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. And, with more study, the books sturdiness and richness and the remarkable accomplishment of its translator, the prophet joseph smith, become more apparent. One such group is the foundation for ancient research and mormon. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. When i first encountered the book of mormon, i assumed it was a hoax. Nov 08, 2011 most of the book uses the bom to prove itself true to paraphrase, the bom is true, i believe it, therefore its true.
Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. You say that the book of mormon was written for our day. Nov 27, 2006 there is no definitive proof the book of mormon is true. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. 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 were equal, with neither side being able to prove whether the book of mormon was true or untrue. It was only in the last couple of chapters that the author really provides evidence that might be used to help a nonbeliever find the book to be true. Evidence the book of mormon is true the book of mormon is true, because i learned this at church from gods handpicked servants, and we all know the church is true and lead by a living prophet and all you have to do is click here to see the evidence.
Yes we may not believe the same things as everyone else, but as with all religions, the basis for the truth is the faith of its membership. As an active and lifetime member we crave validation, proof that our world and our religion is true. 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. Top mormon official admits mormonism is a fake religion newslo. It has been set up to be an all or nothing campaign, where if the book is true, then joseph smith was a prophet and if he was the prophet, then he restored the only true church. Oct 16, 20 salt lake city a member of the first presidency of the mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints also known as the mormon church today publicly admitted that the entire religion was completely bogus, and that the church hierarchy has been making things up for the past 200 years. Employing the word cement was cited as anachronistic proof of the book of mormons fabrication. See richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city.
The book of mormon does fit into what we know of the ancient world. This argument discounts this vast field of study by calling scholars and investigators mere apologists. However, mormons will not give in to a logical proof since their testimonies are not based on facts but on what they claim is a testimony of the holy spirit. Mormon prooftexts from the bible christian research institute. It is also proof of the restoration through the prophet joseph smith. But if i found out that the book of mormon is truethen everything was going to change. But ultimately god requires faith, and is most likely making it intentionally difficult to prove the book of mormon is true. By contrast, the evidence shows that the book of mormon is not translated from ancient scriptures but is a nineteenthcentury fiction.
How to know the book of mormon is true kindle edition by rose, tom g download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. While the bible continues to prove to be accurate through archaeological findings, evidence for claims made in the book of mormon continue to be lacking. Did i miss the chapters about global warming, polygamy in this life and the next oh yeahit was forbidden, gay people trying their hardest to be active latterday saints, heavenly mother, the president packercondemned movement of feminism, or coping with the church building a 1. In the ultimate analysis, they told us, the book of mormon had to be accepted on faith. There are also some powerful evidences for the book of mormon, including important correlations from the book of mormon text to mesoamerica and hebrew language and customs. All of these things, and many more found in the book of mormon, are certainly compelling, but they do not prove that the book of mormon is a true account that was translated by the prophet joseph smith from ancient plates that he unearthed with the assistance of an angel.
We have actual evidence that joseph smith was lying to mormons when he invented his new scripture the book of abraham. There is no definitive proof the book of mormon is true. For those who long to more fully understand the intricacies of scriptural doctrine and events, knowing why holds the key. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Then, along came the archaeologists to save the day. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Although proof alone does not create testimonies or convince souls that the book of mormon is true, circumstantial evidence does support joseph smiths claim that the book of mormon is an ancient record written by former inhabitants of the americas. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god. To the lds faithful, the book of mormon is the true historical account of a group of ancient israelites who fled jerusalem prior to the babylonian captivity 600 b. Most of the book uses the bom to prove itself true to paraphrase, the bom is true, i believe it, therefore its true.
Study guide 1 1 the book of mormon a says that silk, steel, iron, and coins were all used for almost a thousand years in america from 600 bc to about 421 ad, but. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. Historicity, geography, and methods of authorship continue to be hotly debated among mormons and exmormons as a way to prove that the book is true or false. How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. Jan 23, 2016 early critics of the book of mormon had a heyday with this one, pointing out that steel did not exist at the time nephi would have written this passage the prevailing knowledge in 1830, so the book of mormon couldnt possibly be true. If they will not agree to this condition they unwittingly confirm the fact that this is not a fool proof method for determining truth. Evidence that the book of mormon, while good to have, is not the essential thing that will convert mankind to its truthfulness, or to the person the book of mormon is bearing witness 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.
In this episode, dave talks about the relationship between faith and unanswered questions. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. Ten lies i told as a mormon missionary mormonism research. Its early account of jerusalem just before the babylonian captivity gains in plausibility as research continues to accumulate. Delve deeper into the book of mormon and discover for yourself why its true. In the articlei gave my personal experience with the book of mormon in my college years and also laid out some of the logical reasons why i believe the book to be true. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.
The mormon church is the only true church i was answered that i must join none of them, for they were all wrongall their creeds were an abomination in his sight. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. Feb 16, 2016 historicity, geography, and methods of authorship continue to be hotly debated among mormons and exmormons as a way to prove that the book is true or false. True understanding of scripture requires diligent studynot only reading at the surface level but delving deeper and asking the question why. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. The book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. As a missionary, you must first have a personal testimony that the book of mormon is true. 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. Centuries later, according to the scripture, jesus appeared to the nephites in the same region after his resurrection.
What proof is there that the book of mormon is true. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. I have a decent background on the teachings of the church and there are scriptures we use to explain things which we believe is true. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found. 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. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been written in otherwise unknown characters referred to as reformed egyptian engraved on golden plates. 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.
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. All the wordprint studies, understanding of olive culture, or reading of chiasmus will not convert anyone to a life of. The book of mormon the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The book of first nephi, the first book in the volume, describes the actions of lehi and his family in leaving jerusalem before its destruction, following the counsel of the lord, and wandering through the wilderness for several years before embarking on a transoceanic voyage to somewhere in or near central america. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. Evidence of the truthfulness of the book of mormon lds.
T he book of mormon is advertized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as another testament of jesus christ and specifically of the account of his supposed visit to the american continent the book of mormon, 3 nephi 11. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. Mormon prooftexts from the bible christian research. Due to the nature of its origin, that would support the existence of god. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading proof. Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of. This argument discounts theories about the book of mormon civilization as models, but that is what every scientific theory, law, or conclusion is. The story of how it came about is rather fantastic, after all, and the simplest explanation is that the book was a deliberate deception. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. These facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world. How to prove that the book of mormon is true quora. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Many scholars and laymen have searched known history of the americas for evidence that the book of mormon is true, as has similarly been done with the bible in the middle east.
Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faiththe very word of god. The dominant and widely accepted view among latter day saints is that the book of mormon is a true and accurate account of these ancient american civilizations whose religious history it documents. The content of the book of mormon may be the most convincing evidence for its claim as a historical record and divine scripture. Mormonism is there any archaeological evidence for the. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. The additional problems links provide further evidence of the book of mormon and joseph smiths illegitimacy. How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book of. 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. The program was kjzzs nephite explorer, hosted by investigative journalist ryan fisher, who would go to historical sites said to have been. To prove my point, ask your mormon acquaintance if heshe will renounce joseph smith and the lds church if you were to pray about the book of mormon and, as a result, felt that god told you it was not scripture. 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. Dear mormons, you dont know the book of mormon is true. 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. Knowing why 7 evidences that the book of mormon is true.
It provides powerful evidence for the divinity of christ. 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. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very presuppositions. Is there scientific proof authenticating the book of mormon. This book presents some of the intellectual proofs he has discovered that affirm the book of mormon is of divine origin. National geographic discovery of mayan ruins not proof, but very. Stunning new findings from the jungles of northern guatemala have caught the attention of a number of latterday saints, for quite. I cant deny the spiritual and logical reasons that were presented to me as part of my testimony of that books truthfulness.
Nov 30, 20 these facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world. Some people loved itand some people hated itbut at the end of the day, the experiences i shared are so tangible to me that ill never be able to forget or deny their. I know, because i received an answer through my prayers from the holy ghost. Evidence from history, archaeology, and other fields of study prove that the bible is a collection of ancient writings and confirm much of its historical claims. I think i have proof that mormonism is not true youtube. 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. Available in stores and online at deseret book, seagull book, and the byu store this new book is a compilation of reedited and updated knowhys written by john w.
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. They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. An essential part of conversion is receiving a witness from the holy ghost that the book of mormon is true.
These claims have historically been taken on faith. 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. Is there any proof that the book of mormon is true. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Scholars today have varying theories about the true authorship of the book of mormon, but most conclude that smith composed the book himself, possibly with the help of oliver cowdery and sidney rigdon, drawing from information and publications available in his time, including the king james bible, the wonders of nature, and view of the hebrews. Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. Anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. Of course, all cult groups have testimonies that their church is true proving that testimonies are contradictory and untrustworthy as. But is there any evidence to support them one way or the other. And while we will never prove the book of mormon true, the trajectory of the evidence strongly suggests that it is exactly what it claims to be, a book worthy of our. You can say what you want, but it wont change the fact that i know and i can not deny it book of mormon is modern. 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. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon.
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