The book of mormon claims to be the history of the inhabitants of the western hemisphere from about 2200 bc to. I could honestly say that i knew by the power of the holy ghost that the book of mormon is the word of god, but i couldnt describe what that meant. For example, what joseph translated to be the book of abraham has been translated by a number of experts and it has nothing to do with abraham. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. 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. Documented evidences are given to show that the major doctrines and teachings of the mormon church are contrary to the teachings of the book of mormon. Evidence of the truthfulness of the book of mormon lds. Mormons, is there any decent evidence that the book of mormon.
Book of mormon thought false by lds memberarchaelogist. 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. If the book of mormon is really a true history, then i would think that there should be some archaeological evidence that supports the truthfulness of those historical events. 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.
Before you fall to your knees, there are some things you need to know that they are not telling you and wont unless you ask. For those who long to more fully understand the intricacies of scriptural doctrine and events, knowing why holds the key. Apologetics press the book of mormon and the ancient evidence. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god. On the other hand, if its origin is godgiven, then joseph smith was a prophet, and if he. Read jesus words to the ancient americans while these studies may be intriguing and thoughtprovoking, mormons claim that the only way to know if the book of mormon really is true and if christ really did visit the. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. According to the church of jesus christ of latter day saints a. Through an exploration of ancient literature and cultures, joseph smiths educational background, and the science of wordprints, the book of mormon is true invites audiences to strengthen their testimony of this sacred scripture as the divine word of god. Videos you watch may be added to the tvs watch history and influence tv recommendations. Such claims as this are based on the unscriptural assumption that the lord jesus christ has a specific religious organization on the earth today, complete with a name, a membership, and a.
I read the book of mormon a few times growing up and i always felt that it was true, but i could never clearly express how i had come to that knowledge. It would have been very difficult for these men to. Next will come the invitation to read the book of mormon, pray, and ask god to show you it is true. Jul 21, 2011 no matter where i look i find nothing but indications that it is not true.
The most well known scripture of the mormon church is the book of mormon, even though most mormon theology does not derive from this book. Archaeological and historical evidence where did the book. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. 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. 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. Smith once called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion smith, 1902, 4.
Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The book strengthened my testimony in the value and truthfulness of the book of mormon and made me contemplate these writings in. The prophet joseph smith said the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. This book clearly brought out the unique language used by each chapter author of the book of mormon and the authors selection of words. Available in stores and online at deseret book, seagull book, and the byu store. The book strengthened my testimony in the value and truthfulness of the book of mormon and made me contemplate these writings in a whole new light. Wayne mays twopart presentation at the november 20 vernal, ut book of mormon evidence conference. 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. The book of mormon, true or false budvarson, arthur. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. 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.
The book of mormon is true and could have only happened in north america. 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. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. How to prove that the book of mormon is true quora.
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. Apr 20, 2015 updated description regarding comments. Of course you must do this with sincerity, or it wont work. The list of archaeological and historical claims of the book. 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. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Jan 02, 2020 next will come the invitation to read the book of mormon, pray, and ask god to show you it is true. At the time joseph smith translated the book of mor mon, only 25 percent of. In this way, the mormon system is expanded to other planets. The criticism of the mormon church is the following. Aug 01, 2008 i read the book of mormon a few times growing up and i always felt that it was true, but i could never clearly express how i had come to that knowledge. Dna samples taken from modern american indians show no connection to the dna of the peoples of the middle east.
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. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Whatever the case may be, we cannot help but sympathize with men like thomas stuart ferguson and b. A very plausible lost and missing novel by solomon spalding manuscript found, separate and distinct from the oberlin manuscript has not been ruled out by mormon apologists. B events of the bible and book of mormon visavis the archaeological record. 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. As a result, if the book of mormon can be proved to be manmade, then the church is manmade. Indeed, nephis record is the oldest existing record on travel along the gaza branch of the ancient frankincense trail. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record. Watch book of mormon centrals new video on one of the best examples of archaeological evidence we have for the book of mormon.
Sep 22, 2017 book of mormon centrals new book, knowing why. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon to be false. 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. Mormonism is there any archaeological evidence for the. So that means we can put the book of mormon to the test. Holy bible john 10 in the book of mormon, christ explains to the ancient american people that they were the other sheep. Jun 22, 2016 book of mormon archaeology in north america. 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. Book of mormon evidences mormonism, the mormon church. Jan 11, 2017 book of mormon evidence compiled from video interviews done in 2014, 2016 and 2017. If the resurrected savior, jesus christ, really did visited the book of mormon people in the americas. The mormon book, the pearl of great price, claims that all other christian groups are corrupt and are an abomination in gods sight joseph smith, 2.
To avoid this, cancel and sign in to youtube on your computer. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. 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. These are just a few clips about interesting stories and archaeological findings etc. 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.
This must mean that amerindians are not descended from book of mormon peoples, and the book of mormon is false. Book of mormon evidence compiled from video interviews done in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Book of mormon archaeology in north america book of mormon. But ultimately god requires faith, and is most likely making it intentionally difficult to prove the book of mormon is true, secularly. 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. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts.
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. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. 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. I am told that the way to determine is to pray to god to reveal to me that the book of mormon is true, but no one seems to be able to give me any evidence that it is true. 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. 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. If the book of mormon is false, joseph smith was not a prophet. Studies of the book of mormon is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century though not published until 1985 by b. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. Welch while he was on an lds mission in regensburg, germany, chiasmus or poetic parallelism is a nested ancient hebraic form of explaining an idea, where the ideas are set out in series of statements and then repeated with the first being last. Book of mormon is the keystone of our religion, as described by joseph smith,2 the church rises or falls on the truth of it. True understanding of scripture requires diligent studynot only reading at the surface level but delving deeper and asking the question why. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. Jun 17, 2017 watch book of mormon centrals new video on one of the best examples of archaeological evidence we have for the 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. In like manner it is shown that the claims made for the book of mormon are in disagreement with true archaeological data, as well as not being in accord with the word of god, the holy bible. This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. But ultimately god requires faith, and is most likely making it intentionally difficult to prove the book of.