The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

Abstract: This article examines two instances in the Book of Mormon in which captives escape through the negligence of drunken and sleeping guards. It suggests that details about the wine used to intoxicate the Lamanite guards in the city of Gid provide support for a candidate consumable, which, despite the impression the title may give, is not a piece of triple-chocolate cake, but is in fact an alcoholic drink brewed using cacao. The article briefly reviews the history of chocolate/cacao as it touches upon liberating captives from bondage and the use of deceptive practices in times of warfare. It briefly discusses the possibility of a Lamanite intelligence network driving some of the political events during the Lamanite wars narrated in the book of Alma.

The post Death by Chocolate: Considering the Wine Imbibed by the Lamanite Guards 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 August 11th Come, Follow Me segment of the Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner and Brent Schmidt discuss the Come, Follow Me Doctrine & Covenants lesson for August 25 – 31 covering D&C 93.

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 93 for August 25 – 31 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the August 11, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Martin Tanner and Brent Schmidt discuss Gnosticism and Book of Mormon geography. You can listen to or download the discussion segment of the podcast episode below.

The post Interpreter Podcast — August 11, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: A narrator may choose to provide or withhold the name of a character for many reasons. This article hypothesizes that Mormon intentionally omitted the name of two key characters, a Lamanite king and queen. Both feature in his narration of the mission to the Lamanites and the miraculous conversion it inspires, as recounted in the book of Alma. While it is not possible to know exactly what information Mormon and other record keepers of the Book of Mormon had or preserved, it is at least plausible that Mormon might have intentionally omitted the name of these two Lamanites. Namelessness invites the reader to encounter and re-encounter the gospel in a story simultaneously historic and symbolic, at once particular and universal. The intentional absence of these names emphasizes, instead, the new name the converted Lamanites would take upon themselves and points the reader to the name of Jesus Christ.

The post Nameless to New Name: Namelessness in the Narrative of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, or the People of Ammon 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 […]

The post Nibley Lectures: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 34 (2025) — D&C 89–92 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the July 30th 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 August 18 – 24 covering D&C 89-92.

The post Interpreter Come, Follow Me Podcast: Doctrine & Covenants 89 – 92 for August 18 – 24 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

In the July 30, 2025 episode of The Interpreter Foundation Podcast, our hosts Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and John Thompson discuss the Abraham and His Family Conference that was held in May.

The post Interpreter Podcast — July 30, 2025 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.