The book of mormon is more correct than the bible, history of the church, 4. A major turning point in book of mormon studies came with the realization that early mormons had missed or misunderstood salient facts of geography, history, and culture embedded in its narrative. Mormon missionaries continue to claim that the science of archeology substantiates the book of mormon, but whether we consider the alleged cities, persons, animals, fabrics, metals, wars and war implements, kings, palaces, or crops, all the evidence points to their nonexistence. British branch of church launches ad campaign as south park creators musical opens, but says it doesnt object to show.
While this is clearly satire, and not historical in any way, it gives a pretty comical view of the mormons at the time. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. Much of the book of mormon is a nephite record, so most of the prophets are nephites. Sorenson published an ancient american setting for the book of mormon.
For readers unfamiliar with the authors, the tanners are famous or infamous exlds members. Book of mormon not a problem for the latterday saints. For the next mormon prophet, challenges abound retention. He now shares the joy of the book of mormon with his wife and four children as they read together daily. If you have a problem with being a mormon and the things the mormon church demands from you then you should reconsider. However, i feel that the book of mormon can not only withstand the challenge, but the issue can actually be used to illuminate the nature of isaiah and shed light on why this is such a profound book. Discussion of specific animals in the book of mormon. What follows is a discussion of how the truths of the book of mormon can help us face issues today. For example, one letter written by a prominent mormon, dated may 3, 1936, maintained that the book of mormon was used by the government to unravel the problem of the aborigines. Granted, the preface of all book of mormon editions have two testimonials signed by eleven men who claimed to have seen the plates. While the relatively new faith is still working to define its place as a major world religion, its likely to be a major contender in the. Problems with smiths story and the legitimacy of the book of mormon are multifaceted. Problems of the book of mormon sperry, sidney branton on.
Twain wrote a piece on the book of mormon, in chapter 16 of his book roughing it. 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. In the last few decades lds authorities have made a major effort to downplay its distinctive teachings and practices in order to present as a mainstream christian denomination. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. 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. There are some serios problems with the book of mormon that the lds church cannot adequately explain. Vernal holley, in his book book of mormon authorship. There is the problem of famous and infamous mormons who pop up in media coverage, and the need to decide if they are allowed to represent mormonism. The rest of mormonism did not want to be conflated with. It tells of the jaredites, people from the tower of babel who came to central america but perished because of their own immorality. An important fact, only recently recognized, is that roberts writings on possible book of mormon problems was started and completed in 1922 from january to may, in fact, indicating that it was not a serious, troubling issue he struggled with for years, but a short project.
The tanners have listed, one by one, 400 verses and portions of verses quoted from the new testament in the book of mormon in their book, the case against mormonism. Deuteroisaiah verses in the book of mormon overview of the deuteroisaiah problem in the book of mormon. 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. In major problems of mormonism jerald and sandra tanner examine historical and theological difficulties faced by the church of latter day saints lds. Joseph smith said 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 history of the church, vol. 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. There are a number of words and phrases in the book of mormon that are anachronistictheir. 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. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. 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. Major problems of mormonism by jerald and sandra tanner 1989 utah lighthouse ministry 58 s. For the next mormon prophet, challenges abound retention, gays, women, slowing growth, but so do opportunities.
Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. A record of his ministry to people who lived in ancient america. Symbols and rituals for mormon temples were stolen from freemasonry. How do we know that the bible has been reliably transmitted down through the centuries. I took my time rereadinglistening to this standard work of the latterday saints lds faith. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon was the most correct book. Why doesnt the prophet answer difficult questions about the book of mormon such as why horses, elephants, wheat, barley, steel, silk, glass, etc. Some of these rituals include the symbols on the magic underpants worn by mormons, a secret handshake that freemasons exchange somehow becoming the handshake people must give angels in order to enter the highest heavenly kingdom, and more. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. Interestingly, the spelling problems in the book of mormon paralleled earlier kinds of spelling changes in the english bible. According to hugh nibley, the father of contemporary mormon scriptural and theological scholarship, the book of mormon can and should be tested.
As a teen, determined to learn of its truthfulness, brian read the entire book and gained a testimony of it. Certainly, problems exist in correctly identifying the animals listed in both the jaredite and nephite records. Understanding the nature of the thousands of small changes in the book of mormon may be helpful and interesting. The additional problems links provide further evidence of the book of mormon and joseph smiths illegitimacy. Some members of the mormon church have made fantastic claims about archaeologists using the book of mormon. The problem is that the math just does not add up to make it remotely possible. If you accept the book of mormon as true, there is no deuteroisaiah problem. 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. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his anti mormon book mormonism unvailed, noted the use of names desolation and bountiful from pilgrims progress reappear in the book of mormon. Mormonism charges the bible with the loss of major sections and. The decision to use the word challenge came from a remark by president spencer w.
What are the major challenges to book of mormon historicity. Book of mormon not a problem for the latterday saints world. Non mormon scholars dont view the book of mormon as a genuine historical record, but rather as a work of 19thcentury fiction. As parents, teachers, and individuals, we will find the book of mormon useful in a variety of settings and on virtually every major issue we may face. Besides its obvious plagiarisms, other serious problems plague the book of mormon. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. In the book of mormon, there are many chapters of isaiah directly incorporated from the king james version kjv of the bible, complete with translation errors that were obviously not possible to have been recorded on the gold plates since the kjv was not available until thousands of years. John sorenson felt that some of the animals mentioned in the book of mormon might not be what we think. The problem of directions in the book of mormon brant a. The devil was born as a spirit after jesus in the morning of preexistence, mormon doctrine, p. The book of mormon bom is an abbreviated account of the inhabitants of the ancient americas from 2200 bc to 421 ad. To begin with, his story of the vision of moroni and the golden plates has never been objectively verified. Members are leaving in everincreasing numbers because of problems they find in the book of mormon. Those discussed here are grouped into 3 categories.
I offer the following comments for potential readers. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. Apologists offer varying responses and views at anachronisms in the book of mormon. What are the major differences between the bible and the book of mormon. According to our teachings, satan and an army of supporters were cast down to earth from the premortal spirit world. 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.
Could you list some of the major reasons why this would be the case. These are five problems with the book of mormon, and to doubt its authenticity as an ancient document. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the. My topic for discussion here is the challenge of the book of mormon. Twelve beliefs the mormon church might not want you to. Ammon bundy, the church decided, could not be allowed to use book of mormon references without comment. The book of mormon, the hit musical by matt stone and trey parker, creators of south park and bobby lopez avenue q, frozen. Another major problem for the book of mormon is archeology, a major embarrassment for the mormon church. In the wilderness, brian has time to ponder the book of mormon and use it to help solve the problems in his life. Using the book of mormon to meet todays challenges. Kimball in his first press conference after he became president of the church. In reality, though, the kind of stylistic accuracy achieved by these changes has little to do with what joseph meant when he called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth.
This insight has shifted the whole debate in recent years. Book of mormon not a problem for the latterday saints this article is more than 7 years old british branch of church launches ad campaign as south park creators musical opens, but says it. Can we view it with the same regard as we view the bible. Though i tend to agree with welch that plates of pure gold would be too fragile to be useful, the fact remains that mosiah 8. As we search the book of mormon, the spirit will help us find answers to our problems and questions. Mormon apologist john welch notes that pure gold would be too soft to make useful plates. Voddie baucham at the ever loving truth conference in 2016 said, i choose to believe the bible because it is a reliable collection of. According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible. The challenge of the book of mormon religious studies center. The book of mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the middleeast to the americas. Robert silverberg, and the moundbuilders vanished from the earth, american heritage magazine, june 1969, volume 20, issue 4. Mormon leaders have trust issues religion news service.
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