Author: Joseph M. Spencer
Title: 1st Nephi: A Brief Theological Introduction
Neal A. Maxwell Institute, 2020. Paperback
(Reviewed by Dan Call, March 19, 2020)
This is the first book in what looks to be a promising series from BYU’s Maxwell Institute for Religious Studies.
I had my first taste of the quality of Joseph Spencer’s writing when I read “Christ and Anti-Christ: Reading Jacob 7” last fall, which he co-edited with Adam Miller. Then in December 2019 an he was interviewed on the Maxwell Institute Podcast – this was the first I heard about the “Brief Theological Introductions” series, and my curiosity was piqued.
I cannot overstate how satisfying a read this was. Spencer has clearly spent years honing his skills as a theologian in preparation for writing this text, much to our benefit. I will never be able to read 1st Nephi again without drawing on the expanded vision he’s given me. The exploration of Nephi’s probable intent in authoring that book as a stand-alone work (as opposed to combining it with 2nd Nephi); how Nephi’s advanced age at the time of writing informs many of his storytelling choices; the remarkably well thought out structure of 1st Nephi, when analyzed through the lens of the original 7 long chapters. All these aspects of the text are winners.
In the second half of the Book, Spencer confronts three questions that trouble honest readers: Nephi’s slaying of Laban; Nephi’s relationship with Laman and Lemuel; and the intergenerational misogyny of Nephite society. He doesn’t try to explain these away or justify them. With the love and unrelenting inquisitiveness of a disciple-scholar, Spencer links together parts of the narrative which previously seemed unrelated, showing us a dazzling bigger picture. The final passages of these chapters a truly beautiful. Gone is the Frieberg-ian, epic embodiment of perfect obedience that I idolized in my youth. In his place now is a relatable human, one who took huge risks, won, lost, learned, capable of self critique, still loves his estranged brothers.
After I finished earlier this morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I had just read. While cooking dinner, shaving, or running some errands, the ideas kept coming back to me. I’ll probably share what I’ve read with others for the foreseeable future.
If the rest of the series is anywhere near as good as this, then sign me up.