By The Hand Of Mormon: The American Scripture That Launched A New World Religion University Press Scholarship Online

With over 100 million copies in print, the Book of Mormon has spawned a vast religious movement, but it remains little discussed outside Mormon circles. Now Terryl Givens offers a full-length treatment of this highly influential work, illuminating many facets of this uniquely American scripture. Givens examines the Book of Mormon's role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith's status as a modern-day prophet. He assesses its claim to be a history of the pre-Columbian peopling of the Western Hemisphere, first by a small Old World group in the era of Babel, and later by tribes from Jerusalem in the age of Jeremiah. Givens explores how the Book of Mormon has been defined as a cultural product, the imaginative ravings of a rustic religion-maker more inspired by the winds of culture than the breath of God. He also investigates its status as a new American Bible or Fifth Gospel, displacing, supporting, or--in some views--perverting the canonical Word of God. Givens also probes the Book's shifting relationship to Mormon doctrine and its changing reputation among theologians and scholars. Finally, in exploring what Martin Marty refers to as the Book of Mormon's ''revelatory appeal,'' Givens highlights the Book's role as the engine behind what may become the next world religion. The most wide-ranging study on the subject outside Mormon presses, By the Hand of Mormon will fascinate anyone curious about a religious people who, despite their numbers, remain very much strangers in our midst. Givens Examines The Book Of Mormon's Role As A Divine Testament Of The Last Days And As A Sacred Sign Of Joseph Smith's Status As A Modern-day Prophet. He Assesses Its Claim To Be A History Of The Pre-columbian Peopling Of The Western Hemispheres, First By A Small Old World Group In The Era Of Babel, And Later By Tribes From Jerusalem In The Age Of Jeremiah. Givens Explores How The Book Of Mormon Has Been Defined As A Cultural Product, The Imaginative Ravings Of A Rustic Religion-maker More Inspired By The Winds Of Culture Than The Breath Of God. He Also Investigates Its Status As A New American Bible Or Fifth Gospel, Displacing, Supporting, Or - In Some Views - Perverting The Canonical Word Of God. Givens Also Probes The Book's Shifting Relationship To Mormon Doctrine And Its Changing Reputation Among Theologians And Scholars. Finally, In Exploring What Martin Marty Refers To As The Book Of Mormon's Revelatory Appeal, Givens Highlights The Book's Role As The Engine Behind What May Become The Next World Religion.--jacket. A Seer Shall The Lord My God Raise Up: The Prophet And The Plates -- Out Of The Dust: The Book Of Mormon Comes Forth -- A Marvelous Work And A Wonder: The Book Of Mormon As A Sacred Sign -- I, Nephi, Wrote This Record: The Book Of Mormon As Ancient History, Part 1, The Search For A Mesoamerican Troy -- I, Nephi, Wrote This Record: The Book Of Mormon As Ancient History, Part 2, The Search For A Rational Belief -- Devices Of The Devil: The Book Of Mormon As Cultural Product Or Sacred Fiction -- Plain And Precious Truths: The Book Of Mormon As New Theology, Part 1, The Encounter With Biblical Christianity -- Plain And Precious Truths: The Book Of Mormon As New Theology, Part 2, Dialogic Revelation -- A Standard Unto My People: The Book Of Mormon As Cultural Touchstone. Terryl L. Givens. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [247]-309) And Index. ## Abstract This book assesses the tempestuous impact and reception history of the Book of Mormon, produced by Joseph Smith in 1830, and the primary scripture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‐day Saints. Givens describes the book's role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith's status as a modern‐day prophet. He reviews its claims to be a history of the pre‐Columbian peopling of the Western Hemisphere, first by a small Old World group in the era of Babel, and later by Israelites from Jerusalem in the age of Jeremiah. Givens explores how the Book of Mormon has been defined as a cultural product of early nineteenth‐century America, and also investigates its status as a new American Bible or Fifth Gospel, displacing, supporting, or—in some views—perverting the canonical Word of God. Givens also probes the Book's shifting relationship to Mormon doctrine and its changing reputation among theologians and scholars. Finally, in exploring the Book of Mormon's “revelatory appeal,” Givens finds the key to the Book's role as the engine behind what may become the next world religion. The Book of Mormon describes and enacts a model of revelation that Givens calls “dialogic.” Ultimately, Givens argues, the Book of Mormon has exerted its influence primarily by virtue of what it points to, represents, and claims to be, rather than by virtue of any particular content. With over 100 million copies in print, the Book of Mormon has spawned a vast religious movement, but it remains little discussed outside Mormon circles. Now Terry L. Givens offers a full-length treatment of this influential work, illuminating the varied meanings and tempestuous impact of this uniquely American scripture. Givens examines the text's role as a divine testament of the Last Days and as a sacred sign of Joseph Smith's status as a modern-day prophet. He assesses its claim to be a history of the pre-Columbian peopling of the Western Hemisphere, and later explores how the Book has been defined as a cultural product--the imaginative ravings of a rustic religion-maker. Givens further investigates its status as a new American Bible or Fifth Gospel, one that displaces, supports, or, in some views, perverts the canonical Word of God. Finally, Givens highlights the Book's role as the engine behind what may become the next world religion. The most wide-ranging study on the subject outside Mormon presses, By the Hand of Mormon will fascinate anyone curious about a religious people who, despite their numbers, remain strangers in our midst. Title Page......Page 1 Index......Page 12 Introduction......Page 16 1: "A Seer Shall the Lord My God Raise Up": The Prophet and the Plates......Page 21 2: "Out of the Dust": The Book of Mormon Comes Forth......Page 56 3: "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder": The Book of Mormon as Sacred Sign......Page 75 4: "I, Nephi, Wrote This Record": The Book of Mormon as Ancient History, Part 1-The Search for a Mesoamerican Troy......Page 102 5: "I, Nephi, Wrote This Record": The Book of Mormon as Ancient History, Part 2-The Search for a Rational Belief......Page 130 6: "Devices of the Devil": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Product or Sacred Fiction......Page 168 7: "Plain and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology, Part 1-The Encounter with Biblical Christianity......Page 198 8: "Plain and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology, Part 2-Dialogic Revelation......Page 222 9: "A Standard Unto My People": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Touchstone......Page 253 Notes......Page 260 Title Page 1 Contents 12 Introduction 16 1: "A Seer Shall the Lord My God Raise Up": The Prophet and the Plates 21 2: "Out of the Dust": The Book of Mormon Comes Forth 56 3: "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder": The Book of Mormon as Sacred Sign 75 4: "I, Nephi, Wrote This Record": The Book of Mormon as Ancient History, Part 1-The Search for a Mesoamerican Troy 102 5: "I, Nephi, Wrote This Record": The Book of Mormon as Ancient History, Part 2-The Search for a Rational Belief 130 6: "Devices of the Devil": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Product or Sacred Fiction 168 7: "Plain and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology, Part 1-The Encounter with Biblical Christianity 198 8: "Plain and Precious Truths": The Book of Mormon as New Theology, Part 2-Dialogic Revelation 222 9: "A Standard Unto My People": The Book of Mormon as Cultural Touchstone 253 Notes 260 Index 12 Terryl Givens offers a full-length treatment of the Book of Mormon's history and argues that it is the most religiously influential, hotly contested, and, in the secular press at least, intellectually under-investigated book in America Publisher Fact Sheet A Full-Length Treatment Of the Book of Mormon: how it has been understood, positioned, packaged, exploited by both detractors & its proponents It is both fitting and ironic that at a small crossroads in the town of Palmyra, New York, four churches occupy the four corner lots of the intersection.