Joseph M. Spencer is a philosopher and an assistant professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He has a BA in philosophy from BYU, an MLIS in library science from San Jose State University, and an MA and PhD in philosophy from the University of New Mexico. Joseph is the author of six books, including the recently-published Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide. He serves as the editor of the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, as the associate director of the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar, and a vice president of the Book of Mormon Studies Association. In the church, Joseph has served as an early morning seminary teacher, Gospel Doctrine teacher, a counselor in a variety of presidencies, and currently serves as a bishop. He and his wife Karen have been married 20 years and have five kids.

Highlights

01:00 Introduction to Joseph Spencer 03:40 Advice Joseph would give to his younger self about teaching. 04:30 How Joseph got into philosophy and how he ended up at BYU teaching religion. 08:00 Advice to make scripture study better. Slow it down. 09:50 Joseph talks about his experience as a Bishop and things that have worked. 13:50 Joseph’s perspective on repentance and how he compares it to the sabbath. 19:50 What are we missing when we read the Book of Mormon?

We are good at connecting with the divine but we aren’t actually paying attention to what is said.

We are really bad at getting the big picture.

26:00 Leadership in the Book of Mormon. Nephi’s leadership and struggle to be a leader. 37:30 The dynamic between Nephi, Laman and Lemuel. 44:00 Asking questions and figuring out what your role is as a leader. We tend to want to follow a formula or rely solely on the handbook. 46:20 Going deeper into Nephi. Joseph shares his perspective on Nephi’s leadership. 56:40 Nephi and Jacob were able to tell their own stories in the Book of Mormon. They didn’t portray themselves as perfect. They showed us their imperfection. 59:20 The passage of scripture that Joseph shares with people most often is Ether 12.

Links

Book of Mormon Studies: An Introduction and Guide Y Religion: Hugh Nibley’s Contribution to Book of Mormon Studies Art: Go and Do, by Jorge Cocco Read the TRANSCRIPT of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library

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