Grant Hardy's Book of Mormon "Reader's Edition" and James Faulconer's "The Book of Mormon Made Harder"
Two approaches to studying The Book of Mormon.
For most of my life, I’ve made a daily practice to reading from the Bible and The Book of Mormon, usually first thing in the morning. It’s a meditative ritual that centers me, motivates me, and moves me forward. And these two books have unlocked new ways for me to engage with the text.
Grant Hardy’s Reader’s Edition
Hardy’s edition lets you rediscover a familiar text with fresh eyes. After decades of study, I’ve grown so accustomed to the standard layout of The Book of Mormon that I sometimes skim sections I’ve read countless times. I know Ether 12:27 is in the lower-right corner of a page and that Helaman 5:12 sits in the middle-left column. While this familiarity is useful for quick reference, it can also make reading feel repetitive, like walking a well-worn path.
Hardy’s Reader’s Edition transforms the text into a more dynamic experience. It breaks the monotony by restructuring the text into paragraphs, presenting poetic passages as stanzas, and adding helpful footnotes that link passages to earlier sections. The book’s generous use of section headings clarifies the narrative, while the formatting of letters and epistles makes it clear who is speaking and who is commenting. It’s a refreshingly modern way to engage with the text.[1]
James E. Faulconer’s BOM Made Harder
Faulconer’s book takes a completely different approach: no commentary, no explanations—just questions. Each question is tied to specific verses, challenging readers to think more deeply about the meaning behind the words. For instance, regarding Moroni 6:3, Faulconer asks: “Is taking the name of Christ upon oneself the same as having a determination to serve Him to the end, or are they different? What does it mean, literally, to take Christ’s name upon oneself?”
Even with familiar verses like 1 Nephi 3:7, Faulconer doesn’t let you take them for granted. He prompts readers to compare it to Doctrine and Covenants 124:49 and asks, “How do you explain the differences in the teachings of these verses?” This isn’t casual reading—it’s deep, reflective work that builds understanding and faith. And why shouldn’t studying scripture require effort? God loves effort. (I’ve already ordered Faulconer’s The Doctrine & Covenants Made Harder for my 2025 study.)
READ IT IF: If studying The Book of Mormon is part of your daily life, these two books are excellent companions. They’ll challenge you, inspire you, and offer fresh perspectives on a text you may already know well.
[1] First published in 1830, The Book of Mormon was printed in paragraph format. Nearly a century later in 1921, the official edition was reformatted into double columns to feel more like the King James Version of the Bible. With a few modifications, this is the format most widely used today.