Misconceptions About Mormonism

In this week’s show, our guest is Trevan Hatch. He is the Ancient Scripture/Studies, World Religions, & Philosophy Specialist in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Young University. Trevan earned a B.A. at Brigham Young University (history), an M.A. at Baltimore Hebrew University / Towson University (Jewish studies: Jewish origins), a PhD at Louisiana State University (sociology of religion: Judaism and Islam), and is currently pursuing a Master’s degrees at the University of Kentucky (library & information science) and a doctorate at the Spertus Institute in Chicago (Jewish studies: Jewish origins). He also studied at two universities in Israel: Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of the Holy Land. Trevan has taught multiple college courses relating to religion and contemporary society including, family dynamics, ethics and values, early Judaism, western religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and Doctrine and Covenants. His research involves the study of religion vis-à-vis “lived experience,” contemporary Jewish and Muslim family life, early Judaism and Christianity, the history of biblical interpretation in Mormonism, and attitudes on Jews & Judaism in Latter-day Saint history. Recently the Church of the Latter-day Saints has been in the focus of much media attention. It started with Mitt Romney’s run for president and it has been an obsession of the creators of Southpark to malign the Mormon Church in both television and Broadway. Mr. Hatch dispels misconceptions about the members of the Mormon Church and explains their doctrine including Angeology, prophethood, their genealogical research and the revelations of Joseph Smith.