The annual Book of Mormon Lands Conference has been moved to the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo to encourage students to attend.
The conference is sponsored by the Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum (BAMF) and will feature speakers with expertise on the Book of Mormon, particularly an emphasis in archaeology and Mesoamerica, and includes two BYU professors.
“The Book of Mormon Archaeological Forum is a not-for-profit organization dedicated as an open forum for presentation, dissemination and discussion of research and evidences regarding Book of Mormon archaeology, anthropology, geography and culture within a Mesoamerican context,” said Robert Starling, spokesman for the BMAF.
Starling said the goals of the BAMF are to increase understanding of the Book of Mormon as an ancient Mesoamerican document, to publish works of LDS scholars, to help promote cooperation among scholars and students of the Book of Mormon, and to provide a forum where scholars can present current ideas and discoveries.
One of the keynote speeches will be given by Mark Alan Wright, a professor in BYU’s religion department. His speech will focus on the future and innovations of Book of Mormon study.
“I think in the future we can expect more in-depth work regarding theology, intertextuality, literary studies, reception history and improved methodologies for applying anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, art history and geology in the study of Book of Mormon historicity,” Wright said.
Wright also expressed his hope that Book of Mormon scholars can bring Book of Mormon research into a more prominent position in the field of religious studies and help the Book of Mormon to be studied alongside other books of scripture like the Qua’ran or the Bhagavad Ghita.
Professor Daniel Peterson, also from BYU, will give the other keynote speech that will compare the Book of Mormon and the Qua’ran.
The conference is Saturday, Oct. 19, at 9:00 a.m. and offers a special $10 rate for students with a valid ID. For more information and registration, visit www.bmaf.org.
