Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, V1: First and Second Nephi

by Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet

As the keystone of our religion, the Book of Mormon is high-priority reading. Naturally, it is read with varying degrees of comprehension, and many of us need assistance to deepen our understanding. The four-volume commentary focuses on the most significant aspect of this standard work-doctrine. Dividing the material into convenient topical sections, each volume quotes the Book of Mormon verses and gives detailed commentary that reflects not only the authors' own considerable scholarship and research but also the insights of other scriptures and modern prophets. This invaluable commentary will help readers draw nearer to God by enhancing their study of His sacred word.

Genres: Religion, Church, Lds, Nonfiction, Mormonism, Reference

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Joseph Fielding McConkie received a Doctorate of Education from Brigham Young University in 1973, following which he became the director of the LDS Institute of Religion at the University of Washington in Seattle. Four years later he joined the faculty at BYU where he is now a Professor of Ancient Scripture. He is the author or co-author of 25 books, the most recent being a 1200 page work titled Revelations of the Restoration. His scholarly interests center in scripture and doctrine. Other experiences include being an LDS Chaplain in Vietnam, a mission president in Scotland, and a Stake President at BYU.

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Reviews

[Cheya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this along with my reading of the Book of Mormon. I founded added meaning to some of the verses and will be buying Vol.2.

[Ryan Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10
Pretty good stuff here, it's like a lot of study guides where you have to sift through some of the more basic commentary to find some pretty in depth stuff. I especially liked that it contained the scriptures and then followed with commentary so I didn't have to jump as much from the one book to another. I would have liked maybe a bit more historical context from Jerusalem around 600 BC.

[Carissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided some nice insights to my scripture study. I loved the format of reading a few verses and then the commentary on them. I was surprised that there were a few points I didn't agree with, but overall, this book was chock full of sound doctrine. The commentary mostly paraphrased what was already being said, but I liked how reading the commentary made me slow down and think about gospel doctrines.

Why the three stars? The Isaiah chapters were sadly neglected. After reading a few pages about the importance of Isaiah, each Isaiah chapter was given a paragraph rather than a verse-by-verse commentary. The Isaiah chapters need commentary the most! I found myself looking online for help understanding the chapters. The title stated the commentary was on first and second Nephi, I expected all of those books to be covered in the same way. The commentary really emphasized how important Isaiah was, and I did not miss the irony that his chapters were the most ignored.

3 Stars.

[Christian Larsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This set is page after page of the same-old stuff. The authors are very adept at saying the same thing in different words, and if they didn't this set would be half the size it is. If you want trite fluff, devotional musings or the like, this is for you, but there really is much better available. The authors offer nothing new to the study of the Book of Mormon. The most valuable aspect of this set are the occasional authoritative quotes the authors use from modern prophets and apostles, but if this is what you want, you would be better off with K Douglas Bassett's "Doctrinal Insights to the Book of Mormon" (3 vols). If you really want to learn something, the best commentary available on the Book of Mormon is Brant Gardner's "Second Witness" series (6 vols). It will be decades before anyone is able to surpass Gardner in scope or quality.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book along side of the Book of Mormon chapter by chapter, verse by verse. I am learning more about the Book or Mormon as I read this. Having light bulb moments as I journey through. I'm glad I decided to do this.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This commentary was published in 1987. As I prepared to read The Book of Mormon again, I thought it may be nice to have a commentary to read alongside. I found this multiple volume set on my parent’s bookshelves. It is organized to correspond with reading cover-to-cover and in that way it is easy to follow along. It reprints the actual scriptures verbatim as well as the commentary and in that way it feels unnecessarily voluminous. It seems 500 or so pages could have been spared if the verses weren’t reprinted. I appreciate the insight of the authors and even more so that they quote other authorities and prophets in their effort to open up meaning. I’ll be moving on to the next volume.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this a solid 3 stars. This commentary goes almost verse by verse and only covers 1 and 2 Nephi of the Book of Mormon. I learned some new things and gained some valuable insights. But for me, I felt there was an emphasis on the consequences of wickedness a little more than on hope for change. For me, it came across just a tad negative at times. I say this knowing full well that I may be bringing that attitude with me to some extent- I don’t know. You will definitely dive deeper into the text, I think I am currently just looking for something that tilts the scales a little more positively. I haven’t decided yet if Ibwill read the next one or not.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was very helpful in preparing my sunday school class. I chose this book as part of my come follow me study for the year. I used it for prompt read a borrowed book in the hpootp flourish and blotts 2024 reading challenge.

[Ryan Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the formatting of including full blocks of scripture and then commentary on those verses. For being such a foundational commentary there is a lot of summarizing fluff that has to be waded through to find the doctrinal commentaries.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting and I learned some cool things that made the scriptures more interesting for me. So yes, I really did like it, but it took me so long to read just 1&2 Nephi that I find myself loosing interest in reading the rest. The thing is, when you read these, it's an intellectual, rather than a spiritual experience. So I would recommend this on top of your regular scripture reading, not to replace it (like I did).

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read the Book of Mormon this year in Gospel Doctrine class I tried to stay up with the Commentary as well. I had taken a class from Robert Millet in college and had crossed paths with him and also Joseph McConkie many times in my life, as I grew-up so close to both of them, so I was excited to be taught from them in these books on the Book of Mormon. Some things were very insightful and others were just a reinforcement of things I already knew. Excellent book!

[Heidi J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm trying to read these books along with the Sunday School lesson assignments. It's amazing how much there is to learn. It's a new experience every time through this book(BOM). There's no arguing McConkie and Millet know their stuff. There are four volumes total. I'm struggling to keep up, but don't want to skip anything.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from reading this volume. I have read the second volume with the same experience as the first--learned, learned, learned. I have started the third volume but haven't gotten very far. I took a break to study some other things for a few months. I would recommend these book to anyone wanting to deepen their knowledge of the happenings in the Book of Mormon.

[Shanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are awesome for scripture study! I have only finished the first one & it took me some time to get through simply because there was so much cross referencing but it made scripture study awesome!!! I really loved this first one! I'm pausing for a time to read the Gospels before Easter, and then I will resume with the second book in the series.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost done with volume four, and can't recommend this highly enough. No wacky speculation about the location of Zarahemla or what Nephi's sisters' names were, just scripture, general authority quotes, and genuine doctrinal commentary from smart people. Made going through the Book of Mormon for the zillionth time interesting, engaging and inspiring.

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I guess I wasn't quite sure what to expect starting this, but frequently I felt like the commentary consisted of paraphrasing. Having said that their paraphrasing was well written and they stayed right in topic. I was hoping to get a bit more out of the Isaiah chapters. My thoughts were maybe a but negative, but its still on the Book of Mormon and for that reason alone, it's a good read.

[Sofi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice companion to the study of the Book of Mormon. It is filled with great insights from the authors who quote extensively the words of the living prophets.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful commentary on the first 2 books of the Book of Mormon for someone like me who needs a little more.

[Matt McGhie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently studying with this aid. It has been fantastic thus far. It adds doctrinal depth to my BoM study.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently studying 1st and 2nd Nephi with Caleb and we have found that this book gives great incite. We really like it so far.

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anything done by these authors. They are very thought provoking and provide a lot of background that is fascinating.

[Ernie Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a four volume set. It is useful for commentary purposes. Clearly they were places where they failed to be "politically incorrect".

[Mary Karnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series of commentaries (4 books) are excellent helps in understanding the Book of Mormon and for teaching it in class.

[Eloise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent commentary with many great insights. Very helpful for someone who is teaching the Book of Mormon.

[Debbie Stockett]

This was a good start in studying the Book of Mormon.

[Cory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flat out awesome.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several study supplements to the BOM. This commentary is unique. I felt like there was less repetition then you find in most books like this.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice supplement to the Book of Mormon. I am continuing on with Vol. of the series. It gives insights on some things that I hadn't known or thought about.

[Cnelsonquilt · Rating 5 out of 5]

the Book of Mormon always gets a 5 rating with me. I did really like the format and commentary of this book

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful commentary.