Historical facts of book of mormon

Covering its historic development, important individuals, and central ideas and issues, this encyclopedia offers broad historical coverage of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. He could have manufactured the finished products in heaven and handed them to us. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive position on the historicity of the book of mormon is to point out that we who are its proponents are content with a standoff on this question. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. Mar 17, 2004 mormon history mormonism officially the church of jesus christ of latterday saints or lds church began within the context of christian restorationism in the early 19th century under the leadership of joseph smith. It contains a record of gods dealings with three groups of people who migrated from the near east or west asia to the americas hundreds of years before the arrival of europeans. Read stories about the mormon pioneer national historic trail, and learn about important places along its stretch and the people who traveled it. Before entering upon the history of the mormon battalion, it seems necessary to offer some explanation of the previous condition of the latterday saints. The book itself claims to be an ancient record of gods dealings with a remnant of the house of israel in the new world. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. In addition to joseph smith, 11 official witnesses and several unofficial witnesses.

Speculations without historical verification involving joseph smith and the book of mormon. The lord could have given joseph smith the book of mormon without the gold plates, or the book of abraham without use of the papyrus. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. The same is true of joseph smiths first vision, the coming forth of the gold plates of the book of mormon, the restoration of the priesthood by angels, and a large number of other events. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. The challenge of the book of mormon if one scoffs at the explanation of the book of mormon, he is in so many words claiming it to be false. In addition, various of the historical facts recorded in the work have not been substantiated by archeological evidence and in some cases contradict historical facts that are widely accepted as true. Some have attempted to separate the historical claims made in the book of mormon with its theology. The bare facts of the matter are that nothing, absolutely nothing, has ever shown up in any new world excavation which would suggest to a dispassionate observer that the book of mormon, as claimed by joseph smith, is a historical document relating to the history of early immigrants to our hemisphere. Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. The problem is, a scientifichistoric knowledge of the truthfulness of the book of mormons historical events does nothing to answer those doctrinal questions. The book of mormon contains 337 proper names and 21 gentilics or analogous forms based on proper names.

Here is a excerpt from an interview on a pbs special about mormonism where mormon church apostle admits in an interview that they dont put things in historical books that might make. Elder ulisses soares the historical facts and the special witnesses of the book of mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous. One group, the lamanites, forgot their beliefs, became heathens, and were the ancestors. Lund claims that according to the prophet joseph smith, the city of zarahemla was located south of the rio grande in guatemala and central america. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. The book of mormons authors made it clear the record was spiritual, and that it would touch on historical matters but lightly 1 nephi 9.

The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a. That a highranking church official had not been aware of these facts throughout his church membership reveals the great lengths to which the mormon church. The book of mormon also tells the reader that after jesus resurrection, he visited america, and other lands to talk to gods children. Book of mormon the musical is coming to eccles theater in salt lake city from august 25. The facts of the dna evidence totally destroys the book of mormon and proves the book of mormon to be 100% pure joseph smith fraud. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches.

The book of mormon puts a number of historical artifacts and cultures in the wrong historical era. Book of mormon facts archaeology furthermore, while archeology is a powerful testimony to the accuracy of the bible the same cannot be said for the book of mormon. The historical facts and the special witnesses of the book of mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous. Joseph smiths story also known as the book of mormon is ridiculous in the light of archeological, historical, biological, and linguistic evidence. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. On march 1, 1846, some 500 mormon wagons lurched northwesterly across the winterbare iowa prairie toward the missouri river. Apr 22, 2016 in fact, a close reading demonstrates that the book of mormon is more consistent with this kind of oral composition than with years of careful redaction by the propheteditor mormon. These include portraying a nephite civilization with a metal industry metal swords, breastplates, coinage in mesoamerica despite the fact that the area is known to not have possessed such industry at the time 15. Nevertheless, the power of this book is not based only in its magnificent history but on its powerful, unparalleled message that has changed countless lives. Book of mormon and dna studies church of jesus christ. The book of mormon presents no doctrines that are uniquely mormon, and explicitly says that there should be no more doctrines than given in the book 3 nephi 11.

Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. 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. Do mormons believe that the book of mormon describes real historical events. 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. Three big historical challenges to the book of mormon. Apr 05, 2020 elder ulisses soares the historical facts and the special witnesses of the book of mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous. After the book of mormon was published, mormonism began to spread and grow rapidly.

The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of mormon was published. Mormon is mortally wounded in the battle at a place called cumorah, and the nephites are nearly obliterated, but moroni survives another 36 years and adds material to the book of mormon before. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies center. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. Joseph smith consistently claimed that he translated the book of mormon from a set of ancient golden plates which were delivered to him by an angel. Dec 06, 2018 the book of mormon puts a number of historical artifacts and cultures in the wrong historical era. The mormon religion is predicated on what are said to be historical events such as the first vision of joseph smith and the historicity of the book of mormon, which describes a detailed precolumbian history of the americas. Nevertheless, the power of this book is not based only in its magnificent history but on its powerful, unparalleled message that has changed countless lives including mine. Joseph smith and the book of mormon book of mormon facts.

Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. The book of mormon is considered scripture by millions of church members worldwide, but few today know the history of its first publication. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. 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. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. It relates the history of a group of hebrews who migrated from jerusalem to america about 600 bce, led by a prophet, lehi. The first edition was printed in palmyra, new york in 1830. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.

It is thus not surprising that in the final analysis, f. Concise history of the mormon battalion, by sergeant daniel tyler. Is the book of mormon s account of olive horticulture in jacob 5 accurate. Why is the book of mormons historical authenticity so. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. Included in this count are names that normally would not be called proper, such as nonenglish names of plants, animals, etc. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon facts corrections finally, joseph smith asserted that the golden plates were translated by the power of god and produced the most correct of any book on earth. The second edition was printed seven years later in kirtland, ohio 1837. Everett collection historical alamy smith was not a polished preacher. 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. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted.

Mormons believe that the book of mormon confirms information found in the holy bible. Moronimoroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. In fact, a close reading demonstrates that the book of mormon is more consistent with this kind of oral composition than with years of careful redaction by the propheteditor mormon. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Joseph smith iii claims to receive a revelation as prophetpresident of a new organization of the latter day saint church. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Too many historical and cultural references mightve undermined or watered down its spiritual objectives. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the americas. President joseph fielding smith, the tenth lds prophet, declared that mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of joseph smith. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.

A historical encyclopedia helps readers explore a church that has gone from being an object of ridicule and sometimes violent persecution to a worldwide religion, counting prominent. Among the facts he found out include the truth surrounding joseph smiths polygamous ways and some historical inconsistencies with the churchs scriptures, such as the book of mormon. The historicityhistorical authenticityof the book of mormon is an issue so fundamental that it rests first upon faith in the lord jesus christ, which is the first principle in this, as in all other matters. Aug 02, 20 brian talks about visiting pyramids in mexico city and their connection to the book of mormon. As we begin to explore mormon archaeology, it seems appropriate to introduce the fascinating history of thomas ferguson, an attorney by trade, whose true passion manifest as an amateur archaeologist who dedicated decades of his life to the search for evidence to validate the book of mormon as a historical record. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Early mormons understood the book of mormon to be a religious history of the indigenous peoples of the americas.

Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the. Lds church hides historical facts lds church leaders have admitted that they hide certain historical facts from their members that would not be faith promoting. 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. A historical encyclopedia helps readers explore a church that has gone from being an object of ridicule and sometimes violent persecution to a worldwide religion, counting prominent businesspeople and political leaders among its members including former massachusetts governor and recent presidential candidate mitt romney. Its compilers minimized cultural references to maximize its universality, particularly for folks in the last days alma 37. They multiplied and eventually split into two groups. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints affirms that the book of mormon is a volume of sacred scripture comparable to the bible. All these are historical and geographical events with a history in both time and place. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted. Jackson, joseph smith and the historicity of the book of mormon, in historicity and the latterday saint scriptures, ed.

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. 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. Smiths followers view it as a companion to the bible and an additional witness of christ, akin to a large apocryphal work. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed to and translated by the founder of their religion, joseph smith. Much of history regarding the book of mormon has been vastly. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. It was the originality of his views, an outsider commented, that.

Apr 05, 2020 the historical facts and the special witnesses of the book of mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. It was the originality of his views, an outsider commented, that made his discourse fascinating. The opponents of the historicity of the book of mormon must prove that the people whose religious life it records did not live anywhere in the americas. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Brian talks about visiting pyramids in mexico city and their connection to the book of mormon.

Nevertheless, the power of this book is not based only in its magnificent history but on its powerful, unparalleled message that. Mar, 2019 among the facts he found out include the truth surrounding joseph smiths polygamous ways and some historical inconsistencies with the churchs scriptures, such as the book of mormon. Smith, the sixth president of the mormon church, went so far as to say that the words were not only correct but every letter was given to smith. What do ifand conditionals tell us about the book of mormon translation. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. Mormon church publishes its first official history in nearly a century, and the result is an easytoread volume that tackles some hard facts. The messianic message of the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Everett collection historicalalamy smith was not a polished preacher.

Joseph smith and the historicity of the book of mormon. These 27 historical facts are almost too weird to be real. 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. From my perspective these groups throw facts and theories at the wall hoping. Top 10 facts the mormon church doesnt want its members to. One result was that sidney rigdon, who was the only remaining member of the. The book ends with moronis exhortation to come unto christ. Not only is there no archeological evidence for a language such as reformed egyptian hieroglyphics, there is no archeological support for lands such as the land of moron. Most importantly, many of the statements in the book of mormon directly contradict the bible. The book of mormon resembles the bible in its length and complexity and in its division into books named for individual prophets. That is among the most securely established facts in latterday saint history. In march, 2010, the 100 millionth copy of the book of mormon was printed. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2001, 12340. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived.