PROVO, Utah -- Hugh Nibley's melding of academic research and faith has earned him worldwide admiration from Church members and non-members alike.
Those intimate with Brother Nibley -- perhaps the Church's pre-eminent gospel scholar -- love the man for his kindness, generosity and rock-hard devotion to his religion."He is unfailingly kind and forgiving," said his wife, Phyllis Nibley.
The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) celebrated Brother Nibley's 90th birthday March 27 at Brigham Young University. The light-hearted gathering afforded Nibley proteges and kin a chance to swap favorite Hugh Nibley tales, express thanks and wish their happy mentor many more prosperous birthdays.
FARMS founder John W. Welch credited Brother Nibley with influencing a generation of LDS scholars. Brother Welch was an undergraduate at Brigham Young University when he first enrolled in a religion course taught by Brother Nibley.
"My life has been totally different ever since that class," Brother Welch said, adding he and scores of others learned from Brother Nibley that it was possible to pursue "good scholarship and be a good Latter-day Saint."
Brother Nibley's grandson, Dave Nibley, said he ventured into his grandfather's writings while serving a full-time mission in Italy. The experience, he recalled, was "amazing" and rich with the Spirit.
"I was thankful for the words I was reading, for the knowledge I was gaining and for my Grandpa," Dave said.
A granddaughter paid tribute to Brother Nibley as a loving man never too busy to scoop up an ice cream cone for a grandchild studying late for a college test.
Hugh Nibley "has amazing consistency. He's the same person privately that he is publicly," added Boyd Petersen, a son-in-law.
"Hugh treats everybody the same way -- whether or not you have a Ph.D. is really not important," Brother Petersen said.
Other colleagues and relatives shared funny stories that have become a light-hearted element of the Hugh Nibley legacy.
His daughter, Zina N. Petersen, for example, remembers once spotting her father walking around the BYU campus. She ordered her father to go home. He refused. She again ordered him home. Again, he refused -- then asked why he should head home. "Dad, just look at your feet." Brother Nibley looked down and for the first time realized he was shod with unmatching shoes.
He looked up and said, sheepishly "I guess I better go home."
Admirers say Brother Nibley's mind is sometimes simply too focused on his study and devotion to be cluttered with life's minutiae.
Perhaps the most touching moments of the evening came when Brother Nibley and his wife honored one another. Phyllis Nibley called her marriage "a blessing and privilege." While Brother Nibley's gospel scholarship may be extensive, said Sister Nibley, the gospel itself for the young nonagenarian is strikingly simple: Repent and forgive.
"I've always said (my wife) was smarter than I am," Hugh Nibley interjected with a laugh. "I resent it, but it's true."