The Book of Mormon – Joseph Smith (trans.) – 5 Stars

The Book of Mormon – Joseph Smith (trans.) – 5 Stars

Title: The Book of Mormon

Author: Joseph Smith (Translator)

Publisher: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints      

Year: 2015 (1830 Replica)

Rating:  5 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: A copy of this book is available for free from lds.org, any of the local missionaries, or can even be requested by virtually every member of the church.  Electronic copies are available online as well for free at lds.org.  The 1830 replicas, can be purchased through any LDS retailer, and I recommend just getting the most economical ones – for they are all the same – for around $20.  There are replicas that can range from $20 - $60 for reading, and then some for display in the hundred.

Review: There is a lot to say about this book, and before I start I just want to caveat that I will not do it justice, and knowing that I unfortunately will not even try!

This book is life changing if you let it – and please hear me out.

The reason I am doing this review is because about 30 reviews into my blog I was asked on my YouTube channel what I believed about The Book of Mormon.  This set me back, because I thought that through my reviews I was fairly clear, but I also have to admit that even through my professional career I have been asked the same thing; all leading me to believe, that I might not be as transparent about my faith and passion externally as I believe I am internally.

How do I start?

The Book of Mormon is scripture, and more than that it is a clean book of prophecy.  I am aware of all of the challenges made to the publication, translation, timing, and messaging that are out there that seek to cast doubt on it… None of those shake me, although I am grateful for their challenges at times.  And although, none of those will be addressed in this review (through many of the reviews on suck challenging text they will be later), this review will only focus on the book.

Here is what I recommend to people – don’t read about the book, don’t even read about Joseph Smith (because if it is true it is not about Joseph Smith) – just READ the BOOK!  Alone, and by itself – read the book, and let the book stand on its own.

If the book is good, true, beautiful, testifies of Christ, and helps you be a better person than you were before the book – all the other stuff doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t have to make sense how this or why that… if it is good and true – all that other stuff is fine.  All the other stuff doesn’t have to make sense to us today if the fruit of it makes more sense than anything else.

I love this book.  Throughout my life, as I have felt the arms of Christ reach out to me and offer me salvation, I was intellectually disappointed that I was finding it in the Book of Mormon.  When I couldn’t resist it anymore, and I accepted my Savior and his gospel – I reluctantly accepting The Book of Mormon, but I refused to hold it any higher than any other book of scripture.  I sought to be a “well rounded scriptorian, and would study all of the standard works equally.  I did this.  But over the years, the more I studied, the more I found The Book of Mormon was superior to The Bible, The Doctrine and Covenant, and the Pearl of Great Price.  As I write that I will feel a bit of shame, an honest resentment knowing how the world would view those words, but I still seek to despise the shame of it within myself.

No other book of Scripture in the history of the world, in any creed, faith, or denomination, from the east through the west – has ever predated the movement.  That is until 1830 and The Book of Mormon!  It stands out from every other sacred writings including the Vedas, the teaching of Buddha (compiled after his death), the Korean (complied after his death), the Old Testament, the New Testament (written after the crucifixion), and many more.  Only The Book of Mormon was the literal foundation and keystone of a faith – where it grew out of the book rather than the book growing out of the faith and a charismatic leader.

The book was not written by Smith, or Cowdrey – and all of the challenges to their character are all challenges to us out of context.

In context, when we read the Book, and pray about it, and learn from GOD that it is true, all those challenges mean nothing.  We no longer get to define with our understanding what a “prophet” is, we get to allow the Lord to point at someone and tell us what a prophet is.  We get to see that a prophet is a mortal, flawed, and complicated man, who will succeed and fail as he tried to navigate his mantle and the weight of not only his divine calling, but his social responsibility as a leader of people.

The book details the teachings and ministry of prophets on the American Continent(s) between the years 600 BC and 400 AD – and the rise and fall of the civilization.  This is done through documenting a division of Israelites who migrated, and separated, and learned through prophetic teachings about the coming and ministry of the Savior.  This allows a population of followers of Christ separate from the main branch of Israel.  It confirms much of the gospel, highlights even more revelation and clarification, and show the love he has for all of his children.

The main messages of The Book of Mormon (as I read them, and not necessarily the stance of the LDS church is): (1) Jesus is the Christ, (2) the most important thing is to align ourselves with the Holy Ghost – through covenants, prayer, service, and obedience; and (3) the rise and fall of the American civilization and the prophecy regarding it the future of it.

For those who are members of the church I would recommend getting a copy of the first edition in replica.  They are commonly re-printed and available everywhere.  The first copy wasn’t chapter and versed as we are used to, and therefore, reads a little differently.  This will give the book a different context, and allow you to see how some chapters flow better together and narratives and stories will take on new meanings and insights.  It is a neat experience, and allows you to see the scriptures in a different way.

Suggestions:  Read this book, and then re-read it.  If you question or are not sure, just read the book by itself – forget what I say, and what everyone else says, and just listen to the Lord – that ultimately is all that matters.

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I encourage you 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 #47

Tags: 5 Stars, Reference, Sacred Scripture, Joseph Smith, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley