How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Joseph translating with his face in a hat, peep stones, hunting gold, and other forms of magik. The literary testimony of the book of mormon salt lake city. I feel like the authors are banking on tbms thinking what they say is true because its difficult to understand. Its narrative, teachings, and people american fork. The mormon story is that the nephite military commander and prophet moroni buried a history of his people, written on gold plates, in the hill cumorah in ad 421. Certainly one of the most common, one that is viewed as a slam dunk argument by many critics, is the one based on alma 7. Arguments for and against the authenticity of the book of.
I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. Book of mormon proved a fraud globedemocrat september. Oaks and maxwell, in their final assessment of evidentiary proof concerning the book of mormon, admitted to us that the arguments for and against the book. It is alleged that the no selfrespecting israelite would ever use egyptian to write sacred scripture, and it is alleged that no such language as reformed egyptian has ever existed. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents. Contrary to the claims of our critics, there are impressive findings that make it difficult to explain away the book of mormon as a nineteenthcentury fraud from joseph smith. 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. A byu geneticist uses a whole bunch of science to explain why dna testing. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas.
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. The reason that this is one of the best arguments against the authenticity of the book of mormon is that unlike men with steel weapons or large animals, its about impossible to wipe out a honey bee population. The american scripture that launched a new world religion new york. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Mormon prooftexts from the bible christian research. Ive done some statistical analysis of the use of the phrase it came to pass and the word exceedingly in the book of mormon, which is discussed in the book of mormon authorship page. According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible.
Mahaffey, of grantesville, to be in his possession. The additional problems links provide further evidence of the book of mormon and joseph smiths illegitimacy. For one particular physical evidence, look no further than a plethora of archaeological sites from many different centuries, but particularly. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before. There was a similar approach to dna evidence in the book of mormon. Proof the book of mormon isnt true the book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. We have actual evidence that joseph smith was lying to mormons when he invented his new scripture the book of. Some people might suggest that finding the existence of horses or chariots would constitute proof for the book of mormon. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it.
The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of abraham section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 90. If joseph smith was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the same church that christ established while he was on the earth. Book of mormon evidences, part 3 presents further evidence supporting the book of mormon as an ancient document. Discussion regarding the historicity of the book of mormon often focuses on archaeological issues, some of which relate to the large size and the long time span of the civilizations mentioned in the book. Proof that socalled mormon scriptures are of dubious. The purpose of this logical analysis is not to convert anyone who doesnt already believe in the book of mormon or the lds church, or irrefutably prove them. Oxford university press, 2003, 4142, emphasis added. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon.
And i will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of. 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. Isaiah chapters were copied straight from the king james, with only a couple changes made by the translator as he went. It might be the funniest thing in the world to me when someone tells me with absolute certainty that the book of mormon isnt true after having admitted never actually reading the book themselves. The book of mormon mentions cities, trade, warfare, towers, and the use of armorall of which did exist in the ancient americasyet their existence has not convinced critics that the book of mormon is an authentic ancient text. Book of mormon evidences, part one discusses some of the many factors supporting the plausibility of the book of mormon as an ancient document. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very presuppositions. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Discussion in religious debates started by madhatter85. As we begin to explore mormon archaeology, it seems appropriate to introduce the fascinating history of thomas ferguson, an attorney by trade, whose true passion manifest as an amateur archaeologist who dedicated decades of his life to the search for evidence to validate the book of mormon as a historical record. Sep 10, 2019 on monday, august 5, 2019 a federal lawsuit was filed against the formerly mormon corporation of the president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints cop as a proposed class action to recover damages on behalf of laura gaddy and all others similarly situated for fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a number. Is there scientific proof authenticating the book of mormon.
Harmon, made in about 1885, cited in vogel, emd, 2. Recent literary appreciations of the book of mormon include marilyn arnold, sweet is the word. One lawyers case against mormonism each of us has to face the mattereither the church is true, or it is a fraud. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. Biblical proof the book of mormon is true religious forums. I think i have proof that mormonism is not true youtube. Is this the proof that the book of mormon isnt true.
Judge lang was a law partner and a good friend of oliver cowdery. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Instead, this key mormon scripture has been shown to be a 19thcentury work of fiction authored by joseph smith and perhaps others. The book of mormon, combined with the spirit, is your most powerful resource in conversion. If the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, as joseph smith said, why does it contain over 4000 changes from the original 1830 edition.
Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. This page is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one and part two. Internal evidences of the truth of the book of mormon. Twelve beliefs the mormon church might not want you to. It is part of a collection that includes book of mormon evidences, part two, book of mormon evidences, part three, and book of mormon nuggets contrary to the claims of our critics, there are many interesting findings that make it difficult to explain. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to. It is the church and kingdom of god or it is nothing. Mar 14, 2020 you can convince god to send the golden plates back down to earth again, then you can take them to a panel of mesoamerican archaeologists and allow them to examine them at length, performing every scientific test on them that they can think of. This feeling is for them the real proof that the book of mormon is inspired scripture. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. Comparing the bible to the book of mormon, with compilation. There is not a single archeological proof for the book of mormon. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon.
It is also proof of the restoration through the prophet joseph smith. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. A logical proof that mormonism is false by matt slick mormonism teaches that god used to be a man on another world, mormon doctrine by bruce mcconkie, p. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. After one debate with a mormon friend, he told me that he could not question his faith, that it was against his religion to doubt any of the mormon beliefs. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. But if i found out that the book of mormon is truethen everything was going to change. Mormonism teaches to investigators and followers alike that the correct interpretation of this passage is that, the sticks are really scrolls, the stick of judah is the bible, the stick of joseph is the book of mormon, the joining of these sticks mean the joining of the two writings, the bible and the book of mormon. Langs letter, addressed to thomas gregg, of hamilton, illinois, who was the author of the book titled the prophet of palmyra. I try to dissuade both friends and foes alike from going down this path, because absolute proof is a logical and philosophical impossibility.
He informed me that he had prayed and asked god if the book of mormon was true and that he felt affirmation within his heart. I love the stories within the book of mormon, samuel the superhero. Is the scathing lawsuit against the mormon church mormon. Arguments againstces letter issues such as wordforword king james bible language, and the mistakes in the king james isaiah being propagated in the book of mormon are a pretty solid argument against authenticity there is little doubt the b. The first argument against the book of mormon that elder callister listed was. 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. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the holy ghost that the book of mormon is true. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. One of the most common attacks against the book of mormon focuses on the use of reformed egyptian as the writing system for the golden plates mormon 9. Oct 05, 2012 joseph smith translated the book of mormon from gold plates.
You can convince god to send the golden plates back down to earth again, then you can take them to a panel of mesoamerican archaeologists and allow them to examine them at length, performing every scientific test on them that they can think of. Employing the word cement was cited as anachronistic proof of the book of mormons fabrication. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. A byu geneticist uses a whole bunch of science to explain why dna testing results are meaningless as proof against the bom. Disproves lds claims that joseph smith received the book of abraham through revelation and proves that joseph smiths source for his translation was a pagan egyptian text, the book of breathings. When talking to mormons, expect to hear them say, i know the book.
As a believing mormon and practicing mesoamerican archaeologist, im frequently questioned by strangers and neighbors about physical evidence and proofs of the book of mormon. Roberts wrote a letter in 1932 citing a few sources for cement work that predated the book of mormons publication, but this information was highly obscure until the middle of the 20 th century. Well, as part of what may be a more balanced approach, let me admit that there are many arguments that are used against the book of mormon. The purpose behind these is to demonstrate to those who do believe just how much of an impact the existence and validity has on. Why does the book of mormon state that jesus was born in jerusalem alma 7.
There are a small number of mentions in the book of mormon of horses. Along with my own insights ive provided evidence from archaeologists, historians, gospel scholars, and others who have made such study the. 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. Critics note that there is no physical proof of the existence of golden plates. It provides powerful evidence for the divinity of christ.
Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Oct 11, 2005 i was asked why i dont provide evidence against the book of mormon as well as for. Joseph smith translated the book of mormon from gold plates. Supporters of the book of mormon claim it uses chiasmusa figure of speech utilizing inverted parallelismand claim it is evidence to support the books ancient origin. There is no question that the isaiah passages in the book of mormon are in the language of the king james translation of the bible. It seems that if nephi had copied them from the plates of brass in hebrew onto his own record and that if joseph smith had then received the english translation by the gift and power of god, the isaiah passages would read more like the 1830 book of mormon and less. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Hebrew term moshia signifies a champion of justice against oppression, appointed by god, whose mission it is to. How to prove that the book of mormon is true quora. On monday, august 5, 2019 a federal lawsuit was filed against the formerly mormon corporation of the president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints cop as a proposed class action to recover damages on behalf of laura gaddy and all others similarly situated for fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a number. The book of mormon is not a translation of ancient american history engraved in reformed egyptian, on golden plates buried by an early american prophet. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god. The best argument against lds mormonism shameless popery.
Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of. I found upon my desk when i returned home this evening and i. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very. Eugene england, a second witness for the logos, in by study and also by faith. It is the witness of all witnesses the evidence of all evidences. Powerful evidence against the book of mormon mormanity. Explores the joseph smith papyrus and demonstrates that joseph smiths claim that he had translated the book of abraham from it was a fabrication. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. I cant deny the spiritual and logical reasons that were presented to me as part of my testimony of that books truthfulness. Logical arguments for the book of mormon and joseph smith.
Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The logical arguments of the book of mormon kelly bingham november 1, 1997. While mormon scholars admit valid challenges to mormonism from archaeology and the book of abraham, they say the evidences of mormonisms truthfulness is the book of mormon itself, gods confirmation in your spirit, and the number of changed lives. I was asked why i dont provide evidence against the book of mormon as well as for. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic.