Winner of the Harvey B. Black and Susan Easton Black Outstanding Publication Award (Gospel Scholarship in Church History and Doctrine), this comprehensive family history reference book describes hundreds of genealogical and historical resources for Nauvoo, Hancock County, and west-central Illinois. It includes descriptions of original records, primary and secondary sources, computer databases, finding aids, guides, websites, indexes, manuscript collections, newspapers, oral histories, historical and genealogical periodicals, library collections, and much more. It also includes an extensive bibliography of genealogical, local history, and historical resources. This research guide will benefit archivists, genealogists, family historians, historians, reference librarians, and others who study Illinois genealogy and local history and Latter-day Saint history. ISBN 978-0-8425-2857-3

The story of the Nauvoo Temple is one fraught with adversity, struggle, persecution, and heartbreak. Latter-day Saints freely sacrificed their time, their money, their talents–and some even gave their lives–to build a holy place of covenant and worship—only to be forced to abandon their sacred temple, leaving it to be desecrated and destroyed by unbelievers. Yet, it is also a story of faith, triumph, and unwavering dedication to the holy work of the Lord. The construction of the Nauvoo Temple proved to be a spiritual blessing to the people who built it, and it continues to be an inspiration to millions of Church members today. This volume combines newspaper accounts, historic writings, private journals, letters, photos, and original architectural drawing and other illustrations. ISBN 1-5915-6014-4

This new translation from the best available Greek manuscripts renders the New Testament text into modern English and is sensitive to Latter-day Saint beliefs and practices. This translation is readable and accessible for a wide range of readers. The original paragraph structure of the New Testament is restored and highlights features such as quotations, hymns, and poetic passages. New and extensive notes provide alternative translations, commentary on variant manuscript traditions, and historical insights. Where applicable, the Joseph Smith Translation has been included. The notes contain the most complete list of cross-references to New Testament passages in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants that has ever been assembled. Brigham Young said, “If [the Bible] be translated incorrectly, and there is a scholar on the earth who professes to be a Christian, and he can translate it any better than King James’s translators did it, he is under obligation to do so, or the curse is upon him. If I understood Greek and Hebrew as some may profess to do, and I knew the Bible was not correctly translated, I should feel myself bound by the law of justice to the inhabitants of the earth to translate that which is incorrect and give it just as it was spoken anciently. Is that proper? Yes, I would be under obligation.” Check out these podcasts about this book: Latter-day Saint MissionCast podcast LDS Perspectives podcast, and the Cultural Hall podcast. Here is a BYU Universe article: BYU Professor Publishes Modern Translation of The New Testament and a fascinating audio podcast entitled Insights on the Nativity and the New Testament. Also, here are some reviews of this book: The Interpreter, Deseret Book, and Amazon. ISBN 978-1-9443-9467-7

This volume offers valuable perspectives from biblical scholars on the background of the New Testament texts, including the Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures of the time. The book is divided into several themes, including Jesus in the Gospels, the Apostle Paul, New Testament issues and contexts, and what transpired after the New Testament. It ranges from the intertestamental period to the First Jewish Revolt of AD 66–73 and the canonization of the New Testament. Over forty New Testament scholars and experts contributed to this comprehensive volume, which identifies further readings and has detailed general and citation indexes. ISBN 978-1-9443-9476-9

The essays in this volume, including four on today’s world, were selected by a panel of Hugh Nibley’s colleagues. They are singular in their penetration, their originality, and their vitality. Reaching from the apocalyptic visions of original “treasures in heaven” down to the climax of history, they are more than mind-stretching. The delight of Nibley’s brilliant and sometimes biting prose style imparts a sense of the agelessness of what he calls the “three-act play” of human existence. Written specially for this book, the author’s own “intellectual autobiography,” together with his introductory paragraphs for the various chapters, complete the work of making the book a fitting and permanent record of one of the past outstanding historians. The text available here is from the 2nd edition published in 2004. It is available only in PDF format. ISBN 0-8849-4338-0

Throughout the nineteenth century, Latter-day Saints in the United States showed their loyalty in heeding the call to serve their country. This volume seeks to honor those faithful soldiers of the latter days and to recognize their valuable contribution to history and the freedoms we enjoy. ISBN 978-0-8425-2651-7

“No other success can compensate for failure in the home” is a statement made famous by President David O. McKay, who taught Church members the importance of focusing on the family. At the age of thirty-two, he magnified his responsibilities as a newly called Apostle. He had to learn to juggle world travel, heavy Church assignments, and duties with his small but growing family. Later, as a member of the First Presidency, he spent a lot of time teaching and fostering both his children and grandchildren. He embraced a new type of fatherhood in which men were more nurturing and involved in their children’s lives. He seemed to be ahead of his time in his parenting style and practices. This book takes an unprecedented and in-depth look at President McKay’s parenting and family life in his own home and invites readers to learn from his best practices. There are no other books available that take a contemporary parenting theory and apply it backward into history—in this case, taking a closer look at a modern-day prophet who advocated a prominent emphasis on families. ISBN 978-1-9443-9414-1

Winner of the Harvey B. Black and Susan Easton Black Outstanding Publication Award (Gospel Scholarship in Ancient Scripture). From the time young Joseph Smith Jr. walked out of the grove of trees, opposition to what he had seen and experienced has been constant. To suggest that all the existing churches were wrong and that their creeds were an abomination in the sight of God was to stir up a hornet’s nest, to invite criticism and suspicion, and to open the door to persecution. We ought to be competent disciples, serious students of the gospel who are able to provide a defense of the faith. As contributors, we are fully persuaded that Mormonism is not only true and faithful but also reasonable. We are committed to our faith and way of life because the Spirit of the living God has borne witness to our souls that what began in Palmyra and now reaches to every corner of the globe is true and is God-ordained and God-inspired. This volume does not address every sensitive issue, but it does provide answers to a reasonable cross section of hard questions. ISBN 978-0-8425-2794-1

The word amateur derives from the Latin for “love.” An amateur is at root a lover—a lover of sport, science, art, and so forth. Tanner explains, “There is much to recommend the professional ethic, including rigor, methodology, high standards of review, and so forth. . . . Yet it is hoped that we also never cease to be amateurs in our professions—that is, passionate devotees of our disciplines.” This book gathers together brief messages entitled “Notes from an Amateur” that were periodically sent to the faculty at Brigham Young University by former academic vice president John S. Tanner. Tanner’s words reflect his years of experience as a scholar, an administrator, and a disciple, addressing with characteristic insight and wisdom an impressive range of topics from the seemingly mundane to the inspiring. This book is enhanced by the evocative art of Brian Kershisnik. ISBN 978-0-8425-2801-6