Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
No Table of Contents, August 9, 2009
I'm LDS and love the Book of Mormon, but this version for the kindle isn't good because there is no table of contents and you can't go from chapter to chapter. There needs to be better Kindle version out there. Any suggestions?
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is the Value of this Book?, September 11, 2009
Nothing, if it is fiction or a fraud. It is conceivable that some inventive person could have written a book that reads something like the Bible, with familiar theology taught and lived in a different historical setting. On the other hand, what if the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be, a historical record of Jesus Christ's ministry to the Americas following his resurrection? The implications would be significant. It really couldn't be a mistake of some kind. The Book of Mormon is either deliberate fiction or truth. How to decide?
One could reject it out of hand as implausible. From a "modern" point of view it does seem implausible, as does much of religion from this perspective. But is someone who honestly wants to know the truth really comfortable with the circular reasoning of rejecting something because it doesn't match preconceptions? A popular guide to writing book reviews begins a key chapter with: "First, read the book." This is good advice.
What then? Should one weigh historical evidence to determine the Book or Mormon's worth? This is an honest approach and can be followed with discipline and objectivity. But before relying on it completely, consider the inconclusiveness of historical criticism of the Bible. Our knowledge of all history is underdetermined by the incomplete evidence available. There is insufficient information about the Bible--and the Book of Mormon--to determine their worth this way. Would a just God expect us to decide what to believe on this basis? Isn't there too much chance of an honest mistake and lost opportunity?
So--how? Consider a passage from The Holy Bible: King James Version: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5) For something important, it is reasonable to expect God to answer if we make our best effort to ask. The Book of Mormon closes with a similar passage: "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost." (Moroni 10:4) Here is straightforward guidance, consistent with the New Testament.
But what about our modern perspective? Wouldn't we feel self-conscious about asking? Isn't it silly to think there is actually a God who would answer in some way we could recognize? Consider one more thing. There is a story in 2 Kings 5 about a Syrian king named Naaman who had leprosy. He was told by Elisha to wash seven times in the river Jordan and he would be healed. This seemed to him--quite understandably--to be a silly thing to do. So he didn't do it and grumbled about how silly it was. Fortunately for him, someone pointed out that he ought to try it because the effort was small and the potential benefit was great. According to the story, he was healed.
Whether or not you believe Naaman's story, its implication is useful. If you want to know if the Book of Mormon has value, first read it. Then go to the small effort of asking God to tell you whether or not to believe it. The potential value of an answer is worth the small effort or any self-consciousness. Ask by yourself, away from well-meaning social pressure from family, friends, missionaries, or anyone. Ask: What is the value of this book?
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9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Let him ask of God. -James 1:5, May 25, 2009
The Book of Mormon together with the Bible witness of Christ our Lord and Savior. One only needs to read it with a humble, sincere heart with just enough faith adn courage to ask God himself if it is true.
23 years ago I did just that. I had only just begun to read and decided to put my trust in Him. I knelt down in my quiet apartment and sincerely asked God if there was something I needed to learn from this book I had been given. I could never deny the feeling that came over me of warmth, peace and joy. I now know this power to be the Holy Ghost. Satan can NOT imitate the feelings of peace. I have been an avid student of the Book of Mormon and the Bible ever since and Christ is without a doubt my best friend and advocate. My life has been so blessed.
I grew up being taught this Anti-Mormon stance, I myself, with my "Christian" youth group handed out Anti-Mormon litature at a Mormon Temple Open House. I can only say that it is very sad that fellow "Christians" would spend so much energy breaking one of the Lords Ten Commandments, to bear not false witness against thy neighbor.
My prayer is that if you happen upon this, you take courage to read for yourself, trusting not on the arm of flesh, but on the God who created you. He is not dead, does love His children, does hear our prayers, and does answer our heart felt cries.
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