The Book of Mormon for the Least of These, Volume 1

This social justice commentary of the Book of Mormon empowers readers to understand the text as a book that speaks to issues of racism, sexism, immigration, refugees, and socioeconomic inequality. The Book of Mormon For the Least of These offers an unflinching examination of some of the difficult and troubling sections of the Book of Mormon, while also advocating for a compassionate reading of holy text. As a verse-by-verse close reading, this book examines new layers of interpretation and meaning, giving even those deeply familiar with scripture innovative tools for engaging powerfully with the Book of Mormon. PRAISE FOR THE BOOK OF MORMON FOR THE LEAST OF THESE Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming have given us a beautifully written commentary on hundreds of verses in the first third of the Book of Mormon. Although they avowedly write from the perspective of contemporary social justice advocates, their perspective is broader than that. They see in the Book of Mormon a picture of life as a hard journey--harsh, discouraging, contradictory--but one where God is always present to succor suffering travelers.--Richard Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling Across our differences--black, white, brown, indigenous, bond, free, male, female, gay, straight, living the principle, attending and tithing, or seeking another way altogether--what bonds LDS/Mormon people together is our relationship to the Book of Mormon. We have held it on our laps in cold early morning classrooms, stuffed it into our backpacks, purses, and suitcases, peered into our small bright screens searching out its verses, rested it on our nightstands, wept over it at our kitchen tables, argued over it on the internet, and wrestled with what it should mean to us individually and collectively. In this powerful new contribution to LDS scriptural study, Dr. Fatimah S. Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming have wrestled with the Book of Mormon in a whole new way: as a text that addresses inequality, trauma, dysfunction, and catastrophe and offers insights essential to achieving that dimension of Zion we call social justice. An essential companion for 21st century LDS/Mormon life. This book lifts my heart. --Joanna Brooks, co-editor of Mormon Feminism: Essential Writings and author of Book of Mormon Girl The Book of Mormon For the Least of These will change the way you read the Book of Mormon, providing a profound and more reflective view of the events, teachings, and characters in the book than is traditional, and also offering a perspective on the book's principles of social justice that is missing in most Book of Mormon commentaries. A must read for those who take seriously their study of the Book of Mormon."--Ignacio Garcia, professor of Western American History at Brigham Young University and author of Chicano While Mormon: Activism, War, and Keeping the Faith