Understanding the Book of Mormon

[Anonymous]

Has anyone read the book: Understanding the BOM. A Reader’s Guide?

It is written by: Grant Hardy.

I’m wondering if it’s worth reading.

Any recommendations?

Mike from Milton.

[Anonymous]

No, but I have read this review of the book in Slate. I’ve never read any of Hardy’s stuff but I have a collection of DVDs of him discussing various eastern religions (which I haven’t watched yet) somewhere that a friend lent me. My friend described him as slightly goofy, but informational. Also definitely apologetic.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t read any of his books, but I’ve listened to a couple of interviews with him. He seems like a good resource for people who might want to hear a more intellectual and literary view of the Book of Mormon, BUT from a faithful perspective. I’ve wanted to buy a copy of his reader’s edition of the BoM because a lot of people seem to like how he rearranged the text to make it flow better (it’s the same text, but presented as a book instead of all chopped up with chapter headings and references, etc.)

I would think this book would be a nice window into his thoughts. He is probably one of the more prominent experts on the BoM on the faithful end of the spectrum.

[Anonymous]

Mike-

My husband and I have read it. I don’t know what your personal experience with the Book of Mormon is or your expectations for understanding it better. For my husband reading Hardy’s Understanding of the Book of Mormon was the final “nail in the coffin” for any belief in the book and his authors. Both my husband and I contacted Hardy about the book, Hardy explained that he wrote the book mostly for people who had little experience with it. He wrote it from an academic point of view, which means there was a great deal of discarding of the faith point of view.

Now if you have had a lot of experience with other scholarly studies on scripture you may be quite suited to the book. And even for my husband he did find that he sees new positives he’d never noticed in the BofM before. For him new characters became heroic, and experiences took on a more human aspect.

In short I believe it depends on what you are looking for. I think a lot of standard active members would find the book discomforting. If you want to ask me more details you can but take a moment to assess your reasons for wanting to learn more first. On a side note, it is very well written and easy to read and Hardy has some great points he brings up.

[Anonymous]

mom3,

I’m trying to get a better understanding about the message it contains.

I thought that I would use a Mormon “academic” first.

Its been awhile since I’ve read it too.

Thanks for your help.

Mike from Milton.

[Anonymous]

Personally I didn’t find it faith-shaking at all, but I did really enjoy it. I don’t like the BOM much, and reading Hardy’s book I know why. He presents the BOM as a literary work (which it is whether historical or not), and he points out complexities that support it being historical but also don’t rule out it being fiction. Some of the book is a little dry for me, but the concepts were valuable.

[Anonymous]

mom3 wrote:

Now if you have had a lot of experience with other scholarly studies on scripture you may be quite suited to the book. And even for my husband he did find that he sees new positives he’d never noticed in the BofM before. For him new characters became heroic, and experiences took on a more human aspect.

This is a lot of what I get out of it. He focuses a lot on the different narrators (Nephi, Mormon, Moroni), and what they do for the book. He explains their motivations, does some reading between the lines, and helps us understand what could be going on with the Book of Mormon. I enjoyed it, but I did start skimming a bit as I got near the end of the book.

[Author]

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