Kerry Muhlestein. American Fork, Utah: Covenant Communications, 2013. Hardbound, 7.5″ x 9″, 540 pages.
Third in a series of scripture guides, this companion is meant to be a user-friendly fellow traveler on your journey through the Old Testament. Between its covers, you’ll find a thorough overview for every book in the millennia-old sacred text, and a highlight of key concepts, passages, helpful character descriptions as well as storyline summaries. This guide offers accessible lists of main themes, suggestions for how we might “liken the scriptures” to ourselves, and insights into what the Old Testament teaches us about the nature and character of Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. Useful before, during, and after reading portions of the Old Testament, this engaging guide, filled with imagery, is a perfect resource for family and personal study as well as preparation for talks and lessons.
Robert L. Millet, Editor. Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University in cooperation with Deseret Book Company, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2011. Hardbound, 6.5×9.5″, 439 pages.
From the time Joseph Smith walked out of the grove of trees having experienced a vision and having spoken with God and Jesus Christ, his words have opened the door to persecution. As disciples of Christ, we ought to be serious students of the gospel who are able to provide a defense of our faith. In this book, LDS scholars discuss criticisms of the Church on a variety of issues, including the question of whether Mormons are Christian, the various accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, and LDS beliefs about becoming like God, continuing revelation, and plural marriage. The book also includes chapters about DNA research and the Book of Mormon, along with the role of evidence and the need for honesty in religious discussion. This volume does not address every point of opposition, but it does provide thoughtful and reliable answers to several hard questions.
