins his interim service following the tenure of Spencer Fluhman, who served as executive director of the Maxwell Institute from 2016 to 2023. Dr. Heal will serve until the appointment of a permanent executive director.

We are delighted to announce that the second printing of Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints has now arrived and is available at booksellers, including Amazon.com. The first print run was sold out within only a few weeks of arriving at booksellers. The kindle version of this book has also sold very well (available for only $9.99), but it seems clear that for many the gorgeous artwork makes this a book worth owning in print.

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute is excited to welcome Tim Farrant and Ryan Tobler as postdoctoral fellows. Maxwell Institute scholars work together to produce religious scholarship that inspires Latter-day Saints and engages the broader world of religious ideas.

The Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at Brigham Young University is pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints. Co-edited by Jason R. Combs (BYU Religious Education), Mark D. Ellison (BYU Religious Education), Catherine Gines Taylor (Maxwell Institute), and Kristian S. Heal (Maxwell Institute), Ancient Christians is a historical and theological window on Christianity’s first six centuries and beyond. It invites Latter-day Saints to encounter ancient followers of Jesus Christ, to hear what they heard, see what they saw, understand how they worshipped, and learn what they believed. Readers will come to see early Christian women and men as our sisters and brothers, fellow disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Maxwell Institute’s 2020 Annual Report is now available to read online. You can also request a free print copy here.IN THIS ISSUE: