The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

Abstract: Numerous discussions of the similarities between the LDS temple endowment and Masonic rites exist, which give the impression that the two overlap considerably. Rather than focus on the similarities themselves, this paper seeks to quantify how much the two rites overlap by performing a textual analysis. In the first section, the named entities, clothing, props, and participants in the ceremonies are compared. In the second section a line-by-line comparison identifies similar wording, structure, and meaning in the text, which results in a 10% to 17% overlap between the texts. The third section involves comparing sequences of one to five words in the text. For this task, three additional texts were included for comparison: portions of the Pearl of Great Price, the Odd Fellows rite, and the mystagogical catechesis (an initiation into mysteries). In some instances, comparisons indicate more similarity between the Masonic and Odd Fellows ceremonies than between the LDS endowment and the Masonic rite.

The post A Textual Comparison of Masonic Rites and the LDS Temple Endowment first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the September 7th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 29 – October 5 covering D&C 109–110.

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 109–110 for September 29 – October 5 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the September 7, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner, Brent Schmidt, and Hales Swift discuss what is church doctrine and what is scripture.

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 7, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: In Cease to Contend: Healing a Nation Through Christlike Civility in Politics, Rodney Dieser offers a timely and faith-centered response to the growing crisis of political polarization and incivility. Grounded in the Savior’s admonition to avoid contention, Dieser draws from scripture, Church teachings, historical examples, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help readers recognize and overcome thought patterns that fuel division. This review explores the book’s integration of gospel principles with therapeutic tools, highlighting the power of humility, empathy, and reframing as antidotes to anger and dehumanization in public discourse. By invoking figures such as Pahoran and Abraham Lincoln, the book provides both spiritual and practical models for engaging in political conversations with grace and restraint.

The post Learning Political Civility from Pahoran to Lincoln first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the September 4th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and MArtin Tanner discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 22 – 28 covering D&C 106–108.

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 106–108 for September 22 – 28 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the September 3, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson and Martin Tanner discuss with special guest Ben Spackman the newly published The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and Evolution, edited by Jamie L. Jensen, Steven L. Peck, Ugo A. Perego, and T. Benjamin Spackman.

The post Interpreter Podcast — September 3, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: This paper explores the conclusions that can be drawn from a Mesopotamian origin theory for the Jaredites. The goal is to show that the story of Jared’s daughter in Ether 8 could be a ritual similar to hieros gamos, or sacred marriage, from Mesopotamia. To achieve this, etymologies are given for three names (Jared, Ether, and Akish). These interesting etymologies help substantiate the sacred marriage theory for Ether 8. Finally, a comparison between Ether 3 and Ether 8 show that both illustrate an initiation into the divine. In the former case, it is a righteous initiation into the divine; in the latter, it is an initiation into an idolatrous imitation of the divine.

The post Possible Remembrance and Re-enactment of Old World’s Hieros Gamos in the Book of Ether first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

During 1978, 1979, and 1980, Hugh Nibley taught a Doctrine and Covenants Sunday School class. Cassette recordings were made of these classes and some have survived and were digitized by Steve Whitlock and recently enhanced by Nick Galieti. Most of the tapes were in pretty bad condition. The original recordings usually don’t stop or start […]

In the second August 21st Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for September 15 – 21 covering D&C 102–105.

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 102–105 for September 15 – 21 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the August 22, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss various recent articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship and recent posts on By Common Consent and Times and Seasons titled (in part) “Are Latter-day Saints Happier?”.

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 22, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.