What exactly would constitute proof of absence of evidence supporting the book of mormon. Title page, translated from the book of mormon plates testimony of the three witnesses and also testimony of the eight witnesses preface to the 2016 edition preface to the 1908 edition books of the book of mormon first nephi second nephi jacob enos jarom omni words of mormon mosiah alma helaman third nephi fourth nephi mormon ether moroni. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. Especially during the nearly two hundred years after the saviors appearance, there had certainly been much. 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.
The community of christ has not denounced the book of mormon. The power of context in the newest book of mormon video on faith in jesus christ jannalee sandau this weeks book of mormon video includes the iconic and powerful teachings in alma 32 on faith as a seed. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally inherited dna standpoint. Genetic attacks on the book of mormon focus on the fact that amerindian dna seems closest to asian dna, and not dna from the middle east or jewish dna. This new evidence, in contrast to the first, appears to provide support for the book of mormon as well as and an interesting geographic paradigm for the events therein. It contains 239 chapters, and includes 54 chapters dealing with wars, 21 historical chapters, 55 chapters on visions and prophecies, and the visions and prophecies agree meticulously with the bible. Tell us exactly what would be necessary to show that the.
Logical arguments for the book of mormon and joseph smith. Subtitled another testament of jesus christ, it recounts the story story of an israelite family who immigrated to and fully populated the american continents. Why does a translation of the papyri that supposedly contain the book of abraham have no resemblance to joseph smiths translation. 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. This is a portion of the transcript of the live presentation. Without finding something like a placard that reads nephi slept here.
Dna evidence for book of mormon geography, sections 4 and 5 of the 18 sections in the original dvd. The book of mormon, combined with the spirit, is the greatest witness one has of the truthfulness of the church of jesus christ of latterday. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. This book presents some of the intellectual proofs he has discovered that affirm the book of mormon is of divine origin. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to the hitherto. I have watched more than 20 hours of wayne may book of mormon lecture videos and conversed with both wayne may and rod meldrum in person. This book contains 32 fun coloring and activity pages designed to introduce primaryage children to the book of mormon scripture.
The evidence assembled to date suggests that the majority of native americans carry largely asian dna. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. The lands of the book of mormon, fit very well on the lands found in mesoamerica, and they do not fit well on any other land area in the americas hauck pp. Bible, inspired version book of mormon doctrine and covenants lectures on faith. The material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. Significant uses of the numbers ten, twentyfour, and fifty in the book of mormon have been discussed previously, beginning with explanations of the symbolic importance of such numbers in ancient literatures, and then pointing out similar usages in the nephite record.
A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. One such group is the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, better known as f. Book of mormon is the first in a series of scripture stories coloring books. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. 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. The book of mormon for more than 170 years, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints has declared the book of mormon to be a scriptural and literal history. How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. According to joseph smith and subsequent presidents and apostles of the lds church, the geographical extent of book of mormon lands included virtually all of north and south america. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. The book of mormon describes migrations of people from the middle east to central america, and further describes some features of their civilizations in the new world. Mar 26, 2016 the material below covers the geography of the book of mormon in north america. And, with more study, the books sturdiness and richness and the remarkable accomplishment of its translator, the prophet joseph smith, become more apparent. Joseph smith ostensibly translated the majority of the book of abraham text in july and a few days in november 1835 and did.
Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. Its such a good chapter full of doctrine and visuals on its own. Activities include dottodot, mazes, and puzzles as well as fun things to do as a family. We believe all that god has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of god. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. The book of mormon and the united states of america. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. The book of mormon is a long epic volume that contains 522 pages with over 150 words per page and over 300,000 words from start to finish. Jan 01, 2009 also, joseph smith published many things in the times and seasons and elsewhere, which placed the book of mormon in central america, what is now southern us, western united states, florida, kentucky, and more. Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of.
Rlds church history times and seasons messenger and advocate evening and morning star other history resources. Section 5 describes the prophecies and promises in the book of mormon that must be fulfilled by the latterday promised land. Given that the book of mormon appears to be describing volcanic activity around 33 a. Popular mormon fiction books meet your next favorite book.
The book of mormon contains the purported stories of three different groups which sailed to the americas. Ive taken a brief hiatus from a deep study of the book of mormon because ive been writing a lot and had a big stack of books i needed to get through. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. If the book is accurate, archaeologists would expect to find numerous pieces of hard evidence in central america that confirm the presence of these societies. The book of mormon mentions several animals, plants, and technologies for which there is no evidence in precolumbian america. From golden plates to which he claimed an angel led him, joseph smith dictated the bulk of the book of mormon from early april to late june 1829the book of mormon can be seen as an extension of the bible, as a mammoth apocryphal work. He also allowed members of the twelve apostles to declare book of mormon cities in mesoamerica, repeatedly. You say that the book of mormon was written for our day.
Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Peterson, mounting evidence for the book of mormon, ensign, january 2000, 19,excerpt the plates, the translation, and the witnesses for a brief period in the late 1820s, the prophet joseph smith did indeed possess the gold plates. Melchizedek was an old testament king who also appears in the book of mormon. 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. Did the community of christ denounce the book of mormon. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. In 1835, joseph smith purchased 4 mummies and at least 5 papyri from a traveling showman. The jaredites book of ether came to the new world at the time of the tower of babel.
In other words book of mormon peoples would have looked like, lived like, and acted like the native american cultures that inhabited book of mormon lands. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the. There is the proof that you can receive from the father when we read, study, ponder, and pray about the book of mormon and ask to know if it is true in the name of jesus christ, by the power of the holy ghost. However, this attack ignores several key points, among which is the fact that the book of mormon states that lehi and his family are clearly not jews. He also considered the book of mormon to be superior to the bible.
Maxwell institute for religious scholarship formerly farms, aug 2000. Employing the word cement was cited as anachronistic proof of the book of mormon s fabrication. 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. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas.
Elders is the name of exmormon ryan mcilvains justpublished novel, about a. This free download is an extensive excerpt of the long awaited book by bruce porter and rod meldrum titled prophecies and promises which was released during the national book of mormon prophecies conference held oct. These pages are written by jeff lindsay, a book of mormon aficionado, who takes full responsibility for the statements and opinions offered on. Is there any proof that the book of mormon is true. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. Lds books children, study, historical, church leadership. Book of mormon evidences, part one discusses some of the many factors supporting the plausibility of the book of mormon as an ancient document. How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book of. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient americas. Joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon from a language called reformed egyptian. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very presuppositions.
Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. 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. Also, joseph smith published many things in the times and seasons and elsewhere, which placed the book of mormon in central america, what is now southern us, western united states, florida, kentucky, and more. It was a television show, of all things, that led cache valley resident james peterson to his current interest in the book of mormon, traveling. Is there scientific proof authenticating the book of mormon. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. Section 4 defines the promised land of the book of mormon from the scriptures themselves. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel.
There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god. There have been unofficial stabs at linking a few sites to book of mormon stories, such as the socalled lehis cave and the tree of life stone. Outside of the bible, the book of mormon has brought more people to christ than any other book, and the savior said, by their fruits ye shall know them.
In fact, thomas stuart ferguson, the head of the only church sponsored archaeological study meant to prove the book of mormon, lost his faith as a result of finding nothing. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. Delve deeper into the book of mormon and discover for yourself why its true. Over the past couple months, ive personally witnessed in myself what happens as a person neglects to study the book of mormon. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by. Roberts wrote a letter in 1932 citing a few sources for cement work that predated the book of mormon s publication, but this information was highly obscure until the middle of the 20 th century. The book of mormon if the book of abraham was a fraud. Dear mormons, you dont know the book of mormon is true. 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. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon. It is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one. It is part of a collection that includes book of mormon evidences, part two, book of mormon evidences, part three, and book of mormon nuggets.
They were instructed to build eight barges in which to sail to america. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. 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. By this proof we can know that the book of mormon is true and joseph is his prophet. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. 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. Elders is the name of exmormon ryan mcilvains justpublished novel, about a mission journey gone terribly wrong.
Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of the book of mormon. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Book of mormon evidences, part 2 presents more of the factors that suggest the book of mormon may be an ancient document. Archaeologists and egyptologists have found no evidence that this language ever existed. Explorations in critical methodology, signature books, 1993, page 1 to 2. However, hugh nibley, a mormon apologist, argues that reformed egyptian is actually meroitic egyptian.
According to wikipedia the community of christ views the book of mormon as an additional witness of jesus christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, herald house, all of which is inconsistent with a view that the community might have denounced the book in order to win. 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 scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. More to the point, not only is well, absence of proof is not proof of absence flung around as a convenient dodge of the hard questions surrounding the book of mormon, let us ask this. May 23, 2014 the book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally inherited dna standpoint. 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. Mormon abridged the records of the nephites, and proof for these records is found in mesoamerica. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Scientists theorize that in an era that predated book of.
The essay also explains how the prophet joseph smith himself accepted what he felt was evidence of book of mormon civilizations in both. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. The lord gave this as an absolute proof as to whether a prophet is true or false. 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.
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