Foreword to the First Edition

Title

Foreword to the First Edition

Book Title

An Approach to the Book of Mormon

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

1988

Authors

Nibley, Hugh W. (Primary)

Edition

3rd

Pagination

vii-viii

Publisher

Deseret Book/Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies

City

Salt Lake City/Provo, UT

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Foreword to the First Edition

Everyone who reads this manual will find new material in it—material that has not appeared in print before and is, therefore, of vital importance. The work is a new approach to the Book of Mormon and for that reason demands careful reading and study of every member of the priesthood classes using it.

In this work the Book of Mormon is seen in a new perspective; we see it in a world setting, not in a mere local one. It takes its place naturally alongside the Bible and other great works of antiquity and becomes one of them. As we study the manual, the mystery that some writers have tried to throw around the Book of Mormon disappears, and the book and its characters become real and natural. False arguments which in the past have prospered against it are shattered by the material of this course. The author has thrown up such a background for the study of the Book of Mormon and has fitted it into such a framework of world history as to make it one of the great books of all time. The success or failure of the study of the course depends upon seeing and clearly grasping this point of view, and one will be rewarded according to the energy expended in gaining such an important vision.

Some of the lessons of the manual are too long for one recitation period. This should disturb neither the instructor nor the class members—two or even more recitation periods, in some cases, can be profitably spent on one lesson.

Every member should be constantly encouraged to carefully and earnestly read every lesson, that he may contribute to the mastery of such vital material.

The captions and notes at the back of the book, if carefully used, can be made to enrich the text. These notes should not be neglected.

While many of the references cited will not be available to all, others may be. These will also help to enrich the study of the manual.

The questions at the close of each lesson may well be assigned to members of the class for brief discussion in order to bring boldly to the front significant points in the lesson.

This is a course that needs diligent and prayerful study.

Table of Contents

Book

An Approach to the Book of Mormon

Nibley, Hugh W.

36 Chapters

Foreword to the First Edition

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. vii-viii

Preface to the First Edition

Smith, Joseph Fielding | pp. ix-x

Preface to the 1964 Edition

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. xi-xvii

Introduction to an Unknown Book

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 3–15

A Time for Reexamination

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 16–29

An Auspicious Beginning

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 33–45

Lehi as a Representative Man

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 46–55

The Jews and the Caravan Trade

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 59–70

Lehi and the Arabs

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 71–83

Dealings with Egypt

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 84–92

Politics in Jerusalem

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 95–108

Escapade in Jerusalem

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 109–119

Portrait of Laban

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 120–131

The Flight into the Wilderness

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 135–144

The Pioneer Tradition and the True Church

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 145–156

Churches in the Wilderness

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 157–167

Unwelcome Voices from the Dust

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 171–182

Qumran and the Waters of Mormon

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 183–193

The Apocrypha and the Book of Mormon

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 194–208

A Strange Order of Battle

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 209–221

Man Versus Nature

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 225–236

Man Versus Man

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 237–252

Lehi's Dream

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 253–264

Lehi the Poet – A Desert Idyll

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 265–277

Proper Names in the Book of Mormon

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 281–294

Old World Ritual in the New World

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 295–310

Ezekiel 37:15-23 As Evidence for the Book of Mormon

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 311–328

Some Test Cases from the Book of Ether

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 329–339

Strange Ships and Shining Stones (A Not So Fantastic Story)

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 340–358

The War of the "Intellectuals"

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 361–377

The Way of the Wicked

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 378–399

The Nature of Book of Mormon Society

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 400–415

Strategy for Survival

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 416–430

Appendix: The Archaeological Problem

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 431–443

Notes

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 447–522

Scripture References

Nibley, Hugh W. | pp. 523–541

Bibliographic Citation

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