About the Contributors

Marian Robertson Wilson received a Ph.D. in French and in Music from the University of Utah. She left a long university teaching career to work for the Coptic Encyclopedia as a translator, author, and music editor. A born musician, she concertized from childhood both as a pianist and a cellist and was a prominent member of the Utah Symphony during the tenure of Maurice Abravanel.

Andrew H. Hedges is assistant professor of church history and doctrine at BYU. He received his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Illinois and has published in Mormon and western history.

David Rolph Seely is associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in Near Eastern Studies. His research and writing cover a wide range of topics including the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Dead Sea Scrolls.

Jo Ann H. Seely has an M.A. in Anthropology from BYU. She has taught as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Michigan in the Program on Studies in Religion and as an instructor at BYU in ancient scripture and honors.

John W. Welch is the Robert K. Thomas Professor of Law at BYU. He is the founding director of FARMS, editor in chief of BYU Studies, director of special projects at the BYU Religious Studies Center, and serves as director of publications for the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute.

Dennis and Sandra Packard live in Provo, Utah, and they are the parents of six children. Dennis is a professor of philosophy at BYU, and Sandra is a homemaker and freelance writer. They coauthored the book Feasting upon the Word.

Davis Bitton is emeritus professor of history at the University of Utah and for ten years was assistant church historian.His most recent publications are Images of the Prophet Joseph Smith and George Q. Cannon: A Biography. He also edited Mormons, Scripture, and the Ancient World, a collection of scholarly articles in honor of John L. Sorenson.

Kenneth W. Godfrey taught in the church educational system for thirty-seven years before his retirement. He has published articles in the Illinois Historical Quarterly, Journal of Mormon History, the Utah Historical Quarterly, Cobblestone, BYU Studies, and Mormon Heritage.