Hardy book of mormon

Grant hardy talks about the new maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon that he edited. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship at byu recently teamed up with. His cases for reading nephi as deliberately structuring his story on the model of the old testament joseph, for comparing abinadi and moses, and for seeing the jaredite record as. Hardy is certainly wellprepared to guide readers through the book of mormon. Critics of the text may question its plausibility or historicity on intellectual grounds, but the book of mormon was never meant to be. Grant hardy byu scholarsarchive citation hardy, grant 2016 the book of mormon book club, journal of book of mormon studies. A readers guide oup, 2010 that we are posting this week at times and seasons.

What he has accomplished is nothing short of phenomenal. The maxwell institute study edition will be the first edition ever to combine the churchs current official version of the text 20 with the results of royal skousens groundbreaking book of mormon critical text project. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Presenting the maxwell institute study edition of the book. Understanding the book of mormon may be the book for a lot of us. A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois press. Mormon studies book of mormon study editions and notes.

A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship. While serving as a mormon bishop, david learned of his sons homosexuality and the difficultypain his son experienced being raised in the lds church as a gay youth. In many ways, editors of the journal of book of mormon studies noted in 2016, hardys readers edition marked the possibility of a turning point in book of mormon studies, with the book of mormon being brought to the attention of the broader academy. He identifies the books literary techniques, such as characterization, embedded documents, allusions, and parallel narratives, and shows how the narratorsnephi, mormon, and moronieach has a.

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. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. Hardy also provides a brief, but helpful, history of the book of mormon text, with a short list of additional scholarly resources. Hardys understanding the book of mormon 2010 has been received favorably.

Hardy s helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon. A readerfriendly edition of the book of mormon, for mormons as well as nonmormons. Although lds readers may be surprised by some of the evidence submitted and the overwhelming amount of it, hardys style is very fair and objective. Another testament of jesus christ, maxwell institute study edition provo, ut. Regarded as sacred scripture by millions, the book of mormon first published in 1830 is one of the most significant documents in american religious history. It says something about the book that there is still a lot to talk about. David eccles hardy lived as an orthodox mormon for years, serving as an lds bishop and raising his family in the covenant. And, grant hardy shows, its far from the comainducing doorstop caricatured by twain. The appendixes alone are worth the price of admission. Hardy is currently working on a 36lecture dvdcd course for the teaching company entitled great minds of the eastern intellectual tradition. In my case, i tried to say some new things about the book of mormon in an academic study of its narrative structure grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon.

Among the many differences between the two volumes, i find two most significant. This new readerfriendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern translations of the bible, with paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indention of. Not only does it provide a better reading experience, it has important features that enhance study. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois pressas with a readers edition, the maxwell institutes study edition attempts to make the text more accessible by presenting it in paragraphs, with poetry set in verse form. The book of mormon, to the dismay of critics and believers alike, is a very complex book. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Although i didnt agree with every conclusion hardy comes up with, it was a very thoughtprovoking book which provided much insight.

Maxwell institute series helps readers see the book of mormon through new eyes 5 questions with the new young men general presidency church news video projectprotect. A new edition for the 21st century 2019 grant hardy 7. The narrative of the book of mormon is greatly complicated by changes in authorship and a much less than straightforward chronology, but grant hardy does as much as anyone possibly could to identify the places where a reader could get confused. A readers edition university of illinois press and the author of understanding the book of mormon.

Oxford university press, 2010you can judge for yourself how successful that wasbut there is so much more to do. Grant hardy, journal of book of mormon studies listed as one of the christmas gifts for your demanding scholar in 2009, mormon times selected as a choice outstanding academic title for 2010 in the religion category. Understanding the book of mormon a readers guide grant hardy the first detailed academic introduction to the contents of the book of mormon designed to be accessible to those interested in any aspect religious, historical, literary, or otherwise of the book of mormon. Although lds readers may be surprised by some of the evidence submitted and the overwhelming amount of it, hardy s style is very fair and objective. Near the end of his life, king benjamin gave one of the most powerful sermons ever recorded in the book of mormon. A readers guide oxford university press, in addition to several other books and articles on chinese history, ancient historiography, and mormon studies. This complexity disturbs critics because it makes it hard for them to believe that anyone in the nineteenth century could have written the book. A readers edition 2003, understanding the book of mormon.

Jan 11, 2019 hardy also provides a brief, but helpful, history of the book of mormon text, with a short list of additional scholarly resources. In the back, hardy provides various maps and charts, a number of statements from joseph smith on the book of mormon, a series of notes addressing key topics, such as anachronisms, chronology, geography, translation. A marvelous new book of mormon study edition religious. Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. Hardy examines nephi, mormon, and moroni as narrators of the book of mormon and discusses how their purposes affect what they include and how it is written.

The story of a new religious tradition and sojourner in the. Understanding is the latest in a string of books that lds scholars have authored over the last decade that attempt to make the case, directly or. We as editors see his work as transitional in a crucial way. A third strength of understanding the book of mormon is hardys gift for noticing textual parallels. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, the byu religious studies center, and deseret book, hardy is preparing the maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon mise. These deserve some attention here by way of introduction. To hardy, skousen has created a corpus of textual analysis that will last for many generations to come. The following are answers to questions that have been submitted to me by both members and nonmembers of the church. Grant hardy author of understanding the book of mormon.

In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. A readers edition 2003 and understanding the book of mormon. Perhaps chief among the themes the book of mormon addresses in connection with its own coming forth is the role it is to play in. Hardy is one of the bestprepared individuals to offer a study edition of the book of mormon for latterday saints. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon approachable not only for mormons themselves but also for religion scholars whose familiarity with lds traditions may outweigh their knowledge of the scripture itself. The old world setting of the book of mormon kindle only. Presenting the maxwell institute study edition of the book of. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon approachable not only for mormons themselves but also for religion scholars. Hardy s contributions in mormon studies are the book of mormon. The maxwell institutes study edition of the book of mormon is both an update and an expansion of grant hardys the book of mormon. A readers guide, grant hardy, who teaches history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville, begs to differ. Answers to submitted questions about the church of jesus christ by joel hardy.

It doesnt just talk about coming to christ and being kind and believing in the right ways, but it talks about gods plan for the worldthat there would be a gathering of israel. Grant hardy book of mormon this is a necessary and useful presentation of this key foundational text. As often as we latterday saints have read the book of mormon, we may yet read it better, read it with more understanding, if we were to read it with the benefit of the perceptive perspective that hardy opens up for us with this volume. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first. The book was also made possible by funds generously provided by the maxwell institutes laura f. Understanding the book of mormon grant hardy oxford. Taking after quinn, hardy thoroughly references his statements. In addition to books and articles on early chinese history and historiography, he has published the book of mormon. The maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon is an important tool for personal and class study of the book of mormon. Studying the book of mormon with grant hardy latter.

It is recommended already by its authorship, commended to us by grant hardys careful and helpful earlier work editing the book of mormon. Williams has outlined several themes addressed in the book of mormon that concern the coming forth of the book. Grant hardy grant hardy is professor of history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville. The american scripture that launched a new world religion 2002, 156. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon. Book of mormon download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. He is professor of history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at ashville. Aug 05, 2016 in my case, i tried to say some new things about the book of mormon in an academic study of its narrative structure grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon. Three early critics set the agenda for the first sustained criticisms of the book.

The book of mormon, in other words, has perhaps been far more correct about itself than we have collectively been about it. Aug 10, 2018 david eccles hardy lived as an orthodox mormon for years, serving as an lds bishop and raising his family in the covenant. Apr 07, 2010 in understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. I will try to personally answer all questions by email but i will only publish here those questions that would be of general interest to others. Grant hardy became intrigued with world religions, especially those of east asia, as a young missionary. A large portion of the book is devoted to footnotes. What was mormons purpose in writing the book of mormon. In 2003, hardy published his readers edition of the book of mormon with the university of illinois press to help scholars and students of other faiths engage more closely with the book. He has reasearched and written widely on various topics, but his study of the book of mormon led him to publish two landmark books that share important insights. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. The fact is that the book of mormon is still only just beginning to come forth, since we are still in the early stages of reading it seriously. This new readerfriendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern. Take a look at some of the things that king benjamin said at the beginning of his speech mosiah 2.

Though the book of mormon is widely available, hardy recognized that its complicated and lengthy narrativeprinted in columns of small text packaged in a simple blue covercould prove daunting for readers who would often fail to perceive the literary and spiritual strengths that practicing latterday saints might be more likely to. His cases for reading nephi as deliberately structuring his story on the model of the old testament joseph, for comparing abinadi and moses, and for seeing the jaredite record as reversing the fall are very compelling. President monson reminds me of leader from the book of mormon. In a helpful contribution to the book of mormon reference companion, professor clyde j. In hardys hands, the book of mormon begins to come alive as a kind of shakespearean tragedy as hardy nimbly employs various tools of literary criticism.