The spiritual text that forms the basis of Mormonism; in the last edition edited by its founder; Joseph Smith; Jr.The Book of Mormon is one of the most influential; as well as controversial; religious documents in American history; and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world; including members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; the fourth-largest religious body in the United States. According to Mormon belief; The Book of Mormon was inscribed on golden plates by ancient prophets. It contains stories of ancient peoples migrating from the Near East to the Americas; and also explains that Jesus Christ appeared to the New World after his resurrection. The golden plates were discovered in upstate New York and translated by Joseph Smith; Jr.; under the guidance of an angel; Moroni. From this divine revelation; Smith founded the Mormon sect; which is now comprised of more than 12.5 million members worldwide.For more than seventy years; Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1;700 titles; Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors; as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
#670634 in BooksModel: 2349282 2004-10-26 2004-10-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.80 x .80 x 5.10l; #File Name: 0143039059352 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Well-written eye-witness accounts of a forgotten 19th-century U.S. exploration of the Pacific under sailBy JosenReynolds was a junior deck officer on the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. His stories of sailing an open boat on a surveying mission in the eastern approaches to the Straits of Magellan and later encounters with Antarctic ice and the Columbia River bar are stirring and clear. They ring very true. Reynold's descriptions of island life in Tahiti; Samoa and Fiji are lyrical; but his observations are clear-eyed. He points out the disruption to native island societies brought by western traders; whalers; explorers and missionaries. The upsetting of an ecological and moral equilibrium on the Pacific Islands saddens him. Like Amasa Delano before him; Reynolds specifically sets aside any notion of moral superiority for western culture.As a narrative; the book is somewhat marred by Reynold's increasing dislike of the Exploring Expedition's commander; Lt. Charles Wilkes. Two years into the expedition; Reynolds lets his hatred of the man he once idolized surface too often. Historians seem to agree that Wilkes was a difficult; possibly paranoid; tyrant; and Wilkes described himself proudly as a "martinet" in letters home. The increasing dislike from his officers is a matter of record; several brought charges against him on the expedition's return but he was acquitted of all but one minor charge by a Court Martial. Hatred happens on a small sailing vessel on short voyages and the Exploring Expedition was gone for three years. All that said; the increasing drumbeat of complaints about Wilkes is distracting; but the journals are one of the best first-hand accounts of the sailing Navy I have read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Superb adventure storyBy Earnest SludgeI've read quite a few first-person narratives from the 18th and 19th century in the past 5 years and this ranks right up there as one of the very best.This journal was written as the experiences were being lived and it has a wonderful immediacy. Reynolds was quite young at the time and he can be a little gushy but it pays off overall as successfully conveying the true feelings of the experience. The last few chapters were actually a little too real since the experiences were so harrowing it was nerve-wracking and exhausting to read them.Reynolds complains quite a few times about the commodore; Wilkes. From reading this and from Charlie Erskine's (another crewman on the expedition) recollections of Wilkes; it's clear Wilkes was an arrogant and brutal autocrat. Apparently this is the kind of character that it takes to get this kind of job done. I had no great respect for the goals of the expedition so I didn't have any problem with sharing Reynold's (and Erskine's) anger and contempt for Wilkes. Reynolds did value the expedition; was patriotic and tried to be a good naval officer and he still despised Wilkes.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good ReadBy GunnyIt should be noted that this is a private journal and as such gives one man's perspective. It also leaves the reader short on the whole as to the eventual outcome of everything that takes place. Passed Midshipman Reynolds was articulate and gives the reader some very good observations of the U.S. Exploring Expedition (YS Ex Ex or simply Ex Ex). The suggested companion book Sea of Glory by Nathaniel Philbrick details events that extend beyond the time frame of the expedition (1838-1842). While this is a good read and a must for any serious researcher; it falls short for an overall overview of the expedition and related outcomes.
