Other Nonconformist and Evangelical Churches Books

Book SynopsisJohn W. Tweeddale is Vice President of Academics and Professor of Theology at Reformation Bible College, USA.Crawford Gribben is Professor of Early Modern British History at Queen's University Belfast, UK.Trade ReviewAt a time when John Owen is receiving increased attention as a historical figure and as a Reformed theologian, this Handbook, bringing together essays on aspects of Owen's thought and life and on selected writings, is a welcome atlas guiding those interested in Owen's historical context or as a contemporary resource. -- Kenneth P. Minkema, Yale University, USAJohn Owen was one of the major English thinkers of the seventeenth century. This volume, which assembles a remarkable team of contributors, offers state-of-the art research written in an accessible style. It will be an indispensable and easily-navigated source for anyone interested in theological, social and intellectual history. -- Anne Dunan-Page, Aix-Marseille University, FranceTable of ContentsAbbreviations 1. Introduction, Crawford Gribben (Queen’s University Belfast) and John W. Tweeddale (Reformation Bible College, USA) Part 1: Owen’s contexts 2. Owen’s life, Michael A. G. Haykin (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, USA) 3. Owen as a theologian, Ryan M. McGraw (Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, USA) 4. Owen’s intellectual context, Richard A. Muller (Calvin Theological Seminary, USA) 5. Owen and politics, Crawford Gribben (Queen’s University Belfast) 6. Owen the preacher, Martyn C. Cowan (Union Theological College, Northern Ireland) 7. Owen and education, Eric Newton (BJU Seminary, USA) 8. Owen and the Church of England, Lee Gatiss (Union School of Theology, UK) 9. Owen the polemicist, Paul C.-H. Lim (Vanderbilt University, USA) 10. Owen and scientific reform, Katherine Calloway (Baylor University, USA) 11. Owen and philosophy, Paul Helm Part 2: Owen’s writings 12. A display of Arminianisme (1643), Christopher Cleveland (Veritas Academy, USA) 13. Salus electorum, Sanguis Jesu: or, The death of death in the death of Christ (1648), Timothy Robert Baylor (University of Wales Trinity Saint David, UK) 14. Of the mortification of sinne in believers (1656), Joel R. Beeke (Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, USA) 15. Exercitations on the epistle to the Hebrews (1668), John W. Tweeddale (Reformation Bible College, USA) 16. A discourse concerning the Holy Spirit (1674), Andrew M. Leslie (Moore Theological College, Australia) 17. The nature of apostasie (1676), Tim Cooper (University of Otago, New Zealand) 18. The doctrine of justification by faith (1677), Whitney Gamble-Smith (The Master’s University, USA) 19. Meditations and discourses on the glory of Christ (1684), Suzanne McDonald (Western Theological Seminary, USA) Part 3: Owen today 20. Retrieving Owen, Kelly M. Kapic (Covenant College, USA) Bibliography Contributors Owen’s Works Index Author and Subject Index

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Book SynopsisThis collection of interdisciplinary essays explores the prime concern of Mormon Studies the relationship between knowledge and spirituality and how that relationship has been defined and reinterpreted over time. Beginning with an examination of the international prospects for Mormonism at the turn of the century, the volume's overarching theme, from sociological, anthropological and theological approaches, is the examination of changing Mormon identities. The contributors review the expansion of Mormonism, the emotional and social contexts of its historic and contemporary manifestations, the distinction between Utah' Mormons and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and issues in Mormon feminism, concluding with a valuable review of the sources and documents available for studying Mormonism.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Scholars, Saints and Mormonism Douglas J. Davies Part I – Dimensions of Identity 1. Identity and Boundary Maintenance: International Prospects for Mormonism at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century Armand L. Mauss 2. Modernity, History and Latter-Day Saint Faith L. C. Midgley 3. The Book of Mormon Wars: A Non-Mormon Perspective Massimo Introvigne 4. Coffee, Tea and the Ultra-Protestant and Jewish Nature of the Boundaries of Mormonism Christie Davies 5. Latter-Day Saint Exceptionalism and Membership Growth James T. Duke 6. Neither Mormon Nor Protestant? The Reorganized Church and the Challenge of Identity Roger D. Launius Part II – The Expansion of Mormonism 7. Ethnic American Mormons: The Development of a Community Jessie L. Embry 8. Mormonism in Chile David Clark Knowlton 9. Mormonism in Black Africa E. Dale LeBaron 10. India: A Synopsis of Cultural Challenges Roger R. Keller Part III – Emotional and Social Life 11. Childhood in Early Nineteenth-Century Britain Reflected in Some Latter-Day Sources Malcolm R. Thorp 12. Guilt, Fear, Anxiety and Love: Disciplinary Councils Among Latter-Day Saints Today Melvyn Hammarberg 13. An Overview of Mormonism and Mental Health Daniel K. Judd 14. Commitment Making: Mate Selection Process Among Active Mormon American Couples Thomas B. Holman Part IV – Early Mormonism 15. Mormons and the Millennial World-View Grant Underwood 16. Magic and Mormon Religion Douglas J. Davies 17. ‘Companions and Forerunners’: English Romantics and the Restauration Gordon K. Thomas I Part V – Female Factors 18. Issues in Contemporary Mormon Feminism Lynn Matthews Anderson 19. ‘Choose ye this day whom ye will serve’: Latter-Day Saint Mothers’ Reaction To A Church Leader’s Instruction to Remain in the Home Bruce A. Chadwick and H. Dean Garrett Part VI – Mormon Scripture and Theology 20. Does the Book of Mormon Support ‘My Country Right or Wrong,’ Just War or Pacifism? Andrew Bolton 21. The Death/Rebirth Mytheme in the Book of Mormon Seth D. Kunin 22. Must God Be Incorporeal? David L. Paulsen Part VII – The Future of Mormon Studies 23. Mormon Studies: Progress and Prospects David J. Whittaker 24. Views of an International Religion Douglas J. Davies Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisPrevious studies of revival have tended to approach these remarkable moments in history from either a strictly local or a sweeping national perspective. In so doing they have dealt with either the detailed circumstances of a particular situation or the broader course of events. These approaches, however, have given the incorrect impression that religious awakening are uniform movements. As a result revivals have been misunderstood as homogeneous campaigns. This is the first study of the 1859 revival from a regional level in a comprehensive manner. It examines this movement, arguably the most significant and far-reaching awakening in modern times, as it appeared in the city of Aberdeen, the rural hinterland of north-east Scotland, and among the fishing villages and towns that stretch along the Moray Firth. It reveals how, far from being unvarying, the 1859 revival was richly diverse. It uncovers the important influence that local contexts brought to bear upon the timing and manifestation of this awakening. Above all, it has established the heterogeneous nature of simultaneous revival movements that appeared in the same vicinity.

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Book SynopsisApostolic networks link congregations together through personal relationships. They center around apostolic figures who have the ability to mobilize resources, make rapid decisions, and utilize charismatic gifts. Networks of churches organized in this way can respond to postmodernity and cultural innovation. This book takes the story of the emergence of apostolic networks in Britain from the visionary work of Arthur Wallis through the charismatic renewal into the full-fledged Restoration Movement of the 1980s. It covers the events of the 1990s, including the Toronto Blessing, and contains fresh information based upon interviews with leading players and new survey data as well as reanalysis of historical documents.

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Book SynopsisSind Menschen im Gottesdienst Kunden? Ist der Gottesdienst eine Dienstleistung? Eine große Mehrheit der Gottesdienstbesucher beantwortet diese Fragen mit Nein. Solche ökonomischen Kategorien widersprechen offenbar stark dem eigenen Selbstverständnis als Kirchgänger und dem Verständnis des Gottesdienstes als ein Geschehen, in dem theologisch gesehen vor allem Gott handelt. Eine Sache aber ist die Einschätzung und Beurteilung von Kundenvokabular und Dienstleistungsbegrifflichkeit eine andere Sache demgegenüber das tatsächliche Denken und Verhalten von Teilnehmerinnen und Teilnehmern an Sonntagsgottesdiensten. Der Autor der vorliegenden Studie hat einen Fragebogen entwickelt, um vorher theoretisch erarbeitete Merkmale eines Kundenhabitus auch beim Kirchgang zu verifizieren. Dabei geht es um Wahlverhalten, Bedürfnis- und Nutzenorientierung sowie Ansprüche an Professionalität und Qualität. Es zeigt sich, dass auch bei häufigen Kirchgängern ein entsprechender Kundenhabitus deutlich erkennbar ist und zwischen gottesdienstlichen Stamm- und Laufkunden unterschieden werden kann. Der Studie liegt die Befragung von knapp 2000, der Kirche überwiegend nahestehende Personen zugrunde. Die empirischen Auswertungen werden in der Arbeit gerahmt durch eine kurze Geschichte des Kundenbegriffs, einen Überblick über seine theologische Bewertung im Zuge der Diskussion um das sog. Kirchenmanagement und praktisch-theologische Erwägungen zum Verhältnis von Auftrags- und Bedürfnisorientierung im Gottesdienst.

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Book Synopsisn terms of concept and layout, the teaching work follows the volume Competent Evangelical 5 from 2017 and 6 from 2018. An important core concern of the volume is to guide the pupils to learn independently with competent support from the teacher. There is increasing emphasis on knowledge of the most important operators and on the independent acquisition and transfer of knowledge. The five learning areas of the curriculum correspond to five interlinked chapters that can be combined in different ways; they are supplemented by a concluding method chapter, which allows you to independently look up and deepen the methodological knowledge you have acquired. 7.1 Faith becomes visible: We understand the central role of the Holy Spirit and learn how and where he works faith. Faith becomes visible to us and others in church construction from different eras and in different elements of worship. 7.2 Church begins: We learn how Pentecost marks the birth of the Church and how the first Christians lived their faith. With Paul we get to know one of the founders of Christianity and discover how the persecution of the first Christians came to an end with Emperor Constantine. 7.3 Muslims in our area: We learn the basics about Islam, the prophet and the five pillars and see how the everyday life of Muslims is determined by their religion. In comparison with Christianity, we discover similarities and differences - and how we deal well with different conflict issues. 7.4 Mirror, mirror on the wall: We think about how wishes are influenced by the media and role models, and discover the Christian faith and biblical visions as an important source of impulses for a life-friendly handling of our desires. We recognize that longings can lead to addiction and dependency on the one hand, but on the other hand can also motivate people to realize their visions of a better world. 7.5 Supporting each other: We perceive the need for help in our environment and think about the possibilities and limits of our help. We recognize the great importance of charity from biblical stories and can demonstrate its implementation in the helping actions of the Church in the past and today. 6. Methods: Operators / Digital presentation / Feedback / Group puzzle / Radio play / Pro and contra debate / Presentation / Thesis rally / Word collage / Selected methods from class 6. All chapters also refer to methods that were learned in the sixth year of school to activate spiral and networked learning at appropriate points. The lexicon, which also rounds off this volume, lists many new terms, but also already contains explanations in volume 5, insofar as it also plays a role in the texts of the 6th school year. Possible presentation topics, which are distributed over the chapters, are listed in a directory for better preselection.

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Book SynopsisIs Bethany Baptist Academy God's choice? Ask the fundamentalist Christians who teach there or whose children attend the academy, and their answer will be a yes as unequivocal as their claim that the Bible is God's inerrant, absolute word. Is this truth or arrogance? In God's Choice, Alan Peshkin offers readers the opportunity to consider this question in depth. Given the outsider's rare chance to observe such a school firsthand, Peshkin spent eighteen months studying Bethany's high schoolinterviewing students, parents, and educators, living in the home of Bethany Baptist Church members, and participating fully in the church's activities. From this intimate research he has fashioned a rich account of Christian schooling and an informed analysis of a clear alternative to public education.

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Book SynopsisIn a time when the Pauline dictum decreed that women be silent in matters of the Church, Johanna Eleonora Petersen (1644-1724) was a pioneering author of religious books, insisting on her right to speak out as a believer above her male counterparts.

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Book SynopsisThis study provides an analysis of the commitments, beliefs and concerns of American evangelicals and examines how they interact with and influence secular society, the text argues that traditional, orthodox evangelicalism endures because of the challenges of our modern pluralistic environment.

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Book SynopsisAnalyzes the events in 1993 that led to the death of 74 men, women and children in the Waco religious community in Texas. Examining topics such as the media's role and the relation between religion and violence, the book discusses why the tragedy took place and whether it could have been avoided.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction: Another View of the Mt. Carmel Standoff Stuart A. Wright 1: An Age of Wisdom, An Age of Foolishness: The Davidians, Some Forerunners, and Our Age Robert S. Fogarty 2: Davidians and Branch Davidians: 1929-1987 William L. Pitts, Jr 3: The Davidian Tradition: From Patronal Clan to Prophetic Movement David G. Bromley, Edward D. Silver. 4: Construction and Escalation of a Cult Threat: Dissecting Moral Panic and Official Reaction to the Branch Davidians Stuart A. Wright 5: Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes, the Anticult Movement, and the Waco Confrontation James R. Lewis 6: "Babies Were Being Beaten": Exploring Child Abuse Allegations at Ranch Apocalypse Christopher G. Ellison, John P. Bartkowski. 7: Manufacturing Consent about Koresh: A Structural Analysis of the Role of Media in the Waco Tragedy James T. Richardson 8: Cops, News Copy, and Public Opinion: Legitimacy and the Social Construction of Evil in Waco Anson Shupe, Jeffrey K. Hadden. 9: Public Narratives and the Apocalyptic Sect: From Jonestown to Mt. Carmel John R. Hall 10: Sects and Violence: Factors Enhancing the Volatility of Marginal Religious Movements Thomas Robbins, Dick Anthony. 11: Religious Discourse and Failed Negotiations: The Dynamics of Biblical Apocalypticism in Waco James D. Tabor 12: Waco, Federal Law Enforcement, and Scholars of Religion Nancy T. Ammerman 13: Breaching the "Wall of Separation": The Balance between Religious Freedom and Social Order Rhys H. Williams 14: The Waco Tragedy: Constitutional Concerns and Policy Perspectives Edward McGlynn Gaffney, Jr 15: The Implosion of Mt. Carmel and Its Aftermath: Is It All Over Yet? Dean M. Kelley Appendix: Branch Davidians Who Died at Mt. Carmel List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisProminent scholars of Mormonism follow the religion’s quest for legitmacy in the United States and its intersection with American politics.Trade ReviewIt was a welcome treat to read a group of well-organized, well-written, and eminently readable essays from a diversity of distinguished authorial voices that, across the board, maintain a high level of quality. Mormonism and American Politics' nuanced contextualization of Mormonism successfully engages larger issues within U.S. religious history by means of focused, provocative case studies, making it relevant to scholars in a wide range of disciplines. -- Susanna Morrill, Lewis & Clark College This volume offers the best single collection of essays on Mormonism and American politics, a topic that is both rich and deserving of sustained scholarly treatment. -- Patrick Q. Mason, Claremont Graduate University From Joseph Smith's presidential bid and Brigham Young's theodemocracy, to Prop 8 and the Romney campaign of 2012, Mormons have engaged in a complex struggle to reconcile Latter-day Saint exceptionalism with political accommodation and legitimacy. Perhaps no faith tradition in America has been at the center of more church-state conflicts than Mormonism, and this vibrant collection of essays plumbs both past lessons and future prospects. -- Terryl Givens, author of Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought Mormonism and American Politics is the most deft, discerning, and nearly definitive book of essays about Mormons and politics ever published. The authors treat captivating facets of Mormon history-some famous, some unearthed here-with an eye-popping verve that shapes a new vista on both Mormonism and the evolving America in which it emerged. -- Jon Butler, Yale University Charting the shifting alliances and tensions between Mormonism and broader national currents, this volume offers an incisive narrative of the history of religious engagement with electoral politics. As the quintessential "outsider religion," Mormonism has danced on the knife-edge between toleration and rejection, acceptable diversity and illegitimate cult. These evocative essays trace that distinctively American dance and offer important lessons about the promise and perils of religious pluralism. -- Laurie Maffly-Kipp, Washington University The authors of these essays give genuine insight into Mormonism's political present without neglecting the significance of its past. A smart, accessible collection, it is a very good read for the academic and general public. Especially for the classroom, the volume offers an opportunity to discuss America's engagement with religion on such important themes as race, gender, majoritarian politics, religious liberty and its informal, but no less important, public counterpoint, toleration. -- Kathleen Flake, University of Virginia This timely collection integrates multiple perspectives and insights by leading scholars. The importance of Mormonism to American political life is shown here not only as a present phenomenon, but an enduring one across almost two hundred years. -- Sarah Barringer Gordon, University of Pennsylvania The most historically informed and culturally sophisticated analysis of the subject to date... Highly recommended. Choice This is a book that lives up to its blurbs. BYU Studies Quarterly Intelligibly written and academically sound. It makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of an important religious denomination in American culture and politics while simultaneously illuminating the historical interaction and mutual impact of religious and political institutions in a democratic society. The Journal of American History The strengths of this volume is its combination of accessibility and scholarly originality. Journal of Church and StateTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction, by Randall Balmer and Jana Riess Part I: Origins and Tensions 1. Joseph Smith's Presidential Ambitions, by Richard Lyman Bushman 2. Unpopular Sovereignty: Brigham Young and the U.S. Government, 1847-1877, by John G. Turner 3. Polygamy in the Nation's Capitol: Protestant Women and the 1899 Campaign Against B. H. Roberts, by Jana Riess 4. Eternal Progression: Mormonism and American Progressivism, by Matthew Bowman Part II: Shifting Alliances 5. Ezra Taft Benson and the Conservative Turn of "Those Amazing Mormons," by Jan Shipps 6. Testimony and Theology: The Mormon Struggle with America's Civil Religion, by Russell Arben Fox 7. Chosen Land, Chosen People: Religious and American Exceptionalism Among the Mormons, by Philip L. Barlow 8. Like Father, Unlike Son: The Governors Romney, the Kennedy Paradigm, and the Mormon Question, by Randall Balmer Part III: Into the Twenty-first Century 9. A Politically Peculiar People: How Mormons Moved into and Then out of the Political Mainstream, by David E. Campbell, Christopher F. Karpowitz and J. Quin Monson 10. "Twice-told Tale": Telling Two Histories of Mormon-Black Relations During the 2012 Presidential Election, by Max Perry Mueller 11. Mormon Women Talk Politics, by Claudia L. Bushman 12. On the "Underground": What the Mormon "Yes on 8" Campaign Reveals About the Future of Mormons in American Political Life, by Joanna Brooks 13. Mitt, Mormonism, and the Media: An Unfamiliar Faith Takes the Stage in the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election, by Peggy Fletcher Stack List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisEvangelicalism has outpaced mainline Protestantism to encompass more than a third of American adults and nearly half of all U.S. Christians. This volume offers unique insight into evangelical culture, spirituality, theology, politics, and ethnicity, revealing a vibrant and controversial movement’s dynamism as well as its significant challenges.Trade ReviewAny educated reader would do well to start with The Future of Evangelicalism in America for an understanding of what evangelicalism is, where it came from, and how it is changing. This important and useful book will make a significant contribution to our understanding of American evangelicalism. -- Barry Hankins, Baylor University This book is as timely as it is valuable. The distinguished group of authors offers a diverse and wide-ranging scholarly analysis of the state of evangelicalism in American culture and politics. At the same time, they root their perceptions in solid historical scholarship, and a strong awareness of theological dilemmas. The resulting collection is rewarding, and provocative. -- Philip Jenkins, Baylor University American evangelicalism is changing, as it has always done to try to adapt to and influence its evolving environments and constituencies. This volume smartly maps out the most significant aspects of evangelical change today--combining important historical context, analyses of current evidence, and well-informed projections into the future--to provide an essential guide to recent developments in this important religious movement. -- Christian Smith, University of Notre Dame The thoughtful, well-informed, wide-ranging, and up-to-date chapters of this book offer an excellent introduction to contemporary American evangelicals. Of special note is the skill with which authors and editor Candy Gunther Brown chart the great diversity among evangelical Protestant movements that nonetheless remain identifiably linked by their adherence to the Bible, their commitment to personal Christian conversion. and their adaptability within contemporary culture. -- Mark Noll, University of Notre Dame An excellent introduction to contemporary American Evangelicalism... Highly recommended. ChoiceTable of ContentsSeries Editors' Introduction: The Future of Religion in America, by Mark Silk and Andrew Walsh Introduction, by Candy Gunther Brown 1. American Evangelicalism: Character, Function, and Trajectories of Change, by Michael S. Hamilton 2. Sound, Style, Substance: New Directions in Evangelical Spirituality, by Chris R. Armstrong 3. The Emerging Divide in Evangelical Theology, by Roger E. Olson 4. Evangelicals, Politics, and Public Policy: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future, by Amy E. Black 5. The Changing Face of Evangelicalism, by Timothy Tseng Conclusion, by Candy Gunther Brown Appendix A: American Religious Identification Survey: Research Design Appendix B: American Religious Identification Survey: Future of Religion in America Survey Appendix C: American Religious Identification Survey: Typology of Religious Groups List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisEvangelicalism has outpaced mainline Protestantism to encompass more than a third of American adults and nearly half of all U.S. Christians. This volume offers unique insight into evangelical culture, spirituality, theology, politics, and ethnicity, revealing a vibrant and controversial movement’s dynamism as well as its significant challenges.Trade ReviewAny educated reader would do well to start with The Future of Evangelicalism in America for an understanding of what evangelicalism is, where it came from, and how it is changing. This important and useful book will make a significant contribution to our understanding of American evangelicalism. -- Barry Hankins, Baylor University This book is as timely as it is valuable. The distinguished group of authors offers a diverse and wide-ranging scholarly analysis of the state of evangelicalism in American culture and politics. At the same time, they root their perceptions in solid historical scholarship, and a strong awareness of theological dilemmas. The resulting collection is rewarding, and provocative. -- Philip Jenkins, Baylor University American evangelicalism is changing, as it has always done to try to adapt to and influence its evolving environments and constituencies. This volume smartly maps out the most significant aspects of evangelical change today--combining important historical context, analyses of current evidence, and well-informed projections into the future--to provide an essential guide to recent developments in this important religious movement. -- Christian Smith, University of Notre Dame The thoughtful, well-informed, wide-ranging, and up-to-date chapters of this book offer an excellent introduction to contemporary American evangelicals. Of special note is the skill with which authors and editor Candy Gunther Brown chart the great diversity among evangelical Protestant movements that nonetheless remain identifiably linked by their adherence to the Bible, their commitment to personal Christian conversion. and their adaptability within contemporary culture. -- Mark Noll, University of Notre Dame An excellent introduction to contemporary American Evangelicalism... Highly recommended. ChoiceTable of ContentsSeries Editors' Introduction: The Future of Religion in America, by Mark Silk and Andrew Walsh Introduction, by Candy Gunther Brown 1. American Evangelicalism: Character, Function, and Trajectories of Change, by Michael S. Hamilton 2. Sound, Style, Substance: New Directions in Evangelical Spirituality, by Chris R. Armstrong 3. The Emerging Divide in Evangelical Theology, by Roger E. Olson 4. Evangelicals, Politics, and Public Policy: Lessons from the Past, Prospects for the Future, by Amy E. Black 5. The Changing Face of Evangelicalism, by Timothy Tseng Conclusion, by Candy Gunther Brown Appendix A: American Religious Identification Survey: Research Design Appendix B: American Religious Identification Survey: Future of Religion in America Survey Appendix C: American Religious Identification Survey: Typology of Religious Groups List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisA reader-friendly edition of the "Book of Mormon", for Mormons as well as non-Mormons. It reformats the unchanged 1920 text, in the manner of modern translations of the Bible, with paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic forms, topical headings, indention of quoted documents, italicized reworking of biblical prophecies, and minimized verse numbers.Trade Review"Hardy's thoughtful 'reader's edition' eliminates the current official text's knotty versification, clarifies the cast of characters, includes a useful introduction and provides signposts through the sometimes dense prose. . . . Essential for the full comprehension of Mormonism."--Wall Street Journal, Samuel Morris Brown "Grant Hardy has provided the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a remarkable new version of their founding text. Although Hardy gears his book to a broad readership, those who truly love the Book of Mormon, seek to be serious students of it, or both, will find A Reader's Edition well worth owning."--Louis Midgley in Insights"This edition . . . makes the book especially helpful and intelligible to new readers and provides refreshing insights to Latter-day Saints."--BYU Magazine

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Book SynopsisAn example of Mormon beliefs and behavior towards minorities.Trade ReviewWinner of the Best Book Award from the Mormon History Association, 2004.

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Book SynopsisIncludes the modern translations of the Bible, with paragraphs, quotation marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indention of quoted documents, italicized reworkings of biblical prophecies, and minimized verse numbers.Trade Review"Hardy's thoughtful 'reader's edition' eliminates the current official text's knotty versification, clarifies the cast of characters, includes a useful introduction and provides signposts through the sometimes dense prose. . . . Essential for the full comprehension of Mormonism."--Wall Street Journal, Samuel Morris Brown "Grant Hardy has provided the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a remarkable new version of their founding text. Although Hardy gears his book to a broad readership, those who truly love the Book of Mormon, seek to be serious students of it, or both, will find A Reader's Edition well worth owning."--Louis Midgley in Insights"This edition . . . makes the book especially helpful and intelligible to new readers and provides refreshing insights to Latter-day Saints."--BYU Magazine

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Book SynopsisPresents a parallel history which focuses on the Latter-day Saints with an ongoing personal description of the author's encounters with them. By combining a portrait of the evolution of Mormonism with autobiography, it illuminates the Mormons and explains what it has been like to be on the outside of a culture that remains familiar and strange.Trade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2002.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Goodwillie illuminates the life of Richard McNemar, who played a pivotal role in the formation of the complicated religious landscape of the trans-Appalachian west in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period of American religious history that continues to deeply inform our national culture. McNemar's story seems deeply relevant now, as America has devolved into deep division over religious and political conviction, more than most of us have ever seen in our lifetimes."—Carol Medlicott, Northern Kentucky University"This chronological and detailed treatment of his life highlights McNemar's contributions to Shaker theology, missionary efforts, leadership, poetry, hymns, and printing. Richard McNemar: Frontier Heretic and Shaker Apostle goes beyond and debunks whatever may remain of Shaker folklore connected McNemar. Instead, the reader appreciates him as a man of great integrity and deep religious faith who, in spite of a range of human imperfections, remained true to Mother Ann's Gospel."—Stephen J. Paterwic, author of Historical Dictionary of the Shakers, and The A-Z of the Shakers.Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsMapsIntroductionPart I: Presbyterian and Schismatic1. Youth2. Westward Migration and Education3. Ordination4. Revival5. RebellionPart II: Shaker6. Rebirth7. The New and Living Way8. Community Foundations9. Shakers and the Shawnee Prophet10. Shaker Publications and the Expansion of Missionary Efforts11. Gospel Order in the West, James Smith, and the Ohio Mob12. War Comes to the Wabash13. Perfidy, Pilgrims, Prosecution, Progress, and Pestilence14. The End of the Beginning15. "There's Something Dead upon This Ground," or, "The Buzzards and the Flesh"16. The Struggle with Abijah Alley and Aquila Bolton17. Eleazar Goes East18. Eleazar and the Covenant19. Custos Sacrorum20. The Great Snake and the Patriarchal Skeleton21. Unrest in the West22. Freegift to the West23. "The Name or Memory of Mr. McNamar"24. The New Era25. War in Heaven26. A Wandering Star27. Look Homeward, Angel28. Aftermath and LegacyAppendix 1: Richard McNemar, "A general outline of the past Journal of my life"Appendix 2: Richard McNemar, "Testimony of E[leazar] Wright"Appendix 3: Richard McNemar, "My years on earth have been but few"Appendix 4: [Archibald McCorkle?], "A few mourning thoughts on McNemar's fall," and Richard McNemar, "An Answer to the Mourning Thoughts on McNemar's Fall"Appendix 5: The Expulsion of Richard McNemarAppendix 6: [The Redemption of Richard McNemar]NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Goodwillie illuminates the life of Richard McNemar, who played a pivotal role in the formation of the complicated religious landscape of the trans-Appalachian west in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a period of American religious history that continues to deeply inform our national culture. McNemar's story seems deeply relevant now, as America has devolved into deep division over religious and political conviction, more than most of us have ever seen in our lifetimes."—Carol Medlicott, Northern Kentucky University"This chronological and detailed treatment of his life highlights McNemar's contributions to Shaker theology, missionary efforts, leadership, poetry, hymns, and printing. Richard McNemar: Frontier Heretic and Shaker Apostle goes beyond and debunks whatever may remain of Shaker folklore connected McNemar. Instead, the reader appreciates him as a man of great integrity and deep religious faith who, in spite of a range of human imperfections, remained true to Mother Ann's Gospel."—Stephen J. Paterwic, author of Historical Dictionary of the Shakers, and The A-Z of the Shakers.Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsMapsIntroductionPart I: Presbyterian and Schismatic1. Youth2. Westward Migration and Education3. Ordination4. Revival5. RebellionPart II: Shaker6. Rebirth7. The New and Living Way8. Community Foundations9. Shakers and the Shawnee Prophet10. Shaker Publications and the Expansion of Missionary Efforts11. Gospel Order in the West, James Smith, and the Ohio Mob12. War Comes to the Wabash13. Perfidy, Pilgrims, Prosecution, Progress, and Pestilence14. The End of the Beginning15. "There's Something Dead upon This Ground," or, "The Buzzards and the Flesh"16. The Struggle with Abijah Alley and Aquila Bolton17. Eleazar Goes East18. Eleazar and the Covenant19. Custos Sacrorum20. The Great Snake and the Patriarchal Skeleton21. Unrest in the West22. Freegift to the West23. "The Name or Memory of Mr. McNamar"24. The New Era25. War in Heaven26. A Wandering Star27. Look Homeward, Angel28. Aftermath and LegacyAppendix 1: Richard McNemar, "A general outline of the past Journal of my life"Appendix 2: Richard McNemar, "Testimony of E[leazar] Wright"Appendix 3: Richard McNemar, "My years on earth have been but few"Appendix 4: [Archibald McCorkle?], "A few mourning thoughts on McNemar's fall," and Richard McNemar, "An Answer to the Mourning Thoughts on McNemar's Fall"Appendix 5: The Expulsion of Richard McNemarAppendix 6: [The Redemption of Richard McNemar]NotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisMy name is Flora Jessop. I've been called apostate, vigilante, and crazy bitch, and maybe I am. But some people call me a hero, and I'd like to think they're right too. If I am a hero, maybe it's because every time I can play a part in saving a child or woman from a life of servitude and degradation, I'm saving a little piece of me, too.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments. Introduction: My Name Is Flora Jessop. Part One: Pligville. 1. The End of Innocence. 2. Home Sweet Home. 3. The Rape. 4. The Great Escape. 5. Little Runaway. 6. The Prisoner. Part Two: Apostate. 7. Married. 8. Gone for Good. 9. No Boundaries. 10. The End of the Road. 11. Shauna. 12. No One’s Property. 13. Family. Part Three: Outlaw. 14. Ruby. 15. Lost and Found. 16. Changes. 17. Rescuing the Fawns. 18. Running Away Again. 19. Laurene. 20. No Sympathy for the Devil. Part Four: No More Pain. 21. Fighting On. Epilogue. Notes. About the Authors. Index.

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Book SynopsisOver the years the American religious landscape has undergone a dramatic change. More and more churches meet in converted warehouses, and many have ministers who've never attended a seminary. This title offers an examination of these 'new paradigm churches' - sometimes called megachurches or postdenominational churches.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Introduction Winners and Losers: Restructuring the Religious Economy 1 The New Face of American Protestantism: A Second Reformation? 2 Hippies, Beach Baptisms, and Healings: A History of Three Movements 3 Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion 4 Beyond Rationality: Democratizing Access to the Sacred 5 Living by the Bible: Social Ministry, Politics, Theology 6 Giving the Ministry to the People: The Postmodern Organization 7 Franchising New Groups: Church Planting and Growth 8 Can the Mainline Church Survive? Some Lessons from History APPENDIX 1. Geographical Distribution of Churches APPENDIX 2. Congregational Surveys APPENDIX 3. Pastors Survey Notes Index

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Book SynopsisShows how scholars and popular media talk about religious conservatives and sex. Moving away from debates over homosexuality, premarital sex, and other perceived sexual sins, this title examines Christian sexuality websites to show how some evangelical Christians use digital media to promote the idea that God wants married, and more.Trade Review"Kelsy Burke's new study of evangelical sexuality websites tells a new, finely nuanced and wholly convincing story... fascinating and suggestive." Reading Religion "Burke has constructed an artfully crafted and instructive text that extends sexual work in the sociology of religion, documents the complexity of contemporary religious-sexual relations, and provides a useful example of integrating sexual, gender, and religious sociologies in practice." American Journal of SociologyTable of ContentsList of Figures and Tables Acknowledgments A Note to Readers on Quoting Online Content Introduction 1 * Godly Sex: A New Evangelical Sexual Logic 2 * Overcoming the Obscene: Using Religion to Talk about Sex 3 * Virtual and Virtuous: Forming Online Religious Communities 4 * Sexual Awakening: Defining Women's Pleasures 5 * What Makes a Man: Making "Bad" Sex "Good" Conclusion: Paths of Desire Appendix A: Websites Mentioned by Name in the Book Appendix B: Doing Internet Ethnography Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhy do so many evangelicals follow leaders with dubious credentials when they have other options in their own faith? Exploring intellectual authority within evangelicalism, the authors reveal how the concept of anointing—being chosen by God to speak for him—established a conservative evangelical leadership isolated from secular arts and sciences.Trade ReviewStephens and Giberson have produced a stunning and well-documented indictment of the evangelical right wing. Here is a 'must read' for anyone wanting an insight into one of the most powerful religious-political movements in modern American culture. -- Owen Gingerich, author of God's UniverseTwo talented writers join forces to introduce us to some of the most influential religious and cultural leaders in contemporary America--such 'experts' as Ken Ham, David Barton, James Dobson, and Hal Lindsey. I know of no better place to discover how the conservative half of America lives and thinks. -- Ronald L. Numbers, author of The Creationists: From Creation Science to Intelligent DesignThis is an important book on a pressing topic that should be read by everyone concerned with the place of religion in American life today. -- Michael Ruse, author of The Evolution-Creation StruggleThe Anointed demonstrates how questionable 'experts' emerge and flourish within American evangelicalism. Stephens and Giberson function as knowledgeable guides into this intriguing--and troubling--'parallel universe.' -- Randall Balmer, author of The Making of Evangelicalism[Stephens and Giberson] rise triumphantly to the challenge of explaining the leaders and the culture of the religious Right without rancor or condescension. -- Ray Olson * Booklist *The Anointed is one of the best and most important books on religion published this year. It is a well-written, well-argued study that penetrates to the heart of modern evangelical culture. Stephens and Giberson have done an excellent job of critiquing what Mark Noll has called the "scandal of the evangelical mind" (the scandal, wrote Noll, is "that there is not much of an evangelical mind") while empathetically explaining why so many evangelicals are smitten with dubious experts. Evangelicals who take the intellect seriously, as well as outsiders struggling to understand the evangelical sub-culture, will benefit from their hard work and keen insights. -- Matthew Avery Sutton * Christian Century *In The Anointed, Randall J. Stephens and Karl W. Giberson, professors at evangelical Eastern Nazarene College near Boston, draw a fascinating group portrait of today's most popular intellectual leaders among evangelicals and attempt to explain why so many of the faithful buy their arguments...One of the principal virtues of The Anointed is that it represents an effort to demonstrate that the evangelical community is not a monolith of the unthinking. -- Kevin M. Schultz * Wilson Quarterly *Neither an expose nor a screed, The Anointed is the work of educated evangelical Christians who reject the kitsch and anti-intellectualism that outsiders tend to equate with the faith itself...There are evangelicals who reject fundamentalism, find apocalyptic revenge fantasies distasteful, and don't see any reason why God wouldn't bless same-sex unions. The Anointed seems to be written for such readers--to explain the history and internal dynamics of the evangelical subculture, perhaps as a step towards changing it. As a report on the parallel culture of evangelical Christianity, the book is well-researched and intelligently composed. -- Scott McLemee * Inside Higher Ed *The Anointed [is] a field guide to the evangelical experts you haven't heard of--but should...Why would anyone heed ersatz "experts" over trained authorities far more qualified to comment on the origins of life or the worldview of the founding fathers? Drawing on case studies of evangelical gurus, Stephens and Giberson argue that intellectual authority works differently in the "parallel culture" of evangelicalism. In this world of prophecy conferences and home-schooling curriculums, a dash of charisma, a media empire and a firm stance on the right side of the line between "us" and "them" matter more than a fancy degree...The Anointed condemns the current state of evangelical intellectual life, but Stephens and Giberson avoid monolithic stereotypes. They are careful to note that evangelicals disagree wildly among themselves about almost everything. -- Molly Worthen * New York Times *With its coverage of wide-ranging figures and issues, the book reveals important facets of ways evangelicals maintain both their ideology and boundaries in what they perceive as a threatening culture. This insightful work is an important contribution to readers' understanding of the ways evangelicals maintain their self-identity and worldview. -- A. W. Klink * Choice *In their new book, The Anointed: Evangelical Truth in a Secular Age, Randall Stephens and Karl Giberson explain the nature of intellectual insularity of so many in this world, in which "the teachings of dubiously credentialed leaders are favored over the word of secular experts in the arts and sciences."...The authors describe "what amounts to a 'parallel culture,'" where people like alleged "historian" David Barton...proffer[s] phony-baloney history lessons that distort almost everything professional historians know to be true about America's founders. -- Eric Alterman * The Nation *

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewBrigham Young is a landmark work… There is no aspect of Young’s fascinating life that eludes Turner’s scrutiny. -- Alex Beam * New York Times Book Review *A definitive biography of Mormonism’s greatest activist and apostle. -- Adam Gopnik * New Yorker *A major accomplishment that, more than any past treatment of Young, situates the protean prophet squarely in the context of his turbulent times. Turner is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and brings to Young an emotional objectivity and distance that greatly benefit his profile of the 19th century Mormon leader and colonizer… Turner unflinchingly tackles the full spectrum, warts and all, of Young’s multifarious personality and life… For Turner, no topic is off-limits, too controversial, too intimate. He exhibits a healthy skepticism and curiosity that are as bracing as they are salutary… He is balanced, insightful, sympathetic, even occasionally affectionate. Turner’s Young is a far cry from the (take your pick) superficial, cartoonish, angelic/devilish caricatures of most popularized portrayals. He is a fully rendered, flesh-and-blood, flawed-but-earnest human being who sincerely believed he had been ‘called’ to govern God’s new covenant people as heaven’s representative. The biography adds much to both our understanding and appreciation of Young. -- Gary James Bergera * Salt Lake Tribune *[A] magnificent new biography… [Turner’s] book should establish him as one of the best religious historians of his generation. Turner had unfettered access to Young’s papers, and his keen eye for social context makes this book an excellent introduction to the story of Mormonism as well as an essential addition to the history of the American West. It should also do for Brigham Young what Richard Lyman Bushman’s Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling did for the Mormon prophet: make the case not only that Young was one of the most fascinating people of the 19th century but also that his importance in American history can no longer be overlooked. Indeed, some of that history will have to be revised to fit this ‘pioneer prophet’ into its narrative… Turner’s prose is so smooth and his interpretations so balanced that I suspect Mormonism’s defenders and detractors alike will flock to this book… Turner is not a member of the Mormon church, which makes his achievement all the more remarkable. -- Stephen H. Webb * Books & Culture *The great virtue of John G. Turner’s new biography of Brigham Young—the first major study since LDS historian Leonard Arrington’s Brigham Young: American Moses (1985)—is the author’s stolid resistance to either version of the traditional Young caricature. -- Chris Lehmann * The Nation *Turner offers an unflinching account of Young’s life ‘within the context of mid-19th-century American religion and politics,’ yet evinces throughout a sympathetic understanding of the way Young and the Mormon pioneers saw themselves: as a chosen people delivered by God from their persecutors and led to a latter-day Zion… Turner’s portrait is of a man both great and greatly flawed. -- Jason Lee Steorts * National Review *Previous biographers of Brigham Young have used epithets such as ‘American Moses’ and ‘Lion of the Lord.’ However, what Turner demonstrates here is that the three-dimensional Young cannot be reduced to saint or tyrant; he was bold, brave, crude, petty, visionary, manipulative, creative, charismatic, kindly, and much more besides. He presents Young as a family man navigating the complexities of polygamy, as a leader moving large numbers of people across the Great Plains, and as a politician negotiating enough independence for the Mormons from the American government that he could build the kingdom of God as he saw fit. Turner was given unprecedented access to the LDS church archives and he makes full use of them and other sources, as well as providing a cogent interpretive context. It is easy to forget Young’s significance in American history, but at a minimum it needs to be remembered that he is responsible for settling a vast swath of the West. Turner gives him his due… There aren’t enough superlatives for this book. It will remain the standard biography for a long time. Because of its thorough documentation, academics will take it seriously, while general readers will appreciate its clarity of prose and argument. -- D. S. Azzolina * Library Journal (starred review) *In his richly researched new biography of Brigham Young, John G. Turner not only profiles the man who brought the church to Utah, but also satisfies both high-minded and lowbrow curiosity about this most American of religions. * Boston Globe *A comprehensive biography of Young and his times… It is an exceptional work… We can learn a lot about the development of Mormon theology from Turner’s book, far more than can be gleaned from previous biographies of Young… Turner is at his best when he is placing the elements of Young’s life within the main contours of broader 19th-century America… Those who want to know more about Mormonism’s birth and growth will want to get a copy. -- Edward J. Blum * Christian Century *[Turner] provides an admirably balanced account of this complex man, and his little-understood and frequently reviled faith… When finished with this superb biography, readers will find [Brigham Young] less of a curiosity but still fascinating. -- Alan Cate * Cleveland Plain Dealer *Young’s life is admirably chronicled in this fine new biography… The character who emerges from Turner’s elegantly written and well-researched biography is a man for whom the word ‘protean’ might almost have been invented. He became one of the foremost colonizers of American history, leading the Mormons on a perilous journey to the Great Basin and laying claim to approximately a sixth of the western United States… Turner shows [Young] to be a shrewd and subtle politician… Turner’s story never drags, partly because the tale itself is so fascinating, but also because he writes with clarity and energy. -- Richard Aldous * Irish Times *John G. Turner’s new biography of Brigham Young…portrays a social experiment, the most ambitious in American history, that until Young’s death in 1877 explicitly rejected the core values of Victorian capitalism: possessive individualism and Darwinian competition. -- Mike Davis * Los Angeles Review of Books *[A] strong and authoritative biography. -- Jackson Lears * New Republic *[An] exceptionally well-researched and endlessly interesting biography. -- Stuart Kelly * The Scotsman *Fascinating… Young very much emerges with his faults manifest in Turner’s impressive biography. At the same time, [Brigham Young] takes Mormon studies forward, avoiding the pitfalls of apologia and polemic. -- Jeremy Black * Standpoint *Turner’s broad historical perspective clarifies why Young’s ecclesiastical successors have still felt the man’s influence—even after abandoning polygamy. An impressively detailed portrait of a controversial giant. -- Bryce Christensen * Booklist (starred review) *[Turner] presents a very thoughtful, well-contextualized account of a complex and contradictory religious leader who was profane as well as pious and powerful. The book traces the development of an aimless young man who became the prophet and president of a sprawling theocracy. Turner offers a fair consideration of Young… This well-researched, readable biography will satisfy all but the most partisan reader. -- D. Liestman * Choice *A scholarly yet thoroughly readable historical/biographical study, of considerable interest to students of 19th-century American history and religious revivalism. * Kirkus Reviews *Inextricably tied together by bonds of fate and faith, Brigham Young and Mormonism rose as one in nineteenth-century America. It is that America, as well as that man and that religion, that Turner explores and explains so well in this wonderful book. -- William Deverell, Director, Huntington–USC Institute on California and the WestTurner’s treatment of the complex Brigham Young is unsentimental, cogent, critical, and fair. It takes its place alongside Leonard Arrington’s magisterial American Moses as the essential, mutually challenging portraits of one of America’s greatest colonizers and religious figures. -- Philip L. Barlow, author of Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American ReligionThe story Turner tells in this elegantly written biography will startle and shock many readers. He reveals a Brigham Young more violent and coarse than the man Mormons have known. While lauding his achievements as pioneer, politician, and church leader, the book will require a reassessment of Brigham Young the man. -- Richard Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone RollingIn this superb new biography, Turner’s strong narrative, human insight, knowledge of context, meticulous use of sources, and sophisticated appreciation of Mormon theology combine to create an account of his larger-than-life subject that is at once informative, judicious, and profoundly engaging. -- Daniel Walker Howe, author of What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815–1848Turner provides a searing portrait of a leader at his most determined and—at times—ruthless in defense of his religion. A provocative and compelling view of one of the most elusive, yet influential, figures in our nation’s westward expansion. -- Ken Verdoia, author of Utah: The Struggle for Statehood

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Book SynopsisLate one night in 1823 Joseph Smith, Jr was reportedly visited in his family's farmhouse in upstate New York by an angel named Moroni. Thus began the unlikely career of the "Book of Mormon". This book traces the life of this book as it has formed and fractured different strains of Mormonism and transformed religious expression around the world.Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 "To explain this book--now published in 150 million copies in 110 languages--Gutjahr recounts the life of Joseph Smith, whose status as the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints rests upon his claim that he translated the Book of Mormon from ancient gold plates delivered to him by an angel... Undeterred by skeptics' allegations of fraud, a small army of missionaries have made the book a powerful proselytizing tool ... but as an engaging human story, it has also inspired the creative impulses of visual, cinematic, and theatrical artists... A very helpful introduction to a perplexing but increasingly visible religious text."--Bryce Christensen, Booklist "[A] fascinating history of an important document of American culture."--Steven Poole, The Guardian "This is a book that has been waiting to be written. There have been previous accounts of the Book of Mormon by believers and nonbelievers, but most have been too polemical for general readers. Gutjahr (English, Indiana Univ.; Charles Hodge: Guardian of American Orthodoxy) doesn't ignore controversial issues of history and authenticity, as is the case with some other short introductions; rather, he provides several alternative interpretations of the book's origins... Needless to say, especially with the tremendous success of the Broadway show The Book of Mormon, there is a great need for a book like this. It should appeal to scholars and interested general readers alike."--David S. Azzolina, Library Journal (starred review) "America is experiencing something of a Mormon moment... But much remains unknown about this faith, including the circumstances surrounding its primary sacred text. Paul C. Gutjahr's well-written and erudite account of the history of the Book of Mormon fills much of this void... Gutjahr's account leaves one with considerable appreciation for the enduring value of the Book of Mormon."--Wade Clark Roof, Pacific Standard Magazine "Gutjahr has read widely in both Mormon and non-Mormon sources, and he has taken the trouble to get the basic facts right... The Book of Mormon: A Biography is a quick read that Latter-day Saints will find enjoyable and thought-provoking. It would also be perfect for non-member friends who are curious about the Book of Mormon but are looking for something more neutral or balanced than materials published by the Church, yet are perhaps not quite interested enough to take on a thick monograph like By the Hand of Mormon or Understanding the Book of Mormon."--Grant Hardy, Meridian Magazine "[I]t's refreshing to read a nonpartisan book about Mormonism."--Justin Moyer, Washington Post Book World "Gutjahr's biography is an easy-to-read overview of the Book of Mormon's life, a reminder that the Book of Mormon is the world's text, not merely the text of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in spite of the Church's careful efforts (through copyright measures and other means) to maintain the text's integrity. And even within the LDS tradition itself, the book shapeshifts as it traverses landscapes of differing historical contexts and rhetorical objectives. Such is the life of books, such is the life Gutjahr ably recounts."--Blair Hodges, Dialogue "Book of Mormon: A Biography takes readers on a quick journey through Mormon history from past to present focused on the Book of Mormon. The topics covered include Joseph Smith, the translation of the Book of Mormon, how the book was used in early church history, the death of Joseph Smith, the church's move to Utah, missionary work, further growth of the church, and the influence of the Book of Mormon on movies, music, theater, art and culture."--Ryan Morgenegg, Deseret News "Gutjahr tells the story of this very strange book ... with courage and verve."--Jon Sweeney, Tablet "Gutjahr's contribution to the 'Lives of Great Religious Books' series is a concise and eminently teachable history of the most important American-made world scripture. In a welcome departure from most such accounts, Gutjahr gives as much space to the Book of Mormon's 20th-century life as he does to its ancient or 19th-century origins, presenting in a compact, readable form a great deal of relatively recent history about its cultural and religious significance... Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; general readers."--Choice, Editor's Picks "The Book of Mormon: A Biography is overall a delight... Gutjahr's ... book is a terrific example of a work typifying legitimate academic study, particularly as compared with most of the poor mistreatments of Mormon studies. It is balanced and engaging enough to give non-LDS readers a clear insight into what members consider a truly divine work and, perhaps more importantly, accurate and honest enough to satisfy LDS readers."--Tod R. Harris, BYU Studies Quarterly "Gutjahr succeeded in writing an informative account of the history of the Book of Mormon. His style provides enough information for those who are just curious about the Book of Mormon and Mormonism while at the same time satisfying a more interested reader's curiosity by providing a platform for further research."--Ingrid Sherlock-Taselaar, International Journal for the Study of New Religions "Gutjahr has produced a valuable biography of an American apocrypha for a general audience. He provides a valuable summary of various editions and translations of a sacred text that has made an indelible impact on religion in America and beyond. The overview of scholarly debates about the historical claims of the scripture is fair, accessible and concise. His outline of the illustrations in the Book of Mormon and its life on the stage and in the cinema is original and will be of value even to specialists in Mormonism."--Thomas Murphy, Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions "The Book of Mormon: A Biography is very readable and portrays the Mormon position well."--Eric Johnson, Christian Research JournalTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi Acknowledgments xiii A Note on Usage xix Part I: Germination 1 Prologue 3 Chapter 1: Joseph's Gold Bible 11 Chapter 2: Holy Writ or Humbug? 38 Part II: Budding 59 Chapter 3 Multiplying Prophets 61 Chapter 4 Great Basin Saints and The Book 86

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2013 Cover/Jacket Merit Award in the Professional, Scholarly Series category, New York Book Show""One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013"

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