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Title: By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion
ISBN: 019513818X
Author:
Terryl L. Givens
Publicate Date: 2002-03-14
Publish: 2002-03-14
List Price: $30.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Hardcover
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Amazon Lowest Used Price: $9.24
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1: By the Hand of Mormon
Terryl Givens presents fair and fascinating information about the Book of Mormon. His scholarship is extensive, yet a pleasure to read. I appreciate the his objectivity and respect for the Book of Mormon.
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2: Very Imformative, but full of supersized words...
I guess "scholarly" translated into laymens terms means: "use of lots, and lots of cumbersome, unwieldy, anti-colloquial lexical jargon". OK, that aside, this book is EXTREMELY interesting after you hack through the over-use of big words. (But in all fairness, this book IS supposed to be part of the "scholarly" genre.)
Givens is clearly an advocate for Mormonism, but does so while presenting counter arguments against Joseph Smith Jr. and the foundations of Mormon legitimacy (i.e. Smith's personal character and First Vision accounts, the Book of Mormon geography and anthropology, additional "revelations" context, Smith's "revelatory" teachings , etc.).
He compares Joseph Smith Jr's story with other "prophets" of his day and analyzes them on their intrinsic value, rather than the subjective eye-piece of a naysayer. VERY interesting, if you can muddle through some heavy reading in the middle parts of the book. But I must say, the difficult parts are worth reading since they set the stage for the latter third of the book.
Don't listen to the other silly whiner-babies who rate this book low because Givens didn't do "this", or Givens didn't do "that". Puullleeeaaze people!!! If Givens were to revise this book to address in a fair, scholarly manner every complaint about this work, it would be 2,785 pages people!!!
If you want to know WHY the Mormon church has grown to what it is today, this book will explain it; having read it myself -- it clearly is not meant to counter or promote every opposing or supporting view on Mormonism, but simply to explain the origins, evolution and progress of the Mormon church.
If you are not interested in knowing why the Mormon church exists, or why it has grown to whatever number of people they're claiming at the moment, then you WILL NOT like this book. This book is about WHAT, NOT ABOUT WHY and HOW, you silly whiner-babies. Sheeeesh....
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3: Very Informative
I've studied the Book of Mormon and its history throughout my life, and I learned several things I didn't know or think about before. The author did an excellent job of reviewing how the Book of Mormon was perceived both within and without the LDS church. I did not realize how little emphasis the Book of Mormon received doctrinally in the early days of the church. I was also very interested in his discussion of dialogic revelation and its emphasis in the Book of Mormon as opposed to the Bible. Being a lifelong member of the LDS church it had never occurred to me how much it was emphasized in the Book of Mormon compared to the Bible. This book is highly recommended for both LDS and non-LDS readers.
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4: Only book of its kind?
I would probably give this book 4 stars if there were competitors, but there are not. The only problem with it (if it is a problem) is that the author clearly wants to give the Book of Mormon the benefit of the doubt where there are controversial issues. This results in a mild apologetic/partisan flavor. But no one should get their knickers in a twist over this. It is absurd to get upset about the fact that an author has a personal stand. A slight bias can be a problem, but only if it leads a writer to distortion and denial. I don't think Givens can be accused of either. His approach is to present the debate, and he gives lots of air-time to the critics as well as the apologists on a wide variety of topics. Nor does he invariably side with the apologists. At most, he doesn't always acknowledge the full implications of certain criticisms.
The real value of the book is the exposure it gives to the history and topography of Book of Mormon criticism. In this respect, the book is wonderful and (as far as I know) unique. It can only be of service.
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5: Good Show Professor Givens
Professor Givens gives us probably the most insightful and comprehensive study of the Book of Mormon to date. He begins by mapping the Book's discovery, translation and publication. He then deftly chronicles how the early Saints mostly frequently used the Book of Mormon (tangible sign of Joseph Smith's propehtic calling), before moving in the historicity controversies surrounding the Book.
It is in this historicity controversy section Given's study is weakest. He acknowledges numerous views questioning the Book of Mormon's historicity, but doesn't give them the same treatment he gives views supporting its historicity. Simply put, he somewhat shorchanges those who disagree with him. It's easy to understand why he does this: most of the theories are based on faulty logic or a complete misreading of the Book of Mormon (or both). This notwithstanding, Givens' study would have been more complete and accurate had he addressed them more fully.
Givens' chapters on Book of Mormon theology and dialogic revelation are a tour de force. He demonstrates how the Book of Mormon expounds an incredibly sophisticated understanding of Christ's atonement. In addition, he addresses how the Book of Mormon's view on personal revelation is wildly democratic, and quite unlike the Old Testament's treatment of revelation. The Book all but dares all readers to receive individual revelation, while the Old Testament normally limited revelation to the prophet's. Again, Givens' treatment of these issues is innovative and stunning.
I would suggest this to anyone truly interested in the Book of Mormon.
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