John Tvedtnes
We’ve just received the sad news of the passing, on Sunday, 3 June 2018, of our friend and colleague John A. Tvedtnes.
John was born to a Roman Catholic family on 26 January 1941 in Mandan, North Dakota. Introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when his family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, he was baptized on 29 December 1949.
He had already, even at that early age, developed an intense interest in the Bible and the world of the scriptures, an interest that remained with him and that, to a very considerable degree, shaped the rest of his life.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at the University of Utah in 1969, John received a graduate certificate in Middle East area studies and a master’s degree in linguistics, with a minor in Arabic. Then, in 1971, he received a second master’s degree in Middle East studies, focused on Hebrew but accompanied by a graduate minor in anthropology. He took further courses at the University of California (Berkeley) and, during eight years of residence in Israel, did extensive graduate work at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, where he studied Egyptian and Semitic languages.
I still distinctly remember the first time that I met him, when he gave an evening lecture at the since-demolished Vienna Hotel in East Jerusalem. It was January 1978, and I was a newly arrived student in BYU’s Jerusalem study abroad program. John taught a wide range of classes for that program, including Hebrew, anthropology, ancient Near Eastern history and archaeology, and the historical geography of Israel and the Near East. For six years, he served as a counselor in the presidency of the Jerusalem Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Years later, John accepted appointment as Associate Director of Research at the old Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) and then as Senior Research Associate and Senior Resident Scholar at its successor, BYU’s Institute for the Study and Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (now the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship). His affiliation with FARMS and its immediate successor-organization opened the door to John’s most academically productive period. By my count, he published eighty-eight (88) book chapters and articles with FARMS and the Institute.
An ever-flowing fountain of ideas and insights, John also published work with, among others, the University of Utah, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and the Journal of Near Eastern Studies. When he was able, he was a prolific author, producing such books as The Church of the Old Testament (1967), The Book of Mormon and Other Hidden Books: ‘Out of Darkness Unto Light’ (2000), Organize My Kingdom: A History of Restored Priesthood (2000), Testaments: Links Between the Book of Mormon and the Hebrew Bible (with David Bokovoy, 2003), The Most Correct Book (2004), Traditions about the Early Life of Abraham (co-edited with Brian Hauglid and John Gee, 2005), and Defining the Word: Understanding the History and Language of the Bible (2006).
Upon retirement from BYU, John moved with his second wife, Carol, to Bella Vista, Arkansas. Unfortunately, he was seriously incapacitated in his latter years by several debilitating strokes. Still, when the Interpreter Foundation was launched, he signed on as a contributing editor and published three articles with us. He left a number of intriguing articles behind unpublished, articles that we hope will eventually see the light of day as part of his lasting legacy.
John is survived by his wife, his children David, Philip, Eric (Amy), Linda (Craig) Adams, Michael (Jana), and Michelle (Stewart) Anderson, as well as fifteen of his sixteen grandchildren.
We will miss John very much. We will miss his friendship, his sense of humor, his dedicated faith, and his irreplaceable insights. Still, we take comfort in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which promises the coming of a time when “the night is gone, and with the morn those angel faces smile, which [we] have loved long since, and lost awhile!”
12 June 2018
First of all, I want to thank all of you for your kind comments about my dad. My siblings and I are trying to collect memories from other people about him so that we can create a book. If you have memories or were influenced by his work in some way, we would love to hear your thoughts. You can send them to tvedtnes@gmail.com. And please pass the word on to others who knew him. We’re not quite sure how to contact people other than this kind of method. Thanks!
I first met John in Israel when he was studying at Hebrew University. I was returning home from my mission in South Africa and several Elders in my group engaged him as a tour guide as we visited Israel on our way home. He was amazing!
I was very saddened with the loss of this dear friend. He was my Hebrew teacher and made the class so interesting. I have so benefited from his great knowledge and have shared his writings over these many years in my teaching callings. He was so competent in history, cultures, geography, linguistics and above all his in depth knowledge of the scriptures. My son called him a “walking encyclopedia” which so described him in two words. I shall miss not reading future material from him to expand my own intellect. Indeed he was a “dynamic intellectual” so willing to share his knowledge with us. He shall be missed.
I was very saddened to hear of the passing of this great scholar. He was my be loved Hebrew teacher that made this study a delight. I shared his remarkable writings throughout my years of teaching in various capacities which so enriched my lessons. He had a remarkable memory of history, linguistics, cultures, geography and particularly the scriptures. My son, Mark, called him a “walking encyclopedia” which indeed he was. I will continue to cherish his writings and he will be missed greatly.
Tvedtnes’ thirst for learning was never quenched. He influenced my learning more that all my previous teachers. The hours we spent together traveling through Israel visiting and ministering local LDS families were a God-Send opportunity in learning. And, once again, he is teaching! Shalom, Haver!
John spoke of you very favorably to me many times and somewhat recounted his time with you in Israel.
John was a fun guy. He came to Houston about 21 years ago, along with the Petersons, to deliver a couple of lectures sponsored by the BYU Alumni Association. I have great memories of that and his scholarship.
I enjoyed working with him at FARMS while I was a student and research assistant for Matt Roper and Dan McKinley. I still cannot believe he is gone, but time does not stand still for the likes of me. He was very kind to my dad, who has also passed. I am grateful for his legacy.
I just remembered that I still have the story of his conversion and his testimony, which he typed, and shared with me. A marvelous man!
John was a personal close friend. He contributed to the SHIELDS website (www.shields-research.org). We have enjoyed him in our home in Colorado and going to Church with us there. He remained quite sharp to the end, though it became difficult for him to talk, due to health difficulties. He has been involved in a number of historic events including the publication of the first volume of the FARMS Abraham 5 volume series (an incredible book). There is much more that I could say about him and my interactions with him, but I will just add that he will be sorely missed. Best wishes to his family.
I should add that when John came to Denver, he and Dan McKinley were traveling together. We enjoyed both of them at our home and going to Church with us.
Sad to hear of John’s passing. I first met John at his home just outside of Jerusalem, Israel, where we sometimes held our Jerusalem group, and then our Jerusalem Branch Sabbath (Saturday) meetings. We kept in touch over the years and I always admired his intellect and scholarship.
I enjoyed many interactions with him on email like LDS Apologetics. I learned a lot from him.