jchandle writes

  Reviews of the 10 books I read in 2024 Undeniable: The Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (Audio) by Susan Easton Black This is a good, faith-promoting overview of the lives of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon. I was disappointed, however, that Black didn’t even mention that Oliver Cowdery accused Joseph Smith of having an affair with Fanny Alger. Why leave out that detail?  The Mormon People (Audio) by Matthew Bowman A really accessible introduction to Latter-day Saint History, written in a journalistic tone. I got the sense that Bowman wasn’t connected to the church at all. That’s not true; he’s a member of the church and a scholar of its history. But my initial assumption is a testament to how impartial the writing is. I was most intrigued by the impact of Heber J. Grant’s pragmatic impact on the church. I think much of how the church is today–stake and ward structures, priesthood keys, temples–can be traced back to Grant.  The Heart of the Matter (Audio) by Ru...

  The End I recently finished reading The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ . This isn’t the first time I’ve read the book , nor will it be my last. But this year-long study is special in a few ways.  For much of the year, I read from a new study edition of The Book of Mormon edited by Grant Hardy. Hardy presents helpful essays and insights throughout the work including introductions to each book, a robust appendix, and lots of footnotes. What was most helpful though was the formatting. It’s amazing what de-emphasizing verse breaks and treating poetry like poetry can do for readability, as well as section headings that break things down into easy to follow structural beats. I learned a lot.  Since September, my study has revolved around teaching early morning seminary. Studying to prepare a lesson is great for keeping an active mind through the process and making sure my thoughts are coherent and helpful enough for my audience. Seminary ensured that my stu...