The Book of Mormon

Marc Notes: First published in the United States of America 1830--T.p. verso.; Bibl. ref. Publisher Marketing: The spiritual text that forms the basis of Mormonism?in the last edition edited by its founder, Joseph Smith, Jr. "THE BOOK OF MORMON" is one of the most influential? as well as controversial?religious documents in American history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the fourth-largest religious body in the United States. According to Mormon belief, "The Book of Mormon" was inscribed on golden plates by ancient prophets. I t contains stories of ancient peoples migrating from the Near East to the Americas, and also explains that Jesus Christ appeared to the New World after his resurrection. The golden plates were discovered in upstate New York and translated by Joseph Smith, Jr., under the guidance of an angel, Moroni. From this divine revelation, Smith founded the Mormon sect, which is now comprised of more than 12.5 million members worldwide. Review Citations:

Reference and Research Bk News 11/01/2008 pg. 25 (EAN 9780143105534, Paperback)

Contributor Bio:  Smith, Joseph, Jr Joseph Smith teaches in the Department of History, University of Exeter. He has published several books on diplomatic history and Latin America. Contributor Bio:  Maffly-Kipp, Laurie F Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and American Studies at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is the author of Religion and Society in Frontier California (Yale, 1994) and co-editor of Practicing Protestants: Histories of Christian Life in America, 1630-1965 (Johns Hopkins, 2006). Kathryn Lofton is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and American Studies at Indiana University at Bloomington.