Kenneth Alford
This week, Taunalyn Rutherford of LDS Perspectives, reviews the historical background of the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) and its presence in the Doctrine and Covenants with Dr. Kenneth (Ken) Alford. This episode is part one in a special first anniversary double episode on the Joseph Smith Translation.
In his days as an undergraduate at BYU, Ken Alford studied the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible in depth. After an action-packed career in the United States Army, including assignments as Strategic Leadership department chair at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C., associate professor of computer science at the United States Military Academy at West Point, and serving on the Army Secretariat staff at the Pentagon, his academic pursuits have come full circle.
He currently combines rigorous research with a busy teaching schedule in the department of church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University.
The Prophet’s translation of the Bible had a great influence on the earliest years of Latter-day Saint Church history. The Inspired Version had a significant influence on numerous revelations included today in the Doctrine and Covenants. The interconnections Dr. Alford discusses are fascinating and may change how you view the Joseph Smith Translation.
Be sure to tune in next week to hear Laura Harris Hales interview Dr. Thomas Wayment about new research that sheds light on how Joseph went about translating the Bible.
This episode was re-posted with permission of LDS Perspectives Podcast.
