Steven D. Ricks

Bio

Stephen D. Ricks was born in Berkeley, California, "when it was a peaceful university community." He completed his B.A. in Ancient Greek and M.A. in the Classics at Brigham Young University, then received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and Graduate Theological Union. While completing his doctoral work he spent two years studying at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. He is now professor of Hebrew and Cognate Learning at Brigham Young University where he has been a member of the faculty nearly thirty years.

His academic work includes research and publication on the Book of Mormon, the Old Testament, Hebrew, and the temple, including studies on the ritual use of creation texts in the ancient world, temple building motifs, enthronement ceremonies in history, and the garment of Adam in the ancient world. Professor Ricks has also done research on Isra'iliyyat, Arabic literature dealing with biblical figures. He is the author or editor of twenty books and the author of more than eighty articles on the temple, the Old Testament, the ancient Near East, and the Book of Mormon.

From 1988 to 1991he was the president of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) (now the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship). From 1991 to 1997 he served as the chairman of FARMS board of directors. He was the founding editor of the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies serving as editor from 1992 to 1997. From 1992 to 1996 he also served as the associate dean of general education and honors at BYU.

Professor Ricks has used his reading knowledge of more than 20 languages in his research, and is an expert in Biblical Hebrew. For many years he has worked toward promoting positive relations between the LDS Church and Jewish groups. He and his wife Shirley are the parents of six children and the grandparents of six.

Online Publications:

Ricks, Stephen D. "Jewish and Other Semitic Texts Written in Egyptian Characters." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 5, no. 2, 156–63.

———. "The Hebrew Origin of Some Book of Mormon Place Names." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 6, no. 2, 255–9.

Benson, RoseAnn and Stephen D. Ricks. "Treaties and Covenants: Ancient Near Eastern Legal Terminology in the Book of Mormon." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 14, no. 1, 48-61.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Holy War: The Sacral Ideology of War in the Book of Mormon and in the Ancient Near East."

———. "Who Wrote The Dead Sea Scrolls?"

———. "Converging Paths: Language and Cultural Notes on the Ancient Near Eastern Background of the Book of Mormon." In Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon. Edited by Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, and John W. Welch.

———. "Foreword." In Enoch the Prophet. By Hugh W. Nibley. Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.

———."The Book of Mormon and the Dead Sea Scrolls." In LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Edited by Donald W. Parry, and Dana M. Pike.

Parry, Donald W. and Stephen D. Ricks. "The Dead Sea Scrolls: Questions and Responses for Latter–day Saints."

Ricks, Stephen D. "Introduction: Richard Lloyd Anderson, An Appreciation." The Disciple as Scholar: Essays on Scripture and the Ancient World in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson. Edited by Donald W. Parry, Stephen D. Ricks and Andrew Hedges. Provo: FARMS, 2000.

———. "Adam's Fall in the Book of Mormon, Second Temple Judaism, and Early Christianity." In The Disciple as Scholar: Essays on Scripture and the Ancient World in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson. Edited by Donald W. Parry, Stephen D. Ricks and Andrew Hedges. Provo: FARMS, 2000.

———. "Oaths and Oath Taking in the Old Testament." In The Temple in Time and Eternity. Edited by Donald W. Parry, and Stephen D. Ricks.

———. "Miqvaot: Ritual Immersion Baths in Second Temple (Intertestamental) Jewish History." BYU Studies. 36, no. 3, 277–86.

———. "The Narrative Call Pattern in the Prophetic Commission of Enoch (Moses 6)." BYU Studies, Volume 26, Number 4, 97–105.

———. "Part VIII: Specific Insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls." In The Dead Sea Scrolls: Questions and Responses for Latter–day Saints. Edited by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks.

———. "I Have a Question: ‘How do we explain the mention of satyrs, commonly regarded as mythical creatures, in 2 Ne. 23:21 and Isaiah 34:14?'" Ensign. February, 1996, 63–64.

———. "I Have a Question: Greek Names in the Book of Mormon." Ensign. Oct. 1992, 53–54.

———. "I Have a Question: The Name of Christ in the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament." Ensign. Sept. 1992, 24–25.

———. "Deuteronomy: A Covenant of Love." Ensign. April 1990, 55–59.

———. "I Have a Question: Past, Present, and Future in Prophecy." Ensign. August 1988, 27–28.

Ricks, Shirley S., and Stephen D. Ricks. "Jewish Religious Education in the Meridian of Time." Ensign. Oct. 1987, 60–62.

Highlighted Publications:

Parry, Donald W., and Stephen D. Ricks. Die Schriftrollen vom Toten Meer: Fragen und Antworten für Heilige der Letzten Tage. LDS Books Schubert & Roth OHG, Bad Reichenhall, 2005. (Translation of The Dead Sea Scrolls: Questions and Responses for Latter–day Saints, by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks).

Parry, Donald W. "Who Shall Ascend into the Mountain of the Lord? Three Biblical Temple Entrance Hymns." In Reason, Revelation, and Faith: Essays in Honor of Truman G. Madsen. Edited by Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2002, 729–42.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Ancient Views of Creation and the Doctrine of Creation Ex Nihilo." In Revelation, Reason, and Faith: Essays in Honor of Truman G. Madsen. Edited by Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, and Stephen D. Ricks. Provo, Utah: FARMS, Brigham Young University, 2002.

Parry, Donald W., Stephen D. Ricks and Andrew Hedges. "The Disciple as Scholar" Essays on Latter–day Saint History and Doctrine in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2000.

Parry, Donald W. and Stephen D. Ricks. "Seven Promises to Those Who Overcome: Aspects of Genesis 2–3 in the Seven Letters." In The Temple in Time and Eternity. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1999, 121–42.

Parry, Donald W., and Stephen D. Ricks. The Temple in Time and Eternity. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1999.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Oaths and Oath Taking in the Old Testament." In The Temple in Time and Eternity. Edited by Donald W. Parry and Stephen D. Ricks. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1999, 43–53.

Ricks, Stephen D., and John A. Tvedtnes. "The Hebrew Origin of Some Book of Mormon Place Names." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 6:22 (1999): 225–59.

———. "Law of Sacrifice." Ensign 8:6 (June 1998): 25–29.

———. "Heavenly Visions and Prophetic Calls in Isaiah 6 (2 Nephi 16), the Book of Mormon, and the Revelation of John." In Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. Edited by Donald W. Parry and John W. Welch. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1998, 171–90.

———. "The Book of Mormon and the Dead Sea Scrolls." In LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls. Edited by Donald W. Parry and Dana M. Pike. Provo: FARMS, 1997, 177–89.

———. "Miqvaot: Ritual Immersion Baths in Second Temple (Intertestamental) Jewish History." BYU Studies 36:3(1996–97), 277–286.

———. "Fides Quaerens Intellectum: The Scholar as Disciple." In Expressions of Faith: Testimonies of Latter–day Saint Scholars. Edited by Susan Easton Black. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1996, 172–81.

Tvedtnes, John A., and Stephen D. Ricks. "Notes and Communications: Jewish and Other Semitic Texts Written in Egyptian Characters." Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 5, no. 2 (1996): 156–63.

Ricks, Stephen D. "I Have a Question: ‘How do we explain the mention of satyrs, commonly regarded as mythical creatures, in 2 Ne. 23:21 and Isaiah 34:14?'" Ensign. February, 1996, 63–64.

———. "Magic in the Old and New Testaments: the Tradition of the Outsider." In Ritual Power and Magic in the Ancient World. Edited by Marvin Meyer, Paul Mirecki. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.

———. "Olive Culture in the Second Temple Era and Early Rabbinic Period." In The Allegory of the Olive Tree: The Olive, the Bible, and Jacob 5. Edited by Stephen D. Ricks, John W. Welch. Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book, FARMS, 1994, 460–72.

———, and John J. Sroka. "King, Coronation, and Temple: Enthronement Ceremonies in History." In Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism. Edited by Donald W. Parry. Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book, FARMS, 1994, 236–72.

Carter, Michael A., and Stephen D. Ricks. "Temple Building Motifs: Mesopotamia, Ancient Israel, Ugarit, and Kirtland." In Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism. Edited by Donald W. Parry. Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1994, 152–77.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Liturgy and Cosmogony: The Ritual Use of Creation Accounts in the Ancient Near East." In Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism. Edited by Donald W. Parry. Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1994, 236–72.

———, and John W. Welch. The Allegory of the Olive Tree: The Olive, the Bible, and Jacob 5. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1994.

———. "Olive Culture in the Second Temple Era and Early Rabbinic Period." In The Allegory of the Olive Tree: The Olive, the Bible, and Jacob 5. Salt Lake City: F. A. R. M. S. Deseret Book, 1994, 460–76.

———. "Ezekiel l 124." In Studies in Scripture: The Old Testament 2. Edited by Kent P. Jackson. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994.

———. "Abortion in Antiquity." "Queen of Sheba," "Sheba." In Anchor Bible Dictionary. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1992.

Peterson, Daniel C., and Stephen D. Ricks. Offenders for a Word. Salt Lake City: Aspen Books, 1992. Reprint, Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1998.

Ricks, Stephen D. "I Have a Question: Greek Names in the Book of Mormon." Ensign. Oct. 1992, 53–54.

———. "I Have a Question: The Name of Christ in the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament." Ensign. Sept. 1992, 24–25.

———. "Benjamin," "Book of Mormon Studies," "Temples through the Ages." In Encyclopedia of Mormonism. New York: Macmillan, 1991.

Parry, Donald W., Stephen D. Ricks, and John W. Welch. A Bibliography on Temples of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean World. New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1991.

Parry, Donald W. and Stephen D. Ricks. The Ancient State: The Rulers and the Ruled: The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1991.

Lundquist, John M., and Stephen D. Ricks. By Study and Also by Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley on the Occasion of His Eightieth Birthday. 27 March 1990, 2 vols. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Deuteronomy: A Covenant of Love." Ensign. April 1990, 55–59.

Porter, Bruce H., and Stephen D. Ricks. "The Name in Antiquity: Old, New, and Hidden." In By Study and Also by Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley on the Occasion of His Eightieth Birthday. Edited by John M. Lundquist and Stephen D. Ricks. 27 March 1990, 2 vols. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1990, 1:501–20.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Fasting in the Book of Mormon and the Bible." In The Book of Mormon: The Keystone Scripture. Edited by Paul R. Cheesman. Provo: Religious Studies Center, 1988, 127–37.

———. "I Have a Question: Past, Present, and Future in Prophecy." Ensign. August 1988, 27–28.

Ricks, Shirley S., and Stephen D. Ricks. "Jewish Religious Education in the Meridian of Time." Ensign. Oct. 1987, 60–62.

Ricks, Stephen D. "The Narrative Call in the Prophetic Commission of Enoch." Brigham Young University Studies 26, no. 4, 96–105.

———. Enoch the Prophet: The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 2. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1986.

———. "The Restoration of the Tribes of Israel in the Writings of Jeremiah and Ezekiel." In The Old Testament and the Latter–day Saints: Sperry Symposium 1986. Salt Lake City: Randall Book, 1986.

———. "The Early Ministry of Abraham (Abr. 1, 2)." Studies In Scripture, Volume Two: The Pearl of Great Price. Edited by Kent P. Jackson and Robert L. Millet. Sandy, Utah: Randall Book, 1985, 217–24.

———. "Ruth." In Studies in Scripture, Volume Three: The Old Testament. Edited by Kent P. Jackson, Robert L. Millet, Sandy, Utah: Randall Book, 1985, 249–57.

Parry, Donald W. and Stephen D. Ricks. "The Judges of Israel (Judges)." In Studies in Scripture, Volume Three: The Old Testament. Edited by Kent P. Jackson, Robert L. Millet. Sandy, Utah: Randall Book, 1985. 239–47.

Ricks, Stephen D. "Tithing in Ancient and Modern Israel." In Hearken, O Ye People: Discourses on the Doctrine and Covenants. Sandy, Utah: Randall Book, 1984. 205–18.

———. "Oaths and Oath Taking in the Old Testament." In The Seventh Annual Church Education System Religious Educator's Symposium on the Old Testament. Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1983. 139–42.

———. "Fasting in the Perspective of Ancient Israel and the New Testament." In The Eleventh Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium: The New Testament. Provo: Brigham Young University, 1983. 85–94.

———. "The Appearance of Elijah and Moses in the Kirtland Temple and the Jewish Passover." BYU Studies 23 (1983): 483–86.

———. "A Look at the Pearl of Great Price." Sunstone Review. 2, no. 2, 14.

———. "The War in Heaven: A Comparison of Interpretations." Tangents III. Spring, 1975, 99–105.

Curriculum Vitae

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