So also, the bible without the book of mormon is missing a lot. The bible is the works of the prophets and historians based in the middle east, and it covers ancient years of history starting from gods creation of the world until about ad100. 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. 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. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Among other problems, the book of mormon contains historical anachronisms glass in windows, a compass used for maritime navigation and a detailed description of advanced ancient civilizations on the north american continent for which there is no.
Clearly, the book of mormons purpose is not only to second the biblical witness but also to evidence the ongoing revelation of the gospel. A new archaeological excavation at the south of the temple mount in jerusalem has just barely uncovered an 8th century seal impression that might have belonged to the biblical prophet isaiah, revered by nephi and other book of mormon prophets. In addition, there is ample evidence that he did not translate the golden plates into the book of mormon. That very arrangement is now well documented archaeologically an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, provo, utah. The facts are that he mistranslated portions of the bible, as well as the book of abraham, the kinderhook plates, and a greek psalter. The book of mormon does fit into what we know of the ancient world. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic. When we study the book of mormon, our understanding of the doctrines in the bible is clarified. It took smith less than 3 months to translate the writings and publish it into a 588 volume. Bible ties to the book of mormon bible reference for lds.
It tells of a thousand years that dates back from 600 b. Nephi quotes isaiah for a whopping chapters straight in 2 nephi 1224, and continues to quote and refer to him throughout the small plates nephi is not the only one who uses isaiah. Due to the nature of its origin, that would support the existence of god. Mormon prooftexts from the bible christian research. Atop it a fence of timbers was planted and bound together with vines. If there are differences between the bible and the book of mormon, they reject the bible. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. As a companion to the bible, the book of mormon is a witness of jesus christs divinity and his role as the savior of the world.
Is there evidence for the book of mormon in the bible. Evidence that the new testament phrases in the book of. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The book of mormon restores plain and precious truths that have been lost from the bible. The king james bible critics of the book of mormon claim that major portions of it are copied, without attribution, from the bible. New archaeological evidence for book of mormon prophet. Book of mormon readers are well aware of a tribal group who claimed to descend from a son of king zedekiah named mulek. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. Roberts, studies of the book of mormon, 2nd edition salt lake city. There is no evidence that joseph smith ever translated anything, including the golden plates into the book of mormon. It is the one undeniable sign of his divinely given gifts of translation. President benson said that the church had neglected its charter scripture and that now, in our day, the lord has.
This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents. Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the book of mormon. The purpose of the book of mormon is to convince the world that jesus is the christ, our lord and redeemer.
Eugene england, a second witness for the logos, in by study and also by faith. So much for the book of mormon being a different gospel than the bible the record of this visit is found in the book of 3rd nephi, in the book of mormon. In terms of evidence, if we compare the bible to the book of mormon, the bible wins hands down. In fact there are more lost, altered and changed sections in the book of mormon when you compare the original 1830 book of mormon to the current edition, than the few variant readings in the new testament. Contemporary followers of the latter day saint movement typically regard the text primarily as scripture, but also as a historical record of. More on joseph smiths plagiarism in the book of mormon. Before delving into archaeological matters, it is helpful to take a step back and consider what archaeological evidence means in relation to the book of mormon. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. We invite all men everywhere to read the book of mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask god, the eternal father, in the name of christ if the book is true. A mormon general authoritys doubts about the authenticity.
The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god. Its early account of jerusalem just before the babylonian captivity gains in plausibility as research continues to accumulate. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. It was written by prophets anciently, preserved, and translated in our era by the power of god as a tool to bring souls to christ. The literary testimony of the book of mormon salt lake city. Provides concrete evidence disproving the book of abraham, demonstrating that joseph smith was a false prophet.
And whereas the bible is organically linked to the earthly ministry of jesus christ by extensive surviving manuscript evidence going back as far as a. The bible the bible was originally written languages of the people composing it. Of course, outside of the mormon s own writings, there are no records, no evidence whatsoever of any such visit by jesus to the americas. Discussion in religious debates started by madhatter85, aug 20, 2007. Scholars argue that no evidence of a reformed egyptian language has ever been discovered. Harold bloom is arguably the foremost living scholar of american literature.
We have got a bible, and there cannot be any more bible. In this way mormon scripture and prophecy situate america within the framework of the traditional biblical story. For example, critics of mormonism have shown convincing proof that the. The writers of the book of mormon often stated that they would make a record of the things that they had seen or done.
The book of mormon has no claim to validity due to its lack of incorporation into the biblical cannon. Each book stands as evidence that god lives and speaks to his children by revelation to his prophets. Biblical proof the book of mormon is true religious forums. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on not only the subject of archaeology, but also on the reality of both biblical and book of mormon archaeology. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. The book of mormon describes a ditch being dug around the protected area. Mormon beliefs are also shown to contradict both the bible and the book of mormon. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m.
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 american history as an article of their faith. Its narrative, teachings, and people american fork. 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. 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. 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 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. When talking to mormons, expect to hear them say, i know the book. However, this phrase provides evidence that the writers of the book of mormon had training in the ways of ancient scribes. How is the phrase make a record an evidence for the book. Recent literary appreciations of the book of mormon include marilyn arnold, sweet is the word. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth.
Regarding the presence of extensive phrases and passages from the bible in the text of the english translation of the book of mormon, skousen concluded that, based on evidence from the original and printers manuscripts, they also seem to have been revealed word for word, as opposed to having been copied from the bible. 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. The book of mormon and the king james bible wikipedia. Mormon scripture and the lost tribes of israel bible odyssey. The book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. 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. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints otherwise known as mormons. And for those of you who want proof outside the bofm, there is archaeological evidence supporting jesus appearance in the new world, including the ruins of preeuropean christian churches. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. 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.
Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. The book of mormon contains many linguistic similarities to the king james bible kjv. Love for the book of mormon expands ones love for the. Take note of the additions that joseph smith made to isaiah 2. Intellectual evidence of book of mormon authenticity is an issue worthy of careful consideration. The belief in the restoration of the 10 tribes provided the basis for an americacentered theology and made america the home of a wholly new scripturethe book of mormon. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. There is absolutely no archaeological evidence to directly support the book of mormon or the nephites and lamanites, who were supposed to have numbered in the millions. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faiththe very word of god. This is shaky evidence based on loose interpretation. These facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world.
The bible the bible teaches that all men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of god. As such, he has studied all of the main works attributed to joseph smith, since the book of mormon is one of the most influential works of american literature. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. In the actual context of the bible, the men were bowing down to idols and not god isaiah 2. On the other hand, the book of mormon was primarily written in the americas.
This is clear evidence that joseph smith was copying from the bible to provide filler for the book of mormon. Admittedly, evidence surrounding the book of mormon is not our greatest strength, while the bible itself contains hundreds of verifiable events, wars, cities. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Have any nonmormon scholars seriously analyzed the book. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. They present this as evidence that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon by plagiarizing the authorized king james version of the bible. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. The content of the book of mormon may be the most convincing evidence for its claim as a historical record and divine scripture. Roberts 18571933, an lds general authority widely considered mormonisms greatest apologist and historian, 1 expressed the grave doubt that the book of mormon is a translation of ancient. For mei wanted some evidence and it wasnt enough for someone else to tell me it was true. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.
Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream academic community. The book of mormon the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. To the ardent follower of joseph smith, the book of mormon is the surest proof of his prophetic office. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to.
123 214 544 371 626 1152 801 1156 221 115 87 1222 1023 887 704 135 340 873 529 67 1457 49 392 251 397 1431 24 941 235