The Foundation for Ancient Research & Mormon Studies (FARMS) and BYU have formalized and defined their relationship with a protocol agreement approved by the university's board of trustees.
FARMS describes itself as an independent, nonprofit organization that encourages and supports research about the Book of Mormon and other ancient scriptures.Noel B. Reynolds, president of the FARMS board of directors and professor of political science at BYU, said: "The main effect of the protocol will be that it will make it easier for scholars to participate in FARMS-related research as part of their academic effort. From the FARMS side, it makes it easier for the foundation to operate at BYU while retaining its independent status."
That independence, he said, is measured in terms of funding and administration - there is no funding from BYU or the Church and FARMS doesn't answer to any other organization.
While about 100 BYU professors have been involved in some way with FARMS, their relationship to the organization hasn't been clear. The protocol statement, a two-page document, outlines how BYU professors may pursue religious research with FARMS support.
"Teaching religion classes is the sole responsibility of the religious education departments," Brother Reynolds said. "But who is responsible for research on scriptural and religious topics? The answer that the protocol states very clearly, and this with the complete agreement of BYU religious education leadership, is that religion-related research, scripture research, is appropriate for anyone on campus as long as it's approved through normal university channels."
That research is part of BYU's mission, Brother Reynolds added.
"No other university in the world is going to do good scholarly work on the Mormon scriptural tradition," he pointed out. "What other university is going to sponsor serious faithful work on our unique scriptural tradition? The answer is `none.' So the university and the Church have realized that we need to use the talents of faithful LDS scholars in all disciplines. When they've got something that applies, FARMS helps them do it."
He said FARMS provides three kinds of help to about 200 LDS scholars around the world who do such research: 1. Funding for things such as materials and equipment, travel and research assistants; 2. Publication opportunities (FARMS publishes its own books, journals, newsletter and other publications); 3. Peer review. "Scholars have to have internal criticism," Brother Reynolds said. "They need somebody to talk to them, give them better ideas, tell them what they're doing wrong and ask them questions they didn't think of. We call that peer review."
He explained that the purposes of such research are to increase understanding of the Book of Mormon and other ancient scripture, and to answer attacks on the Church. "Many of our readers report that they have found this research useful as they study the scriptures and seek to strengthen their testimonies," he said.
The protocol also states that "BYU and FARMS will work together in locating - and possibly building - suitable space on or near the campus." FARMS had been headquartered in an off-campus BYU building until recently when it moved part of its operation into offices it purchased adjacent to campus.
Working with scholars in various disciplines is valuable to FARMS research, according to Brother Reynolds. For example, he noted that Royal Skousen, a linguist, is doing comparative studies of the Book of Mormon and its original manuscript with the help of FARMS. Also, BYU statisticians have demonstrated through what Brother Reynolds called "word prints" that the Book of Mormon had to be written by several authors and not just one, as some critics claim.
FARMS and BYU are also cooperating in creating a computer database of the Dead Sea Scrolls to facilitate research and study of the scrolls worldwide.
Brother Reynolds noted that more than 7,500 Church members subscribe to the FARMS newsletter or are otherwise involved in FARMS projects. He said FARMS answers Book of Mormon inquiries through a toll-free information service at 1-800-FARMS15.
