The Book of Jareneck - Part 1 - Summary and Impressions

I recently read the Book of Jeraneck, a book claimed to have been written by the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles, and translated through divine means.  I'll get into the details of how it came to be in part 2.  For now, here's a summary of the book, and my impressions of it.

Summary:
The record starts with the Tower of Babel.  The People of Light escape from there and journey northward. A splinter group (the People of Lioneck) breaks off from the main group. They reach a sea, build boats, and cross to a sacred island.
After a few years on the island, three brothers head northward on a mission.  They find another group of people, The People of Rimdon, live among them for a while, then work to unite the two peoples.

Six hundred years later, war breaks out between the two peoples.  The war is ended by someone making a passionate speech.

One hundred years after the war, a new prophet, Raynon is chosen.  During Raynon's time, a new set of people are found, the people of Morion. Morion and Raynon get married, uniting the two peoples and issuing in a golden age which lasts for many generations.

A wicked prophet arises, and ends up started another great war. The sides are divided along ideological (religious) lines.  After a number of bloody setbacks, the army of Christ prevails.

Now we reach the time of the narrator, Jeraneck.  During his life, the people of Lioneck return and wipe out the People of Light.

My random impressions of the book:

• Role of women and marriage. Both are mentioned in this record far more than in the Book of Mormon. There are a few tender passages about Jeraneck's love for his wife.  There are prophetesses and priestesses and women leaders.
• Book of Mormon cameos. Jared and his brother (called by name here "Mahonri") make an appearance.  Lehi and his family are also mentioned as part of a prophecy. 
• Not much doctrine. While the Book of Mormon seems to be written specifically as a vehicle for doctrine, this book is mostly story, and in the little doctrine that's mentioned, there's nothing new.
• Many interactions with Christ/God. Although there is little doctrine, there is plenty of interactions between God, Christ, and these people.  Christ/God doesn't make a general visit, but speaks openly to the prophets, and even sometimes the entire people.[1]
• Spelling errors: Most of the spelling errors were mixed up homophones (i.e., weather/whether, there/their) but there were some genuine errors too (like "fro" instead of "for").  Also missing punctuation, run-on sentences, and sloppy sentence construction.
• Stonehenge: I should mention that followers of this church believe that Stonehenge is the remains of the last temple of the People of Light.
• Jeraneck's promise: This book also contains a challenge to pray about it to gain a testimony of its truthfulness.
• War: Lot's of war. If a Mormon asks me what the book was like I'll probably say, "It's like a Book of Mormon that's mostly war chapters."

All in all, it wasn't a very good book. I think it's main importance is to serve as a mirror for Mormons to show them the strangeness of their own sacred text, especially in light of how it was brought forth.  I'll discuss this in more detail in part 2.

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[1] After complaining about being commanded to gather one thousand logs from the forest for an as-yet-unknown reason, the people are rebuked by a voice from heaven saying, "[W]hen my Prophet speaks it is as if I have spoken and if he commands that one thousand logs be cut, it is as if I have commanded it.  Now because of your wickedness...you will cut two thousand logs." The people pray for forgiveness and the voice comes again and says, "Why are you kneeling and asking for forgiveness? Have I not already commanded you to go about your business and then I will forgive you."