V.

V.001   Valk, M. H. A. Van Der.  De Profeet der Mormonen, Joseph Smith Jr.  Kampen: J. H. Kok, 1921.  Biographical account of the Smith family.  Discusses Joseph's role as translator of the golden plates and his claims to expertise in the languages of antiquity.  [A.C.W.] 

V.002   Valletta, Thomas R.  "The Captain and the Covenant."  In  The Book of Mormon: Alma, The Testimony of the Word, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr., 223-48.  Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1992.  A tribute to Moroni, a great man and general who used the covenant-making process to bring about peace between the Nephites and their enemies.  Moroni defended his people's liberty and Mormon added this to his record for us to use in our times.  [N.K.Y.]

V.003   "Valued Book of Mormon Copy and Quilt Are Special Gifts."  CN 45 (15 November 1975): 4.  Story of a first edition Book of Mormon given to President Spencer W. Kimball.  [M.D.P.]

V.004   Van Allsburg, Phillip W., Jr.  The Book of Mormon Dictionary: A Reference Guide for Young People.  Monongahela, PA: n.p., 1983.  Simplified for young people, this dictionary booklet provides definitions and illustrations of Book of Mormon words.  [J.W.M.]

V.005   Van Den Berghe, Elizabeth S.  "Edwin Dharmaraju Taking the Gospel Home to India."  Ensign 20 (April 1990): 60-62.  Converted through reading the Book of Mormon, Edwin Dharmarju arranged for the book to be translated into Telegu, one of the three most widely spoken languages in India.  [J.W.M.] 

V.006   Van Den Berghe, Elizabeth S.  "His Faith Began with Physics."  Ensign 23 (August 1993): 70-73.  Narrates the conversion of Tom Ngo to the LDS church.  A physics student, Tom gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon by studying its philosophical chapters first and by praying about its truthfulness.  [S.H.]

V.007   Van Orden, Bruce A.  "An Examination of the Strategies of Instruction Employed by Prophets and Teachers in the Book of Mormon and Their Potential Application to Current LDS Instructional Settings."  M.A. thesis, Brigham Young University, 1975.  A report on general philosophical principles of teaching and learning found in the Book of Mormon.  Analysis of prominent figures such as Lehi, Nephi, Mormon, Alma, and Jesus Christ reveals their teaching preparation, purposes, and style, providing examples and principles of applications for current teachers in the LDS education system.  [J.T.]

V.008   Van Orden, Bruce A.  "The Indispensable Role and Activities of Unnamed Teachers in the Book of Mormon."  In A Symposium on the Book of Mormon, 102-5.  Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979.  Little is said about those appointed to be priests and teachers under Jacob, Mosiah, King Benjamin, Alma, Alma the younger, and other leaders.  The teachers are not named, but their work was vital to the success of the Church in those times.  The same is true in the Church today.  [N.K.Y.]

V.009   Van Orden, Bruce A.  "George Reynolds: Loyal Friend of the Book of Mormon."  Ensign 16 (August 1986): 48-51.  This article traces the life of George Reynolds, emphasizing his love of the Book of Mormon and his work in studying and writing about it—especially for the purpose of training the youth of the Church in the Book of Mormon's history and doctrine.  [S.P.S.]

V.010   Van Orden, Bruce A.  "The Law of Witnesses in 2 Nephi."  In The Book of Mormon: Second Nephi, The Doctrinal Structure, edited by Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr., 307-21.  Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1989.  When revealing any new information to men, the Lord has always followed the law of witnesses.  When a new dispensation is inaugurated there is more than one witness.  Second Nephi is consistent with this law.  In 2 Nephi 11, Nephi explicitly applies this law and connects the testimonies of Jacob, Nephi, and Isaiah with his own.  His purpose is to prove to mankind of the mission and reality of Christ and that all men must come to him or perish.  [J.W.M.]

V.011   Van Orden, Bruce A.  "Sanctification by the Holy Ghost."  In Doctrines of the Book of Mormon, 1991 Sperry Symposium, edited by Bruce A. Van Orden and Brent L. Top, 212-22.  Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1992.  The Book of Mormon speaks of sanctification by the Holy Ghost and by the blood of Christ.  Alma teaches no one can be saved except his garments are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ.  The author lists 14 steps of sanctification given by Nephi and 27 teachings in Alma 5 that lead to sanctification.  Alma concludes when we can not look on sin save it is with abhorrence, the process of sanctification is working.  We must practice faith, repentance, develop humility, and yield our hearts unto God.  [N. K. Y.]

V.012   Van Orden, Bruce A.  " 'We Prophesy of Christ.' "  Ensign 20 (February 1990): 22-25.  2 Nephi is a record of four witnesses of Christ: Lehi, Jacob, Isaiah and Nephi.  Each bear testimony of the restoration of Israel and of the importance of the Atonement in the lives of individuals.  [J.W.M.]

V.013   Van Orden, Dell, and Gerry Avant.  "The Century Before the Birth of Jesus."  CN 58 (23 July 1988): 10.  Beginning with 100 b.c., Book of Mormon history is compared with concurrent world history.  [J.W.M.]

V.014   Van Orden, Dell, and Malan Heslop.  "Book of Mormon—Place in Time."  CN 53 (27 November 1983, 4 December 1983): 8-9, 8-9.  Chart synchronizing Book of Mormon events with biblical and secular history, beginning with the Jaredites and continuing until the Nephite destruction.  [A.C.W.]

V.015   Van Tramp, John C.  Prairie and Rocky Mountain Adventures or Life in the West.  St. Louis: Miller, 1859.  A historical work that also gives a brief discussion of Joseph Smith and Mormonism.  He appeals to the Spaulding theory to account for the book's origin.  [M.R.]

V.016   Van Wagenen, Genevieve.  "Get Out of That Rocking Chair."  IE 67 (September 1964): 741.  Author visited the grave of Oliver Cowdery, whose testimony of the Book of Mormon is found on the headstone.  She desired to tell the Church membership to read the Book of Mormon, it contains hidden treasures.  [J.W.M.]

V.017   Vance, Joseph A.  "Book of Mormon Readings."  MS 72 (7 April 1910): 212-15.  Advances two explanations of how Joseph Smith was provided with duplicate texts covering the material in the lost 116 pages of translation.  [R.H.B.]

V.018   Vandenberg, John H.  "The Book of Mormon Restores Truth."  CR (April 1974): 14-17.  Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are sometimes called "Mormons" because of the great prophet Mormon whose magnificent work was to write and compose most of the Book of Mormon.  The book restores or expands upon many precious true doctrines, such as the nature of the godhead, corporeal individuality, revelation, and man's purpose and destiny.  [R.C.D.]

V.019   Vandenberg, John H.  "Touchstone of Truth."  Ensign 4 (May 1974): 11-13.  Also in CR 144 (April 1974): 14-17.  As a result of the apostasy numerous truths have been lost from the Bible.  Many of the truths have been restored in the Book of Mormon.  [B.T.]

V.020   Vanderwood, J. E.  "How Science Confirms the Truthfulness of the Book of Mormon."  SH 57 (3 August 1910): 757.  Points to the archaeological ruins in Central and South America as scientific confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  [A.T.]

V.021   Vanderwood, J. E.  A Story of the Ancestor of the American Indian: An Epic.  Independence, MO: J. E. Vanderwood, 1936.  Written in poetic form, this pamphlet was created for the express purpose of telling briefly the story and the preservation of the records that were to come forth in the last days as the Book of Mormon.  [J.W.M.]

V.022   Varetto, Juan C.  "El Libro de Mormon."  El Expositor Bautista 36 (April 1943): 119-20.  Sets forth an overview of the Book of Mormon while arguing that the Book of Mormon account is not based upon historical reality.  [D.W.P.]

V.023   "Variety of Ways Being Used to Present Book of Mormon."  CN 60 (28 July 1990): 3.  Copies of the Book of Mormon are being made available free of charge to non-members through advertising in newspapers and television, distribution by missionaries.  [M.R.] 

V.024   Vellinga, M. C.  Latest Light on Joseph Smith's Golden Plates.  Los Angeles: International Truth Distributors, 1928.  A critical tractate that focuses primarily upon the testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses who saw the golden plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated.  The witnesses are accused of being spiritualists and having dreams and visions manufactured by the devil.  Hallucinations and simply being fooled by Joseph Smith are other reasons given.  [J.T.]

V.025   Vellinga, M. C.  Mormon Mysteries Revealed.  Los Angeles, CA: West Coast Publishing, 1927.  Writes on a variety of Book of Mormon related subjects to show how the Mormon use of the Bible is incorrect.  Discusses the restoration of the gospel by Joseph Smith, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the cessation of revelation, the antiquity of the Book of Mormon, "other sheep," and other items.  Attempts to dispel the myths by using correct interpretations of the Bible.  Finds that Joseph Smith is the author of the Book of Mormon.  [J.W.M.]

V.026   Velt, Harold Iven.  America's Lost Civilizations.  Independence, MO: Herald House, 1948-1949.  The high culture and notable achievements found in the archaeology of early American civilizations are outlined and shown to be consistent with the description of civilization found in the Book of Mormon.  Christian influence in America before Columbus and Hebrew/Egyptian origins of American aborigines are also discussed in relation to the Book of Mormon.  [J.T.]

V.027   Velt, Harold Iven.  "The Origin of the Hawaiians."  SH 87 (6 April 1940): 431-32.  The similarities between the Hawaiian culture and the Mayas of Central America appear in the worship of a white god, Hebrew culture, and language.  [J.W.M.]

V.028   Velt, Harold Iven.  The Riddle of American Origins.  Independence, MO: Herald House, 1941.  Uses the Book of Mormon to answer some archaeological riddles, primarily the sudden appearance of great civilizations and subsequent degeneration in ancient America when an evolutionary process would normally be expected.  [J.T.]

V.029   Velt, Harold Iven.  The Sacred Book of Ancient America.  Independence, MO: Herald House, 1952.  Biblical prophecies fulfilled by the Book of Mormon and the lives and testimonies of the witnesses of the golden plates are reported and shown to support the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.  The physical attributes, theological contents, and prophecies of the golden plates (Book of Mormon) are also discussed.  [J.T.]

V.030   Velt, Harold Iven.  "The Witnesses to the Book of Mormon."  SH 92 (14 July 1945): 646-48.  Declaring that it is ever God's way to try the faith of "the chosen few" rather than to demonstrate his power to the whole of mankind who may scoff and scorn, this article examines the testimonies of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon and the subsequent events that prove the validity of these testimonies.  The angel verified the correctness of the translation and the witnesses never denied this important testimony.  [J.W.M.]

V.031   Venderwood, J. E.  "How Science Confirms the Truthfulness of the Book of Mormon."  SH 57 (3 August 1910): 757.  Points to the archaeological ruins in Central and South Americas as scientific confirmation of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.  [A.T.]

V.032   Vernon, Gregory G.  "The Lord Finds a Scripture."  In Stories of Insight and Inspiration, edited by Margie Calhoun Jensen, 32-34.  Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1976.  Missionaries working in Alaska were prompted to let the Book of Mormon fall open to any scripture and the book opened to the story of Hagoth.  The lady they were teaching was touched by the similarities to her own tribal traditions and indicated that the name Hagoth was familiar to her.  [J.W.M.] 

V.033   Vessels, Rodney J.  The Book of Mormon Speaks.  Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 1973.  Analyzes the "rhetorical vision" in the Book of Mormon by looking at examples of discourse in the record, such as King Benjamin's address and the missionary discussions given by the sons of Mosiah.  Demonstrates how salvation is proclaimed through the spoken word.  [A.C.W.]

V.034   Vessels, Rodney J.  "I Want to Be a Book of Mormon Missionary."  NE 6 (April 1976): 6-8.  Vessels tells of his experiences reading the Book of Mormon and lists five ways to become a Book of Mormon missionary.  [M.D.P.]

V.035   Vest, H. Grant.  "The Problem of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon."  M.S. thesis, Brigham Young University, 1938.  A textual analysis of the Isaiah scriptures found in the Book of Mormon compared with the King James Version.  The similarities, often word for word, between the two texts are explained, but greater emphasis is given to the many differences found in the comparison.  Where differences are noted, the Book of Mormon agrees with other versions of Isaiah texts—i.e. the Syriac, Septuagint, and Latin versions.  Other differences are found to be Joseph Smith's own word choice while translating.  [J.T.]

V.036   Vestal, Kirk H., and Arthur Wallace.  The Firm Foundation of Mormonism.  Los Angeles: LL Co., 1981.  An apologetic work attempting to demonstrate evidence supporting Mormon beliefs.  The authors provide a review of some of the evidence tending to support the Book of Mormon's complexity and authenticity.  Among the topics discussed pertaining to the Book of Mormon are the Eleven Witnesses, archaeology, linguistic complexities, proper names, the allegory in Jacob 5, the Nephite monetary system, modern philosophies predicted by Book of Mormon writers, and others.  [M.R.]

V.037   Vincent, Joseph E.  Book of Mormon Lands.  Mentone, CA: GEMAC, 1960?.  A map published as a study aid for the Book of Mormon.  It is not meant to definitively locate specific locations; however, the artist used Mesoamerica as the basis for assumptions.  [J.T.]

V.038   Vincent, Joseph E.  "Some Views on Book of Mormon Geography."  In 14th Symposium on Archaeology of the Scriptures, 61-69.  Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1963.  Problems and methodology in defining Book of Mormon boundaries and geographic locations of cities, rivers, etc. are outlined.  A map is included giving the author's version of Book of Mormon geography.  [J.T.]

V.039   Vogel, Dan.  "Anti-Universalist Rhetoric in the Book of Mormon."  In New Approaches to the Book of Mormon, edited by Brent Lee Metcalfe, 21-52.  Salt Lake City: Signature, 1993.  Declares that the Book of Mormon audience was not ancient but modern.  Its purpose was to counter the doctrine of universal salvation that was a predominant belief in Joseph Smith's day.  This essay examines the rhetoric in the Book of Mormon that opposes the doctrine of universal salvation, the debate that took place in early American clutter, the Book of Mormon's role in this debate, and ways that the message of the book might have been perceived by those who first read it.  The Book of Mormon contains a "general orthodox theological position."  This work is reviewed in T.080.  [J.W.M.]

V.040   Vogel, Dan.  "The Earliest Mormon Concept of God."  In Line Upon Line: Essays on Mormon Doctrine, edited by Gary James Bergera, 17-33.  Salt Lake City: Signature, 1989.  The social and theological context into which the Book of Mormon came in 1830 explains the earliest views of God by early Book of Mormon readers.  It was viewed by those who closely examined the book as far from orthodox.  An examination of those views and Book of Mormon passages concludes that the Book of Mormon came forth to correct false doctrine. Through continuing revelation and further understanding, Mormon theology developed toward an "increasingly heterodox direction."  [J.W.M.]

V.041   Vogel, Dan.  Indian Origins and the Book of Mormon.  Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1986.  Author favors a nineteenth-century environmentalist explanation of the Book of Mormon's origin.  He summarizes various ideas regarding the Hebrew origin of the American Indian during the centuries before and up to the time of Joseph Smith and attempts to show that these views have since been completely discredited.  The Book of Mormon expresses these outdated and incorrect views of native Americans and can therefore be seen as a mere product of its day.  [M.R.] 

V.042   Vogel, Dan.  "Is the Book of Mormon a Translation?  A Response to Edward H. Ashment."  The Journal of Pastoral Practice 5/3 (1982): 75-91.  Responds to an earlier article by Edward Ashment ("The Book of Mormon—A Literal Translation?"  Sunstone 5 (March-April 1980): 10-14).  The writer cites early statements by Mormons and others regarding the literal word-for-word process of translating the Book of Mormon through the seer stone.  The author rejects Ashment's assertion that the translation was conceptual in nature.  [M.R.]

V.043   Vogel, Dan.  "Mormonism's 'Anti-Masonick Bible.' "  John Whitmer Historical Association Journal 9 (1989): 17-30.  Examines the socio-political climate into which the Book of Mormon was introduced in Jacksonian America in 1830.  As the term "secret combinations" was used almost exclusively when referring to Freemasonry, the Book of Mormon became known as the "Anti-Masonick Bible."  Examines the Book of Mormon text to see how these anti-masonic themes are woven throughout.  [J.W.M.] 

V.044   Vogel, Dan, ed.  The Word of God: Essays on Mormon Scripture.  Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1990.  A collection of essays, many of which were published previously in Dialogue, Sunstone, John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, Courage, and University Bulletin under other titles.  Each essay that is Book of Mormon oriented appears in this bibliography listed under its respective author.  This work is reviewed in M.307 and in R.419.  [J.W.M.]

V.045   Voros, J. Frederic, Jr.  Review of First and Second Nephi and Jacob through Mosiah, vols. 1 and 2 of Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet.  BYU Studies 29 (1989): 121.  Book review. 

V.046   Voros, J. Frederic, Jr.  "Was the Book of Mormon Buried with King Follett?: The Essential Unity of Joseph's Message."  Sunstone 11 (March 1987): 15-18.  The question "Did the new doctrine that was introduced in the King Follet Sermon 'bury' or eliminate the need for the Book of Mormon?" is explored.  Within the LDS church there is a controversy concerning soteriology, the study of how the Atonement of Christ works.  The redemptive philosophy emphasizes the Fall, rebirth, and redemption by grace, playing down human effort.  The progressive philosophy emphasizes man's effort to learn and looks narrowly upon reliance on God.  The conclusion reached is that the King Follet Sermon illuminated the Book of Mormon and wed the redemptive and progressive views.  [J.W.M.]