5 comments about Mormon Country (Second Edition).

1. Yes, Stegner has a beautiful gift of words. His love for the area is very well described in fun folk lore and historical legends that form Utah's rich heritage and history. Stegner claims to be a historian, giving credit to several other great Utahan and Western historians like Bernard De Voto.

   But in his presentation of an attempt to explain the area and its unique people, he conveniently leaves out facts about historical events, like polygamy or tragedies like the Mountain Meadow Massacre.

   Stegner is not a member of the church but pretends to be an expert or an authority. This view is misleading and the reader needs to be cautioned to view the book as opinion and satire. Stegner's growing up in the Salt Lake City area, but not being a member of the majority has led to many tensions. His commentary or tensions include his being against the LDS Church organization, which he uses only its nickname, "Mormon," against his love and admiration for what the people in the church have overcome, adjusted to, and have achieved.

   Stegner loves the land and unique stories describing the culture, but he is not an authority, knowing everything. He is just one man trying to represent hundreds of thousands, not to mention it was written about 60 years ago, he writes well, but not objectively at all.

   This is a collection of stories, which if one know the definition of story knows it isn't always fact, it's stretched. It seems he has taken the most far-fetched or extreme stories to represent a whole of religion and society. The area is unique in many ways, with many tensions in its history. My main point in writing is to point out Stegner's personal bias and tension with the people in the area.




2. Mormon country idealizes early Mormon society. Much of this book focuses on the settling, sustaining and future of Mormon country. Once the Mormons were settled in the west, the "Gentiles" caused the Mormons hardships and were unwelcome in their towns. According to this book the Gentile was an intruder to the Mormon way of life. The author, Stegner, documents many unsuccessful attempts the gentiles made to settle in the west and over power the Mormons. Not until the ends of the book were any positive things said about Gentiles, some of who were detrimental influences in the west. In the beginning of the book the bias is strongly towards Mormons. As the reading continues it becomes more difficult to pinpoint Stegners bias. He speaks highly of non Mormons and their contribution to the west. I believe he admired the Mormon way of life, but understood that other ways of life exist that are as equally successful.

   I believe that Stegners is bias towards Mormon society. It is clear that he esteems their ability to survive, endure and believe. His writing also shows that he understood that it was not only Mormons who settled the region. He speaks with respect about the endeavors of the gentile and the Mormon in different parts of the book. He has the ability to look at an event objectively and the ability to look at it judgmentally. It all depends upon the issue. The overall goal of the book is to show people to the history of Mormon society by exposing the past. Many Mormon authors would not include the Mountain Meadow massacre in their historical writing. The fact that Stegner did shows that he is objective. The book paints a clear picture of early Mormon life through the eyes of the Mormon.
   
   Mormon Country is an opinioned and colorful depiction of the western history. The author was not trained in history, but he enjoyed and studied it. There are many parts of this book that were offensive, judgmental and ignorant. Other parts had beautiful, nonbiased descriptions of places, events and lives. It was difficult to swallow some of the topics discussed, but overall the book was well done. It is important to Utah history because it presents both small and large events to the reader. Because the book was written in 1942 it represents an old world view of the west. It is beneficial to obtain this point of view because it increases our understanding and awareness of the past events. The difficulties suffered by both Mormons and Gentiles were brought to light. Joining the two perspectives allows the reader to walks away with a new, nonbiased perspective of the western frontier.




3. This book is an easy to read collection of essays and stories about the people and places in "Mormon Country". Stegner has one section of the book that deals exclusively with the Mormons and a second section that focuses in on the "Gentiles", which the name the Mormons give to non-Mormons.

   This is the fourth book I've read in recent months dealing with Mormonism (others: Jon Krakauer's "Under the Banner of Heaven", Jack Earley's "Prophet of Death", and Fawn Brodie's excellent biography of Joseph Smith, "No Man Knows My History"). I decided to read this book because it was written by Wallace Stegner and because it seemed to me to be a less sensaionalistic and lurid account of Mormon life (both Banner of Heaven and Prophet of Death dealt with Mormonism and violent crime).

   I was not dissapointed, although I can't say that I was particularly impressed, either.

   This book takes the form of 28 little stories. As you would expect, some are great and some are merely so-so. I felt like the book served as a good survey of "Mormon Country". Stories like "Arcadian Village", which describes the last gasp of Mormon collectivism and "Chief of the Islands of the Scene", which describes the conversion efforts of Walter Gibson in Hawaii, illuminate aspects of Mormon history that had heretofore escaped me.

   Because the book itself was written in the 40's, many of the interviews Stegner conducted consisted of "old timers" talking about events from the late 1800's and early 1900's. This gives the book a "living history" quality that is, in my opinion, it's most outstanding attribute.

   Stegner is certainly sympathetic to Mormon society. His story "the Fossil Remains of an Idea", which is a genial account of polygamy in Short Creek (now Colorado City), was shocking in its good natured attitude towards polygamy. That is about the ONLY thing which can be said to be "shocking" about this book.

   This is a good background resource for readers interested in pursuing self-study of Mormon society.




4. This book consists of several essays that address various facets of Mormon history and Mormon culture, especially in the West and in Utah, though many of the things Stegner writes about aren't Mormon at all but just take place in predominantly Mormon areas.
   The author touches on the interesting Deseret alphabet--a bizarre, phonetic alphabet that Mormon leader Brigham Young tried to get all Mormons to learn--on missing artist-explorer Everett Ruess, on the settlements along the Colorado River, and on the effects Mormon culture had on local Indian tribes.
   Stegner seems to really like and admire the Mormons, though he was never one himself, and his book is almost always fair, and at times even loving, to them.
   This is an enjoyable read for anyone interested in these parts of the West, particularly in Utah and the Colorado Plateau. It's also well indexed and can be easily used as a reference. It's one of Stegner's best, for sure.



5. Prof. Stegner has written an objective and informative book on Mormon ideas and how they are practiced in Utah. Although a non-Mormon, his respect for his subjects has rightfully gained their confidence on many topics. Yet, this is not a "white-wash". Mr. Stegner combined history and contemporary practices to provide a very insightful presentation of this intriguing society.

5 comments about The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition.

1. Wonderful Wonderful Edition!! I agree with the former missionary. This is a very user freindly edition of the BoM. The offical LDS Church Edition is very imposing and stark compared to this very inviting and easy on the eyes BoM format. Hand this edition to potential converts and they just might read the BoM. Why it took a secular university to put another Churche's Main Religious Text in a truly inspired format is beyond me. Maybe it is time the LDS Church puts out a new version of the "Standard Works". After all....it has been quite a while since 1978 when they redid all of the scriptures.



2. (From Paragraph 67) Christian faith cannot accept 'revelations' that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfilment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such 'revelations'.
   
   (Paragraph 73) God has revealed himself fully by sending his own Son, in whom he has established his covenant for ever. The Son is his Father's definitive Word; so there will be no further Revelation after him.



3. There is also a paperback version of this book available for $24.95. Amazon sells it for $15.72 (37% off the cover price). You can find it by searching under the editor's name.



4. This edition of The Book of Mormon is absolutely delicious. "Come unto the Holy One of Israel, and FEAST upon that which perisheth not ... and LET YOUR SOUL DELIGHT IN FATNESS."



5. I read the Book of Mormon for the first time in mid-2002 at age 15. Since then, I have read it almost 9 times (as of this review). Moreover, I have read a heck of a lot of material critical of the text itself (e.g. The Tanners, Evans, Vogel, Metcalfe) Notwithstanding, most, if not all, the attacks are usually based on fraud and/or popular though errant assumptions about the Book of Mormon text that actually do not jive with the text itself. In additoin, what Hardy has done with the 1920 text is make it more accessible to those approaching the Book of Mormon, following modern editions of the Bible, by indenting, for example, prose, not too dissimilar to the NRSV rendition of Deuteronomy 32, and leaving introductions to chapters to a bare minimum, alongside adding a number of appendixes, such as one on poetry in the Book of Mormon (e.g, chiasmus).
   
   I urge any one interested in the truth to read the Book of Mormon to discover for themselves that it is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ, and to learn of its truthfulness by study and by prayer to God, after "testing all things" (Acts 17:11).

5 comments about The 10 Most Important Things You Can Say to a Mormon (The 10 Most Important Things).

1. I don't understand what kind of mentality bashes other religions. I think we should rejoice in what is good in each other not tear each other down. I was very disappointed in the lack of the author's apparent research.



2. MUST READ-Great book and well worth the read. It is well documented in numerous other sources, that this religion has changed, and dramatically, over time. If nothing else, that would make me questions a religion.
   
   It's a free country-SO FAR! And, because of that, no none MAKES us be any religion, one way or another. There are many countries around the world where killing is the accepted form of trying to convert people to that religion. Instead, we in this country of the USA ought be thankful we can choose whatever religion we want, write about whatever religion we desire and live however we want to :)



3. This book is lame, I have better common sense than to need someone to tell me how to have a simple conversation with a mormon. Save your money. I'm glad I only rented it from the library.



4. This rag wasn't terribly researched, and very biased. Perhaps written by a former member of the Church that was dis-fellowshiped? Hmmmm.........
   
   And no, I am not LDS. In fact, I'm Jewish. However, I lived in Provo for two years, and found my Mormon neighbors to be very lovely people. I was never "black balled" or shuned. They were all helpful and nice. I was never pushed, and they respected my own faith.
   
   Sorry, but the book missed the mark and tanked.



5. This book is seriously outdated. Most Mormons would laugh at the arguments made here. You are much better off reading "How Wide the Divide"

5 comments about Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?: The Spalding Enigma.

1. I have read so many books and literature like this it would make your head spin. I'm from the town Joseph Smith is from, Palmyra, and I actually did my senior paper on this type of stuff, called "Palmyra's Influence on Mormonism". I lived there... saw the REAL documents, not somebody in a book telling me some "theory" or "eyewitness accounts". You want fact? You want truth? I saw it. I also lived in Nauvoo, IL for a summer and saw more "truth"... real homes, real lives. Growing up in Palmyra I had a hard time accepting the whole Joseph Smith story. True, logic never produced a real testimony, but like many of you, I needed some proof, something substantial. I have found it... and what you look for, you find. Want to find the negative, "shady" stuff, oh, it's out there... doesn't mean it's true. I have read more literature against the Mormon faith than any of you could possibly in a lifetime. (Like I said, I grew up around it my whole life. I lived in Palmyra where it all started.) There isn't anything this book has said that I haven't heard somewhere else, quoted by some other faith. Those who criticize the LDS faith and beliefs: Have you honestly ever read the entire Bible? Have you actually sat down, read the Book of Mormon, and then asked God if it was true? ...I have. Until you have, you have no real point. I love the Bible whole-heartedly. The Book of Mormon doesn't take away that... it only makes it greater and I understand it BETTER! And Mormons do NOT worship Joseph Smith. Gotta love how these people who aren't even LDS tell ME how I believe! Grow up, seriously, and learn a real persuasive argument. So when somebody can honestly tell me they've read the ENTIRE Bible, Book of Mormon, and attended LDS services on Sunday (notice that's more than once), then I will listen to that person. Have you ever noticed how people can criticize a faith that they've never even given a chance? Or just listen to what their pastor tells them? Funny, God gave us brains and the Holy Spirit, so we could decide for ourselves. No pastor, prophet, Pope, etc. gave me my testimony in/of Jesus. I've actually attended many services of other faiths... and enjoyed them too! I also have read many books: Koran, Bible, Book of Mormon, the Jehovah Witnesses' version of the Bible and some of their literature, etc. Remember, the truth will set you free. See my point? Too many of you are writing reviews, truly, with so little knowledge, not just on this subject, but other religions as well. Study it. It's fascinating. Logic and proof can't prove everything. If so, then there are books with "logic" to prove the Bible false as well, to prove that Jews are Satanic, etc. Now would you really believe those "theories" and books? Of course not. C'mon people wake up! This book is nothing....really... try living in the area, or doing the research yourself before believing such a shady book. I trust that your intelligence and God can help you find the truth.



2. Excellent book! I recommend it to everyone who is curious about the Mormon religion's origins. As well-researched as this book is, let's face the truth ... anything would be more believable than the Mormon church's version of how The Book of Mormon came to be.



3. Cowdrey, Wayne L., Howard A. Davis and Arthur Vanick, Who Really Wrote The Book of Mormon? (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 2005). On page 479, Note # 19, Cowdrey mentions that he wrote an earlier book with the same name (with Howard Davis and Donald Scales) published at Santa Anna, CA by Vision House, 1977. This 2005 edition is greatly expanded and improved over the much smaller earlier 1977 edition, of which I also have a copy.
   
   This 2005 edition is a massive and somewhat rambling historical study of 558 pages that reads like a detective's report, though the joint work of three authors. It will appeal more to serious historians and dedicated students of Mormonism, rather than to general readers,because it is not very "reader-friendly." It contains extensive documentation and argumentation based on very detailed research, with 12 chapters, many endnotes and 7 appendices, but unfortunately it lacks an Index and Bibliography.
   
   The Dedication tells a lot about its orientation: "Dedicated to the Rev. Wesley Walters and Dr. Walter Martin, whose work has been painstakingly continued in this volume; To Solomon Spaulding, MA, that he may at last rest in peace; and To the good people of Amity, Washington County, Pennsylvania, who never had any doubts as to who really wrote The Book of Mormon."
   
   In their "Afterward" (pp.367- 368) the authors present a masterful attempt to anticipate their critics: "Although the authors have made every effort to present the material in this volume as accurately and completely as possible, it is inevitable in a work of this size that some errors will occur. It is also inevitable that these will be eagerly sought out by critics and offered to the public as proof that the entire work is flawed. No doubt the motives of the authors themselves will also be questioned, based upon the ancient practice of taking the messengers to task when one is unable to digest the message itself. Whichever the case, the reader is urged to consider critical comments about this volume and its authors in a skeptical light and, always taking their source and the motivation behind them into account, to weigh them carefully against the evidence presented herein.
   
   "The issue here is not the writers, nor is it the many millions of good, industrious, and productive people for whom faith in Joseph Smith and his church is an ongoing way of life. We are dealing with history here, not religion. ... To those who will acknowledge that we have presented much new information, but with a distinctly ant-Mormon tone, let it be said that we are not anti-anything--we are pro-history."
   
   On page 369 the authors cite a "quotation attributed to pro-Mormon historian Hugh Nibley: `There is wisdom in the rule laid down by Blass, ... that whoever presumes to doubt the purported source and authorship of a document cannot possibly escape the obligation of supplying a more plausible account in its stead.' We quite agree, and we believe we have done just that."
   
   The authors marshal massive bits and pieces of historical data gleaned from extensive and careful researches, with convincing arguments supporting their essential thesis, as stated on pages 363-364: "As for the single most important secret of all--that of The Book of Mormon's true origin--it seems clear that Sidney Rigdon was the only person who was in a position to know all of it. In the final analysis, this quite literally means that both Oliver Cowdrey and Joseph Smith were actually his unwitting dupes, though each for very different reasons. Indeed, the key to solving the Spalding Enigma is the inescapable conclusion that Rigdon was the only person who knew for certain the manuscript that he, Smith, and Cowdrey had transformed into The Book of Mormon was really nothing more than an embellished and paraphrased version of a novel once known as A Manuscript Found and originally penned by an obscure and broken man named Solomon Spaulding. ... Above all else, Rigdon's thoughts and concepts were largely Machiavellian in nature. If the cause of the God he worshipped could best be advanced by a bit of fraud here and there, then fraud was the order of the day. Lies, deception, and secrecy were all part of the process. And there is no question that everyone who knew him well--from Alexander Campbell to Brigham Young himself--described him in those terms."
   
   A concise summary and conclusion to this book, with the crux of the problem faced by its authors, is stated on page 356 in this one short but significant paragraph:
   
   "All things considered, we are left to decide whether Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God, or one of the greatest and most enduring showmen in American history. Almost certainly the dividing line will be drawn between those who choose to approach the problem from the standpoint of evidence and logic, and those who will, in spite of it all, continue to see Joseph Smith as the foundation and strength of a deep and abiding personal faith. To the former, it is hoped that this volume will prove enlightening. The latter will no doubt take comfort from pro-Mormon historian Richard L. Bushman's admonition... [This short quote the authors give here, is even more revealing in full context as it appears in Note #10, pp. 550-551] "{W}hat would we {Mormons} do if six eminent anthropologists presented `conclusive proof' that The Book of Mormon were fraudulent {?} The question I have in mind is how much does our faith depend on supporting historical evidence. On the one hand, we make a great deal of it. Mormons delight in Hugh Nibley's arguments in behalf of The Book of Mormon.... On the other hand, we are prone to dismiss all this as irrelevant. I have heard Professor Nibley himself summarize a long argument for The Book of Mormon, to which his Mormon audience had listened raptly, by saying, that of course none of this really matters. The important point for him was that God had revealed the truth to Joseph by the Holy Spirit; the historical case was mere trimmings, the game played for the sheer fun of it.... Granted that negative historical evidence would not destroy the faith of the faithful. For those blessed with it, spiritual experience is the most compelling data. Honesty requires that one remain true to it even in the face of other evidence to the contrary."] Certainly to have one's spiritual foundations called into question by such revelations as these must be truly disconcerting. Yet as Gandhi once observed, even if a person is a minority of one, the truth is still the truth."
   
   This is similar to the "identity crisis" that another Christian denomination with heterodox beliefs, Seventh-day Adventism, now faces. The Church of God, founded by Herbert W. Armstrong, recently actually went through such an "identity crisis." After Armstrong's death, the church's leaders honestly confronted the fact that some of their heterodox beliefs received from Armstrong were unbiblical. After a period of careful study they confessed and repented of their errors, making an almost unprecedented move toward reforming their beliefs and practices toward closer harmony with NT Christianity. But their action caused a schism in their church, with some factions going different ways. Seventh-day Adventists and Mormons, recognizing this very real danger of schism, have thus far generally chosen to continue their heterodox belief systems based on their past "spiritual experiences" rather than honestly confronting the objective facts of their history. The Church of God's revolutionary action was "unprecedented" because, once a religious community establishes a fixed tradition of faith and practice, it is almost unprecedented to see a later admission of error and fundamental corrective action. Mormons have a rarely-used limited "escape mechanism" allowing for theological change--their apostles occasionally have a new "revelation"--e.g., polygamy was seen to be no longer allowed on earth (although plural marriages are still "sealed" in heaven), and men of color, once formally discriminated against, are now allowed to become Mormon priests. This "escape mechanism" helps to release critical pressure building up due to the "cognitive dissonance" between the discovery of disconfirming facts versus traditional Mormon beliefs, and/or the societal pressures toward conformity coming from the larger "gentile" society in which Mormons live. Theological changes in Adventism take place more gradually as reinterpretation of the writings of their extra-biblical prophet, Ellen G. White, may allow. But there are some "non-negotiables," such as the "Investigative Judgment" that is tied to the fixed date of Oct. 22, 1844 that is practically impossible to change without complete rejection. The Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham, and some other writings of Joseph Smith also function as "non-negotionables" in Mormonism, because they have been "canonized."
   
   To grow up in a religious system believing it is led of God, and then to later discover it is out of sync with newly discovered objective facts, is a wrenching experience. To admit this is usually seen as tantamount to heresy and a denial of one's faith in God and His prior leading through His Holy Spirit, which is viewed as the "unpardonable sin."
   
   Science resolves this problem of how to accommodate itself to "progressive truth" with the "adjustment mechanism" of tentative "hypotheses" that may or may not prove to be in harmony with the natural world. These hypotheses are formulated in the form of valid disconfirmable "theories" not carrying "inerrant" or "sinful" religious connotations. If they are eventually disconfirmed they can be simply discarded without prejudice. (Given human nature, this process doesn't work quite that smoothly!)
   
   But most religious systems have no similar "neutral" adjustment mechanism for coping with "new light" so they usually cannot (or will not) chose to "repent." The prime example (from the Christian point of view) is that of the Jewish Sanhedrin that refused to "repent" and accept Christ as their Messiah, because they believed God had called Abraham and they were Abraham's children led of God, God's own chosen people, given God's laws through Moses at Sinai, so therefore they could not be in theological error and in need of corporate repentance and reformation.
   
   To "repent" means "to feel such regret or dissatisfaction over some past action, intention, belief, etc. as to change one's mind about it and change one's ways in accordance with the revised view." But Jesus came preaching He was "the truth and the life," and by rejecting Him and choosing to cling to their false "traditions of the elders" He said they were making the Law of God of "none effect." He also told them they were not Abraham's children or they would be doing what Abraham did. This was strong "medicine" very difficult for any faithful Jew to swallow.
   
   When faced with such a faith-shattering "identity crisis," to choose to follow the "greater light" rather than cling to old familiar traditions and creeds, is almost "unprecedented" in religious history. This is a primary reason we see so much religious factionalism and sectarianism. Rather than repentance and reformation occurring, with the entire group wholeheartedly accepting the new facts and moving forward in faith and unison, most groups experience schism when confronted with such an "identity crisis." The only alternative for those accepting larger views of truth and duty is to separate and form new sects. There is thus a continual process of revolution and excommunication, rather than repentance and reformation. When religious faith is based on a belief that God has revealed "inerrant" truths to revered leaders, when faced with new facts as history unfolds, most religious groups usually lack the means and/or the motive to see facts objectively, repent, and change their ways. Thus there is a continual need for the messages of John the Baptist and Jesus to "Repent, and believe the Gospel."
   
   Given a group's "faith" that God was leading them in the past, they find it almost impossible to admit a group error or mistake could have occurred that needs corporate repentance. "Wasn't God leading our church? Does God lead into error?" Yet the paradox is that in our secular affairs we humans readily admit "to error is human." But when it comes to our "holy experience," how could it have been mistaken or erroneous? Our "holy religious experience," is considered not subject to error! But why is it so hard to accept the fact that though the Infinite God is holy and without error, yet even the best "saints" are finite beings often lacking faith and making mistakes and errors, even while under God's leading and tutelage? Witness Abraham, Moses, and David, and ultimately both Israel and Judah, both going into exile and ruin! (The Biblical theology of this paradox and conundrum of the Christian's struggle with progressive revelation and acceptance of new truth is discussed in John 3:10-21; 1 Cor. Chapter 2; Matt. Chap. 5; Matt. 9:16-17; 10:34-39; 13:52 and many other passages.)



4. When I first read the Book of Mormon, I questioned it's validity. Natives to both American continents where not nearly as advanced as the societies described in the BOM. Additionally, Native Americans had arrived far earlier that the BOM indicates. Then there was the literary issue of, "it came to pass," occurring again and again and again. Clearly it was not written by a first rate author. Mormon friends and relatives had always told me Joseph Smith could not have written the BOM, he wasn't well educated enough. This book answers the question of who really wrote the Book of Mormon. The level of detail involved in the research lends to its credibility; the research can easily be reviewed. The authors do an excellent job hypothesizing as to how Rigdon, Smith and Cowdrey may have come together to complete the book. What they left little doubt about was that Solomon Spalding wrote the basic story behind the BOM. Exactly how this happened no one will ever know. I was disappointed with the Christian message in the forward. This book stands alone as a well researched historical document. The question of whether or not Mormons are "Christian" should be left to another forum. This book will leave no doubt about who really wrote the BOM.



5. This book exposes Mormon Apologetics at their worst. They feel they have completely discredited the "Spalding Theory" regarding who wrote the Book of Mormon or what information was used by Joseph Smith to write the BofM. Unfortunately, these apologists discredited the wrong manuscript and they also forget to add that there were actually TWO Spalding manuscripts. The one Joseph Smith had and used was very close (using the same names, locations, events, etc.) to the Book of Mormon.
   This wonderful book written by Wayne L. Cowdery exposes the apologetic's dishonest tactics and also reveals which manuscript was actually used for the inspiration behind the stories in the Book of Mormon.

5 comments about Mormonism, Mama & Me.

1. I received a copy of this as a missionary in Texas in 1996. I skimmed through it and found many errors and what appeared to be intentional misrepresentations of the Mormon church, its doctrines, and its members.
   
   If you receive a copy of this book, I suggest you take an honest look at it, write a complaint letter (this is what I did), and mail the book and the letter back to the publisher. They need to be reminded they are making money off of making a mockery of an extraordinary religious faith, and that is unethical, if not immoral. It is absolutely NOT what Jesus would do. It is what Jesus had done to him.



2. This is a great book, shining the light of truth on the darkness of Joseph Smith's deceitful prophesy.



3. I have read several books on Mormonism and was a little put off by the author's folksy style at first, but once I got into the meat of the book I found it to be very informative and seemed to be well researched and documented. Very interesting subject. Well worth reading.



4. Good Lord, I should have known. Any time an author's name appears in quotes, be warned. Granny Greer's book begins with a tantalizing offer to any believing Mormon who can successfully dispute facts presented: A first edition print of The Book of Mormon circa 1830, valued at $7,000. This book attempts to unwrap the history and intentions of the Mormon Church, but unlike other more objective disucssions, this book appears to have the goal of dissuading readers from recognizing that Mormonism is Christian. Translation for this reader? Nothing wrong with religious extremes, but Mormonism isn't the "right" extreme. I've heard that song and dance before, ironically when I was learning how to be a good Mormon. This was a woopsie read and I finished it reluctantly then dropped it in the recycling bin.



5. Back when "Mormonism, Mama, and Me" was first published in 1980 a rare 1830 Book of Mormon was offered to anyone who could disprove the claims made in this book.
   
   The book was a family heirloom and, for those of you who are unaware of this, an 1830 would be a First Edition and extremely rare! Granny Geer was a descendant of John Lee, the notorious villain (or scapegoat if you prefer) of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. He was the adopted Son of Brigham Young and the only person tried and executed for the massacre.
   
   Granny Geer died in 1999 and I've wondered for a while what happened to that book. So when I stumbled across Granny Geer's MySpace page I sent the family an email and here's how they replied:
   
   "As long as Thelma was alive no one could claim the book, of course, so when she passed away it was given to her daughter along w/other family treasures."
   
   Since I figured that I probably wasn't the only one curious about that book I thought that I'd put this post up here on the Amazon's book list.
   
   And I hope that you all enjoy this noteworthy ex-Mormon testimony book that is filled with interesting historical gems regarding this fascinating non-Christian cult through Granny Geer's story.
   
   And, while I'm in the neighborhood, here are some other books on Mormon history that you might enjoy (with a focus on the Mountain Meadows Massacre since I mentioned it).
   
   Mormonism Unveiled: The Life and Confession of John D. Lee, Including the Life of Brigham Young
   
   John D. Lee (1812-1877): Zealot Pioneer Builder Scapegoat (Western Frontiersman Series, Volume IX)
   
   Writings of John D. Lee
   
   The Mountain Meadows Massacre
   
   Massacre at Mountain Meadows
   
   The Mormon Mountain Meadows Massacre: From the Diary of John I. Ginn
   
   American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows, September 1857
   
   September Dawn DVD
   
   September Dawn Book

5 comments about Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations.

1. The thesis is that the goal of the OT is to see both Jews and Gentiles come to a saving knowledge of the Messiah who was to come. The story begins in Genesis 1-11 where God is a 'God all Nations' (or ethnic groups) and the election of Israel as a kingdom of priests in Exodus provides the basis for the NT doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Gentiles who benefit from the outreach of the grace of God include Melchizedek, Jethro and Rahab, and Naaman is an example of a Gentile conversion. The message finds its climax in Second Isaiah and Paul's mission to the Gentiles which was of course rooted in the OT.

   Readers content with an uncritical account of the OT reflecting traditional conservative hermeneutics will enjoy reading it and preachers who begin where Kaiser begins will find helpful ideas. Scholars and serious students may question whether it is possible to adopt such a blanket approach to the phrase 'God of all nations' and some who accept it will still wonder whether this makes Israel a missionary nation.




2. This short book treats a variety of familiar Old Testament passages in order to show that "mission", as bringing the message of salvation to unbelievers, was not an innovation of the New Testament church. Kaiser shows the Old Testament precedent for mission and how this led into the mission theology in the New Testament. His book tries to show that the nature of mission in the Old Testament was centrifugal (outward going), rather than centripetal (inward drawing). The few examples he cites, most notably the prophet Jonah, are good, but even after reading the book it remains difficult to see the nation of Israel as a whole actually acting in "centrifugal" mission. Nonetheless he does a good job of showing how the prophets and the Abrahamic covenant set the stage for the worldwide mission that occurred after Christ's ascension. The book is a very cursory treatment of the most significant OT passages on mission, and is by no means exhaustive, but it would serve well as an introduction to Old Testament mission.



3. Clearly, Kaiser did not intend for this little tome to be the last word on the issue. What it is, instead, is a brief introduction to a relatively novel way of thinking about an important theme in biblical theology. Those who discredit this book for its lack of depth fail to realize that Kaiser was not writing for other scholars but for pastors and laymen who have not spent enormous parts of their lives learning languages and jargon.
   
   This is one of the very few cases in which a novel belief is not the result of applying one's own cultural blinders to Scripture, I am happy to report. The result of reading through the OT after this book was somewhat like reading the NT after getting through one of E.P. Sanders' works on the "New Perspective" - I saw things I had never noticed and made connections which previously eluded me.
   
   Buy the book, even if you are like me and have spent a large portion of your life learning languages and jargon. If nothing else, it beats watching network television for two or three hours. ;)



4. As a distinguished professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and accomplished author, it is clear that Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. has devotedly pursued many themes throughout the Old Testament. In his book, published by Baker Books in 2000, bearing the title Mission in the Old Testament, Kaiser strives to illustrate that the Living God of the Bible is predominantly a missionary God. Kaiser states the crux of his thinking in the introduction to Mission in the Old Testament. The thesis of this work is that the heart of God has always been for the salvation of all mankind, and that the good news to all nations was not meant to strictly be a New Testament doctrine.
   
   
   It seems as though Kaiser has in mind as his target audience those who are fairly well versed in the discussion of mission in the Old Testament. While Mission in the Old Testament is a short work, it is deceptively so. In order to fully understand the depth of Kaiser's assertions one must do so with scripture in hand, and in order to refute any of Kaiser's claims one must have a solid knowledge of the original Hebrew.
   
   
   Mission in the Old Testament is not a book for the freshman biblical studies student. Kaiser makes some very strong claims about the person and intentions of almighty God and His plan for humanity. It seems like intense study would be required to challenge his thinking because Kaiser does not support his statements in a way that is friendly to the layperson. He simply states the way the Biblical texts should be interpreted and does not spend much time on the reasoning of opposing opinions. For example, he does not discuss to any satisfying extent why these prophetic statements in the Old Testament should not simply be applied within the new covenant. He talks about the Servant of the Lord (Christ) and the servant of the Lord (Israel), as mentioned throughout Isaiah, but this seemed to be a difficult sell and could have used more support. Kaiser squeezes his appeal for a missionary minded God into a scant 67 pages of analysis.
   
   
   Overall, Kaiser's arguments needed more time to develop. I felt like I was being rushed through a six point lecture. However, the reason that I desired more structure and support for this thesis is because I personally agree with it and would like a stronger position to defend. I suppose Kaiser opens the door and directs the reader to paths of further individual study, but I worry that all but his opponents will take the time to do so. It seems clear that the Lord of all creation is willing that all should come to a saving knowledge of Him, and this can be seen in numerous examples throughout both testaments. In a western Christendom that is so heavily dispensational I would delight in a text that proved solidly that God's behavior and plan toward man is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
   
   
   Whether or not God wanted the Israelites to be active missionaries makes little impact on my responsibilities and the way I live my life. However, when conversing with non or young believers I anticipate more confidence in explaining the mysteries of the Old Testament. In this way Mission in the Old Testament was a useful text. I especially appreciated the attention given to Naaman and Jonah and the way their lives seem to prove God's heart. I am sure I will never fully understand an unfathomable God, but Mission in the Old Testament has helped to justify what I know of the New Testament God and the God that intercedes in my life, with the image of God in the Old Testament.



5. When did God first begin to send the news of Himself and His salvation to the four corners of the gentile earth? Wasn't it in the apostolic age, with Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles? In this book Kaiser goes back much farther. He says that God has always had a missionary heart for the whole world, and desired from the earliest Old Testament times for the whole world to know of the coming Man of Promise-and for Israel to be His active emissary in spreading that news.
   
   Kaiser begins by pointing out that Genesis 1-11 is "decidedly universal in its scope and outlook." Israel was not yet in the picture, and God dealt directly with all inhabitants of the earth until finally choosing Abraham's line.
   Kaiser's contention is that God didn't forget the rest of the world when He chose Abraham. Instead, God was choosing Israel to be His light and emissary to the rest of the world. In Exodus, for example, God delivered Israel not only for their own benefit, but so that "the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD."
   
   After this promising start, Kaiser looks at:
   -King David
   -the Psalms
   -the stories of Ruth and Naaman
   -Isaiah's Suffering Servant passages
   -Jonah, the minor prophets
   -and the apostle Paul
   
   His studies of the PSALMS and the stories of NAAMAN and JONAH are the most instructive, original, and compelling. Kaiser examines Psalms 67, 96, and 117, showing that God's desire was for the whole world to recognize Him as the only true God. He points out such evangelistic declarations as: "I will sing to You among the nations," and "proclaim among the nations what [Yahweh] has done."
   
   Likewise in the stories of Naaman and Jonah, Kaiser examines God's motive for telling these specific stories. Kaiser says of the Naaman story, "Why spend so much space in the biblical narrative to tell this story?...the divine revelation wanted us to see that Yahweh was truly calling all the families of the earth-even one's enemies-to the same Savior and salvation." Kaiser's exegeses of these two stories are not only insightful, but delightful! He explores them with the interest of a story-teller, in the process discovering God's heart for all nations. I was particularly struck by the contrast Kaiser drew between Jonah (judgmental, selfish, Israel-oriented) and God (merciful to the Ninevites, concerned for them, not just for Israel).
   
   The book is more than worth buying and reading, if only for these three sections (Psalms, Naaman, Jonah; Chs. 2,3,5). Sadly, the rest of the book is less convincing. In his look at the Davidic promise, for example, he tries to show the promise of David's Seed was to be a "charter for humanity," taught to all nations. Unfortunately, "charter for humanity" is his own translation of 2 Samuel 7:19, which differs markedly from most accepted translations. This highlights an effort on Kaiser's part throughout the book to prove that Israel's message of salvation was strictly based on proclaiming a "Man of Promise." But his evidence is weak, as his example of Naaman shows: In one passage, Naaman says "Yahweh" rather than "Elohim." According to Kaiser, this proves a belief in a coming Messiah. In Jonah he also overlooks the fact that Jonah preached only a message of simple repentance.
   
   This points to the book's greatest weakness-Brother Kaiser fails to address the verses and positions that might contradict his thesis. John Piper, for example, believes mission to the Gentiles did not begin until Pentecost, and points to some persuasive verses for this idea (i.e. Acts 15:14-18, Romans 16:25-27, Ephesians 3:4-10). Kaiser provides no rebuttal or explanation for these arguments, which are the majority position in conservative evangelistic circles.
   
   In spite of these weaknesses, Kaiser provides a brief (75 page text) and valuable overview of the Old Testament with an eye for God's heart for mission. The writing is accessable, and the chapters on the Psalms, Naaman, and Jonah challenged me deeply to take a second look at God's heart. From the book I learned that the same God who so loved the world in John 3 was still so-loving the world back then. I'm not so certain that He commissioned Israel as an active outgoing agent for that mission, however.

5 comments about 300 Questions LDS Couples Should Ask Before Marriage.

1. I got this as a bridal shower gift from a ward member. I am glad I did. It made me really think twice about my compatability with my now --exfiance. I highly recommend this book to any member considering getting married. I almost made a big mistake.



2. I plan to buy one for each of the girls in my Laurel's class as a graduation gift. It's too bad that BYU doesn't make it required reading. Every single adult should own a copy!



3. The author does a good job of selecting the best quotes by the general authorities on finding a suitable marriage companion. The questions are equal to other marriage books on the market, however, the author goes a step further by supplying spiritual questions that should be asked. Questions that dig deep into a person's believes, values and spirit are lacking in other books on the subject. Therefore, I would recommend this book for couples that want questions that have depth into the soul. As a Bishop I have counseled many single adults considering marriage. Now I have a great book to recommend to them. I look forward to her other books.



4. This book has very relevant questions! This is great for creating conversations that help a couple know all aspects of each other. Well worth the money!



5. Since this is my second marriage engagement, I am very glad to have this book to review with my fiance so that I get it right the second time around!

No comments about Emma Smith: An Elect Lady (Setting the Record Straight).

3 comments about I Saw Heaven: A Remarkable Visit to the Spirit World.

1. This is a great book if you are mormon. I think we see what we believe we will see when we get to heaven. I didn't buy all of this man's story. If you are really searching for answers I recommend reading the Neale Donald Walsch books. I found those book life changing for me.



2. I liked the book - it was interesting. This review won't help anybody but I enjoyed reading this book.



3. As a Mormon, I was inspired by this man's experiences. They follow our beliefs and provide clear descriptions of what happened when Mr. Tooley crossed the veil into the Spirit World. I highly recommend this book for all those with an honest curiosity. I have given several to people who asked what I believe about life after death.

1 comments about Mormonism in Dialogue with Contemporary Christian Theologies.

1. From an LDS perspective, this book represents a critical step in what is now being called the "Golden Age" of Mormonism in academia. The idea is old: Mormons and Christians writing in dialogue. The approach, however, is really the first of its kind: serious, real theology. I emphasize "real" because it may come as a shock to many LDS readers that they have never read or ever even been exposed to theology--a systematic/philosophical/reasoned approach to religious beliefs. Mormon doctrine, instead, entirely depends on revelation, not necessarily dogmatically, but mostly without any philosophic scrutiny. Ask Mormons why they believe what they believe and their answers will cite revelation, both personal revelation and revelation for the Church as a whole. This, of course, is a great source of pride to Mormons--as it should be--but is of little help in an academic or theological setting. Indeed, Mormons tend to think of theology as nothing more than "hard doctrine," where "hard" is synonymous with "obscure." BYU itself is a telling example: The two religious departments are Ancient Scripture and Church History and Doctrine. Even the more difficult authors like Nibley, Talmage, et al. lean closer to being historians or scriptorians than theologians.
   
   But sitting in the Richard L. Evans chair (previously held by the Church's other foremost theologian, Truman G. Madsen) Dr. David Paulsen has been one of the quiet few working on theology. For years he has been building relationships via The Harvard Theological Review and Faith and Philosophy and Clark Pinnock and Donald Musser and other important publications and thinkers. And this book is in large part a huge reflection of his lifelong work on these fronts. The Christian theologians represented here are truly an all-star cast: Rosemary Radford Reuther, Clark Pinnock, David Tracy, Dwight Hopkins, Donald McKim, Dennis McCann, and on and on. The fact that so many have volunteered to work on this compilation (which is anything but meager at 500+ pages) is a true testament to the success of his work and the progress that Mormons have made in academia.
   
   The book itself is excellent. I've labeled this review "An Important Step" because hopefully many Mormons will read it and understand just what theology is and just how we can and do relate to other theologies. And, importantly, how a reasoned analysis of LDS doctrine can enhance our beliefs and our understanding of them--even in areas where Mormons run short on revelation (Tellingly, most LDS authors start by pointing out there is barely such a thing as "Mormon theology"). But for anyone reading the book there is a great deal to learn. I've already alluded to the high quality of the thinkers writing each dialogue: Feminist Theology, Black Theology, Hermeneutics, the Theologies of Barth, Neibuhr, and Tillich, and more. Politely and accurately each author shares with his Mormon counterpart (and visa versa) where there is disagreement, where there is agreement, where a bridge can be built, and where there probably won't be one for a while. For anyone who wants a true survey of the prominent theologies, and of how Mormonism stacks up, this is a great book.