Hugh Winder Nibley was an American scholar and a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He served as a professor at Brigham Young University (BYU) for nearly 50 years. Known for his prolific authorship, Nibley wrote apologetic works supporting the archaeological, linguistic, and historical claims of Joseph Smith.

Born in Portland, Oregon, Nibley's family relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 1921. He attended middle and high school there before serving an LDS mission in Germany, where he learned German. After his mission, Nibley attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating in 1934, and earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) in 1938.

From 1946, Nibley was a professor at BYU, teaching foreign languages and Christian church history. He continued to study Egyptian and Coptic, becoming the figurehead of the Institute for Ancient Studies at BYU in 1973. He authored numerous articles for scholarly publications and official LDS Church publications.

Nibley's work is considered controversial, with some defending his work's validity while others critique the parallels he draws between ancient cultures and LDS beliefs. Despite controversies, his complete works were published by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) and Deseret Book.

Hugh Nibley's influence extended through his writings and lectures on LDS scripture and doctrinal topics, making significant contributions to the LDS community's understanding of its own history and beliefs.