Teaching and Scholarship
Matthews began teaching in the Church Educational System in 1955, beginning as a seminary teacher in Soda Springs, Idaho. He also taught institute classes in Southern California under the direction of Paul H. Dunn and was a course writer and editor with the seminaries and institutes division of the Church Educational System.
In 1968 Matthews received his Ph.D. in Ancient Scriptures from Brigham Young University. He began teaching in the Division of Religious Education at Brigham Young University in 1971. He served as dean of Religion Education at Brigham Young University for 8½ years, and subsequently was a professor and department chair of the Ancient Scripture Department until his retirement in 1992.
Matthews has the distinction of being the first person from the LDS Church allowed by the Community of Christ to work with the original manuscript of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, which was in their possession. He was a principal collaborator involved in compiling the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and authored articles on the Book of Moses and the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
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