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The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition
Regarded as sacred scripture by millions, the Book of Mormon -- first published in 1830 -- is one of the most significant documents in American religious history. This new reader-friendly version reformats the complete, unchanged 1920 text in the manner of modern translations of the Bible, with paragraphs, quotations marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indention of quoted documents, italicized reworkings of biblical prophecies, and minimized verse numbers. It also features a hypothetical map based on internal references, an essay on Book of Mormon poetry, a full glossary of names, genealogical charts, a basic bibliography of Mormon and non-Mormon scholarship, a chronology of the translation, eyewitness accounts of the gold plates, and information regarding the lost 116 pages and significant changes in the text.
The Book of Mormon claims to be the product of three historical the writings of the original ancient American authors, the editing of the fourth-century prophet Mormon, and the translation of Joseph Smith. The editorial aids and footnotes in this edition integrate all three perspectives and provide readers with a clear guide through this complicated text. New readers will find the story accessible and intelligible; Mormons will gain fresh insights from familiar verses seen in a broader narrative context. This is the first time the Book of Mormon has been published with quotation marks, select variant readings, and the testimonies of women involved in the translation process. It is also the first return to a paragraphed format since versification was added in 1879.
The Book of Mormon claims to be the product of three historical the writings of the original ancient American authors, the editing of the fourth-century prophet Mormon, and the translation of Joseph Smith. The editorial aids and footnotes in this edition integrate all three perspectives and provide readers with a clear guide through this complicated text. New readers will find the story accessible and intelligible; Mormons will gain fresh insights from familiar verses seen in a broader narrative context. This is the first time the Book of Mormon has been published with quotation marks, select variant readings, and the testimonies of women involved in the translation process. It is also the first return to a paragraphed format since versification was added in 1879.
736 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2003
117 people are currently reading
209 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 59 reviews
May 10, 2008
If you think it's odd that I spent $30 on a copy of the Book of Mormon after spending 2 years of my life begging people to take a free copy, you might be right.
If you think it's odd that I spent $30 on a book for which I have no fewer than 8 copies sitting around the house, and which is freely available on innumerable websites, you may be right.
But if you want to read the Book of Mormon, not so much study and cross reference and mark it, this is the one to get. Grant Hardy has formatted the Book of Mormon as...a book. No chapters. No footnotes. Verse numbers are inobtrusively placed before each paragraph. Instead of chapter headings, brief notes are placed at logical places throughout the narrative.
It's just like reading a book. The poetry is formatted to look like poetry. And characters with the same name are noted as Lehi^1, Lehi^2 etc.
There is also a helpful appendix which includes notes on the history of the production of the Book of Mormon, significant changes in the text (this book is the public domain 1921 version of the text), charts and maps (maps of BoM sites aren't placed into any real-world context and are only shown relative to each other), and a glossary of names.
A bargain at twice the price.
And no, I didn't mis categorize it in my "pretty-good-books" shelf. It's a good book, and very inspiring and interesting, but as far as a "reading experience" goes, Harry Potter 7 was better.
If you think it's odd that I spent $30 on a book for which I have no fewer than 8 copies sitting around the house, and which is freely available on innumerable websites, you may be right.
But if you want to read the Book of Mormon, not so much study and cross reference and mark it, this is the one to get. Grant Hardy has formatted the Book of Mormon as...a book. No chapters. No footnotes. Verse numbers are inobtrusively placed before each paragraph. Instead of chapter headings, brief notes are placed at logical places throughout the narrative.
It's just like reading a book. The poetry is formatted to look like poetry. And characters with the same name are noted as Lehi^1, Lehi^2 etc.
There is also a helpful appendix which includes notes on the history of the production of the Book of Mormon, significant changes in the text (this book is the public domain 1921 version of the text), charts and maps (maps of BoM sites aren't placed into any real-world context and are only shown relative to each other), and a glossary of names.
A bargain at twice the price.
And no, I didn't mis categorize it in my "pretty-good-books" shelf. It's a good book, and very inspiring and interesting, but as far as a "reading experience" goes, Harry Potter 7 was better.
December 12, 2015
After profitably using this version for reference/study purposes for a few years now, I decided to actually read straight through it, as was one of the primary purposes for this edition. (It turns out that the habit of "studying" and topically analyzing the Book of Mormon as opposed to simply reading it is deeply ingrained in me. I literally sought to read straight through this edition without taking detours, yet, by the time I was concluding First Nephi, the first book, my Kindle informed me I'd made over 100 annotations.)
Anyway, this isn't a review of the scripture itself as it is a review of what the Reader's Edition brings to the table: a surprising amount.
As most anyone who has tried it knows, reading long stretches of the Book of Mormon at a time is quite the slog. You'll be trudging through endless pages of senseless violence, circular military battles, and bland sermons (i.e. Christ-centered boredom). Apologies to Parley P. Pratt, but it's just not literature that favors actual sustained reading.
Enter Grant Hardy's "Reader's Edition". The introductory essay is worth a star just by itself. But more importantly, I was surprised at how positive a difference the formatting (quotation marks, subheaders, paragraphing, footnotes, etc.) made. You know those long, drawn-out slogs? Well the gems of spiritual insight that patient readers seek from this book stand out even more brightly in this text. It's far easier to keep track of who is who, when is when, and the relationships different events have with each other.
It's an absolute must-own for any Latter-day Saint (for reading of course, but even for topical study as well). And any other person not of our faith who is curious about reading the Book of Mormon itself should really grab this version over any other.
Anyway, this isn't a review of the scripture itself as it is a review of what the Reader's Edition brings to the table: a surprising amount.
As most anyone who has tried it knows, reading long stretches of the Book of Mormon at a time is quite the slog. You'll be trudging through endless pages of senseless violence, circular military battles, and bland sermons (i.e. Christ-centered boredom). Apologies to Parley P. Pratt, but it's just not literature that favors actual sustained reading.
Enter Grant Hardy's "Reader's Edition". The introductory essay is worth a star just by itself. But more importantly, I was surprised at how positive a difference the formatting (quotation marks, subheaders, paragraphing, footnotes, etc.) made. You know those long, drawn-out slogs? Well the gems of spiritual insight that patient readers seek from this book stand out even more brightly in this text. It's far easier to keep track of who is who, when is when, and the relationships different events have with each other.
It's an absolute must-own for any Latter-day Saint (for reading of course, but even for topical study as well). And any other person not of our faith who is curious about reading the Book of Mormon itself should really grab this version over any other.
November 4, 2025
Update: This has now been replaced by the Maxwell Institute Study Edition of the Book of Mormon, which has all that was good before and improves it.
This is my all-around favorite edition of the Book of Mormon and the one that spoiled the standard Church edition for me. Hardy's edition is designed to be reader-friendly and help the underlying logic of the text come out through the formatting. Without changing any words, he modernized the punctuation (adding quotation marks, parenthesis, etc.), organized the sentences into paragraphs, inserted descriptive titles above sub-sections, and arranged poetry into poetic stanzas. Useful footnotes note calendar dates, reveal the source of biblical quotations, point out where various narrative threads stop and pick up, and indicate where the original chapter breaks were. The cumulative result is a vastly improved reading experience that lets me understand the text and how the text works in new ways. This is the version I give away to friends, and I even bought the Kindle edition for when I'm not at home. I can't recommend this enough. Try it.
This is my all-around favorite edition of the Book of Mormon and the one that spoiled the standard Church edition for me. Hardy's edition is designed to be reader-friendly and help the underlying logic of the text come out through the formatting. Without changing any words, he modernized the punctuation (adding quotation marks, parenthesis, etc.), organized the sentences into paragraphs, inserted descriptive titles above sub-sections, and arranged poetry into poetic stanzas. Useful footnotes note calendar dates, reveal the source of biblical quotations, point out where various narrative threads stop and pick up, and indicate where the original chapter breaks were. The cumulative result is a vastly improved reading experience that lets me understand the text and how the text works in new ways. This is the version I give away to friends, and I even bought the Kindle edition for when I'm not at home. I can't recommend this enough. Try it.
September 6, 2020
Reading the Book of Mormon without the distractions of chapter breaks, headings, and verses was a new and great experience for me. I plan on continuing to read the BOM in the regular format most of the time, but this was great for appreciating the book as a cohesive series of events, rather than getting bogged down in the "How many verses/chapters have a read?" mindset. Highly recommend.
July 30, 2020
The Book of Mormon is the sacred text of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please excuse my ignorance in this situation since most of what I knew about Mormons comes from pop culture. When I say pop culture, I mean South Park, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the BYU Singers, and other creative veins. I live in Wisconsin, and I don’t know any members of the church.
The copy that I have makes the text easier to read. It includes footnotes and cross-references. There is a lot to like about this book, especially if you are new to this religion.
Now for the negatives. I am not a religious man, and this book did not change my outlook. That is on me, though, and not on the quality of the book. As with many matters of religion, it all comes down to faith. It makes for a compelling story when you include the tale of Joseph Smith.
So the book is good, but not something that I would read again.
The copy that I have makes the text easier to read. It includes footnotes and cross-references. There is a lot to like about this book, especially if you are new to this religion.
Now for the negatives. I am not a religious man, and this book did not change my outlook. That is on me, though, and not on the quality of the book. As with many matters of religion, it all comes down to faith. It makes for a compelling story when you include the tale of Joseph Smith.
So the book is good, but not something that I would read again.
November 7, 2023
This reader’s edition was very helpful. The appendices were particularly insightful; adding value to this edition that isn’t found elsewhere.
While the historicity of the Book of Mormon is one of the many subjects of ongoing debate, the religious teachings it contains are inspired. It teaches that Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid suffering for our own sins. It teaches about life after death. It teaches about faith, hope, and charity. This edition helped me see these things a little more clearly than the other times I’ve read this text (primarily the 1981 LDS edition).
While the historicity of the Book of Mormon is one of the many subjects of ongoing debate, the religious teachings it contains are inspired. It teaches that Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid suffering for our own sins. It teaches about life after death. It teaches about faith, hope, and charity. This edition helped me see these things a little more clearly than the other times I’ve read this text (primarily the 1981 LDS edition).
December 15, 2025
While a little uninspired in its style and didactics, the meta-textual reading of this American classic is SPICY. You could build a church around this stuff!
March 26, 2019
This reader's edition of the Book of Mormon has some valuable footnotes that are not included in the scripture edition, but its chief strength is in the introduction and the appendices, which collect in one place the testimonies of Joseph Smith and other witnesses, a chronology of the translation, explanation of the lost 116 pages that were translated first, a description of Book of Mormon plates and records, an appendix on poetry in the Book of Mormon, lists of significant changes in the text between editions, charts and maps, a glossary of names, and suggestions for further reading. All of this information is available elsewhere, but having it together is helpful. Hardy used the 1920 edition of the Book of Mormon (which was in the public domain) and not the 1981 edition that is the authorized version now, although he notes that there are only 150 differences in words between the editions, not including a lot of changes from "exceeding" to "exceedingly." Having the text laid out in paragraphs and, where appropriate, poetry, is helpful, as are other changes that don't change the text but present it in a helpful, readable format. My one wish is that Hardy had marked the chiasms (a Hebrew poetic form) in the text, but that would have made it much less readable in places. A great companion to one's Book of Mormon study.
August 1, 2014
This reader's edition help make what Mark Twain called "chloroform in print" slightly more bearable. But not much.
As a work of literature, the Book of Mormon is a middling attempt by a talented young man inspired by the religious milieu of his time. Perhaps if he had not needed to keep up the charade of translation by peering into a hat, and had the time to revise his work (not to mention the help of an editor) it would be a more interesting piece of work. As it is, its main literary device "and it came to pass" makes it sound less like scripture than a verbal tick. The anachronisms (horses, steel), the scattering of New Testament phrases and ideas in the wrong historical era, the plagiarism of KJV mistranslations, and the lack of literary variety show that it's source is human, not divine.
As someone who is fairly fairly conversant with the Bible, I know the breadth of literary styles (history, poetry, songs, lamentations, gospels, epistles, apocalyspe) and the depth of thought and emotion. The BoM is a running history without much pathos, let alone meditations on the nature and will of God, or doctrinal content.
How this book "changes lives" is beyond me, for they must not have met the true God through his Word.
As a work of literature, the Book of Mormon is a middling attempt by a talented young man inspired by the religious milieu of his time. Perhaps if he had not needed to keep up the charade of translation by peering into a hat, and had the time to revise his work (not to mention the help of an editor) it would be a more interesting piece of work. As it is, its main literary device "and it came to pass" makes it sound less like scripture than a verbal tick. The anachronisms (horses, steel), the scattering of New Testament phrases and ideas in the wrong historical era, the plagiarism of KJV mistranslations, and the lack of literary variety show that it's source is human, not divine.
As someone who is fairly fairly conversant with the Bible, I know the breadth of literary styles (history, poetry, songs, lamentations, gospels, epistles, apocalyspe) and the depth of thought and emotion. The BoM is a running history without much pathos, let alone meditations on the nature and will of God, or doctrinal content.
How this book "changes lives" is beyond me, for they must not have met the true God through his Word.
April 16, 2018
I've read the Book of Mormon many times in it's traditional verse format and I must confess I enjoy it much more in a paragraph format (as it was originally published). Hardy, an active LDS scholar, explains the rationale for his reader's edition this way: "I have modified both punctuation and design to improve readability, but I have not changed any of the words--the 1920 version of the text is reproduced exactly." Some may consider this sacrilege, but I believed Hardy wonderfully achieves his goal. Hardy's reformatting includes "paragraphs, quotation marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multichapter headings, indentation of quoted documents, italicized reworking of biblical prophecies, and minimized verse numbers" (from the back cover of the book). Many members likely don't know that the original layout and punctuation of the Book of Mormon were provided by a non-Mormon typesetter, John Gilbert.
Whether you are a believer or not, this is a refreshing new way to take in this remarkable book. I for one believe that this is a much more approachable way to read and understand the book without changing its content. I also enjoyed the interesting information in the appendixes at the end of the book. This a gift to all readers.
Whether you are a believer or not, this is a refreshing new way to take in this remarkable book. I for one believe that this is a much more approachable way to read and understand the book without changing its content. I also enjoyed the interesting information in the appendixes at the end of the book. This a gift to all readers.
January 2, 2019
I loved reading the Book of Mormon (word for word the same) but in a different format. It was written in traditional paragraphs instead of in verses. Although when an author was speaking poetically, then it was shown in lines and stanzas. It was crazy how the pages just flew by when you felt like you were reading a novel instead of scripture (is that bad to say?) I won't always read The Book of Mormon in this format, but it was a refreshing change that gave me a different perspective and helped me to see the big picture. I borrowed my copy from a friend, but can't wait to buy my own copy so I can highlight it and mark it up with favorite passages. (Insider info -- I heard that a new version is coming out later this year, so I'm going to wait for that).
Read
May 5, 2024I've read The Book of Mormon many times, but never in this format. It was so easy to read! I was able to really focus on the message without being bogged down by all the chapter headings, footnotes, numbers, and columns. Though that type of formatting and information has its place, it really was enjoyable reading it this way for a change! The only thing I didn't like was how thick & heavy it was- it made it difficult to sit and read it for long periods of time- perhaps it would have been better on an e-reader.
July 1, 2014
I loved this Reader's Edition. A much richer reading experience!
http://myadventuresintucson.blogspot....
http://myadventuresintucson.blogspot....
December 20, 2020
Made the Book of Mormon significantly easier to read. I am interested in the Book of Mormon as a form of American literature that features a Jewish family who leaves the Holy Land for the Promised Land, aka the Americas. Although it is essentially a Christian holy text, it has also managed to inspire generations of members in the LDS Movement of churches (LDS Church; Community of Christ aka the RLDS; Church of Jesus Christ [Bickertonite], etc.).
The Jacobean English sometimes makes the text difficult to go through, but it also forms part of its charm. This version formats the book in a way that separates the poetic parts from the rest of the narrative and gives blocks of paragraphs rather than the two column format in the official publications. As such, it makes the narrative more flowing and easier to read.
The Jacobean English sometimes makes the text difficult to go through, but it also forms part of its charm. This version formats the book in a way that separates the poetic parts from the rest of the narrative and gives blocks of paragraphs rather than the two column format in the official publications. As such, it makes the narrative more flowing and easier to read.
December 24, 2021
I would recommend Grant Hardy's reader's edition for your first time to read the Book of Mormon for understanding and I would recommend it for your 30th read for new insights and thoughts. The content is five stars and doesn't change from the original Book of Mormon, so I was surprised that just changing the format made such a difference in my experience reading the Book of Mormon again after so many other times studying this book of scripture. Even the Isaiah chapters were easier to understand! Hardy has added paragraphing, quotation marks, poetic forms, topical headings, multi-chapter headings, identification of quoted documents, and so on. My appreciation for this book of scripture was enhanced by all the hard work Grant Hardy put into making the material more accessible--more readable.
October 31, 2021
I probably won't ever mark up this edition for personal study, but I enjoyed the experience of reading it in this format. I liked the way the poetic passages were formatted, and the editor's way of dividing the text according to what's happening instead of according to the chapter breaks was also interesting. It caused me to look at a book that I have read many, many times in a new way. The introduction and appendices also contain a lot of interesting material that will be useful in my future readings.
November 5, 2021
If you are looking to read the Book of Mormon for yourself, whether you are LDS or not, you can hardly beat this excellent edition. The layout is far more friendly to the eye than the official edition published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of the best editions of the BoM out there.
August 30, 2025
I love the format of this version of the Book of Mormon. It's so much easier to read. I've read Hardy's Annotated Book of Mormon too. It is also in paragraph format. The notes are very thorough but a little overwhelming. The Reader's Edition is a very clean-looking easier to read version when you just want to sit down and read it cover to cover.
January 4, 2023
This book is a game changer. The section headings are more sensibly placed than the chapter headings in quad, making it easier for you to make connections between texts and understand the major themes coming out of each book. This will multiply how much you get out of reading the Book of Mormon.
November 27, 2017
Written in novel form and broken up into sections with bold brief summary to help readers understand the many authors and history and poetic form. I enjoyed another way of reading this book.
August 6, 2018
Reformatting the text makes a much larger difference than one would think. Especially with regard to highlighting the parallelism of the Hebrew poetic forms.
April 4, 2020
The formatting allows it to be read as a beautiful story. Never before have I read it so quickly, nor enjoyed it as much. Just a bit different way to read the Book of Mormon.
December 28, 2020
I wish the standard book of mormon was written like this. This book is bulky and not convenient to lug around. But it reads so much easier.
February 9, 2022
Beautifully laid out. A more immersive reading of God’s holy writ. Thank you.
December 5, 2022
It gives a whole different perspective--paragraphs vs. verses. And don't miss his companion book, Understanding the Book Of Mormon. It will really expand your views!
June 30, 2024
Interesting experience to read The Book of Mormon in a different format. I particularly liked the formatting around poetry, Isaiah and chiasmi.
January 27, 2025
Another five stars for Jesus. I was extremely ambitious thinking I was going to read this twice in 2024...
March 15, 2025
I really enjoyed reading the different format, the chapter headings - awesome! Highly recommend this edition!
April 1, 2025
Significantly easier to understand.
November 12, 2022
This is my preferred copy of The Book of Mormon to sit and read. None of the text is changed, but all of the formatting is changed to make the text easier and quicker to read. I have both the Kindle and paperback editions.
Characters with the same name are given tiny subscript numbers to help you keep track of which Nephi, Ammon, Alma, or Mormon you're reading about. Chapter and verse designations are subtly present but the text is organized in paragraphs rather than verses. That may seem like an insignificant change, but I would liken it to rolling across smooth asphalt instead of cobblestones that jostle you at each verse separation.
Additionally, Grant Hardy has replaced the usual chapter break italicized headings with bold-faced divisions and subdivisions which I find much more helpful, such as:
Ammon in the Land of Ishmael: Alma 17:18-21:23
Ammon Goes to the Land of Ishmael
Ammon Defends the King's Flocks
The Testimony of King Lamoni's Servants
Ammon Returns to the King
Ammon Teaches the Gospel to King Lamoni
King Lamoni Is Overcome
The Queen Sends for Ammon
The Queen, Ammon, and Servants Are Overcome
Abish Summons the People
Recovery and Conversion
Ammon and Lamoni Go to Middoni
Ammon and Lamoni Meet Lamoni's Father
Ammon and Lamoni Rescue Ammon's Brethren
If I still had young children at home that I was reading The Book of Mormon with in the evenings, this is the version I would use since each of these subheadings makes for a much more logical stopping place than a traditional chapter heading. Also, the subheadings would make for a quick review of the story so far.
The experience of reading Grant Hardy's edition of The Book of Mormon most reminds me of reading the NRSV Bible which I highly recommend. The biggest difference is that unlike the NRSV, Hardy has not taken the next step and changed the archaic word forms to their modern counterparts: doth-does, hast-have, beginneth-begins, thou-you, thy-your, ye-you.
Characters with the same name are given tiny subscript numbers to help you keep track of which Nephi, Ammon, Alma, or Mormon you're reading about. Chapter and verse designations are subtly present but the text is organized in paragraphs rather than verses. That may seem like an insignificant change, but I would liken it to rolling across smooth asphalt instead of cobblestones that jostle you at each verse separation.
Additionally, Grant Hardy has replaced the usual chapter break italicized headings with bold-faced divisions and subdivisions which I find much more helpful, such as:
Ammon in the Land of Ishmael: Alma 17:18-21:23
Ammon Goes to the Land of Ishmael
Ammon Defends the King's Flocks
The Testimony of King Lamoni's Servants
Ammon Returns to the King
Ammon Teaches the Gospel to King Lamoni
King Lamoni Is Overcome
The Queen Sends for Ammon
The Queen, Ammon, and Servants Are Overcome
Abish Summons the People
Recovery and Conversion
Ammon and Lamoni Go to Middoni
Ammon and Lamoni Meet Lamoni's Father
Ammon and Lamoni Rescue Ammon's Brethren
If I still had young children at home that I was reading The Book of Mormon with in the evenings, this is the version I would use since each of these subheadings makes for a much more logical stopping place than a traditional chapter heading. Also, the subheadings would make for a quick review of the story so far.
The experience of reading Grant Hardy's edition of The Book of Mormon most reminds me of reading the NRSV Bible which I highly recommend. The biggest difference is that unlike the NRSV, Hardy has not taken the next step and changed the archaic word forms to their modern counterparts: doth-does, hast-have, beginneth-begins, thou-you, thy-your, ye-you.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews