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The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Maxwell Institute Study Edition
This exquisitely produced volume presents the official LDS edition of the Book of Mormon in an attractive, accessible, readable version that brings to Latter-day Saints the helpful features that have been part of standard Bible publishing for paragraphs, quotation marks, poetic stanzas, section headings, and superscripted verse numbers. The latest LDS scholarship is reflected in its brief, thoughtfully considered footnotes, although the focus is always on the text itself—its wording, structure, and interconnections—allowing the book's sacred message to be heard anew. The Maxwell Institute Study Edition, produced by believing scholars, is ideally suited to both new readers of the Book of Mormon and also those who know the book well and have loved its teachings and testimony of Christ for many years.
1079 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2019
106 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Grant Hardy
14 books45 followersDr. Grant Hardy received a Ph.D. from Yale University in Chinese Language and Literature and a B.A. from Brigham Young University where he studied Ancient Greek.
He is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Ashville. Below is a quote by Dr. Hardy taken from the "Faces of UNC" web page:
“I am interested in how people use literature to make sense of their experience, whether that be historical, personal or religious."
He is Professor of History and Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Ashville. Below is a quote by Dr. Hardy taken from the "Faces of UNC" web page:
“I am interested in how people use literature to make sense of their experience, whether that be historical, personal or religious."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
May 31, 2019
I am really enjoying this study edition of the Book of Mormon. One of my frustrations with the Church's editions of the scriptures is that half of the footnotes reference the topical guide and many of the others are not actually relevant. The footnotes in this edition are much more helpful. They direct the reader to fulfillment of prophecies, and when a reference is made to a past event, the footnotes tell you where to find the full account. They point out figures of speech and text structures such as chiasmus. There are suggestions for possible variations in the punctuation that would make the text more readable or change the meaning. They also include comparisons to the printer's manuscript, later editions, and the analysis of Royal Skousen.
Bruce R. McKonkie's chapter headings are gone, and instead there are simple headings beginning new sections, which is really helpful for finding verses or understanding what different sections are about. The text is written in paragraph form with superscripts at the beginning of verses instead of starting a new line with each verse, which helps reading to flow more smoothly. Some verses are formatted as poems. Quotation marks are added when a person is speaking, which is something I've always wished for!
There are some other extras like Emma Smith's testimony, explanations of literary devices, stories about the translation, and a maps and charts section that gives timelines and John L. Sorenson's map of Book of Mormon geography. The artwork by Brian Kershisnik throughout the book is also a beautiful touch.
Bruce R. McKonkie's chapter headings are gone, and instead there are simple headings beginning new sections, which is really helpful for finding verses or understanding what different sections are about. The text is written in paragraph form with superscripts at the beginning of verses instead of starting a new line with each verse, which helps reading to flow more smoothly. Some verses are formatted as poems. Quotation marks are added when a person is speaking, which is something I've always wished for!
There are some other extras like Emma Smith's testimony, explanations of literary devices, stories about the translation, and a maps and charts section that gives timelines and John L. Sorenson's map of Book of Mormon geography. The artwork by Brian Kershisnik throughout the book is also a beautiful touch.
January 22, 2019
When I first considered reviewing the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon by Grant Hardy, I suspected that this might be sort of like an institute study guide. That is to say, heavily influenced by the male authors, with cross references to what we are “supposed” to learn, and so on. The exact kind of thing that can tire me when I read about scripture. Thus, it took me a little while to prepare to read this book.
I include this detail because I love the Book of Mormon. We’ve been reading it as a family every night—or at least almost every night for a few years now. Our scripture reading is one of my favourite times in the day; in part because of the spiritual aspect, but also because it is a family routine that we have worked past (Knock on wood!).
But mostly, in our family readings, my children pick up on tiny nuances. These things quickly create family treasures that I had not previously considered in previous personal study. As well, sometimes in my individual study, I have been drawn to personal interpretations of some passages that are very important to me. It is clear that the Book of Mormon is personal to me. So sometimes, scripture study guides feel like they ignore the personal to focus on what some anonymous author thinks I “should” be learning from that passage of scripture.
Thus, it took a bit of courage for me to open the book and get into reading it.
Gratefully, this book is nothing as I had imagined. It is beautiful, every whit, and in no way tells me what I “should” be learning.
Importantly, Emma Smith’s testimony is included in company with the testimony of the three and the eight witnesses, as well as her husband’s testimony. Having a woman’s witness is important for so many reasons, and it is a relief that the author also felt that including her voice was imperative to this printing.
The configuration of the text makes it easy to read. Bruce R. McKonkie’s chapter headings are gone, with softer, simple descriptor notes meant to simplify study. Plus, the layout is lovely. It is absent of the two-column newsprint style that is so familiar in scripture, making it more like I was reading a book. In this, I felt more allowed to sink in and enjoy the prose, wording, and message. In in many places, the most poetic parts are formatted as just that—poetry. As we also love reading poetry as a family (we might have a history of sneaking in poetry books to read during church), this format allowed my family and I to enjoy the lyrical and expressive flow of those words in a way the breathed new life, and warranted repetition.
Another magical thing about this book is the artful interweaving of Royal Skousen’s scholarship. Skousen spent –who knows how long- researching every detail in the translation and printing of the Book of Mormon throughout history. His work uncovered typos and printing errors, among other misplaced morsels in the texts of the Book of Mormon. These corrections are included in this book, neatly placed on the same page of the correction—offering a new way to pause, study and enjoy the work of many hands in this book of scripture.
Lastly, the woodcut prints by Brian Kershisnik. They are delightful. My only tiny criticism is the lack of females represented in the woodcuts. To be clear, there are female in some of the images, but I am always looking for more images of women represented in scripture. So I am a tough critic. But even with that, the woodcut prints added a combination of strength, grace and beauty to the book, in a way that only quality artwork can convey.
I quite frankly loved this rendering of the Book of Mormon, and hope to purchase copies to use for our family reading.
I include this detail because I love the Book of Mormon. We’ve been reading it as a family every night—or at least almost every night for a few years now. Our scripture reading is one of my favourite times in the day; in part because of the spiritual aspect, but also because it is a family routine that we have worked past (Knock on wood!).
But mostly, in our family readings, my children pick up on tiny nuances. These things quickly create family treasures that I had not previously considered in previous personal study. As well, sometimes in my individual study, I have been drawn to personal interpretations of some passages that are very important to me. It is clear that the Book of Mormon is personal to me. So sometimes, scripture study guides feel like they ignore the personal to focus on what some anonymous author thinks I “should” be learning from that passage of scripture.
Thus, it took a bit of courage for me to open the book and get into reading it.
Gratefully, this book is nothing as I had imagined. It is beautiful, every whit, and in no way tells me what I “should” be learning.
Importantly, Emma Smith’s testimony is included in company with the testimony of the three and the eight witnesses, as well as her husband’s testimony. Having a woman’s witness is important for so many reasons, and it is a relief that the author also felt that including her voice was imperative to this printing.
The configuration of the text makes it easy to read. Bruce R. McKonkie’s chapter headings are gone, with softer, simple descriptor notes meant to simplify study. Plus, the layout is lovely. It is absent of the two-column newsprint style that is so familiar in scripture, making it more like I was reading a book. In this, I felt more allowed to sink in and enjoy the prose, wording, and message. In in many places, the most poetic parts are formatted as just that—poetry. As we also love reading poetry as a family (we might have a history of sneaking in poetry books to read during church), this format allowed my family and I to enjoy the lyrical and expressive flow of those words in a way the breathed new life, and warranted repetition.
Another magical thing about this book is the artful interweaving of Royal Skousen’s scholarship. Skousen spent –who knows how long- researching every detail in the translation and printing of the Book of Mormon throughout history. His work uncovered typos and printing errors, among other misplaced morsels in the texts of the Book of Mormon. These corrections are included in this book, neatly placed on the same page of the correction—offering a new way to pause, study and enjoy the work of many hands in this book of scripture.
Lastly, the woodcut prints by Brian Kershisnik. They are delightful. My only tiny criticism is the lack of females represented in the woodcuts. To be clear, there are female in some of the images, but I am always looking for more images of women represented in scripture. So I am a tough critic. But even with that, the woodcut prints added a combination of strength, grace and beauty to the book, in a way that only quality artwork can convey.
I quite frankly loved this rendering of the Book of Mormon, and hope to purchase copies to use for our family reading.
April 28, 2019
I’ve been reading and collecting the Book of Mormon my entire life in one form or another, from the illustrated “Book of Mormon for Beginning Readers” (or whatever it was called in the 1970s) to the official blue copy I handed out as a missionary, to Royal Skousen’s “Earliest Text.” I’ve also collected books written about the Book of Mormon, including much of Skousen’s Critical Text Project. I’ve appreciated being able to learn about the book and read it in these various formats particularly because I don’t usually like reading the same book more than once. This book edited by Grant Hardy gives a fresh new way to read it again, taking the official 2013 text and reformatting it to make for easier reading as well as to more easily identify various aspects, and also adding footnotes and other markers to point out changes gleaned from Skousen’s work, internal consistencies, and other interesting tidbits.
The book begins with the introduction from the 1981 edition “with minor modifications in 2013 (and the substitution of people for men in the third and next-to-last paragraphs),” (page vii) and then has the usual testimonies of three and eight witnesses, but then it also has the testimony of Emma Smith, taken from an interview by Joseph Smith III in 1879. In this, she mentions that Joseph did not have any manuscripts or books, what the plates felt like, that he did it “sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the [seer] stone in it,” (page ix) and that she did not believe her husband capable of composing it by himself.
This is followed by the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon, as you would find in a regular edition, although the Brief Explanation has an explanatory phrase inserted about the Plates of Ether. Then there is a Brief History of the Text, which is used as the editor’s introduction. In this, Hardy recounts the translation, printing, and subsequent editing and printing of the second edition.
He explains the work of Royal Skousen (“a professor of linguistics and English language at Brigham Young University, is the central figure in the academic analysis of the Book of Mormon text, including its origins, transmission, variants, and grammar”). He then describes what he has done in the book. “The footnotes here highlight instances in which earlier readings of the original and printer’s manuscripts may be more accurate, clearer, or more felicitous…. The notes here, however, are simplified, dispensing with Skousen’s indications of variants with a source, original and corrected readings in the manuscripts, spelling anomalies, and types of manuscript changes.” The original chapter divisions are indicated (“since these were apparently on the gold plates and thus were intended by ancient authors”), but the modern chapter and verse indicators are still included as well (page xvi).
His introduction ends with a statement that I believe sums up the purpose of the entire work: “The narrative complexity and coherence of the Book of Mormon — highlighted in this edition — offer some of the strongest evidences of its historicity and miraculous translation. As we learn to read the sacred text as carefully as possible, with detailed attention to language, structure, and historical context, its message of salvation through Jesus Christ will become more compelling and its lessons for life more clear” (page xvii). There is also a note that his royalties will be donated to the Humanitarian Aid Fund.
As examples of helpful explanations given in footnotes, footnote ‘a’ on the title page says, “Joseph Smith in 1838 said that the title page of the Book of Mormon is ‘not by any means a modern composition, either of mine, or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation.’ For the 1840 edition, he added the name Moroni below the last line of the text as an indication of the original author, though the name was deleted in 1879.” Footnote ‘c’ says, “On the 1830 title page, Joseph Smith was identified as ‘author and proprietor’ in order to comply with copyright regulations. The preface to that same edition included Joseph’s assertion that he had translated ‘by the gift and power of God’ and that ‘the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.’ The inscription ‘Translated by Joseph Smith, Junior’ has been on the title page of every edition since 1837” (page 1).
There is a lot of information packed into a typical page, and it is a little confusing at first. The section called “Using the Study Edition” will definitely come in handy until the reader becomes thoroughly familiar with the conventions used. It is at least much easier to decode than Skousen’s “Critical Text” volumes.
There are woodcuts by Brian Kershisnik at the beginning of each book, representing something from it. I particularly liked the one for Alma, with a seedling representing the lecture on faith growing from a seed. Third Nephi has two hands taking the resurrected Christ’s hand, showing the nail marks, while First Nephi has the Liahona.
At the back of the volume there is a collection of very helpful maps and charts, such as “Record Keepers in the Book of Mormon,” “Key Families in the Book of Mormon,” “Time Line of Nephite History,” and “Chronology of the Translation.” There are five pages of “Joseph Smith’s Statements on the Book of Mormon” followed by three and a half pages of “Stories of the Translation.” These provide insights into how Joseph Smith felt about the book, and how it was translated, some well known, and others not as much.
There is a section titled “General Notes” that talks about apparent anachronisms, the consistent internal chronology and coherence of the text, demographics, geography, language, the translation, and witnesses. These notes are very interesting, with the latest scholarship, as well as faith-promoting commentary: “This sacred record bears testimony of Jesus Christ from beginning to end, with an invitation to come unto Him and to see his Hand at work throughout history as He answers prayers, keeps covenants, and prepares a people for his coming” (page 623). A list of good books for further reading is also provided, with authors such as Brant Gardner, Terryl Givens, John Sorenson, and John Welch, among many others.
A section on “Literary Parallelism” is over eight pages long. It compares different types of parallelisms in the Bible with examples found in the Book of Mormon. “The writings of the prophets are much easier to understand when the English renditions of poetic passages are arranged so that they reflect the underlying poetic structure. Indeed, most modern translations of the Bible do this. It is easier to follow the prophets’ thoughts and arguments if we know where to expect repetition and where to look for new ideas. In this edition of the Book of Mormon, the lengthy excerpts from Isaiah that appear in 1 and 2 Nephi are presented in poetic form, but there are other sections of the Book of Mormon that also exhibit Hebrew-style parallelism, and these have similarly been arranged into lines and stanzas. While there are still many uncertainties about the Nephite language, reformed Egyptian (Mormon 9.32), and the nature of the translation, it is not surprising that when the Book of Mormon prophets wished to give particular emphasis to their message, they often employed the techniques of Hebrew poetry. In fact, characteristic biblical patterns of parallelism can be illustrated with examples from the Book of Mormon” (pages 625-626).
There is a helpful “Index of Names” based on the index in the 1981 Book of Mormon edition, with some differences, including variant spellings from the manuscripts. Finally, the “Reference Guide to the Book of Mormon” from the Doubleday edition is included, which also has some additions.
I have been enjoying reading this edition of the Book of Mormon. It gathers together many different resources to help bring out new insights, as well as pointing to things that are in the standard edition that may have been overlooked before. It has given me new appreciation for the internal consistency of the Book of Mormon, as well as a better understanding of its message. For someone who has read it many times already, it helps in seeing it with fresh eyes again.
The book begins with the introduction from the 1981 edition “with minor modifications in 2013 (and the substitution of people for men in the third and next-to-last paragraphs),” (page vii) and then has the usual testimonies of three and eight witnesses, but then it also has the testimony of Emma Smith, taken from an interview by Joseph Smith III in 1879. In this, she mentions that Joseph did not have any manuscripts or books, what the plates felt like, that he did it “sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the [seer] stone in it,” (page ix) and that she did not believe her husband capable of composing it by himself.
This is followed by the Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon, as you would find in a regular edition, although the Brief Explanation has an explanatory phrase inserted about the Plates of Ether. Then there is a Brief History of the Text, which is used as the editor’s introduction. In this, Hardy recounts the translation, printing, and subsequent editing and printing of the second edition.
He explains the work of Royal Skousen (“a professor of linguistics and English language at Brigham Young University, is the central figure in the academic analysis of the Book of Mormon text, including its origins, transmission, variants, and grammar”). He then describes what he has done in the book. “The footnotes here highlight instances in which earlier readings of the original and printer’s manuscripts may be more accurate, clearer, or more felicitous…. The notes here, however, are simplified, dispensing with Skousen’s indications of variants with a source, original and corrected readings in the manuscripts, spelling anomalies, and types of manuscript changes.” The original chapter divisions are indicated (“since these were apparently on the gold plates and thus were intended by ancient authors”), but the modern chapter and verse indicators are still included as well (page xvi).
His introduction ends with a statement that I believe sums up the purpose of the entire work: “The narrative complexity and coherence of the Book of Mormon — highlighted in this edition — offer some of the strongest evidences of its historicity and miraculous translation. As we learn to read the sacred text as carefully as possible, with detailed attention to language, structure, and historical context, its message of salvation through Jesus Christ will become more compelling and its lessons for life more clear” (page xvii). There is also a note that his royalties will be donated to the Humanitarian Aid Fund.
As examples of helpful explanations given in footnotes, footnote ‘a’ on the title page says, “Joseph Smith in 1838 said that the title page of the Book of Mormon is ‘not by any means a modern composition, either of mine, or of any other man who has lived or does live in this generation.’ For the 1840 edition, he added the name Moroni below the last line of the text as an indication of the original author, though the name was deleted in 1879.” Footnote ‘c’ says, “On the 1830 title page, Joseph Smith was identified as ‘author and proprietor’ in order to comply with copyright regulations. The preface to that same edition included Joseph’s assertion that he had translated ‘by the gift and power of God’ and that ‘the plates of which hath been spoken, were found in the township of Manchester, Ontario county, New York.’ The inscription ‘Translated by Joseph Smith, Junior’ has been on the title page of every edition since 1837” (page 1).
There is a lot of information packed into a typical page, and it is a little confusing at first. The section called “Using the Study Edition” will definitely come in handy until the reader becomes thoroughly familiar with the conventions used. It is at least much easier to decode than Skousen’s “Critical Text” volumes.
There are woodcuts by Brian Kershisnik at the beginning of each book, representing something from it. I particularly liked the one for Alma, with a seedling representing the lecture on faith growing from a seed. Third Nephi has two hands taking the resurrected Christ’s hand, showing the nail marks, while First Nephi has the Liahona.
At the back of the volume there is a collection of very helpful maps and charts, such as “Record Keepers in the Book of Mormon,” “Key Families in the Book of Mormon,” “Time Line of Nephite History,” and “Chronology of the Translation.” There are five pages of “Joseph Smith’s Statements on the Book of Mormon” followed by three and a half pages of “Stories of the Translation.” These provide insights into how Joseph Smith felt about the book, and how it was translated, some well known, and others not as much.
There is a section titled “General Notes” that talks about apparent anachronisms, the consistent internal chronology and coherence of the text, demographics, geography, language, the translation, and witnesses. These notes are very interesting, with the latest scholarship, as well as faith-promoting commentary: “This sacred record bears testimony of Jesus Christ from beginning to end, with an invitation to come unto Him and to see his Hand at work throughout history as He answers prayers, keeps covenants, and prepares a people for his coming” (page 623). A list of good books for further reading is also provided, with authors such as Brant Gardner, Terryl Givens, John Sorenson, and John Welch, among many others.
A section on “Literary Parallelism” is over eight pages long. It compares different types of parallelisms in the Bible with examples found in the Book of Mormon. “The writings of the prophets are much easier to understand when the English renditions of poetic passages are arranged so that they reflect the underlying poetic structure. Indeed, most modern translations of the Bible do this. It is easier to follow the prophets’ thoughts and arguments if we know where to expect repetition and where to look for new ideas. In this edition of the Book of Mormon, the lengthy excerpts from Isaiah that appear in 1 and 2 Nephi are presented in poetic form, but there are other sections of the Book of Mormon that also exhibit Hebrew-style parallelism, and these have similarly been arranged into lines and stanzas. While there are still many uncertainties about the Nephite language, reformed Egyptian (Mormon 9.32), and the nature of the translation, it is not surprising that when the Book of Mormon prophets wished to give particular emphasis to their message, they often employed the techniques of Hebrew poetry. In fact, characteristic biblical patterns of parallelism can be illustrated with examples from the Book of Mormon” (pages 625-626).
There is a helpful “Index of Names” based on the index in the 1981 Book of Mormon edition, with some differences, including variant spellings from the manuscripts. Finally, the “Reference Guide to the Book of Mormon” from the Doubleday edition is included, which also has some additions.
I have been enjoying reading this edition of the Book of Mormon. It gathers together many different resources to help bring out new insights, as well as pointing to things that are in the standard edition that may have been overlooked before. It has given me new appreciation for the internal consistency of the Book of Mormon, as well as a better understanding of its message. For someone who has read it many times already, it helps in seeing it with fresh eyes again.
October 15, 2025
Loved this edition of the Book of Mormon from Grant Hardy—his footnotes and formatting really elevated the experience.
January 24, 2021
AMAZING! I will definitely be referring back to this edition of the Book of Mormon for the rest of my life. I recommend this edition to every serious student of the Book of Mormon, and anyone who wants to magnify their scripture study.
Here are a few of the MANY things I love about this edition:
- The testimony of Emma Smith is included at the beginning with those of Joseph Smith and the 3 and 8 witnesses
- Maps and charts at the end
- Paragraph format based on thematic and chronological events
- Hebraic-style lines and stanzas for poetic sections
- Quotations to separate dialogue from the narrative voice
- Bolded words/phrases to compare similarities/differences with other standard works (e. g. the 3 Nephi sermon v. the sermon on the mount, Moroni v. Paul, etc.)
- Highly insightful footnotes that are not overwhelming, particularly those that reference the original and printer manuscripts, as well as Royal Skousen's "Analysis of Textual Variants"
- Joseph Smith's and contemporaries' statements on the Book of Mormon and its translation
- Description of Literary Parallelism, including chiasmus
For this reading, I followed Pres. Russell M. Nelson's 2017 invitation to study the Book of Mormon looking for what it "is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals." I also considered his three recommended questions: "First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?" It has been a wonderful, life-changing experience in too many ways to describe, and I join Pres. Nelson in recommending it to everyone.
Here are a few of the MANY things I love about this edition:
- The testimony of Emma Smith is included at the beginning with those of Joseph Smith and the 3 and 8 witnesses
- Maps and charts at the end
- Paragraph format based on thematic and chronological events
- Hebraic-style lines and stanzas for poetic sections
- Quotations to separate dialogue from the narrative voice
- Bolded words/phrases to compare similarities/differences with other standard works (e. g. the 3 Nephi sermon v. the sermon on the mount, Moroni v. Paul, etc.)
- Highly insightful footnotes that are not overwhelming, particularly those that reference the original and printer manuscripts, as well as Royal Skousen's "Analysis of Textual Variants"
- Joseph Smith's and contemporaries' statements on the Book of Mormon and its translation
- Description of Literary Parallelism, including chiasmus
For this reading, I followed Pres. Russell M. Nelson's 2017 invitation to study the Book of Mormon looking for what it "is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals." I also considered his three recommended questions: "First, what would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what would you not have?" It has been a wonderful, life-changing experience in too many ways to describe, and I join Pres. Nelson in recommending it to everyone.
December 16, 2020
Highly recommended for anyone who wants to simultaneously have an easier time reading the Book of Mormon (it's amazing what some simple formatting can do, not to mention using quotation marks), while also diving deeper into the text. Grant Hardy has done some wonderful things that help the reader come to the Book of Mormon with fresh eyes.
A friend recently shared this quotation from Neal A. Maxwell about The Book of Mormon:
"The Book of Mormon is like a vast mansion, with gardens, towers, courtyards, and wings. My tour of it has never been completed. Some rooms I have yet to enter, and there are more felicitous fireplaces waiting to warm me. Even the rooms I have glimpsed contain further furnishings and rich detail yet to be savored. There are panels inlaid with incredible insights, and design and décor dating from Eden. There are even sumptuous banquet tables painstakingly prepared by predecessors which await all of us. Yet we as church members sometimes behave like hurried tourists scarcely entering beyond the entry hall. May we come to feel, as a whole people, beckoned beyond the entry hall. May we go inside far enough to hear clearly the whispered truths from those who have slumbered – which whisperings will awaken in us individually a life of discipleship as never before."
The Maxwell Institute Study Edition is a key that opens up a lot more of the mansion than I had access to before.
A friend recently shared this quotation from Neal A. Maxwell about The Book of Mormon:
"The Book of Mormon is like a vast mansion, with gardens, towers, courtyards, and wings. My tour of it has never been completed. Some rooms I have yet to enter, and there are more felicitous fireplaces waiting to warm me. Even the rooms I have glimpsed contain further furnishings and rich detail yet to be savored. There are panels inlaid with incredible insights, and design and décor dating from Eden. There are even sumptuous banquet tables painstakingly prepared by predecessors which await all of us. Yet we as church members sometimes behave like hurried tourists scarcely entering beyond the entry hall. May we come to feel, as a whole people, beckoned beyond the entry hall. May we go inside far enough to hear clearly the whispered truths from those who have slumbered – which whisperings will awaken in us individually a life of discipleship as never before."
The Maxwell Institute Study Edition is a key that opens up a lot more of the mansion than I had access to before.
December 14, 2020
A fantastic version of the Book of Mormon. I found it much more readable than the typical scriptures. The footnotes alone were much easier to navigate and understand.
Also, this was in a book format - which is easier to read just about anywhere; much better than the flimsy pages you get in a typical set of scriptures.
I appreciated the ATV revision recommendations. Although these are just suggested variations based on scholarly research, a lot of them made sense.
I also LOVED the section at the back of the book on poetry. I wish I had read it prior to reading the entire book. I think it would have changed a lot of things in how I interpret the many different instances of poetry contained within the book. If I could suggest anything, I wish that section had been included at the front of the book. But I'm reading it again - so I have another chance to study it.
I loved the formatting as well. The special formatting made it much easier to read and understand what is going on. I also loved how they added notation to identify the different characters that have the same name.
This is a great version to include in your personal library and study!
Also, this was in a book format - which is easier to read just about anywhere; much better than the flimsy pages you get in a typical set of scriptures.
I appreciated the ATV revision recommendations. Although these are just suggested variations based on scholarly research, a lot of them made sense.
I also LOVED the section at the back of the book on poetry. I wish I had read it prior to reading the entire book. I think it would have changed a lot of things in how I interpret the many different instances of poetry contained within the book. If I could suggest anything, I wish that section had been included at the front of the book. But I'm reading it again - so I have another chance to study it.
I loved the formatting as well. The special formatting made it much easier to read and understand what is going on. I also loved how they added notation to identify the different characters that have the same name.
This is a great version to include in your personal library and study!
January 1, 2023
Brilliant reading (or study) edition. Footnotes are often more useful than the “official” ones, referencing possible textual variations or interpretations, but without any heavy-handed “this is what your takeaway should be” comments.
Prof. Skousen’s decades of BoM textual scholarship adds a lot to better understanding how the text came to be.
Formatting the text into paragraphs makes this my go to version now. The traditional versification of scripture and dual-column layout makes finding things faster, but the book-like single column and paragraphs of this version make reading it actually easier and more interesting.
The ancients would have read scripture from scrolls or plates as entire works, not picking verses out, so reading it formatted as a book rather than a reference work makes it more like reading it within the cultural “books as important writings to be read holistically” context of the original, rather than the versification that encourages proof texting and reading things out of context.
Brian Kershisnik’s lovely woodcut art really adds to the enjoyment.
Top notch.
Prof. Skousen’s decades of BoM textual scholarship adds a lot to better understanding how the text came to be.
Formatting the text into paragraphs makes this my go to version now. The traditional versification of scripture and dual-column layout makes finding things faster, but the book-like single column and paragraphs of this version make reading it actually easier and more interesting.
The ancients would have read scripture from scrolls or plates as entire works, not picking verses out, so reading it formatted as a book rather than a reference work makes it more like reading it within the cultural “books as important writings to be read holistically” context of the original, rather than the versification that encourages proof texting and reading things out of context.
Brian Kershisnik’s lovely woodcut art really adds to the enjoyment.
Top notch.
December 11, 2020
(Rating for this edition, not the text itself.) The footnotes were occasionally enlightening with textual variants, but mostly mundane. The real game changer here is the formatting: bolding words that are quoted/parallel to other scriptures; formatting poetry in verse; giving sections of chapters informative titles; paragraphs and quotation marks, for goodness sake! These simple formatting changes made comprehending and navigating the text so effortless. And I could easily tell where to end our family's reading of a section at a natural sense-break without pre-reading. I have to say, I will find it hard to go back to any other version of the Book of Mormon.
August 20, 2019
Excellent study version for any serious reader of the Book of Mormon. The book shies away from the traditional verse format to a more readable and familiar paragraph format (though it still includes the verses in the text). Added punctuation, especially quotation marks, makes the text clearer and easier to read. The text is identical to the latest version of the Book of Mormon, but overall it is just so much easier to read and understand in this version. Definitely worth the $35.
September 27, 2020
This is my favorite edition so far.
December 17, 2020
This is a review of the unique features in this particular study edition, not the text of the Book of Mormon itself.
That being said, this is BY FAR the very best edition of the Book of Mormon ever published.
Grant Hardy has done the world a huge favor by editing this marvelous volume!
The structuring of the text as a clear narrative with section headings and punctuated dialogue...
the profound and stark illustrations introducing each interior book...
the endless footnotes with everything from references to allusions to variant readings from the earliest manuscripts...
this is the ultimate resource for digging deeper into this spiritual classic!
Hardy's approach is unabashedly faithful; though he includes copious amounts of objectively scholarly material--as much as he could cram in, one feels--his comments are entirely positive towards belief in their tone.
However, this is no mere devotional version: there are no "inspiring" quotes from later leaders, no attempts to make the text relevant or applicable to modern readers, and no apologetic arguments anywhere--the ancillary materials in the back could be seen as faith promoting, sure, but they're presented only as bald, even bland, facts, with no effort to force readers to be impressed.
That makes this edition a surprisingly solid resource for both believers and skeptics.
This study edition mimics standard study bibles, and is mostly successful: the superscript verse numbers, the appendices of charts and articles, the footnotes which do more to explain content than to lead the reader by the nose to a theological conclusion...all typical of a good study bible.
But where are the charts in the body of the book itself? It's great to see a chiastic breakdown of Alma 36 in a section at the back of the book, but you know what would have been even better? Seeing that chart *along with* the text of Alma 36!
That's a minor quibble, though...and so are these: why not use the thinner paper usually employed by study bibles? And what's with the weird texture of the cover? And why are there virtually no margins? Annotating this book--which is obviously expected for study editions--is nearly impossible!
Those indicate some little improvements to be made in future versions of this text, but for now, it's an absolute quantum leap forward, filling an urgent gap in the popular usage of the Book of Mormon.
I would enthusiastically endorse this beautifully constructed study edition to anyone wanting to get the most from their reading of this vastly under-appreciated classic.
That being said, this is BY FAR the very best edition of the Book of Mormon ever published.
Grant Hardy has done the world a huge favor by editing this marvelous volume!
The structuring of the text as a clear narrative with section headings and punctuated dialogue...
the profound and stark illustrations introducing each interior book...
the endless footnotes with everything from references to allusions to variant readings from the earliest manuscripts...
this is the ultimate resource for digging deeper into this spiritual classic!
Hardy's approach is unabashedly faithful; though he includes copious amounts of objectively scholarly material--as much as he could cram in, one feels--his comments are entirely positive towards belief in their tone.
However, this is no mere devotional version: there are no "inspiring" quotes from later leaders, no attempts to make the text relevant or applicable to modern readers, and no apologetic arguments anywhere--the ancillary materials in the back could be seen as faith promoting, sure, but they're presented only as bald, even bland, facts, with no effort to force readers to be impressed.
That makes this edition a surprisingly solid resource for both believers and skeptics.
This study edition mimics standard study bibles, and is mostly successful: the superscript verse numbers, the appendices of charts and articles, the footnotes which do more to explain content than to lead the reader by the nose to a theological conclusion...all typical of a good study bible.
But where are the charts in the body of the book itself? It's great to see a chiastic breakdown of Alma 36 in a section at the back of the book, but you know what would have been even better? Seeing that chart *along with* the text of Alma 36!
That's a minor quibble, though...and so are these: why not use the thinner paper usually employed by study bibles? And what's with the weird texture of the cover? And why are there virtually no margins? Annotating this book--which is obviously expected for study editions--is nearly impossible!
Those indicate some little improvements to be made in future versions of this text, but for now, it's an absolute quantum leap forward, filling an urgent gap in the popular usage of the Book of Mormon.
I would enthusiastically endorse this beautifully constructed study edition to anyone wanting to get the most from their reading of this vastly under-appreciated classic.
December 30, 2020
I would recommend this edition to anyone studying the Book of Mormon, believer or skeptic. I think it is helpful to have the book in paragraph form so it reads like a story, rather than choppy verses. But Hardy had already made an edition like that, so this one goes beyond simple reformatting.
The style change that gave me the most insight was bolding quotes from the Bible to show differences. That helped me see that 2 Nephi is not just a bunch of chapters from Isaiah, but the "other" chapters are usually Jacob and Nephi weaving the themes from those same Isaiah chapters into their own new sermons. This would be difficult to keep track of without Hardy's work.
I was excited about the research by Royal Skousen into all the manuscripts and possible copying errors. Most of these footnotes were not as interesting as I expected. There were times were some grammar or parallelism was fixed to sound better, but only rarely did I feel like our current version needed to be fixed to match the original manuscript. That said, I do hope the Church eventually uses Skousen's work to update the text.
The best part of this book may be the Appendices. There are additional statements from witnesses to the plates, including more from Joseph Smith, as well as Emma Smith & Mary Whitmer. There is an article about "Parallelisms" that explains the significance of repetitive patterns in ancient literature, include chiasmus. Finally, there is a brief "General Notes" section that explains to readers the basics of some controversial topics in Book of Mormon research: Anachronisms, Chronology, Coherence (intratextual consistency), Demographics (genetics), Geography, Langauge, Translation, and Witnesses. I thought this section was an excellent summary of topics that many members of the Church are unware of. I wish it were available online.
Again, I would love for everyone to study from this edition. I think the charts and notes will make it simpler for a first-time reader to follow, and I think the additional information will benefit even a seasoned studier. I'd gift it to more people if it were a little less expensive. Regardless, I do hope these topics continue to become more well-known in our general conversations about the Book of Mormon.
The style change that gave me the most insight was bolding quotes from the Bible to show differences. That helped me see that 2 Nephi is not just a bunch of chapters from Isaiah, but the "other" chapters are usually Jacob and Nephi weaving the themes from those same Isaiah chapters into their own new sermons. This would be difficult to keep track of without Hardy's work.
I was excited about the research by Royal Skousen into all the manuscripts and possible copying errors. Most of these footnotes were not as interesting as I expected. There were times were some grammar or parallelism was fixed to sound better, but only rarely did I feel like our current version needed to be fixed to match the original manuscript. That said, I do hope the Church eventually uses Skousen's work to update the text.
The best part of this book may be the Appendices. There are additional statements from witnesses to the plates, including more from Joseph Smith, as well as Emma Smith & Mary Whitmer. There is an article about "Parallelisms" that explains the significance of repetitive patterns in ancient literature, include chiasmus. Finally, there is a brief "General Notes" section that explains to readers the basics of some controversial topics in Book of Mormon research: Anachronisms, Chronology, Coherence (intratextual consistency), Demographics (genetics), Geography, Langauge, Translation, and Witnesses. I thought this section was an excellent summary of topics that many members of the Church are unware of. I wish it were available online.
Again, I would love for everyone to study from this edition. I think the charts and notes will make it simpler for a first-time reader to follow, and I think the additional information will benefit even a seasoned studier. I'd gift it to more people if it were a little less expensive. Regardless, I do hope these topics continue to become more well-known in our general conversations about the Book of Mormon.
December 16, 2020
I read this as one of my study texts for the Church's Come Follow Me Sunday school for the Book of Mormon year of study and only finished it just this morning. This is an amazing study guide for many reasons, the strongest two reasons for me were 1) the extensive footnotes which contained extremely useful information such as Annotated Textual Variants of Royal Skousen references of words which had been changed or misprinted (*spoiler* my favorite being finding out that Amalekite was a printer error and should have been Amlicite, which takes the former from showing up out of nowhere, to the latter having a robust history of dissenter rebellion) and 2) the formatting of the book including indents for poetic and other literary tools. I actually read the Kindle version of this (paperback) was the only option in Goodreads. This allowed me to add my own notes with references. Other amazing features were the different indexes in the back of the book. It will become one of my reference books going forward.
December 9, 2020
Very much enjoyed using this edition as I worked my way through Come Follow Me 2020. Having been a gospel doctrine teacher for many years, I found this the to be the best edition yet to teach from. I also very much enjoyed the supplements (the last fifty pages).
**Mostly I write these reviews for my own purposes but let me add a few things for anyone who might be deciding whether to purchase. In my opinion the layout is far superior to our regular LDS version. The chapter break and subject headings are more helpful than Bruce R. McConkie's. The recognition of chiasmus and poetry enriched my reading. Because the text is formatted in paragraphs the reading flows much better.
**Mostly I write these reviews for my own purposes but let me add a few things for anyone who might be deciding whether to purchase. In my opinion the layout is far superior to our regular LDS version. The chapter break and subject headings are more helpful than Bruce R. McConkie's. The recognition of chiasmus and poetry enriched my reading. Because the text is formatted in paragraphs the reading flows much better.
December 19, 2020
Nice readable format and tons of helpful footnotes explaining textual variations from the manuscripts and likely earliest textual readings. The woodcuts are beautiful. The structure better shows the various poetic forms and there is helpful bolding showing parallels and distinctions to the Bible and other Book of Mormon passages. It does not have as much scholarship in footnotes as you would find in most study Bibles, nor does it have scholarly introductions for each book, but the scholarship that is there in the footnotes, maps, charts, and other essays is top notch. I was also pleased that this version includes the accounts of the women who were involved in or otherwise had firsthand experience with the Book of Mormon’s production.
December 14, 2020
I used this book to study the Book of Mormon this year, and I loved it. Grant Hardy has carefully organized the text with headings and paragraph formatting that differs from the current versification. He also points out many connections, allusions, and inclusios that appear in the text, when authors are quoting or referencing one another or a Biblical text. I love books that can challenge me both intellectually and spiritually, and this one definitely did.
Currently reading
May 21, 2020Enjoy the formatting and the minimalist editorial commentary. Highlights and block quote formatting help you see how the BofM editors composed the text. It's clearing the cobwebs and cultural blinders to allow for a fresh reading.
January 27, 2021
LOVE this copy of the Book of Mormon! The format illuminated the text in a way that I didn't get in the traditional 2-column scriptures format. I frequently referenced the map at the back. Really enjoyed the footnotes. Love the addition of Emma's witness.
Great job Maxwell Institute!
Great job Maxwell Institute!
November 5, 2021
One of the best editions of the Book of Mormon out there. I am not LDS, but I think this may be about the best edition for both LDS and non-LDS people. Grant Hardy has done a marvelous job of annotating this edition. I just wish it were available in a hardcover edition.
December 1, 2023
I love the artwork, particularly the cover. I love the text arranged in a more readable format. I especially love the footnotes showing the wording from the original and printer’s manuscripts. This has been a faith promoting read for me. 5 out of 5 would recommend!
December 30, 2019
Nicely formatted Book of Mormon
I really enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon this way. The verse numbers get out of the way and I can focus on the text!
I really enjoyed reading the Book of Mormon this way. The verse numbers get out of the way and I can focus on the text!
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May 12, 2020I read this book every year.
September 27, 2020
Excellent edition in a great readable format
October 22, 2020
Really enjoyed this study edition of a religious text. Grant Hardy has organized this with careful attention and thought.
November 16, 2020
The study edition formatting lead to valuable insights not gained with standard text.
December 7, 2020
I highly recommend this edition.
December 10, 2020
A great way to read the Book of Mormon where it is in its original chapter structure. I love Grant Hardy's insights and notes.
December 28, 2020
Great, informative footnotes.
February 1, 2021
An entirely refreshing way to pursue study of the Book of Mormon. This is a true gem of a resource. I highly recommend it.
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