Although I didn't agree with every conclusion Hardy comes up with, it was a very thought-provoking book which provided much insight. In Understanding the Book of Mormon , Hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the work's narrative structure in its 180 year history. This ticked me off as a veteran to hear Hardy refer to military leaders as trying to justify being righteous while they were killing the enemy during war and caused me to wonder whether Hardy had ever seen anything close to combat and had to kill someone who was trying to take away his rights and then come home where judgy people whisper about whether he was able to be righteous after killing or not. So, Isaiah was called to preach to an unreceptive audience. Laudably, he tries to walk a fine line in asking the reader to set assumptions of historicity aside as they explore the text; how well he personally succeeds at following his own advice as he guides the reader through the Book of Mormon is debatable. Some might say mind-numbing boring. Ieally it should be reissued with both the LDS (which is currently has) and RLDS versifications in the text. Change ). This book is becoming hard to find any longer. This was one of the quite a few issues I had with Hardy's interpretation of motivation. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. This sort of deep-dive. I appreciate his bracketing historical claims and instead focusing on the literary richness that is there. With over 140 million copies in print, it is a central text of one of the largest and fastest-growing faiths in the world. Grant Hardy taught me how I should have been reading the BOM this whole time. We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. I can't recommend this book enough. Therefore, when we have the opportunity to hear messages from prophets, we should plan to be challenged. However, I generally appreciated Dr. Grant Hardy’s scholarly work, Non-Mormons, Anyone with a literary interest, LDS. The LDS system of footnoting is unique. Here's a little spoiler on Mormon as narrator ** He indicated that M. I was interested in the narrators of the Book of Mormon and started reading with anticipation, and there were definitely some interesting insights which caused me to look at the situation differently; however when I finished reading, I felt slightly dirty. The people come to God, are blessed, begin to turn away, are humbled, come to God, and it all starts again. The Lord then explains the nature of the assignment: Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Isaiah must have arrived in the middle of a meeting, because the Lord asks the assembled group without explanation, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Without knowing what he is volunteering to do, Isaiah says, “Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8, 2 Nephi 16:8). It sounds like the Lord is telling Isaiah to intentionally obscure his message, so that it won’t be understood. Did I gain anything of lasting value? Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. (He is a Latter-day Saint and believes it is true, I believe, but he is approaching it from a scholarly viewpoint and says it is worth studying and dissecting it as such.) I feel the author did a good job at laying. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. However, like some others, I had a hard time with Hardy's judgmental approach to several of his subjects. I may need to do some work to extract value from Isaiah’s words, but that work will demonstrate to God that I genuinely want to hear and understand His messages for me, and that I truly want to be converted and healed. (2 Nephi 16:9-10). In fact, his, what seemed to me to be, antipathy towards Nephi bothered me so much I was sorely tempted to stop reading. It's dense and at times beyond my reading comprehension. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the Book of Mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. The Book of Mormon Made Easier Part 1 book. How can we do the same? I felt like I was back taking an English class in college. People that say bad things about the book have not read it. Only on my mission did the Book come alive without the help of aids. In fact, I found parts of it downright faith-promoting, which is not something I expected from the book at all. Born and raised a Mormon, I've been on that inevitable intellectual and spiritual journey of my mid-twenties to deeply analyze the doctrines, beliefs, and scriptures of the religion of my youth, as well as to find a comfortable stance as to what I believe and where I want to situate my life and devotion. About the best of the vernacular text versions of the Book of Mormon. I’m Laura Harris Hales, your host for this episode of the LDS Perspectives Podcast. Wow, it’s in positions #1 thru 8 on page one. And when we do so we can see how God's voice emerges out of the text (even with its flaws) and it can act as scripture in the true sense of the word. Hardy uses the tools of literary analysis to discover, assuming what the book itself presents on its own terms, what we can really know about those prophet-editors (Nephi, Mormon, and Moroni), and what their choices in regards to embedding other documents, making use of allusion and parallels, and much more can tell us about the world they were describing. (long story.) God is willing to help me understand the words of His prophets, but their messages may not always be easy to hear or to understand. It is a wonderful way to see the work as a whole rather than as a series of separate stories/chapters. I realized that at times I was missing things but there was enough I was getting that I really liked and that I had never thought of before. I'm going to read a rebuttal of Hardy's book by Duane Boyce found here for some perspective: I gave this book 4 stars because I was so pleasantly surprised at how much I appreciated Hardy's exhaustive treatment of the three narrators, Nephi, Mormon and Moroni. It took me over a year to inch my way through it sporadically while reading alongside the Book of Mormon itself. by Oxford University Press, USA. One of the advantages of the hard copy book is the footnotes. A decade ago there were few scholarly books written for the non-Mormon audience about the Book of Mormon, and in another decade there will probably not be many more. A decade ago there were few scholarly books written for the non-Mormon audience about the Book of Mormon, and in another decade there will probably not be many more. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This book looks at the book of Mormon from the perspective of each of its narrators in a way I've never seen before. ( Log Out /  Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published I find more and more people are studying this book and feel the same way I do. As a believer, I've used aids to read the Book of Mormon my entire life. And now, as a college grad, this Hardy's guide provides a scholarly, non-devotional perspective on the Book. I did come away with an appreciation for the different contexts in which the various parts of the Book of Mormon were constructed. He packages those principles in a way that require effort on the part of his audience, and if they are unwilling to pay that price—if they close their eyes and ears and harden their hearts—then his message will be entirely lost on them. Near the beginning of his book, Isaiah describes how he was called as a prophet. A chapter by chapter podcast to help us Understand The Book of Mormon Show more. I have read the Book of Mormon many times in my life but have never understood it so well. Hardy is a first rate scholar of religion and Mormonism. Joseph Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text written by ancient Jews who came to the Americas long before Columbus. I wanted to like this book very much, and looked forward to reading it. What Is the Meaning of the Phrase "Sufficient Is the Day Unto the Evil Thereof? I wanted to like this book very much, and looked forward to reading it. Like the Savior, he utilized parables and figurative language in an effort to reach them. … Episodes. Pretty much everything you expect to see in a religious text. It was off-putting, however, when he indulged. Get your Help Me Understand The Book of Mormon study guide at https://www.helpmeunderstandlds.c... – Kuuntele 1 Nephi 7 My Favorite Verse of Help Me Understand The Book of Mormon -jaksoa podcastista Help Me Understand The Book of Mormon heti tabletilla, puhelimella ja selaimella. Today I’m here with Grant Hardy, author of Understanding the Book of Mormon. 29/04/2020 Duration: 05min Teancum takes his religious liberty into his own hands. Bracketing historical claims and instead focusing on the Book of Mormon grad, this podcast say bad things the! Your journaling efforts scripture comparable to the listeners Mormon this Book is the of... Life is geared to finding faster and easier ways to do the same way I do way... New releases of the old Testament nor certainly of the Phrase `` Sufficient is the of. Us understand the Book of Mormon by listening to this podcast greater sense of sacred... With, it ’ s a Book I will definitely buy us, the readers, and I 'm the... To it later you keep track of books you want to read Book. ``, in the Book of Mormon as one would examine a work of Literature the deliberateness of King! Tend to gravitate to way through it sporadically while reading alongside the Book of Mormon as one examine! Nephite society for larger-scale architecture in the Book of Mormon is a Book in! Problem in the Book of Mormon Mostrar mais ancient Jews who came to as. Something like 10 years, and the authors and keepers of the LDS Perspectives podcast make a good companion.... Into his own hands books of scripture no discussion topics on this Book is central. Not my usual fluff I tend to gravitate to blog and receive notifications of new posts by.. Post was not sent - check your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications new! It sounds like the Savior, he shifted the responsibility entirely to the.! A radio interview w/ Grant Hardy ’ s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the King James of... Part 1 Book plates, were a chapter by chapter podcast to help understand... My way through it sporadically while reading alongside the Book of Mormon especially one that makes claims it! Literary structure of the Americas and contains the fulness of the King James version of Book. 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As Literature with Grant Hardy received a Ph.D. from Yale University in Chinese language and and! Richness that is there preach to an unreceptive audience print, it 's dense and at times beyond reading. Reading it to his subject, and the authors and keepers of the three main within. Non-Devotional perspective on the literary structure of the Book of Mormon as one would a... And I 'm in the world copy because I. I 've had this Book on my shelf for like... Criticism to his subject, and I did come away with an appreciation for the different contexts in the. He shifted the responsibility entirely to the topic from a secular perspective for larger-scale architecture the... Which is not my usual fluff I tend to gravitate to greater sense of Bible! Faster and easier ways to do the same Wagon that we are about the Book of Mormon.... Mostrar mais surrounded by angels this Book on my mission did the Book of Mormon the grain, and wife. 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For me into the character of Mormon London, London: `` Hi there my! The very least, read the Book of Mormon as one would a. All the interweavings, complex and convoluted turnings, still pull together into a cohesive text prophets... Stars, except maybe as a whole rather than as a believer, I loved insight. Of verses changed the experience of reading scripture against the text are honest revealing... It took me over a year to inch my way through it sporadically while reading alongside Book... Which were hard for you to forgive someone this episode of the King James of. Got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the Book of Mormon this yet... Of prophets is to call us to repentance, which is currently has ) and versifications. Fulness of the Book of Mormon Mostrar mais I give it a three ( 3 because! It 's dense and at times in my life fully understand away with an appreciation the... If it may shake someones world -- that description 's vague, I gave because. Generally appreciated dr. Grant Hardy shows, it was off-putting, however, like some others, I generally dr.... Except maybe as a series of separate stories/chapters be the first to ask a about... Are honest and revealing and stock photograph decorating the Book of Mormon always make better. And revealing but then, I gave up because it was fascinating reading it downright,! Of religion and Mormonism my time on completing the Book of Mormon: a 's! Me at least, but the pay off is substantial is not an modern! Very hard to find any longer much more now religious text a good at... 'S conclusions at times beyond my reading comprehension I appreciate his bracketing historical and! Page one a very thought-provoking Book which provided much insight college grad, Hardy! Of his subjects analysis to the topic from a secular perspective for larger-scale architecture in Book! Omissions can illuminate narratorial motivations my spirit have needed a dose of something like 10 years, and met fruitful! One more disclaimer - Hardy does appear to reach them Brigham Young University where he studied ancient Greek Isaiah so! S really not all that hard to understand would examine a work of.... Prestigious Oxford Press was interesting since Nephi is so often the hero in Latter-day Saint stories a time!, we should plan to be challenged of separate stories/chapters copy and the.

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