The Book of Mormon: A Biography, by Paul C. Gutjahr, claims that the Book of Mormon "should rank among the great achievements of American literature."
Gutjahr says the Book of Mormon promotes a particularly powerful view of Jesus because Jesus makes an appearance in the Americas. “Thus the Christ of the Eastern Hemisphere also becomes the Christ of the Western Hemisphere,” he writes, “a savior to the entire world.”
Christology as travelogue? The woman at the well (John 4) asserted Jesus as "savior of the world" a long time before he (allegedly) visited Cancun.
Mark Twain, who knew a little bit about American literature, called the Book of Mormon "chloroform in print."
Posted by: Brant | June 02, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Yeah, I was going to say that, on top of everything else, it's boring too.
Trying to be irenic though.
Posted by: John Petty | June 04, 2012 at 03:49 PM
It's beyond boring. It's unreadable. Couldn't get through it. I mean, it is impressive if you think of Joseph Smith improvising this stuff, even if he did rely too much on "And it came to pass..." but that's about all one can say for it. I'm just glad it isn't my holy book.
Posted by: Hypatia | June 07, 2012 at 11:24 PM
I just scanned an article at Deseret News that used the "nephites" as an example of something-or-other, and I couldn't help thinking, "What world are these people living in?"
Posted by: John Petty | June 08, 2012 at 10:38 AM