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The Book of Mormon: brief theological introductions #5
Mosiah: A Brief Theological Introduction
"Whosoever should believe that Christ should come . . . might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy."
The prophet Mormon faces the monumental task of abridging Nephite history for future generations. He looks back hundreds of years to discern God’s hand amid the people’s divisions and conversions. Multiple records recount multiple migrations to lands where different kings organize competing societies. A righteous monarchy ends, and a reign of judges begins.
In this brief theological introduction to the book of Mosiah, philosopher and theologian James E. Faulconer untangles a complicated timeline. Mormon transports readers back and forth through time—King Benjamin’s sermons provide a backdrop for the earlier speeches of the prophet-martyr Abinadi and the later conversion of the renegade Alma. What might we learn about covenant and community from a history of Nephite division?
Faulconer presents the book of Mosiah as a fragmentary history about a fragmented people, written by a record keeper obsessed with unity. According to Mormon, destruction can be avoided only if we understand the mysteries of Christ’s atonement and perform the service God calls us to do together.
The prophet Mormon faces the monumental task of abridging Nephite history for future generations. He looks back hundreds of years to discern God’s hand amid the people’s divisions and conversions. Multiple records recount multiple migrations to lands where different kings organize competing societies. A righteous monarchy ends, and a reign of judges begins.
In this brief theological introduction to the book of Mosiah, philosopher and theologian James E. Faulconer untangles a complicated timeline. Mormon transports readers back and forth through time—King Benjamin’s sermons provide a backdrop for the earlier speeches of the prophet-martyr Abinadi and the later conversion of the renegade Alma. What might we learn about covenant and community from a history of Nephite division?
Faulconer presents the book of Mosiah as a fragmentary history about a fragmented people, written by a record keeper obsessed with unity. According to Mormon, destruction can be avoided only if we understand the mysteries of Christ’s atonement and perform the service God calls us to do together.
146 pages, Paperback
Published July 21, 2020
22 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
James E. Faulconer
22 books11 followersJames E. Faulconer is an American philosopher, a Richard L. Evans professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University, the director of BYU's London Centre, a fellow and associate director of the Wheatley Institution, and the former dean of Undergraduate Education and chair of the Philosophy Department at BYU. Brother Faulconer received his BA in English from BYU. He then received master's and PhD degrees in philosophy from Pennsylvania State University. His area of interest in philosophy is contemporary European philosophy, particularly the work of Martin Heidegger and late twentieth- and early twenty-first-century French thinkers.
from https://rsc.byu.edu/authors/faulconer...
from https://rsc.byu.edu/authors/faulconer...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 7, 2020
The first 3/4's of this book are doctrinal/ theological arguments that he has made in his other works (Romans 1 & Life of Holiness). They are thought provoking points, and I'm sure many readers are not familiar with them. So, I'm glad they're in here, but if you've read them before it is a bit dull to get through.
The last chapter, however, is gold. Faulconer does here what he does best, show you how to read the scriptures more closely, more expertly, and more charitably. He has been a champion in this field for decades (i.e. the early days of the Mormon Theology Seminar). If you approach scripture reading casually, this part is difficult to get through. If you're a little more intense in your studies, this part is difficult to get through. It's definitely worth reading and re-reading again, and in the end, taking those principles learned and putting them into action.
The last chapter, however, is gold. Faulconer does here what he does best, show you how to read the scriptures more closely, more expertly, and more charitably. He has been a champion in this field for decades (i.e. the early days of the Mormon Theology Seminar). If you approach scripture reading casually, this part is difficult to get through. If you're a little more intense in your studies, this part is difficult to get through. It's definitely worth reading and re-reading again, and in the end, taking those principles learned and putting them into action.
August 9, 2020
Faulconer analyzes the structure of the Book of Mosiah, arguing that it is the most complex and fragmentary book in the Book of Mormon, and he then shows that the book was edited to be intentionally out of chronological order to make sure we read King Benjamin's speech (actually, speeches per Faulconer) before we read Abinadi's sermon to King Noah (which occurred years earlier). After this fascinating exploration of Mosiah's structure, Faulconer then takes a very close look at two passages from King Benjamin's speech(es) and one one from Abinadi's sermons. Faulconer's examination of those three passages focus on our relationship with God the Father (through Jesus Christ) and Jesus Christ's relationship with God the Father. All of it was fantastic and gave me insights on how Christ's atonement is the key to my salvation with God (two times over, in fact). The most impacting was Faulconer's (really, King Benjamin's) conclusion that we cannot turn away the beggar based on the beggar's past decisions because we do not want God to turn away from us based on our past decisions. Because the logic we use when we reject a beggar because his decisions put him in his position, is "a logic that implicitly rejects salvation." I hope that principle will help me improve my interactions with others.
June 18, 2022
Not as good as the one about Enos, Jarom, Omni but still good
August 5, 2022
A bit abstract and hard to follow at times. But overall it provided some interesting and helpful insights to ponder.
May 14, 2024
I could have probably spent more time in this one and maybe it would have distilled a bit better. I thought it was pretty dense and seemed to be lacking in salient points that improved my faith and understanding. I appreciated (though probably couldn’t follow completely) the dissection of Abinadi’s complicated teachings. The commentary on discord and nothingness was intriguing. Just didn’t land for me. It is theology and about 30% of this stuff goes beyond my abilities to comprehend (or perhaps I just don’t care to that level).
Quotes:
“Repentance is not complete if it doesn’t bring rejoicing.”
“If we have received salvation, then we will live the life of covenantal service that God lives rather than the formless lives of mere individuality that we have constructed for ourselves.”
Quotes:
“Repentance is not complete if it doesn’t bring rejoicing.”
“If we have received salvation, then we will live the life of covenantal service that God lives rather than the formless lives of mere individuality that we have constructed for ourselves.”
August 24, 2021
Another fantastic book in this series. Full of insights that I've never even considered before despite my many readings of Mosiah. Life changing words of wisdom -some highlights:
- "a good society is founded on the people's conversion rather than on the kind of government they have"
- "Repentance is not complete if it doesn't bring rejoicing"
- "The care for the poor is for the sake of retaining rather than receiving a remission of sins"
- "a good society is founded on the people's conversion rather than on the kind of government they have"
- "Repentance is not complete if it doesn't bring rejoicing"
- "The care for the poor is for the sake of retaining rather than receiving a remission of sins"
November 24, 2022
Helpful companion in reading the Book of Mormon.
Mosiah is perhaps the most complex book in the Book of Mormon in terms of story, timeline, and even theology as Abinadi teaches of god in seemingly trinitarian language.
Mosiah is perhaps the most complex book in the Book of Mormon in terms of story, timeline, and even theology as Abinadi teaches of god in seemingly trinitarian language.
September 16, 2024
The conclusion has one of the best summaries of the Plan of Salvation I’ve ever read. Some chapters discussed semantics pretty heavily, but I loved the chapter on “Are we not all beggars?”
March 14, 2025
Mosiah is the hardest book in the Book of Mormon for me to understand, with the flashbacks and Abinadi’s sermon. James Faulconer does a great job reasoning his way through it.
October 5, 2022
The Book of Mosiah is a book contained within the Book of Mormon, a theological text that purports to relate the secret history of the first people to come to America and their relationship with Christ Jesus.
In this book, we are told of the life of Mosiah son of Benjamin, what happened to those who went to Lehi-Nephi with Zeniff, and the coming of the Church of Christ. In addition, we are described numerous laws and a tolerable explication of some of the theology Smith conjured up.
Some of these theological somethings include:
- God's children must be like children (i.e., submissive).
- Men are by nature evil;
- and, ought to throw off their nature to become saints.
- The Christ exists.
- Submission to the Commandments and God's must be taken meekly.
- All men are equal (e.g., the teacher is not above the student).
- We are all beggars to the Lord.
- When sin becomes the law of the land, God will bring consequences to those who practice iniquity, often without mercy (e.g., the Nephite kingdom is based upon being in God's good graces and will fall when once they fall to sin).
Some of the laws (so-called) include:
- Property ought to be distributed based on need.
- The poor ought to think of redistribution, but, seeing as they are unable to do it, this is the only thing required of them;
- on the other hand, the rich must pay up according to their means.
- This is all despite circumstance, so that those who are of the church or not are equally dealt with, and even if a beggar brought beggary upon themselves they ought be helped.
- In the book of Alma, just following this one, we get a quotation nigh on "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need" and, therefore, the hints of such a philosophy contained herein I have the pleasure of noting as truthful here. (This is specifically Ch. 1, V. 26 in Alma.)
There is also some political somethings that are worthy of note:
- The most important of which being that rejection of the monarchic system in favor of judges and popular elections, because kings cannot always be good, the people's collective opinion generally skews toward the good, and the blame ought be put not on the head of a king only, but on all, when things go wrong.
- The importance of the Church as an institution of power even within the political state, such that the laws of God and the laws of the governing body are all but identical.
We learn about the supposed first Church of Christ instituted by Alma, who God gives the power of baptism to, and who brings this church up in a small area called (of course) Mormon.
We gain herein the figure of King Noah, a lecherous king who appoints equally sex-crazed priests to the craft. He taxes wealth out of his people to sustain his pleasure cruises, build enormous and gilt buildings (including towers tall enough to view beyond his kingdom), and otherwise waste recourse in vain pursuits, against the will of God. His contrast with Moziah, who works for his own bread, and forbids that priestcraft be instituted in Zarahemla, is quite striking.
In this book, we are told of the life of Mosiah son of Benjamin, what happened to those who went to Lehi-Nephi with Zeniff, and the coming of the Church of Christ. In addition, we are described numerous laws and a tolerable explication of some of the theology Smith conjured up.
Some of these theological somethings include:
- God's children must be like children (i.e., submissive).
- Men are by nature evil;
- and, ought to throw off their nature to become saints.
- The Christ exists.
- Submission to the Commandments and God's must be taken meekly.
- All men are equal (e.g., the teacher is not above the student).
- We are all beggars to the Lord.
- When sin becomes the law of the land, God will bring consequences to those who practice iniquity, often without mercy (e.g., the Nephite kingdom is based upon being in God's good graces and will fall when once they fall to sin).
Some of the laws (so-called) include:
- Property ought to be distributed based on need.
- The poor ought to think of redistribution, but, seeing as they are unable to do it, this is the only thing required of them;
- on the other hand, the rich must pay up according to their means.
- This is all despite circumstance, so that those who are of the church or not are equally dealt with, and even if a beggar brought beggary upon themselves they ought be helped.
- In the book of Alma, just following this one, we get a quotation nigh on "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need" and, therefore, the hints of such a philosophy contained herein I have the pleasure of noting as truthful here. (This is specifically Ch. 1, V. 26 in Alma.)
There is also some political somethings that are worthy of note:
- The most important of which being that rejection of the monarchic system in favor of judges and popular elections, because kings cannot always be good, the people's collective opinion generally skews toward the good, and the blame ought be put not on the head of a king only, but on all, when things go wrong.
- The importance of the Church as an institution of power even within the political state, such that the laws of God and the laws of the governing body are all but identical.
We learn about the supposed first Church of Christ instituted by Alma, who God gives the power of baptism to, and who brings this church up in a small area called (of course) Mormon.
We gain herein the figure of King Noah, a lecherous king who appoints equally sex-crazed priests to the craft. He taxes wealth out of his people to sustain his pleasure cruises, build enormous and gilt buildings (including towers tall enough to view beyond his kingdom), and otherwise waste recourse in vain pursuits, against the will of God. His contrast with Moziah, who works for his own bread, and forbids that priestcraft be instituted in Zarahemla, is quite striking.
May 19, 2024
I have been consistently impressed by the books in this series and have really enjoyed the variety of the approaches and perspectives to each section of The Book of Mormon. This volume on Mosiah is no exception, and I was fascinated by Faulconer’s ideas.
Faulconer begins by examining the structure of Mosiah, asserting that it is one of the most complex of the constituent books of The Book of Mormon, and draws significant attention to the non-chronological timeline of the bulk of the text. I’d noted this in the past but never thought much of it, since that’s just how the book is structured, but the degree to which the timeline flashes back was greater than I had realized before—20 to 25 years, and Abinadi’s ministry actually precedes Benjamin’s address by that much time. Given that those two sections comprise the majority of the doctrinal exposition of Mosiah, to realize they are transposed chronologically by the Nephite historians felt revelatory to me, and Faulconer and others assert that this is purposeful, that Benjamin’s teachings are preparatory and offer insight into what Abinadi will teach in later chapters.
I was disappointed at first to see that much of my favorite parts of Mosiah would not get touched here, including Benjamin’s discourse on the natural man, nor Abinadi’s quoting of Isaiah 53 (the Messianic “suffering servant” prophecy), but instead Mosiah 4 is drilled down into across two chapters after a brief discussion of political systems and the problem of kingship among the Nephites. Faulconer wraps up with Abinadi’s discourse on how Christ is both the Father and the Son, a knotty section that he parses through close reading of the syntax. As a philosopher, Faulconer leans into the ontological and metaphysical with ease, and this is a little daunting at times, but I was persuaded by his reading and appreciated his patient hand through the pages.
The conclusion features what I would like to conclude on myself—an impactful and, to me, moving, distillation of what Abinadi and Benjamin sought to teach their peoples about Christ, and how His Atonement is possible. As Faulconer writes, “By condescending to be among us, the Son makes it possible for us to be one with him and, therefore, also at one with the Father.” In other words, Christ is the bridge that crosses the gulf between us and God. If it feels impossible to become like Heavenly Father, Christ has bridged that gap by becoming like us first without losing the qualities that make Him one with God. I found myself unaccountably moved reading that passage.
Can’t wait to see what’s next.
Faulconer begins by examining the structure of Mosiah, asserting that it is one of the most complex of the constituent books of The Book of Mormon, and draws significant attention to the non-chronological timeline of the bulk of the text. I’d noted this in the past but never thought much of it, since that’s just how the book is structured, but the degree to which the timeline flashes back was greater than I had realized before—20 to 25 years, and Abinadi’s ministry actually precedes Benjamin’s address by that much time. Given that those two sections comprise the majority of the doctrinal exposition of Mosiah, to realize they are transposed chronologically by the Nephite historians felt revelatory to me, and Faulconer and others assert that this is purposeful, that Benjamin’s teachings are preparatory and offer insight into what Abinadi will teach in later chapters.
I was disappointed at first to see that much of my favorite parts of Mosiah would not get touched here, including Benjamin’s discourse on the natural man, nor Abinadi’s quoting of Isaiah 53 (the Messianic “suffering servant” prophecy), but instead Mosiah 4 is drilled down into across two chapters after a brief discussion of political systems and the problem of kingship among the Nephites. Faulconer wraps up with Abinadi’s discourse on how Christ is both the Father and the Son, a knotty section that he parses through close reading of the syntax. As a philosopher, Faulconer leans into the ontological and metaphysical with ease, and this is a little daunting at times, but I was persuaded by his reading and appreciated his patient hand through the pages.
The conclusion features what I would like to conclude on myself—an impactful and, to me, moving, distillation of what Abinadi and Benjamin sought to teach their peoples about Christ, and how His Atonement is possible. As Faulconer writes, “By condescending to be among us, the Son makes it possible for us to be one with him and, therefore, also at one with the Father.” In other words, Christ is the bridge that crosses the gulf between us and God. If it feels impossible to become like Heavenly Father, Christ has bridged that gap by becoming like us first without losing the qualities that make Him one with God. I found myself unaccountably moved reading that passage.
Can’t wait to see what’s next.
September 5, 2024
Jim Faulconer does a great job in the first portion of his commentary picking apart the wildly out-of-order timeline in the Book of Mosiah to help us understand one of the books major theses: wicked kings are bad. I'm ashamed to say that I had never noticed how the timeline is just completely hodgepodge, which gives us an indication of how Mormon and the various authors he borrows and quotes is carefully shaping and crafting the book in a way that other books from the Book of Mormon simply aren't with their generally more chronological approach to things. There are some good insights here.
I'm sad to say that the final chapter, where Faulconer tries to redeem Abinadi's obtuse commentary on the Father and the Son, I found much less convincing. While I find it admirable that this particular group of LDS scholars and theologians and philosophers (many of whom I count as personal friends!) try to find meaning in every jot and tittle of the book, I think they fail to use Occam's Razor when it is called for. This is one of those times.
Abinadi was incorrect about the relationship between the Father and the Son.
There. I said it.
That doesn't mean he wasn't a prophet. (He was.) That doesn't mean he wasn't inspired. (He was.) That doesn't mean we don't need to take his teachings seriously. (We absolutely do.) I do not subscribe to the heresy (and I call it that deliberately) that every prophet from Adam down to Russell M. Nelson knew exactly everything that every other prophet did about doctrine, and that it all corresponds perfectly to our current correlated manuals. The 9th Article of Faith indicates that there is more to be revealed to us. Surely that also applies to people in the past, and that includes Abinadi. (Assuming his teachings were passed down to us accurately, a thesis which Faulconer does point out may not be true simply given the nature of transmission of this particular sermon down to us today in the 21st century.)
So while I found Faulconer's attempts to fix Abinadi's understanding of the Godhead to bring it into line with our current understanding, I simply deny the premise that it needs to be brought into line with our current understanding.
Maybe hundreds of years from now some arrogant scholar will declare some writing by Russell M. Nelson incorrect given the then-current teachings of the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It might even be here on goodreads, or some descendent method of getting one's thoughts out to the public. I won't have any problem with that. The Church moves forward and expands its knowledge. God reveals more to his children through his prophets. The restoration is ongoing. I can apply this same logic to Abinadi.
I'm sad to say that the final chapter, where Faulconer tries to redeem Abinadi's obtuse commentary on the Father and the Son, I found much less convincing. While I find it admirable that this particular group of LDS scholars and theologians and philosophers (many of whom I count as personal friends!) try to find meaning in every jot and tittle of the book, I think they fail to use Occam's Razor when it is called for. This is one of those times.
Abinadi was incorrect about the relationship between the Father and the Son.
There. I said it.
That doesn't mean he wasn't a prophet. (He was.) That doesn't mean he wasn't inspired. (He was.) That doesn't mean we don't need to take his teachings seriously. (We absolutely do.) I do not subscribe to the heresy (and I call it that deliberately) that every prophet from Adam down to Russell M. Nelson knew exactly everything that every other prophet did about doctrine, and that it all corresponds perfectly to our current correlated manuals. The 9th Article of Faith indicates that there is more to be revealed to us. Surely that also applies to people in the past, and that includes Abinadi. (Assuming his teachings were passed down to us accurately, a thesis which Faulconer does point out may not be true simply given the nature of transmission of this particular sermon down to us today in the 21st century.)
So while I found Faulconer's attempts to fix Abinadi's understanding of the Godhead to bring it into line with our current understanding, I simply deny the premise that it needs to be brought into line with our current understanding.
Maybe hundreds of years from now some arrogant scholar will declare some writing by Russell M. Nelson incorrect given the then-current teachings of the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It might even be here on goodreads, or some descendent method of getting one's thoughts out to the public. I won't have any problem with that. The Church moves forward and expands its knowledge. God reveals more to his children through his prophets. The restoration is ongoing. I can apply this same logic to Abinadi.
April 30, 2021
Faulconer does not bring any specific expertise or perspective. In fact, I thought his graduate work would have been in English not Philosophy because he diagrams sentences in the first chapters. The tone is a traditional exposition on religion found in older LDS publications.
The difference is when he explores the first verses of Mosiah 15 where Abinadi's apparent support for trinitarianism and discusses that the was not the question he was answered. The issue is disbelief in the condescension of Christ, which is a concern addressed throughout the Book of Mormon. Pages 82 - 110 (Chapter 5) is worth your time.
The difference is when he explores the first verses of Mosiah 15 where Abinadi's apparent support for trinitarianism and discusses that the was not the question he was answered. The issue is disbelief in the condescension of Christ, which is a concern addressed throughout the Book of Mormon. Pages 82 - 110 (Chapter 5) is worth your time.
May 14, 2024
In my opinion, of all 15 books, Mosiah is the toughest narratively and theologically. Faulconer’s brief theological introduction does not make it easier but for me made the process of analyzing and deconstructing the text much more enjoyable. You can see some of his literary roots here as he encourages us to take the construction of the text seriously and avoid the easier answers of writing off its non-chronological narrative as accidental or unimportant. I really benefited from his close reading of chapter 15–he takes on various Christological perspectives and shows how Abinadi’s sermon relates to trinitarianism, arianism, etc.
Another stellar piece in the Maxwell’s Intros collection.
Another stellar piece in the Maxwell’s Intros collection.
September 4, 2024
I appreciated Faulconer’s careful explication of the structure and chronology of the Book of Mosiah and their implications for the book’s sermons and teachings. I also found persuasive his interpretation of the book’s emphasis on unity and the need for spiritual reform over political reform. At the same time, I found much of the semantic/syntactic analysis (e.g. of Abinadi’s sermon) to be not only dry but also somewhat lacking in a kind of honesty -- perhaps because I much prefer to read the Book of Mormon in its 19th century context, and exegetical interpretations that sidestep or dismiss such context strike me as blinkered or overly contorted.
September 6, 2020
This is the third of the brief theological introductions that I’ve read this year (1 Nephi and 2 Nephi being the others) and this has been my favorite. Faulconer writes in a compelling, accessible style. He writes new insights about the book, particularly in his last chapter, a long discussion of Mosiah 15:1-5. His thought process is philosophically rigorous and his writing style appealing. I appreciated his insights and his clear delivery of them. Really enjoyed this book.
October 21, 2021
Wow! If your are looking for a new perspective in your reading if the book of Mosiah you need to read this. It will expand and enlighten your mind. In today's band battle between righteous and unrighteous governing this essay will leave you considering the idea that governments are not the issue... Your heart is. I will be reading this Uber and over. It's a lot to take in at one time and will need to be referenced time and again.
October 4, 2022
The sections on the futility of politics for making people good and on Benjamin's sermon were brilliant; the section on Abinadi's teachings was too encoded to follow easily and was too ambiguous to interest me (though, admittedly, highlighting the ambiguity is one of Faulconer's explicit purposes). The doctrine that humans are nothing (formless, untethered) without God has been a big part of my conversion, and this book presents it better than any other I know of.
May 17, 2024
I’m a huge fan of the other books in the series - (they’re such a gift!) but this one was a whiff for me. The author spent an entire section analyzing participles and modifiers. Most of the book was too in the clouds for me and not relatable.
This Neal A Maxwell quote about connecting doctrinal dots but not connecting me with the divine reminder of where I felt this book fell short. Maybe it was just too theologically advanced for me.
This Neal A Maxwell quote about connecting doctrinal dots but not connecting me with the divine reminder of where I felt this book fell short. Maybe it was just too theologically advanced for me.
May 27, 2024
Higher criticism as a method of analysis seems at times to have earned a black eye among some subscribing to the religious institution associated with my faith.
This work, and the series of works with the same subtitle, are fine examples of the precision and learning and insight which may be prompted by this truth-seeking approach.
My mind lights up and my heart swells as at times stunning insight is conveyed Spirit to spirit.
The entire series is outstanding.
This work, and the series of works with the same subtitle, are fine examples of the precision and learning and insight which may be prompted by this truth-seeking approach.
My mind lights up and my heart swells as at times stunning insight is conveyed Spirit to spirit.
The entire series is outstanding.
November 11, 2020
A masterclass in how to read scripture with charity, focus, imagination, and faith. Faulconer works through one of the most convoluted texts in the Book of Mormon, clearing ground for future work while simultaneously demonstrating the power of close, careful reading. Necessary for anyone interested in Mosiah, but also for anyone interested in scriptural theology.
June 3, 2024
I love the book of Mosiah. Some of the overarching themes in the book are amazing. While the book focuses on just a couple of those themes (King Benjamin and Abinadi’s answer to the priests), it does so in a way that opens our eyes to some deeper meaning.
I enjoyed this book. It helped me love the Book of Mormon-and especially the book of Mosiah-even more.
I enjoyed this book. It helped me love the Book of Mormon-and especially the book of Mosiah-even more.
September 7, 2024
I really liked the author’s analysis of the crazy timeline of the book of Mosiah in the B of M, and it helped me put some things together that I hadn’t previously. However, I got really bogged down in the second half of this little book in the author’s microscopic look at a few verses that seem to support a Trinitarian view of God. Maybe a 4 for the first half and a 3 for the second half.
September 23, 2020
Solid insights here presented in a straightforward, if somewhat distanced tone. Not my favorite entry in the series, but still well worth picking up for the ways it opens and unlocks some of the structural and doctrinal complexity of the Book of Mosiah.
September 25, 2020
The discussion of Mosiah 15 was the best part for me. Not a discussion of the nature of the trinity, but an explanation of the human/divine nature of Christ. It makes so much more sense in the context of what is being discussed.
December 14, 2021
The discussion about why the book of Mosiah was arranged so--seemingly--haphazardly was my favorite part of this one. It's always bugged me a little that the Book of Mormon isn't in chronological order. Didn't care for the long-winded critique of Abinadi's teaching about the trinity, though.
March 31, 2024
James Faulconer's “Mosiah: A Brief Theological Introduction” offers a concise yet insightful exploration into the theological themes and complexities found within the Book of Mosiah in the Latter-day Saint scripture, the Book of Mormon. I found it engaging and fun.
May 8, 2024
I liked the first chapter or two of this more than the last few, but there were good things throughout and all of these books in this series are short reads that pack a lot of theology into a few concise chapters. Maybe my least favorite so far, but still very good.
May 2, 2025
3.5/5
Not my favorite of this series, sometimes feels more like the author expressing theological views that Mosiah addresses than the reverse. I did particularly enjoy his analysis of Benjamin's sermon and its reputation of prosperity gospel, that was admittedly impressive.
Not my favorite of this series, sometimes feels more like the author expressing theological views that Mosiah addresses than the reverse. I did particularly enjoy his analysis of Benjamin's sermon and its reputation of prosperity gospel, that was admittedly impressive.
July 19, 2020
Lots to chew on here. Great insights on familiar passages and a splendidly lucid reading of Mosiah 15:1-5. Another must-read introduction in this brilliant series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews