Astute readers will note that I've added a new line to the review header above. Potential buyers of this book should be aware that they will be purchasing nearly 6 pounds of book. Weighty? You bet. The real question -- is it worth its weight? Depends on what you're looking for.

Book of Mormon Reference Companion is a massive, thoroughly researched, and beautifully presented single-volume guide to the Book of Mormon. Every person, every place, every thought, every idea introduced, or referenced, in the Book of Mormon, can be found in this book. The articles are remarkable for their completeness as well as their economy of language.

A list of contributors is included. Of the 111 listed, 95 are associated with BYU. If this skews the ideological bias of the book, at least the reader is aware of the orthodoxy of the writers. And in an age when so many books on the Book of Mormon are coming off the presses, it is helpful to know up front the bias of the book.

Several helpful articles open the volume. "The Book of Mormon: An Overview and Introduction," sets forth to the reader the centrality of the Book of Mormon in the life of the Latter-day Saint:

The Book of Mormon is the word of God. The Lord God is its author. It is truly, as Joseph Smith the Prophet explained, the "keystone of our religion" -- the keystone of our witness of Christ, the keystone of our doctrine, the keystone of our testimony (Benson, Conference Report, 1986,4). It has been delivered by a gracious Lord to a generation that desperately needs it; it was sent forth with the Bible to confound false doctrines, lay down contentions, and establish peace among the people of God (2 Ne. 3:12); it speaks peace and joy to the soul. It can and should serve as a quiet, steadying influence in the lives of those who know of its truthfulness. Often longings for another time and place, those vague but powerful feelings that one has "wandered from a more exalted sphere" (Snow), are satisfied and soothed when reading the Book of Mormon. Reading it is like coming home. It is a gift of God that he expects his children to receive, understand, and experience. (p. 6)

I cite this, at length, for several reasons. First, let there be no mistake: the contributors, and the general editor, are true believers in the highest sense. By naming God as the "author" of the Book of Mormon, the editor takes a stand that some may find difficult. What exactly does it mean to call God the "author" of a book? Does it advocate a "dictation theory" of translation? Is there a sense of "inerrancy" being described?

But a reading of the above cite from page 6 expresses more than just a categorical stand concerning Book of Mormon authorship. It demonstrates a genuine love, perhaps a consuming love, for the book, and advocates its centrality to all of life. With such a passion, one can understand, and perhaps excuse, the occasional exuberance expressed by the contributors.

"The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon" follows the introductory essay. The story told is familiar, and serves as a good summary of the story as it has come down to us.

Next is the "The Structure of the Book of Mormon." I thought this essay deserved more time, and better graphics. The issue of the interplay of the various plates and editing processes can be a confusing matter to many. This essay serves as a starting point for further study of this subject.

We now come to the body of the book itself. Topics are arranged alphabetically, with each section headed with a verse from the Book of Mormon, with a prominent word in that verse highlighted. Alma 14:25-26 heads up the "A" entries, with the word "Alma" highlighted. It is esthetically pleasing.

The articles themselves fall into several categories. Very brief entries, for example "Mulek, land of," contain just enough information to acquaint the reader with the concept, and then sends the reader to the scriptures, or to other articles in the book, for further enlightenment.

Longer articles follow a pattern: the first paragraph offers a succinct summary of the entry. Subsequent paragraphs enlarge upon the subject, often branching off to other articles. When appropriate, maps, graphs and other graphics accompany the article.

Extensive bibliographies at the close of many articles give the ambitious student an opportunity to explore the topics more deeply.

Some of the entries are massive, with numerous sub-entries. Consider the general heading "Book of Mormon." It spans pages 98-168, and encompasses 29 subheadings. While some may consider this excessive, I found this helpful when trying to find specific information on a topic.

Articles that deal with a one of the books that comprise the Book of Mormon are accompanied by a helpful summary chart of the that book. Readers can benefit from getting a bird's-eye view of the text, followed by detailed study.

Pages 344-400 deal exclusively with the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon. Multiple comparison charts and chapter summaries enlighten the text. And, uniquely, the section ends with two maps of the Holy Land, identifying place names mentioned in the Isaiah chapters. With each identification of an Isaiah chapter, a comparison chart is given listing selected variants between the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Inasmuch as the Book of Mormon is "another testament of Jesus Christ," one would expect a substantial section on the subject. Pages 449-463 present a nice Book of Mormon Christology, incomplete in its reflections of earlier Mormon Christologies, but sufficient to instruct in the current thinking. Included is a lengthy list of the titles of Jesus Christ used in the Book of Mormon, along with relevant references.

The section on Lehi (pgs. 506-518) is a good example of how the editors categorized and systematized their study. I'd like to focus on this chapter as instructive and indicative of the whole work:

Beginning with "Lehi" (with a 1 superscripted, indicating the first Lehi to appear in the Book of Mormon), we are given an economical, but fairly complete, biography of the prophet, with reflections on his teachings and his impact on his family and his other contemporaries. Following this is a section titled "Summary of major teachings," wherein we are given a listing of Lehi's teachings, and the relevant Book of Mormon references. References to the three other Lehis are then given, along with a brief discussion of the lost Book of Lehi. Special articles are offered covering Lehi's dream and Lehi's journey to the promised land.

By assembling the various Lehis, along with phrases that mention Lehi and that are likely familiar to an LDS audience, the reader can gain a top-down perspective, a deeper understanding of the text.

Several appendices close the book. First, Appendix A, "Study Guide to the Book of Mormon," is a unique two-part synthesis/cross-reference. Part 1, "Readings in the Book of Mormon," divides the book into thematic groupings of chapters, and lists the articles relevant to those chapters. As an example, under 3 Nephi 1:10 we find the following:

In this way, a student reading through the Book of Mormon is made aware of prominent themes in the section he or she reading.

The second section, "Subject Groupings," likewise directs the reader to specific articles, but are arranged thematically.

Appendix B, "Statements About the Book of Mormon by LDS Church Leaders," compiles such statements by leaders past and present.

Appendix C, "Definitions From Webster's 1828 *American Dictionary of the English Language,*" offers selected definitions that the editors thought helpful in understanding the vocabulary and usage of Joseph Smith's time.

A general index closes out the book.

Let me say first that I am impressed with this volume. The contributors have demonstrated a desire to produce a single volume reference work that most every student and/or teacher of the Book of Mormon will find helpful. And given the need for enrichment and depth of study, this volume is most welcome.

If you're looking for a critical approach to Book of Mormon studies, this isn't it. The underlying assumption behind the book is that the Book of Mormon is truly scripture, truly history. The question is not whether the book is true, but rather how this true book can be read, appreciated, lived and loved.

And while the speculative is avoided, the articles contain both depth and breadth sufficient to satisfy the curious student. And, in delivering clear explanations for Book of Mormon concepts, this book becomes a valuable sourcebook for teachers, whatever their level of expertise.

I do have one complaint. This is a very heavy book. I can't see folks toting this around to class or to a study. Of course, when you're producing such a massive volume, this is to be expected. In this day of computers and the internet, a CD containing the text of the book would have been a real gift. I currently use the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible in my personal study. The publishers wisely included a CD of the translation with each copy, making it more likely today's students and teachers will use it in study. A CD of the "Book of Mormon Reference Companion," included with the book, would have greatly enhanced its usability in teaching situations.

Potential purchasers will have to weigh the $50 price tag against their desire for such a reference work. Considering the amount of information offered, it seems a good deal to me.

Given the volume's stated purpose -- a faith-promoting, dependable, and complete reference guide to the Book of Mormon -- one would be hard pressed to argue that it doesn't meet its goal. I am very pleased with this book, and happily recommend it.

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Jeff Needle
September 16, 2003