If there is data supporting the texts, we can calculate whether the book of mormon should be considered to be based on fact or simply a good fiction story. In this volume, nine latterday saint scholars each address the question of book of mormon authorship from a different approach. Why is the book of mormons historical authenticity so. Book of mormon archaeology is real, authentic, scientifically researched, a proven fact. Claims book of mormon archaeology is based upon scant evidence is deception for the masses. Jon does a fair and factual history of the mormon church and the rise of polygamy and the flds. 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. Are the mormon scriptures credible catholic answers. Meldrum is a researcher, author and national lecturer on the truthfulness of the book of mormon, its historical efficacy and scriptural and physical evidences. This same name, rendered as malchiah, is found in jeremiah 38. Also, the book of mormon contains grave errors and contradictions. This booklet explores the credibility of the account given by joseph smith, jr. Smiths credibility as a translator is essential to the credibility of the mormon scriptures, and his inability to translate texts such as these indicate that the mormon scriptures are not credible. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon.
Some even base their testimony of the truthfulness of the book of mormon on these 11 witnesses and their claims. This new discovery possibly adds further credibility to the book of mormon. Is there any credibility to the claim that book of mormon. Because he was an eloquent believer in the law of moses, there has been a variety of surmise as to his background. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982, 237. Correlation and verification through dna, prophetic, scriptural, historical, climatological, archaeological, social, and cultural evidence rodney meldrum, 2007, mailorder dvd. Think joseph smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance. As you know full well, scientists and academics in general feel they will lose their professional credibility if they corroborate scholarly findings which lend credibility to the idea that the bible or book of mormon are authentic records of real events. Has an artifact that relates to the book of mormon been. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. His research supports the writings and teachings of ancient and latterday prophets and indicates north america as the location where its epic history played out. We are both fans of jon krakauer and he has a lot of credibility with both of us. The book of mormon claims to be the most perfect revelation of god to mankind.
New scientific support for the truthfulness of the book of mormon. The need for historicity of the book of mormon with. Pates findings in mapping the book of mormon and adds exciting new discoveries that lend credibility to the book of mormon and its geographic location. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Book of mormon authorship religious studies center. The book of mormon describes itself as an abridgment of the record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites as well as an abridgment taken from the book of ether also, which is a record of the people of jared, which was sealed by the hand of moroni, and hid up unto the lord, to come forth in due time by way of the gentilethe interpretation thereof by the. Book of mormon mormon topics introduction click here. Perhaps the greatest crack in the credibility of the book of mormon is that whole sections were derived directly from the king james version of the biblethis despite the fact that according to mormon chronology, the book of mormon predates the king james version by more than a thousand years. There are many types of questions, and answers have usually been published previously in several places.
Ancient israelites did come to america over 2400 years ago. It rests on the truth of the book of mormon and the reality of modern revelation. In this section of the website, readers will find concise answers to questions that have been raised about the credibility of the book of mormon. Book of mormon questions and answers book of mormon central. Summary of problems with rod meldrums heartland theory. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Clearly, isaiah is a very prominent figure in book of mormon writings, and was revered for his powerful prophecies. Perhaps the greatest crack in the credibility of the book of mormon is that whole sections were derived directly from the king james version of the bible this despite the fact that according to mormon chronology, the book of mormon predates the king james version by more than a thousand years.
The lord covenanted with enos to bring forth the book of mormon to the lamanites, enos 1. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. The lords words will hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, 2 ne. Historical evidence has led many people to question the authenticity of the book of mormon and the credibility of joseph smiths story. Does mormonism rest on joseph smiths credibility alone. Illuminating the credibility of the book of mormon through archaeological photographs. For those interested, an overview of book of mormon geography and the various geographical models offered over the years is available on on the fair wiki.
Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Each of these links provides welldocumented information with the ability to locate other information of interest.
The need for historicity of the book of mormon with stephen smoot. Archaeologists excavating in jerusalem discovered a small stamp seal in the 1980s belonging to a certain malkiyahu ben hamelek, or malkiyahu son of the king. Rodney meldrum, dna evidence for book of mormon geography. No, there is no historical credibility to that claim. The book of mormon and the bible will grow together, 2 ne. If a socalled holy book is not a myth, then we will find that the names of cities, people, and other unique details will be supported by archaeological evidence. The book of mormon is fraught with other errors as well. This book was written by an elder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to try and give some credibility to the book of mormon and joseph smith. If the prophet isaiah truly existed, and wrote in the late 8 th century b. Book of mormon creators trey parker and matt stone this week. Reviews of dna evidence for book of mormon geography. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. The people and places are not proven to exist, it was written by a man and not godbreathed.
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. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that they had seen andor handled. There is some speculation for that claim based on a book written by former mormon john c. New archaeological evidence for book of mormon prophet. This destroys smiths credibility as a translator, supernatural or otherwise. The truth is that there is no historical or archealogical evidence from a nonmormon source that proves that anyone or anything mentioned in the book of mormon actually took place. The bible the bible says that jesus is god incarnate. Or, an expose of joe smith and mormonism wherein he c. Book of mormon the book of mormon has absolutely no credibility. Perhaps the greatest crack in the credibility of the book of mormon is that whole sections were derived directly from the king james version of the biblethis despite the fact that according to mormon chronology, the book of mormon predates the king.
For example, benjamin was changed to mosiah when mormon leaders realized that in the chronology of the book of mormon king benjamin had already diedthus he would have been hard pressed to interpret the engravings mentioned in mosiah 21. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. We cannot rule out the possibility that the prophet drew passages from a printed bible. This article is being offered free as a courtesy to as it was footnoted in an expanded gospel topic on their site while much that has been said regarding the origin of the book of mormon is beyond the experience of the average searcher, only as he accepts or rejects the credibility of the earliest witnesses, the existence of the book itself provides a common ground for careful.
Ever since the book of mormon was first published in 1830, its origins have been disputed. Ill be glad in questions to name people and so on but im really trying to work with issuesbut the issue here is that people work with this idea that my approach in the little red book or the big blue book before that, the first edition, investigating the book of mormon witnesses, that approach says honesty and credibility was the. Those interested in knowing more about dna and the book of mormon can find information on the fair website or on the fair wiki. I believe from the book of mormon musical on the 65th tony. The book of mormon original broadway cast recording licensed to youtube by.
The original book of mormon manuscript byu studies. His claim is that he received a set of metal plates which he translated by the gift and power of god with the aid of the instruments which the. The credibility of the book of mormon translators richard lloyd anderson wrote an excellent article titled the credibility of the book of mormon translators that was a chapter in book of mormon authorship. Still, even though the credibility of joseph smith is only of marginal importance today, in the early days of the restoration of the gospel and church of jesus c. Amazing language artifacts from the book of mormon native americans knew hebrew duration. How the plates of the book of mormon were translated. The imperative for book of mormon historicity, stephen smoot maintains the credibility of the book of mormon is intricately linked to its historicity. The book of mormons first antichrist, sherem, came among the nephites before their first generation was ended. 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. If malchiah is the same person as the book of mormons mulek, then the stamp seal belonging to malkiyahu would lend independent credibility to the historical. This paper examines the culture, credibility and relevance of the testimony of the eleven men the lds church presents as witnesses to the book of mormon.
It draws extensively from early sources, both lds and nonlds, to provide an honest and balanced portrayal. I told the brethren 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. The credibility of the book of mormon translators book. Having biblical texts in the book of mormon in different wording than they knew from the bible may have hurt the books credibility in the eyes of many potential converts. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship titled et incarnatus est. Pate introduces his second volume as he now turns to the fascinating subject of finding book of mormon names in maya stone. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982. As a missionary, i was instructed to teach investigators about the testimonies of the witnesses to the book of mormon as part of boosting the books credibility.
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