Accuracy of the book mormon

The book of mormon does indeed have authentic semitic constructions in it, but lds need to tread cautiously in establishing them. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. The book of mormon can be true without being historical. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. However, a close examination of this book shows a long llist of problems, one of which is the presence of anachronisms. Mormonism and historyaccuracy of church art fairmormon. Almost all of the present book of mormon text was translated during a threemonth period between april and june 1829 with. As a result, the prophet joseph smith provided more accurate translations of key verses and chapters in the bible. At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the book of mormon, and whether it was a single individual or a group. None of the events in jerusalem in 1 nephi make historical. The fact that many of the names or words in the book of mormon are unlike those of biblical accounts actually enhances the book of mormons historical accuracy because many of the accounts from the book of mormon were written at a time. When luke monday was cast as the understudy for the lead role in the book of mormon, he didnt have to look far for inspiration. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate.

If zedekiah was king like is claimed, babylon had already come. Today, mormons use the book of mormon in much the same way that christians use and study the bible. If that were true, then scholars who study ancient american archeology, anthropology, culture, linguistics, etc. It is over 530 pages long, and complicated, and is an uplifting testament of the divinity of jesus christ. Prophecies, we see how accurate the book of mormons description of him is. Smith, then 24 years old, claimed that he had not composed the text of the book, but that he had translated it from a set of golden plates which he had dug out of a nearby hill under the. 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 bc to ad 421. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient. The book of mormon contains every truth revealed to joseph smith in the latter days. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived.

Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. So read the title page in the june 1829 application, the printers manuscript, and the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. From an archaeological perspective not at all there has not been one single find in all of the usa or the americas that confirm any of the bom. Not only is there no archeological evidence for a language such as reformed egyptian hieroglyphics, there is no archeological support for lands such as the land of moron ether 7. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept silent. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. The book of mormon documentary accurately presents the consensus of the scientific community that northern asia not israel is the place of origin of the native american indians. 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. I guess my real question is, could i affirm the historical accuracy of the book of mormon as a catholic. Book of mormon character is familiar to utahn whos. Is the book of mormon bom an authentic ancient history of ancient american peoples, or is it a work of 19thcentury religious fiction.

While it is claimed that the book of mormon was translated from gold plates written between 600 bc and 421 ad, it contains vast segments of verses and even whole chapters from the king james version kjv of the bible. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. How could there be so many witnesses of the book of mormon and the plates and not one of them deny their testimony even when some of them became bitter toward joseph smith. Joseph smith translated an ancient text by the gift and power of god to produce the book of mormon.

Mormons believe that the book of mormon confirms information found in the holy bible. While arguments over the historicity of the book of mormon seem to have more at stake to members of the lds church than arguments surrounding the historical accuracy of the gospel of matthew, i suppose our need for the book to be historical is in part due to our proximity in time to the event. He grew up in logan, and knew young men like elder price. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as. Interpreting the evidence, journal of book of mormon studies 22 1993. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies center. Basic methodological problems with the antimormon approach to the geography and archaeology of the book of mormon by william j.

Debunking 5 myths about the book of mormon lds living. Mormons claim that the book of mormon is the most accurate, complete account of the people, culture, and events of ancient america. The book of mormon compared with the bible watchtower. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. His early work on the translation, with emma smith and martin harris serving as the main scribes, was lost in 1828. Apologetics press the book of mormon and the ancient. How to find accuracy book of mormon archaeological forum. These practitioners of socalled higher criticism raise the question of whether the book of mormon, which our prophets have put forward as the preeminent. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Their view was concisely expressed by brigham young in journal of discourses of july, 1862. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.

In both instances, the authors list parallels between lucy mack smiths account of a dream which joseph smith, sr. How accurate is the book of mormon not very, there have been 39 changes in the book since the so called inspired translations by joseph smith. 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. Church admits book of mormon not history and to go to lengths to translate the words he wants so that he can be redundant as if saying that it is a miraculous miracle somehow makes it even better than anyone might have thought otherwise. Therefore, this shows that the book of mormon is accurate and must have. One of the core convictions of the catholic church is that it is the one true church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it, which completely rules out the idea of a great apostasy. Many have seen the broadway musical, the book of mormon, but how much of the musical is actually correct teachings of the church of jesus christ of. Typical of attempts to deny the authenticity of the book of mormon are a work entitled the truth about the lehi treeoflife stone 1 and an unpublished manuscript recently sent to the author by a professional journal for evaluation. Book of mormon learning assessment 1 of 4 quiz quizizz. Historical accuracy of book of mormon faith in god.

The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream. A cursory examination of the tales told in the bom is enough to answer this question. Smith once called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion smith, 1902, 4. Facts the mormon church doesnt want you to know 4mormon.

Rudins anecdote echoes a common refrain that the shows producers have repeated since before it opened, that the book of mormon, while obviously satirical, offers an accurate depiction of latterday saint doctrines and culture. Mormon church publishes its first official history in nearly a century, and the result is an easytoread volume that tackles some hard facts. If a variety of similar reinforcing references concerning an isthmus should actually exist, than everyone writing their geographies around this core concept would be. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists.

The book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth doesnt waste any time getting its history wrong on the first page of the entire thing. The word of wisdom and the three degrees of glory are truths restored in 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 421. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon in no case contradicts the bible. As for me, i have read the book of mormon, and dont believe that an uneducated backwoods farm boy could have written that book.

Could an uneducated boy come up with 531 pages of ancient scripture on his own that was historically accurate and prophetic in nature. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. He backs his assessment with years of repairing antique books, including a number of 1830 book of mormon originals, including one signed by joseph smith. Thus the lds contends that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. 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.

Yet, the book of mormon musical also contains less benign inaccuracies, like misrepresenting joseph smiths history, distorting mormon epistemology and misconstruing the. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. The book of mormon bom was first published in palmyra, new york, in 1830, its title page giving the name joseph smith, jun. Each reads very much like the bible in type and breadth of thematic concerns and literary forms history, law, psalm. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to.

The documentary is a must see for all those who view the book of mormon as an accurate history of the native american indians. Mike caba, archaeologist and dean of faculty at kilns college, describes his attempts to obtain information from the mormon church about the. Think joseph smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance. In the introduction of the book of mormon, smith states that it is the record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas, which also contains the fullness of the everlasting. I believe that it is what it says it is the record of a postresurrection visit by jesus to a group of. According to it, the population of their descendants called nephites and. Although studies have verified, again and again, the precision and accuracy of the book of mormon, moronis statement. In my opinion, stratford books has produced the most accurate replica of the 1830 book of mormon in contemporary times, including the paper, ink, font. Hebraisms that could have been known to joseph smith may still be authentic, and may still enhance our appreciation of the text, but they are weak evidence for book of mormon antiquity. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11.