Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Fred C. Collier – 2 Stars

Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Fred C. Collier – 2 Stars

Title: Unpublished Revelations of the Prophets and Presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Vol. 1)
Author: Fred C. Collier
Publisher: Collier Publishing Co (Self)
Year: First Edition Hardcover 1979; Third Edition (Current) Hardcover 2011

Rating:  2 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: This is actually a fairly difficult book to find.  It has never been sold at any major LDS Bookstore or retailer; and appears to be self-published.  It is also is not regularly in print, like more self-published on demand books.  It is popular among the collectors, so editions are found in used book stores, but if you want a copy ASAP the best bet is to try and get it used from Amazon (for about $50).  You can also keep your eye out on eBay for it as well – but only pick it up if it seems like a bargain.  Getting a copy of this book will not be cheap – but is popular in some circles (just not mine).

Review: The book has some sensationalism going for it – with a title like “The Unpublished Revelations…”  however, today it really is only a collectors piece, and contains nothing of contributing value.

The book contains some revelations that were not published for various reasons, and gives little or no context around them to help set the tone or background for them (or why they were not published).  There is a revelation on securing the rights of the copyright on the Book of Mormon.  Some of them were not revelations published because there was no meat or content in them worthy of it (sad to say) – but many of them were not really revelations as in the being the “word of God,” but spiritual experiences, things that might have been revelatory but not “revelations.”

For the most part there is nothing in here that really requires reading – even though it give the allusion it may offer some additional insight.  The name itself makes you think there is something scandalous, or at least something that you haven’t heard before – but there is nothing here.  Even some contributions to the book were published, but published under a different focus – for instance there is a section of the Doctrine and Covenants included, but under a different or more detailed background heading. (why?)

Collier takes some liberties in his contributions and selection, and for the most part to appease the sensationalism, ultimately without delivering.  I wouldn’t recommend this book – as it contains nothing of any significant or added value, but might look neat or special on the shelf.

Suggestions:  Don’t buy it… and if you are collector and the type to just collects for the esthetics, go for it.

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 #28


Tags: The Unpublished Revelations, Sacred Scripture, Church History, Fred C. Collier, 2 Stars, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley

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