Understanding the Book of Mormon

Understanding the Book of Mormon PDF Author: Grant Hardy
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199745447
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 370

Get Book Here

Book Description
Mark Twain once derided the Book of Mormon as "chloroform in print." Long and complicated, written in the language of the King James version of the Bible, it boggles the minds of many. Yet it is unquestionably one of the most influential books ever written. With over 140 million copies in print, it is a central text of one of the largest and fastest-growing faiths in the world. And, Grant Hardy shows, it's far from the coma-inducing doorstop caricatured by Twain. In Understanding the Book of Mormon, Hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the work's narrative structure in its 180 year history. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the Book of Mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. Hardy takes readers through its characters, events, and ideas, as he explores the story and its messages. He identifies the book's literary techniques, such as characterization, embedded documents, allusions, and parallel narratives. Whether Joseph Smith is regarded as author or translator, it's noteworthy that he never speaks in his own voice; rather, he mediates nearly everything through the narrators Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni. Hardy shows how each has a distinctive voice, and all are woven into an integral whole. As with any scripture, the contending views of the Book of Mormon can seem irreconcilable. For believers, it is an actual historical document, transmitted from ancient America. For nonbelievers, it is the work of a nineteenth-century farmer from upstate New York. Hardy transcends this intractable conflict by offering a literary approach, one appropriate to both history and fiction. Regardless of whether readers are interested in American history, literature, comparative religion, or even salvation, he writes, the book can best be read if we examine the text on its own terms.

Loved Into the Light

Loved Into the Light PDF Author: La VonNe Earl
Publisher: Kingdom Press Publishing
ISBN: 9780985538217
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 346

Get Book Here

Book Description
Loved into the Light is a powerful emotional appeal to Mormons, ex-Mormons, and Christians of all faiths to take a close and careful look at the religious system they worship in. The book takes the reader on a self-examination journey of their spiritual state to determine if they are truly following God as found in Scriptures or bowing to the tenants of man. Loved into the Light is about freedom in God and deliverance from the bondage of man. Written from the personal experiences of an ex-Mormon family, it exposes the emotional, mental, and physical damage that is done as a result of laboring under teachings and leadership that contradicts and conflicts with the Bible, the Word of God.It also provides the keys to healing for those who find themselves injured by a religious system. It demonstrates the full love of God and how any person can find deliverance, freedom, and healing from God and His Word.

Understanding the Book of Mormon

Understanding the Book of Mormon PDF Author: Grant Hardy
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199745447
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 370

Get Book Here

Book Description
Mark Twain once derided the Book of Mormon as "chloroform in print." Long and complicated, written in the language of the King James version of the Bible, it boggles the minds of many. Yet it is unquestionably one of the most influential books ever written. With over 140 million copies in print, it is a central text of one of the largest and fastest-growing faiths in the world. And, Grant Hardy shows, it's far from the coma-inducing doorstop caricatured by Twain. In Understanding the Book of Mormon, Hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the work's narrative structure in its 180 year history. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the Book of Mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. Hardy takes readers through its characters, events, and ideas, as he explores the story and its messages. He identifies the book's literary techniques, such as characterization, embedded documents, allusions, and parallel narratives. Whether Joseph Smith is regarded as author or translator, it's noteworthy that he never speaks in his own voice; rather, he mediates nearly everything through the narrators Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni. Hardy shows how each has a distinctive voice, and all are woven into an integral whole. As with any scripture, the contending views of the Book of Mormon can seem irreconcilable. For believers, it is an actual historical document, transmitted from ancient America. For nonbelievers, it is the work of a nineteenth-century farmer from upstate New York. Hardy transcends this intractable conflict by offering a literary approach, one appropriate to both history and fiction. Regardless of whether readers are interested in American history, literature, comparative religion, or even salvation, he writes, the book can best be read if we examine the text on its own terms.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre

The Mountain Meadows Massacre PDF Author: Juanita Brooks
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
ISBN: 0806185384
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 356

Get Book Here

Book Description
In the Fall of 1857, some 120 California-bound emigrants were killed in lonely Mountain Meadows in southern Utah; only eighteen young children were spared. The men on the ground after the bloody deed took an oath that they would never mention the event again, either in public or in private. The leaders of the Mormon church also counseled silence. The first report, soon after the massacre, described it as an Indian onslaught at which a few white men were present, only one of whom, John D. Lee, was actually named. With admirable scholarship, Mrs. Brooks has traced the background of conflict, analyzed the emotional climate at the time, pointed up the social and military organization in Utah, and revealed the forces which culminated in the great tragedy at Mountain Meadows. The result is a near-classic treatment which neither smears nor clears the participants as individuals. It portrays an atmosphere of war hysteria, whipped up by recitals of past persecutions and the vision of an approaching "army" coming to drive the Mormons from their homes.

The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri

The Message of the Joseph Smith Papyri PDF Author: Hugh Nibley
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
ISBN: 9781590385395
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 609

Get Book Here

Book Description
Translation and discussion of Egyptian religion as it relates to the Book of Abraham, and papyri (from the Book of breathings) held to be the source of that book.

Book of Mormon Children: A Collection of Stories Set in Book of Mormon Times

Book of Mormon Children: A Collection of Stories Set in Book of Mormon Times PDF Author: Merrilee Browne Boyack
Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
ISBN: 1462102336
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 160

Get Book Here

Book Description
Even your youngest readers will love these scripture stories! From Anna to Zahara, you'll meet new friends and see your favorite Book of Mormon heroes in a whole new light. And with scripture passages, activities, and fun facts to go along with each story, this book is a perfect companion for family scripture study, primary, or family home evening.

Visions in a Seer Stone

Visions in a Seer Stone PDF Author: William L. Davis
Publisher: UNC Press Books
ISBN: 1469655675
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 265

Get Book Here

Book Description
In this interdisciplinary work, William L. Davis examines Joseph Smith's 1829 creation of the Book of Mormon, the foundational text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Positioning the text in the history of early American oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the passion for self-improvement, Davis elucidates both the fascinating cultural context for the creation of the Book of Mormon and the central role of oral culture in early nineteenth-century America. Drawing on performance studies, religious studies, literary culture, and the history of early American education, Davis analyzes Smith's process of oral composition. How did he produce a history spanning a period of 1,000 years, filled with hundreds of distinct characters and episodes, all cohesively tied together in an overarching narrative? Eyewitnesses claimed that Smith never looked at notes, manuscripts, or books—he simply spoke the words of this American religious epic into existence. Judging the truth of this process is not Davis's interest. Rather, he reveals a kaleidoscope of practices and styles that converged around Smith's creation, with an emphasis on the evangelical preaching styles popularized by the renowned George Whitefield and John Wesley.

All Things New

All Things New PDF Author: Fiona Givens
Publisher: Faith Matters
ISBN: 9781953677006
Category : Atonement
Languages : en
Pages : 188

Get Book Here

Book Description
"Robert MacFarlane has written that language does not just register experience, it produces it. Our religious language in particular informs and shapes our understanding of God, our sense of self, and the way we make sense of our challenging path back to loving Heavenly Parents. Unfortunately, to an extent we may not realize, our religious vocabulary has been shaped by prior generations whose creeds, in Joseph Smith s words, have filled the world with confusion. "I make all things new," proclaimed the Lord. Regrettably, many are still mired in the past, in ways we have not recognized. In this book, Fiona and Terryl Givens trace the roots of our religious vocabulary, explore how a flawed inheritance compounds the wounds and challenges of a life devoted to discipleship, and suggest ways of reformulating our language in more healthy ways all in the hope that, as B. H. Roberts urged, we may all cooperate in the works of the Spirit to find a truer expression of a gospel restored."--

A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose

A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose PDF Author: Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781629722528
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description


The Book of Mormon and Other Hidden Books

The Book of Mormon and Other Hidden Books PDF Author: John A. Tvedtnes
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780934893534
Category : Book of Mormon
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description


The Essential LDS Collection

The Essential LDS Collection PDF Author: William Alexander Linn
Publisher: Good Press
ISBN:
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 12321

Get Book Here

Book Description
The Essential LDS Collection embodies a profound exploration of the Latter-day Saint (LDS) faith, bringing together a remarkable range of narratives, doctrinal discussions, and historical analyses. This anthology stands out for its diversity in literary styles, from poetic expressions of faith by Eliza R. Snow to the doctrinal expositions of Joseph Smith Jr. and the historical recountings by B. H. Roberts. The significance of each work within the collection highlights various facets of LDS belief and practice, providing readers with a comprehensive overview of the church's theological foundation and evolution. The inclusion of seminal texts such as Joseph Smith's revelations offers not just insight but a connection to pivotal moments in LDS history. The backgrounds of the authors and editors in this collection paint a rich tapestry of the LDS churchs development and the varying individual contributions to its doctrine and community. Figures like Brigham Young and Joseph F. Smith represent pivotal leadership roles that shaped the direction and identity of the LDS church, while scholars and historians like John A. Widtsoe and William Alexander Linn provide depth through critical analysis and reflection. This anthology aligns with key historical and cultural movements within the LDS church, offering a nuanced understanding of its complexities and the diverse voices that have shaped its narrative. The Essential LDS Collection is recommended for anyone interested in understanding the breadth and depth of the LDS faith through its literature. This anthology presents a unique opportunity to explore the converging and diverging paths of thought and belief within the church, facilitated by the works of its most influential figures. For scholars, members of the LDS church, and those fascinated by religious studies, this collection provides an unparalleled insight into the LDS faith, inviting readers to engage with the profound discussions and reflections that have defined this community.