Product Details

• Directors: John Grooters
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• DVD Release Date: August 1, 2002
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0971744319
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #234,367 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Stan Larson, Ph.D., Marriott Library, University of Utah

"A balanced, professionally produced approach to a sensitive issue in Mormon history."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As a Mormon who studies LDS History . . ., September 11, 2005

By 

Moroni Marten (Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Lost Book of Abraham : Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim (DVD)

I've been a member of the Mormon church for over 40 years and a researcher church history for more than a decade. I can certainly understand the defensive reactions of members of the LDS church toward "The Lost Book of Abraham: Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim" DVD since it denounces long held beliefs about this book of LDS scripture contained in the Pearl of Great Price.

The information presented in this DVD is quite accurate, however. Some of the statements and claims are a little biased, but as a whole, the presentation is good. After years of studying the issues related to the Book of Abraham, I have firmly concluded that the text of this book did not come literally from the papyrus from which it was supposedly translated. To me, that is absolute.

There are at least three theories how Joseph Smith may have obtained the "Abraham" information. 1) Hidden within the text are "secret" meanings that Smith, himself, was able to discern by the power of God. 2) The papyrus was a "springboard" for God to reveal to him about Abraham even though the papyrus itself was completely non-related. 3) Joseph Smith made it up.

I am not going to declare which of those three possibilities I currently believe. However, as a member of the LDS church, I will declare that I know beyond any doubt that the "old" belief that the Book of Abraham was a literal translation from the papyrus is not accurate. The church knows this and most LDS scholars accept and promote one of the other alternate theories. There are many LDS sites that will go into great detail about these alternate theories.

When current members of the LDS church are first presented with this "new" information that the BOA is not a literal translation, the negative hostile reactions are understandable. They will write scathing reviews and try to defend the traditional belief. As you read the reviews on this DVD, you will notice that the "1 star" reviews reflect this very defensive position.

However, as members of the LDS church investigate and research the actual findings of the BOA (as I did), they will come to know that the text of this book came from means other than a literal translation of papyrus.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best fair and balanced info available!, October 14, 2002

By 

Bonnie Ricks (Big Sandy, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lost Book of Abraham : Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a former Mormon, I'm always hopeful to find non-enflamatory, yet totally factual information about Mormonism. This video is SUPERB! Produced in a "History Channel" style, it presents the facts about the LDS Book of Abraham in an interesting, non-offensive, and thorough style. I found it most interesting that, although several were invited, LDS authorities refused to be interviewed for the video. But, even without their input, the producers did their best to present a fair picture of the truth behind the Book of Abraham, including some on-camera interviews with members of the LDS Church.

I can't recommend this video enough! Even those unfamiliar with the LDS Church would find this video informative and interesting. I will be using it quite a bit as a "teaching tool" for both non-LDS and LDS friends and family. Because of the tone of the video, I'm not at all concerned about any angry reactions from LDS friends and family. I believe it will be well accepted, even by them. It also will make a great companion tool to "By His Own Hand on Papyrus", a book on the same subject.

41 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lost Book of Abraham review, September 12, 2002

By 

Lee Ernstrom (Syracuse, Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Book of Abraham : Investigating a Remarkable Mormon Claim (DVD)

I have recently viewed the Lost Book of Abraham video and found it to be very well done. The research is indisputable and factual with documentation that supports every statement. As a former member of the LDS church for 21 years I found the video to be fair and definately non offensive. I didn't give it five stars simply because the video quality wasn't quite as good as productions costing millions of dollars more, but the content was certainly worth five stars. I would recommend the video to anyone who has a serious interest in LDS Church history.