Leap of Faith: Confronting the Origins of the Book of Mormon

by Bob Bennett

Is the Book of Mormon a forgery?

Its detractors dismiss it as such. And its defenders too often fail to ponder it deeply enough to respond effectively to such criticisms.

But, as author Bob Bennett writes, “For anyone truly interested in the Church and its claims, a thorough examination of the Book of Mormon as a possible forgery is a requirement. Instead of being just a footnote in an overall review of current Church activities, discussion of the book should be a primary focal point of the investigation.” with that in mind, he brings to bear his own fascinating experiences with the world of forgery in this careful examination of the Book of Mormon and its claims.

In his role at billionaire Howard Hughes's company, Bennett had opportunities to help disprove two significant attempts at forgery: Clifford Irving's supposedly authorized biography of Hughes and later the fake Hughes “will.” In the process, he became acquainted with several tests commonly used to help identify a forgery. Leap of Faith chronicles the discoveries he made as he applied those tests to the Book of Mormon.

Though Bennett concludes that “no final answer can be drawn about the authorship of the Book of Mormon on the basis of analysis alone,” his exploration of the book and explanation of its contents will be invaluable to anyone interested in understanding it more clearly. His own leap of faith provides a springboard for meaningful discussion by people of all faiths.

This compellingly written work offers a unique perspective about a book beloved by tens of millions. It is made even more interesting by the author’s experiences working for the reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, the victim of more than one attempted forgery.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Nonfiction, Church, Mormonism, Spirituality

318 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[Nate Garlick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal! I'm not an anthropologist or linguist, so "proving" truth or falsehood of the Book of Mormon based on archeology, historical records, or geography has never been an important part of my faith; it just hasn't been a factor I considered relevant. However, this book unlocked insights and views that have become very meaningful to me in how I now view the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. If you've ever wondered about the Book of Mormon's historicity, whether it's a fraud, or its place in history and religion in general, I invite you to read this book. You can find anything these days to support or contradict any viewpoint, so give this a try...it may just surprise you to see the other side of the story not often understood or considered by critics of the Book of Mormon.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Intellectually and factually very weak. Nothing to see here, folks... move along. Seriously.

























IMPORTANT: Bennett prefaces that this book "is addressed to an audience who knows little or nothing about either the Book of Mormon or the church that is commonly called by its name." Bennett wishes to show that the Book of Mormon is historically and literally "authentic" (Preface). And so, that is what my review below is also written for. I don't wish to offend or taunt believing Mormons, though I have no doubt whatsoever that most of them who read this will feel that I am doing so.

=====================

If you want a book that will just go along with what Mormons are taught to believe in Sunday School every Sunday, you will like this book just fine.

If you want a book that will fearlessly tackle any or all of the issues that comprise the expansive morass of irrefuted evidence AGAINST the historical veracity of the Book of Mormon-- then keep on shopping because you won't find it here.

And for that matter you won't find it anywhere I am aware of.

In sum, Bennett merely makes a tap dance around only one or two material issues, but he does it in the fog with the lights down and never gets to anything of any substance.

I don't wish to offend or pick a fight with anyone, and I don't wish to debate it here because it just would not be productive. Besides, many other fine authors have already answered any issue I would be qualified to respond to.

I want to reach all the wonderful readers out there who are searching for answers. Unfortunately, Bob does not have them. I'm not trying to be mean, but his effort to provide those answers is, well, sophomoric. Sorry to sound mean, Mr. Bennett, my apologies, but that's just the case. Five minutes of your time, if you could spare them, I could set you straight.

If you would accept a recommendation for a much more dispositive and substantive analysis of whether the Book of Mormon could be true, or what it means, a good starting point is "Losing a Lost Tribe" by Dr. Simon Southerton. Another good source is a film available on YouTube titled "DNA versus the Book of Mormon" as a very basic introduction to this topic. In short, there is a UNANIMOUS consensus among scientists, anthropolists, linguists, archeologists (and in other important disciplines), that basically 100% of the pre-Columbian inhabitants of the Western Hemisphere are Asian in origin. That means Asian, and NOT "Hebrew." And this body of knowledge is not "Anti-Mormon" in its viewpoint because the overwhelming majority of the scholars producing this evidence have no stake in whether Mormonism could be true or not. They are largely totally uninterested in that question.

Why does this matter? Because when modern science establishes that ALL the native peoples of the western hemisphere are Asian in origin, and you have someone come along purporting to have a literally-true, historical record of MILLIONS of Hebrew people, and that these Hebrews are the "principal" inhabitants of the entire hemisphere-- well, he has a lot of explaining to do!!

Mr. Bennett does not sufficiently address this central issue. He has a few paragraphs about it, but it is so cursory and unsophisticated as to be laughable. (Sorry, I don't wish to be mean, I am just calling a spade.) I applaud the author for his years of tireless work as a legislator, but he is (as HE HIMSELF admits in the preface) "not an expert." He dismisses this "DNA problem" by saying that genetic markers of the peoples described in the Book are simply undetectable now because by now it has become "mixed in" with the genetic markers of numerous other peoples who came to the Americas, and thus has become lost, in effect. What Bennett fails to understand is that genetic science is precise enough to find even the tiniest of genetic contributions. Again, Southerton's book will help the reader understand this issue: Bennett simply tries to obfuscate it.

Yes, I "accuse" Bennett of obfuscation because he writes in the Prologue: "I take the role of commentator, reporting and weighing the strength of both sides. Those who want to check on my objectivity are encouraged to go to the Sources, where I have included works that are critical as well as supportive, and read the source material themselves." Well there is a big problem here because Bennett does not even list Southerton's seminal volume. What does this show? If this does not show his intentional obfuscation, it shows how negligent Bennett has been at completeness. What else is he missing?? {Things that make you go, 'Hmmmmmm.....')

Have a nice day everybody, and I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good effort from the junior senator from Utah. I appreciated the honest approach Bennett took to the topic -- arguments from both apologists and critics abound here. Rather, he presents several compelling points of view, and tough questions, in part informed from his background of analyzing and disproving forgeries.

For some the book will present already well-trodden ground: the appearance of chiasmus, consistency of Egyptian names and customs, military strategic genius, even unknown Arabian geography, much of which scholarship has now proven, but was almost completely unknown at the Book's publication in the early 19th century, and certainly not to a poorly educated farm boy living in the woods of upstate New York. For the more seasoned, Bennett made several good points on Book of Mormon developments -- the ancient Middle Eastern practice of writing on metal plates, societal breakdown into tribal societies, multiple voice types in the narrative -- I had not considered, that provide good food for thought when considering its origins . And that is the meat of the book, and of the conclusion, which is where Bennett particularly shines. If Smith didn't write it -- and anyone who has seriously looked at it, and him, would be crazy to assume he did -- than what of its origin? Ancient civilizations inspired by God on the one hand, or on the other, quite possibly the single greatest forgery, if not conspiracy, of all time.

Either direction requires something of a leap of faith.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book by senator Bob Bennett about the Book of Mormon? I put it as one of the 10 best I've read in the last year. Apparently when Bennett worked for Howard Hughes (!) he had to analyze several forged documents and learned skills related to uncovering forgeries. He applies those skills, along with his legal analysis and experience with history to examining the question of whether or not the book is a forgery.
Bennett constructs bodies of evidence supportive and non-supportive of the idea that an angel came down out of the heavens and delivered golden plates to a young farmer. Then, he confronts the body of evidence with what lawyers call a "theory of the case" that makes sense of the facts laid out. There are several facts that support the Moroni version of the tale, and there are some facts that support a Third Party author (from whom Joseph Smith presumably would have stolen the tale). Bennett lays out the theory of the case, then explains why a leap of faith is required to either believe in, or disbelieve the Book of Mormon.
This is a very readable and interesting book to anyone with an interest in the Book of Mormon. I recommend it.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is similar to Tad R. Callister's book, A Case for the Book of Mormon. Both books address the criticisms leveled at the Book of Mormon and affirm its divine authenticity. The difference lies in the approach. Callister's work is apologetic in nature, focusing on the areas that have fantastic responses and testifying throughout of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. Bennett approaches the subject more neutrally, while still reaching the same conclusion. Where there is no good response, Bennett says so. Where we just don't know, same thing. I like both approaches and appreciated this intellectual look at the origins of the Book of Mormon and the arguments of its critics.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This seems like a good starting point for beginners of in-depth Book of Mormon research. Up until reading this I didn't pay much attention to external studies on the book (meaning studies on ancient American archaeology, DNA studies, etc.), but Leap of Faith has piqued my interest. It's clearly written, and got my attention enough for me to read it in two or three days.

[Kyle Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I owe a special debt of gratitude to Elder Zach Collier. We served together as missionaries in Pennsylvania, and he was the first person to expose me to Mormon Apologetics generally, with sites like FairMormon, and specifically, this book Leap of Faith.

I had the opportunity earlier this year to have a conversation with a friend who had come to the conclusion that there is a God, but as to whether or not he would speak through a specific church, that was a different question entirely. This led me to be reminded of this book, and more specifically to ponder more fully on the idea of forming a hypothesis, and testing it. Religion can have the same inquiries made as science, albeit the methods of evaluation are more emotional and qualitative.

I’m grateful to Bob Bennett for doing something that an inadequate number of Mormons and non-Mormons alike do, and that is to honestly ask the question — “where did the Book of Mormon come from?”

[Gable Roth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book. One of my major complaints is that it wasn't long enough! There were many points that I felt he could have gone much deeper in his explanation but he just cut it off... Maybe he did that on purpose so that we would come to our own conclusions and still have to take our own "Leap of Faith."

There were many points and rebuttals that I had heard before but many more that I had not heard. In the end he admits that everything he presented doesn't prove it one way or another, hence the need for a leap of faith, but it certainly does give a person a lot to think about!

[Bentley Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, in-depth look at the origins of the Book of Mormon. Bennett, who has some experience dealing with forgeries, does a deep dive into the different possibilities of the Book of Mormon's historicity--including whether it was a forgery or copy. Bennett isn't afraid to discuss the different arguments head on. At the end, he acknowledges that the ultimate conclusion is left to the individual reader. Thus, to believe the Book of Mormon requires a leap of faith, while rejecting it requires a rejection of evidence to support it. Like Bennett, I take the leap of faith and believe the Book of Mormon to be true, and I very much appreciate his perspective on this.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to pause halfway through on this one because I wasn't in a place to do spiritual reading. A lot of the book was summarizing the Book of Mormon, which was kind of unnecessary for me. I just wanted the commentary. It felt a little apologetic--coming from a place of faith. I'd like to get there, but I'm not right now.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Some interesting tidbits and things to think about. Not overly well-written or that ground-breaking.

[Paul Dwigans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of truth

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are no truly objective books when it comes to spiritual matters. You either believe or you don’t. And if you go purely by what can be proved in a material way, the only logical stance is agnosticism. So, Senator Bob Bennett’s book about the origin of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ is slightly biased in favor of authenticity.

Nonetheless, he does an admirable job of laying out the general arguments for the three positions taken about the Book of Mormon. They are: 1) Joseph Smith wrote the book, 2) Joseph Smith was inspired/assisted by God, and 3) Joseph Smith had outside help from a third party. Given the space in a single volume work, Bennett leaves out a lot of particulars on all sides, but he does provide references for those who want to delve further into particular areas.

By the end of the book, Bennett is able to conclusively dismiss the idea that Joseph Smith could have written the book on his own. The reader is then left to determine where they stand on the remaining two theories, each of which has significant strong points and problems from a purely logical point of view.

As a believer, I appreciated Bennett laying out exactly what the various leaps of faith are that members take, and how big or small each leap is. I also liked how he separated the history from the doctrine and explained each on its own – it really helped me get a new perspective on a book I’ve read, re-read and studied for the last 14 years. He is least biased when explaining the history. When Bennett moves to the doctrine, he is clearly trying to make a point.

I also think that Bennett has the best answer I’ve ever heard or read to the question of whether Mormons are Christian. He writes:

“Instead of debating the matter, when I am asked if Mormons are Christians, I simply say, ‘Some are, some aren’t.’ I’m not ducking the issue. I’m admitting that I am not competent to make such a decision.

“There is only one who is.

“Jesus said at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in the name have cast out devils? And in the name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

“The decision of who is a Christian and who is not will be made by Jesus Christ himself on the basis of who is willing to ‘[do:] the will of my Father which is in heaven.’ It is not for me, or anyone else currently on Earth, to decide.” (p.280)

Loved this book!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former Utah Senator Bob Bennett attempts an objective analysis for and against the Book of Mormon being a forgery. His main thesis is that not only does it take a leap of faith to believe in the divine origins of the Book of Mormon, it also takes a leap of faith to believe it is a forgery.

The author addresses his writing to those not familiar with all things Mormon. The book is an easy read in part because Bennett writes simply, without presuming much exposure to Mormons or their scripture. Well read LDS will find nothing here that hasn’t been dealt with better elsewhere. On the other hand, it is an easy and interesting read which will likely also appeal to Mormons not inclined toward scholarly detail.

Bennett’s analysis follows a set of questions typically asked of any potential forgery. These include: Are there tell tale anachronisms? Is the work salted with details hoped for or expected? Does the document reflect the social attitudes of its own time? Are there things missing that should be there? Through these and other queries Bennett asks if this large and complex work has details which suggest forgery.

The author frankly admits that there are things in the Book suggestive of forgery, such as quotations from the King James Bible, or the paraphrasing of Paul’s teachings on faith, hope and charity. He makes no attempt to exhaustively list all such anachronisms, but he concedes their existence and notes that it takes a leap of faith to accept the ancient authorship of the Book of Mormon in the face of these facts.

Bennett’s analysis also identifies details and facts which cannot reasonably be explained by any possible conspiracy. For instance, Smith’s contemporaries mocked the gold plates, the stone box, and the large cities with cement construction as fanciful. The author asserts that it takes a leap of faith for critics of the Book of Mormon to believe that an 1820's forger could have guessed right on myriads of details which seemed out of step with contemporary thought.

The cumulative impact of this analysis is to prove conclusively that the uneducated Joseph Smith could not have authored the Book of Mormon. Bennett leaves open the possibility that someone else forged the document, but he notes that a qualified author has yet to be found. Indeed, the Book of Mormon gets so many things right, things no-one in 1820's could have possibly known, that it takes a leap of faith to believe in the unknown genius forger.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bob Bennett tackles several issue with his book, Leap of Faith,he looks at the main stories, the doctrines and the criticisms of the Book of Mormon. He worked for Howard Highes' company and had opportunities to help disprove two signigicant attempts at forgery: He employs those same tactics here, trying to prove or disprove the Book of Morman by anaylsis of the data.
He brings up many interesting facts during his treatment of the book. Facts that show validity in the Book of Mormon, a river is 3 days journey from Jerusalem, discovered in 1996 on a search for the biblical Mount Ararat. Local Arabs refer to the area as the Waters of Moses, not far from there they found a stream running through a valley all the way to the Red Sea, could be the river which Nephi spoke of.
He considers if Joseph Smith did not translate the golden plates, where did the Book of Mormon come from? Joseph himself was not learned enough to write it. He considers the possibility of an unknow author and what it would take to write the Book of Mormon. He considers how many different voices wrote in the book, and adds computer analysis that proves the stories were not written by the same person.
In the end he concludes, either way you take the evidence, it does require a leap of faith. As a believer myself, reading this book made me a stronger believer than I was before it.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on the legitimacy of the claimed origins of the Book of Mormon. Senator Bennett attempts to come at the Book of Mormon from an unbiased view to find out if the book could have been written by Joseph Smith, "Third Party", or by God.

I think if I wasn't familiar with the Book of Mormon, it would be really hard to follow all of the stories the way he breaks them down. I think he did his best, it's just that the Book of Mormon is complicated and hard to follow in the first place.

I learned some knew things, which was a plus, but I also think it's hard to be an unbiased reader as I am a "believer" myself. I was easy for me to explain why - to my satisfaction - any discrepancies in the "God-written" version would make sense.

This may be a great book for someone with doubts about the translation of the Book of Mormon to read, since it goes into detail about what elements forgers use and if Joseph Smith could have actually forged the book himself (or with help).

Ultimately, Bennett leaves it up to the reader to decide. As it should be since we must have faith to believe in God, the Book of Mormon, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[Vgathright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bob Bennett takes his experience working on a team examining the forgery of an autobiography and a will purported to be by Howard Hughes, and applies some basic tests of forgery to the Book of Mormon. I found it interesting to examining the Book of Mormon from that angle. Bob Bennett is not a scholar which made it both accessible and a bit disappointing. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book where he examines internal issues, external issues, motive and relevancy. The last 1/3 he examines the doctrine of the book and I found that less interesting, as I am very familiar with the doctrine and didn't feel I gleaned many added insights. I really like his premise that whether you believe the Book of Mormon to be what it claims it is: an historical record translated by the power of God (as he and I both believe), or you believe it to be a forgery, either position requires a leap of faith. So far, no critic of the Book of Mormon has been able to set forth a plausible alternate theory of authorship given the circumstances behind it's coming forth and Joseph Smith's lack of literacy and knowledge. Given what we know about it, any conclusion that is drawn requires a leap of faith.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun book; easy to read, logical, interesting and did I mention, fun. Bennett divides the Book of Mormon into two sections, the story line and doctrine. He compares the Book of Mormon to a musical where from time to time the story stops and the singing begins (the doctrine being the music). The first half of the book he deals with the story line, mentioning many concerns critic have with the book, both internally and externally. The second half of the book he lets the music ring asking and answering the question of why the Book of Mormon is relevant today.

Did Joseph Smith personally write the Book of Mormon? Did he have outside collaboration? Was that collaboration from an American living in the 1800? Or did the help come from Nephites with divine assistance from God? Bennett asks more questions than there are answers for ending the book with a “Life of Pi” scenario, where we each get to choose whether or not to believe in God. The Book of Mormon is a leap of faith; but, after all, that’s what faith is—a leap. It is also a choice, and I choose to believe.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many believe the Book of Mormon to be a forgery of one kind or another--not an ancient record kept by prophets, engraved on plates, and brought forth and translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Bennett tackles the many objections to the Book of Mormon--all revolving around the Book's authenticity (or lack of it). Bennett begins by providing some background on a couple of real forgeries: the Howard Hughes diaries and the the Howard Hughes will. He develops some concepts to be used in testing forgeries and then applies these to the Book of Mormon.

The objections and their refutations are woven through a fairly detailed overview of the Book of Mormon and the three main stories it contains: The Nephite and Lamanites story, the Mulekite's story, and lastly that of the Jaredites. Each of these represents a separate migration from the near east to the new world. While Bennett does a nice job of handling each of the objections, I do wonder who his audience really is. Is it mainstream Christians, non-believers, or Mormons? I think this book addresses all three audiences.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

You cannot sit on the fence in regards to the Book of Mormon. It requires a leap of faith either way - either you believe it is what Joseph Smith said it was, or you don't. This book brings up some valid concerns about the book. And it cannot be completely proven through facts to be a translation of ancient records. On the other hand, it cannot be completely proven through facts to be a forgery or a fraud. Eventually, you have to take that leap of faith and then continue on faith. Mr. Bennett brings up several of the criticisms which faced and continue to face the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Therefore, if you are thin-skinned, don't read this book. However, his chapters on the "Transition Verses," basically the verses in the book of Omni and the Words of Mormon, and also the Book of Ether, made me look at those with a whole new perspective. Actually, I now look at the whole Book of Mormon with a slightly different perspective, in a good way. Deeper maybe. I thought this book went on maybe a couple of chapters too long, which is why it is four stars.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot help but have a soft spot for Bob Bennett. I was very excited to read this book given his prominence as my former U.S. Senator who after his service chose to write about the skeptics' arguments against the origins of the Book of Mormon. The book was easy to read, full of interesting anecdotes and it was not too long. I also enjoy his thought process, references to Hugh Nibley's works and I do think in a similar fashion as he does so it made it more enjoyable. However, some of his logic was not always persuasive and much of the information was not new to me. But he does sum things up well in explaining the importance of faith in religion vs practical knowledge.

Senator Bennett is a good writer and knows how to speak to his audience. This book is an example of that, however I am not sure who his audience might be in that I do not think that most people would be interested in reading about this topic.

I hope he will write an autobiography next to document his life's work, because my favorite parts in this book were those stories about him.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good beginner look at the arguments for and against the Book of Mormon and does a fairly good job of presenting the major arguments. It is not deep scholarly scholarly work and instead skims over arguments from detractors and apologists alike. It raises many points both in favor and against the divinity of the Book of Mormon. In the end, one is left a bit unsatisfied, but I suppose that is partly the author's point. The title says it all. There is no definitive proof that the Book of Mormon is legitimate. There is also no definitive proof that it is a forgery foisted on a gullible world. Either way, you do have to take a leap of faith. I leap on the side of belief, yet I now better understand the intellectual arguments against the book. I would rate it higher, but the text is a bit repetitive and I got bogged down by the lengthy direct quotations especially toward the end as the doctrine of the Book of Mormon is discussed.

[Meri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well written analysis of the Book of Mormon looking at the likelihood of whether or not it is more plausible that the book was made up or from a divine source. It seems to fairly balance the criticism of non-believers with the difficult pieces of fact that many ignore when it comes to the ability of Joseph Smith to come up with such an intricate 'story' on his own.

For a non-member I am not sure how it will be received or understood, probably as a fair analysis, it does not seek to prove or push conversion, simply to defend aspects often overlooked by those who dismiss the Book of Mormon.

For members it is interesting to see the bits of solid ground that are there in addition to our faith based understanding of scripture.

[Debbie Deerwester · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved this book. I only gave it three stars because it took me a while to get through it and read much like a history/debate. I would have loved to listen to him give a conference about this topic and show pictures to go with it. This book is great for those analytical minds who question the Book of Mormon and hold it against the standards of authenticity. For those who are looking to accept the Book of Mormon from a scholarship standpoint instead of faith alone, this book walks through how to spot a forgery and makes its way through the BOM giving points that both sides have made. Even if you have already made that leap of faith and believe in the BOM, it will heighten your awareness and give you insight to share with others.

[Scott Roosa · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the "proofs" of the Book of Mormon. This is not a testimony builder or breaker in my mind, but has some interesting finds.

Whether someone finds The Book of Mormon to be true or not, either way it takes a leap of faith. It does show there are many more factors pointing toward it being a book from God rather than not. It simply would be to difficult for an author to know all that they did and do all that the author would have to do in such a short period of time or in the 1820's at all.

[Chelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book. This book tries to disprove that the Book of Mormon is a forgery. Not only did I learn alot about the Book of Mormon, it instilled in me an even greater testimony about the Book of Mormon. Honestly, I think that believers and non-believers should read this book. I'm glad Senator Bennett didn't just take the believing side, he used both sides of the argument and at the end challenges you to take the "leap of faith" to find out on your own the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

[Stacey Starley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really intriguing analysis and I thought it was great though I wouldn't just recommend this to anyone. At least I would recommend it for individual study and NOT for a bookclub discussion. The final synopsis sort of says whether you are a believer or not one must take of leap of faith in connection with the book. I think it was great for both members and nonmembers as Senator Bennett has dealt extensively with the Howard Hughes forgeries.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! WARNING - it was so engrossing that I bumped everything else aside until it was finished. Bennett measures the origins of the Book of Mormon against the standard criteria for unveiling forgeries. He comes up with many amazing facts which I had not been aware of, most of which are recent findings. AND he divides and examines the book in a way that adds general depth of understanding in and of itself. A GOOD READ that I look forward to Re-reading in the future!

[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Believing that The Book of Mormon is true scripture, written by ancient prophets in the Americas, takes faith. By using specific stories and doctrine from the book's pages, Bennett nearly proves it is true by demonstrating how difficult it would be for anyone in the 19th Century to come up with the content contained therein. Good overview of The Book of Mormon for believers and nonbelievers alike.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fascinating and very readable. I like the way that senator Bennet evenhandedly describes both sides of the Book of Mormon forgery debate. He is clearly a believer, yet he presents arguments from both sides of the debate. Definitely worth reading if you have ever read the Book of Mormon. . .