Marvelous Work and a Wonder

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Summary: Excellent overview of basic LDS doctrines and beliefs
Review: An LDS classic and must reading for new members or those investigating the Church. A straight-forward look at basic LDS doctrines and beliefs, with plenty of supporting Biblical references.

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Summary: Gives insight into the beliefs of the Mormon church
Review: I have been given this book by some Mormon missionaries, and found it an interesting read. Being a Christian, I was particularly interested in seeing how the Mormons justified their beliefs in light of God's revelation in the Bible. While the book was quite clear and easy to read, I found the use of Bible texts quite poor. Texts were often taken out of context and applied in ways which would have made little sense to the original audience. This is not immediately obvious while reading the book itself, but is made clear when you sit down and read the passages in the Bible. As an example, Isaiah 29:4 is used to justify the necessity of the Book of Mormon by arguing that the Book of Mormon is familiar (see KJV translation) - ie. similar to the Bible. But if you look in any other translation (or at the original text - the Bible was obviously not originally in English!), you will soon see that the common use of the word 'familiar' has vastly changed since the KJV was translated - recent translations to English use the word 'ghostlike' or 'medium'. Saying that the Book of Mormon is like a medium (witch / fortune teller) is hardly positive. This use of the Bible is unfortunately rife throughout the book and detracts from its usefulness. In short - stick with the Bible, you will be alot safer.

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Summary: An excellent Missionary tool
Review: I read A Marvelous Work and a Wonder several years after joining the church. I really wish I had the opportunity sooner. It should certainly be recommended to every investigator or new convert. While Richards does not delve into as great of depths as, say, Talmage or Nibley, this book is perfect for starters. It is a quick and easy read with many scripture references. Basically this book outlines basic LDS doctrines and supplies a scriptural basis (mostly Biblical) to support the claims. I found it very inspiring and an essential background for anyone considering a mission.

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Summary: Excellent Book.
Review: I read this book a while back and liked it. Although, I must say that I wasn't on the offensive going in as some other reviewers were. I read it for pleasure, not to make suit. I thought the book to be concise and easy to follow, laying out the author's beliefs in a non-obtrusive way. I have since passed it on to several of my friends to read. I would recommend it to others.

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Summary: Sad, sad, sad...
Review: It's so sad that a recognized leader of an international church can so publicly mutilate the words of God and go virtually unchecked. I found errors and blatant misinterpretations on virtually every page of this book. It was so distressing to me that I could not finish it.

The problems began even before the first page... in the very TITLE itself. "A marvelous Work and a Wonder", a reference to Isaiah 29:14, is claimed by the author to be a prophecy pointing to Joseph Smith. However, Mat 15:7-8 clearly indicates that this exact same prophecy is specifically fulfilled in Jesus Christ, God in the flesh.

The abominable butchering of God's word continues non-stop throughout the first few chapters, and I'm quite certain it continues on throughout... If you are going to read this book, make sure to check out every reference and read each one IN FULL CONTEXT. The overwhelming errors will be plainly apparent.

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Summary: Excellent discussion of Mormon beliefs.
Review: Le Grand Richards was an Apostle (the second highest ranking church council in the LDS church) in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He died in the Early 1980's. This is his defintive work. It is one of the only books Mormon Missionaries are allowed to read while they are serving their 1.5 or 2 year missions. The book discusses Mormon beliefs from marriage to temples to what Mormons believe about Heaven and Hell. Anyone investigating the church has not really investigated until they read this book, (other than the Book of Mormon, of course). It is easy to read and powerfully written.

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Summary: Studies of the Book of Mormon
Review: This book was given to me by a former Mormon missionary that I worked with. He and I had been discussing Mormonism versus Christianity. Rather than debating many of the strange Mormon doctrines that have been taught over its 200 year history, I decided to stay with one subject: historical validity of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith called the Book of Mormon the foundation of the Mormon faith and the cornerstone of their religion. He said that a man could get closer to God by obeying its precepts above any other book on earth. Smith also claimed that it was the most correct of any book on the earth. I challanged my Mormon friend to find my one evidence for the Book of Mormon to be taken as historically acurate. Mind you, I did not ask him to prove to me its theological content but only its historical content for if its historical content cannot be proven, why believe what it says theologically? He brought me this book. I read it in three days, marked it up pretty good, and brought it back to my Mormon friend. My conclusions: the LDS Church still is serching for historical evidence for the Book of Mormon. I have here in front of me a copy of a statement put out by both the Smithsonian Institute and the LDS leaders. The Smithsonian letter denies the content of the book of Mormon as being historical and views the material as only religious in nature with no archeological evidence to support its claims. The LDS leaders, in reply, ask "Why question what the Lord has decided to keep hidden?" I for one question. I question all things (1 Thess. 5:21). I am not a Christian because I have prayed and feel its right, I am a Christian because of historical evidence to support the claims of the Bible (2 Peter 1:16-21). Christianity alone is the only religion based not on the teachings of Jesus as much as on the historical evidence of Jesus' death and resurrection. Buy this book. Read it. Study it. But don't believe something simply because someone tells you its true. I believe I can fly btu that does not mean its true. My subjective truth will hit objective reality when I test it. Do that with Christianity, Mormonism, Islam, etc. You will find Jesus to be true (John 14:6).

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Summary: Awesome!
Review: This is truly an awesome book. It seriously discusses God and the view of God by Christian religions. It is primarily about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A marvelous Work and a Wonder explains the "strange" doctrines of the LDS chruch in depth. It shows that the practices and doctrines of the LDS Church aren't really strange at all...they are like the doctrines of Christ's origional church. This book is for someone who is seriously investagating "mormonism".

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Summary: A Marvelous Book!
Review: This work of gospel scholarship is pivotal to any legitimate study of Mormonism. Evidently, the Missionary Department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints considers this book to be a pivotal one, as well, since it is included in the Missionary Reference Library (a series of reference books which all full-time L.D.S. missionaries are supposed to have).

The fact that this book excites the rage of anti-mormons--I use the term "anti-mormon" to distinguish the bigoted from the civilized non-mormons--only serves to empower the Mormon Cause (in the words of Brigham Young, "Every time you kick Mormonism, you kick it upstairs.")

In general, I will simply state that this book illustrates, in its text, the peerless majesty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (hereafter, "this Church"). It demonstrates, among other things, that: a.) this Church strictly upholds the doctrines and liturgical procedures set forth in Scripture, including the Bible; b.) this Church has been the means through which God has restored the precepts and powers previously lost to the world, and c.) all of this comes as the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, including Bible prophecy.

One thing in particular that must be borne in mind, I believe, in reading "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder," is the principle of Prophetic Dualism, spoken of in numerous scholarly writings (in and out of the Mormon Church). This principle reminds us that Scripture might be--and often is--fulfilled more than only once. Of course, the general interpretation and overall meaning of a scriptural passage are the same, always. But, the application can vary.

For example, in referring to Isaiah 6:9-10, Jesus said that this passage was "fulfilled" in the multitude which stood hearing Him upon the sea shore (Matthew 13:14-15). This multitude, naturally, was assembled at a sea side in Palestine. And yet, years later, in Acts 28:25-27, the Apostle Paul applied this exact same prophecy of Isaiah to: a.) the unbelievers at Rome (not Palestine!), and b.) those among whom Isaiah ministered (Paul calls them "our fathers").

So, here we have the same prophecy of scripture fulfilled in three different groups of people. Hence, the doctrine of Prophetic Dualism, which must ever be kept in mind when studying "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". Otherwise, some might rashly object to Legrand Richards' claims that certain prophecies are fulfilled in the Mormon Church, blurting such things as, "Heresy! That passage of scripture has been fulfilled, already!"

But, I digress. Another great feature of this book is its monumental list--in the back--of over 40 principles of truth and doctrine which set the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from all other denominations and religious groups. Many have scoffed at the Mormon Church, asking, in essence, "What's so special about Mormonism? How is it any different from the countless other churches in Christianity?" Well, this list of 40+ points answers that very question most effectively.

One final point. In reading "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder," one must be willing to accept that revelations of knowledge ultimately come not through "flesh and blood"--that is to say, tangible or physical--evidence (Matthew 16:17). It is an evil and adulterous generation which seeks after a physical sign, after all.

To any that would yearn to question those things which God has elected to keep hidden, I will simply say that intellectual curiosity is nothing shameful, as such, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." (2 Timothy 2:23).