The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200. In addition, the very content of the book of mormon makes it impossible to accept it as divine revelation. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. The mormon claim to be the only true church the reliability of mormon prophets the authenticity of the book of mormon jesus supposed visit to ancient america the mormon view of god, jesus, and the. See what all the critics had to say and see all the ratings for the book of mormon including the new york times and more. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive position on the historicity of the book of mormon is to point out that we who are its proponents are content with a standoff on this question. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient. Book of mormon archeological andor historical validity.
Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon was the most correct book in the world, and that a man could get closer to god by reading it than any other book. Critics of the book of mormon often point to apparent problems with plants and animals as evidence of fraud from joseph. Lds missionaries encourage prospects to read the book of mormon and pray to receive a spiritual witness or testimony that it is the. Oaks of the quorum of the twelve foundation for ancient research and mormon studies annual dinner, provo, utah, october 29, 1993. Question 1 above and still publishes paintings translating the book of mormon with phantom gold. The introduction tells you that the book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The book of mormon and the other standard works are in complete contrast with the bibles superb historical reliability. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of. 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. Books to read recovery from mormonism the mormon church. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is.
There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. The book of mormon has been changed hundreds of times, as a point in fact. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. It is claimed that a number of items or concepts in the book. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. It took smith less than 3 months to translate the writings and publish it into a 588 volume. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Concerns of the historicity and origin of the book of mormon. Furthermore, while archeology is a powerful testimony to the accuracy of the bible the same cannot be said for the book of mormon. 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.
The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. This page discusses more alleged problems in the book of mormon, including clashes with modern bible scholarship. Yes, i think that so far as books of religions go, or indeed any worldview, that the book of mormon is reliable. The authors are latterday saints mormons, but they do not shy away from controversial. How did joseph smith bring forth the book of mormon through the power of god. Village performing arts centre full time 2014 perform turn it off from the book of mormon. At first glance the book of mormon appears to be biblical in heft and style. Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from august 2014 webarchive template wayback links all articles lacking reliable references. The design of the liahona and the purpose of the second spindle. The bible the bible was originally written languages of the people composing it. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons.
How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. The reliability of mormon history produced by the lds. What does the book of mormon mean when it says that plain and precious things have been. The reliability of mormon history produced by the lds church. These are five problems with the book of mormon, and to doubt its authenticity as an ancient document. Its couched in king james english, and it features color renderings of mormon scenes made to look like bible illustrations. Part 1 of documented article that examines the life and testimony of the witnesses. The book contrasts the evidence for christianity and the bible. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled. Thats an interesting way to explain the skin color assertions in the book of mormon. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. Despite the efforts of mormons to restore the reliability of the book of abraham, it appears to be a demonstrably false book, errantly translated and misrepresented as scripture by the lds.
A biblical scholar looks at the book of mormon mormons. The combined weight of their numerous statements, given over many years and despite their changing attitudes toward joseph smith and the church, is a powerful witness of the reliability of the. They continue by looking at salvation, grace, repentance. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. As a latterday saint, i am not only dutybound but personally grateful to accept and present data from the book of mormon, the genuine historical reliability of which i am both spiritually. The book of mormon claims to be a translation of ancient writing on gold plates. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. In the old testament, male pronouns he and his are mentioned 6. The opponents of the historicity of the book of mormon must prove that the people whose religious life it records did not live anywhere in the americas. Mormonism seems to be the opposite of the bible in several ways. Not only is mormonism for dummies very easy to read, but it is also thorough and open in the topics considered. So even by their own rule, the book of mormon is a fraud. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive. The question of the authority of the bible and its divine inspiration can be.
But that doesnt matter because mormons have a burning in their hearts. The historicity of the book of mormon elder dallin h. In the book of mormon, nephi tells the biblical story of the fiery serpents, but adds an interesting detail. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the middleeast to the americas. Anachronisms claimed to exist in the book of mormon summary. The book of mormon has no claim to validity due to its lack of incorporation into the biblical cannon. The book of mormon can offer powerful antiracism lessons for those willing to turn the text around in a different light. The book of mormon teaches that god has flesh and bones and that he has a wife with whom they produce spirit offspring in heaven that will inhabit human bodies on earth. It tells of the jaredites, people from the tower of babel who came to central america but perished because of their own immorality. You know, if youve talked with mormons very much about the authority of their documents. Several miraculous events occurred as part of the coming forth of the book of mormon that provide evidence. How does the book of mormon help date the first christmas. The book of mormon does not contradict the bible, but supports it.
This is a continuation of related ldsfaq pages on book of mormon problems, including. The liahona was given by the lord as a communications device for lehi to determine the appropriate. The coming forth of the book of mormon church of jesus. How mormons view the reliability of the holy bible. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. The book of mormon is a comingofage story of two young, extremely likeable mormons on their mission to spread the lords word. The book of mormon plays a primary role in mormon evangelistic efforts. Several times in this book i have tested the reliability of certain apostates and visitors to utah by matching their statements with later admissions by mormon leaders. Elder price and elder cunningham terrific international leads. Scholars reject smiths claims of ancient origin and consider the book a.
I want to talk really in some general terms about the reliability of mormon history produced by the church. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. The authors explore the lds concept of scripture and the reliability of the book of mormon, the doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price. Do you know how to show a mormon person the difference in reliability between the bible and the book of mormon. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. It is a record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas, and contains, as does the bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The book of mormon the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. If the book of mormon was written by ancient israelite prophets living in a native american society, why do they address so many theological and cultural issues of early nineteenthcentury angloamerican society atheism, calvinism, costly apparel, deism, infant baptism. And, with more study, the books sturdiness and richness and the. Part 1 of documented article that examines the life and testimony of the witnesses to the book of mormon. The design of the liahona and the purpose of the second. The reliability of mormon history produced by the lds church fair aug, 6, 2009. At first i was surprised that there would be an article entitled mounting evidence for the book of mormon on the official church website.
The book o f mormon has been criticized for its lack of significant female characters in the narrative. Mike licona has produced a practical book to help in our apologetics witness to mormons. The book of mormon, a book of a little over 500 pages, mentions the anme of jesus christ some 6,000 times and preaches. Scholars reject smiths claims of ancient origin and consider the book. When evaluating the historical accuracy of the book of mormon, one must take into account what is and is not known about the history of the regions where the. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before. Richard lloyd anderson, the credibility of the book of mormon translators, in book of mormon authorship.