Hardy book of mormon

An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Grant hardy byu scholarsarchive citation hardy, grant 2016 the book of mormon book club, journal of book of mormon studies. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. A third strength of understanding the book of mormon is hardys gift for noticing textual parallels. The book was also made possible by funds generously provided by the maxwell institutes laura f. The following are answers to questions that have been submitted to me by both members and nonmembers of the church. Grant hardy grant hardy is professor of history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville.

A readers edition university of illinois press and the author 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. In many ways, editors of the journal of book of mormon studies noted in 2016, hardys readers edition marked the possibility of a turning point in book of mormon studies, with the book of mormon being brought to the attention of the broader academy. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first. Grant hardy, journal of book of mormon studies listed as one of the christmas gifts for your demanding scholar in 2009, mormon times selected as a choice outstanding academic title for 2010 in the religion category. Among the many differences between the two volumes, i find two most significant. In 2003, hardy published his readers edition of the book of mormon with the university of illinois press to help scholars and students of other faiths engage more closely with the book. Mormon studies book of mormon study editions and notes. In the back, hardy provides various maps and charts, a number of statements from joseph smith on the book of mormon, a series of notes addressing key topics, such as anachronisms, chronology, geography, translation. Studying the book of mormon with grant hardy latter. Hardys understanding the book of mormon 2010 has been received favorably. These deserve some attention here by way of introduction. Another testament of jesus christ, maxwell institute study edition provo, ut.

The american scripture that launched a new world religion 2002, 156. The book of mormon, to the dismay of critics and believers alike, is a very complex book. Presenting the maxwell institute study edition of the book of. I will try to personally answer all questions by email but i will only publish here those questions that would be of general interest to others. A new edition for the 21st century 2019 grant hardy 7. Jan 11, 2019 hardy also provides a brief, but helpful, history of the book of mormon text, with a short list of additional scholarly resources. The book of mormon, in other words, has perhaps been far more correct about itself than we have collectively been about it.

Although lds readers may be surprised by some of the evidence submitted and the overwhelming amount of it, hardy s style is very fair and objective. David eccles hardy lived as an orthodox mormon for years, serving as an lds bishop and raising his family in the covenant. Taking after quinn, hardy thoroughly references his statements. Grant hardy became intrigued with world religions, especially those of east asia, as a young missionary. 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.

Understanding the book of mormon grant hardy oxford. The old world setting of the book of mormon kindle only. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. 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. Hardy is currently working on a 36lecture dvdcd course for the teaching company entitled great minds of the eastern intellectual tradition. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon approachable not only for mormons themselves but also for religion scholars. Apr 07, 2010 in understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. 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. Grant hardy book of mormon this is a necessary and useful presentation of this key foundational text. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. Hardy is certainly wellprepared to guide readers through the book of mormon. His cases for reading nephi as deliberately structuring his story on the model of the old testament joseph, for comparing abinadi and moses, and for seeing the jaredite record as. It says something about the book that there is still a lot to talk about. Hardy also provides a brief, but helpful, history of the book of mormon text, with a short list of additional scholarly resources.

Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship at byu recently teamed up with. Although i didnt agree with every conclusion hardy comes up with, it was a very thoughtprovoking book which provided much insight. A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois pressas with a readers edition, the maxwell institutes study edition attempts to make the text more accessible by presenting it in paragraphs, with poetry set in verse form. Aug 10, 2018 david eccles hardy lived as an orthodox mormon for years, serving as an lds bishop and raising his family in the covenant. It doesnt just talk about coming to christ and being kind and believing in the right ways, but it talks about gods plan for the worldthat there would be a gathering of israel. A readers guide, grant hardy, who teaches history and religious studies at the university of north carolina at asheville, begs to differ. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship. Williams has outlined several themes addressed in the book of mormon that concern the coming forth of the book.

A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois press. The maxwell institute study edition will be the first edition ever to combine the churchs current official version of the text 20 with the results of royal skousens groundbreaking book of mormon critical text project. Hardy s helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon. A readers guide oup, 2010 that we are posting this week at times and seasons. His cases for reading nephi as deliberately structuring his story on the model of the old testament joseph, for comparing abinadi and moses, and for seeing the jaredite record as reversing the fall are very compelling. Not only does it provide a better reading experience, it has important features that enhance study. Though the book of mormon is widely available, hardy recognized that its complicated and lengthy narrativeprinted in columns of small text packaged in a simple blue covercould prove daunting for readers who would often fail to perceive the literary and spiritual strengths that practicing latterday saints might be more likely to. Grant hardy talks about the new maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon that he edited.

An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Maxwell institute series helps readers see the book of mormon through new eyes 5 questions with the new young men general presidency church news video projectprotect. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon. Three early critics set the agenda for the first sustained criticisms of the book. The narrative of the book of mormon is greatly complicated by changes in authorship and a much less than straightforward chronology, but grant hardy does as much as anyone possibly could to identify the places where a reader could get confused. In my case, i tried to say some new things about the book of mormon in an academic study of its narrative structure grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon. Hardy examines nephi, mormon, and moroni as narrators of the book of mormon and discusses how their purposes affect what they include and how it is written. The appendixes alone are worth the price of admission.

This complexity disturbs critics because it makes it hard for them to believe that anyone in the nineteenth century could have written the book. While serving as a mormon bishop, david learned of his sons homosexuality and the difficultypain his son experienced being raised in the lds church as a gay youth. Oxford university press, 2010you can judge for yourself how successful that wasbut there is so much more to do. What he has accomplished is nothing short of phenomenal. Understanding the book of mormon may be the book for a lot of us.

Hardy is one of the bestprepared individuals to offer a study edition of the book of mormon for latterday saints. Book of mormon download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In understanding the book of mormon, hardy offers the first comprehensive analysis of the works narrative structure in its 180 year history. Near the end of his life, king benjamin gave one of the most powerful sermons ever recorded in the book of mormon.

To hardy, skousen has created a corpus of textual analysis that will last for many generations to come. Take a look at some of the things that king benjamin said at the beginning of his speech mosiah 2. In addition to books and articles on early chinese history and historiography, he has published the book of mormon. Hardys helpful edition should go a long way toward making the book of mormon approachable not only for mormons themselves but also for religion scholars whose familiarity with lds traditions may outweigh their knowledge of the scripture itself.

In hardys hands, the book of mormon begins to come alive as a kind of shakespearean tragedy as hardy nimbly employs various tools of literary criticism. And, grant hardy shows, its far from the comainducing doorstop caricatured by twain. 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. A readerfriendly edition of the book of mormon, for mormons as well as nonmormons. Grant hardy author of understanding the book of mormon. It is recommended already by its authorship, commended to us by grant hardys careful and helpful earlier work editing the book of mormon. President monson reminds me of leader from the book of mormon. A readers edition 2003 and understanding the book of mormon.

Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, the byu religious studies center, and deseret book, hardy is preparing the maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon mise. A readers edition 2003, understanding the book of mormon. What was mormons purpose in writing the book of mormon. The maxwell institutes study edition of the book of mormon is both an update and an expansion of grant hardys the book of mormon. The maxwell institute study edition of the book of mormon is an important tool for personal and class study of the book of mormon. Perhaps chief among the themes the book of mormon addresses in connection with its own coming forth is the role it is to play in. This new readerfriendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern. Critics of the text may question its plausibility or historicity on intellectual grounds, but the book of mormon was never meant to be. Presenting the maxwell institute study edition of the book.

A large portion of the book is devoted to footnotes. The story of a new religious tradition and sojourner in the. We as editors see his work as transitional in a crucial way. This new readerfriendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern translations of the bible, with paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indention of. 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. Answers to submitted questions about the church of jesus christ by joel hardy. The fact is that the book of mormon is still only just beginning to come forth, since we are still in the early stages of reading it seriously. In a helpful contribution to the book of mormon reference companion, professor clyde j. Aug 05, 2016 in my case, i tried to say some new things about the book of mormon in an academic study of its narrative structure grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon. He has reasearched and written widely on various topics, but his study of the book of mormon led him to publish two landmark books that share important insights. Hardy s contributions in mormon studies are the book of mormon. A marvelous new book of mormon study edition religious. 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.