Book of Mormon Bibliography
Alphabetical by Title

Four-part series concerning Peruvian antiquity and its parallels with the Book of Mormon. Machu Picchu in Peru was a cultivated, highly civilized area in Peru two thousand years ago. The Incan civilization that developed there was built by “white, auburn haired, bearded men” and tradition speaks of four brothers who correspond in many ways to the Book of Mormon brothers Laman, Lemuel, Nephi and Sam. Historical, traditional, and archaeological parallels resemble the Book of Mormon. These ancient people were acquainted with the Christianity.

Gives references for several “choice passages” in the Book of Mormon, which include sermons, father-to-son talks, letters, missionary experiences, and visits of Jesus Christ. Accompanying chart details compilation of records that made up the plates given to Joseph Smith.

A Book of Mormon left in the author’s mailbox lay unread for several years. Prayer seemed to be the way to find the truthfulness of the book and dispel fearful and doubtful feelings. Assurance and conversion followed a simple prayer.

Finding vast numbers of remains of both cultural and skeletal materials at archaeological sites is the main challenge to Book of Mormon archaeology. Further, these materials must match with Book of Mormon accounts in dating period, geographical area, and description. Excavations in Mexico and Central America have been made since 1830 that actually date according to the Book of Mormon period.

A condensed version of Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?

It is my contention that a responsible and usable approach to interpreting and understanding the Book of Mormon requires that the reader be brought into a historical conversation with the early nineteenth century, a larger hermeneutical conversation with the text itself, and an interpretive strategy that may enable a more-adequate understanding of a reading of the Book of Mormon, which would include the perceived aims and purposes of Joseph Smith Jr. himself. Such an approach is necessary if one is to adequately understand the word and witness of the Book of Mormon in the twenty-first century. [From the article]

An illustrated history of Joseph Smith for young readers. Presents a narrative of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon from the irst visits of Moroni to the testimonies of the witnesses. This work is reviewed in B.191.

Discusses the creation of a high quality Book of Mormon film.

Old theories die hard in academia, at least when they are entrenched and have been defended intellectually with fervor. Only with overwhelming evidence to the contrary does the institutional status quo crumble and make way for new theories to find legitimacy within the academic mainstream. Illustrative of this struggle for acceptance in the academy has been the contest between the establishment position that ancient American civilization evolved in complete independence from the Old World and the “cultural diffusion hypothesis.” The latter proposes that American societies did not arise and develop in total isolation but were stimulated by connections from the Old World.

“In recent decades, Mormon scholars have narrowed down the search for the land of promise. Some of the most popular hypotheses propose that Book of Mormon events occurred in MesoAmerica. Internal evidence in the Book of Mormon, based mostly upon times required to travel from site to site, clearly supports the concept of a restricted area… possibly a few hundred miles in length and less than that in width. In recent years, a significant amount of ’digging around’ has accordingly been undertaken by well qualified experts in archaeology and anthropology. Clearly a driving force in the efforts has been the desire to prove that the Book of Mormon is a genuine scripture and that Joseph Smith was an authentic Prophet of God… My hope is that, as an uninvited intruder in a sacred domain, I will be permitted to present the Malay Hypothesis as a tentative guess… The presentation is divided into sections. In each section an attempt is made to show how well the accounts in the Book of Mormon and the archaeological evidence ’fit’ the Old World Hypothesis [and more specifically, the Malay Hypothesis]. Each section is reasonably independent of other sections; accordingly, there is some repetition. Comparisons are made, where appropriate, to traditional New World Hypotheses [and, more specifically, the currently popular MesoAmerican Hypotheses].” [Author’s introduction]

Prompted by inconsistencies in the placement of Book of Mormon events in the Americas, the author proposes the Malay Peninsula as an alternative location. While not claiming to definitively prove the location, the author gives cultural, geographic, and agricultural evidence that supports the Malay theory.

“Men are that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 11:25-27). The resurrected man can die no more, his spirit and body will never be divided again, and thus will progress through the eternities if he wills it so (Alma 11:45).

Joy comes from experiencing and knowing opposites, and then choosing the better part (2 Nephi 2:25).

The doctrine of free agency is strongly set forth (2 Nephi 2:26-27; Alma 29:4).

First, I want to deal with the figure of the Son of Man in ancient literature, reviewing along the way what current biblical scholarship says about this personality, especially since he is mentioned prominently in nonscriptural sources. Second, I intend to treat the question of the anthropomorphic view of God in scripture, specifically in the Old Testament. Third, I wish to touch on the issue of the nature of the titles used for deity throughout scripture, for we all have the impression that a great many are applied to God, especially within the pages of the Old Testament. Fourth and last, I want to single out the parallels in ancient Christian and Jewish literature to the remarkable, almost singular theological position to which we Latter-day Saints are committed when we call deity a Man, whether Man of Holiness, Man of Counsel (Moses 7:35), or some similar title.

Briefly discusses some of the characteristics of Jacob, son of Lehi. Jacob is portrayed as a man to whom others look for an example of spiritual living.

This article describes how the voyage of Christopher Columbus was foreseen by the Book of Mormon prophets. The spirit of the Lord “wrought upon the man.” Columbus wrote to King Ferdinand of his desire to spread the word of God as foretold by the prophet Isaiah in chapters 24 and 64. His journal excerpts show his loyalty to God and his own knowledge of his divine appointment. He recorded that an angel appeared to him and gave him keys to “bind the oceans” and to link the continents.

In this work the Book of Mormon is seen in a new perspective; we see it in a world setting, not in a mere local one. It takes its place naturally alongside the Bible and other great works of antiquity and becomes one of them.
A discussion of Lehi’s avoidance with contact of other humans and suggests that, from what we know today, this is consistent with the behavior of modern Arabs and with known conditions in the desert in Lehi’s day.

In this work the Book of Mormon is seen in a new perspective; we see it in a world setting, not in a mere local one. It takes its place naturally alongside the Bible and other great works of antiquity and becomes one of them.
Discusses Nephi’s description of his father’s eight years of wandering in the desert versus what we know of the desert today and suggests that this gives us an all but foolproof test for the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.

This article is about Edward King or Viscount Kingsborough, author of a nine-volume work The Antiquities of Mexico, believed that the Ancient Americans were members of the house of Israel and at some time in their history they had been visited by Jesus Christ.

This article quotes Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and other contemporary accounts to show how and where Joseph obtained the plates. It also quotes Emma Smith and the Three Witnesses to explain that the Book of Mormon was translated with divine aid and with the use of the Urim and Thummim.

Deals with external evidences of the Book of Mormon: testimonies of the witnesses, American Indian traditions, and Mesoamerican ruins.

Prophecies in the Old and New Testaments and Book of Mormon tell of the apostasy. The dispensation of the fullness of times was established through the work of Joseph Smith and the revelation of the Nephite records.

Teaches the importance of the Book of Mormon as a witness for God and the Bible. Explores the Bible in the nineteenth century, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the contents of the book, and how it supports the Bible.

Deals with external and internal evidences of the Book of Mormon.

The author asserts the gold plates of the Book of Mormon never existed because gold was not used in America until the eleventh century. The Indians are of mongoloid origin and not Hebrew. Joseph Smith plagiarized the Bible, Book of Mormon witnesses did not really see the plates, and there is no archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon.

Among the biographical sketches of ancient prophets are Nephi and Moriancumer, the brother of Jared.

Biographical sketches of ancient prophets, a continuation of the 1903-1904 manual (see above). Includes King Benjamin, Abinadi, Alma the Younger, Ammon, Mormon, and Moroni.

Solomon Spaulding was born at Ashford, Connecticut, on 21 February 1761. He served in the Revolutionary War, graduated from Dartmouth College, preached as an ordained evangelist, and was involved in several unsuccessful business ventures. He died at age fifty-five in October 1816 in Amity, Pennsylvania, nearly fourteen years before the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830. In about 1812, while living in New Salem (now Conneaut), Ohio, Spaulding wrote a fictional historical romance that he introduced as a translation from Latin of a portion of twenty-eight rolls of parchment he had found in a small cave near the remains of an ancient fort on the west bank of the Conneaut River. His novel has become known as “Manuscript Story” or “Manuscript Found.” It tells of a group of Romans in the days of Constantine (Roman emperor, A.D. 306–37) whose ship, blown off course by a fierce storm, carried them across the Atlantic Ocean to what is now the northeastern United States. The story contains an account of the history, wars, and religion of several groups of natives discovered by the Romans.

Introduces Spaulding’s Manuscript Found and reprints the first few pages of the manuscript for the purpose of showing RLDS readers that the manuscript bears no resemblance to the Book of Mormon.

Reprint of a letter from the Toledo Weekly Blade accusing ‘Mormons’ of printing Spaulding’s Manuscript Found for the purpose of refuting the argument that the Book of Mormon is based on that manuscript.

This three-part essay describes in detail the experience of the author in obtaining Solomon Spaulding’s manuscript, purported to be similar to the Book of Mormon, while in Honolulu. The third part disproves the testimonies of the witnesses included in part II.

This was the first-ever facsimile edition of Manuscript Found, which preserves the original unedited words, spelling, and punctuation of Spaulding’s handwritten text published. While Manuscript Found will undoubtedly never become a literary classic, modern readers will enjoy the charm, spontaneity, and subtle humor of its author. Spaulding’s novel provides an engaging view into one man’s fanciful reconstruction of Native American life. But it will not take long for readers to see that it bears no resemblance to the Book of Mormon. Nevertheless, this unique edition will be a useful reference for students of Latter-day Saint history and nineteenth-century American culture. ISBN 9781570082979

A fictional novel claimed by many to have been the basis used by Joseph Smith to create the Book of Mormon. It is a story of a group of Romans driven to the Americas by a tremendous storm in the third century a.d. The manuscript contains descriptions of the “natives” and the castaways’ dealings with them.

Explains the manner in which the Spaulding Manuscript was preserved and placed in the possession of the RLDS church. Includes letters from James H. Fairchild stating that the Spaulding theory for the Book of Mormon need be relinquished and from L. L. Rice explaining how he had obtained the manuscript. Includes a reprint of the manuscript.

This three-part essay describes in detail the experience of the author in obtaining Solomon Spaulding’s manuscript, purported to be similar to the Book of Mormon, while in Honolulu. The first part deals with the origin of and initial reactions to the Spaulding Manuscript and its relationship to the Book of Mormon.

This three-part essay describes in detail the experience of the author in obtaining Solomon Spaulding’s manuscript, purported to be similar to the Book of Mormon, while in Honolulu. The second part refutes the idea that the Book of Mormon is based on or similar to the Spaulding Manuscript and contains a number of interviews with the involved parties.

A fictional account of a Roman citizen who made his way to the American continent and there set up a colony among the natives. Includes an introductory letter by L. L. Rice, who found the manuscript, in which he concludes that this story was not the basis for the Book of Mormon.

An RLDS publication, containing primary documents relative to the Spaulding manuscript, including letters from L. L. Rice and a lecture by James H. Fairchild of Oberlin College. Concludes that it is unlikely that Spaulding had anything to do with the Book of Mormon.

A theory proposed by E. D. Howe (Mormonism Unveiled) purports that Sidney Rigdon stole Spaulding’s manuscript and rewrote it for Joseph Smith to publish. It was research into the history of the manuscript that led to the conclusion that the Book of Mormon and Spaulding manuscript are not related. An excerpt from the manuscript is reprinted and Spaulding’s religious beliefs are explored. Rigdon’s denial is included.

This is a reprint from Western Reserve Historical Society 3:185-200, and is also found in Tract #77, March 23, 1886, RLDS Church. The author concludes that Spaulding’s Manuscript Lost and the Book of Mormon are not related, contrary to the theory suggested by Howe’s Mormonism Unvailed. An excerpt from Manuscript Lost is reprinted as well as Spaulding’s feelings about the Christian religion and the Bible. Rigdon’s denial that he wrote the book is included.

Details of the history of Book of Mormon manuscripts and RLDS editions are summarized in a chart. Concludes with the suggestion that a corrected text is needed.

The Book of Mormon foretells the rise of the United States of America and its divinely inspired constitution. In order for Latter-day Saints to exercise their freedom of religion the God-inspired government must be maintained. The Book of Mormon provides the pattern for maintaining the constitution and the freedom of governing oneself.

No abstract available.

Due to the preaching of the sons of Mosiah, many Lamanites converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and became righteous.

Review of Dennis Largey, Andrew Hedges, John Hilton III, and Kerry Hull, eds. The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, in cooperation with Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, 2015, pp 308.
Abstract: At the end of October each year, speakers from the Church Educational System, as well as other gospel scholars, gather at Brigham Young University to make presentations at the Sidney B. Sperry Symposium. The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon: A Marvelous Work and a Wonder is a compilation of the addresses given at the forty-fourth symposium, in 2015. This volume does not so much delve into the doctrine of the Book of Mormon as it studies the history behind its coming into the world. Just as the doctrine itself is inspirational, the story behind the coming forth of the Book of Mormon serves as an inspiration and a testament to its truthfulness.

The M?ori people read and understood the Book of Mormon from their own cultural perspective. Rather than examining particular verses for doctrinal content, the M?ori viewed the Book of Mormon as a moral story of a people with failings and strengths. They likened the stories to themselves, feeling they lacked the spiritual strength to stay on a righteous path for long. They saw a tragic story of families in conflict and subtribes and tribes quarreling with each other and bent on revenge for personal insults and factional quarrels. The kinship ties seemed particularly relevant to them. The Book of Mormon can be read in multiple ways and will be interpreted according to the cultural background of those reading it.

In this article John-Charles Duffy provides an extensive overview of the place of the Book of Mormon among Church members, scholars, and those inside the Church and out of it over the 19th and 20th centuries. Includes the brief article “Did B. H. Roberts Lose Faith in Book of Mormon Historicity?”

Mapping Mormonism brings together contributions from sixty experts in the fields of geography, history, Mormon history, and economics to produce the most monumental work of its kind. More than an atlas, this book also includes hundreds of timelines and charts, along with carefully researched descriptions, that track the Mormon movement from its humble beginnings to its worldwide expansion. A work of this magnitude rarely comes along. Mapping Mormonism’s first edition proved to be a landmark reference work in Mormon studies; now it is further improved and updated with the latest information in this second edition. This work covers the early Restoration, the settlement of the West, and the expanding Church, giving particular emphasis to recent developments in the modern Church throughout all regions of the world. Of all the books on Church history, Mapping Mormonism may be the single most effective work to date at giving an expansive vision of the rise of the LDS Church⿿a vision as vibrant as those who have led the way in building Zion. In 2012, Mapping Mormonism won the Mormon History Association Best Book Award and the Cartography and Geographic Information Society Best Atlas Award.

Contains synopses of each chapter in the Book of Mormon, 32 hypothetical maps to illustrate where events took place, and listings of geographical references. This work is reviewed in S.514.

Review of Sweet is the Word: Reflections on the Book of Mormon? Its Narrative, Teachings, and People (1996), by Marilyn Arnold

Review of “A Rhetorical Approach to the Book of Mormon: Rediscovering Nephite Sacramental Language” (1993), by Mark D. Thomas.

The small detail of the “chief market” mentioned in the story of Nephi’s prayer on his tower (Helaman 7:10) corresponds well to what is known of marketplaces in ancient Mesoamerica.

A tract attempting to prove the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon through a discussion of the marred servant (Isaiah 52:13-15).

If two people love the Lord more than their own lives and then love each other more than their own lives, working together in total harmony with the gospel program as their basic structure they are sure to have this great happiness.

This article consists of a careful study of the religious beliefs and practices of the Quiché Maya, indicating that their roots may be found in the Book of Mormon narrative. The author discusses marriage customs of the Quiché Maya.

A careful study of the religious beliefs and practices of the Quiché Maya indicate that their roots may be found in the Book of Mormon narrative. Discusses marriage customs of the Quiché Maya.

A biography that relates the story of Martin Harris’s loss of the 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon and his experience of seeing the gold plates and signing the testimony of the Three Witnesses. Includes a letter by Martin Harris wherein he states that he never denied the truth of the Book of Mormon.

This article is a presentation of two recorded testimonies of Martin Harris concerning his vision as one of the Three Witnesses.

A biographical treatise of Martin Harris that includes a discussion of his willingness to sacrifice much of his own property and personal life, in spite of his own doubts and apprehensions, to assist with the publication of the Book of Mormon.

The character of Martin Harris, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, is examined. The author examines accounts of the associates of Martin Harris in the three decades he lived in Palmyra, New York.

Martin Harris: Uncompromising Witness of the Book of Mormon reveals the compelling story of a man who had seen angels and knew Joseph Smith was a prophet but who nevertheless struggled to keep his faith in the prophetic calling of Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His is a story of fascination with worldly honors, flirtations with apostasy, and pride that nearly cost him the joy of his later years in the West. It is the biography of a witness who clung tenaciously to his testimony of the Book of Mormon. Well-known historians Susan Black and Larry Porter have written a landmark biography of Martin Harris, one of the most important figures in early Church history. Joseph Smith relied on his generosity and goodwill to publish the Book of Mormon, of which he was one of the Three Witnesses. But Latter-day Saints in the twenty-first century know relatively little about him, especially the decades he spent away from the Restoration—until now. This biography deserves a place on the bookshelves of historians and other interested Church members. Strongly recommend. Reid L. Neilson Assistant Church Historian and Recorder The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints This deeply researched book examines the life of one of Joseph Smith’s closest associates in the Church’s early years. It tells us more about signifi­cant episodes, such as the printing of the Book of Mormon, than anyone has ever known. Most important, it helps us reassess the character of Martin Harris, a key contributor to the Restoration. Harris emerges as a man of substance and judgment, a fitting witness to the angel and the plates. The book explains how he fell away and then returned but at no time backed away from his testimony. Richard Lyman Bushman Author, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling As one of the earliest believers in Joseph Smith’s spiritual claims, Martin Harris figured prominently in the early events of the Restoration. He observed firsthand many of the sacred scenes associated with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, assisted in its translation, was one of the book’s Three Witnesses, financed its publication, and was one of the first converts baptized into the Church of Christ. Authors Susan Easton Black and Larry C. Porter have produced an insightful, informative, well-­documented biography of Martin Harris’s lifelong religious sojourn—a life characterized by integrity, faith, and generosity, but most of all, testimony. This is solid, down-to-earth biographical history at its best. Alexander L. Baugh Professor, Church History and Doctrine, BYU

Relates Harris’s connection with the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and his unfaltering testimony regarding seeing the gold plates and the angel.

A biographical treatise on the life of Martin Harris that discusses his personal involvement in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

Recounts the circumstances leading to Martin Harris’s willingness to finance the publication of the Book of Mormon.

For children, the courageous story of Abinadi as he bears witness before King Noah (Mosiah 11-17).

“What bravery! They died with their boots on!” remarked one of the Zapatista executioners about the surreal way local Church leaders Rafael Monroy and Vicente Morales had stood to receive the fusillade of bullets that pierced their bodies. The terror of facing an execution squad notwithstanding, no cowering, begging, or hysterics marred their calm and stalwart resolution to not renounce their faith. The Zapatista commander had given them that option. The men responded by reaffirming their religious convictions, emphasizing that the only arms they possessed were not the concealed military weapons they were accused of hiding but rather their sacred texts—the Bible and the Book of Mormon. The book first examines the founding of the LDS Church in the village of San Marcos in Hidalgo, Mexico, amid the trials of the Mexican Revolution of 1910–17 and the martyrdom of two members. The second part explores the trials of developing and organizing the faith in the state of Hidalgo up through the 1950s. This book is a riveting story of Mexican members and their country’s society, economy, and polity. ISBN 978-1-9443-9432-5

A radio address delivered Sunday, December 1, 1945, over KSL. Explains how Joseph Smith received the plates from the angel, translated them and published them. Determines that the Three Witnesses were privileged to view the plates.

The promises and prophecies of the Book of Mormon made to the descendants of the ancient American inhabitants are being fulfilled. The descendants have accepted and rejoiced in the Book of Mormon, as was foretold in the book. The gathering of Israel is based upon faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.

This article describes the importance of the Book of Mormon in the Restoration, missionary work, and daily life. The author gives his witness to the truthfulness and validity of the book.

This article states that faithful men and women all over the world bear witness of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. The message can be spread throughout the world through Church members. Two stories, one of a Methodist minister and another of a young Baptist, reveal the value of this concept

Williams discusses Book of Mormon historiography and the “Galileo Event” which occurred when traditional historical and cultural views were questioned by scientific evidence. Specifically, Williams discusses the Lamanite identity and its resulting special status claimed by Latin American converts. He discusses the parallelomania in Book of Mormon scholarship and its consequences, concluding that Book of Mormon historicity is currently facing a redefinition wherein its traditional views are becoming less authoritative.

Isaiah 29 prophesies future events concerning the Book of Mormon. The history of the Church proves that the Mormon church is a marvelous work and a wonder. Most of the persecution against the Church stems from the Book of Mormon.

A series of radio addresses on the Book of Mormon discussing metal plates, the Spaulding manuscript, Hebrew traits and Bible quotations within it, the antiquity of the book, its current relevance, the Book of Mormon as a witness of the Bible, and the witnesses.

The Book of Mormon fulfills prophecies of Isaiah. The phrase “marvelous work and a wonder” (used by both Isaiah and Nephi) has a three-fold meaning: the true gospel of Jesus Christ would be restored, the covenants the Lord made with the children of Israel would be fulfilled, and the records of the ancient American people would be given to all of the world.

This article states that the Book of Mormon fulfills prophecies of Isaiah. The phrase “marvelous work and a wonder” (used by both Isaiah and Nephi) has a three-fold meaning: the true gospel of Jesus Christ would be restored, the covenants the Lord made with the children of Israel would be fulfilled, and the records of the ancient American people would be given to all of the world.

Address delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Uyah at the first session of General Conference, October 3, 1924.

Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, June 16, 1878. Reported By: Geo. F. Gibbs.

As part of the ongoing Museum of Art lecture series on the life of Christ, S. Kent Brown, director of FARMS, addressed the topic “The Birth of the Savior” on January 17. Drawing from Luke 1 and 2 and studies on life among ancient Jews, he focused on Mary and Elisabeth, whose lives are only faintly sketched in the scriptures.

A historical treatment of Mormonism and its possible connection with Free-masonry. The author suggests that the Book of Mormon’s Gadiaton Robbers reflect nineteenth century influences of anti-Masonic hysteria in New York during the late 1820s.

An historical treatment of the possible effects of Freemasonry on Mormonism. The writer recounts the anti-Masonic hysteria during the late 1820’s following the death of William Morgan. He notes that since many people of the time referred to Freemasonry as a “combination” or “secret society,” the Book of Mormon’s Gadianton Robbers may reflect environmental influence.

Documents the history of archaeological work at El Mirador in Guatemala and suggests that this was a city abandoned by the Nephites about A.D. 300 (concurrent with the archaeological record).

A polemical attack on Mormon scriptures, including the Book of Mormon. There is no archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon. Various anachronisms found in the Book of Mormon, such as the use of steel and Nephi’s temple in America, are discussed.

In 1899 a skeleton of a mastodon was found in North America and scientists believe that these ancient relatives of the elephant co-existed with men.

2 Nephi 2:11-14 presents a brilliant philosophical discussion on the idea that there must be opposition in all things. The very existence of humanity depends upon these opposites.

Contains many of the important works of Orson Pratt. Subjects include elephants of the Jaredite nation, darkness upon the American continent following the crucifixion, the Hill Cumorah, the Book of Mormon is consistent with the Bible, the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and the Jaredite origins and records.

Chiasmus is a style of writing known in antiquity and mused by many ancient and some modern writers. It consists of arranging a series of words or ideas in one order, and then repeating it in reverse order. In the hands of a skillful writer, this literary form can serve several purposes. The repeating of key words in the two halves underlines the importance of the concepts they present. Furthermore, the main idea of the passage is placed at the turning point where the second half begins, which emphasizes it. The repeating form also enhances clarity and speeds memorizing. Readers (or listeners) gain a pleasing sense of completeness as the passage returns at the end to the idea that began it. Identifying the presence of chiasmus in a composition can reveal many complex and subtle features of the text.

Contains a poetic account of “the people and events depicted . . . by the Book of Mormon”

Omer, a descendant of Jared, departed the Jaredite lands to a place by the seashore. His community’s domesticated animals consisted of elephants and other unidentified animals that had perished by the time the Nephites arrived. Pratt muses about the disappearance of these animals and the remnants of curious animals found in New York.

The past year intensified the study of the Prophet’s early life because of the release of two “treasure letters” seeming to illuminate the pre-Book of Mormon period. The questionable letter of Joseph Smith to Josiah Stowell in 1825 has a “clever spirit” guarding a treasure hoard. The questionable 1830 letter from Martin Harris to William W. Phelps claims that Joseph spoke of a salamander and “old spirit” at the hill in 1827, though Joseph’s real experience could be obscured by such a singular secondhand report. Publicity on these documents has stimulated research and reevaluation, some of it asserting a lifelong interest of the Prophet in paranormal discovery of riches. This paper examines the basis of such claims after 1827 and finds them wanting. Editor’s Note: The online version of this article was revised after it became public knowledge that the 1830 Martin Harris letter referred to in the article was a Mark Hofmann forgery.

Named in honor of the late Latter-day Saint scholar Hugh W. Nibley, the Maxwell Institute’s Nibley Fellowship Program is intended to help foster the next generation of faithful scholars by providing financial aid to students enrolled in accredited doctoral programs in areas of study related to the work and mission of the institute, including study of the Bible, early Christianity, the Book of Mormon and other restoration scriptures, and Mormon studies.

The Maxwell Institute and the Harold B. Lee Library have announced that a new electronic database, “Book of Mormon Publications, 1829–1844,” will soon be available to researchers and others interested in Mormon history. “We are excited about this collection,” notes M. Gerald Bradford, executive director of the Maxwell Institute, “because it brings together for the first time everything published about the Book of Mormon during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Books, pamphlets, and articles from newspapers and periodicals are all included. This represents a major step forward for Mormon studies.”

Four scholars from the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship spoke at the FAIR conference held in Sandy, Utah, in August. FAIR, the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of Latter-day Saint doctrine, belief, and practice.

The temple of inscriptions at Palenque in Mexico has a glyph that “can be interpreted as meaning Hill Ramah or Hill Cumorah” Delong believes that Cerro Rabon is a prime candidate for the Hill Cumorah in Mesoamerica.

Christenson, in the annual FARMS lecture delivered on 27 February 1991, examined the Maya New Year’s harvest festival, perhaps the most important public festival of the year. The festival coincided with the main corn harvest in mid-November and served as the New Year’s Day of the solar calendar, when kingship was renewed. Christenson gave particular attention to the symbolic treatments of the evil god Mam; the ritual descent of the king, as representative of the god of life and resurrection, into the underworld; the king’s ritual conflict with and defeat of the lords of the underworld (and of death); and the king’s triumphant return or resurrection. The Maya used the image of the tree of life in connection with the atonement and resurrection.

People deciphering Book of Mormon geography have argued about whether the Nephite “north” is true north. This article reports hieroglyphs found in Rio Azul that were oriented correctly to the cardinal directions.

Examines research into Maya glyphs and states that this research has produced two finds important to Book of Mormon believers: the glyphs are partly phonetic, and the glyphs deal mainly with history. Based upon findings from glyphs, the author proposes Yaxchilan to be Zarahemla and Palenque to be Bountiful.

Finds parallels between Maya hieroglyphs and themes in the Book of Mormon to demonstrate the validity of Mesoamerica as the setting for Book of Mormon events.

Robinson wishes to tell “the tragic story of the Maya Lamanite who was forsaken by the Lord. It tells of his past, his present, his future, and [the Latter-day Saints’] obligation to this neglected branch of Lehi’s family. It is a true story gleaned from historical, archaeological, and sociological facts, and is woven in and around the Book of Mormon narrative” Includes two fold-out maps.

A series of brief comments in which the author presents archaeological findings, architectural notes, and myths and legends that deal indirectly with the Book of Mormon. Dibble discusses the wheel, ancient irrigation methods, metals, Mexican and Mayan codices, Quetzalcoatl, ancient buildings, and numerous other related items. The eleventh part covers the Mayan calendar.

Presents an extract from Science Supplement concerning discoveries of ancient Mayan cities, roads, temples and other ruins of interest to Latter-day Saints.

A polemical work against Mormonism. The author discusses numerous elements that he sees as anachronistic, including contradictions with the Bible, Christian teachings before Christ, and alleged plagiarisms from the New Testament.

The full text of a letter written by William E. McLellin dated August 14, 1880, to J. T. Cobb in which he reaffirms his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He denies that Sidney Rigdon helped to author the book as he had not known Joseph Smith until after publication of the Book of Mormon.

Moroni and the Title of Liberty feature a “step-by-step procedure on preparation for spiritual warfare through the upholding of Jesus Christ” These steps are: despise evil, humble ourselves, put on the armor of God, seek God’s instruction through prayer, work to save the nation, and look to the Lord.

The American Indians have lost more than buffalo and animals of the forest. Their greatest loss was in their knowledge of the Great Spirit. There is a sacred book of their history that will restore that knowledge—the Book of Mormon.

Suggests that the Book of Mormon was not named after a man, but after a place called Mormon where the Nephites once covenanted to observe the laws of God. This important place was very suitable as a name for a book of scripture.

Shows certain similarities between activities and language in the Book of Mormon and those found in religious revivals of the early nineteenth century. Includes some interesting comparisons, such as being saved from our sins, not in them.

This article quotes Joseph Smith’s statement that “Mormon” means “more good,” or, in other words, “better.” The first syllable is English, the second is Egyptian. The “good” in the name is related to the gospel as good news. Several native American languages have superlatives that translate “more good.”

Many Christians and their churches have seen the fall of Adam as a great mistake that ruined God’s plan and offended him. They have assumed that God was unhappy with humanity for what Adam did in Eden. This led to the idea that we must win back his love and favor. If we could not do that by our own actions, then it had to be by Christ’s suffering, as a kind of gift that would please God. But the scriptures are clear that God did not reject us; rather, mankind rejected him. We do not need to win back God’s love; he is always ready. Instead, we need to be reconciled to God.

Meekness is needed in order for us to be spiritually successful—whether in matters of the intellect, in the management of power, in the dissolution of personal pride, or in coping with the challenges and routine of life. With meekness, living in “thanksgiving daily” is actually possible even in life’s stern seasons.

Furthermore, whether you realize it or not, you are a generation drenched in destiny.

Examines the personalities of important persons in the scriptures, including characters of the Book of Mormon.

Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the Tabernacle, Ogden, Sunday Morning, May 18, 1873. Reported By: James Taylor.

Polemical work from a fundamentalist Protestant point of view. Contains a study guide to help Chilean Protestants learn how to “witness” to the Mormons. Includes photostat copy of the article “Book of Mormon Problems” written by the author and published by Saints Alive Journal.

A polemical work against Mormonism. Alleged problems and anachronisms in the Book of Mormon are discussed such as Shakespeare, pre-Columbian domesticated animals, textual changes, King James English, plagiarism, and the Spaulding theory.

Abstract: Zoram, the servant of Laban, is a character from the Book of Mormon who is only mentioned a few times and on whom little information is given. This article analyzes what information is given in the Book of Mormon and contextualizes its historical background, all coupled with the observations of Latter-day Saint Church leaders and scholars. Insight is provided concerning Zoram’s Hebraic descent in the tribe of Manasseh and his working duties under Laban’s command, along with how all this affected his role in assisting Lehi’s family. The meaning of his name in Hebrew and possible correlations to the meaning of his life’s events are explained. The oath between Nephi and Zoram is discussed, and the debate regarding whether Zoram was a slave or servant is addressed, to show that he was likely a free servant.

This second of two volumes of essays honoring Hugh Nibley includes scholarly papers based on what the authors have learned from Nibley. Nearly every major subject that Dr. Nibley has encompassed in his vast learning and scholarly production is represented here by at least one article. Topics include the sacrament covenant in Third Nephi, the Lamanite view of Book of Mormon history, external evidences of the Book of Mormon, proper names in the Book of Mormon, the brass plates version of Genesis, the composition of Lehi’s family, ancient burials of metal documents in stone boxes, repentance as rethinking, Mormon history’s encounter with secular modernity, and Judaism in the 20th century.
Discusses Alma’s use of the material about Melchizedek.

This article tells of the assignment, given to every Melchizedek Priesthood holder, to read the Book of Mormon during the year 1961.

This article is an historical account of the life, sacrifices, and accomplishments of Meliton Gonzalez Trejo, who, being guided by a dream, left his homeland Spain and moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he joined the LDS church. Trejo translated the Book of Mormon into Spanish.

A comparison of the character of Alma in Melville’s Mardi and the two Almas in the Book of Mormon.

President Benson lists six ways for members to increase their faith, one of which is to read and ponder the Book of Mormon. President Monson relates a story of a family that was converted by the Book of Mormon. Elder Dunn said that the spiritual side of man is built by reading the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. Elder Oswald showed a list of members who had committed to read the Book of Mormon.

In a talk to mission presidents, President Benson stresses that the Book of Mormon is the “great converter” Missionaries need to build their own faith and a way to do that is to read the Book of Mormon.

Church President Ezra Taft Benson challenges members to read the Book of Mormon and the members respond by reading the book.

A polemical article on Mormonism. Considering the Mormon movement to be a “fanatical delusion,” the author asserts that Joseph Smith used the Spaulding manuscript as the basis for the Book of Mormon narrative.

Observations from Jakeman’s students honor this LDS scholar, who could be called the father of Book of Mormon archaeology.

Speaks out on the relationships between “memory and mood, memory and testimony, memory and models, memory and thoughts, and memory and you.” Asay quotes many scriptures from the Book of Mormon to support his ideas, including Alma 36, Moroni 10, Alma 18, and Helaman 5.

Speaks out on the relationships between “memory and mood, memory and testimony, memory and models, memory and thoughts, and memory and you” Asay quotes many scriptures from the Book of Mormon to support his ideas, including Alma 36, Moroni 10, Alma 18, and Helaman 5.

Remember is one of the most frequently used verbs in the Book of Mormon. It is consistently used by its authors in a covenant context—establishing or renewing an eternal relationship with God, expressing and realizing the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and preserving the distinctive identity of a covenant people. The present study examines the complex and profound ways that the complementary concepts of memory, identity, and covenants express the meaning of the sacred Nephite history through the vocabulary and narrative structures of the text and postulates how and why the Nephites preserved this official record for posterity.

Evidence exists to prove that man and elephants coexisted in America during the premodern era.

This article discusses scientific justifications for the Word of Wisdom. It also includes a clipping from a newspaper that talks of the ancient ruins of Central America and the magnificence of the race that occupied these ruins. The author writes that such ruins are evidence that the peoples of the Book of Mormon did indeed exist.

Chapter 3 of this polemical work against Mormonism is devoted exclusively to the Book of Mormon. The author attempts to discredit Mormon interpretations of Bible prophecy that support the Book of Mormon. He discusses the Anthon episode, problems in the issue of translation, Bible plagiarism and anachronistic usage of biblical material such as the Sermon on the Mount, linguistic problems, the term Bible used 600 years before Christ, New Testament phraseology, Isaiah, lack of scientific evidence, and more. He concludes that the Book of Mormon is not a true history, but a fraud.

We have all felt the excitement that comes from seeing a great scholar at work, whether in the classroom or the archives. No less palpable is the thrill of a personal encounter with the past through direct contact with ancient texts or artifacts. Most of us can trace our fascination with the ancient world back to just such a personal encounter. One of our roles at the Maxwell Institute is to help inspire the next generation of young scholars. We do this by providing opportunities for BYU students to work directly with Institute scholars on new research, and thus to help them have their own encounters with the ancient world.

Understanding men and women’s inability to merit salvation through their own efforts can lead one to rely “alone upon the merits of Christ”. Nephi put it this way: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man”. Nephi had seen his weak and fallen condition and realized that without the strength of the Lord, he would not be able to overcome the world and his own personal struggles. When we see clearly that we are lost and that we need Him, we can be led to rely on His goodness and His grace in our lives. This reliance on the merits of Christ involves more than simply passive belief. It includes recognizing our fallen nature and finding access to grace through making and keeping sacred covenants.

Lessons for young people in Sunday School, based on Book of Mormon characters, events, and doctrine.

Givens first recounts the six visions that Nephi records in the Book of Mormon. He then suggests five themes from these visions: personal revelation, focus on Jesus Christ, wilderness and varieties of Zion, new configurations of scripture, and the centrality of family. Finally, he expands on each of these themes individually, explaining how they are illustrated throughout the Book of Mormon.

Through illustrated outlines, the article compares the major points of the Mesoamerican and Book of Mormon cultural histories. The evidence and correlations presented support the authenticity of Book of Mormon cultural history.

Discusses the development of the Mayan language based upon the research of Cambell and Kaufman and proposes that the Mayan language is descended from that of the Nephites. Briefly discusses the relationship of the Olmec-Jaredite languages.

There are eighteen different aspects of Yahweh or Jehovah that are duplicated by the Life and Rain gods, Itzamna-Chac of Mayan culture and Quetzalcoatl-Tloloc of Central Mexico. There are too many similarities for this to be an accident. There is much evidence to show that pagan practices developed among the Lamanites in a late period. Idolatrous gods were added that are identifiable with Near Eastern gods.

Ancient Mesoamericans used some systems of weights and measures; items in the market, though, were usually sold by volume. The Mesoamerican weights and measures may coincide with the weights and measures described in Alma 11 of the Book of Mormon, but more research is necessary in order to make conclusive claims.

The Book of Mormon first mentions a weapon called a cimeter during the time of Enos (some time between about 544 and 421 bc). Speaking of his people’s Lamanite enemies, Enos says, “their skill was in the bow, and in the cimeter, and the ax” (Enos 1:20). Later, in the first and second centuries bc, the weapon was part of the armory of both Nephites and Lamanites in addition to swords and other weapons (Mosiah 9:16; 10:8; Alma 2:12; 43:18, 20, 37; 60:2; Helaman 1:14).

Written for young people. Details the historical background of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, its translation, and then presents selected messages and characters from the Book of Mormon.

Report of a prophecy concerning the coming of Johnston’s army and of U.S. soldiers in Utah Territory, delivered by a messenger considered to be one of the Three Nephites.

Report of a prophecy concerning the coming of Johnston’s army and of U.S. soldiers in Utah Territory, delivered by a messenger considered to be one of the Three Nephites.

A seminary teacher’s manual designed for Indian students. Includes lesson outlines, lesson objectives, ideas for devotional materials, creative ways to present the lesson, and lesson preparation aids.

A pamphlet that discusses the testimony of the Book of Mormon witnesses and argues that the book carries its own evidence or authenticity.

A series of one-page pamphlets that presents Book of Mormon passages concerning such topics as: “Reality of God,” “Deity of Jesus,” “Salvation Through Christ,” “Agency of Man,” “Immortality of Man,” “Baptism,” “Miracles and the Gifts of the Spirit,” and the “Kingdom of God” Each pamphlet contains three or four passages of scripture from the Book of Mormon that exemplify the doctrine expressed in the title.

A manual for Seminary teachers who teach American Indians. Seventeen lessons cover a variety of topics including, transmission of the Book of Mormon, faith, courage, obedience, and the destiny of the Indian.

Mormons “reject anti- Semitism as an intrinsically distasteful ideology” This is based on the Mormon interpretation of Ezekiel 37:16-17, which explains that the Book of Mormon is the stick of Joseph and the Bible is the stick of Judah. The Book of Mormon teaches that the “New Jerusalem” will be established on the American continent by Israelites. Descendants of Judah will reestablish Old Jerusalem. The LDS church, according to the Book of Mormon, will concern itself with building the “New Jerusalem” on the American continent.

The Book of Mormon states that America is a choice land that is reserved for a righteous people. It declares that Jesus Christ is the God who calls to every person all over the world and to the inhabitants of America to repent. Failure to heed this message will culminate in the failure of the nation.

A Sunday School instructor’s manual containing forty-five Book of Mormon lessons. The lessons feature lesson objectives, commentary, selected related scriptural references, and an assignment for the next class.

President Benson and Elder Ashton spoke at a leadership conference concerning the importance of the Book of Mormon. President Benson stressed the importance of using the Book of Mormon in missionary work and in practical religion.

A testimony of the Book of Mormon and explanation of how it came into existence through the appearance of an angel.

Abstract: Several of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s earliest revelations, beginning with Moroni’s appearance in 1823, quote the prophecy of Malachi 3:1 with the Lord “suddenly com[ing] to his temple” as “messenger of the covenant.” Malachi 3:1 and its quoted iterations in 3 Nephi 24:1; Doctrine and Covenants 36:8; 42:36; 133:2 not only impressed upon Joseph and early Church members the urgency of building a temple to which the Lord could come, but also presented him as the messenger of the Father’s restored covenant. Malachi’s prophecy concords with the restored portion of the “fulness of the record of John” and its “messenger” Christology in D&C 93:8 in which Jesus Christ is both “the messenger of salvation” (the “Word”) and the Message (also “the Word”). The ontological kinship of God the Father with Jesus, angels (literally messengers), and humankind in Joseph’s early revelations lays the groundwork for the doctrine of humankind’s coeternality with God (D&C 93:29), and the notion that through “worship” one can “come unto the Father in [Jesus’s] name, and in due time receive of his fulness” (D&C 93:19; cf. D&C 88:29). D&C 88 specifies missionary work and ritual washing of the feet as a means of becoming, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, “clean from the blood of this generation” (D&C 88:75, 85, 138). Such ritual washings continued as a part of the endowment that was revealed to Joseph Smith during the Nauvoo period. Missionary work itself constitutes a form of worship, and temple worship today continues to revolve around missionary work for the living (the endowment) and for the dead (ordinances). The endowment, like the visions in which prophets were given special missionary commissions, [Page 2]situates us ritually in the divine council, teaches us about the great Messenger of salvation, and empowers us to participate in his great mission of saving souls.

Abstract: Although not evident at first glance, shared terminology and phraseology in Malachi 3:1 (3 Nephi 24:1) and Moroni 7:29–32 suggest textual dependency of the latter on the former. Jesus’s dictation of Malachi 3–4 to the Lamanites and Nephites at the temple in Bountiful, as recorded and preserved on the plates of Nephi, helped provide Mormon a partial scriptural and doctrinal basis for his teachings on the ministering of angels, angels/messengers of the covenant, the “work” of “the covenants of the Father,” and “prepar[ing] the way” in his sermon as preserved in Moroni 7. This article explores the implications of Mormon’s use of Malachi 3:1. It further explores the meaning of the name Malachi (“[Yahweh is] my messenger,” “my angel”) in its ancient Israelite scriptural context and the temple context within which Jesus uses it in 3 Nephi 24:1.

New archaeological discoveries in Mesoamerica confirm the validity of the Book of Mormon. The authors discuss historical accounts, traditions, and myths and display photographs of ancient pictographs concerning Quetzalcoatl as the Christ figure in America who taught Christian values and ordinances. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. This work is reviewed in S.742.

Abstract: In sermons and writings, Jacob twice quotes the prophecy of Isaiah 11:11 (“the Lord [ʾădōnāy] shall set his hand again [yôsîp] the second time to gather the remnant of his people”). In 2 Nephi 6:14 and Jacob 6:2, Jacob uses Isaiah 11:11 as a lens through which he interprets much lengthier prophetic texts that detail the restoration, redemption, and gathering of Israel: namely, Isaiah 49:22–52:2 and Zenos’s Allegory of the Olive Trees (Jacob 5). In using Isaiah 11:11 in 2 Nephi 6:14, Jacob, consistent with the teaching of his father Lehi (2 Nephi 2:6), identifies ʾădōnāy (“the Lord”) in Isaiah 11:11 as “the Messiah” and the one who will “set himself again the second time to recover” his people (both Israel and the righteous Gentiles who “believe in him”) and “manifest himself unto them in great glory.” This recovery and restoration will be so thoroughgoing as to include the resurrection of the dead (see 2 Nephi 9:1–2, 12–13). In Jacob 6:2, Jacob equates the image of the Lord “set[ting] his hand again [yôsîp] the second time to recover his people” (Isaiah 11:11) to the Lord of the vineyard’s “labor[ing] in” and “nourish[ing] again” the vineyard to “bring forth again” (cf. Hebrew yôsîp) the natural fruit (Jacob 5:29–33, 51–77) into the vineyard. All of this suggests that Jacob saw Isaiah 49:22–52:2 and Zenos’s allegory (Jacob 5) as telling essentially the same story. For Jacob, the prophetic declaration of Isaiah 11:11 concisely summed up this story, describing divine initiative and iterative action to “recover” or gather Israel in terms of the verb yôsîp. Jacob, foresaw this the divine action as being accomplished through the “servant” and “servants” in Isaiah 49–52, “servants” analogous to those described by Zenos in his allegory. For Jacob, the idiomatic use of yôsîp in Isaiah 11:11 as he quotes it in 2 Nephi 6:14 and Jacob 6:2 and as repeated throughout Zenos’s allegory (Jacob 5) reinforces the patriarch Joseph’s statement preserved in 2 Nephi 3 that this figure would be a “Joseph” (yôsēp).

Walter Benjamin famously claimed that “only a redeemed mankind is granted the fullness of its past-which is to say, only for a redeemed mankind has its past become citable in all its moments. Each moment it has lived becomes a citation a l’ordre du jour. And that day is Judgment Day.” The Book of Mormon (1830) posits a pathway to redemption for believers and organizes all time around the coming of Christ. I aim to use Benjamin’s model of messianic time to interpret the complicated formal and narrative temporalities in The Book of Mormon and to offer a possible answer to the question, “Why did The Book of Mormon materialize when and where it did?” The Book of Mormon anticipates its own appearance in the nineteenth century. This temporal peculiarity authorizes my reading of the sacred text in its economic and historical context. I will argue that Joseph Smith’s discovery and translation of the plates he unearthed on a hillside in Palmyra, New York, presented a challenge to the capitalist perception of time that threatened to further disenfranchise Smith and others in the Burned-over District.

A series of brief comments in which the author presents archaeological findings, architectural notes, and myths and legends that deal indirectly with the Book of Mormon. Dibble discusses the wheel, ancient irrigation methods, metals, Mexican and Mayan codices, Quetzalcoatl, ancient buildings, and numerous other related items. The fourth part covers Ancient American metallurgy.

Research has shown that the Egyptians, Hebrews, and Greeks used tablets of metal to record important documents. The Inca-ruled natives of Peru and the Aztecs of Mexico engraved records on metal sheets. Engraved records are also found among relics of North American Indians. The British Museum possesses a set of twenty-five silver plates containing Buddha’s first sermon and a gold tablet containing the dedication of the temple to Osiris by Ptolemy Eureregetes, 242-222 B.C.

Attempts to demonstrate that contemporaries of Lehi used stone boxes and metal plates.

Brings attention to the recent discoveries of metal plates with inscriptions on them and stone boxes containing treasures.

Produces many evidences that ancient Israelites engraved their records upon metal plates.