Robert J. Matthews. RIP
August 30, 2009 8 Comments
Robert Matthews, long time religion professor at BYU and JST scholar passed away today. Sympathies to his family and friends. Perhaps now he knows the answers to many of those deep questions.
Former dean of religious education at Brigham Young University, Robert Matthews played a significant role in many LDS Church projects. He worked to thaw relations between the (then) Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his study of the manuscripts of Joseph Smith’s biblical revisions, held at the time in RLDS archives.
Among many Church assignments, Matthews served as president of the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, Utah.
I am thankful for Matthews, who taught me there was sin before the fall.
I too, am thankful for Robert J. Matthews, who taught me many things regarding Church doctrine and who possesses a deep understanding of all realms of our experience. I never recall his teaching that there was sin BEFORE the Fall. In fact I recall the exact opposite. Would you mind giving me those references? Thank you so much.
Studies in scriptures Vol 7, 1 Nephi to Alma 29, edited by Kent Jackson
Deseretbook
Thanks for the announcement. Matthews’s work on the JST was an invaluable contribution on a number of fronts … for scholars, for the church, and for individuals seeking to get more out of their scripture study.
It’s interesting that Matthews and his work on the JST were mentioned quite a lot in the recent on-line radio broadcast “Mormon Identity” over at radio.lds.org. A timely tribute.
I served under Pres. Matthews in the Mount Timpanogos temple and found him to be an inspiring leader and thoughtful student of the scriptures. My sympathy to his family and friends on their loss.
A summary of funeral proceedings may be found here
Brother Matthews was a great teacher. I was inspired to take his JST class have some of the same passion for continued study of the JST. He never liked being called “Dr.” He was the humblest man I know.