Rating: 
Summary: Recommended for Lamanites Everywhere
Review: You really must read the Book of Mormon to appreciate the racist roots of a unique American religion. I recommend this book to people of dark skin everywhere. Here are some poignant passages about the curse of dark skin as related in the Book of Mormon:1 Nephi 12:23 "became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations." 2 Nephi 5:21 "that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them." Alma 3:6 "skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion." Alma 3:9 "whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed." Mormon 5:15 "shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us." I could continue, but why? I think you catch my drift.
Rating: 
Summary: A pretentious, ill-conceived, mess
Review: The book is a long-winded attempt to create an ancient american indian epic religious fantasy, using cliches from the King James version of the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Bad pulp fiction
Review: Why would anyone give even a dime for this poorly written boring 19th century pulp fiction, even if you are a theologist interested in Mormonism? It isn't even the original text, but has been changed. Which god would first help in "translating" some ancient record, and then say, oops! You'll have to correct that! The Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has published a replica of the 1830 version. I'd recommend that instead, if you tend to be masochistic. The ISBN is 0-8309-0025-X. The truth is though, the Book of Mormon isn't going to give you a good picture at all on the beginnings, or doctrines, of the Mormon church. For that, you'll have to read at least the revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr., called the Doctrine & Covenants. The "Doctrine" part used to consist of the so called Lectures of Faith, but the church removed that part (leaving the title of the book untouched, though) when the inconsistencies became too embarrassing. That's why we nowadays only have the "Covenants" part. So, try to get hold of an older edition before the 1920's, or even better, buy the amazing CD-ROM called The New Mormon Studies CD-ROM, ISBN 1-56085-110-4.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't imagine why Amazon.com is selling this book...
Review: I mean, you can get it for free (along with the little multimedia presentation from the Missionaries) by calling that toll-free number advertised on the telly. Anyway, I've read the Book of Mormon several times over the years -- along with the requisite prayers to discern its truthfulness and Divine origin -- and it's still a ponderous read. Page per page, there has to be more death and carnage (a word used numerous times throughout the text) in the Book of Mormon than in the Old Testament, which is quite a feat if you think about it. You will find wars, rumours of wars, and tons of "Secret Combinations" in the Book of Mormon, along with the phrase "and it came to pass", which cause the Book of Mormon to be rather tedious. Overall, I did not find anything especially earth-shattering as far as revelations go by reading the Book of Mormon. For example, the reader won't find anything uniquely "Mormon" in the Book of Mormon, such as baptism for the dead, abstinence from tea, coffee, and alcohol, marriage for eternity, the Temple Endowment, and so forth. Quite honestly, I don't see why so many Evangelical Protestants have such animosity towards the book since it pretty much rehashes standard American Protestant beliefs (no infant baptism, the United States is specially created by God, etc.). If you want to read about the distinctive LDS doctrines, purchase a copy of the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great price. These come as "triple combinations", and are relatively inexpensive. I would, however, encourage anyone with an interest in world religions in general, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in particular, to read the Book of Mormon. While I personally do not find anything inspiring about this book, I do realise that it could perhaps have profound meaning to others. Out of a sense of fairness, non-LDS should read this book without having someone tell you what's in it.
Rating:
Summary: Edifying literature? Some classic quotes from this work.
Review: Here we can see a widow's suffering as her husband lies rotting "stinkingly" in her house. Alma 19:5 is worthy of Shakespeare...
"I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink." And who can forget the pathos aroused by the cannibalism in Moroni 9:8?
"And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them." Or how uplifting it was when God ordained Jim Crow apartheid in 2 Nephi 5 21-3? God is good!
"And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be centicing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. And thus saith the Lord God: I will cause that they shall be loathsome unto thy people, save they shall repent of their iniquities. And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing. And the Lord spake it, and it was done." Of course all of the best stories in the Bible appear with different characters in the Book of Mormon. The Writing on the Wall appears with Abinadi in Alma 10:2, Herod's daughter can be seen dancing in Ether 8, the men in the fire in Helaman 5:22-24 are straight out of Daniel 3, Jesus feeds the multitude in 3 Nephi 20:3-7, the pillar of fire from Exodus 13 reappears in 1 Nephi 1:6, David slaying Goliath reappears as Ammon in Alma 17:36 etc etc. On the title page of the Book of Mormon we read "an account written by the hand of Mormon upon plates taken from the plates of Nephi. Wherefore, it is an ABRIDGMENT of the record of the people of Nephi... An ABRIDGMENT taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared..." 1 Nephi 1:17, Mormon 1:3 & 5:9 and Moroni 1:1 also drive home the point we are reading an "abridgment". But The Book of Mormon likes to say things again and again, just to be sure... have a look at Helaman 5:28, 31, 34, 36, 40-43:
"And it came to pass that they were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness ... behold the cloud of darkness, which had overshadowed them, did not disperse... the Lamanites could not flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them... he saw through the cloud of darkness... the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness maybe removed from overshadowing us? And Aminadab said... You must repent.. and when you shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.... the cloud of darkness was dispersed. And it came to pass that when they cast their eyes about, and saw that the cloud of darkness was dispersed from overshadowing them, behold, they saw that they were encircled about... by a pillar of fire." Mormon scholars tell us that repeating yourself like this is an element of Hebrew style called chiasmus. But what happened to the abridgement? I am an editor by trade, and know that if you want to abridge something you cut repetition! The style alone kills the Book of Mormon!
Rating:
Summary: Confusing, redundant, and simply not the word of God.
Review: Initially, I was impressed by its use of the King James style of the English language, and when I prayed about it I thought it might be true. Fortunately, I also had the common sense to read supplemental texts (like exmormon.org) and find out that the BOM should simply be used for entertainment purposes. By the way, do yourself a favor and don't waste your money on this book. Just ask any old Mormon for a copy and you'll get more than you could ever want.
Rating:
Summary: Hype and hot air
Review: Joseph Smith claimed God revealed the ancient history of American Indians to him and that this was the most correct book ever written. I have read and studied this book for 25+ years and I see no evidence that any of it is historical. The last great battle supposedly took place near Palmyra, NY, around 400 AD, yet everything vanished without leaving a trace. Napoleon wars left lots of artifacts behind, Ancient Greece wars left lots of artifacts behind, but the wars of the "historical" Book of Mormon left nothing behind? If Joseph Smith had made no great claims about this book it would simply be a badly written book. But claiming it is from God is an insult to anybody's intelligence.
Rating:
Summary: The most correct book on earth.
Review: I testify that anyone who rejects this book will be condemned for eternity. It will teach people the most correct principles to live by, and anyone who refuses will be judged accordingly. The evidence of American Indians and the Polynesians coming from places other than Jerusalem is the work of Satan. The mistakes in DNA research will eventually come to light, and show the true Semitic origins of native American Indians. You must ignore the ``evidence'' and have faith, and if you have faith, your life will be exceedingly blessed. Don't delay, call the local LDS missionaries and ask them to bring your free copy today!
Rating:
Summary: Another True Testiment Of Our Lord
Review: The Book of Mormon--Another Testament of Jesus Christ is a companion volume of scripture to the Holy Bible and contains the account of the Savior's appearance in ancient America following his resurrection. As a student of Christ, I have learned more of his nature and my relationship to Him. If you have read the Bible. This is a must read! A copy of the Book of Mormon can be yours without cost or obligation if you visit lds.org. This is a true testiment of our Lord and his Plan of Happiness for us! It is easy to read and has been used, in my family, to teach literacy and language.
Rating:
Summary: Despised and rejected of men...
Review: I can't believe the animosity some reviewers have towards the Book of Mormon! At the very worst some of it is hard to understand, but it's not meant for entertainment. It's an historical account kept by honest and humble servants of God, simply put. Their aim was to, first, do the will of God in their own lives and second, to make sure their descendants and the people living today could be strengthened in their faith and live the Gospel as God intends. I honestly can't feel defensive about this. I love Joseph Smith for translating and giving his life for this book and for restoring Christs church. He was a prophet the same as the men in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. He was so because he was more meek and humble than any other man on the earth at that time. This is a good test of your faith deciding whether or not to believe an ignorant farm boy from Palmira, NY could become the means to restoring every gift and fascet of the Gospel to the Earth.
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