When I mention “FARMS” or the “Maxwell Institute” to a typical Latter-day Saint I am usually met with a blank stare. Sometimes recognition will flash across their face, but they can rarely explain what these organizations are and, most importantly, what they have taught us over the last 30 years. FARMS (the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) began in 1979 and eventually became a part of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship at BYU. At 27 I consider myself very lucky that I grew up with these organizations and I credit them for many of my gospel-related research interests. Having grown up in the church, some of my most exciting memories are the moments when parts of the Book of Mormon came alive, jumped out of the translucent pages, and became . . . possible. I mean really possible.
