James W. Lucas

James W. Lucas is an attorney who has lived in New York City most of his adult life but is now living in Utah. He received his undergraduate degree from BYU and law degree from Columbia University. In recent years he has written both books and articles on constitutional and public policy matters. In the field of LDS history, he has presented at several conferences, co-authored (with Warner Woodworth) Working Toward Zion: Principles of the United Order for the Modern World, and done research on the history of the Latter-day Saints in New York City. The latter has included writing the entry on Mormons for the Encyclopedia of New York City and a chapter in New York Glory: Religion in the City (NYU Press). He is co-author with Jonathan E. Neville of By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration (Salt Lake City: Digital Legend, 2023).

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Joseph and Oliver Told the Truth about the Translation: A Response to Brant Gardner’s and Jeff Lindsay’s Reviews

by James W. Lucas | undefined 64 | 03-14-2025

Abstract: Two recent reviews of By Means of the Urim & Thummim: Restoring Translation to the Restoration by Jeff Lindsay and Brant Gardner seriously misrepresent the book’s argument. Perhaps most significantly, they largely sidestep the book’s central thesis that the statements by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that the Book of Mormon was translated from […]

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All journal publications and video presentations are available for free by digital download and streaming. The price of hard copy versions of journal articles covers only the cost of printing; books are typically priced to help cover both upfront pre—publication expenses and royalties to authors when applicable. In some cases, the Foundation may subsidize publication costs to keep retail prices affordable.