The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon Review

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The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon ReviewThere are three key things that, if a book or paper can accomplish at least one, will instantly endear a book to my heart forever - completely aside from whether or not I agree with the author's main or final conclusions:
1.Cause me to reassess and legitimately question (or even change) a current firmly held position or belief.
2.Cohesively articulate a concept I had already been independently working on, but in a manner far better and more comprehensive than I could possibly have done.
3.Help me to re-evaluate my own life, and clarify my own understanding of my own personal lived experience.
As much as #1 and #2 seem to be of necessity mutually exclusive, Brant Gardner's new book "The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon" , which I was grateful to receive as an Advanced Reading Copy from the publisher, happened to do both. And, perhaps more meaningful to me, also accomplished #3.
While not answering every single possible question one might think of, Gardner, in this physically slim tome, still covers an unprecedented amount of material ranging all over the scope of Mormon Studies, even creeping into realms of cognitive science(!).
Gardner writes like a gifted diplomat. He finds value in nearly all that has been published on the subjects under discussion, believing apologist and unbelieving critic alike. You will find favorable use of the works of Dan Vogel and D. Michael Quinn right next to the findings of Richard Bushman, Royal Skousen and Blake Ostler. This book does not invalidate or denigrate any of their valuable work, but rather builds upon it, validating much of their efforts, and yet weaving it together in innovative and clarifying ways I didn't think could be possible.
Many other prominent scholars who are not specifically writing on the texts of Mormonism are also utilized, and not simply as proof-texts to confirm an already decided point of view.
In fact, Gardner states several times throughout the book itself that what he found through the process of his writing of this book was not completely in tune to what he expected to find.
Make no mistake, the book is certainly written from a faithful perspective. That is, it begins with the assumption that the Book of Mormon is in fact a legitimate translation of an ancient record. The Book does not attempt to explain why he holds this conclusion - as much of that discussion can be found throughout Gardner's master multi-volume "Second Witness: An Analytical Commentary on the Book of Mormon" (also from Kofford Books).
This book focuses on not the "if" of it being a translation, but rather the "how", or process of transmission, utilizing all of the data available.
The process by which Gardner presents his theory is a masterful layering of material, some of which at times may initially appear unrelated to the main issue at hand. However, in the final chapter, every skillful layer is brought together in a way more impactful than I could have imagined it. The book is a journey - and it's a fun one to travel though.
When all is said and done, I see this as one of the most important and groundbreaking books to come out in the field of Mormon Studies, at a time where there are many important and groundbreaking books coming out in this very rich and expanding field.
While believers will gain new perspectives on history and even possibly the revelatory experience, there is also much of benefit for those who do not believe in a divine origin of the Book of Mormon who simply have an interest in 19th Century religious and Mormon Studies. The data Gardner presents is solid, and although one's perspective going into the book may lead you to differ from his ultimate conclusions, the material he does gather and present is useful for many other discussions of culture and perceptions of religious experience, regardless of one's personal belief or experience.
Do not miss this one.The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon Overview

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