Episode 112: Use Boldness but Not Overbearance (Jan J. Martin)

Episode 112: Use Boldness but Not Overbearance (Jan J. Martin)

Author: BYU Religious Education September 15, 2024 Duration: 43:56

As Alma mentored his sons in teaching the gospel, he counseled them not only to cultivate qualities such as diligence, temperance, humility, and self-reflection, but to also use "boldness, but not overbearance" (Alma 38:12) as part of their approach. The words boldness, bold, and boldly are used twenty-seven times throughout the Book Mormon, primarily to indicate that a person, or a group of people, have spoken or acted with "courage, daring, fearlessness; confidence, assurance, [and] security" (Oxford English Dictionary Online, OED). On the other hand, overbearance is used only once and seems to mean "to overcome, put down, or repress, as by power, authority, influence, or emotional pressure" (OED). In this episode, Dr. Jan J. Martin, associate professor of ancient scripture, discusses Alma's stylistic teaching advice given to his son Shiblon. She highlights two critical areas of Alma's methodology: the origin of his prophetic and fatherly counsel for teaching the gospel and his practice of leaning into the Holy Ghost for inspiration on what and how to teach. Alma's experiences in Ammonihah provide important instruction for anyone with leadership or teaching responsibilities who desire to be bold but not overbearing.

  

Publications:

·      "Use Boldness but Not Overbearance" (Book of Mormon Insights: Letting God Prevail in Your Life, Religious Studies Center, 2024)

·      "'Filthy This Day before God': Jacob's Use of Filthy and Filthiness in His Nephite Sermons" (Jacob: Faith and Great Anxiety, Religious Studies Center, 2024)

·      "The Prophet Nephi and the Covenantal Nature of 'Cut Off,' 'Cursed,' 'Skin of Blackness,' and 'Loathsome'" (They Shall Grow Together: The Bible in the Book of Mormon, Religious Studies Center, 2022)

·      The Power of Christ's Deliverance (Religious Studies Center, 2021)

·      "Samuel the Lamanite: Confronting the Wall of Nephite Prejudice" (Samuel the Lamanite: That Ye Might Believe, Religious Studies Center, 2021)

·      "The Theological Value of the King Hames Language in the Book of Mormon" (Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 27, 2018)

 

Click here to learn more about Jan J. Martin


Behind the academic papers and detailed studies produced by the faculty at Brigham Young University, there are personal journeys of faith and intellectual curiosity. Y Religion, from BYU Religious Education, opens a window into that process. Each episode sits down with the professor behind the research, moving beyond the published conclusions to explore the human questions that sparked the inquiry. Conversations delve into why a particular historical detail, scriptural insight, or theological concept demanded a closer look, and what it means for both scholarly understanding and personal belief. This isn't about dry lectures; it's about the intersection of rigorous scholarship and lived discipleship within the context of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The podcast serves as a unique bridge, making specialized academic work accessible and relevant to anyone pondering deeper spiritual truths. You'll hear scholars articulate the challenges and rewards of their dual commitment to the mind and the heart, offering listeners a richer appreciation for the ongoing dialogue between faith and learning. Tune in for thoughtful discussions that illuminate how dedicated study can deepen, rather than distance, one's spiritual journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Y Religion
Podcast Episodes
Episode 117: Kenneth L. Alford (Using the Book of Mormon Art Catalog) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:20
In an address to religious educators, Elder Richard G. Scott taught that "the use of an appealing visual aid can clarify truth." One platform for accessing such righteous and clarifying images is the Book of Mormon Art C…
Episode 114: Learning from People of Other Faiths (Joshua M. Sears) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:39
Since the organization of the Church, leaders have called for world-wide religious liberty and harmony: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all me…
Episode 111: Missionary Work in the Digital Age (Scott L. Howell) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:46
Description Since the introduction of missionary work in 1830, Saints have used a variety of tools and practices to share the good news of the gospel and bring people unto Christ. Some of the most common methods have inc…
Episode 109: One Like the Son of Man (Jared W. Ludlow) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:02
The title Jesus preferred to use for himself more than any other in the New Testament Gospels was "Son of Man." According to the Bible Dictionary, this title was used approximately eighty times in the Gospels and used ex…
Episode 108: Intentional Fatherhood (Mark D. Ogletree) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:08
Ancient and latter-day prophets have often testified of the importance of gospel-centered parenting. King Benjamin once taught, "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to lo…