Quest for the Gold Plates
by Stan Larson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Stan LarsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1997
ISBN: 0963473263
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Freethinker Pr
Book Reviews of Quest for the Gold Plates
Book Review: Intellectual Honesty
Summary: 5 Stars
A quit scan shows that the reviews on this book divide neatly into two categories - one of praise for the struggle and ultimate victory of truth over faith, the other a slam for being "anti-Mormon". Although I am firmly in the "praise" camp, I can understand why this book threatens any LDS member who strongly believes the church's version of history.
It's not that the findings are controversial or shocking. Institutions from the Smithsonian to National Geographic as well as a phalanx of historians, linguists, archaeologists and other expert have long stated that the Book of Mormon is neither historically or geographically accurate. The Smithsonian issued a statemend denying LDS claims that it used the Book of Mormon in its research. So the findings are nothing new. What's different is that they were the end result of a religious quest that sought to prove the very thing it disproved.
Perhaps more than anything, this indicates the fallacy of attempting to prove one's faith through science. And even if evidence had been found this would not have validated the particular tales in the Book of Mormon just as the discovery of Herod's palace does not prove that Jesus walked on water or the sun stood still in the sky.
The best yet most touching parts was the heart-rending duality he fought as he sought to reconcile his findings with his teachings. It's a classic case of faith vs science (think of Darwin and his struggles) and the practioner's attempt to retain both worlds. Many learn to live with this dichotomy but the author could not go that route. He could not deny the physical evidence (or the lack of evidence) and in so doing cound not accept his long-held LDS beliefs - a quandry that many LDS researchers have faced. The stories of his search, the reasoning behind them - how he attempted to answer religious questions in modern, rational terms - was as interesting as the interaction with the church afterwards. You can't say the man did not try. My grade - A
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