A review of "The Book of Mormon"
Reviewing
a religious scripture feels somewhat strange and awkward. Would you review the
Bible or the Koran? At the same time, it's difficult to escape the Book of
Mormon, just as you can't seem to get rid of those LDS missonaries roaming up
and down the country on their bicycles, with their "Elder Johnson"
nametags and short haircuts. They speak pretty good Swedish too, albeit with a
terrible accent. By the way, here in Sweden, the LDS Church wants to look
vaguely "politically correct", so they even use young women as
missionaries. "Sister Johnson", I believe?
Many Swedes have seen the Book of Mormon. But how many have actually read it? Very few, I think. I might be the only one. By the way, did I mention that I have "Lamanite" ancestry? Might impress the sisters.
So what can I say about the Book of Mormon? First, it's important to realize that this book isn't the whole of Mormonism. In fact, the more peculiar and exotic doctrines of the Mormons are not to be found in this book. In order to get a real feel for Mormonism, you must also read "Doctrine and Covenants" and "Pearl of Great Price". Another good idea might be to read a book about Mormons, written by an outsider. To take just one example, the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy. Later, Joseph Smith got other ideas on the subject...
As for the Book of Mormon itself, it's easy to see how it might have inspired settlers in the Wild West during the 19th century. Indeed, it comes across as something of a settler Bible, being a story about migrations from the Old World to America, wars between Whites ("Nephites") and Indians ("Lamanites"), and above all, the conviction that America is God's chosen nation. For it's quite obvious that the "Nephites" and their semi-democratic republic is really a symbol for 19th century frontier America, whatever else it might be besides. And while many non-Mormons find the book tedious and repetitive, I can imagine that it might have looked very different for those who really "lived their faith" in Jackson County, Nauvoo or Utah.
But is it true? I guess that's the $10,000 question. I for one don't believe it. The Book of Mormon is purported to be a translation of a real document found by the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith inside Hill Cumorah. However, modern archeology has completely failed to verify any of its claims. Besides, the original document was supposedly taken to heaven by an angel, making it impossible for historians to examine it! The Book of Mormon is essentially a hyper-diffusionist work, claiming that civilization was brought to the Americas by large-scale migrations of Old World peoples. And while these peoples were presumably Semitic, the Book of Mormon portrays them as lily White. Indeed, the darker skin-color of the American Indians ("Lamanites") is said to be a divine curse. Of course, these notions of racial superiority over the natives, might also have appealed to the White settlers at the frontier. Even Whites who for pragmatic reasons wanted to reach some kind of accommodation with the Indians - the Mormons surely wanted this - nevertheless felt superior to them. In the Book of Mormon, "good" Indians are sometimes converted to Christianity and hence become peaceful, and in some cases, even get their White skin-color back.
The Book of Mormon is thus best analyzed and understood in its 19th century historical context. It's indeed "another testament of Jesus Christ", but it's a testament ghost-written by Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet.
Many Swedes have seen the Book of Mormon. But how many have actually read it? Very few, I think. I might be the only one. By the way, did I mention that I have "Lamanite" ancestry? Might impress the sisters.
So what can I say about the Book of Mormon? First, it's important to realize that this book isn't the whole of Mormonism. In fact, the more peculiar and exotic doctrines of the Mormons are not to be found in this book. In order to get a real feel for Mormonism, you must also read "Doctrine and Covenants" and "Pearl of Great Price". Another good idea might be to read a book about Mormons, written by an outsider. To take just one example, the Book of Mormon condemns polygamy. Later, Joseph Smith got other ideas on the subject...
As for the Book of Mormon itself, it's easy to see how it might have inspired settlers in the Wild West during the 19th century. Indeed, it comes across as something of a settler Bible, being a story about migrations from the Old World to America, wars between Whites ("Nephites") and Indians ("Lamanites"), and above all, the conviction that America is God's chosen nation. For it's quite obvious that the "Nephites" and their semi-democratic republic is really a symbol for 19th century frontier America, whatever else it might be besides. And while many non-Mormons find the book tedious and repetitive, I can imagine that it might have looked very different for those who really "lived their faith" in Jackson County, Nauvoo or Utah.
But is it true? I guess that's the $10,000 question. I for one don't believe it. The Book of Mormon is purported to be a translation of a real document found by the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith inside Hill Cumorah. However, modern archeology has completely failed to verify any of its claims. Besides, the original document was supposedly taken to heaven by an angel, making it impossible for historians to examine it! The Book of Mormon is essentially a hyper-diffusionist work, claiming that civilization was brought to the Americas by large-scale migrations of Old World peoples. And while these peoples were presumably Semitic, the Book of Mormon portrays them as lily White. Indeed, the darker skin-color of the American Indians ("Lamanites") is said to be a divine curse. Of course, these notions of racial superiority over the natives, might also have appealed to the White settlers at the frontier. Even Whites who for pragmatic reasons wanted to reach some kind of accommodation with the Indians - the Mormons surely wanted this - nevertheless felt superior to them. In the Book of Mormon, "good" Indians are sometimes converted to Christianity and hence become peaceful, and in some cases, even get their White skin-color back.
The Book of Mormon is thus best analyzed and understood in its 19th century historical context. It's indeed "another testament of Jesus Christ", but it's a testament ghost-written by Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet.
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