The Book of Mormon Study Guide: Start to Finish

by Thomas R. Valletta

As we study this keystone of our religion, what help can we find to help us see and understand its doctrines more deeply? The Book of Mormon Study Start to Finish is a comprehensive, question-and-answer commentary that draws from thousands of the very best insights on the scriptures, including those from General Authorities, Church magazines and manuals, the most respected scholarly commentaries, scripture reference books, and other publications. This comprehensive volume brings the most unique, most compelling, and most insightful comments on the Book of Mormon together into one place to help you get more out of your personal scripture study. As we ask inspired questions and seek a deeper understanding of the scriptures, we invite personal revelation to help us in our challenging and ever-changing journey of life. Bookshelf eBook

Genres: Religion, Lds, Nonfiction, Church

1200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2015

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It has such a fantastic bibliography, including tons of stuff from scholarly journals, and stuff by Hugh Nibley. I was sold when I was reading the commentary for the Testimony of the Three Witnesses, and there was a quotation from Lucy Mack Smith, and then a link which took me to the Joseph Smith Papers website, and there was the quotation, handwritten in an old book. So awesome. I wish I would've bought the digital copy, though, because there are more resources and links available that way. I'm still just in 1 Nephi, but I am typing these notes like crazy into my online scripture study journal. Highly recommended.

[Arliegh Kovacs · Rating 4 out of 5]

As we re-read the Book of Mormon every year my husband and I try to find new supplemental material to help give us insights. This guide by Thomas R. Valletta is absolutely the best we have used so far (in 40-something years). Unlike some "commentaries" or "guides", it doesn't just cite a verse and then, basically, re-cite the verse.
Valletta book includes quotations from church leaders that clarify parts or that give interpretations we hadn't considered. (Okay, every now and then a quote would basically just reiterate the scripture verse, but not often.) It also included questions for thought and some historical backgrounds based on studies of ancient cultures, linguistics, etc.
We enjoyed the book very much and definitely recommend it.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite Book of Mormon Study Guide. I love the layout. I love that it was all in one book. I love that a lot of the quotes are from current leadership. This book definitely took my studying up a notch, I learned so much! But that's what's so great about The Book of Mormon even though I read it every year I always find new understanding.
It ended with one of my favorite quotes in regards to the Book of Mormon, "... the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book. Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none."
Joseph Smith 

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, the type is incredibly small in this book. My husband and I were reading it together, but that really bugged him to the point that he didn't want to keep going.
I thought the dates and places were interesting and helpful but not really what I was looking for in a study guide. It just wasn't as helpful as I was hoping.
I would highly recommend The Book of Mormon Made Easier, however. That study guide also contains the full text of the Book of Mormon, but I found the study notes more helpful.

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I just realized it took me a year to make my way through the Book of Mormon with it, but I learned so much and I'm glad I didn't rush through. I loved the quotes and I even found myself marking books from its sources for my future study. If you are looking for a book to make you slow down and consider the scriptures differently as you read them, I think this would be an excellent choice.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent resource to use while studying The Book of Mormon. It has over 800 pages of quotes, references, and information that helped me better understand what I was reading. I highly recommend this study guide.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent resource to use when reading/studying the Book of Mormon. Nearly every verse in the Book of Mormon is cross-referenced with a quote and/or commentary, providing tremendous insights and helpful citations for further reading and research.

[David Barney]

I really enjoyed this book in the fact that it used quotes from prophets and apostles. The study guide did NOT discuss every verse. Something about that I enjoyed.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great way to study the Book of Mormon, especially if you get the ebook, which has extra material.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent supplemental reading with well documented quotes and insights.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved how much insight this gave to my scripture study of the Book of Mormon.

[Teri Varga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great study tool!

This volume provides me hours and wonderful hours of depth of study. I use this along with the David J ridges educational manuals! Keeps me on my toes!

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book, just not really what I was looking for. I was wanting something with additional information and explanation, this has some of that but it's more of a thought provoking book. Asks you questions about scriptures and tries to get you to think more about the scriptures and applying it to us, which is great, just not what I was really looking for.

[Mechel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The different quotes and scripture references included with the text has given me a deeper understanding of the Book of Mormon. The Come Follow Me of the Book of Mormon during this year and the pandemic has brought me peace and joy.

[Juergen John Roscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study guide is an excellent commentary to The Book of Mormon. Reading the Book of Mormon using this study guide helped me gain more insight to the Savior and his teaching. I highly recommend using this book in your study of the Book of Mormon.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible. It made such a difference in the way I studied the Book of Mormon. I loved having the text there and all of the commentary too.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good quotes and questions to supplement a study of the The Book of Mormon.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this as my Book of Mormon study guide for the 2020 course of study at church. Very helpful in understanding context and additional counsel and instruction from church leaders.

[Bonnie Arriola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!

[Haldan McLeod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this a while ago as a gift and made my way through it. Mostly just taking in the commentary and skimming the actual text. Still got quite a bit from it though. On goes my love of books analyzing books.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby. I have spend several months reading this commentary on the Book of Mormon. It was great but over 1500 pages. I felt like it was so long and from Libby that I didn’t spend the time I should have to learn from what was written . The Scripture was not included in the reading. It was a Gem.

[Trina Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I learned a lot and had several aha moments of things that I learned.

[Melynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite study guides to use.

[Dee Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great help when studying the Book of Mormon. Many helpful insights and greater understanding of this sacred book.