REXBURG — When studying the scriptures, it can sometimes be hard to understand and visualize the people written about in the Holy Bible and Book of Mormon. Perhaps, the civilization that is most difficult to understand is the Jaredites found in the Book of Ether in The Book of Mormon.
BYU-Idaho math professor and author Daris Howard seeks to provide people with a path to better understand and appreciate the ancient civilization of the Jaredites with his new book, “Insights into the Scriptures: The Jaredites.”
Howard’s fascination with the Jaredites began at an early age, as family members would read him scripture stories.
“I got fascinated by it because it was different, and I couldn't really understand why to me, as a boy, it just was different and fascinating,” Howard said. “But I got on my mission, and I had people that would question the Book of Mormon because they said, you know, “The Jaredite book is just far too strange.’”
It was those questions that led Howard to do his research and find out why The Book of Ether and the Jaredites stood out among the other civilizations of The Book of Mormon. As he began to dive into the topic, he says the Holy Ghost guided him to things that he would not have found otherwise. One such experience came at an unexpected time and place — a math conference. Howard had been wondering why the climate of the setting in The Book of Ether was depicted so much differently than what it was presently.
“The guy is talking about global warming,” Howard said. “Now, what does global warming have to do with anything? And all of a sudden, I felt the spirit kind of tell me, ‘Sit up and pay attention.’ And as I did, I actually watched this guy start talking about the Earth and how it's changed over time. And I began to realize Asia as we know it was not the Asia that the Jaredites knew right after the flood.”
It was a compilation of revelations like those that helped Howard to fill the gaps in his understanding. Though, it was not until someone came up to Howard after he presented his findings at a BYU-Idaho Education Week, with one simple statement, that the thought to write a book crossed his mind.
“Brother Howard, you need to write a book.”
Howard was reluctant at first, but finally came to the conclusion that he should publish his discoveries in a book — this book. Howard said he is not stopping here; he is in the process of writing more books about different gospel topics.
You can find this and other books from Daris Howard on Amazon and on www.publishinginspiration.com.