"Nephi and His Asherah" - Part 2 by Daniel C. Peterson




Rare Possessions: From The Archives of Book of Mormon Central show

Summary: Part 2 of the previous episode: In this paper from the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Latter-day Saint scholar Daniel C. Peterson explores research on the presence of Asherah, the divine consort of El (God), in both Israelite and Canaanite religious traditions from 1000-500 B.C. After addressing this history, Peterson applies this context to Nephi's vision of the Tree of Life in 1 Nephi 11. This potential connection can provide Latter-day Saints with additional layers of understanding, and insight into the world of Lehi and Nephi.