Saint The Books

I am always delighted to find a work of historical fiction where the author demonstrates command not only of the facts and themes of the time, but of the metaphors and language that were used by people of that era. (The books Jem and Sam and An Instance of the Fingerpost come to mind.) The plot of this book is compelling enough, but it is the writing that is most evocative. I look forward to Beahrs' next book.

This stirring and earthy debut colorfully depicts the insularity and harshness of 17th century agrarian life from the viewpoint of Melode, a passionate and lonely 16-year-old girl. An orphan, she doesn't know who her parents were, only that they died in or fled from the tavern fire the local religious sect, the "Saints," set to drive them out when she was two. The only survivor, Melode was not adopted by the strict, dour community, but taken in as a servant.

She chafes against her lowly, outcast position in a society that claims itself egalitarian, and resentfully despises their hypocrisy, but it doesn't occur to her to renounce the only religion and community she has ever known. Where would she go? What would she do? She does her work and confines her rebellion to small things - until she falls in love and lust with Adam Stradling, son of the Saints' minister and leader and a bit of a rebel himself, who delights her with his irreverent mimicry of his father, John.

Beahrs, with a background in archaeology and anthropology, bases this community on the Plymouth Colony people, the Pilgrims, as they came to be called. Farmers (husbandmen) for the most part, they keep to themselves, shunning the world and fearful of persecution. Because they do not recognize the king as the head of their church, their religion is illegal. Within the community discipline is harsh, with the stocks employed for infractions like observing forbidden holidays or clinging to superstitions. It is a pared down religion, shorn of frills and ceremony.

But Beahrs keeps his characters human, allowing them to stray from the righteous path in one direction or another. Some, including Melode, cling to the community because it's all they know. But when their land is rented and when the owner dies and his son brings in new settlers, the Saints decide to leave behind their familiar, but no longer safe world and migrate to the New World.

John Stradling sends Adam to London to arrange passage. Although eager for the adventure, Adam promises to reunite with Melode on the ship. Naturally things do not go as smoothly as Melode hopes, but to say more would be to sacrifice some of the plot's suspense. And there is plenty of that.

Not edge-of-the-seat, nail-biting suspense, but an absorbing, character-driven desire to know what happens next. And plenty does. From stifling, smelly berths and storm-tossed leaky hulls to precarious coastal fishing camps, frightening and frightened natives, isolated bird-nesting islands and fractious, struggling settlements, the story moves through much that the journey to the New World could offer in those early days and does it well.

Beahrs has a flair for the cadence of the language. Though he readily admits that no one can know exactly what people sounded like in the early 1600s he does a good job of making the reader feel transported.

Early in the book, the young girls are raking hay:

"I slip into the rhythm of the work line. The raking is rough and tacky where the grass is cut low, tines bumping over warm earth and cropped stalks. Hay builds beneath my rake, heaping in heavy banks. I pull the wooden handle back but it's all pillowy, durable hindrance. We've missed the first cool hour, and the heat of the day is trapped beneath the layers of my clothes like flax oil. The handle is rough and unfinished, and grates against my hands. Sweat beads on my forehead."

His prose is tactile, helping us experience Melode's world, from the extreme but ordinary lack of privacy to the harangue of the meeting room, the strangeness of a new continent and the timelessness of human emotions. Well written, with a fine, melodramatic plot, "Strange Saint" is an adventure for those who like some substance to their historical novels.

--Portsmouth Herald

Absolutely a keeper, this book allows the reader entry into early 17th century life in England and beyond, to the New World.
Extremely well-written with a compelling narrative, Beahrs has re-created a fascinating time in history with a page-turning plot.

This book is totally engrossing, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Starving for companionship, I read it aloud to my boyfriend and insisted that my best friend read it. I don't know if I am more impressed that the author wrote convincing 17th century characters or that he wrote a convincing female narrator. The author takes a woman's tragedy and turns it into a tale of hope and triumph. A must read for historical fiction readers and women aching to see strong female characters.

Fantastic book, love the descriptions, often humorous, and I marvel at the time Donald must have taken to research all these names! A great read!

I have throughly read and enjoyed the first edition of this book. I look forward to reading the new version with all of its' additions. I have lived in St. Paul since 1964.

I've enjoyed this book because it's given me a lot of interesting history regarding the area where I live. St Paul is an interesting place to live with a lot of history and this book does a great job describing it. I recommend the book.

As I lived in St. Paul for over 20 years, I found the book very interesting and informative. I first read about familar streets and then found myself reading the book front to back. The pictures also really helped bring the story of each street to life. Every city should do all it can to promote it's history; the street names and stories behind them is a great place to start.

I read this wonderful book 8 or 9 years ago while preparing to enter the temple. It opened my eyes to the world of Gospel Symbolism and started me on a path to writing my own book about the temple. (Prepare Now for the Temple)

I also recommend these other books by Matthew B. Brown: The Gate of Heaven: Insights on the Doctrines and Symbols of the Temple, JOSEPH SMITH: The Man, the Mission, the Message, All Things Restored: Confirming the Authenticity of Lds Beliefs and The Plan of Salvation: Doctrinal Notes and Commentary

Excellent reading and excellent book for all Latter-day Saints who hold temple recomends. This has got to be the only Church that does not rely only on scriptures for salvation but through a living prophet! How could these prophets in the 1800's in the last days make-up all these symbols when they are incorporated in the Old Testament. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, Where did they get the resources or internet for these men in the early 1800's? Answer: There was none. More than just reading the bible needed to take place, but through revelation. The accuracy of the book is flawless!

I have found this book to be very interesting/intriquing. It has pictures of symbols found on the early Mormon temples and explains what their meanings are.

The authors take a detailed look at the Kirland, Nauvoo and Salt Lake City temples and discuss the architecture of each building and the symbolism of various designs in each of the temples. The book is well organized and easy to read. There are good illustrations to help the reader visualize what the authors are discussing. The book has good footnotes and a bibliography for further study. A great plus for the book is that it avoids wierd interpretations of various things like the Saturn stones that were supposed to be put on the Salt Lake Temple but weren't.

This text is most definitely a "must read" for anyone who is seriously interested in the theological background of Pope Benedict XVI (henceforth referred to under his published name for this title, Joseph Ratzinger). In many ways, it was most excellent for me to read this text after having read a variety of titles by Ratzinger. Having had a decent background in his various later works, it was very easy to detect where his thought was born in his dissertation studies. Primarily, these become visible in the categories of eschatology, revelation, and Love.

In this essay, Ratzinger primarily investigates the eschatological thought of Saint Bonaventure, placing the aforementioned topics into relation with the thought of the Seraphic Doctor. The eschatological development of Bonaventure with respect to the Franciscan order is compared with those of his day, particularly Joachim of Fiore who had an eschatological outlook which was more progressive and historically-directed than even that of Bonaventure. It is here that we see Ratzinger's personal development of the realization of Christ as the midpoint of history by means of Bonaventure's work. Additionally, he appropriates the conceptual framework of revelation which was developed by the Seraphic Doctor (although it would be more appropriate to refer to this as a "theology of revelations"). Finally, while looking at the dialogue (and polemics) between Bonaventure and the Aristotelians of his day (including, to a degree, the Thomistic school of thought), one is able to see the seeds which Bonaventure sowed into Ratzinger's mind, reflecting on the temporary character of scholastic/philosophical/rational theology which makes it subservient to full supra-intellectual Love of God.

As a whole, the text remains a great contribution to the overall corpus of material available about Bonaventure's thought on eschatology and the role of the Franciscan order therein. However, I think that the most profitable reading of this text will ascertain those latent predispositions in Ratzinger's work which remained with him through the years. In order to understand the overall theological vision of Pope Benedict XVI, this text is fundamental for seeing the foundational lenses through which the master views the issues of eschatology, revelation, and Love.

Former Cardinal Ratzinger, now the current Pope, has experienced an interesting if not meteoric rise in the senior ranks of the Catholic Church. By virtue of his office, it is essential for every serious Catholic to understand Ratzinger's theological thought and the basis for his ideas and pronouncements.

This early work on the historical theology of St Bonaventure helps give one some understanding of Ratzinger's often deeply conservative stance on many issues. Indeed Ratzinger might be said to stand in the Augustinian tradition of the Church, while Pope John Paul II was firmly in the tradition of Aquinas. Ratzinger's monograph focuses then on how Bonaventure thought about history and where the history of the world was leading, and what this meant for the Church, from the time of Adam to the final eschaton at the Last Judgement.

While Raztinger writes this book mostly with academic theologians in mind, the non-theologian can get useful insights into the theological orientation of his later works and stances as the Prefect for the 'Inquisition' or Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough for someone interested in the scholarly work of Joseph Ratzinger. Written before his elevation to the College of Cardinals and eventual election as Pope, it is one of the clearest insights into his brilliant scholarship.

A theological must read.

This is the English publication of Ratzinger's second doctoral dissertation. It's topic is clear from the title but Ratzinger focuses on two sub-topics of great interest: Bonaventure's embrace of the medieval belief that St. Francis ushered in the eschaton and Bonaventure's so-called Augustinian tradition. Both are carefully discussed in light of Bonaventure's theology of history, which is centered primarily around Christ being the pivot of history rather than its end. It is a refreshing piece of the Ratzinger corpus.

They Say There Was a War collects fifty detailed, personal narratives of men and women who served in the United States military in all different services and theaters during World War II. The individuals tapped to tell their stories in their own words range from a survivor of the Bataan Death March to one who worked on building the Thai-Burma Railway. From bloody battles to harrowing conditions of poor hygiene to the threat of starvation and much more, They Say There Was a War gives a vivid impression of precisely what everyday life on all aspects of the battle front was like. Printed on high quality paper and illustrated with occasional black-and-white photographs, They Say There Was a War is an utterly invaluable primary source emphatically recommended for college and library collections.

This book is filled with the stories of men who served during WWII. The editors have effectively used the Veterans own words to show what the country was like before, during, and since WWII through the eyes of those who were there. The arc of the veterans' lives mirrors that of our history.

As "The Greatest Generation" falls to the "silent artillery of time," this book is a wonderful document for bringing them, and the era that they lived through, to life.

I Recommend that you read, "They Say There Was a War."

this is an awsome book. I haven't read the whole thing yet, but two of my uncles are in it.
WWII is one of the most interesting things I've learned about in school.

This is a combination of stories as told by the men who lived them. No heros or generals just the everyday service man who got the job done. You can relate better to stories like this becasue people like you lived it. My hat is off to those American Heros who helped to give us what we have today - Freedom.

I ordered this book to help me write a paper on icons. It is very informative. It is the exact words of John of Damascus translated into English. The treaties tend to repeat each other because they were all written at different times. It defends the use of icons very well.

When the Byzantine emperor Leo III and sided with the iconoclasts and ordered the destruction of images he came into direct conflict with the traditions of the church. St. John of Damascus risked livelihood and life to publicly denounce the iconoclasts and Leo by name in these 3 treatises. The first treatise seems an immediate from-the-hip response, the second is provided to expound on some of the ideas that some readers/hearers might have misunderstood, the third is a more detailed and thorough response to iconoclasm and church authority in general.

St. John takes on the iconoclasts from several directions. With respect to their use of scriptural prohibitions against images, St. John responds with church tradition as the guide to interpreting scripture and challenges those who would "remove the ancient boundaries, set in place by our fathers" [Prov 22:28]. He reminds his listeners several times in these sermons that, "Not only has the ordinance of the Church been handed down in writings, but also in unwritten traditions." And ends the first sermon on that theme with, "Therefore I entreat the people of God, the holy nation, to cling to the traditions of the Church. " Referring to Ezek 20:25 in light of Matt 19:7-8 with Heb 1:1-3, St. John says, "And I say to you, that Moses, on account of the hardness of heart of the sons of Israel, ordered them not to make images, for he knew their tendency to slip into idolatry. But now it is not so; we stand securely on the rock of faith enriched by the light of knowledge of God." The authority of the church to interpret scripture based on the sacred tradition is without doubt in John's eyes. It is a direct challenge to those in John's day (and ours) who would attempt to claim scripture alone guided by private interpretation alone as the final authority on faith and morals.

With respect to the authority of the emperor to arrogate the authority of the church, St. John responds forcefully on the basis of apostolic succession, "It was not to emperors that Christ gave the authority to bind and loose, but to apostles and to those who succeeded them as shepherds and teachers." Several times he refers to emperor Leo by name so there can be no doubt of his meaning.

St. John is not shy to imply that the iconoclasm movement is, in essence, nothing more than a resurgence of the Manichee heresy that viewed matter as inherently evil. He challenges this heresy with "You abuse matter and call it worthless. So do the Manichees, but the divine Scripture proclaims that it is good. [Gen 1:31]" And when challenging the view that images of matter could not be made or venerated he responds, "For just as the holy Fathers destroyed the sacred places and temples of the demons and in their place raised up temples in the name of the saints, and we reverence them, so they destroyed the images of the demons and instead of them put up images of Christ and the Mother of God and the saints." And, St. John further asserts, "I do not venerate matter, I venerate the fashioner of matter, who became matter for my sake, and in matter made his abode, and through matter worked my salvation. I reverence therefore matter and I hold in respect and venerate that through which my salvation has come about, I reverence it not as God, but as filled with divine energy and grace." St. John also links images with the veneration of saints and contends that removing an image of a saint is the same as not venerating them, and, he contends concerning the saints, "It is just as bad not to offer the honor due to those who are worthy, as it is to offer inappropriate glory to the worthless."

St. John's eloquence alone makes this an enjoyable and inspiring read. The relevance to the issues related to images which St. John touches upon (relics, hagiography, Mary, icons, statues, scripture and tradition) are still hindering our unity today and that makes this work all the more valuable to us. This is a must read for anyone interested in the development of Christian doctrines or church history.

When Christians began destroying all sorts of religious images in the 8th century, St. John of Damascus put pen to paper to defend their practice, and anyone who wishes to say that Christians who use images in worship are idolators must first deal with this book.

He makes three basic arguments. First, he points out they did not worship images, but revere them as a window or pointer towards a heavenly reality, much like how most Christians would treat the printed Word (the book itself is not sacred, the messages contained in it are).

Secondly, the use of images is not only not forbidden in the Old Testament, but is actually commanded (the Ark, for instance, or the bronze serpent). Thus, only "idols" are forbidden, not images (actually, it is the word "eidol" in the Septuagint that St. John would have used).

Third, when God became man, He effectively gave us an image, Himself. To deny that images have a valid place in worship is to deny the Incarnation of Christ, and the Trinity is the very heart of Christianity.

St. John the Damascene makes these arguments bluntly and succinctly. He believed that he was holding up the traditional view of Christianity, and he did this in Syria, then controlled by Islam which forbids the use of images. His defence made him unwelcome in the Empire and it placed him at odds with a core teaching of his rulers. Given that he thus risked his life to write these, Christians should give him a firm hearing.

"John of Damascus helped to secure the future of art in the service of Christ. Without his brilliant defense, both profound and at times earthly, we might well have had no icons, murals, and mosaics in churches to elevate and enrich our spirits." L. Wickham, Cambridge Divinity



Icons then & now:
The Orthodox attitude toward icons developed out of the iconoclastic struggle of the eighth and ninth centuries. During the reformation, early church reformers were iconoclasts, they believed it impossible to portray the divinity of Christ, and thus found it heretical to portray only his humanity. The Eastern solution to the icons of Christ was to focus on the image, which God made visible in the flesh, emphasizing the divine nature of the humanly experienced Christ. This strictly adhered to a traditional portrayal by copying a likeness from one image to another, revert to early 'iconic writings', rather than mere imagination or interpretation. The features of icons are similar because they are portraits based on historical prototypes, unlike Western art, individual visualizations of figures available for unending imagination. These representations help Eastern Orthodox in worship, though inevitably flawed, by providing a blurred vision of spiritual truth.

Icons, a Western View:
"...the icon Fr. Barbour purchased wherein one sees the women 'Orthodoxy, and 'Hellas,' this is a coy and clever rhetorical strategy. ... It is also suggestive of that ubiquitous caricature of Orthodoxy we are all well aware of: the Orthodoxy that is nothing more than the idolatrous synthesis of faith and cultural identity." The Ochlophobist, Oct. 06
The very different response of the West to an iconoclastic challenge led to a different Christ figure than that of the East, which emphasized his humanity. The Christ figure, Dostoevsky portrays, in Myshkin is very much a Western Christ, one who is undeniably human, vulnerable to suffering and death, not a deity in human form, who is offering us salvation. Dostoevsky has dislocated the iconography of Christ, East and West, to carry out what might be called an iconoclastic project of his own. In portraying the 'truly good man,' an even necessary task for an artist, he runs the risk of producing an authoritative discourse which answers those questions which must remain open, only dealt with through the experience of suffering. If he were to create the image, he would destroy its power. These issues were far ahead of John Damuscene when he wrote his apologies.

Louth Translation & commentary:
John of Damascus wrote 'Against Those Who Attack the Divine Images' in debating the iconoclastic Byzantine theologians of the 8th century, and the imperial powers violently rejecting icons veneration. He defended the tradition of using icons in liturgical and private prayers, reminding the Church that their use is a safeguard to a central doctrine of orthodox Christian faith: the Incarnation of the Word. In Jesus Christ, God became man, and therefore, can be depicted in icons.
This fresh, complete translation, of John's three treatises on the divine images more clearly display the issues at stake, both then and now. This translation by the eminent patristic scholar, in modern English, renders these central treatises accessible, to scholars and laymen alike. John's message remains pertinent today, for those who still regard icons with suspicion.

John of Damascus:
Andrew Louth task was initiated by his study on John of Damascus, unlike JND Kelly on Golden Mouth, is a remarkable combination of theology and scholarship. He is capable to analyze the various influences discernible in the numerous writings of John. Louth's scholarly methodology combines the historical analysis of literary association with the exposition of the thematic content of the texts, demonstrating an enviable mastery of the Greek patristic literature. This study sets John's theological work in the context of the process of defining, preserving, and defending the church doctrine. He explores John's achievement as a theologian of icons and as a liturgical poet. Louth depicts John as standing at the end of the creative era of patristic thought but addressing that thought to a new age of expanding Islam and Christian iconoclasm, in which his Arab monastic community, despite its remoteness from Byzantium, played a strategic role in articulating theological defense.

Fr. Andrew Louth:
Professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, U. of Durham. He taught patristics in Oxford University, and Byzantine and Medieval history in the University of London. His research interests lie mostly in the history of theology of the Greek tradition, within the Byzantine Empire. His books include: Origins of the Christian Mystical Tradition: from Plato to Denys, Discerning the mystery: an essay on the nature of theology, books on Dionysius the p-Areopagite, Maximos the Confessor, John Damascene, and on the tradition of desert Christian spirituality.

What better way to learn about time management than during those otherwise unproductive drives to and from work? I appreciate the perspective from this CD. Catholicism is not just a chapter at the end of the book, but informing and interwoven throughout the sound principles and techniques taught by secular professionals in this industry. But, don't assume you can accomplish time management changes just by listening. You must still do some assignments at a desk (or kitchen table). Now if they could only include those appendix materials with the CD...

There is no magic pill or fix in Durand's book. It is the simple truth that we all know but fail to put into action.

Wow! As a convert to Catholicism, I always was in awe at what made good Catholic families tick and how they managed to get everything done, have awesome kids, and seem very balanced. Here is the answer! This book is unlike any time management book you've ever read, and it is indeed distinctly Catholic and prayer centered. I would also recommend it for Protestants as the same principles could help them as well. The key is balance balance balance, prayer, and priorities. After trying this book out I found my time was actually increased and I got more done, and felt good about it too! We even have been successful in launching family prayer. Can't say enough. Buy the book!

Written by successful motivational speaker Dave Durand, Time Management for Catholics offers reliable techniques for overcoming procrastination, making efficient use of one's time and keeping one's spiritual life a priority. Individual chapters address useful time savers such as kicking excessive television addiction, setting reasonable goals, keeping personal papers and supplies organized, and much, much more. Although written especially for Catholics and with a strong emphasis on the importance of keeping one's heart open to Christ, the useful physical and mental techniques in Time Management for Catholics are quite applicable to time-starved readers of all faiths and ecumenical backgrounds.

This is an inspiring book about good things and circumstances coming out of bad things. I loved it and would definitely recommend it to anyone!

This was one of my favorite books EVER!!! It was a great plot with tons of twists that kept me guessing. I was so drawn in to the book that everthing else was forgotten. It was like I was in a new world. The characters were amazingly done and seemed very real. This wasn't your typical LDS romance book, and was a great change. If you love LDS romance you have to read this book. I think it's one of the hardest books to put down that I've ever read. You will not regret buying this book! It's one you can read over and over again. It's definitly worth every cent!

Josi Kilpack has well-earned her spot as one of my favorite authors. In this book, she takes a storyline that might at first seem a little cliche, then puts some fantastic spins in it so you never know what's going to happen next. I was really impressed by her ability to keep me guessing all the way through the book. Her characters are believeable and as usual, I couldn't put it down until the very end.

This was a fabulous book! I was immediately able to empathize with Emma and totally fall in love with Andrew. The characters stayed with me long after I closed the book. The story was rich with conflict, resolution, loneliness and love. It was book that ended with a smile and a sigh but frustration too that it was over. So I went ahead and read it again. It was even better the second time around! :)

If you are looking for a definitive study of the life of Paul, this would be a good place to start. Beth Moore begins by reconstructing what Paul's early life must have been like, based on studies of Jewish life in those times. She then proceeds to the Biblical accounts in Acts which describe his conversion, and subsequent ministry. She then proceeds to the letters Paul wrote to his disciples, such as Timothy. Moore teaches us what a truly inspiring figure Paul is and applies his example of faithfulness into what God would have us aspire to today.

I first became aware of the vibrancy of Beth Moore's teachings at my church's women's group. What an awesome teacher of God's word she is,and this book did not disappoint me. Beth takes a look at the life of Paul, from his birth, conversion from a zealous Jew to a humbled Christian, and the missionary journeys he undertook in Christ's name and brings them to life on these pages. She has a way of pondering aspects of the biblical narratives that really open one's eyes, and gives you a depth and breadth and taste of what life might have been like for the apostle Paul that one normally wouldn't realize, and then encourages and challenges us to live our lives for Christ in similar ways. I did not read this book in one sitting, but read a little every day, and came away delighted to have "tasted" each morsel she offered. I love Beth Moore's devotion to the Lord, and she has inspired me.

Beth Moore has done it again! She is truly gifted by the Holy Spirit! She takes you through the life of Paul, and you will see Paul in a different light. She brings out the humility and passion of Paul that I have never picked up on before. You will learn to share Paul's passion for Christ with this book.

This is perhaps as good as any of everything Beth Moore has written, although given the very un-attractive cover design, this book did poorly in 'popular' sales. But by word from experience, this is extremely well written in keeping consistent with her context, and yet contains some very honest interpretations which is at times a hard pill to swallow, but insightfully proposed with clear challenges, as well as an in-depth view of truly what is associated and required "to Live is Christ" embodied through one willing to submit to Jesus Christ without compromise. This is a must for any person seriously wishing to follow Jesus un-swaveringly.

This collection of primary texts from pagan, Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sources -- several translated for the very first time -- is absolutely wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and recommend it to anybody at all interested in Abraham, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, folklore, the ancient Near East, Jewish midrashic materials, Mormonism, etc., etc.

Criticisms of the Book of Abraham, such as those from 1912 and since 1967 (e.g., Charles Larson's 1985 and 1992 editions of By hand upon papyrus) have often approached the Book of Abraham in a rather fallacious manner, claiming (incorrectly) that the papyri discovered in 1967 are the same papyri used for the translation of the Book of Abraham. Notwithstanding, many critics have avoided the question of whether the contents of the Book of Abraham, that have many elements of Abrahamic lore non-existant in the Biblical texts, plausibility. This volume by Tvedtnes et al., reveals that all these elements have, in differing gradiants, ancient textual support, texts that could not have possibly been known to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 1800's. Indeed, this book will long be on the "must ignore" list of all self-respecting anti-Mormons for many years to come. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended for those wishing to learn the true nature of the Book of Abraham, that of a true scriptural text translated by a true prophet of God, the ignorant protestations of critics notwithstanding.

This book has to be the best book that I have read, other than the Book of Mormon. It is by far the greatest thing that FARMS has published and the most devastating scholarly work to the critics of the Book of Abraham. In it, Mr. Tvedtnes, Mr. Hauglid and Dr. Gee present newly discovered and long forgotten texts that flat out verify the claims made in the Book of Abraham. But the text of this book is laid out in a format that speaks for itself. The three editors of this book simply transferred the texts over to this book format and added some footnotes and a chapter heading. From ancient Greek, Persian, Muslim, Latin, Christian, Jewish, Coptic, Egyptian, Summerian and Dead Sea Scroll sources, this fantstic volume offers many fantastic insights that 1) verify the claims of Abraham's birthplace, life and ministry among the Egyptian and Canaanite peoples as made in the Book of Abraham 2) verify that the facsimiles of the Joseph Smith Papyri do in fact correlate to the Book of Abraham texts 3) show a more profound life and ministry of Father Abraham than what conventional Biblical scholarship offers us, i.e. doctrinal and astrological teachings. I could write and entire book in reviewing this book, but I will allow this fantastic text to speak for itself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the Book of Abraham and what the latest scholarship offers. And, as a bonus, there are pictures of newly discovered Egyptian papyri that have an eerie resemblance to facsimile 1 in the Joseph Smith papyri. And, lo and behold, underneath this other "Lion Couch scene", which includes a man on an alter that is about to be sacrificed, is inscribed Abraham's name and the instructions to "write these words together with this picture..." makes you think, doesn't it?

This book is just one of many - though perhaps the best - that authenticates and vindicates the Prophet Joseph's claims about his translation of the Book of Abraham and shuts down all of the attacks made by uneducated "scholars". Every day now, Joseph is looking better and better.

"Millions shall know Brother Joseph again. Hail to the Prophet!"

Traditions about the Early Life of Abraham is a great collection of texts, documents, and translations pertaining to the life of Abraham. These things are presented in an unbiased way, though are obviously intended for an LDS audience, though the book should be interesting to any Christian, Jew, or Muslim, or a member of any Abrahamic faith or anyone who is interested in the life of the Prophet and Patriarch Abraham.