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Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon
From the Publisher
The Book of Mormon is full of heroes—Nephi, Alma the Younger, Abinadi, Captain Moroni—and we read about their lives, looking for lessons that will help us be more like them. But for every good guy in the Book of Mormon, there is a bad guy as well—Laman and Lemuel, Korihor, King Noah, Amalickiah. We can learn lessons from their lives as well. Each chapter recaps the story from the scriptures, including the lessons not learned by the bad guy, and ends with a call to action by providing application ideas and questions to ponder. Written in a light, conversational style, this book for teens and young adults is filled with quotes from latter-day prophets and insightful personal experiences to illustrate some of the lifechanging spiritual lessons we can learn from the bad guys of the Book of Mormon. "I loved this book! I never thought that I'd like a gospel book, but this one was fun and actually written for young people. I read it in one sitting! I loved the humor ('Hello, Moroni. My name is Ammoron. You killed my brother. Prepare to die!') as well as the questions to ponder." —Amy, age 15
The Book of Mormon is full of heroes—Nephi, Alma the Younger, Abinadi, Captain Moroni—and we read about their lives, looking for lessons that will help us be more like them. But for every good guy in the Book of Mormon, there is a bad guy as well—Laman and Lemuel, Korihor, King Noah, Amalickiah. We can learn lessons from their lives as well. Each chapter recaps the story from the scriptures, including the lessons not learned by the bad guy, and ends with a call to action by providing application ideas and questions to ponder. Written in a light, conversational style, this book for teens and young adults is filled with quotes from latter-day prophets and insightful personal experiences to illustrate some of the lifechanging spiritual lessons we can learn from the bad guys of the Book of Mormon. "I loved this book! I never thought that I'd like a gospel book, but this one was fun and actually written for young people. I read it in one sitting! I loved the humor ('Hello, Moroni. My name is Ammoron. You killed my brother. Prepare to die!') as well as the questions to ponder." —Amy, age 15
256 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2011
22 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Gaunt
6 books10 followersDennis Gaunt has been an avid student of the scriptures for as long as he can remember. He's one of "those" people in the ward that knows how many weeks are left until the Isaiah lessons in Gospel Doctrine, and who counts down to them as if it is Christmas. He studied history and English literature at the University of Utah, and is always on the lookout for an opportunity to insert obscure pop culture references into normal conversations. He taught seminary and institute in CES for a number of years, where he gained an appreciation for the marvelous "youth of the noble birthright". He and his wife, Natalie, live in Utah with their obsessive/compulsive dog Biscuit. Feel free to say hi and trade pins if you see him in line at Space Mountain in Disneyland.
from http://dennisgaunt.com/
from http://dennisgaunt.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 27, 2011
I was inclined to like Dennis Gaunt the first time I met him. He is, after all, the brother of Lisa Mangum, who is one of my very favorite people in the world - not only is she an amazing author and editor, but she's a genuinely fabulous person - and of course her fabulousness had to run in the family, right? Well, it does. Dennis is a great guy, and we made friends immediately. And when I learned he was writing a book, I was even more intrigued. Did Lisa's amazing talent with words run in the family? When I was asked to review Dennis's book, Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon, I got the chance to see for myself, and you know what - this family is seriously blessed with talent.
To start with, how can you not love a title like Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon? You know exactly what you're getting - a book about the scriptures, but one that's a little bit tongue-in-cheek. Dennis goes through the Book of Mormon and discusses each of the bad guys and the things they do that show just how bad they are, and then likens those things to experiences we might have today. Yes, we can read the Book of Mormon and learn from Nephi and think about his courage (hey, I think there's a Primary song that goes something like that) and we can admire Helaman and want to be as his armies (another Primary song moment), but sometimes we need to look at things a little differently - what do the bad guys have to teach us? Laman and Lemuel, for instance, show us what can happen when we are too doubtful, too disbelieving, and yes, too whiny.
There are two sides at work in this ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and in his book, Dennis shows us the ways in which the wicked operate. They've done it this way for centuries - hey, why stop when it's working? If we know and understand the stories in the Book of Mormon, we can be on the alert for wickedness in our lives today, and know how to put a stop to it.
The thing I like best is the perfect balance Dennis strikes between humor and seriousness. He makes jokes all the way through, creating a doctrinal book that's not boring, if you can imagine such a thing, but he never treats sacred topics lightly. That's a tricky thing to accomplish, and yet he does it. It's a lighthearted read that is never lightminded.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon, about our Heavenly Father's plan, and/or wants a good, uplifting read.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way. To do so would be following along in the footsteps of the Gadianton robbers and those who seek wickedness in dark corners
To start with, how can you not love a title like Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon? You know exactly what you're getting - a book about the scriptures, but one that's a little bit tongue-in-cheek. Dennis goes through the Book of Mormon and discusses each of the bad guys and the things they do that show just how bad they are, and then likens those things to experiences we might have today. Yes, we can read the Book of Mormon and learn from Nephi and think about his courage (hey, I think there's a Primary song that goes something like that) and we can admire Helaman and want to be as his armies (another Primary song moment), but sometimes we need to look at things a little differently - what do the bad guys have to teach us? Laman and Lemuel, for instance, show us what can happen when we are too doubtful, too disbelieving, and yes, too whiny.
There are two sides at work in this ultimate battle of good vs. evil, and in his book, Dennis shows us the ways in which the wicked operate. They've done it this way for centuries - hey, why stop when it's working? If we know and understand the stories in the Book of Mormon, we can be on the alert for wickedness in our lives today, and know how to put a stop to it.
The thing I like best is the perfect balance Dennis strikes between humor and seriousness. He makes jokes all the way through, creating a doctrinal book that's not boring, if you can imagine such a thing, but he never treats sacred topics lightly. That's a tricky thing to accomplish, and yet he does it. It's a lighthearted read that is never lightminded.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to learn more about the Book of Mormon, about our Heavenly Father's plan, and/or wants a good, uplifting read.
FTC: I received a free copy of this book and was not reimbursed in any other way. To do so would be following along in the footsteps of the Gadianton robbers and those who seek wickedness in dark corners
June 22, 2011
In "Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon," Gaunt makes an excellent case for learning the enemies’ strategy in the ever-escalating spiritual war—a war in which two sides are battling for our souls. If we want to win, we must think like a military leader. A successful military leader studies every move his enemy is making. Gaunt suggests that we plan our own counter-attack by educating ourselves on the “bad guys in the Book of Mormon. Let’s learn to be smarter than they are. Let’s learn their tactics. See what tricks they used. Peek at their maps and plans. Pinpoint their lies. Point out the holes in their arguments. Let’s see how faithful people just like you and me resisted and defeated them in the past. Let’s be ready to face the bad guys of today” (8).
I highly recommend this book to adults and youth alike. Gaunt is witty, humorous and insightful, sharing personal experiences in a highly readable and entertaining way.
I highly recommend this book to adults and youth alike. Gaunt is witty, humorous and insightful, sharing personal experiences in a highly readable and entertaining way.
June 19, 2013
I REALLY REALLY liked this book!! As the author says {I'm paraphrasing lol}, "If you don't know your enemies, or their plans, how will you know how to defend yourselves?"
This book was written so plainly, so humorously, I found myself devouring each chapter - then going to my Book of Mormon to highlight the parts that really stuck out to me.
I would recommend this to all my Young Men & Young Women & any Family MEMBER honestlY!! Written like a true Seminary Teacher or EFY Counselor - this book makes you smile, makes you think, and makes you more determined to Choose the Right!! :)
This book was written so plainly, so humorously, I found myself devouring each chapter - then going to my Book of Mormon to highlight the parts that really stuck out to me.
I would recommend this to all my Young Men & Young Women & any Family MEMBER honestlY!! Written like a true Seminary Teacher or EFY Counselor - this book makes you smile, makes you think, and makes you more determined to Choose the Right!! :)
February 10, 2018
I loved this book. It was so interesting to learn about familiar stories from a different perspective. This is written for a youth audience but it is great for both young and old.
July 10, 2011
Come on! With a title like that how could this book not be good!? I LOVED it! Sometimes finishing inspirational books is a struggle for me. I start off strong but then my bookmark always seems to get stuck somewhere in the middle of the book where it stays for months! I like to think this is due to the fact that all the eye openers are usually towards the beginning and the end of the book tends to be more of a review and NOT because I'm not spiritually minded. (of course I could probably work on the latter part too)
No such problems with this book. Gaunt's perspective was enlightening, his storytelling was thrilling and his humor completely won me over. I look forward to reading more of his work :)
No such problems with this book. Gaunt's perspective was enlightening, his storytelling was thrilling and his humor completely won me over. I look forward to reading more of his work :)
December 7, 2011
I actually really enjoyed reading this book. It reads really easy and moves quickly, but covers very important principles of individual character. It has a perfect blend of humor and serious. I laughed out loud, got teary, felt deeply moved, and felt motivated to be a better person. The author has great insight. He never dwells too long on a topic, which is nice, because he doesn't over-do it. It addresses how understanding villains/bad guys, who fight against God and morality, can help you combat against them and protect yourself in faith. It reads good enough for a young adult to understand, but deep enough for anyone in any level of spirituality. It applies scripture stories to real life scenarios. FANTASTIC!
July 18, 2011
Dennis Gaunt has a fun writing personality. I love how he dived into the lives of the Bad Guys. He shares neat insights - things I never even considered - and makes it all so interesting. This is definitely not a dry gospel book. Be prepared to laugh one minute, then sit back the next and ponder how a certain statement effects your life. How you can be a hero and defeat the evil forces tempting you.
This book is written for teens and young adults - who I am positive will LOVE it. But no way can they have all the fun and knowledge! Adults - college students, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas - y'all need to read this one! It's absolutely unique and one to definitely add to your gospel library.
This book is written for teens and young adults - who I am positive will LOVE it. But no way can they have all the fun and knowledge! Adults - college students, moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas - y'all need to read this one! It's absolutely unique and one to definitely add to your gospel library.
August 4, 2011
Loved it! Read a demo copy at work, but I liked it so well I'm going to but it! Written probably for young adults, I really enjoyed his writing style, which was clever and witty, but also the lessons that were to be learned in each chapter. By studying the "bad guys", we can learn how to recognize then today and how to defend ourselves against them. Really, really recomend this!
August 2, 2011
This is a great book for teens, written about the bad guys in the Book of Mormon. I really liked this different approach, seeing what we can learn from the bad guys. Really liked how he ended the book with Bad guys that became good guys.
July 27, 2011
Very thought provoking, faith building, entertaining book.
August 15, 2011
LDSWBR combined review coming soon!
August 23, 2011
Absolutely amazing. Can't wait for my family to read it. Stunning. One of my favorite of the year.
December 23, 2013
I really enjoyed the various characters and how the author deconstructed them. I learned and laughed a lot. I always enjoy seeing things from a new perspective and this book certainly gave me one.
November 23, 2018
The nice thing about the gospel is that it is the same, whether you are in primary, or a teenager, or an adult. This book is obviously aimed at teens, but despite that, anyone who reads it should find something they can apply to their life. He does try to take our study in a different direction by focusing on the villains rather than the heroes from the Book of Mormon, and the text is peppered with contributions from other authorities of the church. My only critique is that the book often gets 'corny' for lack of a better term. It doesn't ruin the book, but it will have you rolling your eyes at some points.
Despite this I could see this book being useful if you have preteens in the house and you want them to have some church material to read, the various chapters could also form a basis for a family home evening discussion, like picking out one character and discussing them to help family members learn more about the details of the Book of Mormon.
Despite this I could see this book being useful if you have preteens in the house and you want them to have some church material to read, the various chapters could also form a basis for a family home evening discussion, like picking out one character and discussing them to help family members learn more about the details of the Book of Mormon.
January 31, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. It took me forever to finish though. I started it a couple months ago and got about 80% done then I kept getting sidetracked. By the end it did feel a little monotonous. It was definitely worth a read and gave me a different view of the "Bad Guys" in the Book of Mormon.
December 31, 2021
The premise for this book is fascinating, but the execution was less so. There was some good scriptural analysis and interesting points made, but for the most part opportunities for depth were traded for levity. I think it’s time I put childish things away (stop reading books intended for the youth).
September 15, 2024
If you teach any kind of Book of Mormon class you will want this as a resource! Especially if it's with the youth! I loved his fun, his insight, his perspective and his knowledge! I read it along with my last read of the Book of Mormon and I'll probably do it the next time! Can't wait to read it Good Guys of the Book of Mormon next!
October 18, 2017
Fantastic book, loved every chapter. Very funny and clever and made me look at the Book of Mormon in a whole new light. Loved the insights he pulled from all the stories about how to combat Satan. Will be buying it to re-read and have my kids read it.
December 10, 2021
I LOVED THIS BOOK !!!! It gave an amazing insight into the book of prominent and the side of it we don’t think about so much . The chapters were set out perfectly so you can read a chapter whenever you want and it jot affect your reading of the rest of the book as it felt like multiple mini books on each of the topic . Strongly recommend!
December 31, 2021
What can I learn from the bad guys in the scriptures? There are many bad guys starting with Laban and going all the way into the secret combinations. With comedy and how to apply what not do which will help us stay on the straight and narrow we can learn from the righteous and wicked.
April 10, 2019
I really like the look at the bad guys and how they relate to today, it was a little long and tough to get through though.
October 15, 2025
"I highly recommend this book to adults and youth alike. Gaunt is witty, humorous and insightful, sharing personal experiences in a highly readable and entertaining way." --Customer Review
March 15, 2021
Excellent reading for anyone studying the Book of Mormon. I love that there are lessons to learn (or not learn) as well as discussion questions for each chapter. It's not all scripture, either, but includes experiences from the author's life and plenty of humor. Definitely recommend.
October 27, 2014
What a great book! Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon turned out to be something I wasn’t expecting. This book is full of humor and teaches young adults, as well as adults, gospel lessons in a way that you will not forget. I also truly loved the way that Dennis Gaunt presented each “bad guy” found in The Book of Mormon.
It is so easy to dismiss all of these bad guys as just that, they were bad and didn’t live the gospel. Though that statement could be proven true, he also reminds the reader that all of the bad guys were also human. These people were more than the one dimensional wicked bad guy, there was so much more to them. Many had trials in their lives where they also had to make a choice of good or evil.
In this book Dennis brings forward to the readers that there are lessons to be learned from the mistakes that these sinners made. Every chapter is ended with 1) Lessons NOT Learned and 2) Lessons to Learn.
This book is a must read for youth. You can tell he wrote it with them in mind. This doesn’t detract at all from adults enjoying the way the messages are presented. Dennis relates so much of the gospel in language that teens of today can understand. There is a chapter about Nehor and Amlici called “Popular Like Me.” The chapter starts with what the being popular is like for teens today; sitting at the cool table, sitting with the football players and cheerleaders etc. Gaunt then goes on to tell how Nehor was very much like the “popular” person and became a celebrity with the Nephite people. With his humor he adds, “I wonder if he was on the cover of Nephite People magazine, topping their 25 Most Beautiful Nephites list”
My favorite chapter has to be chapter 11 about Alma and the Sons of Mosiah. It is the best story to show us how people can go from bad to good. The overall message is that there are many miraculous stories of repentance and change in the Book of Mormon. What a great message to share with the youth of our church. I look forward to reading more books by Dennis Gaunt.
It is so easy to dismiss all of these bad guys as just that, they were bad and didn’t live the gospel. Though that statement could be proven true, he also reminds the reader that all of the bad guys were also human. These people were more than the one dimensional wicked bad guy, there was so much more to them. Many had trials in their lives where they also had to make a choice of good or evil.
In this book Dennis brings forward to the readers that there are lessons to be learned from the mistakes that these sinners made. Every chapter is ended with 1) Lessons NOT Learned and 2) Lessons to Learn.
This book is a must read for youth. You can tell he wrote it with them in mind. This doesn’t detract at all from adults enjoying the way the messages are presented. Dennis relates so much of the gospel in language that teens of today can understand. There is a chapter about Nehor and Amlici called “Popular Like Me.” The chapter starts with what the being popular is like for teens today; sitting at the cool table, sitting with the football players and cheerleaders etc. Gaunt then goes on to tell how Nehor was very much like the “popular” person and became a celebrity with the Nephite people. With his humor he adds, “I wonder if he was on the cover of Nephite People magazine, topping their 25 Most Beautiful Nephites list”
My favorite chapter has to be chapter 11 about Alma and the Sons of Mosiah. It is the best story to show us how people can go from bad to good. The overall message is that there are many miraculous stories of repentance and change in the Book of Mormon. What a great message to share with the youth of our church. I look forward to reading more books by Dennis Gaunt.
April 25, 2013
I am enjoying reading this book. The author gives a fresh look at the bad guys in the Book of Mormon to teach valuable lessons. One thought that I have been thinking about for months (yes, I'm taking that long to finish the book) is that we choose our clothing based on our testimony. After all, if I really believe that I am a daughter of God that He prizes above rubies, we will take precautions to protect our body from others' casual intake. S modesty is really a matter of testimony.
Another valuable lesson is the concept that we can know peace and happiness even while living in a world of wickedness and trouble. That is knowledge worth getting familiar with!
Just today, I read the section on secret combinations and was amazed at his lessons there. He discusses how conspiracy theories are rampant and often laughable, but the proliferation of theories makes us immune to real threats. That's what Satan loves to see because he does not like to work out in the open under the glare of sunlight. He obscures what he is doing. The author also points out that things that take us away from being able to feel the Holy Ghost is another form of a secret combination too. That was a totally new way for me to look at it.
This book offers a fresh way to approach gospel principles. I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially for the youth. I purchased the e-book, but I recommend getting the physical copy for youth. At least, my own kids prefer print.
Another valuable lesson is the concept that we can know peace and happiness even while living in a world of wickedness and trouble. That is knowledge worth getting familiar with!
Just today, I read the section on secret combinations and was amazed at his lessons there. He discusses how conspiracy theories are rampant and often laughable, but the proliferation of theories makes us immune to real threats. That's what Satan loves to see because he does not like to work out in the open under the glare of sunlight. He obscures what he is doing. The author also points out that things that take us away from being able to feel the Holy Ghost is another form of a secret combination too. That was a totally new way for me to look at it.
This book offers a fresh way to approach gospel principles. I highly recommend it for everyone, but especially for the youth. I purchased the e-book, but I recommend getting the physical copy for youth. At least, my own kids prefer print.
February 21, 2012
Oh my! this was such a good and such a fun book to read. It was a read aloud/together book with Robert.
I saw it listed in the Deseret Flyer and had no idea what it was about but luckily, Cleveland Library system owned a copy and while reading it I knew it was a book I had to own.
I love this book for what it tells us. The author mentions that we LDS spend a lot of time studying the good guys of the Book of Mormon which is not wrong but the bad guys have lessons to teach us. Satan is lazy, he says, and doesn't change his tactics.....so why not study the bad guys, learn the bad tactics and be alerted to them. And he was right.
So filled with humor and things of today that when you read this book, you suddenly see today'e events in everything you do. You see yourself and how easily it is to fall into Satan's snares. I have to say this is a totally MUST HAVE book. A book to be read and shared.
I saw it listed in the Deseret Flyer and had no idea what it was about but luckily, Cleveland Library system owned a copy and while reading it I knew it was a book I had to own.
I love this book for what it tells us. The author mentions that we LDS spend a lot of time studying the good guys of the Book of Mormon which is not wrong but the bad guys have lessons to teach us. Satan is lazy, he says, and doesn't change his tactics.....so why not study the bad guys, learn the bad tactics and be alerted to them. And he was right.
So filled with humor and things of today that when you read this book, you suddenly see today'e events in everything you do. You see yourself and how easily it is to fall into Satan's snares. I have to say this is a totally MUST HAVE book. A book to be read and shared.
September 11, 2012
Dennis Gaunt’s Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon gives a unique perspective to the enemies of the righteous in the Book of Mormon. He points out in certain terms of how the bad guys didn’t choose the right and how that led them to their miserable ends. In a fun way he discusses Laman and Lemuel, antichrists, and many wicked kings and leaders. He points out how most of them are past feeling and how that insinuates they stopped doing the basic gospel principles such as reading scriptures, praying, and attending church. Though the bad guys give the worst case senerio of what could happen to you if you fall into these patterns, Gaunt also points out heroes such as the Alma, Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah: though they definitely are the exception and not the rule. Using humor and personal stories, Dennis Gaunt has drawn an interesting perspective of what we can learn from the bad guys of the Book of Mormon.
January 9, 2015
In "Bad Guys of the Book of Mormon," Gaunt makes an excellent case for learning the enemies’ strategy in the ever-escalating spiritual war—a war in which two sides are battling for our souls. If we want to win, we must think like a military leader. A successful military leader studies every move his enemy is making. Gaunt suggests that we plan our own counter-attack by educating ourselves on the “bad guys in the Book of Mormon. Let’s learn to be smarter than they are. Let’s learn their tactics. See what tricks they used. Peek at their maps and plans. Pinpoint their lies. Point out the holes in their arguments. Let’s see how faithful people just like you and me resisted and defeated them in the past. Let’s be ready to face the bad guys of today” (8).
I highly recommend this book to adults and youth alike. Gaunt is witty, humorous and insightful, sharing personal experiences in a highly readable and entertaining way.
I highly recommend this book to adults and youth alike. Gaunt is witty, humorous and insightful, sharing personal experiences in a highly readable and entertaining way.
October 2, 2013
An excellent read for both youth and adults. I enjoyed the author's personal anecdotes sprinkled throughout the text along with the appropriate quotes from various general authorities. I picked up some new ideas as well. I've read The Book of Mormon enough times I thought I knew all the characters, then, along comes a writer that has you looking at some of the most ignored books in the Book of Mormon, such as Omni and Moroni, and the people in them, both bad and good, in a whole new light.
This is a book worth picking up, the "baddest" of bad books. Not only will you learn a lot, you might even have fun doing it!
This is a book worth picking up, the "baddest" of bad books. Not only will you learn a lot, you might even have fun doing it!
August 10, 2012
This is a book for young adults, but it appeals to all ages really. The insights were great. My favorite chapter was "From Bad to Good" where he talks about the people who changed.
"His [Christ's] view of us is as one looking at something with limitless potential for greatness. There is no end to the beauty and perfection that He can make us into. And yet, the greatest of all artists, the Master Artist, begins His work on us by signing His name first, before He ever lays a single drop of paint on our canvas, before he ever picks up a tool. When we are baptized, He signs His name on us and claims us as His own, saying, 'This is my work and my glory'."
"His [Christ's] view of us is as one looking at something with limitless potential for greatness. There is no end to the beauty and perfection that He can make us into. And yet, the greatest of all artists, the Master Artist, begins His work on us by signing His name first, before He ever lays a single drop of paint on our canvas, before he ever picks up a tool. When we are baptized, He signs His name on us and claims us as His own, saying, 'This is my work and my glory'."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews