Joseph and Moroni
This is the story of how an angel taught a boy to be a prophet. In it, we follow Joseph’s life from the time of the First Vision until he completed the translation and returned the Gold Plates to Moroni. It is the story of a remarkable friendship. Moroni had two responsibilities: first, to give Joseph the Gold Plates and teach him how to translate them and second to teach Joseph how to be a prophet.
The Murder of the Mormon Prophet
The Murder of the Mormon Prophet examines about 250 newspapers published in 1844 throughout the United States and the Republic of Texas, to discover how the nation regarded Joseph Smith and the Mormons.
It examines the Anti-Mormon political party that planned the murders of the Joseph and Hyrum, and the expulsion of the Saints from Illinois.
It identifies key players and the involvement of each-showing clear evidence of Governor Fords’s early involvement in the plans for the murders.
It includes an extensive legal analysis of the charges of treason against Joseph Smith, and shows that the charges were completely without foundation.
It analyzes the “freedom of the press” issue-often mis-represented by historians that arose over the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor, and shows that not only did Joseph not violate the constitutional principle, but that he was not accused of doing so by the overwhelming majority of American newspaper editors.
It traces Joseph’s national campaign to be President of the United States, shows why the campaign was important to the Mormons, and why it was a factor in Joseph’s murder.
The Book of Mormon as an Ancient Israelite Temple
Who Shall Ascend to the Hill of the Lord
The Psalms were originally the text of the ancient Israelite temple services. Their poetry was woven into a magnificent eight day pageant-like temple drama that depicted the full eternal sweep of the Savior’s mission and his Atonement. The principles taught in that drama were accurately preserved on the brass plates and taught by Nephite prophets throughout the Book of Mormon.
Soon after Lehi and his family left Jerusalem, the city and its temple were destroyed and the Jews were taken captive into Babylon. While there, they modified their religion in order to fit their new situation. But in doing so, they lost much that was most important.
Even after their return from the Babylonian captivity, the Jews did not restore their original ancient temple worship. The order of the Psalms was rearranged so they no longer could be read from first to last to learn the story they once told. Consequently, in the Savior’s time the temple at Jerusalem was not used in the same way as the Temple of Solomon.
However, neither the story told in the ancient drama nor its teachings were entirely lost. Some of the people recognized them in the teachings of John the Baptist and the Savior, and the authors of the New Testament frequently quoted the Psalms to remind their readers that the ancient fathers once understood the Savior’s mission and Atonement.
Now, using the New Testament, with the Book of Mormon and modern revelation as keys, the Baker and Ricks have sought to reconstruct the original order of the Psalms and uncover the story they once told in the ancient Israelite temple drama.
Commentary on First Nephi
This book is currently being worked on with Stephen D. Ricks. It will be made available here at a future date.
Note: The Book of Mormon Project’s comments on 1 Nephi will be contained in the book.
From Michael: LeGrand was working on this book when I knew him, but I don’t see any published material.