Jana Riess earned a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the religion book review editor for Publishers Weekly. She is also the author of The Spiritual Traveler: Boston and New England and What Would Buffy Do? The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide.Phyllis Tickle, a widely acclaimed expert on religion in America, is the author of more than two dozen books, including the three-part prayer manual The Divine Hours and the memoirs The Shaping of a Life and Prayer Is a Place. She has been a magazine editor, college dean, media commentator and publisher.

"Captures the spirit and gist of the distinctively Mormon scripture at one-tenth its length. Coupled with her informed, discerning and accessible commentary, Riess's editorial accomplishment is an act of interreligious generosity."—Philip Barlow, ThD, author of Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion"The most compelling, fascinating and gracious approach to the Book of Mormon that I have seen. Transforms dozens of cryptic passages and symbols into powerful messages that make the Mormon story shine with the beauties and mysteries of God's love."—Mary Ford-Grabowsky, editor of Spiritual Writings on Mary: Annotated & Explained“With her considerable historical and theological knowledge combined with her literary sensibilities, Jana Riess strikes precisely the right balance—an astute and sympathetic guide, not an overzealous proselytizer. Her informed and agile glosses help enormously in bringing the text to life.”—Randall Balmer, PhD, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of American Religion, Barnard College, Columbia University“At last, a version of the Book of Mormon that is suitable in both size and content for the classroom.… Manages to leave the sense of the whole intact, while commentary provides a simple guide to Latter-day Saint belief. A very useful, even necessary supplement to the study of Mormonism.”—Kathleen Flake, PhD, assistant professor of American religious history, Vanderbilt Divinity School

• Foreword by Phyllis Tickle viiIntroduction xiA Note about Language xxiThe Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi 1Selections from the Book of Mormon1. The First Book of Nephi 52. The Second Book of Nephi 513. The Book of Jacob 794. The Book of Mosiah 1095. The Book of Alma 1396. The Third Book of Nephi 1857. The Book of Mormon 2078. The Book of Moroni 219Notes 232Suggested Readings 234

Jana Riess earned a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the religion book review editor for Publishers Weekly. She is also the author of The Spiritual Traveler: Boston and New England and What Would Buffy Do? The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide.Phyllis Tickle, a widely acclaimed expert on religion in America, is the author of more than two dozen books, including the three-part prayer manual The Divine Hours and the memoirs The Shaping of a Life and Prayer Is a Place. She has been a magazine editor, college dean, media commentator and publisher.

"Captures the spirit and gist of the distinctively Mormon scripture at one-tenth its length. Coupled with her informed, discerning and accessible commentary, Riess's editorial accomplishment is an act of interreligious generosity."—Philip Barlow, ThD, author of Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion"The most compelling, fascinating and gracious approach to the Book of Mormon that I have seen. Transforms dozens of cryptic passages and symbols into powerful messages that make the Mormon story shine with the beauties and mysteries of God's love."—Mary Ford-Grabowsky, editor of Spiritual Writings on Mary: Annotated & Explained“With her considerable historical and theological knowledge combined with her literary sensibilities, Jana Riess strikes precisely the right balance—an astute and sympathetic guide, not an overzealous proselytizer. Her informed and agile glosses help enormously in bringing the text to life.”—Randall Balmer, PhD, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of American Religion, Barnard College, Columbia University“At last, a version of the Book of Mormon that is suitable in both size and content for the classroom.… Manages to leave the sense of the whole intact, while commentary provides a simple guide to Latter-day Saint belief. A very useful, even necessary supplement to the study of Mormonism.”—Kathleen Flake, PhD, assistant professor of American religious history, Vanderbilt Divinity School

• Foreword by Phyllis Tickle viiIntroduction xiA Note about Language xxiThe Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi 1Selections from the Book of Mormon1. The First Book of Nephi 52. The Second Book of Nephi 513. The Book of Jacob 794. The Book of Mosiah 1095. The Book of Alma 1396. The Third Book of Nephi 1857. The Book of Mormon 2078. The Book of Moroni 219Notes 232Suggested Readings 234

Jana Riess earned a PhD in American religious history from Columbia University and a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. She is the religion book review editor for Publishers Weekly. She is also the author of The Spiritual Traveler: Boston and New England and What Would Buffy Do? The Vampire Slayer as Spiritual Guide.Phyllis Tickle, a widely acclaimed expert on religion in America, is the author of more than two dozen books, including the three-part prayer manual The Divine Hours and the memoirs The Shaping of a Life and Prayer Is a Place. She has been a magazine editor, college dean, media commentator and publisher.

"Captures the spirit and gist of the distinctively Mormon scripture at one-tenth its length. Coupled with her informed, discerning and accessible commentary, Riess's editorial accomplishment is an act of interreligious generosity."—Philip Barlow, ThD, author of Mormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion"The most compelling, fascinating and gracious approach to the Book of Mormon that I have seen. Transforms dozens of cryptic passages and symbols into powerful messages that make the Mormon story shine with the beauties and mysteries of God's love."—Mary Ford-Grabowsky, editor of Spiritual Writings on Mary: Annotated & Explained“With her considerable historical and theological knowledge combined with her literary sensibilities, Jana Riess strikes precisely the right balance—an astute and sympathetic guide, not an overzealous proselytizer. Her informed and agile glosses help enormously in bringing the text to life.”—Randall Balmer, PhD, Ann Whitney Olin Professor of American Religion, Barnard College, Columbia University“At last, a version of the Book of Mormon that is suitable in both size and content for the classroom.… Manages to leave the sense of the whole intact, while commentary provides a simple guide to Latter-day Saint belief. A very useful, even necessary supplement to the study of Mormonism.”—Kathleen Flake, PhD, assistant professor of American religious history, Vanderbilt Divinity School

• Foreword by Phyllis Tickle viiIntroduction xiA Note about Language xxiThe Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi 1Selections from the Book of Mormon1. The First Book of Nephi 52. The Second Book of Nephi 513. The Book of Jacob 794. The Book of Mosiah 1095. The Book of Alma 1396. The Third Book of Nephi 1857. The Book of Mormon 2078. The Book of Moroni 219Notes 232Suggested Readings 234