And while of course book of mormon criticism has been done before, i dont think anyone has taken it nearly as deeply. A readers edition university of illinois press and the author of understanding the book of mormon. A readers guide, grant hardy, who teaches history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville, begs to differ. It says something about the book that there is still a lot to talk about. Talk about the genesis of understanding and a bit about your process of writing it, in particular its relation to your readers edition of the book of mormon university of illinois press, 2003. A readers guide offers just that, a fresh perspective on this sacred text. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read understanding the book of mormon. Having written, cowritten, or edited several books in the fields of history, humanities, and religious texts as literature, hardy is known for literary studies of the book of mormon. Hardy believes that showing how the book of mormon is constructed to serve its rhetorical goals should persuade nonmormons to give the religion more respect. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy focuses on the works narrative structure. He identifies the books literary techniques, such as characterization, embedded documents, allusions, and parallel narratives, and shows how the narratorsnephi, mormon, and moronieach has a. Grant hardys annotated readers edition of the book of mormon, so you take understanding the book of mormon, and you just put it in the footnotes. With over 140 million copies in print, it is a central text of one of the largest and fastestgrowing faiths in the world.
It was published by oxford university press and has a total of 368 pages in the book. While its claims of angels, gold plates, lost civilizations. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the book of mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative. Hardy is currently working on a 36lecture dvdcd course for the teaching company entitled great minds of the eastern intellectual tradition. In this practical guide, grant hardy shows readers how to read deeper into the book of mormon. A view from the outsidean appreciative engagement with grant hardys understanding the book of mormon. Grant hardy author of understanding the book of mormon. To get the most out of hardys analysis, i reread the book of mormon while reading his. Mark twain once derided the book of mormon as chloroform in print. The way he has dissected the books text and structure is remarkable. The title of this book is understanding the book of mormon and it was written by grant hardy. So as im reading along i can say, hey, boys lets think about this today, and i dont have to remember all. Grant hardy is a really good guide for looking at what the book of mormon really says, does, and signifies.
It is recommended already by its authorship, commended to us by grant hardy s careful and helpful earlier work editing the book. Hardy not only maps but also models a way to grant hardy. Grant hardy book of mormon this is a necessary and useful presentation of this key foundational text. A readers guide john christopher thomas it is indeed an honor for me to be invited to participate in this special issue of the journal of book of mormon studies devoted to conversations around and with grant hardys understanding the book of mormon. Regarded as sacred scripture by millions, the book of mormon first published in 1830 is one of the most significant documents in american religious history. Understanding the book of mormon ebook by grant hardy. His excellent scholarship and insightful literary connections make understanding the book of mormon a comfortable read for believers, nonbelievers, and ambivalent truth seekers like me alike. Grant hardys understanding the book of mormon, which came out earlier this year from oxford university press. On both counts, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints looks suspicious. A readers guide oup, 2010 that we are posting this week at times and seasons. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading understanding the book of mormon.
He is professor of history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at ashville. It is indeed an honor for me to be invited to participate in this special issue of the journal of book of mormon studies devoted to conversations around and with grant hardys understanding the book of mormon. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures, the book of mormon presents itself as an integrated narrative rather than a series of doctrinal expositions, moral injunctions, or devotional hymns. A readers guide is unquestionably the most important piece of mormon criticism in the last few years. As often as we latterday saints have read the book of mormon, we may yet read it better, read it with more understanding, if we were to read it with the benefit of the perceptive perspective that hardy opens up for us with this volume. And, grant hardy shows, its far from the comainducing doorstop caricatured by twain. Book of mormon download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Edited by grant hardy, the maxwell institute study edition mise incorporates important advances in book of mormon scholarship from the past few decades while grounding the readers experience in the text of the book of mormon. Understanding the book of mormon may be the book for a lot of us.
Understanding the book of mormon began with the reader. Understanding is the latest in a string of books that lds scholars have authored over the last decade that attempt to make the case, directly or. A readers guide oxford university press, in addition to several other books and. Grant hardy is a professor of history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville. Grant hardy is a yale trained scholar, loves the book of mormon, and faithfully serves in a stake presidency. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first. Hardys understanding the book of mormon 2010 has been received. He engages in thorough crossreferencing and rigorous comparing and contrasting. One of the things we need to do is stop making poor assumptions about doubters or critics, and generally use a. Grant hardy is professor of history and religious studies and director of the humanities program at the university of north carolina at asheville.
While the significance of the book of mormon in american history and religion is universally acknowledged, its complicated narrative can be. Grant hardy fairmormon 2016 more effective apologetics. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year. He is exactly who elder ballard is saying we should look to for help. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship has recently published a new study edition of the book of mormon. Grant hardys scholarly work understanding the book of mormon. Understanding the book of mormon a readers guide grant hardy the first detailed academic introduction to the contents of the book of mormon designed to be accessible to those interested in any aspect religious, historical, literary, or otherwise of the book of mormon. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
It is recommended already by its authorship, commended to us by grant hardys careful and helpful earlier work editing the book of mormon. An authors diary, we get a fascinating peek into richard bushmans psyche during the time immediately after the publication of his monumental work, joseph smith. He enters into the minds of the books three major historians, nephi, mormon, and. Unlike virtually all other recent world scriptures. Engagement with grant hardys understanding the book of mormon. A readers guide 9780199731701 by hardy, grant and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Understanding the book of mormon grant hardy oxford. Presenting the maxwell institute study edition of the book. Long and complicated, written in the language of the king james version of the bible, it. Smith august 15, 2011 22 comments in on the road with joseph smith. Buy a cheap copy of understanding the book of mormon.
A readers guide oxford university press, in addition to several other books and articles on chinese history, ancient historiography, and mormon studies. First of all, hardy explains that while he is a faithful latterday saint, he wanted to write a book that would be readable by both believers and those who dont accept the book of mormon as scripture. The first detailed academic introduction to the contents of the book of. Analyzing the book of mormon with grant hardy for fun and. The book of mormon as literature grant hardy download transcript grant hardy became intrigued with world religions, especially those of east asia, as a young missionary. Grant hardy offers an ingenious literary reading of the book of mormon. Understanding the book of mormon ebook por grant hardy.