| A Marvelous Work and a Wonder | |
| Author: | LeGrand Richards |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Publisher: | Deseret Book |
| Pub Date: | 1950 |
| Pages: | xvi, 376 |
| Dewey: | 289.3 |
| Congress: | BX8635 .R45 |
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder is a 1950 book by LeGrand Richards on the history and doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The book was intended as a missionary tool and is traditionally cited as the best-selling Mormon book of all time (not including the standard works).[1] [2] As of 2001, it was said to have sold over three million copies.[3]
In 1937, as president of the LDS Church's Southern States Mission, Richards wrote a document entitled "The Message of Mormonism" to assist missionaries in presenting Mormon teachings. In 1950, as presiding bishop of the church, Richards expanded his document into a full-length book, which he named after a phrase used in the King James Version of Isaiah 29:13–14; Richards identified the teachings of the LDS Church as the wonder referred to.[4] The book was published by Deseret Book, a publisher owned by the LDS Church.
Richards donated all proceeds of the sale of the book to the missionary funds of the LDS Church.[1] The book is considered a Mormon classic and for several years was among the few non-scriptural works that full-time LDS Church missionaries were asked to study. However, A Marvelous Work and a Wonder is no longer part of the "approved missionary library."