Examining mormon truth claims mormonism is a religion largely based upon faith inspiring stories. John kunichs essay on book of mormon population sizes pp. The holy spirit can confirm the reality of any truth. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove.
The book of first nephi, the first book in the volume, describes the actions of lehi and his family in leaving jerusalem before its destruction, following the counsel of the lord, and wandering through the wilderness for several years before embarking on a transoceanic voyage to somewhere in or near central america. But no entity outside of the mormon church refers to reformed egyptian as a real, written language. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the fourthlargest. Now for the sake of teaching my children and to know my shit when in a convo with a tbm i. It is altogether probable that these two bookspriests wonders of nature and providence, 1824. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. God knows the book of mormon, another witness of jesus christ, is true. The first article listed below explains how he deceived his followers into believing that he had translated the book of mormon from inscriptions on gold plates that nobody was ever allowed to see. The list of missing artifacts includes almost forty entire cities all cities named therein, animals such as horses and cattle, metals iron and steel, evidence of wars involving multiple thousands of deaths, weapons including swords, spears and armor, machinery and other technology cited. As for factual errors, there are a number of anachronisms in the book of mormon.
Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. The 4,000 changes in the book of mormon are serious 110. The maxwell institutes study edition of the book of mormon is both an update and an expansion of grant hardys the book of mormon. Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. The term shubert theater andor the book of mormon as well as all associated graphics, logos, andor other trademarks, tradenames or s are the property of the shubert theater andor the book of mormon and are used herein for factual descriptive purposes only. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations.
I would include serious grammatical errors here, since it should be kept in mind that the book of mormon english translation was supposedly dictated wordforword by the holy spirit see the david whitmer quote in my moneydigging posting. They represent an egregious disregard for the even the most basic standards of scholarship. Smith the book of mormon presents itself as an abridgment of the record of the people of nephi and also of the lamanites title page, engraved on metal plates by mormon in the late fourth century. A team of editors takes feedback from our visitors to keep trivia as up to date and as accurate as possible.
The stories in the book of mormon and other mormon. Gunnell goes on to quote a letter written in 1844 by phineas young to brigham young, martin harris is a firm believer in shakerism, says his testimony is greater than it was of the book of mormon martin harris witness and benefactor to the book of mormon, wayne c. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, vol. Third, the book of mormon abounds in textual errors, factual errors, and outright plagiarisms from other works. Well, the book of mormon is a migration story, similar to the idea of the book of exodus in the old testament, except there are three migrations involved in this. If youre asked by mormon missionaries to point out. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. Aug 26, 2012 factual evidence or no factual evidence doesnt change my testimony one bit. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon.
For example, there is the mention of the most precious steel in 1 nephi 4. The standard of truth as the first in a fourvolume history. Roberts on the view of the hebrews parallels with the book of mormon emphasis mine. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. In 20, the lds church began releasing a series of gospel topics essays, to explore frequently questioned aspects of its doctrine and history. The book of mormon by joseph smith, paperback barnes. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. No jew would ever have recorded his peoples history in the language of the idolatrous egyptians. As many false reports have been circulated respecting the following work, and also many unlawful measures taken by evil designing persons to destroy me, and also the work, i would inform you that i translated by the gift and power of god, and. Volcanism and earthquakes in the book of mormon book of. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. That very arrangement is now well documented archaeologically an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, provo, utah. Changes in the book of mormon mormon truth youtube.
The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god and not by man david whitmer, an address to all believers in christ concord, ca. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. Atop it a fence of timbers was planted and bound together with vines. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the americas. Factual evidence or no factual evidence doesnt change my testimony one bit. Latter day saints this category is for questions and answers related to the book of mormon, as asked by users of. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place.
In fact, joseph smith once remarked that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the plates of mormon. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. The book of mormon department of christian defense. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m.
For example, critics of mormonism have shown convincing proof that the book of mormon is a synthesis of earlier works written by other men, of the vivid imaginings of joseph smith, and of plagiarisms from the king james bible. If youre asked by mormon missionaries to point out examples of such errors, here are two you can use. May 17, 2019 the annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom is riddled with misinformation, misrepresentation, special pleading, and a host of additional dubious and erroneous claims. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. Mar 31, 2011 god knows the book of mormon, another witness of jesus christ, is true. The annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom is riddled with misinformation, misrepresentation, special pleading, and a host of additional dubious and erroneous claims. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. This theory has been closely examined and much evidence discredits this charge. The stories in the book of mormon and other mormon scriptures. Book of mormon studies the encyclopedia of mormonism. As for me, i have read the book of mormon, and dont believe that an uneducated backwoods farm boy could have written that book.
A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois press. Numerous studies about book of mormon changes show them to be minor and logical. I believe that it is what it says it is the record of a postresurrection visit by jesus to a group of. While many have lauded the churchs efforts to enhance. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived. While the mormon church has denounced polygamy and the fdls, this sect continues to thrive in arizona, texas, mexico, canada and they are now moving into south dakota. The book of mormon is widely criticized for the absence of evidence supporting it.
May 30, 2019 the cumulative weight of these correspondences, analyzed using bayesian statistics, provides overwhelming support for the historicity of the book of mormon as an authentic, factual record set in ancient mesoamerica. Joseph smith felt that a preface was necessary to address the loss of the 116 pages. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. In this case, the population we wish to test is the factual statements in the book of mormon and corresponding factual statements in the book the maya. A readers edition, published in 2003 by the university of illinois pressas with a readers edition, the maxwell institutes study edition attempts to make the text more accessible by presenting it in paragraphs, with poetry set in verse form. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. Returning directly to the book of mormon, there are also factual errors which betray its human origin. This information is definitely food for thought and is the icing on the cake to what i already believe. I would like to debate how archeology, paleontology, linguistics and even naval history demonstrate that the events described in the book of mormon did not take place. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been.
The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. The concept that the book of mormon is the most correct book in the world comes from a statement made by the prophet joseph smith. The book of mormon was based on ethan smiths view of the hebrews 111. Book of mormon may be something other than literal history p. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. While the bible is written by and about the people in the land of israel and surrounding areas and takes place from the creation of the world until shortly after the death of jesus christ. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. I know that christ established his church on the earth then and today. Of course, this method of translation is as occultic as it gets. Jon does a fair and factual history of the mormon church and the rise of polygamy and the flds. We are in no way associated with or authorized by the shubert theater andor the book of mormon and neither that.
Today it is possible to check stepbystep every phenomenon described in the account of the great destructions reported in 3 nephi 89 and to discover that what passed for many years as the most lurid, extravagant, and hence impossible part of the book of mormon is actually a very sober and factual account of a firstclass earthquake. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. Book of mormon content is not factual language in 1 nephi 1. Why is the book of mormon the most correct of any book on. It is over 530 pages long, and complicated, and is an uplifting testament of the divinity of jesus christ. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Elder price and elder cunningham terrific international leads. Following upon prior works, the church recently published saints. The book of mormon is a comingofage story of two young, extremely likeable mormons on their mission to spread the lords word. Whereas in the story of the book of mormon, an earlier work, reynolds had agreed with orson pratt on book of mormon geography, in their commentary he and sjodahl placed geography at a low level of priority and were interested primarily in establishing an internally consistent map of all book of mormon sites, without attempting to identify those. These many problems are not simply innocuous mistakes. The book of mormon shubert theater, new haven, ct tickets. The debate remains as titled, and the affirmative will remain the stories in the book of mormon and other mormon scriptures are based on verifiably factual events, as presented in my round 1 presentation of criteria.
Both books contain gods guidance as revealed to prophets, as well as religious histories of different civilizations. Despite the translation of egyptian and numerous american indian languages, reformed egyptian remains unknown. The book of mormon text refers to the language it is written in as reformed egyptian. The cumulative weight of these correspondences, analyzed using bayesian statistics, provides overwhelming support for the historicity of the book of mormon as an authentic, factual record set in ancient mesoamerica. Jan 23, 2016 the book of mormon describes a ditch being dug around the protected area. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. Mormons believe that the book of mormon confirms information found in the holy bible. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient americas. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
Mormonism is a religion largely based upon faith inspiring stories. Depicts the factual accounts of vincenzo di francesca came to appreciate the contents of the book of mormon. Among the many differences between the two volumes, i find two most significant. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. Ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon blogger. Statistics describes the probability likelihood of events occurring within a given population. The book of mormon is the word of god, like the bible. Start to finish is a comprehensive, questionandanswer commentary that draws from thousands of the very best insights on the scriptures, including those from general authorities, church magazines and manuals, respected scholarly commentaries, scripture reference books, and other publications. Eightysix percent of older mormons know that god is real, but only 68 percent of millennial mormons share such a conviction. The book of mormon describes a ditch being dug around the protected area. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or. A population is a set of related items or events of interest for some test we wish to perform. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. If you want to know what god knows, live the commandments of jesus christ, and read the book of mormon, another witness of jesus christ, and pray to an all wise and righteous god, and find out the truth for yourself.