For decades, Brant A. Gardner has helped shape the landscape of Book of Mormon studies. The Record and the Reading brings together a collection of Gardner's most engaging and significant articles and presentations from his extensive career. Described as a "greatest hits" collection of his research, this volume offers a methodical, text-first exploration for readers looking to deepen their understanding of the scripture.
Gardner insists on viewing the Book of Mormon on its own terms as an ancient text. He refuses to flatten the scripture into modern assumptions, demonstrating instead that when the book is read closely and situated within a plausible ancient context, it yields insights of remarkable depth and coherence.
Inside this collection, readers will explore:
- Methodology and Myths: Gardner sets the record on some popular myths, unraveling the legends of the feathered serpent (Quetzalcoatl) and exposing archaeological forgeries.
- The Mesoamerican Context: Discover historically plausible correspondences between the Book of Mormon and ancient Mesoamerican societies, including the social history of the early Nephites and glimpses into Lamanite culture.
- Ancient Authors and Editors: Gain insights into the authorial intent of the record-keepers. Gardner analyzes Nephi's role as a scribe and unveils Mormon's carefully constructed editorial methods and meta-messages.
- The Text and the Translator: Deepen your understanding of Joseph Smith's translation process. Gardner taps into cognitive linguistics to propose how divine revelation and seer stones operated in bringing the English text to light.
With a foreword by Kerry M. Hull, this book represents the gathered fruits of a lifetime of careful labor and disciplined curiosity. It is an essential read for anyone seeking a rigorous approach to the ancient setting and modern emergence of the Book of Mormon.
Brant A. Gardner is a scholar and author specializing in the historicity, cultural context, and translation of the Book of Mormon. He holds an M.S. in Anthropology from the State University of New York at Albany, with a focus on Mesoamerican ethnohistory. This informs his rigorous, text-first approach to scriptural analysis, allowing him to examine the Book of Mormon through the lens of ancient history, linguistics, and culture. Gardner has authored several foundational works in Mormon studies, including the comprehensive six-volume "Second Witness: Analytical and Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon," "The Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon," and "Traditions of the Fathers: The Book of Mormon as History." In addition to his books, he has published widely in the FARMS Review, Sunstone, and for The Interpreter Foundation, and is a frequent presenter at academic and religious symposiums such as FAIR.
