mormonism experts

Don Bradley is an American historian specializing in the origins of the Latter-day Saint movement and the early history of the Book of Mormon. His meticulous archival research and innovative historical methodology have shed new light on some of the most intriguing questions surrounding the founding events of Mormonism. He is best known for his groundbreaking work reconstructing the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. Bradley ’ s book The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon’s Missing Stories (2019) represents years of detective work piecing together what the lost manuscript likely contained. Using contemporary accounts, textual analysis, and historical context, Bradley reconstructed the narrative of Lehi and his family that was contained in the Book of Lehi—the portion translated by Joseph Smith and lost by Martin Harris in 1828. His work has been widely praised for its scholarly rigor and its contributions to understanding early Mormon history. Bradley’s faith journey has been marked by both departure and return. After leaving The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he found his way back to faith in part through the influence of the Mormon Transhumanist Association, whose integration of religious belief with rational inquiry resonated with his scholarly temperament. Lincoln Cannon, founder and first president of the MTA, performed Bradley’s rebaptism—a meaningful connection between his intellectual and spiritual homecoming. Bradley has spoken openly about how his historical research, rather than undermining his faith, ultimately contributed to his decision to return. Bradley has presented his research at numerous academic conferences, including the Mormon History Association and FairMormon. He has contributed to scholarly journals and collaborative volumes on Latter-day Saint history. His work on the lost pages has influenced how scholars understand the structure and content of the Book of Mormon, as well as the translation process Joseph Smith employed. His research touches on themes relevant to transhumanist thought, particularly regarding the nature of knowledge, the recovery of lost information, and the relationship between faith and empirical inquiry. Bradley’s methodology demonstrates how careful scholarship can illuminate religious origins while respecting the complexity of belief—a model for integrating scientific and spiritual approaches to understanding human experience and potential.

Terryl Givens is a distinguished scholar of Mormon culture and is perhaps the preeminent explicator of Mormonism’s relationship to American and global culture. He has authored an impressive number of books during his career, with more forthcoming. His work is noted for its originality of insight, native eloquence, and command of world literature, making his speeches and writings rhetorical masterpieces. His publications have significantly influenced Mormon thought, particularly the concepts of dialogic revelation and the understanding of Mormon doctrine as a series of paradoxes. Givens is widely known for his works, including Viper on the Hearth , a study of Mormonism in American culture; By the Hand of Mormon , which examines the reception and understanding of the Book of Mormon; and People of Paradox , a book which suggests a new way of looking at Mormon thought. His forthcoming book on the Book of Mormon with Oxford University Press promises to offer fresh insights into this foundational text. Givens’s work explores the intersections of Mormon cosmology, scientific speculation, and philosophical inquiry. He delivered the keynote address “No Small and Cramped Eternities” at an MTA (Mormon Transhumanist Association) conference, reflecting his understanding of the affinities between Mormonism and transhumanist thought. His work contributes to a broader understanding of Mormonism’s place in Western culture, from the Greeks to the present day, and engages readers to re-evaluate familiar concepts.