Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon

Name/Title

Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon

Description

"This work, the third of a six-volume commentary, examines the types of stylistic changes that become apparent between Nephi's small plates, which end with the book of Omni, and Mormon's edited text, beginning with the book of Mosiah. Startingly, Gardner also finds virtually no evidence that Nephi's small plates were known to other Nephite record keepers until Mormon rediscovered them. King Benjamin's masterful sermon acquires new meaning from its probable context--the aftermath of civil war resulting from the far-from-seamless union of Nephites and Zarahemlaites, in a clash of cultures and religions. Benjamin's covenant of Christ unifies and heals that torn nation, symbolized by the new name they take upon themselves. Another insight in this volume is Mormon's hostility toward 'bad king' Noah--a view decidedly different from the official records he must have drawn on. Why does Mormon so flatly ignore what must have been, up to a certain point, Noah's popularity and success? The argument that Noah, his priests (and therefore Alma) were Nehors is still another intriguing possibility proposed in this commentary, while another revisionist contribution shows that the voice of the people, operational even before the judges, was far from proto-democracy."

Book Details

Author

Gardner, Brant,author.

Volume/Number/Issue

3

Place Published

City

[Salt Lake City, UT.

Date Published

2007

Publication Subjects

Book of Mormon -- Criticism, interpretation, etc. Book of Mormon.

Call No.

BX8627.G36 2007 V. 3

ISBN

9781589580435 1589580435 9781589580473 1589580478

Notes

543 pages : maps ; 27 cm. includes biographical and series indexes.