The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction

[pelagius]

A review of The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction by Terryl Givens, published by Oxford University Press, 2009, 152 pages.

This review ended up being quite personal in nature. I hope you will forgive my indulgence.

I love the Bible. I love its theological force. I love the bible as literature. I love its complexity, contradictions, ambiguity, beauty, and ugliness. One of my greatest joys is to sit down, isolate myself, and dive into a pericope. A close reading of a text (even if it done ratherly clumsily) is extremely rewarding and to me it is worship. There is something ineffable about the experience.

I love the Book of Mormon, but, at least historically, for quite different reasons. I've always loved what it represents for us as a people. Additionally, my greatest and most found memories with my father revolve around reading the Book of Mormon with him.

I remember last year I did some extended subbing for gospel doctrine when the class was covering the Book of Mormon. I was scared and I am never scared about teaching; I'm a professional but this was different. Teaching is a chance for me to justify spending time reading a scriptural text closely. I was terrified that the Book of Mormon would let me down. That it wouldn't stand up to close reading. I found the opposite. The text rewarded me in similar ways to the Bible. Sure, it is not the Bible but it is scripture and facilitated an encounter is some sense with the divine.

Today as I read Terryl Givens introduction to the Book of Mormon I was reminded of the preceeding. Givens makes the Book of Mormon look good, very good. I was reminded of the first time I read Robert Alter's The Art of Bibllical Narrative. Alter completely altered how I read scripture. This is not to suggest the Givens should be viewed on the same footing as Alter. Still, I found his introduction to be quite good and quite insightful. He certainly reinforced what is now obvious to me that I have underrated the book's beauty, complexity, and narrative force.

I suspect most members will not consider this book since it is labeled as a very short introduction (it's, of course, part of Oxford's very short introduction series). That is really too bad. I can't help but think it is the best book on the Book of Mormon in my library. Well with my effusive praise it is bound to disappoint anyone on the board that picks up a copy. It is probably important to keep in mind that the book approaches the Book of Mormon in a way that really resonates with my approach to scripture, worship, and my most meaningful encounters with divine.

[Art Vandelay]

A review of The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction by Terryl Givens, published by Oxford University Press, 2009, 152 pages.

This review ended up being quite personal in nature. I hope will forgive my indulgence.

I love the Bible. I love its theological force. I love the bible as literature. I love its complexity, contradictions, ambiguity, beauty, and ugliness. One of my greatest joy is to sit down, isolate myself, and dive into a pericope. A close reading of a text (even if it done ratherly clumsily) is extremely rewarding and to me it is worship. There is something ineffable about the experience.

I love the Book of Mormon, but, at least historically, for quite different reasons. I've always loved what it represents for us as a people. Additionally, my greatest and most found memories with my father revolve around reading the Book of Mormon with him.

I remember last year I did some extended subbing for gospel doctrine when the class was covering the Book of Mormon. I was scared and I am never scared about teaching; I'm a professional but this was different. Teaching is a chance for me to justify spending time reading a scriptural text closely. I was terrified that the Book of Mormon would let me down. That it wouldn't stand up to close reading. I found the opposite. The text rewarded me in similar ways to the Bible. Sure, it is not the Bible but it is scripture and facilitated an encounter is some sense with the divine.

Today as I read Terryl Givens introduction to the Book of Mormon I was reminded of the preceeding. Givens makes the Book of Mormon look good, very good. I was reminded of the first time I read the Robert Alter's The Art of Bibllical Narrative. Alter completely altered how I read scripture. This is not to suggest the Given's should be viewed on the same footing as Alter. Still, I found his introduction to be quite good and quite insightful. He certainly reinforced what is now obvious to me that I have underrated the books beauty, complexity, and narrative force.

I suspect most members will not consider this book since it is labeled as a very short introduction (it's, of course, part of Oxford's very short introduction series). That is really too bad. I can't help but think it is the best book on the Book of Mormon in my library. Well with my effusive praise it is bound to disappointed anyone on the board that picks up a copy. It is probably important to keep in mind that the book approaches the Book of Mormon in a way that really resonates with my approach to scripture, worship, and my most meaningful encounters with divine.

Forgive my ignorance (I trust Solon's opinion when he called you the smartest cat on here) am I reading your post correctly in that everything you say is your feeling and opinions? None of the paragraphs are Given's words? I hope that doesn't sound accusatory, I wasn't sure if you are reviewing Givens or he is reviewing the Book of Mormon. Can you clarify so the Sunbeams on here (me) don't feel so dumb.

[pelagius]

Forgive my ignorance (I trust Solon's opinion when he called you the smartest cat on here) am I reading your post correctly in that everything you say is your feeling and opinions? None of the paragraphs are Given's words? I hope that doesn't sound accusatory, I wasn't sure if you are reviewing Givens or he is reviewing the Book of Mormon. Can you clarify so the Sunbeams on here (me) don't feel so dumb.

For better or worse this post is all me. It is just some reflections I had after reading Givens' book which is an introduction to the Book of Mormon.

[Art Vandelay]

For better or worse this post is all me. It just some reflections I had after reading Given's book which is an introduction to the Book of Mormon.

That is what I thought. I particulary appreciated you sharing your feelings/worries about teaching GD. I'm not familiar with either Givens or Alter can you tell me a little bit about who they are?

[pelagius]

That is what I thought. I particulary appreciated you sharing your feelings/worries about teaching GD. I'm not familiar with either Givens or Alter can you tell me a little bit about who they are?

If you watched the PBS series on Mormonism from a while back then you have seen Givens. He was one of the more prominately used scholars

See here:

http://www.pbs.org/mormons/interviews/givens.html

I would say he is one of the most influential scholars in Mormon studies right now.


Robert Alter is a professor of Literature (Berkeley, I think). He is primarily known for work on reading the Bible as literature. I've never seen anyone unlock the beauty of the Biblical narrative like Alter. I don't know if his translations are particularly accurate (I don't have the skills to judge such a thing) but I find them to be beautiful.

[Art Vandelay]

If you watched the PBS series on Mormonism from a while back then you have seen Givens. He was one of the more prominately used scholars

See here:

http://www.pbs.org/mormons/interviews/givens.html

I would say he is the most influential scholar in Mormon studies right now.


Robert Alter is a professor of Literature (Berkeley, I think). He is primarily known for work on reading the Bible as literature. I've never seen anyone unlock the beauty of the Biblical narrative like Alter. I don't know if his translations are particularly accurate (I don't have the skills to judge such a thing) but I find them to be beautiful.

Ok I do recall Givens. I will be sure to get both books you mentioned. Thanks for the summary and recommendations.

[SeattleUte]

Alter's translations of the Pentateuch and the Psalms are much admired.

[pelagius]

Alter's translations of the Pentateuch and the Psalms are much admired.

I'm a big fan of his translation of 1 and 2 Samuel as well.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Thanks Pelagius. Just ordered a copy.

Have you read his book By the Hand of Mormon?

[pelagius]

Thanks Pelagius. Just ordered a copy.

Have you read his book By the Hand of Mormon?

Yes, I like that one as well.

[jay santos]

Cool. Sounds like a good read. Thanks.

[pelagius]

Thanks Pelagius. Just ordered a copy.

Have you read his book By the Hand of Mormon?

I probably should mention that the overlap between the two books is pretty minimal. As one can gather from my post this Intro book is focused on the text rather than the implications of the text's existence. You do get essentially an abbreviated summary of by the Hand of Mormon in one of the chapters.


Also, it should be noted that this is a small book. The "very short introduction" series is meant to provide an accessible introduction to a topic in about 100 pages. This one is about 130 pages.

[LA Ute]

I'm bumping this because I finally downloaded "By the Hand of Mormon" to my Kindle and started reading it on the plane home last night (I didn't want to think about football for some reason - ). I am really enjoying it, especially the way Givens puts the BoM into historical perspective. I hadn't heard about the "Short Introduction" so I am going to get that one too.

[wuapinmon]

I'll have to order this, pelagius. I actually just finished reviewing Oxford's A Very Short Introduction to Postcolonialism for an Afro-Hispanic Literature class I'm teaching next Fall, and I'm a fan of the series. I didn't know they had a BofM one.

[UtahDan]

I didn't see this the first time. My only experience with Givens is People of Paradox which I liked. He teaches at the University of Richmond which is pretty close to me. I have been trying to contrive a reason to go take him to lunch but haven't been able to think of a pretext I think would interest him.