Oliver Cowdery, Scribe, Elder, Witness

by John W. Welch, Larry E. Morris

Oliver Cowdery's life stands as a testimony of the restored gospel of Christ. This volume, which includes an award-winning article on the return of the Second Elder, helps readers understand and appreciate the remarkable Oliver Cowdery, renowned as Book of Mormon scribe, recipient with Joseph of restored priesthood power, and co-founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Genres: Biography, Lds

436 pages

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

John W. Welch is the Robert K. Thomas Professor of Law at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, where he teaches various courses, including Perspectives on Jewish, Greek, and Roman Law in the New Testament. Since 1991 he has also served as the editor in chief of BYU Studies. He studied history and classical languages at Brigham Young University, Greek philosophy at Oxford, and law at Duke University. As a founder of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, one of the editors for Macmillan’s Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and codirector of the Masada and Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition at BYU, he has published widely on biblical, early Christian, and Latter-day Saint topics.

from http://deseretbook.com/auth/420/John_...

Reviews

[D Crook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays about Oliver Cowdery compiled from papers written by various authors and published by BYU Studies and FARMS. Generally, the book was very informative and included significant detail and information about Oliver Cowdery, the Second Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because the book is a compilation of essays, the quality of the writing and writing styles throughout the book varied significantly. The scholarship, however, was significant.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and particularly found the essays regarding the 1829 Articles of the Church of Christ and the return of Oliver Cowdery to the church both authored by Scott H. Faulring very interesting and compelling.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of scholarly essays--need to be a Church history buff to be interested in wading through this book. I found it full of new information, very helpful in presenting a full picture of Oliver Cowdery. His education, intelligence, background, quiet personality and careful studious ability rendered him perfect to be Joseph Smith's scribe and Second Elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In spite of miraculous experiences he did not have a well grounded testimony in the Lord Jesus Christ and excuses led him away. Fascinating story, and tragic.

[Terry Earley · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19...

These essays did not disappoint. Always interested in LDS history, I found many of these comment on original documents and helped to make Cowdery more of a living person to me. Highly recommend, especially since you can pick and chose essays you find interesting.

[Bernice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Includes detailed information on his disassociation with the church and translation of the gold plates as a scribe providing more in depth explanations than generally known.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting history of a great man

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

probably 4.5--this is a collection of essays most I found interesting