Reading Guide to the Book of Mormon [Hardcover]

Duane S. Crowther (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1975

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 which 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 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 which will serve as a lifetime reference to those who love the Book of Mormon.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Duane S. Crowther is a well-known theologian, lecturer and LDS author with a broad background of education and experience. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in music education, holds a Master of Arts degree from BYU in Old and New Testament, an MBA from the University of Phoenix, and has completed course work for a PhD in music education at the University of Utah.

A prolific author who seeks to serve others through his writing, Brother Crowther is the author of twenty-five books on various religious and general topics. He also has produced more than thirty cassette tapes on theological and business-oriented themes.

Elder Crowther has had extensive Church experience, including the filling of three missions. He has also been a Stake Mission President and Senior President of Seventies, a Sunday School Superintendent, and MIA Superintendent, an Elders Quorum President, a member of several stake boards, a director of stake and ward choirs, and has filled many callings as a teacher and teacher-trainer, including many years of service as a Gospel Doctrine class instructor. He is a Master M-Man and an Eagle Scout. He served as a baptizer in the Lake Temple for almost a decade and as a tour host on Temple Square.

In his professional life, Brother Crowther has been an instructor and principal with the LDS seminary system and has taught music in the Utah public schools. He has taught college courses for several Utah universities and has lectured extensively for LDS youth groups, education weeks, and business seminars. He has written monthly columns for trade magazines on business topics. He is president and senior editor of Horizon Publishers & Distributors, Inc., a Utah-based printing, publishing and manufacturing firm.

Elder Crowther has written and produced four patriotic pageants for the stakes and regions in his area. Two of these, produced in conjunction with KSL and KBYU television stations, received national awards from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge.

He is married to the former Jean Decker, who is also an author and musician. They are the parents of eight children and presently reside in Bountiful, Utah.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Horizon Pub & Dist Inc (April 1975)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882900455
• ISBN-13: 978-0882900452
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Duane S. Crowther is well-known and respected as an author, theologian, lecturer and teacher. He graduated with high honors from Brigham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education, then earned a Master of Arts degree majoring in Old and New Testament studies. Later, he garnered a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix, and he has completed course work for a Ph.D. in music education at the University of Utah.

A creative and prolific author, Mr. Crowther has written more than fifty books, including well-known favorites such as Prophecy--Key To The Future, Life Everlasting, The Prophecies of Joseph Smith, Gifts of the Spirit, Prophets and Prophecies of the Old Testament, and Inspired Prophetic Warnings. Other titles include The Godhead, Jesus of Nazareth--Savior and King, The Gospel Rolls Forth, How to Understand the Book of Mormon, How to Understand the Book of Isaiah, How to Write Your Personal History, Teaching Choral Concepts, You Can Read Music, and Key Choral Concepts. Several of the above titles are long-time best-sellers, with hundreds of thousands of copies in print. He also is the creator and narrator of 35 doctrinal discourses, available as cassette talk-tapes and CDs. Additionally, he is the author of numerous magazine articles on business topics and the creator of various musical compositions and choral hymn arrangements.

Mr. Crowther has written, produced and directed several national-award-winning patriotic pageants. He has lectured at numerous business and writers' seminars, BYU Education Weeks, youth conferences, and other gatherings. With his wife, he has hosted and escorted numerous travel tours to Israel and other mid-east and European countries, Central America and Mexico, Hawaii, and other destinations.

His has been a life of continued and varied service as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served two full-time missions (to Central America and Mexico City) and three part-time missions. He has been a Branch President, District President, Elders Quorum President, Stake Seventies President and Stake Mission President, High Priests Group Leader, and a President and Superintendent of Ward Sunday School and YMMIA organizations. A gifted and knowledgeable teacher, he's accumulated over 25 years service as a Gospel-Doctrine-class instructor and as a teacher-trainer, in addition to filling various other ward and stake assignments. An Eagle Scout, he remains active in adult-level Scouting responsibilities. He and his wife currently are serving as workers in the Bountiful Utah Temple.

Mr. Crowther is happily married to Jean Decker. They are the parents of eight children and now have 28 grandchildren. The couple recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They are long-time residents of Bountiful, Utah and remain involved in various writing and publishing activities.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Useful Tool for Guiding Book of Mormon Studies, December 7, 2009

By 

D. Crowther - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reading Guide to the Book of Mormon (Hardcover)

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 Book of Mormon chapters which are being considered. All-in-all, this book remains a very useful tool for people wanting to become acquainted with the Book of Mormon. The Part I reading guide is simple but comprehensive, the Part II doctrinal listings exceed the depth of the LDS Topical Guide on many of the listed subjects, and several of the useful charts found in Part III are not available apart from the author's writings. Index tabs are printed on the right-hand edge of key pages so readers can locate chapters and major sections quickly.