Precept Upon Precept

When Robert L. Millet's book Precept Upon Precept was released, several members of my team read it and talked about how much they enjoyed it. For reasons I can't remember, I didn't read it when it was brand new, but kept it in the back of my mind. A couple weeks ago I finally got the chance and really enjoyed it!

This book is a doctrinal biography of Joseph Smith. This means it isn't just a regular biography of the prophet's life. It talks about how events in his life impacted revelations he received, as well as how the revelations he received impacted his life. Joseph's life and his revelations are so intertwined, but Millet has done an excellent job in presenting them both in this book.

There are many things in this book that I could talk about, but I will only mention two in particular. The first is the very beginning of the book. In talking about the "war of words" that Joseph Smith faced, the author lists several doctrines, and then notes which religions believed what regarding each doctrine. For example, regarding baptism, Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Episcopalians believed infants were subjects of baptism and that sprinkling was an acceptable method. Baptists and Eastern Christians believed that baptism had to be by immersion, and only believers should be baptized. Quakers rejected all ordinances (including baptism) completely.

As Millet describes the various beliefs regarding several doctrines, it is easy to see why young Joseph was so confused. With so many contending doctrines, each stemming from different interpretation of scripture, it is no wonder that Joseph felt the only way to get a correct answer was to ask of God.

Another part of the book that I thoroughly enjoyed was Joseph Smith's translation of the Bible. Millet talks about how his translation led to so many other revelations as Joseph sought to understand more of the Bible. Several sections of Doctrine and Covenants were received because of Joseph Smith working on the translation and asking questions.

The author mentions that some critique the Book of Mormon because Joseph did not  quote from it in his sermons nearly as much as he did the Bible. He responds that it only takes a moment's reflection to consider that Joseph Smith was raised with the Bible. His family read from it. He spent three years on his inspired translation of it. In the words of Robert Millet, "The Bible was in his soul" (pg. 54). Joseph Smith loved the Bible. Those who fear that the Book of Mormon replaces the Bible need look no further than the Prophet of the Restoration to know what a treasure the Bible is and ought to be to each member of the Church.

I am glad I read this book. My only problem is reading it so close to the book Saints, which both deal with Church History. As I reflect on one, I keep thinking of passages from the other, mixing the two in my mind. It makes it difficult to write a review about each one, but also speaks to how much I enjoyed them both.