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Summary: The Word of God, prophesied to come forth
Review: Prophecies of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon are thus: (Gen 49:22-26) Wall(ocean), everlasting hills (rocky mtns.), prophecy that Joseph's seed would inherit the oceans. (Psalms 85:11) Truth shall spring out of the earth. (Isa 29:1-5) A marvelous work and a wonder to be brought forth out of the ground. (Isa 29:11-12) A book that is sealed, delivered to the learned man. (Isa 29:13-18) I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder. (Isa 42:9) New things do I declare: before they spring forth, I tell you of them. (Isa 45:8) Let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation. (Ezek 37:14) I shall place you in your own land. (Ezek 37:15-20) Stick of Judah (Bible), Stick of Joseph (Book of Mormon)(John 10:14-16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice (Rev 14:6-7) Everlasting Gospel to be brought forth Paul wrote to the Corinthians that, "In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established" (2 Cor 13:1). Many of the biblical prophets were shown in vision the last days and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Many of the Book of Mormon prophets testified of prophets dealings with Christ among the Jews, of which dealings are contained in the Bible. God is the author of both. Joseph Smith was a special and chosen vessel of the Lord, called and commissioned to do a very important work in restoring Christ's church back to the earth and bringing forth an additional witness of His gospel and divinity. Nearly all other churches have and teach out of only the Bible, and yet the teachings differ dramatically from one church to the other. God has given us the Book of Mormon today as a second witness, (thus Paul's law of witnesses)and therefore, the doctrines and teachings of the gospel cannot as easily be misinterpreted and misunderstood because there are two witnesses. They both testify of the same gospel and are authored by the same God, even Jesus Christ, our Savior. Don't rely on the wisdom of men to determine how you live your life. Get on your knees and ask God what's true(James 1:5), and be willing to submit to the answers you recieve from Him. Read, Ponder, and pray with 1: a sincere heart 2:with real intent and 3: with faith in Christ and God's promise will be kept. Your prayers will be answered by the power of His spirit and you'll know whether or not it's truly the word of God.
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Summary: This book will change you life
Review: The Book of Mormon is truly the word of god. I read it and encourage you to read it. Judge for yourself if you think that is true, it can only help you. Like the bible, the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ. When you read it, the holy ghost will tell you that it truly is the word of god. Just for you sceptics out there, keep in mind these facts. Joseph smith was 18 years old when he translated this book, with no education whatsoever. He translated it in 81 days. 12 people saw the plates that they were origionally written on, and none of them ever denied their testimony. Joseph Smith lived a life of grief, standing up for the things that he knew were true and that he could not deny. The book of mormon is testified many times in the bible. Evidence from ancient american sites depict many of the accounts testified in this book. As a member of the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saint, I testify that this book is the keystone of our religion, as you dig deeper into our religion, you will find that there is a great opposition toward it, but as the only true church, it will prevail against evil. The testimony of Joseph Smith will live on forever, the church will never get smaller, and there will continue to be many miracles involved with the members of this church. Ask anybody that is a member, and they will tell you the same thing. I encourage you with all of my heart to read it and ask god if it is true. You will be the happiest that you have ever been, with a stronger faith in Christ and a greater understanding of all things.
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Summary: Not Factual, But Interesting Book
Review: I hate to break people's feelings, but this Book of Mormon isn't divinely inspired. There have been books written after the official canonical Bible (now called King James Bible) that are divinely inspired, like the Qur'an, the Raatib by Muhammad Ahmad Al Mahdi, the Holy Tablets by Malachi York, just to name a few. Joseph Fielding Smith(1805-1844) is quoted as saying "the teachers of religion...understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible". This would explain the reason why he wrote the Book of Mormon, he was tired of traditional Christianity. Note also he was a mason. He became a mason in 1842 borrowing masonic rituals for mormon ceremonies eliminating what he regarded as curruption of the original Hebrew forms. If the Mormon Bible is supposedly an ancient tablet, how are these quotes in the Mormon Bible that are verbatim from the quotes in the King James version of the Bible? Note also that if you look up the name Mormon itself, you will find that it means "A Ghoul, Bugbear, Sceptre, Hobgoblin, A Gargoyle, A Spirit, Spook, Ogre". Overall, the Book of Mormon is fascinating to read, except if you're a Black person, because on p.61, 21-25 & p. 201 verse 6-9:"And the skin of the Lamanites were dark according to the mark which was set upon their fathers which was a curse upon them because of their transgressions and their rebellion against their brethren."
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Summary: I Believe In Jesus Christ
Review: My favorite part of the Book of Mormon is found in 3rd Nephi. 3rd Nephi begins by telling of the sign in the America's of the Savior's birth. In chapter 8 of 3rd Nephi we can learn of the signs of the Savior's crucifixion. Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of the whole earth - the signs of his birth and death were recognized the world over by those who believed in him - just like today the signs of his second coming are recognized by believers the world over. But my favorite part begins in chapter 11. The resurrected Jesus Christ appears to the inhabitants of the ancient Americas. These people had just suffered major destruction. Their cities had been destroyed. Their homes and belongings were destroyed. Many of them had lost friends and loved ones. They were tired and dirty and hungry. And they saw Jesus Christ - in the flesh. He invited them to come unto him ... to feel the prints of the nails in his hands. He taught them his gospel and prayed unto the Father on their behalf. He invited them to bring their sick and injured unto him. He layed his hands on their bodies one by one and he healed them. He invited them to bring their little children unto him. He blessed their little ones and angels descended from Heaven and ministered unto them. He ministered unto these people in much the same way as he had ministered in the New Testament. One by One. Individually and Personally. This is the way He wants to minister unto each of us today. He wants us to have a personal relationship with him. From the Holy Scriptures he beckons us "Come unto Me". Jesus Christ is the answer to all of our problems and struggles in this life. He doesn't take all of our problems and struggles away - he helps us bear them with a glad heart, a joyful countenance, and a quiet peace that cannot be found anywhere else. Jesus Christ is the real thing - the everlasting. I am writing this review on Christmas Eve 2000. I love the Christmas Spirit - The spirit of giving, the spirit of sharing, the sprit of peace, joy,and love - The Spirit of Christ. May we all have this Spirit in our own individual, personal hearts and in our families, communities and in our world is my prayer always. In the name of Jesus Christ. If you share these same desires I invite you with all my heart to read The Book of Mormon, and The King James version of the Holy Bible. Learn of the prophesies, the teachings, and the life of Jesus Christ. Come unto Him and recieve Him into your heart - pray unto the Father in his name - express your gratitude for his blessings and ask his blessing on your life and your family. There was no room for him in the inn - Let's make room for him in our hearts.
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Summary: It's True!
Review: Reading through all the reviews of the Book of Mormon I feel that anyone who has not read it should to get their own ideas on if this is Book is True. It may change your life. I do believe this book was a true account of the people on the American Continent and their dealings with each other and God. We can all learn a great deal from this book.
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Summary: A Spiratual Experience
Review: This book is the best book of all time .I don't normally do reviews but when i found out the Book of Mormon only got 3 stars I HAD to. If you read it w/ an open mind you'll know that it's true. Just pray about it and the holy spirit will bring you to TEARS its so true. Don't just take my word for it. But if you read it w/ criticism you will be missing out on the beautifull message , the inspiration, the testamony it gives.I'm only 13 but I truely believe in this gospel. And if you want hard evidence w/ out praying-how about the fact that even after they were no longer members of the Mormon church, the 11 witnesses never ever denied that they saw the plates.One of the church's main focuses is family and I was adopted when I read this book i realised so much about togethrness -no matter what the blood type is- is important. it did wonders for me. Read the book . you'll thank this review oneday.
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Summary: Interesting book but not without controversy
Review: The LDS church is a fascinating religion with an interesting history. I think the members of the religion are generally good people with good intentions. However, because the Mormons are so invested in their religion, they will only present their religion in the best possible light and avoid controversial issues-- which are many. If you are looking into the religion, be sure to investigate all facets of their beliefs including their views on race and plural marriage before deciding. I think it's only fair that someone be informed of the whole religion and it's history, and not avoiding beliefs that may turn someone off of the church. Some interesting passages in the Book of Mormon include: 2 Nephi 5: 21. 3 Nephi 2: 15
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Summary: . . . but is it great literature?
Review: Since it was first published in 1830, the Book of Mormon has consistently been the center of controversy. The book makes two extraordinary claims: first, that it is an authentic ancient text that was recovered and translated in the early 1800s by Joseph Smith; and second, that both the writing of the original text and its translation by Smith into English were directly inspired by the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible. Thus the Book of Mormon claims to be both a reliable historical record of ancient American civilizations and a supplement to the Bible--a truly new testament for the modern era. Consequently, most criticism of the Book of Mormon has focused on these two interconnected claims. Is this book an authentic divine revelation? True believers have, over the last 170 years, united themselves to the Latter-day Saint religious movement. Disbelievers have condemned the book as either an audacious fraud or a demonic deception. The invective over the book has often grown quite personal, particularly between the main body of Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) and evangelical Protestants who view Mormonism as a heretical "cult." In all the fuss and furor over the Book of Mormon, however, few people seem to take a truly honest view of it as literature. Whether one views it as a divine revelation written by ancient prophets or as a work of fiction by a 19th century American, I think that all can agree that the Book of Mormon is a work of literature which bears the marks of purposeful construction on the part of any human who had a hand in its creation. Even the belief that the author (or authors) was a prophet does not erase the possibility of human creative agency. After all, a divine being may inspire an author, but that inspiration must be channeled through that author's abilities as a textual craftsperson. And so the question thus arises: Apart from the Book of Mormon's value as a spiritual guide (or, if you prefer, danger as a spiritual counterfeit), is it a great work of literature? And where does it fit in the vast library of human literature? Personally, I think it's a pretty good yarn with some fascinating touches in the areas of form and style. And with regard to its place in world literature, I place it among the great body of works which consciously respond to, rewrite, or affirm the Judeo-Christian Bible: the Qur'an, John Milton's "Paradise Lost," many of the poems of William Blake, other "American Bibles" like Mary Baker Eddy's "Science and Health," novels like Zora Neale Hurston's "Moses, Man of the Mountain," biblically-inspired horror films like "The Omen," and many other texts. As I said, I found the Book of Mormon to be quite compelling as a story. It is truly a narrative with an epic vision: it tells the story of two great migrations from the Old World to the Americas, and of the great civilizations that rose and fell from the seeds thus planted. The overall narrative spans many centuries of war, political intrigue, and cultural clashes. It is a vast tapestry whose scope calls to mind the "Star Wars" saga or similar multigenerational science fiction epics. Within this greater narrative are embedded many gems of localized storytelling and poetic imagery. Check out, for example, Lehi's vision of the tree of life (1 Nephi 8), the parable of the seed (Alma 32), or the story of the Jaredite ocean voyage (Ether 6). That last story contains a marvelous description of ancient submarine-like vessels being lit by a strange phosphorescent element. The construction of the Book of Mormon should excite literary scholars interested in theories about narrative. The text has multiple narrators, some of whom comment on the other narrators. Furthermore, the book's progression moves back and forth chronologically (yet another similarity to some of my favorite science fiction sagas). Of course, the Book of Mormon has its drawbacks. While the overwhelming focus on the person of Jesus Christ makes the book priceless to the Mormon faithful, this element presents a stumbling block to the faithful of other "Abrahamic" religions which clash with Mormonism. And secular readers will probably find the book's Christocentricity tiresome and preachy. The book's relative lack of strong female characters has been a point of criticism. Some of the book's racial and ethnic themes (see, for example, 2 Nephi 5) are disturbing. And many will find some of the narrative voices' direct addresses to the reader to sound like spiritual blackmail of the "believe me or you'll be sorry" variety. Moreover, this edition of the Book of Mormon is explicitly geared towards the faithful of the Utah-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (and potential converts). It is thus not really an appropriate edition of the Book of Mormon for a pluralistic context (such as a literature course in a public university). These concerns aside, I believe the Book of Mormon to be an important and fascinating work of American literature--a true hidden classic. I found it interesting that one of the great American plays of the 1990s, Tony Kushner's two-part epic "Angels in America," draws deeply from the Book of Mormon with regard to the play's themes, plot, and characters. If an artist of Kushner's stature can give the Book of Mormon such serious consideration, perhaps it is time for the Book of Mormon to enjoy a wider audience that can finally appreciate and discuss the text as a work of literature, and not merely as a lightning rod for sectarian controversy.
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Summary: best book on earth
Review: How does one write a review on the most perfect book on earth? Although Joseph Smith is the man who was in charge of the publication of this book, he never claimed to have produced it by his own hand. This book has two major purposes: 1-to proclaim that Jesus is the Christ the literal Son of God and 2- to teach the covenant of Abraham to the children of Israel in the latter days and therefore play a very key role in the gathering of Israel as prophicied by Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and others. As for myself, I know this is a book of Holy Scripture. I know it is true and I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. This is the best book I have ever read. I have read it many times and examined it in great detail from a historical perspective. I have also examined it from an Hebraic perspective. I have found amazing things and will continue to read this wonderful book and hope to understand it more fully until that perfect day when I am brought to judgement for my testimony of this Holy Writ.
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Summary: Why Mormons continue to believe in this book . . .
Review: I am formerly a member of the LDS church, served an LDS mission, served in many leadership positions, and was devout member. I have since had my name removed from the Church membership. The book of Mormon is the foundation of what differentiates Mormons from other Christian denominations. The book claims to be a translation from gold plates of a record about an ancient civilization that was visited by Jesus Christ. In reality, the book and the story of how it came to be are obviously fabrications by Joseph Smith. Reasons the book has lasted this long without being debunked include the church's revision of it's own history, the cult-like mentality of Mormon culture, and that Mormons are taught to censor themselves and avoid "anti-Mormon" literature that would reveal uncomplimentary facts surrounding the history of the Book of Mormon, the church, and it's founder, Joseph Smith. Mormons will ask you to ignore that facts and "look into your heart" to see determine if the book is true. This is because Mormonism, like many cults, teaches it's members that one can determine if something is a historical fact by referring to one's feelings about it. This technique, which is commonly used by cults leaders and sales people alike, is referred to as the "Book of Mormon Promise." The book of Mormon, curiously written in a style similar to "King James English," recycles many scriptures from the Bible, uses the phraseology "And it came to pass" about a thousand times, and overall is very boring. In addition, you will find very little about what Mormon's believe in the book of Mormon. Rather, most of the beliefs Mormons embrace come from the Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and cultural tradition.
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