How to Understand the Book of Mormon

By Duane S. Crowther

This book is a valuable guide to enjoying and comprehending the ancient American scriptures. It is a simplified reading program, a useful summary, a doctrinal analysis and an in-depth topical guide to the Book of Mormon.

Carefully designed to increase reader understanding, the book is especially helpful for investigators, new members, young students, and those reading the Book of Mormon for the first time. Teachers of courses on the Book of Mormon will easily recognize its value also.

In Part I, The Reading Guide, ] the Book of Mormon is divided into twelve portions of from 40 to 50 pages. Each portion contains a simple story outline that indicates the major historical events which transpire. Then, chapters of special interest are listed, and passages of doctrinal importance are summarized into concise units. These summaries help the reader to follow the major messages on a verse-by-verse basis. Difficult passages, such as the chapters quoted from the writings of Isaiah, are examined and given special explanations in their historical context.

Part II] is a useful Doctrinal Guide to the hundreds of important teachings found in the Book of Mormon. Passages are listed under related headings, with the Table of Contents serving as a simple index. This doctrinal analysis is the most comprehensive list of Book of Mormon themes in print and should prove invaluable to every Book of Mormon student.

Part III] contains Charts and Special Helps which will aid in understanding the Book of Mormon. They tell in a simple form of the various groups that migrated to the Americas, of the plates upon which the records were kept, and of how God protected the writings to come forth in the last days. The basic elements of Book of Mormon geography are discussed, and the authors and keepers of the sacred records are listed.

How to Understand the Book of Mormon] is a vital study tool that will serve as a lifetime reference to those who love the Book of Mormon.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0882900455
• ISBN13: 9780882900452
• Release Date: April 1975
• Publisher: Horizon Publishers & Distributors
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Useful Tool for Guiding Book of Mormon Studies

This book is a real help for those becoming acquainted with the Book of Mormon, and for those seeking to pursue various doctrinal and historical themes! "How to Understand the Book of Mormon" is divided into three sections: "Part I: The Reading Guide," "Part II: The Doctrinal Guide," and "Part III: Charts and Special Helps." Part I, the reading guide, divides the Book of Mormon into twelve 40- to 50-page sections to be read. Each section makes a readable one-week-long reading goal. A typical section heading is: "Week 4, MOSIAH 1-22, 22 chapters, 46 pages: pp. 145-190." In each section, a story outline focuses the reader on the major historical events. Then, chapters which will be of special interest are briefly listed, followed by a detailed listing of passages of special historical or doctrinal interest. For instance, the summary for three verses from the book of Omni reads: "(1:20-22) The Mulekites have the records of a third Book of Mormon group: the Jaredites, who were led to the promised land long before Lehi and Mulek, at the time of the Tower of Babel (see Genesis 11:1-9). [The book of Ether in the Book of Mormon is the record of this group.]" Scanning down the list of Passages of Special Interest in each section is an excellent way to discover doctrinal categories and items which are new to you. Part II is one of the most comprehensive listings of Book of Mormon scriptures in print. It is based on 25 sections, each of which is divided into numerous sub-categories. The sections are: (1) Purposes of the Book of Mormon, (2) Studying the Scriptures, (3) The Book of Mormon's Relationship to the Bible, (4) The Various Peoples of the Book of Mormon, (5) Book of Mormon Geography, (6) The Nature of God, (7) Christ's Atonement, (8) Basic Gospel Principles, (9) The Church of Jesus Christ, (10) Revelation and Prophecy, (11) Miracles, (12) God's Plan of Salvation, (13) Death, (14) Righteous Living, (15) Becoming Godlike and Sanctified, (16) Relationships with Others, (17) Money, (18) Negative Emotions, (19) Satan and Evil, (20) False Churches and False Doctrines, (21) Blessings and Judgments on Righteous and Wicked Nations, (22) America in the Last Days, (23) The House of Israel, (24) Government, and (25) Liberty and War. Part III contains the following charts: (1) Periods of Prophetic Fulfillment in the Writings of Isaiah, (2) The Peoples of the Book of Mormon, (3) The Plates Received by Joseph Smith, and (4) How Ancient Prophets Prepared for the Loss of the Book of Mormon Manuscript. Then, (5) a six-page article summarizes the Basic Elements of Book of Mormon Geography, and (6) a listing of the Authors and Recordkeepers of the Book of Mormon is provided. Though this book was published prior to the latest printings of the Book of Mormon (so the Book of Mormon page numbers are slightly different from the page numbers provided in this book's Reading Guide section), the situation provides almost no confusion because the listings also indicate the