Reviews on books by and about the Latter-day Saints.
Book Reviews on Mormonism
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Grace to MormonsA close review of Millet’s views on the Fall, the Atonement, and the person of Christ.
The Joseph Smith Revelations: Text & Commentaryby Michael Marquardt — A collection and study of the original texts of Joseph Smith's revelations. Includes historical background and changes made to the revelations, as well as commentary on the significance of the alterations by contemporaries of Smith and Marquardt himself. Revelations are arranged chronologically and thoroughly documented.
Beckwith, Mosser and Owen, Zondervan, 2002, 535 pages — A compilation of essays by top evangelical scholars who apply the expertise of their field to related Mormon claims and defenses.
Lost and Found: A Prophet and His PapyriA book review of By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus, written by Charles Larson, reviewed by Joel B. Groat
Robert Bowman examines recent LDS-evangelical dialogue, and looks at two of the main books that engage it; Claiming Christ, by Robert L. Millet and Gerald R. McDermott, and Bridging the Divide, by Robert L. Millet and Gregory C. V. Johnson.
Graceful Disclosure: Pulling Back the Mormon PR CurtainAn informative historical and cultural introduction to the LDS religion.
The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Powerby D. Michael Quinn — Perhaps the most important new book on Mormon history since Fawn Brodie's 1945 landmark biography of Joseph Smith.
Archaeology
by Stan Larson — A candid yet even-handed survey of Book of Mormon archaeology, told through the career of one of its most ardent 20th century champions.
Book Reviews on Mormon Polygamy
Joseph's teaching regarding women and the priesthood, the Word of Wisdom, celestial marriage and other matters — without the "faith-promoting" veneer.
In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph SmithIn this definitive book, Mormon scholar Todd Compton offers a calmly crafted, thoroughly documented look at Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy.
The Sixth of Seven Wives: Escape from Modern Day PolygamyMary Mackert’s story of being a polygamous wife.
Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale SmithJoseph Smith's sexual involvement with girls as young as 14 has been carefully documented by contemporary Mormon historians Linda King Newell & Valeen Tippetts Avery in this award-winning book.
Other Topics
The Refiner's Fire: The Making of Mormon Cosmology, 1644-1844by John L. Brooke — This book examines the evidence that the esoteric philosophical lore of "hermeticism" was a major influence on Joseph Smith's religious ideas. The author teaches history at Tufts University.
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Speaking the Truth in Love to MormonsMark J. Cares — Written to help Christians effectively communicate the historic Gospel of Jesus Christ to members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
by Leslie Reynolds — While pursuing her Master’s degree in Christian studies at Regent College, the author had the opportunity to interview a number of Mormons, some currently involved in the church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), some in the process of transitioning out and a few who have left the church. This book relates the results of those interviews as well as giving valuable insights to the non-Mormon reader.
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The long-suppressed work of Mormon General Authority B. H. Roberts, who in his later years came to question the historicity of the Book of Mormon, after a life-time as its greatest apologist.
History
by John Krakauer, 2003, 373 pages — True story of Dan and Ron Lafferty, two Fundamentalist Latter-day Saint brothers who murdered their sister-in-law and her baby claiming they got a revelation from God to kill them. Insightful look at the Mormon and FLDS views of revelations and the dangers of revelation that is not open to critique or reason.
by Michael Marquardt & Wesley P. Walters — A meticulously documented study of Joseph Smith's early years, leading up to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the founding of what became the Mormon church.
Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West, 1847-1896by David L. Bigler — After years of conflict in Missouri and Illinois, the militant millennial movement went to the Great Basin of North America, then in Mexico, to establish the Kingdom of God as an earthy state.
Dan Vogel, editor, 5 vols., Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 1996-2003 — A gold mine of sources that provide a complete, candid, and for some a surprisingly different picture of early Mormon origins.
by Will Bagley — A major new study of the Mountain Meadows Massacre.
by Grant H. Palmer — The word “Insider” in the title reflects his thirty-four years of experience as an Institute Director for the Church Educational System (CES); however, throughout the eight chapters Palmer challenges the many traditional claims that inspire members of the Mormon Church.
by Robert Lindsey — This gripping book is the best overall telling of the Hofmann forgery / murders story. It provides a candid look at the involvement of high ranking Mormon leaders in the purchasing and suppressing of documents deemed threatening to the Mormon Church.