Mormons Codex

[nosmelone]

Here's the beginning of a review of the volume from the Maxwell Institute. And it has a cover image!

 This is good stuff especially the quick preview on the figurines from the Highlands area.  I can't wait for this to be in stores!

[David T]

Sincere thanks you for the kind reference, David T.

Now, get back to Brandt Gardner's 6-volume Book of Mormon commentary! 

I spent part of my morning reading through his section on Helaman 6

 

Question, cursor  -I know Gardner utilizes much of your father's groundwork and basic identifications in his commentary, but also has some disagreements, and revisions of some of the constructs originally presented. Are you aware if your father has reconsidered  any positions from 'An Ancient American Setting...' , or at the very least engaged with alternate viewed based on Gardner's further work, and if any of that is reflected in here? 

Edited August 19, 2013 by David T

[cursor]

I'll see what I can find out, David.

[poulsenll]

I spent part of my morning reading through his section on Helaman 6

 

Question, cursor  -I know Gardner utilizes much of your father's groundwork and basic identifications in his commentary, but also has some disagreements, and revisions of some of the constructs originally presented. Are you aware if your father has reconsidered  any positions from 'An Ancient American Setting...' , or at the very least engaged with alternate viewed based on Gardner's further work, and if any of that is reflected in here? 

Good question

 

I would also be interested in any information.

 

Larry P

[cursor]

That's an impressive 'sampler' on NAMI.

I presume the cover art is the artist's rendition of Mormon, not an image actually found?

 

I believe it comes from a digitally scanned graphic from a mural that was discovered in a cave on the southern face of the Cerro El Vijia (Veracruz, Mexico ...   18°26'32.82"N, 95°20'59.17"W). I think it dates to about 379 AD, if I'm not mistaken.

 

In all seriousness, I asked my dad about the artwork displayed by MI. He said:

"[ name ] told me over a week ago that he had requested that the original piece of art by James Christenson be sent to me from Deseret Book. I have not yet received it. I still do not know what it looks like. I should receive an advance copy of the printed Mormon's Codex itself in 10 days or so."

Edited August 19, 2013 by cursor

[cursor]

I spent part of my morning reading through his section on Helaman 6

 

Question, cursor – I know [brant] Gardner utilizes much of your father's groundwork and basic identifications in his commentary, but also has some disagreements, and revisions of some of the constructs originally presented. Are you aware if your father has reconsidered any positions from 'An Ancient American Setting...' , or at the very least engaged with alternate viewed based on Gardner's further work, and if any of that is reflected in here? 

 

 

I asked that specific question moments ago. He response is:

"You can convey this to him [David T]. In the Introduction to Mormon’s Codex I say, approximately: 'I have not referred in this work to Brandt Gardner’s six-volume work. It deserves independent study.' This means that I have chosen not to consult, use or respond to anything in his work. I have not consciously modified anything from An Ancient American Setting, nor will I do so. Mormon’s Codex stands independent of any other work, including from my  own previous efforts. I just do not have strength to rehash my past efforts nor to deal with what anyone else has said or thought about it."

Edited August 19, 2013 by cursor

[David T]

I asked that specific question moments ago. He response is:

"You can convey this to him [David T]. In the Introduction to Mormon’s Codex I say, approximately: 'I have not referred in this work to Brandt Gardner’s six-volume work. It deserves independent study.' This means that I have chosen not to consult, use or respond to anything in his work. I have not consciously modified anything from An Ancient American Setting, nor will I do so. Mormon’s Codex stands independent of any other work, including from my own previous efforts. I just do not have strength to rehash my past efforts nor to deal with what anyone else has said or thought about it."

Thanks. Disappointing, but understandable.

[Calm]

I asked that specific question moments ago. He response is:

 I just do not have strength to rehash my past efforts nor to deal with what anyone else has said or thought about it."

This is understandable.  Sometimes you are forced to simplify one's approach to accomplish one's goal, even if you would prefer not to.

 

I suspect if Brant's volumes had been around 20 or even ten years ago, it would have been fun for him.  He seems like someone who would enjoy contrasting someone else's work with his own.

[cursor]

He seems like someone who would enjoy contrasting someone else's work with his own.

 

Certainly, with more life ahead.

 

He's been so focused on this current work (which comprehensively references other materials) that there simply isn't room (in his lifetime) for the consideration of all other potentially supportive (or comparative) scholarship. As he has said to me in the past, he's just stirring the pot of reasonable possibility. It's up to those who follow to step up and fill the cracks [paraphrasing is mine].

Edited August 20, 2013 by cursor

[cursor]

Feel free to submit any questions that you might have regarding Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book.

 

http://www.maxwellinstituteblog.org/ask-the-scholar-john-l-sorenson-edition/

[cursor]

An email sent by my dad (to a Deseret Book marketing contact) today said:

 

    Thank you for responding so quickly. I welcome your suggestions.

    I have already seen Matt R.’s first piece excerpted from the book. I have a high degree of trust in Matt’s judgment and so look forward to whatever else he chooses to treat.

    I am ready to participate on Ask a Scholar. Forward questions and I will deal as well as I can with them.

    A podcast is also a possibility, although I would think that trying to participate with others simultaneously could lead to some unwelcome confusion. Make suggestions as to arrangements. I could  come to the MI office for recording as needed.

    I have prepared a 13-page “Preview” of the book for free distribution (see the attachment; also available at http://www.johnlsorenson.com/docs/mcodex_preview.pdf ). My son Curtis is actively pursuing publicity lines involving it, especially on MormonDialogue, where hundreds of downloads have already been recorded. I have also distributed it to numerous friends by email with the suggestion that they forward it to appropriate lists they have in hand.

    I have accumulated a list of possible reviewers, consisting mainly of people with knowledge of Mesoamerica or at least with a strong sense of the significance of the subject in the broad picture of Mormon apologetics (see below), although I have no indication that all of them would care to participate.

 

                                                                            John

 

Possible reviewers of Mormon’s Codex (* Marks those with significant Mesoamerican qualifications):

 

*Brant Gardner

*Brian Stubbs (linguistics)

*Gordon Thomasson (broad view)

*Robert F. Smith (ditto)

*John Welch (plans to “place a strong review in BYU Studies”)

*Walter Van Beek (important Dutch anthropologist, LDS)

*Richard Bushman

*Stewart Brewer (Latin American historian)

*Andrew McDonald

*Fred Nelson

*John E. Clark

*Mark Wright

*Donald Forsyth

 

I could provide a much longer list of intelligent readers who could provide reviews on Amazon.

 

Edited August 20, 2013 by cursor

[morgan.deane]

 

An email sent by my dad (to a Deseret Book marketing contact) today said:

 

    Thank you for responding so quickly. I welcome your suggestions.

    I have already seen Matt R.’s first piece excerpted from the book. I have a high degree of trust in Matt’s judgment and so look forward to whatever else he chooses to treat.

    I am ready to participate on Ask a Scholar. Forward questions and I will deal as well as I can with them.

    A podcast is also a possibility, although I would think that trying to participate with others simultaneously could lead to some unwelcome confusion. Make suggestions as to arrangements. I could  come to the MI office for recording as needed.

    I have prepared a 13-page “Preview” of the book for free distribution (see the attachment; also available at http://www.johnlsorenson.com/docs/mcodex_preview.pdf ). My son Curtis is actively pursuing publicity lines involving it, especially on MormonDialogue, where hundreds of downloads have already been recorded. I have also distributed it to numerous friends by email with the suggestion that they forward it to appropriate lists they have in hand.

    I have accumulated a list of possible reviewers, consisting mainly of people with knowledge of Mesoamerica or at least with a strong sense of the significance of the subject in the broad picture of Mormon apologetics (see below), although I have no indication that all of them would care to participate.

 

                                                                            John

 

Possible reviewers of Mormon’s Codex (* Marks those with significant Mesoamerican qualifications):

 

*Brant Gardner

*Brian Stubbs (linguistics)

*Gordon Thomasson (broad view)

*Robert F. Smith (ditto)

*John Welch (plans to “place a strong review in BYU Studies”)

*Walter Van Beek (important Dutch anthropologist, LDS)

*Richard Bushman

*Stewart Brewer (Latin American historian)

*Andrew McDonald

*Fred Nelson

*John E. Clark

*Mark Wright

*Donald Forsyth

 

I could provide a much longer list of intelligent readers who could provide reviews on Amazon.

 

 

I don't have nearly the qualifications of people on that list, but I'm a fairly decent military historian that has published about warfare in the BoM.  I also have a book coming out on the same subject.  I was already planning to unofficially review the warfare correspondences but I would be happy to add an official review as well if needed. 

 

Edited August 21, 2013 by morgan.deane

[cursor]

Thank you for your interest. I will bounce the idea off my father. Thanks.

[cursor]

It appears that the artwork referenced above (post #198) apparently IS the cover art for Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book, by James C. Christensen.

http://deseretbook.com/Mormons-Codex-John-L-Sorenson/i/5102381

 

You can see more of his artwork here:

http://johnlsorenson.com/christensen-ja.htm, and here.

[David T]

And note that Deseret Book currently has a 30% off online coupon, which would bring the price (before shipping) to $41.99 ... 

 

This may have pushed me over the edge.

Edited August 21, 2013 by David T

[cursor]

Excellent find, David. As far as I can see, the coupon code is only good on single items purchased by tomorrow. It also says "Exclusions apply." It may well be that there'll be some other coupon code that kicks in right after tomorrow's closing date. I'll see what I can find out.

 

DB coupon code

[cursor]

I just successfully pre-ordered Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book from DeseretBook.com, using their 30% off promotion code ( AUG3013 ). The resultant cost was:

 

$41.99 hardcover book

$02.99 shipping

$03.36 sales tax

$48.34 total

 

Do it NOW! 

[canard78]

I just successfully pre-ordered Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book from DeseretBook.com, using their 30% off promotion code ( AUG3013 ). The resultant cost was:

$41.99 hardcover book

$02.99 shipping

$03.36 sales tax

$48.34 total

Do it NOW!

You mean you don't get a free copy?

[cursor]

Yes, I will. I simply wanted to test the discount coupon application at DeseretBook.com.

I expect I'll gift this copy someone else. 

Edited August 21, 2013 by cursor

[canard78]

I just successfully pre-ordered Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book from DeseretBook.com, using their 30% off promotion code ( AUG3013 ). The resultant cost was:

$41.99 hardcover book

$02.99 shipping

$03.36 sales tax

$48.34 total

Do it NOW!

In for a penny in for (32) pounds.

Pre-ordered, with discount, for delivery in UK:

Order Subtotal: $41.99

Shipping: $8.75

Estimated Tax: $0.00

Estimated Total: $50.74

[cursor]

Great news! =)

[David T]

.

Edited September 10, 2013 by David T

[cursor]

"Jello belt" ... not a term that I've previously heard! Glad that you got yours. In a week or two you should have your awesome volume. Read UP!

[guerreiro9]

Ordered!!!!!! Thank you Cursor!

 

-guerreiro9

[cursor]

A Ph.D., professor emeritus, friend and colleague of my father (he's a former research assistant to Hugh Nibley) just broadcast-emailed notice of the 30% off deal at DB to 298 friends, family, and professional contacts (encouraging all of them to spread the message).

Edited August 22, 2013 by cursor