The Interpreter Foundation Podcast

Presented at “For a Wise Purpose in Him”Perspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi (1 Nephi–Words of Mormon)A Conference in Honor of President Jeffrey R. Holland Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, 2026 Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation Cosponsored by the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture, FAIR Latter-day Saints, Scripture Central, and the Ancient […] The post Reading Nephi with Jacob and Mormon: A Text Foundation for Interpreting Lamanite Skin Color in the Book of Mormon first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Presented at “For a Wise Purpose in Him”Perspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi (1 Nephi–Words of Mormon)A Conference in Honor of President Jeffrey R. Holland Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, 2026 Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation Cosponsored by the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture, FAIR Latter-day Saints, Scripture Central, and the Ancient […] The post “I Am Sure of This Thing”: A Small Plates’ Promise with Bigger-Than Expected-Implications first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Presented at “For a Wise Purpose in Him”Perspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi (1 Nephi–Words of Mormon)A Conference in Honor of President Jeffrey R. Holland Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, 2026 Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation Cosponsored by the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture, FAIR Latter-day Saints, Scripture Central, and the Ancient […] The post Plain, Precious, Lost, Restored first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Presented at “For a Wise Purpose in Him”Perspectives on the Small Plates of Nephi (1 Nephi–Words of Mormon)A Conference in Honor of President Jeffrey R. Holland Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30, 2026 Sponsored by The Interpreter Foundation Cosponsored by the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture, FAIR Latter-day Saints, Scripture Central, and the Ancient […] The post “This Commandment They Observe to Keep”: The Generational Promises of Lamanite Obedience to God’s Laws of Marriage and Sexual Purity first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Abstract: Despite frequently lacking material abundance in his life and living at a time when Malthusian concepts were becoming popular among intellectuals, Joseph Smith made a daring prophecy in 1834. He stated that God had designed the earth with abundant resources such that “the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:17). While many in the world, and sometimes even in the Church, believe that the world is running out of many resources due to overpopulation, extensive economic data show that the opposite is true. Resources tend to become more abundant over time, as long as there is some degree of economic freedom. Here we examine those data, showing that our planet is not merely blessed with abundance, but with “superabundance.” The data suggest that Joseph’s daring prophecy has been vindicated. In fact, economic data further suggest that the most serious scarce resource the planet faces is arguably human beings who can create, innovate, and solve problems of scarcity, especially human beings who apply their agency for good. The teachings of the gospel can bring both spiritual and temporal abundance on this earth that is full, with enough and to spare. The post “Enough and to Spare”: Economic Data Vindicate Once-implausible Prophetic Statements first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.