Does anyone have...

[cambo]

a good recommendation on a study guide type book for the Book of Mormon that breaks down things doctrinally, has quotes, other references to other scriptures, etc? I'd really like a book that goes chapter by chapter and explains and ties things together. Recommendations?

[pelagius]

Originally Posted by cambo

a good recommendation on a study guide type book for the Book of Mormon that breaks down things doctrinally, has quotes, other references to other scriptures, etc? I'd really like a book that goes chapter by chapter and explains and ties things together. Recommendations?

I must admit not being interested in Book of Mormon commentaries as a general rule. Its not that I don't like commentaries; I own quite a few bible commentaries. I am just not that interested in the approach used by Book of Mormon commentaries as a general rule. Anyways, here is a list:

1) Doctrinal Book of Mormon Commentary by Millet and McConkie.

http://www.amazon.com/Doctrinal-Comm...pd_sim_b_img_2

I haven't read it but it uses the format you seem interested in. Louis Midgley in the FARMS review gave it a scathing review:

http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=12

2) Second Witness by Brant Gardner

I have looked at this one before. I think its better than the other commentaries on the market:

http://www.amazon.com/Second-Witness...9849009&sr=1-2

Also so far Brant Gardner has kept up his rough draft:

http://frontpage2000.nmia.com/~nahualli/commentary.htm

3) Christ and the New Covenant by Elder Holland

http://www.amazon.com/Christ-New-Cov...9848913&sr=1-3

John Gee reviewed it for FARMS and is very positive about it: http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/disp...=review&id=287

4) If you just want quotes from General Authorities then

http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/bomindex.html

is a good resource.

5) There is also the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies.

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publ...s/jbmsmain.php

Some of the articles are quite good.

6) The Book of Mormon institute manual:

http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/b...anualindex.asp

I think the institute manual could probably use an update but it does have the virtue of being cheap.


7) Grant Hardy's Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition. I really like it (http://books.google.com/books?id=Nj6...xWGF3LBlaAQZGk ). Not a commentary but it really is a nice and useful volume. I think it would enhance most people's study.

8) The Book of Mormon Reference Companion by Dennis Largey (Editor)

http://deseretbook.com/store/product?sku=3294022

I don't know anything about this one. Here is the Deseret Book description:

he Book of Mormon Reference Companion brings together, all under one cover, more than 900 entries addressing 1500 Book of Mormon topics, including people, places, words, phrases, doctrines, purposes, themes, historical background, Isaiah chapter reviews, books of the Book of Mormon, and general topics of interest. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the experienced reader and the investigator or new convert understand this important book of scripture. It is like having a teacher beside you as you read and study. Maps, illustrations, photographs, pictures, outlines, and charts combine with the informative articles to enhance understanding and help parents, teachers, and leaders share the message of the Book of Mormon with their families and students. A must-have reference book for every Latter-day Saint library!

Doesn't sound like it uses the format your looking for and I haven't seen a review of it.


I will add some more when I have time. You could go pickup some Nibley stuff or there are some older commentaries (Reynolds and Sjodahl)

[Archaea]

There is need for a scholarly commentary which is consistent to the approach taken by biblical commentaries. If we don't want that approach, the only real useful alternative is to simply read it.

I will buy your first commentary on the BoM Pelagius. Maybe we can get a rich guy like Seattle Ute to fund your preparations?

[pelagius]

Originally Posted by Archaea

There is need for a scholarly commentary which is consistent to the approach taken by biblical commentaries. If we don't want that approach, the only real useful alternative is to simply read it.

I will buy your first commentary on the BoM Pelagius. Maybe we can get a rich guy like Seattle Ute to fund your preparations?

I think the nearest thing at the moment is Gardner's commentary.

Also, Jim Faulconer's Book of Mormon lesson notes are quite good:

http://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php?cat=8

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by pelagius

I think the nearest thing at the moment is Gardner's commentary.

Also, Jim Faulconer's Book of Mormon lesson notes are quite good:

http://www.timesandseasons.org/index.php?cat=8

I had Faulconer for philosophy, so I'll probably like that. But how would you like to author a scholarly work on BoM commentary? Hey bud, I'll promote you.

[pelagius]

Originally Posted by Archaea

I had Faulconer for philosophy, so I'll probably like that. But how would you like to author a scholarly work on BoM commentary? Hey bud, I'll promote you.

Its very kind but I am clearly not qualified. Also, I doubt that the problem is lack of potential authors. I think that problem is that the size of the market is tiny. If there was substantial demand then the market would respond.

However, if I ever get called as a gospel doctrine teacher during a Book of Mormon year I think I would try to put together a good set of notes. A more polished set than I did for the New Testament.

[Archaea]

Originally Posted by pelagius

Its very kind but I am clearly not qualified. Also, I doubt that the problem is lack of potential authors. I think that problem is that the size of the market is tiny. If there was substantial demand then the market would respond.

However, if I ever get called as a gospel doctrine teacher during a Book of Mormon year I think I would try to put together a good set of notes. A more polished set than I did for the New Testament.

However, if we couple you, Solon, AA, Chapel Hill, SEIQ, and Lebowski as resources, we could have quite a team. I'm selfish here, as I use this place as my own little mini university. Didn't you realize this all about "ME", but then again I did not win the ego contest, Mike did.

[pelagius]

Another resource; the Feast Upon the Word Wiki is pretty useful.

http://feastupontheword.org/Home

Its a wiki style commentary. There is a fair amount of edits happening for the Book of Mormon at the moment.

Of course, I like the blog too (since my lesson notes from last week our posted there):

http://feastuponthewordblog.org/

[Sleeping in EQ]

This isn't what you've said you want, but I highly recommend B.H. Roberts' volumes on the Book of Mormon in the New Witnesses for God series (published in the 1920s) and in his Studies of the Book of Mormon.

I'm using those with the Royal Skousen critical text volumes and it's a nice one-two punch.