3 comments about A Plain English Reference to the Book of Mormon.

1. As a former seminary teacher and now gospel doctorine teacher, this "guide" makes reading the Book of Mormon much easier and understandable. It's like have a scriptorian next to you explaining what you just read, and yet, it is written with flow, like a novel, so you don't want to put it down. I finished the whole Book of Mormon in one week. I have a more vivid understanding and mental references now. I completed the prophets challenge. I can't wait to read this 2-3 times a year. It is not like other scriptures "re-written" losing translation, this is "right on", and has the same spirit of revelation attending you as it is when you are reading from the Book of Mormon.



2. This book is basically a rewritten version of The Book Of Mormon in contemporary English and reads at about a middle school level of difficulty. It eliminate the archaic prose of words like the "thee", "thou", "verily", "hast" and other KJV biblical text. A comparison could be the KING JAMES BIBLE rewritten into the easier to understand NEW LIVING TRANSLATION.
   
   I'll admit there are places in the Book of Mormon where I have struggled to comprehend its contents (Jacob chapter 5 and the Isaiah quotes come to mind). Timothy Wilson's work has made a world of difference in understanding it. This is like a rewrite of the Book of Mormon in modern English. It also includes some extra references for explaining certain themes and events. Read this alongside the original - it has helped me to read it much more effectively.
   
   If you are interested in this, you might also want to check out the EASY-TO-READ BOOK OF MORMON by Lynn Matthews Anderson (ISBN: 0-9644957-0-8). That version (young children being the target audience) is written in even more simple English than is Timothy Wilson's work here. Both are useful for comprehension of the original text.



3. I was afraid to read this at first, because I don't like the idea of messing around with scripture. That's why we still use the King James Version. HOWEVER... I love this book. I never felt like anything was lost. Only clarified. I won't let this book replace my scriptures, but it will never be far away. GREAT Job Tim. Thank you sooo sooo much. I bought it in a used book store, and I feel very fortunate to have found it. I was unaware of it before that moment. My teenager is reading it now. Thanks again.

5 comments about Our Search for Happiness.

1. Anyone, regaurdless of their opinion about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, should read this book; especially before they bash the church. I read this when I was investigating (and bashing the church myself). It is easy to read, to the point, and makes a whole lot of sense. For those who beilieve, it will bring strength to their testimony and help them to minister to others. For those who want to believe, it will answer many of the questions they might have. For those who don't believe, it might bring a greater sense of understanding to a religion that is so often misunderstood. I love this book, it really helped my heart to open up to recieve the gospel of Jesus Christ, which I couldn't be more greatful for. I recommend it to all.



2. This book is wonderful! A simple yet beautiful means of expressing the beliefs and feelings of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints



3. I read this book about 2 1/2 years ago and yes, it was a good book. Yes, it does explain the church well. This book did show me just how different the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is from what the Bible (What the Christian faith is based upon) teaches. It opened up my eyes to know the truth that the Bible is the soul source of scripture. I did like the book in the effect that I did learn about the church in a way for me to be able to understand a member when we are discussing our beliefs. I am grateful for that. This is a good book for anyone, whether Christian, Mormon, or any other faith could use to better understand the LDS church.



4. not much to say about it, just a good book for members and nonmembers alike



5. Since the days of Joseph Smith, the apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have endeavored to allow those not of our faith to understand what we believed and why we believe it. In this book, Elder Ballard, himself an apostle(or special witness of Christ) has presented a concise primer to the doctrines of the Latter Day Saints. It is clear, it is detailed, and it is to the point.
   
   To those who are not LDS, it will allow you to understand what we believe, why we believe it, and why we hold such strong convictions of it.
   
   To those who are LDS, it will provide an example of how to present the basic doctrines of the church(and in some cases, how not to!) to those who wish to relate to us more closely.
   
   As a member of the church, I do value my faith very highly, and I wish for everyone to have that available to them, and I am grateful that there is such a tool available for that purpose.

1 comments about Exploring Mormon Thought: Of God and Gods (Exploring Mormon Thought).

1. This is the third book in Ostler's series Exploring Mormon Thought. In this volume he reconstructs the Hebrew view of a council of gods that is presided over by the Most High God. On that council are several Sons of God including Yahweh who was appointed to oversee us. Ostler then goes into a series of discussions on the ancient view of the gods looking at pre-Hebrew, Hebrew, second temple Judaism, and finally New Testament beliefs and how they fit in with the concept of a council of Gods.
   
   In the next section Ostler takes a look at the Latin Trinity and compares it with the scriptures and logic. He follows with a look at the Orthodox Social Trinitarianism pointing out some if its strengths and weaknesses.
   
   In the following section he takes a thorough look at the Godhead in Mormon thought and discusses and answers challenges to this view. In the last section he explores the Mormon doctrine of deification and compares it with Latin and Orthodox thought. He finishes with a look at the scriptural basis for deification.
   
   I found his logic and discussion to be powerful. He truly thinks things through in a unique way and I found myself looking at things like I have never looked at them before. I really enjoyed his discussion supporting his views from the scriptures. I am in a Bible study group of non-LDS people and was able to help them understand the Mormon concept of the Godhead much better from the scriptures than I was able to before I read this book. The other thing that has helped me with my study group is that Ostler's familiarity and use of theological and philosophical terms has helped me immensely in the correct understanding of terminology that is not commonly used by Mormons.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Mormon concept of the Godhead. Both Mormons and non-Mormons would benefit from reading this.

4 comments about Teaching Your Children Responsibility.

1. I have read all of the Teach Your Children...series. The authors approcah is easy to understand and to follow and implement in your own family. I'm glad my sister reccomended these books to me!



2. The authors have selected 12 core values that all children need to learn in order to mature into responsible and moral adults. This book suggests that the family select one value a month to discuss and practice thus covering all values after one calendar year. While I have never followed the monthly routine, this book has helped me present different values to my children in ways that they can understand.

   For educators who are interested in incorporating values education into their school - this book could be a valuable resource.

   I highly recommend it to all parents and others who work with children.




3. I saw the Eyres on "Oprah" when they were promoting this book & it just made sense. I'm the oldest of nine girls in a house that ran fairly smoothly. I could see that many of the things that had worked for us, they had down but had gone even further to refine the idea. They've helped me realize that I can't wait for my 5-yr-old to get older before I start teaching her these important things unless I want to miss out on prime teaching time with her. They also never sound like they know it all & we must do just as they say. It's been trial & error for them...they just got through more of it than your average sized family. :-)



4. The Eyre's make a great point that parents undo the very heart of what responsibility means when they remind their children to do their responsibilities. Their solution is pure gold! They give ideas on how to restructure your approach. Soon your children will be scrambling to be responsible for their own chores and other responsibilities. It took our family about a month to readjust from "parent reminders" to "self reminding." We've been using this system for 5 years now and our children continue to be self motivated in getting ready for school on time, reporting on chore completion, and excelling in their studies. Their easy-to-tailor-to-your-family system gives another benefit. If you are working together as a family to master perfect love (rather than perfectionism), the natural consequence style this book offers allows for greater parent-child communication, understanding, self-improvement that is guided by the parent with the goals and solutions chosen by the child, and the opportunity to practice win/win negotiation skills. If you are looking to raise pro-active, capable children in an emotionally safe, eager to become more efficient environment then this book is for you. Good communication skills will be a boon. If you struggle with helping your children through their concerns then I recommend reading this book along with I Don't Have to Make Everything All Better by the Lundberg's, Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World by Glenn and Nelsen, and A Thomas Jefferson Education by DeMille or another of the Eyre's books called Teaching Your Children Sensitivity, all 5 star reading.

5 comments about Mormonism Explained: What Latter-day Saints Teach and Practice.

1. This author does not attempt to merely 'explain' Mormonism, he also inserts his own biases and belittles those beliefs equally well. This is not a 'scholarly' attempt to understand Mormons. If that is what you are looking for, buy the books by Jan Shipps, an actual scholar.
   
   There is a reason the editorial reviews are all by non-Mormons - they don't seek real understanding any more than the author does. They seek understanding on their own terms, and to justify their own biases.



2. As the author of Mormonism Explained, J. Price's review of my book is quite unfortunate, although not that surprising.
   
   As a Mormon, I realize that Price might not agree with some of my conclusions, but he provides no specific content inaccuracies in my book. Actually, Price's review is no review at all, it is more of an empty denouncement.
   
   I trust that Latter-Day Saints will provide more thoughtful and detailed reviews in the future, for Price has not done them a great service.



3. This is a very informative book about what the Latter Day Saints teach and practice. Jackson has certainly done his homework, which is evident as he spells out clearly what Mormon's believe and why they believe the way they do. While it is full of information, the author has a very easy-to-read style.
   
   Mormonism Explained is one of the most thorough books on Mormonism I ever read. It covers their history, beliefs, theology, and their diversity in beliefs. This book clears up some confusion I had about what Mormons really believe.
   
   I want to note that Jackson does not put down Mormonism as he explains their beliefs, not as a critic but as a teacher. It is a good book for those who want more insight into this religion.



4. The marriage of my grandparents was sealed in the Mormon temple in Utah which has evoked my interest in trying to understand more clearly their religious beliefs and was also the reason for my reading Mormonism Explained.
   
   This book presents a systematic approach to the Mormon religion starting with the origin of Mormonism and how it has evolved to what it is today. I appreciate the fact that the author's extensive resources come directly from the Mormon books of faith and leadership teachings with no attempt to interpret these statements according to his own personal view. Rather the author compares Mormon doctrines to mainstream Biblical Christianity and allows one to come to his/her own conclusion on the validity of the doctrines set forth by the Mormon church.
   
   This book presents an in-depth understanding of Mormon theology which is both concise and insightful as the author presents the Mormon teachings for what they are, in and of themselves. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain an understanding into the Mormon church and how the religion is practiced today.



5. I'm the token Mormon in a Bible study group consisting of mostly evangelicals and mainstream Protestants. It has been an enjoyable group to be part of because we are willing to learn from each other and appreciate our differences. We decided to tackle the subject of Mormonism and Dr. Jackson's new book was suggested since several of the groups members knew him. I would have preferred a book written by a Mormon, but after a quick glance at it I agreed that is looked like it was something I could work with. I also figured something written by an evangelical could explain some of our doctrines in terms that other evangelicals could understand since Mormons use some common terms differently than other Christians.
   
   In general, the book met my expectations. Dr Jackson in most cases does a very good job of explaining Mormon history and doctrine. He tended to use LDS sources and mostly reputable non-LDS sources. There was one major source that he used that I consider unreliable, which was Ostlings's Mormon America: The Power and the Promise. Almost every time I read something that I thought was misleading or distorted he referred to this book. Most of those distortions have been addressed by Mormon scholars, which I felt the need to correct with my study group. Another problem I had as a Mormon was his use of demeaning terms to describe some of our history or doctrines.
   
   In the history section there were instances where he brought up controversial or partial facts without bringing out the Mormon response. One key example is where he mentioned the fact that some of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon left the church, but failed to mention that none of them ever denied their testimony and several of them eventually returned to the church. In other areas that are controversial, but true; Jackson was very fair in his presentation. Examples include his discussions on polygamy and the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
   
   In the doctrinal sections, Jackson explains things rather clearly, but sometimes tries to make the Mormon position sound more extreme than it is. An example of this would be how he tries to show that Mormons think other Christians are fools for only believing in the Bible, and implies that for other differences. Mormon's are taught to love and respect people from all religions. Another example is that he makes it sound as though the Mormons have no respect for the Bible. Mormons have a deep love for the Bible and feel that they take it more literally than many other Christian religions. In most cases though, he does explain the doctrines adequately.
   
   Jackson also does some apologetic work explaining why he feels some of the Mormon doctrines are wrong, but mostly uses blanket statements stating that the Bible or early Christians don't agree and moving on. An example is where he absolutely states that no early Christians ever believed in the concept of a pre-existence or another example where he states that early Christians never believed in the Mormon concept of the Godhood. By reading the works of the apostolic fathers, one can see that there were a very wide range of beliefs, including some that are close to what Mormons believe. The whole reason for the great councils of the 4th century was to try to eliminate some of these beliefs. Chapter 9 on the Mormon requirements for salvation is where he does the most apologetic work and does not do a fair job of stating the Biblical arguments that the Mormons have. This is obviously a controversial chapter for Protestants on the subjects of baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, authority, and faith vs. works. Most of these arguments have been going on between Catholics and Protestants for years. From an apologetics point of view this book is geared toward Protestants, and not Catholics or Orthodox.
   
   Obviously I have mixed feelings on this book. For a book by a non-Mormon explaining Mormon beliefs it does a very good job with the few exceptions I've noted, plus a few others. His research was very impressive, and the way he explained things was very clear. I believe that most Mormons would not like this book due to its tone, but would probably agree that he is mostly accurate. There are enough exceptions that I had to explain to my study group, that I can't wholeheartedly recommend this book. I do believe it would take only a few changes in future editions to make it more acceptable to myself and other Mormons.

5 comments about Beyond Mormonism : An Elder's Story.

1. I read "Beyond Mormonism: An Elder's Story" with much interest, and I am fillied with sorrow for Pastor Spencer's conclusions. I believe that he never gained a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith or of the Church. Instead of vocalizing his questions while he was investigating the Church or as questions came up in his mind, he kept these doubts secret, many even from himself. I can see his logic. There continue to be questions in our minds if we do not raise them and obtain the answers. The question of being saved by grace alone is one which I didn't understand until I had been on an L.D.S. mission to France. We are indeed saved by grace alone "after all we can do." Are we expected to do our best in this life? Of course, we are! Can we expect to be saved by grace if we don't make an effort to live our lives in a Christ-like manner? A resounding NO! Christ shed His blood to save all mankind! I am afraid there are members of the L.D.S. (Mormon) Church (just as there are many who are not L.D.S.) who will be surprised at who will and who will not be found in "heaven". I hope and pray that those who have "hardened their hearts" may have their hearts "softened", if not in this life, then in the life to come. I, like the Spencers, harbor no ill will against those who do not share my beliefs. I'm sure that God alone is the One who knows the real answers. That is why we have to live by faith, not only in Jesus Christ, but in His teachings. However, in spite of my imperfections, I still have my testimony of the Church and its teachings. This, fortunately, has never completely left me. I hope and pray that they may realize the error of their ways and come back into the Church, as I pray that I may make my own way back into the Church.



2. Before you decide this man is the next best thing to the second coming, look at the other books he has published. He is preaching bigotry for money.
   He has written several books preaching intolerance. Remember the proof is in the taste, is it sweet or bitter. Does it have all of its savor?
   
   A book I might suggest for Mr. Spenser or anyone else in his community is this:
   "Bearing False Witness?: An Introduction to the Christian Countercult" Be warned that it is not truly friendly to any religion, but it will show you the pattern of abuse being used by others to further their causes.
   
   Incidentally, I had originally given this book 3 stars, since the author seemed to be genuine. After doing a search for more titles under his name I found that demeaning beliefs that do not agree with his are his sideline.
   I have read excerpts from some of Mr. Spencer's other books and some of his writings may indeed be sincere attempts to draw people to Christ. I still consider this book to be greatly misguided. I disagree with the methods used in this book and others but I can tolerate a bigot to some extent if he is at least trying to help non-believers or those that have become secular return to Christ. So I will go back from 1 star to 2 since though he may be misguided his heart might be sincere...only God and maybe Mr. Spencer know for sure.
   
   (New Testament | Luke 9:49 - 50)
   49 ¶ And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
   50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.



3. As America approaches a presidential election in a little over a year, I needed to find information about the religion of one of the candidates, Mitt Romney. I want to know as much information about the candidate and his religion as I can. I came across Spencer's book and was captivated from beginning to end.
   
   "Beyond Mormonism" is a heartfelt and sincere recounting of one man's journey from sinner to saved, with a 10-year detour through Mormonism. It is full of compassion and empathy. Surprisingly, there seems to be no bitterness on the part of Spencer toward those in the LDS church. On the contrary, there are many references of his love and friendship toward those who are still in the Mormon church, even though they have severed ties with him.
   
   The book is well written in concise, easy to understand language. At no time does Spencer come off as preaching or condescending. I read the entire book online, and made it through quickly.
   
   It is both informative and moving. My heartfelt thanks to Jim Spencer, both for writing this book, and for publishing it online.



4. I have not read this mans book and i have no intention to. Having gone through the same experience he has I have no reason to justify my decision for leaving the LDS church by reading his book. I am a bit ticked off with the holy roller dogma that has been written about his book in these reviews. Having done extensice research on the origions of the LDS church and living as a member, and surving a mission I have the utmost respect for the organization and it's people. I have yet to find a group that more turely exemplifies living a true christian life. Unlike the ignorrant comments made about this book so far, I want to say that everyone has the opportunity to find truth, as gandi said -truth is god-god is not truth! America is trapped by a growing number of narrow minded, ignorrant, fundimental christian groups who whould have all of us live and believe only what they feel is the true interpitaiton of a fairy-tail book,the bible. They think the world is only 4000 years old and have the nerve to gudge the mormons? Get real and wake up.



5. So much has already been said about this fine book that I'll keep this short. I read this book when it first came out. At the time I thought it was very good. It was also unique in that it was the first ex-Mormon testimony that I knew of that had been published to a broad, mass-market audience.
   
   I was especially impressed with the author's respectful yet honest tone. At the time most ex-Mormon testimonies tended to be rather shrill and somewhat demeaning.
   
   This book was different and I really appreciated that since my brother is Mormon as are many friends. From my Mormon relationships I knew that the picture that was often painted of them and their culture was unfairly skewed to the negative.
   
   Yes, their theology and doctrine is heretical. Yes, their leadership is oppressive. Yes their thinking can be inconsistent, illogical, and irrational. However, their hearts, desires, and passions are well placed and sincere. Well this isn't always the case, they rarely do what they do out of malice or guile. Mormons believe and practice their faith with the best of intentions and motivations - they just happen to be climbing a ladder that's leaning against the wrong wall.
   
   Since this book was published many, many, many other fine testimony books have also been released. A few that I have either read or heard good things about include:
   
   Secret Ceremonies: A Mormon Woman's Intimate Diary of Marriage and Beyond
   
   Out of Mormonism: A Womans True Story
   
   Out of the Shadows: A rape victim examines her life in and out of Mormonism
   
   Evangelicals should note that not all Mormon testimonies end in a Born-Again experience. However, they are ALL of great value if nothing more than the reader can gain some insight, understanding, and empathy for their Mormon friends through them.
   
   I've also found some superb Mormon Recovery websites (just google on "Mormons in Transition" and you'll find them) and the following books which have been of great benefit while maintaining a respectful tone:
   
   The Pattern of The Double-Bind in Mormonism
   
   I Love Mormons: A New Way to Share Christ with Latter-day Saints
   
   Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons
   
   What's going on in there? The Verbatim Text of the Mormon Temple Rituals Annotated and Explained by a Former Temple Worker
   
   I hope that this short review and book list will help you find which book on Mormonism is of most value to you and your family.

5 comments about Praise to the Man (Work and the Glory, Vol 6).

1. Bro Lund has made church history come alive for me. I've read many diffrent church history books. These I can relate to. It's like I'm there living it as it happens. You can bet I'll read all 9 volumes. My wife reads them to the us in the car on long trips and we all listen intently. They good for all age groups 10 to 100. Keep them coming Mr. Lund



2. The Work and the Glory: Praise to the Man is a great book! It is a great addition to Gerald N. Lund's series: The Work and the Glroy. In this book it talks a lot about LDS church history . . . that is the plot of the whole series. But, despite that, it has a great side plot: The life of a fiction family -- the Steeds. The way Gerlad N. Lund creates the moods for this book are amazing, and I love it how he has so many stories and so many settings at the same time. For example, at one given time, some of the family members are in Wisconsin, Palmyra, Nauvoo, on a ship, and a city in Illinois all at the same time, and Gerald N. Lund writes all of these seperate stories while combining them in a way that you don't get comfused. I would strongly suggest to read this book, but I would also strongly suggest that if you are going to read it, read the first five books in the series first (which, by the way, I would rate as a 5). Have fun reading!



3. The Work and the Glory: Praise to the Man is a great book! It is a great addition to Gerald N. Lund's series: The Work and the Glroy. In this book it talks a lot about LDS church history . . . that is the plot of the whole series. But, despite that, it has a great side plot: The life of a fiction family -- the Steeds. The way Gerlad N. Lund creates the moods for this book are amazing, and I love it how he has so many stories and so many settings at the same time. For example, at one given time, some of the family members are in Wisconsin, Palmyra, Nauvoo, on a ship, and a city in Illinois all at the same time, and Gerald N. Lund writes all of these seperate stories while combining them in a way that you don't get comfused. I would strongly suggest to read this book, but I would also strongly suggest that if you are going to read it, read the first five books in the series first (which, by the way, I would rate as a 5). Have fun reading!



4. I have been an avid reader of the Work and the Glory series. I think that they are wonderful, and are good books for both members and nonmembers alike. This book has a good plot. There are several parts that are kind of gross (there are some affairs and stuff). This book also covers the struggle that many people had with polygamy. Another part of this book includes Joseph Smith and Hyrym Smith's martyrdom. I bawled my eyes out when I read it! These books have given me a greater understanding of what my ancestors went through and have strengthened my feelings towards Joseph Smith, his family, the apostles, and the early Saints. I would suggest these books to anyone!



5. This is perhaps the most important book in the series of "The Work and the Glory". While I personally love the story of the pioneers that come later in the series, this is the volume that discusses some monumental events in LDS church history. One, the martydom of the prophet Joseph Smith. While I personaly believe that had I lived back in the day I might not have joined the Church simply because I would not have liked Joseph Smith. And yet no one can deny that he was a remarkable man; watching his death through the eyes of so many characters was poignant indeed. This is the installment that introduces so much incredible drama, through both the martyrdom and the thoughts over the restoration of the practice of polygamy. Great, dramatic, and thought-provoking reading.

3 comments about House of Mourning: A Biocultural History of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.

1. "House of Mourning", stands alone among all other literature previously published about the tragedy of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Shannon A. Novak, an anthropologist with impeccable credentials, allows the bones of the Arkansas victims to speak for themselves. This book makes no attempt to assign blame or identify motive for the murders but brings together information from oral interviews, primary record sources and other works on the MMM with the analysis of victims' skeletal remains. Novak's work gives a clearer picture of the victims and their lifestyle in the Arkansas Ozarks. The reader meets the interconnected families through Federal Census reports and family records and hears the victims' voices through the medium of scientific data. One can almost see their faces as they set forth for a new life in California, only to meet a horrible death in a formerly peaceful meadow in Southern Utah.
   
   After studying this event for more than twenty-five years, it is exciting to find a work that focuses on the victims and exactly who they were.



2. It is so often sadly the case when so many die at the same time, the impact of each individual death becomes less and less, until it becomes nothing more than padding for statistics, completely stripped of its human element. "House of Mourning: A Biocultural History of the Mountain Meadows Massacre" seeks to remedy this horrifying effect by turning a more personal look at the victims of the infamous Mountain Meadows Massacre, where 120 men, women, and children were senselessly executed by Mormon militiamen. Going over each individual, and using whatever evidence she could, author and professor of Anthropology Shannon Novak does her best to give each of the hundred twenty unfortunate souls justice to not just be lost in the sands of time as simply a one of a number. "House of Mourning: A Biocultural History of the Mountain Meadows Massacre" is a highly recommended addition to academic and community library Anthropology, American History, and Utah History reference shelves and supplemental reading lists.



3. Novak's work was a long time in the writing, but it was worth the wait. A very well-researched and well-written book, giving both the history of the people and the communities they left behind for their journey west.
   
   I was impressed by the detailed research into their backgrounds and relationships.
   
   A book like this could have easily become a dense tome of numbers, a work that was a struggle to read. But Shannon Novak has penned a very readable work accessible to a wide audience, while still presenting her data and ample footnotes; the bibiography alone is a useful tool for historians of the western trails, the Mountain Meadows Massacre or Mormon history.
   
   I just ordered a copy to keep in my personal library...

No comments about He Did Deliver Me From Bondage.

No comments about Endowed from on High: Understanding the Symbols of the Endowment.