Interpreter (journal)

It was established in July 2012 by the Interpreter Foundation with Daniel C. Peterson as founding editor-in-chief.{{citation |first= Daniel |last= Peterson |author-link= Daniel C. Peterson |url= http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865584674/Each-voice-is-unique-and-needed.html?pg=all |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130815215156/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865584674/Each-voice-is-unique-and-needed.html?pg=all |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 15, 2013 |title= Defending the Faith: Each voice is unique and needed |newspaper= Deseret News |date= August 15, 2013 |access-date= 2013-08-16 }} Peterson had previously been the founding editor of the FARMS Review, which in 2011 had been renamed the Mormon Studies Review (MSR) by the heads of the Maxwell Institute (MI). The MSR launched soon after Peterson's release from MI without direct apologetics as one of their goals.{{Cite web|last=Peterson|first=Daniel C.|date=August 2012|title=Of 'Mormon Studies' and Apologetics|url=https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/conference/august-2012/of-mormon-studies-and-apologetics|access-date=April 19, 2021|website=FAIR}}{{Cite journal|last=Peterson|first=Daniel C.|date=December 14, 2012|title=The Role of Apologetics in Mormon Studies|url=https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/the-role-of-apologetics-in-mormon-studies/|journal=Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture|volume=2|pages=i-xxxvi|via=The Interpreter Foundation}} Peterson believed that direct apologetics was a necessary feature of a publication like the MSR while others did not. This philosophical difference between Peterson and the editors of the MSR led to the creation of the Interpreter Foundation, which retained apologetic content.

The Interpreter Foundation sponsors debates and discussions. These have included two symposia focused on the relationship between science and Mormonism.{{Cite news|last=Kutschke|first=Lauren|title=Vatican Observatory Director: Don't Be 'Too Practical, Too Rational' With Science, Religion|work=Daily Universe|url=https://universe.byu.edu/2016/03/12/director-of-vatican-observatory-admonishes-students-not-to-be-too-practical-too-rational-when-it-comes-to-science-and-religion/|access-date=April 19, 2021}} The journal publishes historical surveys, responses to critics, book reviews, personal essays, and other scholarly literature, all with the primary goals of increasing understanding of Latter-day Saint scripture and religion as well as defending it.{{Cite web|last=SmallAxe|date=March 1, 2013|title=Wheat and Tares Apologetics|url=https://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithpromotingrumor/2013/03/wheat-and-tares-apologetics/|access-date=April 19, 2021|website=Faith-Promoting Rumor|publisher=Patheos}}

In 2013, a critical review of Mormon Stories by Gregory L. Smith was published in Interpreter. In the review, Smith alleges that "Dehlin is frequently uninformed of the often controversial material he discusses with interviewees, and that he promotes views hostile to the foundational beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".{{cite web |first1=Stephen |last1=Smoot |url=http://thestudentreview.org/controversial-paper-critiquing-popular-mormon-podcast-published/ |title=Controversial Paper Critiquing Popular Mormon Podcast Published |website=Student Review |date=February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401035930/http://thestudentreview.org:80/controversial-paper-critiquing-popular-mormon-podcast-published/ |archive-date= Apr 1, 2014 }}{{cite web|author=Gregory L. Smith |url=http://seesangelsinthearchitecture.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/rollo-review-introduction/ |title=Rollo review – Introduction |website=Angels in the Architecture |publisher=WordPress |date=2013-03-12 |access-date=2013-10-18}} The pending publication of the piece catalyzed within the Mormon studies community a discussion (referred to by some as the Dehlin affair){{cite web|url=http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/tag/dehlin/ |title=Gregory L. Smith's Review of "Mormon Stories" |publisher=Interpreter |date=2013-02-23 |access-date=2013-09-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019234739/http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/gregory-l-smiths-review-of-mormon-stories/ |archive-date= Oct 19, 2013 }}{{cite web|last=Hamblin |first=William |url=http://mormonscriptureexplorations.org/2013/02/25/it-is-not-personal/ |title=It is not personal |publisher=Mormon Scripture Explorations |date=2013-02-25 |access-date=2013-09-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022203902/http://mormonscriptureexplorations.org/2013/02/25/it-is-not-personal/ |archive-date=2013-10-22}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/60186-the-dehlin-affair%E2%80%93the-current-uncivil-war/ |title=The Dehlin Affair–The Current Uncivil War - General Discussions - Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board |publisher=Mormondialogue.org |access-date=2013-09-06}} about the roles of apologetic and non-faith-based scholarship, respectively, within the academic study of Mormonism by Mormons.{{cite web |author=B Hodges |url=http://www.maxwellinstituteblog.org/a-mormon-studies-blogliography/ |title=A Mormon Studies Blogliography |publisher=Maxwell Institute Blog |date=2013-08-16 |access-date=2013-09-05 |archive-date=2013-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823153306/http://www.maxwellinstituteblog.org/a-mormon-studies-blogliography/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://johnadamscenter.com/2012/06/did-john-dehlin-bring-down-the-mormon-studies-review-hint-the-answer-has-two-letters/ |title=Did John Dehlin Bring Down the Mormon Studies Review: (Hint: the answer has two letters...) |publisher=John Adams Center |date=2012-06-23 |access-date=2013-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723065141/http://johnadamscenter.com/2012/06/did-john-dehlin-bring-down-the-mormon-studies-review-hint-the-answer-has-two-letters/ |archive-date=2013-07-23}}{{cite web|url=http://thestudentreview.org/controversy-over-dismissal-of-byu-professor/ |title=Controversy over dismissal of BYU professor from Mormon Studies |publisher=Student Review |access-date=2013-09-04}}

{{Portal|Latter-day Saints}}

• List of Latter Day Saint periodicals
• List of theological journals
• Mormon Stories Podcast: Criticism

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{citation |first= Leah |last= Aston |date= September 13, 2012 |url= http://ldsmag.com/article/1/11445 |title= New Era Dawns for Book of Mormon Studies |journal= Meridian Magazine |access-date= 2013-08-16 }}
• {{citation |first= R. Scott |last= Lloyd |date= August 10, 2013 |url= https://www.thechurchnews.com/archive/2013-08-10/2013-fair-conference-toward-a-more-effective-apologetics-39826 |title= 2013 FAIR Conference: 'Toward a more effective apologetics': Presenting gospel message with civility and kindness |newspaper= Church News |access-date= 2013-08-16 }}
• {{cite speech |first= Daniel C. |last= Peterson |author-link= Daniel C. Peterson |title= Of 'Mormon Studies' and Apologetics |url= http://www.fairlds.org/fair-conferences/2012-fair-conference/2012-of-mormon-studies-and-apologetics |event= 2012 Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR) Conference |location= South Towne Exposition Center, Sandy, Utah |date= August 3, 2012 |access-date= 2013-08-16 }} — public announcement of the journal launch
• {{citation |first= Daniel C. |last= Peterson |author-link= Daniel C. Peterson |date= September 12, 2012 |url= http://www.ldsmag.com/article/11431 |title= Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture |journal= Meridian Magazine |access-date= 2013-08-16 }}
• {{citation |first= Daniel C. |last= Peterson |author-link= Daniel C. Peterson |date= August 3, 2013 |title= The Interpreter Foundation's first birthday is today! (Here's a brief report.) |url= http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danpeterson/2013/08/the-interpreter-foundations-first-birthday-is-today-heres-a-brief-report.html |work= Sic et Non (blog of Daniel C. Peterson) |publisher= Patheos |access-date= 2013-08-16 }}

{{refend}}

• {{Official website|http://www.journal.interpreterfoundation.org/}}
• [https://journal.interpreterfoundation.org/pod-interpreter-podcast-1-about-interpreter-foundation/ About the Interpreter Foundation] (audio podcast interview)

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Category:2012 establishments in Utah

Category:2012 in Christianity

Category:English-language journals

Category:Mormon apologetics

Category:Mormon studies journals

Category:Academic journals established in 2012