Hugh Winder Nibley (1910–2005) was one of the most celebrated scholars in Latter-day Saint history. A professor at Brigham Young University for nearly 50 years, he was fluent in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Coptic, Arabic, German, French, and Spanish. Born in Portland, Oregon, he served as an LDS missionary in Switzerland and Germany before earning his doctorate from UC Berkeley in 1938.
During World War II, Nibley served in military intelligence for the 101st Airborne Division. He drove the first jeep ashore on Utah Beach during D-Day, participated in Operation Market Garden, and witnessed the aftermath of Nazi concentration camps. At the request of Apostle John A. Widtsoe, he joined the BYU faculty in 1946.
A prolific author, Nibley wrote extensively on ancient scripture, apologetics, and Latter-day Saint history. He was known for both vigorously defending the Church and frankly critiquing what he saw as shortcomings in Latter-day Saint culture. His works include An Approach to the Book of Mormon, Since Cumorah, and Approaching Zion.