And while we will never “prove” the Book of Mormon true, the trajectory of the evidence strongly suggests that it is exactly what it claims to be, a book worthy of our deep study, reflection, and serious personal prayer. The burden of proof rests on he who does not believe this scripture. The truth is, if you read the book of Mormon you will see that the theme is the same as that of the bible. By the way the Muslims try to claim the same fame, and say that the Bible … An Analysis of Wordprints,” in BMA, 157–188; John L. Hilton, “On Verifying Wordprint Studies: Book of Mormon Authorship,” in BMAR, 225–53; G. Bruce Schaalje, John L. Hilton, and John B. Archer, “Comparative Power of Three Author-Attribution Techniques for Differentiating Authors,” JBMS, spring 1997, 47–63. Brigham Young and 10 ft tall men on the moon. This scripture advent has verses from the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as events from His life, as recorded in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.You can just print theme punch a … Descarga la app Scriptures In Focus - Speed Read and Focus on the Book of Mormon and Bible y disfrútala en tu iPhone, iPad o iPod touch. The Book of Mormon is another Testament of Jesus Christ. This was a usual thing for him to do. Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ specific / Bible prophecies veiled (actually non-existent unless scripture misquoted or "prophecies" stretched to have two meanings). Right: Research on the 11 official witnesses to the golden plates has confirmed their good character. This rases a red flag for me. Kent P. Jackson (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987), 60–72; S. Kent Brown, “The Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon” BYU Studies, summer 1990, 112–26; Bruce J. Boehm, “Wanderers in the Promised Land: A Study of the Exodus Motif in the Book of Mormon and Holy Bible,” JBMS, spring 1994; Mark J. Johnson, “The Exodus of Lehi Revisited,” JBMS, fall 1994, 123–26. In the Hebrew the word pronounced ‘ets’ means wood, tree or stick and was translated in the KJV Bible as ‘stick’ (e.g. The Bible, on the other hand has clear tangible archeological proof of every Bible city, river, nation, king, ruler, coin, country (and hundreds of … Simulated Leather Bible, LDS Scriptures - Regular, Un-Indexed. Instead, we see grimly realistic portrayals of war’s devastation and suffering. [illustrations] Above: More than 100 examples of ancient writing on metal plates have been discovered, including this gold plate of Darius, buried in a stone box in 516–515 B.C. The allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5 shows a clear knowledge of olive cultivation far beyond what Joseph Smith, growing up in the American Northeast, could have possessed. We do have additional sacred scripture, including the Book of Mormon, but it supports the Bible, never substituting for it. See John Gee’s discussion in Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6, no. For a brief period in the late 1820s, the Prophet Joseph Smith did indeed possess the gold plates. The Bible also warns us in Galatians of angels bringing another gospel, in which Paul was defending the Gospel of Faith apart from the works of the Law: (or apart from anything else people try to add to it) 6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the … But it is now plain from modern evidence that Bethlehem could be, and indeed was, regarded anciently as a town in the “land of Jerusalem.”. See, too, Daniel C. Peterson, William J. Hamblin, and Matthew Roper, “On Alma 7:10 and the Birthplace of Jesus Christ” (Provo: FARMS, 1995); John A. Tvedtnes, “Cities and Lands in the Book of Mormon,” JBMS, fall 1995, 147–50. While most Mormons are … We as God’s children often need to be shown by visual aids what God is trying to convey to us. 10. And most of Mormon doctrine actually comes, not even from the Book of Mormon, but from the … His mother later recalled that, even into his late teens, “he seemed much less inclined to the perusal of books than any of the rest of our children.”14, His wife Emma reports that, in the late 1820s, Joseph “could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well worded letter, let alone dictate a book like the Book of Mormon. Hopefully this scriptures have shown you how the Book of Mormon completes the mystery about the 10 lost tribes of Israel. See Arnold K. Garr, Christopher Columbus: A Latter-day Saint Perspective (Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1992). Bible's One God vs. Mormon Polytheism. Joseph's Smith famous boast. Joseph Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text … 11:8–23] in Mormons, Scripture, and the Ancient World: Studies in Honor of John L. Sorenson, ed. Many books have claimed to be the Word of God or divine. Indeed, the ancient practice now is known to have occurred at precisely the era and place from which Book of Mormon peoples came.8 In fact, with the Copper Scroll and other materials from the Dead Sea, we have an almost exact parallel: like the ancient Nephite plates, these materials were sealed up in a hillside just prior to military disaster, to preserve them for a future time. Its early account of Jerusalem just before the Babylonian captivity gains in plausibility as research continues to accumulate.20 For example, the name of Lehi’s wife, Sariah, previously unknown outside the Book of Mormon, has been found in ancient Jewish documents from Egypt.21 Likewise, the nonbiblical name Nephi belongs to the very time and place of the first Book of Mormon figure who bears it.22 Nephi’s slaying of Laban and the justification given to him by the Lord for doing so can now be seen as instruction that focused on the culture of Nephi’s era.23, The imagery in Nephi’s vision is deeply rooted in ancient Near Eastern symbolism with which Joseph Smith could not have been familiar.24 Moreover, its predictions are strikingly accurate. Jocelyn Gibb, (New York: Harcourt, Brace and World, 1965), 26. See also John W. Welch, Chiasmus in Antiquity: Structures, Analyses, Exegesis (Hildesheim: Gerstenberg Verlag, 1981 [reprinted by FARMS in 1999]); Noel B. Reynolds, “Nephi’s Outline,” in BMA, 53–74; John W. Welch, “Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon,” in BMA, 33–52; Donald W. Parry, The Book of Mormon Text Reformatted according to Parallelistic Patterns (Provo: FARMS, 1992). ‘familiar spirit,’ they are identifying it with witchcraft! Comparing the Bible to the Book of Mormon, with Compilation. The Holy Bible, King James Version. The Holy Bible, King James Version. In fact, the entire chapter deals with the restoration of Israel to her own land. Numbers 15:32, 1 Kings 17:10, Lamentations 4:8, 2 Kings 6:6). Terrence L. Szink, “An Oath of Allegiance in the Book of Mormon,” in Warfare in the Book of Mormon, 35–45; Mark J. Morrise, “Simile Curses in the Ancient Near East, Old Testament, and Book of Mormon,” JBMS, spring 1993, 124–38. But when I began to read the Bible in earnest, I noticed contradictions between Mormon teachings and statements in the Bible. In the LDS publication “Missionary Pal” page 170, the author tells us, “Spiritualism” not of God! New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. In the next few verses, the Lord declared the two kingdoms of Israel would be brought together as one nation and with one King again. Meticulous research on these witnesses has confirmed their good character and the veracity of their accounts.7. But the Prophet Joseph Smith could not have learned this from the English Bibles or any other books available to him.37, Likewise, he could not have known that the ancient Hebrew term moshia’ signifies a champion of justice against oppression, appointed by God, whose mission it is to liberate a chosen people from oppression, especially by nonviolent means. $3.89 . Most holy conversations on all things pertaining to the redemption of the race, belong in the places prepared in the temples.”. Wayne A. Larsen and Alvin C. Rencher, “Who Wrote the Book of Mormon? It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas, and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel.” There it is again—the “fullness of the everlasting gospel.” Naturally, you ask yourself just what that phrase means. Recent documentary finds demonstrate, however, that Alma also occurs as a Semitic masculine personal name in the ancient Near East—just as it does in the Book of Mormon.39, Alma 7:10 predicts that Jesus “shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers.” Is this a mistake? See, for example, C. Wilfred Griggs, “The Book of Mormon as an Ancient Book,” in BMA, 75–101; “The ‘Lamb of God’ in Pre-Christian Texts,” Insights, Aug. 1998, 2; Daniel C. Peterson, “Nephi and His Asherah: A Note on 1 Nephi 11:8–23,” [1 Ne. All sin is treason against our Holy God. New World Archaeology: Zarahemla will never be found. Besides, the Book of Mormon was written on “gold plates” and not sticks or scrolls. The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. He examines relevant passages in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls and shows how the prophecy has been fulfilled by Jesus Christ and others, continuing with Joseph Smith’s role in the Restoration and onward to the present day. With "Scriptures in Focus" you can comfortably read the Book of Mormon in a week. In addition to Joseph Smith, 11 official witnesses and several unofficial witnesses testified to the existence of the plates and, in some cases, to dramatic supernatural confirmation of their truth. Nowhere in the Bible is scripture given to men by angels. Joseph Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon is an ancient text written by ancient Jews who came to the Americas long before Columbus. Truly it has a familiar spirit, for it contains the words of the prophets of the God of Israel.”, The Hebrew word pronounced ‘OV’ or ‘OB’, means a necromancer and is translated in the Bible as ‘familiar spirit.’. 10 Bible Verses about Book Of Mormon. The Mormon belief in black skin being a “curse” is found in uniquely Mormon books they call “Scripture.” These books, known as the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are racist as the list of verses below show. Book of Mormon Christ is completely accepted / In Bible he is rejected. We've personally found that there is a special spirit that comes with reading the scriptures cover to cover and learning more about the lives and experiences of the people in them. Salvation. Remember that the Mormon version of God is not the God of the Bible. The Book Of Mormon: Another Testament Of Jesus Christ. Painstaking research of John L. Sorenson and others has demonstrated the plausibility of the complex geographical data contained in the Book of Mormon. We’re Not Trying to Convert You. Cer-tainly for an outsider who attends a typical lDS worship service, the Book of Mormon does appear to be used more extensively. John A. Tvedtnes and Stephen D. Ricks, “Jewish and Other Semitic Texts Written in Egyptian Characters,” JBMS, fall 1996, 156–63; William J. Hamblin, “Reformed Egyptian” (Provo: FARMS, 1995). Stephen D. Ricks and John A. Tvedtnes, “The Hebrew Origin of Some Book of Mormon Place Names,” JBMS, fall 1997, 255–59. 2. Neal E. Lambert (Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1981), 245–62; Terrence L. Szink, “To a Land of Promise (1 Ne. It’s the support of friends like you that enables CRI to to post new articles on subjects of interest and continue our weekly podcast. I came that they … The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Church 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. 8. Its sheer existence is astonishing. Also Richard L. Anderson, “Personal Writings of the Book of Mormon Witnesses,” in Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins, ed. In Hebrew, Jershon means “a place of inheritance.”44 Joseph Smith simply would not have known this in the late 1820s. Thankfully, a spirit of attentiveness to the Book of Mormon had already begun working upon the Church. cit., p.50) But the professor didn’t believe he was fulfilling Mormon prophecy, because in a letter to E.D. To follow after the dead is translated as ‘necromancer,’ which is communication with demons. 4:28), the tree upon which he had been hanged was ritually chopped down, just as ancient Jewish law required.33 The oath of allegiance taken by Nephite soldiers in Alma 46:21–22 is almost identical in form to military oaths among ancient Israelite and Hittite warriors.34 And the curse of speechlessness placed upon Korihor in Alma 30:49 finds striking ancient parallels.35, King Benjamin’s classic address in Mosiah 2–5 occupies roughly 11 pages in the current English edition, which means that Joseph Smith may have dictated this doctrinally rich text of nearly 5,000 words in a little more than one day. For Emma Smith’s experience with the plates, see Richard L. Bushman, Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism (Urbana: University of Illinois, 1984), 96. I had always believed that the Book of Mormon and the Bible complemented each other. A portion of this event is recorded in the Pearl of Great Price, JS 2:63-65. What is more, although the Prophet’s critics found his claim of angelic visits and gold plates ridiculous, we now know that the writing of religious texts on metal plates (sometimes on gold), was an authentic ancient practice. In verse 15 the LORD told Ezekiel precisely what to write on the two sticks, and it was not ‘the Bible’ and ‘the Book of Mormon.’ He was told to write, “For Judah, and for the children of Israel, his companions’ then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph the stick of Ephriam, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.” That was it; nothing more was to be written upon the sticks. All other evidence is secondary. I can only say that the more I study this scripture, the more interesting and amazing it becomes. It suggests many fascinating correlations with what we continue to learn about life in ancient Mesoamerica.47, As Latter-day Saints, we must never take the Book of Mormon for granted. [Editor’s Note: Part of our book chapter reprint series, this article is reprinted here as a service to the LDS community. 1. Thus, Alma 36:22 cites 1 Nephi 1:8 [1 Ne. The Book of Mormon contains many linguistic similarities to the King James Bible (KJV). In fact, there is really very little in that book that is doctrinally disagreeable to orthodox Christians. Book of Mormon. A comprehensive collection of Oliver Cowdery documents, from which his consistency and integrity unmistakably emerge, is Richard Lloyd Anderson and Scott H. Faulring, eds., Witness of the Second Elder: The Documentary History of Oliver Cowdery, 4 vols. ), [illustration] Columbus in America, 1492, © Superstock, [illustration] Frontier Prophet, by Dee Jay Bawden, [illustration] Painting by Gary E. Smith, courtesy of Robert Garff, [photo] Courtesy of Yigael Yadin and Shrine of the Book Museum, Jerusalem, [illustration] Detail from Alma and Amulek in Prison, by Gary L. Kapp. But those words are only equivalent for readers who are aware that the term Lord probably stands (as it does in the King James Bible) for the divine name Jehovah or Yahweh, and that the -iah element in Zedekiah is the first portion of that same divine name. The acronym FARMS refers to Brigham Young University’s Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies; Insights is the Foundation’s newsletter. At once, it is rich in nourishment for the [strengthening of our soul].” –Boyd K. Packer. This scripture advent has verses from the teachings of Jesus Christ, as well as events from His life, as recorded in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. “Upon the Tower of Benjamin,” Insights, Aug. 1995, 2; “Benjamin’s Tower and Old Testament Pillars,” Insights, Oct. 1995, 2. the Bible as scripture, at least not to the degree they do the Book of Mormon, and there may be some validity to this criticism. 4. 19:10]; 1 Ne. Warren P. Aston and Michaela K. Aston, “The Place Which Was Called Nahom: The Validation of an Ancient Reference to Southern Arabia” (Provo: FARMS, 1991); Warren P. Aston and Michaela K. Aston, “And We Called the Place Bountiful: The End of Lehi’s Arabian Journey” (Provo: FARMS, 1991); Warren P. Aston and Michaela Knoth Aston, In the Footsteps of Lehi: New Evidence for Lehi’s Journey across Arabia to Bountiful (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994); Eugene E. Clark, “A Preliminary Study of the Geology and Mineral Resources of Dhofar, the Sultanate of Oman” (Provo: FARMS, 1995); Warren P. Aston, “The Arabian Bountiful Discovered? If the members of the LDS Church believe that the Book of Mormon has a. Brigham Young and the worship of Adam. John Gee, “A Note on the Name Nephi,” JBMS, fall 1992, 189–91. A recently released text from the Dead Sea Scrolls, for example—a text claiming origin in Jeremiah’s days (and therefore in Lehi’s)—says that the Jews of that period were “taken captive from the land of Jerusalem.”40 Joseph Smith could not have learned this from the Bible, though, for no such language appears in it. … No arrangement of evidence, however skillfully ordered; no argument, however adroitly made, can ever take its place.”, Yet scholarship has a definite place even in spiritual matters. That blessing has been and clearly continues to be fulfilled. The book was published in multiple languages including … Most important, the Book of Mormon and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints affirm that Jesus is the Christ, the divine Savior of the world, and that He will come someday in the future in the manner that the scriptures herald. See Leviticus 19:31; 20:6,27; 1 Samuel 28:3-9; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; Isaiah 8:19; 19:3; 29:4. Lewis of the Early Church, Assessing a Pro-choice Argument Against Aborting Children with Down Syndrome, Deconstructionism and the Gospel of Hope in Logan, Ghost Hunters and God: Reasoning through the Pursuit of the Paranormal, Tennyson on Theodicy: How a Victorian Poet Can Help Modern Christians Deal with the Problem of Pain, Flannery O’Connor and the Problem of Freedom, Loving Christians Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction. The Hebrew pronounced ‘DORASH’, means to ‘inquire or to follow after.’ One time in Deuteronomy 18:11 it is used with ‘the dead’ as the direct object. Some Book of Mormon Prophets (capital P) were responsible for leading God’s church with priesthood keys, like Moses had been in the Bible.But the Book of Mormon also shows that individuals can act as prophets or prophetesses (lowercase p), as Miriam, Deborah, or Huldah, in the Bible did, receiving a divine commission to preach and testify, even though they weren’t … In fact, research suggests that the book was written by numerous distinct authors.18, And research shows that the book does not seem to fit the culture of early 19th-century America. Another intriguing example of chiasmus occurs in Helaman 6:10 [Hel. See, for instance, Hugh Nibley, “Two Shots in the Dark: Dark Days in Jerusalem: The Lachish Letters and the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi),” in BMA, 103–21. 29:7, 11. When Jesus Christ resurrected near Jerusalem after His crucifixion and death, He visited the people of the Book of Mormon. Paul Y. Hoskisson, “Alma as a Hebrew Name,” JBMS, spring 1998, 72–73. Lehi was a descendant of Joseph. For example, the system of exchange set out in Alma 11:3–19 recalls ancient Babylonian economic legislation.32 And, after Zemnarihah’s execution (3 Ne. See John W. Welch and Tim Rathbone, “The Translation of the Book of Mormon: Basic Historical Information” (Provo: FARMS, 1986). In some cases, entire passages are duplicated in the Book of Mormon. Jershon, for instance, designates a place that was given to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi as a “land … for an inheritance” (Alma 27:22). That it was produced by an almost completely uneducated young man constitutes a challenge to the entire world. The Book of Mormon is a record of ancient scripture written on the American continent and preserved in upstate New York until it was revealed by an angel in the 1800s. Noel B. Reynolds (Provo: FARMS, 1997), hereafter BMAR, 39–60; Lyndon W. Cook, ed., David Whitmer Interviews: A Restoration Witness (Orem: Grandin Book, 1991); Rhett James, The Man Who Knew: Dramatic Biography on Martin Harris (Cache Valley, Utah: Martin Harris Pageant Committee, 1983); Eldin Ricks, The Case of the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Salt Lake City: Olympus, 1961). He preached among them, blessed and healed the people, and came to established His Church. With "Scriptures in Focus" you can comfortably read the Book of Mormon in a week. The Book of Mormon teaches that God has flesh and bones and that He has a wife with whom they produce spirit offspring in heaven that will inhabit human bodies on earth. You can just print theme punch a hole in the top … Cited by Backman, Eyewitness Accounts of the Restoration, 126–27. That may be surprising to some who may not be aware of our belief in the Bible as the revealed word of God. The Book of Mormon restores plain and precious truths that have been lost from the Bible. The people even asked Ezekiel what he meant by what he said and did in verse 18. Order the DVD at www.Sourceflix.com.The Book of Mormon claims to be "a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible." As Elder B. H. Roberts (1857–1933) of the Seventy said: “The power of the Holy Ghost … must ever be the chief source of evidence for the Book of Mormon. 21:11; 2 Ne. As a companion to the Bible, the Book of Mormon is a witness of Jesus Christ’s divinity and His role as the Savior of the world. $4.39 . So, you would put the Book of Mormon above the Bible. Recent literary appreciations of the Book of Mormon include Marilyn Arnold, Sweet Is the Word—Reflections on the Book of Mormon—Its Narrative, Teachings, and People (American Fork: Covenant, 1996); Eugene England, “A Second Witness for the Logos,” in By Study and Also by Faith: Essays in Honor of Hugh W. Nibley, 2:91–125; Richard Dilworth Rust, Feasting on the Word: The Literary Testimony of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1997). 10:8, 20; 2 Ne. See Richard Lloyd Anderson, “The Credibility of the Book of Mormon Translators,” in Book of Mormon Authorship, ed. Pearl of Great Price . The literary crafting of the story is both very sophisticated and authentically Near Eastern.31, In its smallest details, the Book of Mormon reveals its roots in the ancient Near East. As at 3 Nephi 15:21 [3 Ne. 1:8], and Helaman 14:12 [Hel. When we study the Book of Mormon, our understanding of the doctrines in the Bible … A careful examination reveals serious problems with the Mormon Church's interpretation of this passage. Everyone knows that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem. The Mormon belief in black skin being a “curse” is found in uniquely Mormon books they call “Scripture.” These books, known as the Book of Mormon and Pearl of Great Price published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are racist as the list of verses below show. The Mormon Apostle LeGrand Richards said, “Professor Anthon did not realize that he was literally fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.” (op. In some cases, entire passages are duplicated in the Book of Mormon. Scripture Mastery Scriptures: Book of Mormon. Jeffrey R. Chadwick, “Sariah in the Elephantine Papyri,” JBMS, fall 1993, 196–200. The Book of Mormon claims to have been written in “reformed Egyptian” (Morm. It is a book that offers new answers and thoughts each time it is read, studied and pondered. We've personally found that there is a special spirit that comes with reading the scriptures … Specifically, the Book of Mormon was prepared for our day so that we would learn and grow by readings the words of … They must be messed up and therefore mistranslated and cannot predict the BofM because of too many mistranslations over the years...Right??? The term does not occur in the English of the King James Bible. Its content is rich, profound, and subtly complex.48 And though dictated at a rapid pace, it tells a highly consistent and very complex story involving scores of place and personal names and internal quotations.49. The only way the professor knew the plates were ‘sealed’ was because Harris, “Told him they were.” In our passage of Scripture, in Isaiah, the Book went to the learned man first–then to the unlearned. The Lord said in an 1829 revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith to Oliver Cowdery, “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost” (D&C 8:2; emphasis added). Original … But such nonviolent deliverance is a major theme of the book of Mosiah. Though the accounts told in the Bible … Russell H. Ball, “An Hypothesis concerning the Three Days of Darkness among the Nephites,” JBMS, spring 1993, 107–23; John A. Tvedtnes, “Historical Parallels to the Destruction at the Time of the Crucifixion,” JBMS, spring 1994, 170–86; John Gee, “Another Note on the Three Days of Darkness,” JBMS, fall 1997, 235–44; Bart J. Kowallis, “In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologist’s View of the Great Destruction in 3 Nephi,” BYU Studies 37, no. Think Joseph Smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance? Order the DVD at www.Sourceflix.com.The Book of Mormon claims to be "a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible."