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Bookstore Home > Scripture Studies > Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon Reference Companion
From the Publisher In my work as an editor, I often need to consult a Bible dictionary to refresh my memory about a point of doctrine, the meaning of an obscure term, or some other bit of information. I've often wished over the years that we had such a book about the Book of Mormon--a volume I could go to that would have information on just about everything I could possibly want to know about that book of scripture, all in one place. I didn't think it was really possible, of course--what a monumental undertaking that would be. But it has been done! Never, in more than twenty- five years of working in LDS publishing, have I encountered a book like the Book of Mormon Reference Companion. This astonishing project, the work of 111 respected scholars, has hundreds and hundreds of entries on topics from "Israel, Historical Background of" to "Archeantus" (do you know who he is?) to "Priesthood among the Nephites" to "Tree of Life" to "Samuel the Lamanite" to "Zarahemla, Land of and City of." It discusses people, places, doctrines, definitions of terms, and other items of interest such as a four- page chart showing Hebraisms in the Book of Mormon. There are outlines of each of the books in the Book of Mormon, and a full discussion of each of the Isaiah chapters. There are even nearly 30 entries just about the Book of Mormon itself, from "Book of Mormon, ancient Near Eastern roots of" to "Book of Mormon, what it says about the Bible." Besides all this, the book boasts color photographs and illustrations throughout! This is so neat! For example, imagine how it enhances our understanding of Jacob's allegory of the olive tree to see photographs of several different olive trees, some with grafted branches. I love this attention to detail that can make our experience with the Book of Mormon so much more rich. Just as you don't have to be a scholar to use a dictionary, you don't need to be a Book of Mormon "expert" to appreciate and enjoy this great reference book. It is an absolute staple for anyone who wants to study and understand the Book of Mormon better than ever before! Emily Watts Deseret Book Company About The Book For many years, Bible dictionaries have been written and published to assist readers in better understanding the scriptures. As helpful as those works are, Latter-day Saints have often wished for an encyclopedic dictionary devtored entirely to the Book of Mormon. Now, with the publication of the Book of Mormon Reference Companion, that work is at last available. This magnificent volume addresses more than 1,500 topics on the Book of Mormon: people, places, words, phrases, doctrines, purposes, themes, historical background, and much more—all conveniently collected under one cover. In addition, it contains numerous maps, illustrations, outlines, and photographs to enhance your study of the foundational scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The entries have been prepared by some of the finest scholars in the Church—faculty members from Brigham Young University, researchers from the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), and educators from the Church Educational System. Contributors include Joseph L. Allen, Richard L. Anderson, Marilyn Arnold, Susan E. Black, Jack R. Christensen, Camille Fronk, C. Wilfred Griggs, Paul V. Johnson, Robert J. Norman, Monte S. Nyman, Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson, Larry C. Porter, Stephen D. Ricks, Stephen E. Robinson, Andrew C. Skinner, Royal Skousen, M. Catherine Thomas, John W. Welch, and many others—111 in all—making this a truly interdisciplinary and authoritative work that you will pick up again and again for reference and reading individually and with your family. The Book of Mormon Reference Companion includes— + Entries on the Book of Mormon from A to Z. + A split-column reference style. + Explanations and outlines of each Isaiah chapter in the Book of Mormon. + Concise explanations of topics followed by a more in-depth treatment. + An internal reference system to guide the reader to related articles. + An appendix containing significant statements by prophets, apostles, and other general authorities about the Book of Mormon; a study guide for teachers and students, with entries corresponding to typical Book of Mormon reading assignments; and definitions of selected words from WebsterÆs 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. The Book of Mormon Reference Companion is the first work of its scope ever published on the Book of Mormon. If you desire to improve your understanding of the book of scripture that is a second witness of Jesus Christ, this volume will become an indispensable part of your gospel library. Review Excerpt: "For several weeks in February, I had seen this book advertised in the Deseret Book Email and in reading the preview of the book, I knew I had to have it. While in Utah earlier this month while attending a Grandson's wedding, I made it a point to go to the book store and buy this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. I have several reference sets to the Book of Mormon, but this Book of Mormon Reference Companion is the most complete book I have seen that is complete in every detail and covers many, if not all the topics of the Gospel. The Index in back is complete and concise and is well put together. I would recommend this book to anyone totally interested in knowing more about the times, places and people of the Book of Mormon. I doubt I'll ever find a scripture related reference guide as complete as this is. Take my word for it. Buy it and it'll be the smartest purchase you'll ever make, guaranteed!!" --Gordon F. Hunsaker, 2004 "Book of Mormon Reference Companion is a massive, thoroughly researched, and beautifully presented single-volume guide to the Book of Mormon. Every A list of contributors is included. Of the 111 listed, 95 are associated with BYU. If this skews the ideological bias of the book, at least the reader is aware of the orthodoxy of the writers. And in an age when so many books on the Book of Mormon are coming off the presses, it is helpful to know up front the bias of the book. Several helpful articles open the volume. "The Book of Mormon: An Overview and Introduction," sets forth to the reader the centrality of the Book of Mormon in the life of the Latter-day Saint: The Book of Mormon is the word of God. The Lord God is its author. It is truly, as Joseph Smith the Prophet explained, the "keystone of our religion" -- the keystone of our witness of Christ, the keystone of our doctrine, the keystone of our testimony (Benson, Conference Report, 1986,4). It has been delivered by a gracious Lord to a generation that desperately needs it; it was sent forth with the Bible to confound false doctrines, lay down contentions, and establish peace among the people of God (2 Ne. 3:12); it speaks peace and joy to the soul. It can and should serve as a quiet, steadying influence in the lives of those who know of its truthfulness. Often longings for another time and place, those vague but powerful feelings that one has "wandered from a more exalted sphere" (Snow), are satisfied and soothed when reading the Book of Mormon. Reading it is like coming home. It is a gift of God that he expects his children to receive, understand, and experience. (p. 6) I cite this, at length, for several reasons. First, let there be no mistake: the contributors, and the general editor, are true believers in the highest sense. By naming God as the "author" of the Book of Mormon, the editor takes a stand that some may find difficult. What exactly does But a reading of the above cite from page 6 expresses more than just a categorical stand concerning Book of Mormon authorship. It demonstrates a genuine love, perhaps a consuming love, for the book, and advocates its "The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon" follows the introductory essay. The story told is familiar, and serves as a good summary of the story as it has come down to us. Next is the "The Structure of the Book of Mormon." I thought this essay deserved more time, and better graphics. The issue of the interplay of the various plates and editing processes can be a confusing matter to many. We now come to the body of the book itself. Topics are arranged alphabetically, with each section headed with a verse from the Book of Mormon, with a prominent word in that verse highlighted. Alma 14:25-26 heads up the "A" entries, with the word "Alma" highlighted. It is The articles themselves fall into several categories. Very brief entries, for example "Mulek, land of," contain just enough information to acquaint the reader with the concept, and then sends the reader to the scriptures, Longer articles follow a pattern: the first paragraph offers a succinct summary of the entry. Subsequent paragraphs enlarge upon the subject, often branching off to other articles. When appropriate, maps, graphs and Extensive bibliographies at the close of many articles give the ambitious student an opportunity to explore the topics more deeply. Some of the entries are massive, with numerous sub-entries. Consider the general heading "Book of Mormon." It spans pages 98-168, and encompasses Articles that deal with a one of the books that comprise the Book of Mormon are accompanied by a helpful summary chart of the that book. Readers can benefit from getting a bird's-eye view of the text, followed by detailed Pages 344-400 deal exclusively with the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon. Multiple comparison charts and chapter summaries enlighten the text. And, uniquely, the section ends with two maps of the Holy Land, identifying place names mentioned in the Isaiah chapters. With each Inasmuch as the Book of Mormon is "another testament of Jesus Christ," one would expect a substantial section on the subject. Pages 449-463 present a nice Book of Mormon Christology, incomplete in its reflections of earlier The section on Lehi (pgs. 506-518) is a good example of how the editors categorized and systematized their study. I'd like to focus on this chapter as instructive and indicative of the whole work: Beginning with "Lehi" (with a 1 superscripted, indicating the first Lehi to appear in the Book of Mormon), we are given an economical, but fairly complete, biography of the prophet, with reflections on his teachings and By assembling the various Lehis, along with phrases that mention Lehi and that are likely familiar to an LDS audience, the reader can gain a top-down perspective, a deeper understanding of the text. Several appendices close the book. First, Appendix A, "Study Guide to the Book of Mormon," is a unique two-part synthesis/cross-reference. Part 1, "Readings in the Book of Mormon," divides the book into thematic groupings Nephi, third book of In this way, a student reading through the Book of Mormon is made aware of prominent themes in the section he or she reading. The second section, "Subject Groupings," likewise directs the reader to specific articles, but are arranged thematically. Appendix B, "Statements About the Book of Mormon by LDS Church Leaders," compiles such statements by leaders past and present. Appendix C, "Definitions From Webster's 1828 *American Dictionary of the English Language,*" offers selected definitions that the editors thought helpful in understanding the vocabulary and usage of Joseph Smith's time. A general index closes out the book.
If you're looking for a critical approach to Book of Mormon studies, this isn't it. The underlying assumption behind the book is that the Book of Mormon is truly scripture, truly history. The question is not whether the And while the speculative is avoided, the articles contain both depth and breadth sufficient to satisfy the curious student. And, in delivering clear explanations for Book of Mormon concepts, this book becomes a valuable sourcebook for teachers, whatever their level of expertise. I do have one complaint. This is a very heavy book. I can't see folks toting this around to class or to a study. Of course, when you're producing such a massive volume, this is to be expected. In this day of computers and the internet, a CD containing the text of the book would have Potential purchasers will have to weigh the $50 price tag against their desire for such a reference work. Considering the amount of information offered, it seems a good deal to me. Given the volume's stated purpose -- a faith-promoting, dependable, and complete reference guide to the Book of Mormon -- one would be hard pressed to argue that it doesn't meet its goal. I am very pleased with this book, Dennis L. Largey, professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, has taught classes on the Book of Mormon for more than two decades. He taught seminary in Arizona and religion at BYU-Hawaii before joining the Religious Education faculty at BYU in Provo, Utah, in 1985. Brother Largey has served The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a counselor in a stake presidency, as a member of a branch presidency at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, and as a bishop. Title: Book of Mormon Reference Companion Retail Price: Your Price: Only $42.45
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Dennis L. Largey (Editor), Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Company, 2003, hardbound, 850 pages. ISBN: 1573452319 