(1) An article must present a clear, original thesis or key proposition which sheds new light on scripture.

(2) An initial submission consists of a letter accompanied by a detailed abstract or outline that makes clear the thesis of the proposed article, the logic of the argument that will support it, and the nature of the evidence that will be used. A realistic estimate of the length of the proposed article will be helpful. A complete manuscript is never an appropriate first submission. If the editors consider the initial submission potentially suitable, they will invite the author to make further submissions in an interactive process that can result in a finally acceptable piece.

(3) A majority of our articles approach the scriptures by expanding knowledge of the context (historical, linguistic, literary, social, cultural, etc.) within which the text originated or has subsequently been used. Also acceptable will be careful analyses of the scriptures themselves using tools of sound scholarship. We do not intend to compete with publishing outlets that focus on inspirational or devotional materials. Presentations that are primarily devotional, whatever their intrinsic merit, are better published in some other outlet aimed at a different audience than ours. However, scholarly analysis of the types we emphasize may appropriately contain inspirational or devotional elements that flow naturally out of that analysis.

(4) Writers should demonstrate awareness of all relevant studies previously done on their topic, and those studies should be identified appropriately for nonexpert readers. For the sake of nonexpert readers, notes will be de-emphasized by being placed as endnotes in a special section toward the back of each issue. Therefore, information essential to the argument of the article should not be placed in the notes.

(5) Exposition must use sound logic, and writers need to support their arguments with appropriate data: carefully selected material from the scriptures or other texts, information from scholarly literature, and facts and cases from original research or other appropriate sources. Confident assertion or clever phrasing cannot substitute for apt facts. Writing that is sensational, argumentative, or inflammatory is unacceptable; abusive language is also out of place.

(6) Some subjects or arguments may be too technical to be treated, at least for original publication, in an article aimed at a nonspecialist audience. In such cases authors are advised to publish this material first (or simultaneously) in a journal, book, or monograph aimed at their scholarly peers, with a less technical and more popular treatment of the topic submitted to the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. (The FARMS Occasional Papers series is one appropriate venue for publishing such technical pieces.)

(7) The language used must be clear and understandable to the journal's readers. Good writing intended for an interdisciplinary or nonspecialist audience avoids the use of unnecessarily technical terminology and complicated phrasing.

(8) Each article will be reviewed by other students of the subject. Issues raised in the review process must be dealt with by the author to the satisfaction of the editors before an article is finally accepted.

(9) The use of illustrations, maps, diagrams, charts, and other visual materials is encouraged when they clarify and enliven a presentation but not when their effect is to dilute or confuse the central point.