Millstones Along the Way: The Interpreter Foundation's Birthday

[Tom]

Superb analysis and commentary, as always, Tom. I wonder: how many of the published (or “posted”?) pieces were authored by people that might be described as “Next Gen” or “Up-and-Comers”? Several here have noted in the past that, if the Mopologists cannot recruit people from the younger generations, then Mopologetics will wither and die. Based on these statistics, it seems that the “journal” is largely an “in-house,” effort, and something of a “good old boys” club at that.

Interpreter published pieces from a mixture of writers from younger generations and from the Old Guard. It will be interesting to see how the Foundation leadership changes in coming years. Who will take over the Foundation after the Proprietor steps down? Will there be a succession crisis? Will there be breakoff Mopologetic organizations due to an internal struggle for control? Could an outsider, such as Rod Meldrum, claim that the Proprietor anointed him as the next leader of the Interpreter Foundation and draw away some of the Proprietor’s acolytes? Will there be a day in which the succession candidates deliver speeches stating their claims to the throne? Will some acolytes claim that that they saw a transfiguration in the appearance and voice of one of the candidates such that he resembled and sounded just like the Proprietor? These things could easily come to pass unless the Proprietor has placed his wishes for succession in writing.

Speaking of which, did you catch this stunning remark from the Afore?:

I suspect that Church leaders are reluctant to make editorial changes to official scriptural texts not least because members would then feel obliged to buy the revised editions and translation committees to retranslate them. And, as I've pointed out, none of Skousen's findings changes either the doctrine or the narrative in any substantial way.
Still, I think that they'll be incorporated someday. I hope so.

In other words, he hopes that the Brethren will adopt changes to the faith’s most sacred and foundational text that were *paid for* by Interpreter! A very famous and disquieting quote comes to mind: “You can buy anything in this world with money.”

I am not certain how church leaders view Brother Skousen and his 30-plus years of work. Were they supportive of his publication of The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text? Are they behind his Early Modern English theory? Did the Brethren endorse the idea of a Ghost Committee?

Rather than buying a new edition of the Book of Mormon, I suspect that many members would simply use the electronic version. The church sells physical copies of the Book of Mormon at a low price, so cost shouldn’t be a large consideration.

[drumdude]

Will there be a succession crisis?

I can't wait to see the countenance of The Afore fall upon Steven "Bukake" Smoot!

[Tom]

Will there be a succession crisis?

I can't wait to see the countenance of The Afore fall upon Steven "Bukake" Smoot!

It’s very possible. There can be little doubt that Brother Smoot has been groomed for Mopologetic leadership since his youth by his Obi-Wan Kenobi, Dr. Peterson.

[Tom]

Let me be the very first person in the world to wish happy birthday to the Interpreter Foundation. It’s hard to believe that the Foundation press began churning out weekly online posts a mere thirteen years ago.

For those of you unworthy souls who did not receive the invitation, I am delighted to report that the Foundation is having a birthday party tonight. (I am not making this up.) Southeast Orem’s Arby’s (“We Have the Meats”) will be doing the catering this year, and guests will feast on their choice of sandwich (Triple Beef ‘N Fry Sauce, Smokehouse Brisket, or Three Pound Roast Beef), side (Curly Fries, Crinkle Fries, or Mozzarella Loaves), drink (Fresca, Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch, Unsweet Herbal Tea, or Glass Grape Juice), and dessert (green jello with shredded sego lily, Postum Shake, or Virgin Root Beer Float).

I expect that Professor Peterson will preside over the postprandial fireside, which should include, at a minimum, somewhat of an annual report, several clips from the Foundation’s Bowdlerizing Brigham series of short video documentaries, a preview of the Foundation’s entirely revised website, exciting details on the Foundation’s 2026 tour of Warsaw, Illinois, to tramp through the wreckage of the town where Tom Sharp and his henchmen hatched their devious plot against the Mormons, and a special taping of the Foundation’s “awful” and “embarrassing” (Dr. Peterson’s words) podcast featuring Martin Tanner as host and guest. (Judging by recent podcast episodes, I expect that tonight’s podcast episode will feature a delightful and humorous variety of disastrous technical problems.) A very special guest, Dr. Paul Smith, PhD, will close out the evening with a discounted workshop on employing remote viewing to locate those Latter-day Saints who—to use Dr. Midgley’s charitable language—have “gone missing.” (Note: party guests can pay for the $250 remote-viewing workshop at any of the four chapel doors.)

I am pleased to report that the Foundation will be picking up the cost of Uber rides for guests who happen to drink a little too much Glass Grape Juice at the party and need to rise early for bishopric meeting tomorrow morning.

I will do my best to take notes during the party (using Pitman shorthand). In any event, I trust that a great time will be had by all.

[I Have Questions]

I’m hoping to view it remotely…

[malkie]

I’m hoping to view it remotely…

Under carefully controlled and monitored circumstances, I hope.

[Doctor Scratch]

A wonderful and generous summary, Tom. I’d like to join you in wishing a “Happy Birthday” to the Interpreter blog. But I am also wondering something. I noticed the Proprietor the other day announcing another of the “chapter reprints,” and it led me to wonder: How much of Interpreter’s output over the years has been “original”? A lot of the content seems to be recycled material, and then there is stuff like K. Rasmussen’s frankly parasitic pieces. So, on today—the anniversary day—is it fair to ask what they are celebrating? Whether it’s the hard work of producing new material, or the hard work of re-posting other people’s work?

[drumdude]

Let me be the very first person in the world to wish happy birthday to the Interpreter Foundation. It’s hard to believe that the Foundation press began churning out weekly online posts a mere thirteen years ago.

For those of you unworthy souls who did not receive the invitation, I am delighted to report that the Foundation is having a birthday party tonight. (I am not making this up.) Southeast Orem’s Arby’s (“We Have the Meats”) will be doing the catering this year, and guests will feast on their choice of sandwich (Triple Beef ‘N Fry Sauce, Smokehouse Brisket, or Three Pound Roast Beef), side (Curly Fries, Crinkle Fries, or Mozzarella Loaves), drink (Fresca, Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch, Unsweet Herbal Tea, or Glass Grape Juice), and dessert (green jello with shredded sego lily, Postum Shake, or Virgin Root Beer Float).

I expect that Professor Peterson will preside over the postprandial fireside, which should include, at a minimum, somewhat of an annual report, several clips from the Foundation’s Bowdlerizing Brigham series of short video documentaries, a preview of the Foundation’s entirely revised website, exciting details on the Foundation’s 2026 tour of Warsaw, Illinois, to tramp through the wreckage of the town where Tom Sharp and his henchmen hatched their devious plot against the Mormons, and a special taping of the Foundation’s “awful” and “embarrassing” (Dr. Peterson’s words) podcast featuring Martin Tanner as host and guest. (Judging by recent podcast episodes, I expect that tonight’s podcast episode will feature a delightful and humorous variety of disastrous technical problems.) A very special guest, Dr. Paul Smith, PhD, will close out the evening with a discounted workshop on employing remote viewing to locate those Latter-day Saints who—to use Dr. Midgley’s charitable language—have “gone missing.” (Note: party guests can pay for the $250 remote-viewing workshop at any of the four chapel doors.)

I am pleased to report that the Foundation will be picking up the cost of Uber rides for guests who happen to drink a little too much Glass Grape Juice at the party and need to rise early for bishopric meeting tomorrow morning.

I will do my best to take notes during the party (using Pitman shorthand). In any event, I trust that a great time will be had by all.

I always appreciate the news from Lake Wasatch, where all the women are married to Joseph, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.

[malkie]

Let me be the very first person in the world to wish happy birthday to the Interpreter Foundation. It’s hard to believe that the Foundation press began churning out weekly online posts a mere thirteen years ago.

For those of you unworthy souls who did not receive the invitation, I am delighted to report that the Foundation is having a birthday party tonight. (I am not making this up.) Southeast Orem’s Arby’s (“We Have the Meats”) will be doing the catering this year, and guests will feast on their choice of sandwich (Triple Beef ‘N Fry Sauce, Smokehouse Brisket, or Three Pound Roast Beef), side (Curly Fries, Crinkle Fries, or Mozzarella Loaves), drink (Fresca, Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch, Unsweet Herbal Tea, or Glass Grape Juice), and dessert (green jello with shredded sego lily, Postum Shake, or Virgin Root Beer Float).

I expect that Professor Peterson will preside over the postprandial fireside, which should include, at a minimum, somewhat of an annual report, several clips from the Foundation’s Bowdlerizing Brigham series of short video documentaries, a preview of the Foundation’s entirely revised website, exciting details on the Foundation’s 2026 tour of Warsaw, Illinois, to tramp through the wreckage of the town where Tom Sharp and his henchmen hatched their devious plot against the Mormons, and a special taping of the Foundation’s “awful” and “embarrassing” (Dr. Peterson’s words) podcast featuring Martin Tanner as host and guest. (Judging by recent podcast episodes, I expect that tonight’s podcast episode will feature a delightful and humorous variety of disastrous technical problems.) A very special guest, Dr. Paul Smith, PhD, will close out the evening with a discounted workshop on employing remote viewing to locate those Latter-day Saints who—to use Dr. Midgley’s charitable language—have “gone missing.” (Note: party guests can pay for the $250 remote-viewing workshop at any of the four chapel doors.)

I am pleased to report that the Foundation will be picking up the cost of Uber rides for guests who happen to drink a little too much Glass Grape Juice at the party and need to rise early for bishopric meeting tomorrow morning.

I will do my best to take notes during the party (using Pitman shorthand). In any event, I trust that a great time will be had by all.

Pitman shorthand is so last century.

For an exciting twist, Tom, why not go a bit further back and take notes using Book of Mormon "caractors"?

[Tom]

A wonderful and generous summary, Tom. I’d like to join you in wishing a “Happy Birthday” to the Interpreter blog. But I am also wondering something. I noticed the Proprietor the other day announcing another of the “chapter reprints,” and it led me to wonder: How much of Interpreter’s output over the years has been “original”? A lot of the content seems to be recycled material, and then there is stuff like K. Rasmussen’s frankly parasitic pieces. So, on today—the anniversary day—is it fair to ask what they are celebrating? Whether it’s the hard work of producing new material, or the hard work of re-posting other people’s work?

Yes, those questions are eminently fair, Doctor Scratch. I must confess that I have little sense of how much of Interpreter’s output over the past thirteen years has been “original.” (I tracked such things in my younger years.) It may be a terrific research project for an energetic and ambitious Cassius graduate student to tackle.

The Foundation posts “reprints” of book chapters on Thursdays. It does not consider those reprints to be journal articles. (Rasmussen’s summaries are also not considered to be journal articles.) The Foundation’s website states that “[t]he purpose of th[e] reprint series is to make individual chapters from books published by The Interpreter Foundation more accessible to readers.” The website is currently posting chapters from the Stephen Ricks festschrift each Thursday. The entire book, however, is already posted online at the BYU’s ScholarsArchive website. The Foundation could simply post links to the ScholarsArchive each Thursday.

I wonder: would Interpreter publish bogus but entirely original “scholarship” that “sounded good” and “flattered the editors' ideological preconceptions”? Would Interpreter fall victim to a Sokol-like prank (by accepting a hoax paper employing bogus Bayesian statistical analysis, for example)? Would Interpreter’s editorial staff discern a nonsensical scriptural analysis written by AI, complete with phantom citations? I don’t have the answer to those questions.