Bio: Dr. Shannon was born in Quantico, Virginia and spent most of his young life in Virginia. He served a mission first in the Oregon Portland Mission, and then in the Washington Kennewick Mission after the Oregon Portland Mission was split. Dr. Shannon earned a B.A. in Ancient Near Eastern Studies from Brigham Young University (2007), a Master of Studies in Jewish Studies from the University of Oxford (2008), and a Ph.D in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures with a Graduate Interdisplinary Specialization in Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean from The Ohio State University (2015).

He and his wife Thora have seven children. 

Courses Taught: Book of Mormon, Gospels, Pearl of Great Price, Jesus Christ and the Everlasting Gospel

Areas of Expertise: Rabbinic Judaism, Ancient Mediterranean Religions, Jewish Studies, Ancient Biblical Interpretation

Areas of Research: Idolatry and Image Worship, Jewish/non-Jewish Interactions, Tribal and Affinity Groups, Kingship and Priesthood in the Ancient World

Research Languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Other Languages for Comparative Purposes