The Book of Mormon 2.0 Take 2

After I got some feedback, I have specified my idea a bit more as to what I'm actually proposing. The idea is far from complete. I have been posting my process of thinking, not my product. This is just another step towards narrowing and focusing my idea!

The Book of Mormon 2.0

Each form of the Book of Mormon has met the needs of the society it was written in. From the laboriously carved golden plates of Mormon’s time, to the digital editions online today, each form has slowly made this book accessible to more people worldwide and liberated the messages within through the medium of presentation. New print editions, like The Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Edition, have brought back the original narrative form as well as highlighted the literary aspects of the book, creating a form which presents this book as both a spiritual document and literary work. It has been represented multiple ways in print, why not online? It is my contention that the form of the Book of Mormon can be pushed further, modified from thin pages to digital web pages, from impersonal commentary to personal experience, from a stigmatized scripture read only by Mormons, to a literary and spiritual book which furthers Christianity.

The LDS Church has digitized the Book of Mormon and has attempted to put everyday faces on the church with the new Mormon.org website. However, these sites come with a stigma of biased representation. Readers might question the validity of the Church’s self-marketing. Even associations (such as the AML) or discussion forums (such as the bloggernacle) which discuss the Book of Mormon are obviously associated with a bias and cater to a fairly narrow audience. These forms of presenting the Book of Mormon are specific, not a part of everyday internet reading. Personal blogs, on the other hand, have become a part of daily internet reading and reach a broad audience. Personal forums must be created where we personalize the messages within the Book of Mormon; forums where discussion can occur; forums where we peak society's interest and help all types of people confront and take charge of their personal salvation.

As the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to bring others to Christ, Ezra Taft Benson proposed that the Book of Mormon needed to "flood the earth." However, he put the responsibility not on the church, but on its members. Personal narrative converts. Just as the Book of Mormon, a personal account of history by prophets of old, has been a tool in converting millions of people worldwide to the gospel, the way to bring others to the book, is to bring that personal narrative back into the book. Personal testimony, experiences and beliefs all based upon scripture fill our general conferences, sacrament meetings, firesides, Sunday school lessons, etc. If that is what the leaders of the church use to teach the messages within the Book of Mormon, then I believe when every member writes their personal narrative, or experiences with the Book of Mormon, using social networking tools such as Facebook, twitter, and even Mormon.org, linking the blog to a person, to share that work, the endless personal experiences will be the liberating form or medium through which the Book of Mormon will flood the world.

The Book of Mormon 2.0

As I have been discussing the emergence of the Book of Mormon, my point has not been to simply present research on a subject which seems unimportant in light of the actual goals of the book. As I have discussed The Book of Mormon's emergence and how it has slowly been flooding the earth, I plan to propose what I believe to be the best way this book can be accessible to all the earth.

Welcome to Book of Mormon 2.0

It has been the vision of past and present-day leaders of the LDS church to, "...flood the earth with the Book of Mormon" (Benson). In this technology-driven 21st century, the way to bring the Book of Mormon to all corners of the earth is to digitize it. However, it is not enough to only have the Book of Mormon available. Society must be informed of its presence. It is my contention that the internet, blogs particularly, is the medium through which the Book of Mormon will flood the earth. It is not enough to have a link where one can order a printed copy of the Book of Mormon. Forums must be created where we personalize the messages within the Book of Mormon; forums where discussion can occur; forums where we peak society's interest and help all types of people confront and take charge of their personal salvation.

That, my friends, is my mission with this project. How will such a feat be accomplished? In my next posts I will discuss how a personal blog can become one of the greatest missionary tools available.

The Personal Narrative

I have a vision of artists putting into film, drama, literature, music, and paintings great themes and great characters from the Book of Mormon.

-Ezra Benson

It's no secret that the general public is more inclined to read a blog post than sit down with a book of scripture. Ezra Benson, a past leader of the LDS church, envisioned members recreating this book to further its reach within the world. Now understand, I do not mean to suggest we are to re-translate/rewrite the Book of Mormon. In my previous post, I suggested that personal commentary on the book, real-life responses, stories depicting the power of the words within the book, that will bring this book to all nations everywhere.
Example
I posted about the ways the text of the Book of Mormon has been changed, and how each change has freed the accessibility a bit more. Take that same passage (1 Nephi 2:19) and see how the personal voice changes the message from, "This is the word of God preaching to you" (which leaves little room for discussion, because honestly, who's going to fight with God?!) to, "This is Becca Hay, down the street telling you my thoughts" (which opens the door for questions and comments):
Personal Voice
As I was studying my scriptures this morning I read 1 Nephi 2:19-22. I had a few thoughts. First, the Lord called Nephi, "Nephi," indicating He knows him by name. Isn't that amazing? Out of all the billions of people who pray to God, He knows each personally, by name. Also, these verses teach how one is to pray, for the Lord praises Nephi for seeking, "...me (the Lord) out diligently and with lowliness of heart." That seems to suggest that we might not always be answered the first time, the Lord may see how serious we are about finding and hearing Him, so we must be diligent. Slow and steady wins the race! To have lowliness of heart suggests an attitude of humility necessary to hear the Lord. Both the blessings the Lord promises Nephi (be led to a land of promise, be made ruler and teacher over thy brethren) are predicated upon Nephi's obedience to the Lord's commandments. I've learned that too, if you keep the commandments of the Lord, He blesses you.

In your opinion, do you believe this was a more effective presentation of the material? I don't mean was it more spiritual than just scripture, I'll be the first to say it's not. But could this possibly open the door for discussion and/or peak interest to reading even those few verses? What are your thoughts?

Flooding the Earth: Saturating the World With the Book of Mormon

"I have a vision of flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon"

--Ezra Benson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1988

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it has always been clear to me that one of my main responsibilities is to share the truth and knowledge found within the pages of the Book of Mormon. This responsibility has never been more exciting a challenge than now, in the 21st century, when modern technology allows for easy access to LDS church resources, and the bloggosphere allows for personal narrative to be published world wide. Technology has allowed people to flood the internet with their ideas, thoughts, and has created a society uniquely connected through virtual reality.

President Ezra Taft Benson, 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saw the great opportunity technology afforded when he said:

"In this age of electronic media and mass production of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way" -- Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon

And moved it has! With 107 full text translations into other languages (including languages without a tradition of writing and visual translations into American Sign Language) and over 3 million copies produced yearly, the Book of Mormon is covering the earth (Translations of the Book of Mormon).

Yet, more can be done. It is my belief that the internet, blogs particularly, has become this generation's most liberating form of publication. It is my contention that when people begin discussing the Book of Mormon online, a socialized "Scripture Journal" if you will, viewing the book not just as a spiritual text, but as the inspiring work of literature it is, when we digitally flood the earth with discussions of the Book of Mormon, when we move the book in that monumental way, that is when President Benson's vision will be fulfilled.