{"id":103094,"date":"2023-12-15T18:21:17","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T01:21:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/?p=103094"},"modified":"2023-12-15T18:21:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T01:21:17","slug":"pixelated-prophets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/danpeterson\/2023\/12\/pixelated-prophets.html","title":{"rendered":"“Pixelated Prophets”"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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Arnold Friberg\u2019s painting is wrong in a number of respects, but probably right in an essential way: It captures the spirit of the man. \u00a0 (LDS.org)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
This new article went up earlier today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>: \u00a0\u201cPixelated Prophets: A History and Analysis of Book-of-Mormon-Themed Video Games,\u201d<\/a> written by Geoffrey M. Draper<\/a><\/span><\/span> and Aaron M. Curtis<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Abstract: <\/strong>Video games represent an innovative medium for entertainment and artistic expression with potential for fostering deeper engagement with religious texts such as the Book of Mormon. Over the past three decades, developers have produced dozens of video games based on the Book of Mormon. This paper provides a comprehensive history of these video games. We examine how these games use different genres, styles, and levels of scriptural fidelity to creative immersive and interactive experiences based on ancient stories and teachings. We also discuss the challenges and opportunities for developing and distributing Book-of-Mormon\u2013themed video games in a competitive and changing market and discuss the future potential of religious-themed video games in fostering unique spiritual experiences.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It was accompanied by\u00a0\u201cInterpreting Interpreter<\/em>: Pixelated Prophets,\u201d<\/a> which was written by Kyler Rasmussen<\/a><\/p>\n
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This post is a summary of the article \u201cPixelated Prophets: A History and Analysis of Book-of-Mormon-Themed Video Games<\/a>\u201d by Geoffrey M. Draper and Aaron M. Curtis in Volume 59 of Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship<\/em>. All of the Interpreting Interpreter<\/em> articles may be seen at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/category\/summaries\/<\/a>. An introduction to the Interpreting Interpreter<\/em> series is available at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/interpreting-interpreter-on-abstracting-thought\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The Takeaway: <\/strong>Draper and Curtis summarize 30 years of video-game adaptations of the Book of Mormon. These games usually perform poorly in the marketplace, perhaps due to a Latter-Day Saint aversion to paid content, inappropriate advertising, and depictions of violence. In spite of these factors, they remain hopeful that video games could serve as a useful medium for depicting Book of Mormon narratives.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n
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The temple of Jerusalem as it appeared in 66 AD, about three and a half decades after the crucifixion of Jesus and just prior to the Roman destruction of temple and city during the First Jewish Revolt. This wonderful outdoor model of late Second Temple Jerusalem stands on the grounds of the Israel Museum.***
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photograph)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
** ***I\u2019ve been busy and distracted, I\u2019m sorry to say, and I\u2019m afraid that I\u2019ve fallen behind on alerting you to new items from the Interpreter Foundation. \u00a0So I will now attempt to catch up, calling your attention to the following items that have appeared over the past couple of days:<\/p>\n\u201cThe Temple: Ancient and Restored<\/em>: \u00a0Experiencing the Presence of the Lord: The Temple Program of Leviticus,\u201d<\/a> written by John W. Welch<\/a><\/p>\n
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Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article originally appeared in The Temple: Ancient and Restored<\/em>, Proceedings of the Second Interpreter Matthew B. Brown Memorial Conference \u201cThe Temple on Mount Zion,\u201d 25 October 2014 (2016), edited by Stephen D. Ricks and Donald W. Parry. For more information, go to https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/books\/the-temple-ancient-and-restored\/<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Conference Talks: Jesus\u2019s First Visit to the Temple<\/i>: 2018 Temple on Mount Zion Conference<\/a>, presented by S. Kent Brown<\/a><\/p>\n
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The fourth \u201cTemple on Mount Zion\u201d Conference was held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 in the Tanner Building at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.<\/p>\n
The presentations were filmed, and both video and audio recordings of each presentation are available. The videos are currently available both at and on the Interpreter Foundation YouTube channel at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/theinterpreterfoundation<\/a>. A YouTube playlist is also available at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLRMn4gyXMWLsWt34zVNC5FmTqBtFfcnxl<\/a>. The audio recordings are available at https:\/\/interpreterfoundation.org\/conferences\/2018-temple-on-mount-zion-conference\/2018-temple-on-mount-zion-conference-audio\/<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cInterpreter Radio Show \u2014 November 26, 2023\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
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In the 26 November 2023 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, the co-hosts were Steve Densley and Don Bradley, and their special guest was Nathan Arp. They discussed Nathan\u2019s recent article in Interpreter<\/em>, as well as the Strengthening Church Members Committee and Come, Follow Me<\/em> New Testament lesson 5.<\/p>\n
Those discussions have now been purified of commercial interruptions, archived, and made available for your delectation. \u00a0So has the \u201cNew Testament in Context\u201d portion of the show, for the Come, Follow Me<\/em> New Testament lesson 52. \u00a0It has been posted separately. \u00a0(See immediately below.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cThe New Testament in Context Lesson 50: Christmas\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
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During the 26 November 2023 Come, Follow Me<\/em> segment of the Interpreter Radio Show, Steve Densley and Don Bradley discuss New Testament lesson 52 about Christmas.<\/p>\n
The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard each and every week, on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640. \u00a0Or, if it seemeth wise unto you, you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\u201cCome, Follow Me<\/em> \u2014 New Testament Study and Teaching Helps: Lesson 52, December 18 \u2014 24: Matthew 1:18\u201325; Luke 1:26\u201338; 2:1\u201320: \u00a0\u201cChristmas, \u201cGood Tidings of Great Joy\u201d\u201d<\/em>:\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
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Once again, Jonn Claybaugh kindly provides a concise set of notes for students and teachers of the \u201cCome, Follow Me\u201d curriculum. \u00a0And this one is seasonally appropriate.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
While I\u2019m at it, too, I think that you\u2019ll enjoy this, from BYU Studies\u00a0<\/em>Quarterly<\/i>: \u00a0\u201c\u201cDumb\u201d Puns in Alma 30: A Mesoamerican Twist on Korihor\u2019s Talionic Punishment.\u201d<\/a> \u00a0It\u2019s by our friends Mark Alan Wright<\/a> and Neal Rappleye<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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At the end of July 2023, these women in eastern Kenya celebrate the delivery to their village of beehives that were provided by donors to the Giving Machines.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n***
** ***But now, in conclusion, I feel that we\u2019re obliged to look in on a multifaceted horror, something of a cluster bomb, from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial \u201cHow Religion Poisons Everything\u201d File<\/em>\u2122. \u00a0It seems that these depraved and scandalous acts are being perpetrated all around the world<\/em>:<\/p>\n\u201cWatch 8 #LightTheWorld videos and 6 Giving Machines videos for 2023:\u00a0Plus bonus videos from BYUtv highlight how to share light and use a Giving Machine\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
You can easily see the connection of those appalling misdeeds with this grim tale: \u00a0\u201cMarie Osmond unveils a new Giving Machine in Texas\u2014and her reaction is pure joy\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
And with this: \u00a0\u201cIf you haven\u2019t tried Light the World\u2019s adorable service shuffler, you are in for a treat\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s this one, too, which \u2014 you have been duly warned! \u2014 is absolutely guaranteed to curdle your blood: \u00a0\u201cChurch and Save the Children Work Together to Help Babies Thrive: An $8 million donation from the Church of Jesus Christ to Save the Children will benefit tens of thousands of mother-baby pairs in seven countries\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n
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\u00a0 This new article went up earlier today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: \u00a0\u201cPixelated Prophets: A History and Analysis of Book-of-Mormon-Themed Video Games,\u201d written by Geoffrey M. Draper and Aaron M. Curtis Abstract: Video games represent an innovative medium for entertainment and artistic expression with potential for fostering deeper engagement […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1019,"featured_media":39727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[9565,56,37028,37025,15280,37022],"class_list":["post-103094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-aaron","tag-book-of-mormon","tag-curtis","tag-draper","tag-geoffrey","tag-video-games"],"yoast_head":"\n"Pixelated Prophets"<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\" This new article went up earlier today in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: \u00a0"Pixelated Prophets: A History and\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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