Customer Reviews (22)

"Not anti-anything, but pro-history"!
Cowdrey, Wayne L., Howard A. Davis and Arthur Vanick, Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon? (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2005). On page 479, Note # 19, Cowdrey mentions that he wrote an earlier book with the same name (with Howard Davis and Donald Scales) published at Santa Anna, CA by Vision House, 1977. The 2005 edition is greatly expanded and improved over the much smaller earlier 1977 edition, of which I also have a copy.
This 2005 edition is a massive and somewhat rambling historical study of 558 pages that reads like a detective's report, though obviously the work of three authors and pieced together. It will appeal more to serious historians and dedicated students of Mormonism, rather than to general readers, for it is not very "reader-friendly." It contains extensive documentation and argumentation based on very detailed research, with 12 chapters, many endnotes and 7 appendices, but unfortunately it lacks an Index and bibliography. The Dedication tells a lot about its orientation: "Dedicated to the Rev. Wesley Walters and Dr. Walter Martin, whose work has been painstakingly continued in this volume; To Solomon Spaulding, MA, that he may at last rest in peace; and To the good people of Amity, Washington County, Pennsylvania, who never had any doubts as to who really wrote The Book of Mormon."
In their "Afterward" (pp.367- 368) the authors present a masterful attempt to anticipate their critics: "Although the authors have made every effort to present the material in this volume as accurately and completely as possible, it is inevitable in a work of this size that some errors will occur. It is also inevitable that these will be eagerly sought out by critics and offered to the public as proof that the entire work is flawed. No doubt the motives of the authors themselves will also be questioned, based upon the ancient practice of taking the messengers to task when one is unable to digest the message itself. Whichever the case, the reader is urged to consider critical comments about this volume and its authors in a skeptical light and, always taking their source and the motivation behind them into account, to weigh they carefully against the evidence presented herein.
"The issue here is not the writers, nor is it the many millions of good, industrious, and productive people for whom faith in Joseph Smith and his church is an ongoing way of life. We are dealing with history here, not religion. ... To those who will acknowledge that we have presented much new information, but with a distinctly ant-Mormon tone, let it be said that we are not anti-anything--we are pro-history." On page 369 the authors cite a "quotation attributed to pro-Mormon historian Hugh Nibley: `There is wisdom in the rule laid down by Blass, ... that whoever presumes to doubt the purported source and authorship of a document cannot possibly escape the obligation of supplying a more plausible account in its stead.' We quite agree, and we believe we have done just that."
The authors marshal massive bits and pieces of historical data gleaned from extensive and careful researches, with convincing arguments supporting their essential thesis, as stated on pages 363-364: "As for the single most important secret of all--that of The Book of Mormon's true origin--it seems clear that Sidney Rigdon was the only person who was in a position to know all of it. In the final analysis, this quite literally means that both Oliver Cowdrey and Joseph Smith were actually his unwitting dupes, though each for very different reasons. Indeed, the key to solving the Spalding Enigma is the inescapable conclusion that Rigdon was the only person who knew for certain the manuscript that he, Smith, and Cowdrey had transformed into The Book of Mormon was really nothing more than an embellished and paraphrased version of a novel once known as A Manuscript Found and originally penned by an obscure and broken man named Solomon Spaulding. ... Above all else, Rigdon's thoughts and concepts were largely Machiavellian in nature. If the cause of the God he worshipped could best be advanced by a bit of fraud here and there, then fraud was the order of the day. Lies, deception, and secrecy were all part of the process. And there is no question that everyone who knew him well--from Alexander Campbell to Brigham Young himself--described him in those terms."
A concise summary and conclusion to this book, with the crux of the problem faced by its authors, is stated on page 356 in this one short but significant paragraph:
"All things considered, we are left to decide whether Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God, or one of the greatest and most enduring showmen in American history. Almost certainly the dividing line will be drawn between those who choose to approach the problem from the standpoint of evidence and logic, and those who will, in spite of it all, continue to see Joseph Smith as the foundation and strength of a deep and abiding personal faith. To the former, it is hoped that this volume will prove enlightening. The latter will no doubt take comfort from pro-Mormon historian Richard L. Bushman's admonition... [This short quote, in full context as given in Note #10, pp. 550-551, is even more revealing,: "{W}hat would we {Mormons} do if six eminent anthropologists presented `conclusive proof' that The Book of Mormon were fraudulent {?}The question I have in mind is how much does our faith depend on supporting historical evidence. On the one hand, we make a great deal of it. Mormons delight in Hugh Nibley's arguments in behalf of The Book of Mormon.... On the other hand, we are prone to dismiss all this as irrelevant. I have heard Professor Nibley himself summarize a long argument for The Book of Mormon, to which his Mormon audience had listened raptly, by saying, that of course none of this really matters. The important point for him was that God had revealed the truth to Joseph by the Holy Spirit; the historical case was mere trimmings, the game played for the sheer fun of it.... Granted that negative historical evidence would not destroy the faith of the faithful. For those blessed with it, spiritual experience is the most compelling data. Honesty requires that one remain true to it even in the face of other evidence to the contrary."]Certainly to have one's spiritual foundations called into question by such revelations as these must be truly disconcerting. Yet as Gandhi once observed, even if a person is a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."
This is similar to the "identity crisis" that another Christian denomination with heterodox beliefs, Seventh-day Adventism, now faces.The Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, recently actually went through such an "identity crisis." After Armstrong's death, the church's leaders honestly confronted the fact that some of their heterodox beliefs received from Armstrong were unbiblical. After a period of careful study they confessed and repented of their errors, making an almost unprecedented move toward reforming their beliefs and practices toward closer harmony with NT Christianity. But their action caused a schism in their church, with some factions going different ways. Seventh-day Adventists and Mormons, recognizing this real danger of schism, have thus far generally chosen to continue their heterodox belief systems based on their past "spiritual experiences" rather than honestly confront the objective facts of their history. The Church of God's revolutionary action was "unprecedented" because, once a religious community establishes a fixed tradition of faith and practice, it is almost unprecedented to see a later admission of error and fundamental corrective action. Mormons have a rarely-used limited "escape mechanism" allowing for theological change--their apostles occasionally have a new "revelation"--e.g., polygamy was seen to be no longer allowed on earth (although plural marriages are still "sealed" in heaven), and men of color, once formally discriminated against, are now allowed to become Mormon priests. This "escape mechanism" helps to release critical pressure building up due to the "cognitive dissonance" between the discovery of disconfirming facts versus traditional Mormon beliefs, or the societal pressures toward conformity coming from the larger "gentile" society. Theological changes in Adventism take place more gradually as reinterpretation of the writings of their extra-biblical prophet, Ellen G. White, may allow. But there are some "non-negotiables," such as the "Investigative Judgment" that is tied to the fixed date of Oct. 22, 1844 that is practically impossible to change without complete rejection. The Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham, and some other writings of Joseph Smith also function as "non-negotionables" in Mormonism, because they have been "canonized."
To grow up in a religious system believing it is led of God, and then to later have to admit it is out of sync with newly discovered objective facts, is usually seen as tantamount to heresy and a denial of one's faith in God and His prior leading through His Holy Spirit, which is viewed as the "unpardonable sin." Science solves this problem ofhow to accommodate itself to "progressive truth" with the "adjustment mechanism" of tentative "hypotheses" that may or may not prove to be in harmony with nature. These are formulated in the form of valid disconfirmable "theories" not carrying "inerrant" or "sinful" religious connotations. If they are eventually disconfirmed they can be simply discarded without prejudice. (Given human nature, this process doesn't work quite that smoothly!)But most religious systems have no similar "neutral" adjustment mechanism for coping with "new light" so they usually cannot (or will not) chose to "repent." The prime example (from the Christian point of view) is that the Jewish Sanhedrin refused to "repent" and accept Christ as their Messiah, because they believed God had called Abraham and they were Abraham's children led of God, God's own chosen people, given God's laws through Moses at Sinai, so therefore they could not be in theological error and in need of corporate repentance and reformation. To "repent" means "to feel such regret or dissatisfaction over some past action, intention, belief, etc. as to change one's mind about it and change one's ways in accordance with the revised view." But Jesus came preaching He was "the truth and the life," and by rejecting Him and choosing to cling to their false "traditions of the elders" He told them they were making the Law of God of "none effect." He also told them they were not Abraham's children or they would be doing what Abraham did. This was strong "medicine" very difficult for any Jew to swallow.
When faced with such a faith-shattering "identity crisis," to choose to follow the "greater light" rather than cling to old familiar traditions and creeds, is almost "unprecedented" in religious history. This is a primary reason we see so much religious factionalism and sectarianism. Rather than repentance and reformation occurring, with the entire group wholeheartedly accepting the new facts and moving forward in faith and unison, most groups experience schism when confronted with such an "identity crisis." The only alternative for those accepting larger views of truth and duty is to separate and form new sects. There is thus a continual process of revolution and excommunication, rather than repentance and reformation. When religious faith is based on a belief that God has revealed "inerrant" truths to revered leaders, when faced with new facts as history unfolds, most religious groups usually lack the means and/or the motive to see facts objectively, repent, and change their ways. Thus there is a continual need for the messages of John the Baptist and Jesus to "Repent, and believe the Gospel." Given a group's "faith" that God was leading them in the past, they find it almost impossible to admit a group error or mistake could have occurred that needs repentance! "Wasn't God leading our church? Does God lead into error?" Yet the paradox is that in our secular affairs we humans readily admit "to error is human." But when it comes to our "holy experience," how could it have been mistaken or erroneous? Our "holy religious experience," is considered not subject to error! But why is it so hard to accept the fact that though the Infinite God is holy and without error, yet even the best "saints" are finite beings often lacking faith and making mistakes and errors, even while under God's leading and tutelage? Witness Abraham, Moses, and David, and ultimately both Israel and Judah, leading to exile and ruin! (The Biblical theology of this paradox and conundrum of the Christian's struggle with progressive revelation and acceptance of truth is discussed in John 3:10-21; 1 Cor. Chapter 2; Matt. Chap. 5; Matt. 9:16-17; 10:34-39; 13:52 and many other passages.)

Common sense combined with thorough research
Excellent book!I recommend it to everyone who is curious about the Mormon religion's origins. As well-researched as this book is, let's face the truth ... anything would be more believable than the Mormon church's version of how The Book of Mormon came to be.

Misleading book...
I have read so many books and literature like this it would make your head spin. I'm from the town Joseph Smith is from, Palmyra, and I actually did my senior paper on this type of stuff, called "Palmyra's Influence on Mormonism". I lived there... saw the REAL documents, not somebody in a book telling me some "theory" or "eyewitness accounts". You want fact? You want truth? I saw it. I also lived in Nauvoo, IL for a summer and saw more "truth"... real homes, real lives. Growing up in Palmyra I had a hard time accepting the whole Joseph Smith story. True, logic never produced a real testimony, but like many of you, I needed some proof, something substantial. I have found it... and what you look for, you find. Want to find the negative, "shady" stuff, oh, it's out there... doesn't mean it's true. I have read more literature against the Mormon faith than any of you could possibly in a lifetime. (Like I said, I grew up around it my whole life. I lived in Palmyra where it all started.) There isn't anything this book has said that I haven't heard somewhere else, quoted by some other faith. Those who criticize the LDS faith and beliefs: Have you honestly ever read the entire Bible? Have you actually sat down, read the Book of Mormon, and then asked God if it was true? ...I have. Until you have, you have no real point. I love the Bible whole-heartedly. The Book of Mormon doesn't take away that... it only makes it greater and I understand it BETTER! And Mormons do NOT worship Joseph Smith. Gotta love how these people who aren't even LDS tell ME how I believe! Grow up, seriously, and learn a real persuasive argument. So when somebody can honestly tell me they've read the ENTIRE Bible, Book of Mormon, and attended LDS services on Sunday (notice that's more than once), then I will listen to that person. Have you ever noticed how people can criticize a faith that they've never even given a chance? Or just listen to what their pastor tells them? Funny, God gave us brains and the Holy Spirit, so we could decide for ourselves. No pastor, prophet, Pope, etc. gave me my testimony in/of Jesus. I've actually attended many services of other faiths... and enjoyed them too! I also have read many books: Koran, Bible, Book of Mormon, the Jehovah Witnesses' version of the Bible and some of their literature, etc. Remember, the truth will set you free. See my point? Too many of you are writing reviews, truly, with so little knowledge, not just on this subject, but other religions as well. Study it. It's fascinating. Logic and proof can't prove everything. If so, then there are books with "logic" to prove the Bible false as well, to prove that Jews are Satanic, etc. Now would you really believe those "theories" and books? Of course not. C'mon people wake up! This book is nothing....really... try living in the area, or doing the research yourself before believing such a shady book. I trust that your intelligence and God can help you find the truth.

Recycled theroy with a hint of flavor
The historical evidence is mostly recalled conversation from 40+ years earlier.If there were any 'solid' evidence in this book it would have certainly produced larger waves rather than the tiny ripples only substantial to the ignorant and lazy 'seekers of truth.'
The authors have provided an excellent alternative to the authorship behind the Book of Mormon.There really isn't much more than dandruff of historical hearsay which the authors do a great job of offering a plausible explanation with what little they have.Well organized book with lots of detail.
Not significant at all except for the obsessed conspiracy theorist caught up in the losing arms race against the LDS scholars.Although the LDS scholars evidence is more significant, it still doesn't 'prove' the Joseph Smith story.Certainly the religious folk and the Bible are correct in saying 'But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:for they are foolishness unto him:neither can he know them, because the are spiritually discerned. "1 Cor 2:14"'

Truth of the time frame and conspiracies comes out.
This book seems to be well written.It helps you understand the time frame and the stories behind what could have been the start of the Mormon church.Really does try to explain the other side that mormon's don't hear and they are told not to listen to.You may want to skim through the book a couple of times before diving in it because the author is not trying to write a fictional book and is somewhat dry and to the point. ... Read more

Book Description
I learned early that if you don't want to go to school for a career . . . then this was the life. And there were rules. You better not drink, you better not be a big shot and you better always stay low and keep your mouth shut. If you're going to play the game, you've got to play smart.

Thus began Mario Facione's slow descent into the Mafia world. With a desire to please his father, Facione kept the rules taught him - don't get caught, know your people. . . never let them have control of what you're doing, and never let anyone fully know what you're up to.

So when two clean-cut young men in dark suits showed up on his doorstep, Facione's main concern was to figure out the scam they were selling. Instead, he became surprisingly relaxed as these two answered every question he had unsuccessfully asked other clergymen. He learned real truth and began a journey towards knowledge. Yes, there is a reason why we are here on earth; yes, you can re-remember who we are and yes, it's true, Heavenly Father still speaks through a modern-day prophet.

Marion Facione's story is one man's extraordinary journey through the darkness into the light. Reading his story will confirm again that the gospel is truly for every child of God who is willing to change . . . even someone who wants to go from Mafia to Mormon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

What Fun!
This is the kind of book that is not, and does not need to be a literary masterpiece. It does not claim to be one either. It's one man's story, simply told, and it's one that should be told. What an amazing transformation and an amazing story. I thoroughly enjoyed this little book and it has been the kind that I think back on often and recommend to people, not for its flowery eloquence, but for its being one of those tales that is worth telling; Honest and simple in it's telling, but uniquely complex in it's content. Loved it. The more I think about it, I would like to change my rating to five stars but I can't figure out how. I origanally gave it four for literary reason's but I actually feel that the content outweighs that. Rock on Mario.

great
I couldn't put it down. Not a literary masterpiece, but a fascinating, enjoyable, and inspiring story.

Mezmorized
I picked this up and the library during lunch and finished the book before going to bed that night. I'm NOT a reader either. That's how into this book I was. I found the story fascinating and uplifting. Many miracles were at work in Mario's life. Thanks for sharing your testimony Mario.

Could not put it down
Fascinating. Started with chapter one and could not put it down. I only wish I could know more about this man's life. I'm going to give it out to the young men I work with in my church. A marvelous and uplifting story.

The editorial book review pretty much says it all
At just over 100 pages, you can simply read the editorial and you're pretty much reading the book.I appreciate Mario taking the time to tell his story and he has a distinctive writing style (complete with bad grammar but hey, he says himself he is poorly educated). He needs to choose a different printing company next time though, the proofreader for this one was obviously on vacation or asleep. All in all, what I recommend as I said is read the editorial comments and then get the book from your local library and skip ahead to chapters 19 and 20, they are definately worth reading, especially 19. ... Read more

Product Description
His Favorite Wife is the heart-stopping, inspirational narrative of a courageous fifteen year-old girl who becomes the sixth wife in a polygamous marriage. Cascading with well-developed characters, this true story will capture your soul and imagination as the author reveals how a group of kind-hearted, sincere people are led to embrace this controversial lifestyle in their pursuit of the highest degree of glory. Laced with surprising brush-strokes of humor, this heart-rending saga will take its readers on a journey that outsiders whisper of and shudder about. It answers the question that a polygamist's wife is asked countless times: How can you tolerate sharing your husband? In North America today there are over thirty thousand polygamists. Many of them lead secret lives in their attempt to hide from society and U.S. laws. Their women are taught that obedience, unquestioning acceptance of polygamy, and giving birth to huge families of children to follow in their parent's footsteps, will assure them a celestial crown. Few search out truth for themselves, but trustingly follow their prophet. Susan's book deals with this head-in-the-sand ignorance. She too, was one of these women. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Wonderful book on a true story of polygamy
After reading "Under the Banner of Heaven" and watching Big Love, I became interested in the subject of polygamy in America.I was shocked to learn of the way these groups live in modern America.Susan's book is a true story of her upbringing with polygamy and her years of living as a plural wife and the danger she and her family were in as their church divided and were at "war".But the book is so much more than that; it is a woman sharing her life, the ups and downs and innermost feelings of her struggles with that life she was living.I really felt like I knew the characters in the book so well and I have not been able to stop thinking about them since I finished the book.It is a wonderful story of sadness, fear, love, hate, friendship, family, and bravery.

Excellent Book! Very insightful!
I enjoyed this book thoroughly. I couldn't put it down. It did start out slow but I quickly was hooked on this true story. Susan tells it from her teenage years to the time she escapes. Then she gives the reader a synopsis of what happens to those involved in her story and further information should you want to read more. I can't imagine being a member of such a cult, then having the conviction and willpower to escape. She is lucky to have escaped with her life, and she saved her children from a horrible future as well.

Not that good of a read ~ Hogwash.It was great.
Not that good of a read ~ Hogwash!!!!It was written very well and it was well coordinated and throughout the entire book.Susan Ray Schmidt makes you want to ignore your doing nothing for God life, long enough so that you can finish the book.And it left me with tons of questions that only the author can answer.Our Women's group will be asking her to speak at our next conference.However, I too could not put the book down. It was an advanture that makes you feel as if you're right there with Susan while this journey is taking place.Not only do you feel as if you know her personally after you've finished the book, but your heart goes out to her and the children that were left there to continue to suffer and live in such horrible conditions.The other book was more focused on the "bitterness" that had soaked into her heart after MAKING THAT CHOICE TO BE WITH THAT MAN AND HIS FAMILY.But as Susan is leaving that world behind hurdles and stumbles continue to follow her until she meets the love of her life.I found myself cheering for her to leave and never go back.I found myself wanting to share the book with all my friends that have at one point in time been forced to live in abusive relationships.See, Susan did it, you can do it too.Wow, what a positive message to those women that are still living in fear.If only we'd buy this book for women that we know who are in that type of life = EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE LIVES. I admire her courage to question his religious authority and then leave with her children.There are millions of women that have been physically abused throughout my life and I've sat in horror was they returned to their abusers.How many women do we know (I can count 3 right now) that live with emotionally abusive men that make their women live in constant fear?Because I've been raised by my father (after my mother passed away at age 13) everything my father taught us, I questioned. But I thank God that my father had actualy proof of what he beleived in.And our grandparents took the time to show us in the Bible so that we could read and absorb it ourselves.Even with the background of being raised, a "Southern Baptist", the book left me thanking my Savior that my parents were God fearing people.Now that I approach my over the hill years, I realize that had my father NOT BEEN GROUNDED in the word of God, there is a sure fact that I would not have the drive to want to be active in human rights programs or upholding the rights of women.How awful it must have felt, after Susan discovered that there were so many errors in her religion.What were her parents thinking when they allowed their 15 year old child marry a man that old. With my past experience in the legal field, I don't understand why Irene would not have reported this to the authorities.And even though she was taught that this was the right thing to do, in her heart, why didn't she just make a phone call to the local authorities over the border and not leave her name?Why didn't someone ask the authorities in the United States to investigate?And why did these murders go on in the name of religion.The words "Charlie Mason and Jim Jones" popped into my mind as I read this story.Wow, what a book.Now my question to you Irene is; how much of a fight did you really present to her husband when he started to go after this 15 yeard old child? I know in my heart, after reading this book, that Susan Ray Schmidt, may not hold any anger towards those whom she once looked up to as her "religious leaders".After having the description about her personal nature described so very well, there is no doubt in my heart that you will find this author on her knees praying that God would rescue other women trapped in this type of world and on her knees daily praying that other women trapped in that type of "emotional and sexual abuse situation" will have the courage to leave as well.This book has motivated our Christian Women's group to form a book club with His Favorite Wife, as the focual point of our discussion.No matter what religion you belong to, the emotional abuse and fear that is constantly inflicted upon women, happens in every day, on every level of our world, walk of life, religious circle, culture, and races.There are so many cases in our United States courts right now that cry out for others to rescue women and their children from this type of hell.Not banding together, as motivated Christians to help put an end to financial and emotional abuse won't this maddness disappear.We as Christian need to dig deep into our pockets and start making a pro active move towards restoring our American Families.Now, what are you prepared to do to help with this religious and human rights battle? I'd love to hear about how your life has changed since you have read the book.I for one called my father and thanked him for never swaying from his religious beliefs.Also, what have you done to help rescue families like Susan's and what has your church or group done to pitch in to stop this maddness?Please feel free to email me; longbeachlegal@aol.com.I'd love to hear how you're taking a pro active role in pulling families from the polygamy cults or from an abusive relationship.I couldn't put the book down.IT WAS THAT GREAT.

Brain washed
I have read Irene's "Shattered Dreams" and yes, it is the better book.That said all women should read these books.
This 'religion' is the bench mark for brain washing.14 year old girls being told they must marry these old men so that they both can get into heaven.
The husband of both Irene and Susan had 10 wives and 56 children!! He was a house painter!Couldnt provide a good living for one wife much less 9 others.

These women and the children lived in poverty.No lights, no bathrooms, no furniture and their clothing was brought to them by the husband from thrift shop cast offs.

It is absolutely disgusting.In my opinion this "religion" is all about these disgusting men wanting a new young wife every 6 months!In other worlds, it is about these men wantingsex.Getting into Heaven and being a God is their
con
to have these young , very young, girls to submit to them and have sex!

One of the great all time stories
I just finished this book and wow what a story. Ever since I moved to Las Vegas and heard stories about the FLDS from my Mormon friends, I have been curious about the lifestyle. This story depicts what it is like through a wife's eye. The jealousy, the loneliness, and the poverty. My heart ached for Susan.Tremendous read. This book should be made into a movie. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A must have to understand the authorship of the Book of Mormon
This book is written by B. H. Roberts a general authority for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the church historian back in the 1920's and 30's.He was given the assignment to answer some questions concerning the Book of Mormon.This he attempts to do in the most fair and scientific way possible.In the process he finds a book, "View of the Hebrews", which has a large amount of similarities to the Book of Mormon. He develops a hypothesis that Joseph Smith used this book to base his book on and then tries to find what supporting or not supporting evidence there is to back up the hypothesis.This is a must read for anyone who wishes to learn more about the writing of the Book of Mormon or to understand Joseph Smith better.

An Important Book for Mormon Studies
I have quoted below what Roberts said about "View of the Hebrews," and it is not at all clear that this was not his genuine belief. A couple other reviewers said that Roberts letter about playing "devils advocate" should have been included, and I agree.

Nevertheless, these writers completely ignore the social pressure of Roberts many family and friends. If he had not backed off, he would have lost everything. I personally knew an aged professor who told me that he was an atheist. He had been on a mission decades before, and when he died, he had a Mormon funeral at a Mormon ward.

I'm not making up this story, and in my own life, I could name at least fifteen people who do not believe a word of the Book of Mormon, but who are still on the roles because of social pressure--fear of hurting parents or other relatives, and fear of loosing friends.

The pressure on a public figure like Roberts would have silenced him. If you look at what he wrote below, it is impossible to believe that he was simply playing the "devil's advocate." The picture is much more complicated than that.

Robert's said:

"It has been pointed out in these pages that there are many things in the former book that might well have suggested many major things in the other. Not a few things merely, one or two, or half dozen, but many; and it is this fact of many things of similarity and the cumulative force of them that makes them so serious a menace to Joseph Smith's story of the Book of Mormon's origin."

"The material in Ethan Smith's book is of a character and quantity to make a ground plan for the Book of Mormon: It supplies a large amount of material respecting American antiquities--leading to the belief that civilized or semi-civilized nations in ancient times occupied the American continents" (B. H. Roberts, p. 240, above).

A Required Read
This book should be a requirement for anyone studying the Book of Mormon.B.H. Roberts was the first Mormon apologist, President of the First Quorum of Seventies and Mormon Church Historian.B.H. Roberts was additionally recognized as the Mormon Church's most accomplished scriptorian of his day.Apostle Talmage gave Roberts five questions that had been asked by a member.B.H. Roberts researched the questions and went to the Twelve and First Presidency and said he could not give satisfactory answers to the questions.He asked for the Brethren to pray about the questions and get the answers from God.Each of the Brethren stood, bore their testimony of the Book of Mormon and the meeting was over.Roberts was then asked to come up with the best answers he could.These answers were given to the member who originally asked the questions.

This started Roberts on the mission of proving or disproving the Book of Mormon.He reviewed the book for inconsistencies in technology, zoology and anthropology.He presents a study of the technology of steel, glass, the wheel, metal coins and other advances that were questionable.He also covered the problems with horses, elephants, oxen, cattle and other problems.He covered the linguistics and anthropological information available at the time in trying to reconcile an Israelite migration to North America.In all, his conclusions are consistent with the current scientific community.He proposed, and then rejected, what Mormons know today as the Limited Geography Theory.He then undertakes a review of Joseph Smith and the literature available to Joseph Smith and concludes that there are significant parallels to "View of the Hebrews" by Ethan Smith.He did not at the time have the information that Oliver Cowdrey's family were parishioners of Ethan Smith.He concluded that with the structure of "View of the Hebrews", the 1796 version of the King James Bible and Joseph Smith's imagination, he would have no trouble writing the book.

The book is analytical in nature, reviewing all possible options.Mormon Apologists claim that this book was written so the Brethren would know the weaknesses of the Book of Mormon.If you read the book you can clearly see that this is not the case.Roberts was struggling and searching for ways to justify the inconsistencies found in the Book of Mormon.By the end of the study it is clear that he no longer has a testimony of the Book of Mormon.The book was not published for 60 years and finally released in 1985.The Mormon Church has had this information since 1930, but never released it.The problems discussed in this book are the same problems that Mormon apologists struggle with today.The answers that the apologists give are no more satisfactory today than they were at the time of B.H. Roberts.

This book is a necessary read for any budding apologist.It is also a book that can be given to a believing Mormon, because it was written by a recognized General Authority. B.H. Roberts was the editor of the "Complete History of the Church" and the "Mormon Doctrine of Deity."

Somewhat thought provoking, but unfortunately monotonous
I have spent significant time and money researching Mormon history, taking into account both sides of the argument for and against. So naturally this book was an important purchase: B.H. "Defender of the Faith" Roberts was one the Church's earliest historians and apologists. His works cannot be ignored. He was also in the presidency of the Quorum of the Seventy (next in authority below the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). In this volume he is presented with 5 questions in regards to the Book of Mormon that he struggles to come up with satisfactory responses to. He presents this to the Church's leaders in hope of a positive outcome but only receives assurances that the Church is true. As a result he produces this Book of Mormon "study" in hope of presenting to the Church leadership arguments against the Book of Mormon that the youth of the church may come across and need answers to. He realises the response from them could be to simply ignore the issues raised, but regardless, he hopes for a proactive official response from the Church. Realising the former was more likely, and being involved in other matters, he never ended up presenting his study to the Church.

The book begins with correspondence between BH Roberts and those above him in the Church hierarchy. This was the most 'enjoyable' section to read. It then moves onto the actual "study" where BH Roberts draws comparisons between 'The Book of Mormon' and Ethan Smith's 'View of the Hebrews'. This section is extremely comprehensive. Finally the final section is a brief summary of that same study with a side by side comparison of some of his main arguments.

I have to say up front that I found the main body of the "study" to be extremely boring and repetitive. The same argument is made over and over to the point I often thought my bookmark had fallen out and I was resuming my reading from a few pages back. As a result, of all the books I have read recently on Church History (for and against), this would have to be the hardest one for me to get through. I just found it very boring and repetitive.

Nevertheless, BH Roberts presents some good arguments in his case against the Book of Mormon, but those few pearls were buried too deep for me to rate the book a must have. My favourite is his commentary on 2 Nephi 5, where Nephi takes his righteous followers and separates from the Lamanites to start his own civilisation. There were at most about 100 in number, consisting of elderly, women & children. One of the first things they do is build a temple "after the manner of the temple of Solomon." He goes into detail how much effort (over a hundred thousandworkers), time (7 years) & materials it took to build Solomon's temple, and here, this group of 100 people or less (I have read an account where this maximum was estimated to be 34), are trying to survive in unchartered countryside, go ahead and build a temple of like magnitude. It would be like watching an episode of LOST and seeing that small group of survivors living in crude shelters and while coping with just trying to survive, also gathering food for their families, mining for precious metals, refining them, fighting off any enemy attacks, all of this, at the same time building a magnificent stone cathedral, using "wood, iron, copper, brass, steel, gold, silver, and other precious metals". I've read the Book of Mormon many times, and have never picked up on this point.

Overall, this is an important book and it sits on my bookshelf along with many others dealing with Church history. This book indeed raises some thought provoking arguments, and I'm still a believer. But unfortunately, its style and repetitiveness precludes me from highly recommending it.

The beginning of a search for the truth
Brigham H. Roberts was initially a devout Mormon.However, he was asked by an elder in his church to answer some questions about the veracity of the Book of Mormon that had been posed by a non-Mormon.To formulate a response, he made a study of the New World cultural and natural environment as it related to the Book of Mormon. That study was the beginning of a difficult examination of his own religious beliefs.Much of what he found about the New World and its natives did not square with the content of the Book of Mormon. He was also deeply troubled by many similarities he found between the Book of Mormon and Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews which was published five years before the first publication of the the Mormon scripture.In his study, Roberts presents several parallels between the Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews, showing that the Book of Mormon had literary ties to the early nineteenth century.

Though this book presents a lot of interesting information, it was written during the early twentieth century, and much has developed since then.For a more up-to-date look at the beginnings of Mormonism, I might suggest reading David Persuitte's "Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon."It goes into considerably more detail in showing the similarities between the Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews and provides much additional information about the beginnings of Mormonism. ... Read more

Book Description
The Book of Mormon Reference Companion brings together, all under one cover, more than 900 entries addressing 1500 Book of Mormon topics, including people, places, words, phrases, doctrines, purposes, themes, historical background, Isaiah chapter reviews, books of the Book of Mormon, and general topics of interest. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the experienced reader and the investigator or new convert understand this important book of scripture. It is like having a teacher beside you as you read and study. Maps, illustrations, photographs, pictures, outlines, and charts combine with the informative articles to enhance understanding and help parents, teachers, and leaders share the message of the Book of Mormon with their families and students. A must-have reference book for every Latter-day Saint library! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

You'll be thanking God for this book
An Encyclopedia of the Book of Mormon and Doctrinal terms written by 100+ of the best scholars on the Book of Mormon.

Ezra Taft Benson (a prophet of the LDS church) has said, "There is a POWER which will begin to flow into our lives THE MOMENT you begin a serious study of the book" Ensign 16(Nov 1986) p.7

This book, in my opinion, is the most "serious study of the Book of Mormon" to date and it has some serious power.

--IF--You plan on studying the Book of Mormon for the rest of your life --THEN--Why would you not own this book?

... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

In Part, Still an Unofficial, Problematic Grab-bag"
This book was written to be seen as an authoritative, one-volume encyclopedia of Mormon doctrines and beliefs, listed alphabetically. Because the author was a Mormon apostle, the book was instantly accepted by Mormons in general as being authoritative. But, in reality, the other LDS apostles (there are fifteen, total, at any one time, except when death causes a temporary vacancy) were very displeased, even shocked, when the book appeared, because it had been written and published without their consent or knowledge. (The recent book, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, further explains this.)

The book was allowed to stand in order to protect McConkie's reputation, though other LDS apostles found many dozens of errors in it.

There are too many topics in it (hundreds) for me to comment upon here, so I will limit my remarks to just one, as indicative of the mentality of the author, and why his fellow apostles cringed so much at its contents. Under the alphabetically listed heading, "Psychiatry," the author's "doctrinal" comment begins, "See, Church of the Devil," another of book's topics. If you, as a reader, believe that psychiatry is best approached and understood in conceptual terms of "church of the devil," then you might be one of the many people who are happy with Mormon Doctrine as a book. If you think, however, that to perceive psychiatry as part of "the devil's church" is surprisingly ignorant and childish thinking, then you very likely will have as many reservations about this book as did the author's fellow apostles who were first offended by its appearance in print.

For your information, today is December 14, 2005, and it was just yesterday that I was stunned anew to see, in the current edition of Mormon Doctrine in a Border's bookstore, that this book still contains McConkie's "See, Church of the Devil" reference. How the LDS Church tolerates this relatively uneducated comment to remain in print is puzzling. Why McConkie's heirs don't edit out this sort of absurdity is at least equally as puzzling.

A Must-Review for anyone wanting to learn more ...
As a Bible-believing evangelical Christian, I believe it to be extremely valuable to study and explore other faiths.After being challenged by a Mormon friend to further explore their doctrine, I purchased this book.Ironically, even though the Mormon church states that the BOOK OF MORMON contains the "fullness of the everlasting gospel", you'll find many contradictions to the Book of Mormon and Biblical theology in "Mormon Doctrine" and other 'sacred' Mormon writings and teachings.
I believe that God was always God and that Christ is His ONLY begotten son, that He is not married, does not have a body of flesh and bones and as He is now He has forever been and always will be.This book helped me to see that the complexities involved in the Mormon religion are simply beyond reason, and I am thankful that this resource is available to show Mormons where the contradictions within their religion lie.I also found it interesting to note the different definitions that Mormons use for the same "jargon" we use in the Christian world.Most notable was "atonement" ... interesting.
God bless any Christian who reads this book in order to more effectively discuss what matters most with their Mormon friends.May we all always "speak the truth in love."Jesus loves you and He died for you ...

A great book that does not contradict what the Bible teaches
I love this book because it tells us the basic principle of what Mormon believes. I felt that it's another way to understand God's way for us. Please, if you want to know what Mormon beliefs are, you go to a real Mormon, not to ministers of other Christian denominations. Just as you want to know what Catholic believes, would you go to Protestant Church to find out? No!

Usefull
This book is well organized and provides a helpful overview for someone trying to filter through Mormon terminology. I would recomend it as a usefull, though not official, reference sorce.

I would like to remind readers to keep the time of the origional publication in mind when considering various terminology. One reveiw points out the use of the word negro and atempts to imply racist intentions behind its use. Remember that in the 1950's this was the proper politicaly correct reference for those of Africnan decent.

Too Zealous..
He titles his book "Mormon Doctrine" and then goes on to explain that this is his personal study of Mormon doctrine.I don't like the author, I don't like the material, I don't find it helpful, I find it long, drawn out, confusing, bigoted in many areas.His style is to set the record straight on everything he can think of.I give it two stars as opposed to one because he actually references his words.

If I were Mormon, I would give it a higher rating.This is a book for Mormons who are already ingrained in the faith.It will be of no help to investigators or the just plain curious. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

An excellent edition to the library.
We bought this to replace our old one because it's definitely one that gets used. The explanations it has about the scriptures definitely helps when trying to understand the complex imagry and stories. One thing I think it lacks is a more in depth analysis of some of the scriptures, especially the ones that quote Issiah (sp?).But with this being for the family, I suppose deeper analysis would be more appropriate in a different book.

great for any age
Many people praise this book for its "kid-friendly" set up, but as an adult with no children, I can say it's wonderful for any age.I have a difficult time understanding many verses in the scriptures, but this book not only explains things very clearly, it gives additional insight and gets me thinking about concepts and ideas I would normally not think twice about while reading the regular scriptures.The illustrations are great, too! I love this book!!

The "Awesome Edition"
My wife is a convert to the church and was having a hard time reading the scripture and understanding it well.I decided to get this edition to see if it would help and it really did.There are some great commentaries and explinations at the bottom of each page.It makes reading the B.O.M. more fun and enjoyable too.I highly recommend this to anyone really.

Absolutely wonderful.
We have used this as a family to study the scriptures together.The photos and additional features of this book are superb. Our kids love it!

The book of mormon for latter day families
We have started using this as scripture study and it has helped us very much to understand the contents of the scriptures.I read this to my children and we stop to read the thought provoking questions that the author has put at the bottom.He also puts the meaning of words at the bottom which helps us understand.We love it as a family and will be getting The New Testament in the same format.Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

An Excellent History by Mormon Historians
This book is scholarly and well documented, and Leonard J. Arrington and Davis Bitton are to be praised for giving a fair hearing to Fawn Brodie's "No Man Knows My History."

Speaking of the Book of Mormon (p. 15), they write: "Fawn Brodie, Joseph Smith's eminent but unsympathetic biographer, has advanced the second principal countertheory of the book's orgins." They then go on to fully present Brodie's view of Joseph Smith.

Continuing, Arrington and Bitton present the Mormon view: "Mormons insist that Smith's limited education made it impossible for him to produce such a long and complicated book by himself. The issues in the book are seen by defenders as universal, and likey to have aroused interest in ancient times as well as in modern America."

Such objective and unemotional scholarship is refreshing and stands in marked contrast to that of BYU Professor Hugh Nibley, who, for example, illogically invisioned Joseph Smith being both a translator and illiterate (!) (see "Lehi in the Desert," p. 32). In speaking of the disappearing gold plates, Nibley said illogically that they would be "very disruptive" today and that the present paper edition of the Book of Mormon is "more miraculous than any gold plates would be" (see, "An Approach to the Book of Mormon, p. 18).

See my one-star reviews of Nibley's books--"Lehi in the Desert," "Since Cumorah," and "An Approach to the Book of Mormon." Lehi in the Desert, the World of the Jaredites, There Were Jaredites (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 5)Since Cumorah: The Book of Mormon in the modern world An Approach to the Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 6)

Mormon scholars Arrington and Bitton, as well as Richard Bushman, have taken a higher and more logical road than Hugh Nibley, the former big-gun of Mormon scholarship.

In short, Arrington and Bitton deserve the praise of the Utah Historical Quarterly, "An excellent book...it should be read by Mormons and non-Mormons alike."

The Saturday Review called it, "A remarkably intelligent and open-minded official history."

As a non-Mormon, I admire Arrington and Bitton's book, "The Mormon Experience," for its reasoned approach to Mormon history.

TAKE A PEEK AT WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING FAITH
Although described as a history, this book is actually more of a description of Mormonism and the Mormon lifestyle.We are told a good deal about how the Saints spend their time and just how much effort must be devoted to church affairs.The last chapters describe how followers have responded to the challenge of modernism, already facing the church by the 1970's.

But don't get me wrong, there is quite a bit of history here nonetheless, and the author spends a lot of time explaining what made the Mormons so different from other faiths and why they suffered so much violence at the hands of 'gentiles'.I was surprised that so much print was given to the issue of polygamy, expecting the subject to be dodged by a Mormon writer.And a good job is done of addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the religion.Arrington does not write as a mere cheerleader for Latter Day Saints.

The reader is told next to nothing, though, about Mormon theology, and this is a huge drawback.After all, most of the criticism thrown at the church is directed at its unusual beliefs, not practices.The postscipt complains that anti-Mormonism is on the comeback, but never mentions the doctinal element fundamental to all this.A chapter on church beliefs would have gone a long way toward making this a more complete book.

This is not history, but rather a defense of Mormonism
Although I am not a Mormon, I am interested in the church's history, but I have had trouble finding unbiased sources.Misled by some Amazon reviews, I purchased this book because I believed it was objective, but it is not.It is actually a defense of the LDS church in Utah (as distinguished from other Mormon denominations).In fact, both authors are True Believers, and Arrington was the church's official "historian" from 1972 to 1982.The following example illustrates the bias that permeates this book.Referring to Joseph Smith, Mormonism's founder, they write:"This tall, robust, blue-eyed man could receive a revelation, wrestle a workman, outrun a mob, and develop plans for a model city virtually in the same day."That, dear reader, is hagiography, not history.Even worse, the authors have an embarrassing tendency to raise outlandish defenses against evidence that might contradict the church's doctrine or traditions.For example, when an early follower claimed an academic had verified part of Smith's translation of the Book of Mormon, the academic vehemently denied it and said the entire episode appeared to be a "hoax on the learned." That denial would seem to weaken the follower's claims, but these authors raise the ingenious defense that the academic may have been lying when he denied validating the translation.The only difficulty with this convenient but entirely speculative hypothesis is that it is not supported by a single shred of empirical evidence.It is a pure invention whose only value is that it defends the church.These authors cannot "play fair" with the evidence, because their deep commitment to their faith prevents them from examining it objectively.So readers who seek an even handed account must look elsewhere.Mormons who wish to reinforce their faith, however, will enjoy this book, because it offers a dependable and reassuring defense of the church's teachings.In fact, that is why it was written.

Must read on Mormon history
As someone who has read many, many books on the topic of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I can honestly say that this text is one of the best books on Mormon history I have so far come across. I believe that the late Arrington and Bitton do an excellent job in providing a fair and balanced overview of the Latter-day Saint religion since 1820, as well as refuting some common anti-Mormon claims, showing that, contra the late Wesley Walters, author of "Inventing Mormonism" and other screeds, religious revivals *did* occur in 1819-1820, consistent with the chronology offered by the Prophet Joseph Smith in the History of the Church and the versions of the First Vision he gave throughout his lifetime.

Recommended reading for any serious student of "Mormonism."

"Good?" No."Interesting?"Yes.
I read this book because I'm dating a Mormon and wanted to learn more about LDS.It's well-written.It's interesting, too, in the purest sense of the word.Unfortunately what I learned is: 1) nobody who is not a Mormon and who has at least a high school education will consider this book balanced or objective; and 2) it scares the hell out of me that any adult in the 21st century would believe the trype LDS promotes.That's not really a criticism of the book -- it didn't invent the history, it just promotes it -- but if you want a volume that truly depresses you about the gullibility and desperation of man, this is it. ... Read more

Book Description
Written by an international team of respected Christian scholars, this freshly researched rebuttal of Mormon truth will aid those sharing the gospel with Mormons and those investigating Mormonism on their own.It will help readers to accurately understand Mormonism through biblical, historical, scientific, philosophical, and theological discussions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

The Christian response to new Mormon scholarship
I was very impressed by this book.It contains chapters by many major Christian scholars in areas of their specialization, providing excellent insights into and arguments against LDS beliefs.

The authors of this book do not argue against traditional Mormon sources of authority, as they have been largely abandoned by contemporary Mormons.The authors assume that the only accepted sources of God's revelation accepted by modern Mormons are the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, The Pearl of Great Price, and the current president of the organization.Traditionally (and I believe, officially) all of the past presidents have been included as accepted sources of God's revealed word, but many of today's Mormons are shying away from accepting that, as it leads to innumerable problems, as their previous leaders have said many rather unfortunate things which have long been used to refute Mormonism.

However, I think that the authors should have raised an objection to the new Mormon acceptance of only the current president's words as inspired.If only the current president's words are inspired, then when there is a new president, are the past president's words no longer considered inspired?If so, then God's truth is changing and Mormonism has collapsed into relativism.If not, then the same should apply to all of the past presidents, thus putting them right back where they started with all the problems that position brings with it.In either case, it should have been pointed out that this is a rediculous position to be taken.

I personally enjoyed William Lane Craig's chapter on creation ex nihilo the most.Craig presents a rather strong case that the Mormon's doctrine of the pre-existing matter fails to line up with the Bible, philosophical reasoning, and scientific evidence.I look forward to reading any responses that Mormon scholars make to the arguments presented against them in this book.

This is definitely a unique book.While other Christian books written about Mormonism tend to simply point out that Mormonism is in conflict with the Bible, or they focus on errors in the Book of Mormon, etc, this book takes a rather different approach and looks mainly at the philosophical and historical implications and claims of Mormonism, and why these positions are not viable.I imagine it will be an elightening book whether you agree with their conclusions or not.

Overall grade:A+

An improvment in con-Mormon pro-Evangelical books
This is an improvement in the "con-Mormon, pro-Evangelical" series of books, and a vast improvement by Zondervan's last anti-Mormon screed, "Mormonism" by Kurt Van Gorden. The authors avoid the typical inane "arguments" forwarded by other Evangelicals such as Ankerberg and Rhodes, which is commendable, and I look forward to future works along this line. I would really be hard pished to describe this book as an "anti-Mormon" book.

That said, the text does have a number of failures. Brief examples include the following -

Finley would have Lehi et al. travel in a 360 degree circle in the Sinai Peninsula, in order to explain away the overwhelming evidence supporting the authenticity of First Nephi (i.e. the discoveries of Nahom, Bountiful and the River Laman and Valley of Lemuel) all because there is an Exodus motif in First Nephi, notwithstanding Jeruslame cerca 597 BCE was the Lehites "Egypt." There is no logic behind this argument, and flies in the face of the work of able LDS scholars and rssearchers that have shown that the Book of Mormon sites Nahom, Bountiful and the Valley of Lemuel with its River of Laman have all been discovered, proving that Joseph Smith was not the author of the First Book of Nephi and, contra Finley, the Book of Mormon DOES have its origins in the ancient Near East.

Also, Shepard, in what was my favourite of the eleven essays, claims that metallurgy in the Book of Mormon represents an anachronism. However, only 1% of pre-classical (i.e. Book of Mormon era) sites have been excavated in any manner. To claim that metallurgy is an error is way off, as we know little to nothing about Mesoamerica in the pre-classical era. Moreover, there is some evidence of metallurgy in Book of Mormon times (see any of the works on this topic by John Sorneson).

At it again.........
Beckwith is a long-time Mormon-basher who has been shown to be so wrong it's a wonder he has the audacity to keep writing.He was taken apart and handed his errors in the book "How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God."That's why he's come up with this book.He knows scholarly LDS writers are more than he can stand up to.

There is not enough space here to illustrate the errors of the classical theist and their mixture of Judaism, Greek and Oriental philosophy, and paganism.Instead I will recommend two books:
1. How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God.
2. The Father is Not the Son.

The first book especially knocks Beckwith out of the argument over the Trinity. Very few people accept the classical theists view of the Trinity, which was a figment of man's imagination during the Middle Ages.These books easily prove the errors of the classical theist.Even if one is so stubborn as to hang on to the metaphysical beliefs of the classical theist, it would be good to know the other side, if just for the knowledge in talking with more enlightened thinkers. One example: The ancient Jews had no concept of metaphysics. As the Jewish Reviewer: Seth J. Frantzman (Jerusalem, Israel)has said here,"..just Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and circumcision". However, before he accuses Mormons of being viscious, he needs to look at the thousands of years of Hebrew wars and slaughtering that is throughout the Pentatuch. Where does he find that in LDS history? Oh, yeah, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, but that was by renegade Mormons, not the Church. The rest of the Mormons didn't even know what happened until they were told about it.

The Jews were realists and meant what they said even when figuratively speaking.The Greeks dealt with just about everything using metaphysics, the more abstruse the better, it seems.The scriptures were revealed to the Jews, not the Greeks.Why, then, did metaphysics--i.e. the Trinity, incorporeality of God, incomprehensibility of God, etc.--creep into Christian doctrine?These books will explain that.

Good, faithful Christians truly think they believe the Bible only.Unfortunately, they do not realize the errors of their doctrines due to the metaphysics that crept in during the years of the apostasy after the original apostles died.However, people like Beckwith should know this. But, then, what would they write on to make money from books?How about the truth?

As you read this you will notice the "reviewers" who have read my review here will say this review was not helpful to them.Of course it isn't.When you are looking for "literature" to help you criticize and blaspheme other religions, you are not going to get much help from this review. Your mind is already made up,and it is certainly not open to any other idea.This is also proof that they did not read the books recommended in my review here.I challenge those that got "no help" (because they didn't want help (They were looking for "ammunition" to "shoot down" the Mormons) from this review to read those books, then come back and tell me where they are wrong and how they can support the metaphysics in "orthodox Christianity"

No new challenge, just the old in new format!
Francis et al - editors of the bookand Evangelical - want to open up a new dialogue with the LDS church. They acknowledge the work of many recent LDS scholars, especially those in FARMS (Book of Mormon-unit in BYU) and they try to encourage the Evangelical side to change its hundred-year-attack towards the LDS. The book is divided in four sections.

The first section is half historical describing the rise of the LDS church and half informative, assessing the members of the church and the rise of LDS scholarship. The second goes into the eternal battle of LDS god vs. Evangelical god , where the authors go thru the recent trends of LDS church about god and in some long philosophical chapters "disprove" the god of LDS church.

There is nothing new under the sun, when it comes to polemics. The authors of this section are very technical and their argumentation is far from humble. This section evoked so many boring and sad feelings in me, which became the unsuccessful review of mine. This section discusses both the nature of god and whether the universe was created out of nothing or was as LDS believes only formed by already available material by a god according to the natural laws of universe. The LDS church holds steadily to the new revelation that god is human like us, and there are many gods and goddesses in the world, all being humans before reaching this goddish state. A comment from one of the authors about this is: "The idea that there has been an infinite progression of humanoid deities consorting with one another from eternity is worse than scientific poppycock - it is a fairy tale of Olympian proportions" (p. 147). I won't comment on this sentence which is explicit enough. The author seems to live in a very protected all-Christian society, where the creation of earth in seven days and creation of man out of dust is seen as actual happenings!

The third section answers in a zigzag way the question of LDS and whether it is Christian or not. The discussion leading to the answer which never was affirmative when writing the book is interesting, cause one of the authors is a friend of both groups and tries to avoid misunderstanding. He does it in a superb way, I mean he is Evangelical afterwards and in these cases it is much easier being liberal.

The fourth section is about the Book of Mormon and here - for the very first time - the Evangelical side tries to answer the new research about the historicity of the book. The chapter about pseudo-translation is very knowledge raising and gives another input to the ever false-authentic battle about the book. The chapter about the new research gives new insight and will help the LDS community to extrapolate its research.

If you are a Conservative, I believe that the book can make your more humble towards your LDS brothers and sisters, if your are liberal, you just get mad! If you are LDS, you should be used in handling this sort of books, the difference from other anti-LDS books, is that this book is like a Evangelical Mary Poppins making the same anti-LDS medicine go down with one piece of sugar!

its fun watching christians fight eachother
SO lets get this strait.Mormons will soon be the number one fastest growing religion.WHose threatened by this?Fellow christians.So they write lots of books refuting the mormon claim about the origins of the book of Mormon.Well now I'm not a genious but main stream christians cant 'prove' the virginity of Mary any more then they can 'prove' Mormons are incorrect in asserting the return of Christ to the AMericas.So why argue.

Religion is based on faith.Its about God.So how can you argue about that.How can we argue about the number of angels in heaven?Its impossible to know.Ahh the meriments of Judaism!No mysteries, no virgins, just good old fashioned Abraham and Isaac and circumcision.

The only positive thing about the growth of Mormonism is that we will finally have a christian sect capable of defeating Islam.Main stream christianity is pacisfisct in nature.Mormons are viscious and ready to draw the sword of the archangel and slice down the Islamic apostates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Gread add to LDS Family Library
My kids really love the pictures and it is a great simple way to introduce them to the Book of Mormon.Great addition to every LDS family library. ... Read more

Book Description
Acclaimed as the best introduction to Mormonism available, this wonderful book paints a reliable and informative portrait of the world's fastest growing religion and its people. Illustrated with dozens of color photos and art, this delightful book is perfect for curious minds. Covering everything from the sacred (temples and doctrine) to the silly (green Jell-O and glass grapes), "Mormons" is bound to be a classic. ... Read more

Book Description
From the Mormon Church's public announcement of its sanction of polygamy in 1852 until its formal decision to abandon the practice in 1890, people on both sides of the "Mormon question" debated central questions of constitutional law. Did principles of religious freedom and local self-government protect Mormons' claim to a distinct, religiously based legal order? Or was polygamy, as its opponents claimed, a new form of slavery--this time for white women in Utah? And did constitutional principles dictate that democracy and true liberty were founded on separation of church and state?

As Sarah Barringer Gordon shows, the answers to these questions finally yielded an apparent victory for antipolygamists in the late nineteenth century, but only after decades of argument, litigation, and open conflict. Victory came at a price; as attention and national resources poured into Utah in the late 1870s and 1880s, antipolygamists turned more and more to coercion and punishment in the name of freedom. They also left a legacy in constitutional law and political theory that still governs our treatment of religious life: Americans are free to believe, but they may well not be free to act on their beliefs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great, scholarly
i got this book for a legal history research paper on the free exercise clause.it was easy to read, interesting, and well cited.i highly reccomend it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Towards reinterpretation
It is not surprising that LDS movement would be inspired by the text and form criticism movement that began in the early 20th century. It is not surprising that the primary "battle" is between this new perspective and the more traditional one in LDS movement itself. There is no "new" LDS history as there has never been a "new" Jesus story. Stories are told over and over again by humans and interpreted by others and it is a fact that a historical account of Jesus would be more neutral if it was written today than by the community close to his presumed death, so the same goes for LDS.

As always Signature does their best to give a holistic picture thru their selection of essays. The essays don't have the "what really did happen?"-cliché, that many Conservative anti-LDS Christians are famous for. Lancaster handles the issue like Joseph's several accounts of the first vision very "gently". He has no ambition to say the last word. This is clear when Hansen, who became famous for his "Council of Fifty" make a review of his own essay some 20 years afterwards. He acknowledges that he would have written a bit differently, how, well it is for you to find out.

It's lovely that Newell (co-author to Emma Smith's biography) has an essay about the LDS women and how they spoke in tongues, administered; thing that LDS today view as strictly male priesthood duties. Shipps famous essay on a holistic view appears among the essays. She wanted to introduce a way to analyse Joseph ignoring the eternal dichotomy of charlatan and prophet. Beecher writes about the leading sisters of early LDS, among others Eliza R Snow. It is weird how history always becomes the history of leading brothers... Not to forget the story of the sea gulls by Heartly. The monument stands there in Salt Lake as a memory of this miracle of LDS history - however sources and some environmental issues seems shed a new light, there were sea gulls and crickets, but ....

Very strictly analytical essays are those of May about the LDS membership statistics thru 150 years and Walker's fine overview of how LDS responded towards wars such as the American war, WW1 and WW2 etc. The wonderful essay of Flanders, Nauvoo revisited: it is more like a columnist writing about a period of LDS history which ended with the terrible murder of the prophet. An important essay is the case of how LDS maintained harmony is policy issues, such as polygamy, by Alexander.

Arrington, former church historian, takes us thru the historical sources in the archives. He introduces us to a world of hidden treasures, which change our perspective of LDS history, from strictly hierarchic to horizontal, from centre to periphery. Pillis' essay treats the rise of LDS in the early 1830s. It shows how environment can shape religious movements.

The remaining three essays - Ivins, Campell & Campell and Cannon II - are about polygamy. The first one is the most thrilling, because it is a sort of an ethnographic study of the practice itself, such as men seemed to marry several from the same family, such as sisters or mother/daugther, and as older the men got, the younger women they married. The second shows the other side of polygamy, the divorces. The third is about how polygamy continued even after the famous manifesto of 1890.

The book ends by B H Roberts and how he wants to write a history of church where every side is heard. Signature manages always to end the essays with this short writing by famous LDS. This book gives you a glimpse into a history not wished to be written and therefore it is a challenging history. It reshapes how we have viewed the past and hopefully shapes in a right way to handle the past. I am looking forward to such a collection of essay in twenty years.... Thank you Signature.

Is There a New Mormon History?
D. Michael Quinn, one of the foremost practitioners of the type of work distinguished as the "New Mormon History," certainly thinks so. He has assembled in this volume a set of fifteen previously published essays and a short epilogue by B. H. Roberts, all demonstrating most ably the basic trends identified as "New Mormon History" (to Quinn a broadly descriptive rather than polemical label). He notes that this type of historical analysis seeks to attain a "functional objectivity" and avoid several "deadly sins of traditional Mormon history" (viii), among them shying away from critical but controversial topics.

"New Mormon historians" have adopted these as cardinal points against which all historical writing must be measured. The fifteen essays in this volume certainly ri