God, Guns, and Guts: Sam Childers.

I saw this guy on TV earlier this year.

Machine Gun Preacher

Angels of East Africa.

His book at Amazon: Another Man's War: The True Story of One Man's Battle to Save Children in the Sudan [Hardcover] (about $10 including shipping, on used page)

Update: I've now bought the book and have read most of it. WOW. WOW. WOW.

I recommend the book with the caveat that it is not for the squeamish. Sam has worked in hellish conditions in Africa, in the midst of civil and religious wars, rescuing orphans and child soldiers from a guerilla army that kills non-combatant parents just to kidnap their children and turn them into child soldiers.

In his work to rescue children, run an orphanage, and feed starving people, Sam works with the local armed forces. He has built such a trust with the South Sudan government, that he has a small group of armed forces assigned under his command.

Those who think that preachers on a mission from God should not use deadly force against murderers and kidnappers in defense of the innocent, should not read this book. Those who know LDS history and doctrine should understand that God expects responsible people to defend the innocent and the helpless from evil violent predations.

Sam is an evangelical-type preacher. Evangelicals are close to LDS in the area of "walking by the Spirit." As I've read several of Sam's stories, I recognize the truth in many of them, knowing that the "promptings" he describes (though he doesn't use code words, or couch his language, he just flat out says "God told me to drive faster") are in the fashion of how I know the Lord to operate.

There's something about Sam that takes my mind to the frontier days of Mormonism, and the total committment on the part of men like Brigham Young, Orrin Porter Rockwell, David Patten, Parley Pratt. Men who put their lives on the line, fought when necessary, and told it like it was.

Sam Childers is of that ilk.

Update: A movie based on Sam's book is out, Machine Gun Preacher, starring Gerard Butler.

Rotten Tomatoes critics gave the movie only a 29% rating (4.9 out of 10), but audiences rated it 72% positive (3.8 out of 5).

The critics on Yahoo Movies rated it C-.
 

Skousen's "5000 Year Leap" at #146 at Amazon!

Wow! I couldn't believe this. Cleon Skousen's "The 5000 Year Leap" is currently ranked at #146 overall at Amazon! I was actually looking at another book, where it said 11% of those who viewed that other book's page end up buying 5000 Year Leap.

Ah, I read down further, and the book's popularity is likely due to Glenn Beck promoting it.

374 Customer reviews. 313 @ 5-star. 26 @ 4-star. 9 @ 3-star. 3 @ 2-star. 23 @ 1-star.

Other ratings by category:
#1 in Books > History > Ancient
#2 in Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Political Science > Government
#3 in Books > Nonfiction > Government > Constitutions

Scouting further, the 30th Anniversary edition, with a forward by Glenn Beck, is at #56.

#1 in Books > Professional & Technical > Law > One-L
#1 in Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Constitutional Law
#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Law > Constitutional Law

Reid, Romney, Beck, Skousen... no matter what you think of them, the church is "coming forth out of obscurity."

Wow, wow, wow.

Books about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.

Books about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. (Written from a faithful persepctive, of course.)

Doubleday edition of The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (Hardcover). ISBN 038551316X. This is the current edition of the Book of Mormon, but without footnotes, and has no index. Has a pronouncing guide, and a brief reference guide in the back.

Original 1830 edition. paperback. ISBN: 0976402513.

By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (Paperback) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 0195168887.

By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion (Hardcover) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 019513818X

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Paperback) Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1400077532. I like this book. It's written from a faithful perspective, and from a scholarly perspective that makes it palatable for non-members to get an even-handed and non-proselyting delivery of the story of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. If you (LDS or non-LDS) have an intellectual curiosity about the history of Joseph Smith and the early church, this is the book for you.

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling [Deckle Edge] (Hardcover), Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1400042704.

The Joseph Smith Papers: Journals, Vol. 1: 1832-1839 (Hardcover)
Dean Jessee (Editor), Ronald Esplin (Editor), Richard Lyman Bushman (Editor). ISBN: 1570088497.

On the Road With Joseph Smith: An Author's Diary (Paperback) Richard Lyman Bushman. ISBN: 1589581024.

The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition (Paperback) Grant Hardy (Editor). ISBN: 025207341X. This book is the 1830 edition (no break-down into verses), typeset in a way that makes for easy reading, and sets aparts the quotes. The "reading appearance" makes it more of a regular read as opposed to "reading scripture."

The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition (Hardcover) Grant Hardy (Editor). ISBN: 0252027973.

The Book of Mormon Movie - Volume 1 - The Journey. Most of it is cheesey and unprofessional, but it's a landmark. Some of the scenes are real groaners, but this movie was a major step taken in dramatizing the Book of Mormon. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND buying this for historical purposes. And, there are actually a couple good scenes in it. ASIN: B0002ER5VQ. Also look for it on ebay.

The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction. (Paperback) Terryl L. Givens. ISBN: 0195369319.

Book of Mormon. Facsimile Reprint of 1830 First Edition (Hardcover). ASIN: B000HP2QQY.

Book of Mormon: 1830 Replica Edition (Leather Bound). ISBN: 0929753208.

The Book of Mormon - The Earliest Text. Edited by Royal Skousen. ISBN: 0300142188. "Royal Skousen has single-handedly brought the textual analysis of the Book of Mormon to a professional level on par with the finest classical and biblical scholarship. This volume is the culmination of his labors, and it is the most textually significant edition since Joseph Smith's work was first published in 1830. It takes us back to the original manuscript (as best we can reconstruct it) and sometimes beyond, to the very words that were first spoken by Joseph Smith to his scribes."-Grant Hardy, from the Introduction. == Completely redesigned and typeset by nationally award-winning typographer Jonathan Saltzman, this new edition has been reformatted in sense-lines, making the text much more logical and pleasurable to read. Featuring a lucid introduction by historian Grant Hardy, the Yale edition serves not only as the most accurate version of the Book of Mormon ever published but also as an illuminating entryway into a vital religious tradition.

Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader's Guide (Hardcover) Grant Hardy. ISBN: 0199731705.

Joseph Smith, Jr.: Reappraisals After Two Centuries
Reid L. Neilson (Editor), Terryl L. Givens (Editor). ISBN: 0195369769.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1: First and Second Nephi (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884946320.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 1: First and Second Nephi (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 1590385233.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 088494655X.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2: Jacob through Mosiah, by Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet (Paperback). ISBN: 1590385241.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884948072.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3: Alma through Helaman (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 159038525X.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4 (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ISBN: 0884948188.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4: Third Nephi through Moroni. (Paperback) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet and Brent T. Top. ISBN: 1590385268.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon [4 Volume Set] (Hardcover) Joseph Fielding McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ASIN: B000XMKWW6.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon (4 Vol. set) I-IV (Paperback) Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet. ASIN: B0022WZALS.

Not all of Nibley's works below are directly related to the Book of Mormon, but I'm including them as a convenience for those who are fans of his works.

Old Testament and Related Studies (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 1) (Hardcover), Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 0875790321.

Enoch the Prophet (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 2) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), Stephen D. Ricks (Editor). ISBN: 087579047X

The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 3) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 087579078X

Mormonism and Early Christianity (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 4) (Hardcover), Hugh Nibley, Todd M. Compton, Stephen D. Ricks. ISBN: 0875791271.

Lehi in the Desert, the World of the Jaredites, There Were Jaredites (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 5) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), John W. Welch (Editor), Darrell L. Matthews (Editor), Stephen R. Callister (Editor). ISBN: 0875791328.

An Approach to the Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 6) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley, John W. Welch. ISBN: 0875791387.

Since Cumorah (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 7) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley, John W. Welch. ISBN: 0875791395.

The Prophetic Book of Mormon (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 8) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley. ISBN: 0875791794.

Approaching Zion (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol. 9) (Hardcover) Hugh Nibley (Author), Don E. Norton (Editor). ISBN: 0875792529. A very popular book among Nibley fans.