Many books dealing with Joseph Smith talk about Smith translating The Book of Mormon from the golden plates. Brant Gardner’s Gift and Power: Translating the Book of Mormon goes a step above that, he asks the question, what does it mean to translate? This book does not provide indisputable answers, but it is extremely convincing. Gift and Power provides an excellent starting point for one to start thinking about questions surrounding the translation process. Additionally, unlike many scholars, Gardner writes in a style that is highly readable for a non-academic audience.Gardner does what few LDS scholars do, he situates Joseph Smith within the larger world of religion and folk magic during the early 19th century. Joseph Smith becomes, on some level, a product of his culture. The highlight of the book comes in chapter 9, “The Event That Changed Everything,” where Gardner discusses the impact of the angel Mor oni’s visit(s) on the young Smith. Gardner states in chapter 9, ” Before Moroni there was a village seer. After Moroni, Joseph the Prophet emerged. Moroni’s visit changed everything.” Gift and Power tackles most of the major issues dealing with the translation of The Book of Mormon, including the relationship that it has with the King James Biblical text.