Richard Holzapfel
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel, Ph.D. (born September 17, 1955) is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as The Mormon Church) and Professor of Religious Studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Dr. Holzapfel presently teaches classes in ancient and modern scripture--including the New Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants, as well as an Honors History course titled "American Society and Government." BYU Religious Education Dept.
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Biography
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel was born in Blackfoot Idaho, and moved regularly as a child, due to his father's naval career. In addition to his native town, his family resided in Southern California, Maine, and Hawaii. He graduated from Chula Vista High in 1973. Richard served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for two years in Italy and Switzerland.
Dr. Holzapfel attended Brigham Young University, Hebrew Union College, and the University of California, Irvine, receiving his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. respectively, with an emphasis in each of the following areas: Middle Eastern Studies, Jewish History, Ancient History, American History, and Nineteenth Century American Religious History. BYU Religious Education Dept.
Richard met Jeni Broberg at Brigham Young University, and they were married in the Temple in 1978. A year later their first child, was born. At that time, Dr. Holzapfel moved his young family to Irvine, California to pursue his doctorate at the University California Irvine, where he simultaneously worked for the Church Educational System (CES). His first book, Old Mormon Nauvoo 1839 -1846 was released in 1990. Wikipedia.org
Richard came to Brigham Young University as an assistant professor in 1993, teaching in the Church History, Ancient Scripture, and History departments. His courses then included the Honors sections of the Doctrine and Covenants and New Testament. He taught at the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center from 1997 through 1998. He is a world traveler, often lecturing around the country and abroad. Wikipedia.org
Dr. Holzapfel currently serves as the Publications Director of the "Religious Educator," a quarterly journal publication of the Religious Studies Center at BYU. In addition to teaching and filling various committee assignments at the university, Richard continues a heavy research, writing, and publication agenda. He has written over 32 books and countless articles. BYU Religious Education Dept.
Richard and Jeni currently reside in Provo, Utah. They have five adult children, Nathan, Zachary, Zanna, Marin, and Bailey. BYU Religious Education Dept.
Christ.org
In 2007, Richard Holzapfel partnered with the More Good Foundation to launch Christ.org--envisioned to be the most visited destination on the Internet devoted to the life, teachings, and mission of the Savior. Christ.org will bring together in an inspirational and instructional venue, the finest, most reliable sources on Christ--including messages and witnesses of ancient and living apostles as well as testimonies and writings of Mormon scholars, Christian theologians, leaders, and teachers. It will include some of the best articles, video, music, mulit-media, and artistic renditions that are available for online use, to effectively portray the mission of Christ and the message of the restoration of His gospel. It will be well-documented, well-designed, and translated into over a dozen languages. The ultimate mission of Christ.org is to bring everyone who visits it closer to Jesus Christ. More Good Foundation Blog
Dr. Holzapfel is prolific and brilliant, but even more outstanding than his breadth of knowledge of Christ, is his ability to bear witness of Him and to exemplify His life in his own daily ministry and stewardship.
Publications
Areas of Expertise
Ancient, Latter-day Saint, Utah, and Western history
Areas of Research
Historical and cultural background of the New Testament; The Life and travels of Paul, the apostle; Mormon and Utah photographs; Ancient and Modern Temple Worship; Local and Utah State history
Languages
Conversational Italian, academic reading of Italian, Latin, Biblical Greek and Hebrew
