Doctrinal Commentary on The Book of Mormon – Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert Millet, Brent L. Top – 3 Stars

Doctrinal Commentary on The Book of Mormon – Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert Millet, Brent L. Top – 3 Stars

Title: Doctrinal Commentary on The Book of Mormon (4 Volumes)

Author: Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert Millet, Brent L. Top (4^th Volume)

Publisher: Deseret Book

Year: Original Hard Cover (Bookcraft)– 1987; Current Softcover (Deseret Book) 2007

Rating:   3 STARS

Price and Purchasing Options: This four-volume collection of books are currently available from Deseret Book in softcover for around $60 for the bundle.  However, these were fairly popular when they were printed in hardcover and so they had a fairly good distribution.  This means that you can occasionally find them at Deseret Industries or on a secondhand option like eBay for a pretty reasonable price.  Personally, I prefer the hardcover of this commentary, and I am cheap – so I would stalk the DI for a while an get the collection as I found them and then read them.  If you are more anxious than that – jump oneBay (here) – you’ll still get them at a good price.  Only if I was die hard loyal to Deseret Book would I jump into the store right now and pay $60 for them. 

Review: This is a good commentary.  Not earth shattering, but pretty comfortable.

This is a four volume commentary on the Book of Mormon, by two of the most respectful scholars in the LDS community today: Joseph Fielding Smith and Robert Millet.  There is a volume that was also contributed and authored by Brent L. Top, which is proving to be quite the guy himself with his most recent publications.

One thing that I appreciate about this commentary, is that the format allows you to use this book as your scripture study.  I appreciate it when commentaries do that – because it simplified the process for me.  Otherwise, I have to read from my scriptures, and then go to another book and get my commentary.  However, in this publication, they print the scripture text within the book itself, and then follow it with commentary.  I know that in the publishing world, this might seem like an awkward use of space (some might say unnecessary), but as a consumer, it is comfortable when I can just replace my scripture study with another book rather than added a book to the process.

As for the commentary itself – it is strong, accurate, and clean.  This means it is a reliable source, of material, but it also means that the material is fairly sterilized.  As a consequence, the reader will notice that there is very little that is deeper or more thought provoking than a normal Sunday School Lesson.  For many this will be fine, comfortable, and sought after – those who are more commentary newbies.  For others, who might read a lot of commentary – they will not find anything that is not repetitive to them.  This doesn’t indicate any lack of value in the book or the text, just that it will fill different populations’ needs differently.

What I found this commentary was great for was for mixing up my scripture study.  Replacing my Book of Mormon study one time through with this commentary was easy, and a nice break from the normal routine.  For me that was probably the biggest value, and worth it.  However, I do see how for most people it would be a really great commentary or a great start into the commentary world.

If you are new to commentaries, looking to get mix up your study a little bit, or even not much of a commentary person – this is a great set of books for you.  If you are more aggressive on reading and commentaries, this probably isn’t something you would get excited about – but you will still read it (to say you did), and the put it on the shelf and move on.  Either way – I can bet you are probably going to get it.

Suggestions:  My suggestion is to collect a copy as economically as you can – put it on the shelf – and when you are ready to replace your Book of Mormon Study with a commentary include it in one of your Book of Mormon cycles.  You’ll enjoy it – you might not LOVE it – but it will help mix things up.

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I encourage your to follow this blog as I update more reviews in the coming days, weeks, months, etc.  Please feel free to also follow my YouTube page – however, I enjoy writing more than being on camera!

Review #16

Tags: Doctrinal Commentary on The Book of Mormon (4 Volume), Brent L. Top, Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert Millet, Book of Mormon, Scriptural Commentaries, 3 Stars. LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley