James L. Ferrell found an entirely new understanding of the Old Testament right "beneath the surface."Ferrell details his discoveries from the pages of this ancient scriptural text in his new book "The Hidden Christ: Beneath the Surface of the Old Testament" (2009 Deseret Book).The bestselling author — who says he "fell head over heels in love" with the Old Testament — contends that when the right questions are asked, teachings about Christ will emerge from its pages."Surprising rewards lie ready to be discovered by anyone who picks up that frequently avoided book and begins to ask it questions," Ferrell writes in the book's preface.Ferrell went from neglecting to immersing himself in the Old Testament.The journey began with a simple church calling — to teach gospel doctrine in his home ward in 1997. The scheduled course of study was the Old Testament.Studying the book was a defining experience for Ferrell, who each week would record the insights he had gained through the previous week's lesson."('The Hidden Christ') is, I suppose, a travelogue of sorts, a record of faith-building discoveries along a road I had too long avoided," he writes.Ferrell's study and writings, particularly the story of Abigail from 1 Samuel, inspired "The Peacegiver," which was on Deseret Book's top 10 bestseller list for an unprecedented four years.He also wrote "The Holy Secret," published in 2008 by Deseret Book.What impresses Ferrell is not so much the narrative of the Old Testament, but the parallels between its stories, characters and concepts — from Adam and Noah to the ancient temple and "wisdom" — and Christ. "So of every scriptural element and story, we should ask, 'How does this typify or bear record of the Savior?' " he writes.
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