John L. Sorenson

John L. Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University and the author of "An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon" as well as many other books and articles on the Book of Mormon and archaeology.

Sorenson holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He began teaching at Brigham Young University in 1963. He established the anthropology department there. He has also worked as the head of the social sciences for General Research Corporation based in Santa Barbara, California and was the founder of Bonneville Research Corporation.

For a time he served as editor of the "Journal of Book of Mormon Studies".

While being a proponant of the historicity of the Book of Mormon [ [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=115794bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Ensign", September 1992, p. 27-28, this article shows that Sorenson advocates a critical approach to Book of Mormon historicity which takes into account what is not said] ] Sorenson has also attacked the shobby scholarship some have used to try and defend the Book of Mormon. [ [http://www2.ida.net/graphics/shirtail/john.htm "BYU Studies", Vol 16, no 3 (Spring 1976)] ]

Sorenson is the father of nine children. He has served as bishop of the BYU 99th Ward.

ources

*author bio in Parry et. al, ed., "Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon" (Provo: FARMS, 2002) p. 504-505.
* [http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=c4f105481ae6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Ensign", September 1984, p. 27]

External Links

* [http://www.lds-mormon.com/smithson.shtml Sorenson's critique of Smithsonian form letter on the Book of Mormon]