F.A.R.M.S. NEWS

Participants Respond

It is exciting to read the mail and feel the enthusiasm participants have for F.A.R.M.S. projects. Here are samples of recent comments:

Inaugural Exhibits Successful

F.A.R.M.S. hosted its first informational displays during three conferences in August. Approximately 1,800 catalog information sheets were distributed to interested individuals at the Church Educational System Symposium and Campus Education Week at BYU, and at the Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City. People were drawn to the display by two six-foot banners introducing the Foundation and listing some of its purposes and projects. Hundreds of people bought Reprints and Preliminary Reports and were pleasantly surprised to learn that such scholarship is now conveniently available. Nearly 1,000 people added their names to the newsletter mailing list and several made substantial financial contributions.

Current F.A.R.M.S. participants who visited the exhibit enjoyed seeing the Foundation in person. Our thanks go to Clayton Cook, Denise Davidson, Richard Erickson, Paul Hoskisson, John Lundquist, Shannon Magleby, Larry Smith, Janet Twigg, and Bruce Warren who added vitality to the display by spending many hours answering questions and distributing literature. F.A.R.M.S. welcomes the opportunity to host similar exhibits in your area at appropriate future events.

Sperry Archive Formed

The family of the late Professor Sidney B. Sperry and the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies have jointly announced the establishment of a new Sperry Archive. All significant Sperry papers, published or unpublished, will be collected in this archive and made available to scholars. A catalog of these valuable materials is now being prepared. Dr. Sperry concentrated his many scholarly abilities and efforts over several decades on the study of the Old Testament and of the Book of Mormon. His contributions continue to provide great insights and inspiration for further studies. F.A.R.M.S. is pleased to add his papers to its Reprint series. A special Sperry Archive Catalog wiil be available soon.

Video Taping Begins

The age of media may arrive ahead of schedule in the field of Book of Mormon studies. How would you like to have access to video lectures and firesides about the Book of Mormon delivered by leading specialists and commentators? With the direction and assistance of people like Sterling Van Wagonen, Alex Nibley, Robert Starling. Steve Farnworth, and a host of volunteers including Comworld Productions, Reed Smoot, Stephen Robison, and Stephen Anderson, F.A.R.M.S. has taken significant stepsto begin production of video lectures and documentaries. The premier showcase production will be a 90 minute documentary of Hugh Nibley's life and scholarship, produced jointly with the office of the Associate Academic Vice-president of BYU. Script writing and programming is now underway. Watch for these coming attractions!

Book of Mormon Bibliography Contest

Hot off the press is the first attempt to collect an exhaustive bibliography of scholarly works on the Book of Mormon. And you can be part of making it even more complete. This Book of Mormon Bibliography has been typed onto computer tapes and is now available to all as a F.A.R.M.S. Preliminary Report. You can order it on the enclosed order form. Everyone will find this an indispensible tool for further research.

Here's the contest: F.A.R.M.S. will reward the person who can find me most titles that have been overlooked with his or her choice of several valuable autographed books about the Book of Mormon. To qualify for the contest your additions to the bibliography must be submitted to F.A.R.M.S. by March 31, 1983. Data on unpublished papers must be accompanied by a copy of the work so that it can be evaluated. Gary Gillum and his staff have done a very good job of combing the files and libranes. But, we invite you now to take the Bibliography challenge and find what has been missed.

Stan Johnson "Indian Dancer" Gift

Special attention and thanks go to Stan Johnson. noted sculptor from Mapleton, Utah, who has donated to the Foundation one of his renowned bronzes, the Moqui Eagle Dancer. This statue. like all of his work, is richly delicate and deeply influenced by the cultural background of the subjects he sculpts. Johnson attributes his prime motivation in becoming an artist to the Book of Mormon. Besides Western American themes, Johnson enjoys sculpting Book of Mormon and other religious motifs. If you are interested in exquisite bronze statues such as this one. or know of others who might be interested, please let us know.

F.A.R.M.S. Goes Underground

To keep up with rapid growth, F.A.R.M.S. has moved into new facilities. The new workroom is located in the basement of the J. Reuben Clark Law School on BYU campus, where there is ample space for storage and distribution of Reprints, Preliminary Reports, and newsletters. The large room, which doubles as a bomb shelter, also houses overflow storage of law library materials. This high-security area, complete with our newly acquired fireproof file cabinet, gives the Foundation top-quality archival capabilities for controlled storage of valuable research documents. The office has limited access and is not staffed to be open to the public. It will, however, streamline editorial and clerical activities and allow us to fill your mail orders with greater efficiency.

Show Us You Care

With this newsletter F.A.R.M.S. inaugurates an annual appeal for funds. The Foundation charges no dues or membership fees. We operate almost exclusively from donated monies and volunteer help with minimal administrative overhead.

Your donations provide for commissioned research projects, manuscript acquisition, editing, proofreading and important typing services. Past contributions have established the Reprint distribution system on a sound basis. Current contributions will make many projects possible, such as further research and video cassette lectures on Book of Mormon topics. No donation to F.A.R.M.S. is used for management services, travel, board meetings, office space, or professional fund raising. Ninety-five cents of every dollar goes directly into research and dissemination of scriptural studies.

The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies a non-profit charitable corporation organized to promote, coordinate and finance research on ancient scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon. Your contributions are tax-deductible. The more you give, the more we will be able to accomplish. Show us you care by returning the enclosed order form with a generous contribution.