BofM Conclusion: Scripture for Our Time: Covenant of Christ

 I've read Covenant of Christ cover to cover and wanted to post my review to conclude this blog post series.  

There's a website with some fantastic tools and side by side comparison options here: Home | Covenant of Christ

Covenant of Christ Review: 

This was not some easy-to-read edition that dumbs down the content or simplifies the text to make it more accessible. This is the real deal. This book keeps the original chapter divisions from Joseph Smith, but also includes LDS chapter numbers in bold right in the text, which makes it easy to find your way around. Instead of splitting everything into individual verses this used paragraph-style sections that keeps the original author's thoughts together and gives the reading a better rhythm. The small verse numbers are still there as superscripts, so you can track familiar references but not be distracted by them. The dual headers at the top of each page are also a helpful touch.

After reading this modernized text I can’t go back to the old archaic language. The new modern language is beyond refreshing. It's not a commentary or interpretation. This is the actual authentic text rendered in modern language. I’ve compared numerous passages to the old version and this new version legitimately and carefully preserves the original. It's all intact. If people think this has altered meaning, it is they who first need to do their homework.

How it felt to read it: It's like the book opened up in a whole new way. As though layers of "seals" were removed and the text became new, more meaningful, and powerful. The themes and message are substantially clearer. I found it had the same spirit as the text originally provided by Joseph Smith, but stronger and clearer. The old language was becoming more and more foreign and mentally exhausting to read. It hits differently when the authors speak like you do. Phrases such as “it came to pass” and “I would that you should” and verb suffixes like “cometh”, “sayeth” are awkward, especially to my kids. The old language made God feel distant and unrelatable. Then there’s Isaiah, which many of us in the LDS church were advised to simply skip over. This new text changes all of that.

I'm one who's read the book enough times that I was used to the old archaic language. But that didn't mean I understood it. What happened for me is my mind would gloss over more and more passages assuming I understood what they meant simply due to familiarity with the older English words and grammar. Reading this book however is an entirely different experience. It's a fresh lens, with fresh depth and applicability to God's work happening now.