Is the book of mormon accurate

This dna evidence also establishes a link between the ancient jews and the native americans, proving the churchs now dated claims that the people of the book of mormon are the principle ancestors of the native americans. If the numbers are accurate, this shows attention to accuracy of details that is exceptional in an ancient text. The book of mormon is nothing more than a story concocted by joseph smith when he was a boy. What can we learn about the book of mormon as an ancient text. Based on the earliest sources available, this corrected text represents the most accurate and readable edition of thebook of mormonever published first published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and its estimated million members. The book of mormon is sometimes perceived as portraying the lamanites only as a cursed and loathsome peoplethe bad guys. Are the book of mormon musical and south park mormon. Yes, the first 116 pages of the book of mormon were lost. To accept the book of mormon necessarily requires accepting its origin. Ok, thats some pretty lazy, and intentionally misleading storytelling right there. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text. Therefore, this shows that the book of mormon is accurate and must have been translated by the power of god as joseph smith claimed. This claim, as well as all claims to historical authenticity of the book of mormon, are rejected by nonlatter day saint historians and scientists. Corn really existed in the new world during the book of mormon time frame, so that word should appear in the book of mormon if it is an accurate historical record.

Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Many have seen the broadway musical, the book of mormon, but how much of the musical is actually correct teachings of the church of jesus christ of. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.

Jun 14, 2011 so i read an article on mormon times called is the book of mormon musical accurate satire. Lets say that we have to keep the general idea of a people being gods chosen people, and jesus visiting. No nonmormon historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, biologist, linguist, or other expert in ancient american matters considers the bom to be at all an accurate account of ancient american events or cultures. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. The book of mormon adds, the labor which they had to perform was to look. Are the names used in the book of mormon authentic. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut. Rudins anecdote echoes a common refrain that the shows producers have repeated since before it opened, that the book of mormon, while obviously satirical, offers an accurate depiction of latterday saint doctrines and culture. There is about an inch margin on the top, bottom, and right column. Or that the current president of the mormon church, russell nelson, speaks directly to god. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. The book of mormon bom was first published in palmyra, new york, in 1830, its title page giving the name joseph smith, jun.

And i guess i would say thats equally accurate to the bible. However, mormons are also taught to ponder the things of god. The book of mormon vs mormonism by richard packham most people mormons and nonmormons alike assume that the mormon religion is based on its holy book, the book of mormon and that by reading that book one can learn what mormonism is all about. The measuring tool was a digital micrometer, accurate to within 20100,000 of an inch.

It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. According to most adherents of the latter day saint movement, the book of mormon is a 19thcentury translation of a record of ancient inhabitants of the american continent, which was written in a script which the book refers to as reformed egyptian. Mormons claim that the book of mormon is the most accurate, complete account of the people, culture, and events of ancient america. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Released by the best replica company stratford books grandin artisans it is the most detailed, accurate replica ever produced.

What would the book of mormon be like if it was as. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, 20, 397398. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. The church publishes topic pages on that directly address many of the more difficult to answer questions about the book of mormon using scholarly research and historical facts. This is a great resource to check whenever you find yourself faced with a challenging topic. The book of mormons own population data is consistent with this figure. What would the book of mormon be like if it was as historically accurate as possible. The story of how it came about is rather fantastic, after all, and the simplest explanation is that the book was a deliberate deception. Nyman, associate professor of ancient scripture, brigham young university it was the prophet joseph smith who said that the book of mormon was the. Jan 03, 2012 how accurate is the book of mormon not very, there have been 39 changes in the book since the so called inspired translations by joseph smith. Archaeologists and other researchers after 1830 confirmed that such ancient civilizations and cities, similar to those described in the book of mormon, did exist.

From an archaeological perspective not at all there has not been one single find in all of the usa or the americas that confirm any of the bom. The accuracy of smiths story has been widely invalidated. 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. So i read an article on mormon times called is the book of mormon musical accurate satire. Given similar statements in view of the hebrews, we do not count this as unusual, but it is both specific and detailed. Also lets keep the general idea of joseph receiving the book of mormon. It is a general instruction or rule for action, a maxim, esp. How accurate is the book of mormon not very, there have been 39 changes in the book since the so called inspired translations by joseph smith. A precept is a command, a mandate, an order pertaining to proper behavior. Never mind the irony in the title of the article, ill discuss that further in a minute.

Joseph smiths statement avers that a person will draw nearer to god by abiding by the precepts of the book of. 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. When a chapter ends, the page is left blank until the next page. There are some serios problems with the book of mormon that the lds church cannot adequately explain.

And the most accurate replica, with 50 features like the original of 1830. Church admits book of mormon not history and to go to lengths to translate the words he wants so that he can be redundant as if saying that it is a miraculous miracle somehow makes it even better than anyone might have thought otherwise. The book of mormon does indeed have authentic semitic constructions in it, but lds need to tread cautiously in establishing them. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. 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. It is an accurate statement that mormons are taught to not doubt the lord. Mike caba, archaeologist and dean of faculty at kilns college, describes his attempts to obtain information from the mormon church about the historicity of t. Assuming the book of mormon is historically accurate, does. All this lack of evidence to support the book of mormon discredits joseph smith as a socalled prophet. The original version of this essay was written pursuant to an invitation from the website public square, which features online debates on a wide range of topics politics, society, philosophy, religion. Debunking 5 myths about the book of mormon lds living. Also, even if such prophecies were not contained in the book of mormon, it seems that acceptance of the book implicitly requires acceptance of the concept of the great apostasy.

Book of mormon is not historically accurate, but bible is. The book of mormon makes a number of direct, scientificallyfalsifiable claims, literally all of which have been disproven without a shred of. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. Mormon abridges the large plates of nephihe puts the small plates with the other platesking benjamin establishes peace in the land. Hebraisms that could have been known to joseph smith may still be authentic, and may still enhance our appreciation of the text, but they are weak evidence for book of mormon antiquity. Sep 07, 2011 no non mormon historian, archaeologist, anthropologist, biologist, linguist, or other expert in ancient american matters considers the bom to be at all an accurate account of ancient american events or cultures. Oct 16, 2014 mike caba, archaeologist and dean of faculty at kilns college, describes his attempts to obtain information from the mormon church about the historicity of t. In my opinion, stratford books has produced the most accurate replica of the 1830 book of mormon in contemporary times, including the paper, ink, font. The central question is, do we have any reason, besides the faulty reasoning of moroni 10. Aug 28, 2012 as you can see, the book of mormon is not scientifically accurate. The website wanted to include a debate on some topic related to mormonism, and asked me to submit a first statement. 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. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations.

Based on the earliest sources available, this corrected text represents the most accurate and readable edition of thebook of mormonever published first published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday. He backs his assessment with years of repairing antique books, including a number of 1830 book of mormon originals, including one signed by joseph smith. Tbh the whole mormon origin story sounds very ethnocentric with. The bridge between two sections of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Joseph smith, whom most latter day saints believe to have translated the work. Historians know that they cannot pick and choose things to believe from the book of mormon as they do from the bible. The cat in the hat is more accurate than the bible, so its not saying much to claim that the book of mormon is more accurate. 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. Jul 04, 2011 mormons claim that the book of mormon is the most accurate, complete account of the people, culture, and events of ancient america. Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fairmormon. The book of mormon incorporates text which seems to be taken from the king james version, including passages which are now considered to be mistranslations in the king james version. Earlier this year, scott rudin, a producer for the book of mormon musical, told npr about a conversation he had with a man who attended a. Coe thinks the book of mormon is fiction or legend, then the book of mormon is accurate and detailed in also making that claim, even if fictional.

If that were true, then scholars who study ancient american archeology, anthropology, culture, linguistics, etc. From my perspective and i quickly acknowledge my bias, the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth because of the undiluted and penetrating message it presentsthe way it establishes in no uncertain terms that there is a god in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable god. How could so many people have died at the battle of. 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. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to. That said, the book of mormon is cover to cover bs. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. The lamanitesa more accurate image religious studies center.

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. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through a careful. Based on the earliest sources available, this corrected text represents the most accurate and readable edition of thebook of mormonever published first published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of. Mormon missionaries usually try to get prospective converts investigators to read it as soon. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Maybe its due to the fact that ive listened to it over 15 times and i can sing every song including laurens interlude.

And yes, joseph smith did decline to retranslate them. Smith, then 24 years old, claimed that he had not composed the text of the book, but that he had translated it from a set of golden plates which he had dug out of a nearby hill under the. The book of mormon provides a remarkably accurate portrait of olive horticulture. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version.

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. How could so many people have died at the battle of cumorah. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, some claim that it shouldnt contain. What do ifand conditionals tell us about the book of mormon translation. So when people tell you that the book of mormon is not historically accurate, and then offer examples of how its missing this, or america is missing that, remember that the bible and even secular histories are similarly missing this or missing that, thus lacking in proof of their historicity in many of the same ways that the book of mormon is lacking, while all such records nonetheless provide a rich and accurate view of ancient times and peoples. When i first encountered the book of mormon, i assumed it was a hoax.

Without the book of mormon account of this story, the reader would not see the important punch line, that many of the people died because they took lightly. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. Scholars reject smiths claims of ancient origin and consider the. But wine made from grapes should not be in the book of mormon. Mike caba, archaeologist and dean of faculty at kilns college, describes his attempts to obtain information from the mormon church about the. As a result, the prophet joseph smith provided more accurate translations of key verses and chapters in the bible. Intermission music, from monty python and the holy grail. Is the book of mormon s account of olive horticulture in jacob 5 accurate.