What are the Dead Sea Scrolls? Where Were They Found? Maps of Qumran Area Who Wrote the Scrolls? What is BYU's Involvement? What is FARMS? What is CPART? Article - LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls The Book- LDS Perspectives on the Dead Sea Scrolls Video Highlights and Offer

What is FARMS?

The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies encourages and supports research and publication about the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and other ancient scriptures.

FARMS is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational foundation, established in 1979. Its main research interests in the scriptures include ancient history, language, literature, culture, geography, politics, religion, and law. Although research on such subjects is of secondary importance when compared with the spiritual and eternal messages of the scriptures, solid scholarly research can supply certain kinds of useful information, even if only tentatively, concerning many significant and interesting questions about the ancient backgrounds, origins, composition, and meanings of scripture.

The work of the Foundation rests on the premise that the Book of Mormon and other scriptures were written by prophets of God. Belief in this premise—in the divinity of scripture—is a matter of faith. Religious truths require divine witness to establish the faith of the believer. While scholarly research cannot replace that witness, such studies may reinforce and encourage individual testimonies by fostering understanding and appreciation of the scriptures. It is hoped that this information will help people to "come unto Christ" (Jacob 1:7) and to understand and take more seriously these ancient witnesses of the atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As a result of its remarkable contributions to the preservation and publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the intensified requests for its scholarly and technological capabilities, FARMS saw the necessity for a subsidiary that would specialize in projects similar to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Thus, in 1997, the Center for the Preservation of Ancient Religious Texts (CPART) was established. It is assigned to assist in the scholarly advancement and preservation of ancient religious materials not specifically connected to Mormonism.

The Foundation works to make interim and final reports about its research available widely, promptly, and economically, both in scholarly and popular formats. FARMS publishes information about the Book of Mormon and other ancient scripture in the Insights newsletter; books and research papers; FARMS Review of Books; Journal of Book of Mormon Studies; reprints of published scholarly papers; and videos and audiotapes. FARMS also supports the preparation of the Collected Works of Hugh Nibley.

To facilitate the sharing of information, FARMS sponsors lectures, seminars, symposia, firesides, and radio and television broadcasts in which research findings are communicated to working scholars and to anyone interested in faithful, reliable information about the scriptures. Through Research Press, a publishing arm of the Foundation, FARMS publishes materials addressed primarily to working scholars.

The Foundation is independent of all other organizations and does not speak for any other organization. FARMS is supported solely by subscriptions, sales, and private donations.

For more information about the Foundation and its activities, contact the FARMS office at 1-800-327-6715 or (801) 373-5111.