The Old Testament for Latter-Day Saint Families: Illustrated King James Version with Helps for Children

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 662 pages
• Published by: Shadow Mountain November 30, 2005
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1590382935
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1590382936
• Book Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 1.7 inches
• Weighs: 5.2 pounds

Reader Reviews
As one if the editors of this book, it is my firm belief that the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families is a valuable contribution to the Latter-day Saint community. The enormous amount of quality word helps, scriptural and doctrinal commentary, historical background, prophetic statements and application insights is helpful for families, teachers and scriptural students of all ages. The abundant variety of beautiful illustrations, helpful charts and maps has helped make this a best seller in the LDS market. It is understandable on a certain level why one might criticize the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families as "incomplete," as one reviewer does on Amazon. I sincerely believe that a closer examination of the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families would have made it clear why it seems to "be missing many chapters and verses." When we put together this book we knew we were under certain constraints. We were limited, by the publisher, to one volume. Originally, in fact, our title for the book was "Selections from the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families." Deseret Book decided that the title should be changed to the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families because we included material on the entire Old Testament. Where we did not provide commentary to help certain blocks of scripture with extensive commentary, we did include summaries and some helpful material. Our purpose for writing and compiling the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families was to help families, teachers, and scriptural students of all ages to understand and love the Old Testament. Our selection criterion of what parts of the Old Testament to include was based upon a close scrutiny of the various manuals in the Church. If the Church Sunday School manuals, Seminary manuals, or institute manuals included coverage of the Old Testament, then we included extensive coverage in the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families. If portions of the Old Testament were not covered in any of the church courses, we still covered the material with helps and commentary unless it was repetitive material that was covered in other portions of the Old Testament. For example, we summarized parts of 1 Chronicles, as well as 2 Chronicles thirty - 32 because material is covered in 1 and 2 Samuel, 2 Kings, and Isaiah. One major exception to this was our decision not to cover The Song of Solomon with anything other than a summary because of the Prophet Joseph Smith's statement that it is "not inspired scripture" (see LDS Bible Dictionary, s.v. "Song of Solomon," 776). Overall, it was our serious intent to cover portions of the Old Testament relevant and helpful to modern readers. The vast amount of helps, commentary, insights and beautiful graphics in the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families compares favorably to other noted and quality commentaries on the Old Testament. In fact, I'd be insincere if I did not tell you that I believe it to be the most helpful available resource for the general audience on the Old Testament. The fact that the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families contains much of the text of the Old Testament itself is a wonderful blessing, but this same fact is one that has been used as criticism of the book by one reviewer on Amazon. Commentaries on the Old Testament that do not contain the text of the Old Testament are also selective as to which verses commentary is offered. It is simply not as obvious when these commentaries do not provide commentary on blocks of verses or chapters. For example, as I look through one of my favorite commentaries on the Old Testament, I note that very little commentary is offered for 1 Chronicles except a summary here and there and a reference of where else the material is covered in 1 and 2 Samuel. But because the text of the Old Testament is not included in this commentary, there is no obvious way of noting that these chapters are almost completely skipped. My intention is not to criticize other books trying to provide assistance with the Old Testament. Our book, the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families, is beholding to many great works written before it. I'm simply trying to respond to the criticism that our book is incomplete. I sincerely hope that my response and review has been helpful and positive. Most of all, I hope our book the Old Testament for Latter-day Saint Families helps many increase in their love of the scriptures and the Lord. Comment | | (Report this)