Book Review by Jaymie Reynolds—Christ and the New Covenant

I've had permission to begin a new series of book reviews on my blog, which I hope will benefit all readers. The source of these reviews is the Association for Mormon Letters, also known as AML, and can be found at www.aml-online.org.

This week's review of Christ and the New Covenant is by Jaymie Reynolds.

Title: Christ and the New Covenant
Author: Jeffery R. Holland
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Non-fiction
Year Published: 1997
Number of Pages: 433
Binding: Paperback
ISBN 10: 1-59038-609-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-59038-609-5
Price: $17.95

Elder Jeffery R. Holland is an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In his book, "Christ and The New Covenant", Elder Holland has provided a valuable resource both to members of his church and to those not of his faith who wish to understand why the Book of Mormon is such a vital part of the LDS church. This book contains Elder Holland's testimony of Jesus Christ. At the same time, Elder Holland makes it very clear that all people can partake of the Savior's atonement.

Those who have heard Elder Holland expound the scriptures will know that he has a great talent for bringing the pages of the scriptures to life. As he reads from the scriptures and shares the tales found therein, Jeffery R. Holland has the ability to show how the ancient happenings are so pertinent to those of us living today. With a quick wit and an excellent grasp of human nature, Elder Holland creates a word picture that anyone can relate to. In this book, these skills are once again very evident.

One of Elder Holland's primary goals is to clear up misunderstandings as to who is the principal character in the Book Of Mormon. As he states in this quote, "The principal and commanding figure in the Book of Mormon, from first chapter to last, is the Lord Jesus Christ." (p. 2) At the same time, he seeks to point out the greatest purpose of the Book of Mormon. Written by prophets and preserved by angels, it was written for the fundamental and eternally essential purpose of "convincing...the Jew and Gentile that JESUS is the CHRIST, the ETERNAL GOD, manifesting himself unto all nations.' " (p. 4)

With the gentle wit and understanding that have endeared him to so many, Elder Holland points out the testimonies of Jesus Christ that are contained within the pages of the Book of Mormon. He seeks to help the reader understand the results of exercising faith in the Savior.

In one such reference, Elder Holland points out the story of the brother of Jared, a man of such great faith that the veil between heaven and earth was parted and he saw the Savior as He would appear here on earth. "What a remarkable doctrinal statement about the power of a mortal's faith! And not an ethereal, unreachable, select mortal, either. This was a man who once forgot to call upon the Lord, one whose best ideas were sometimes focused on rocks, and one who doesn't even have a traditional name in the book that has immortalized his unprecedented experience." (p. 24) Very clearly, Elder Holland points out that one does not have to be perfect to see miracles take place in life.

This book is not a rapid read. It is well written and easy to follow. However, the subject matter is a diet that needs time to be savored and digested. Each chapter is a thought-provoking matter that can lead to quiet moments of pondering. Through these moments, those who so desire will find themselves drawing closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. At the same time, most readers will also gain a greater appreciation for the Book of Mormon and its teachings.

In "Christ and the New Covenant", Elder Jeffery R. Holland presents a thoughtful discourse about the Book of Mormon, the role of Jesus Christ in it and in the lives of those who live today, and many of the reasons why it is important to know such things. Those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will enjoy the insights he gives and will find this an invaluable aid in their current studies of the Book of Mormon. Those who are not of this faith can find value in such a forthright discussion of the Savior, of the Book of Mormon and of why they hold such a high place of honor in the lives of Latter-day Saints.