Historical setting for its translation and publication larry c. A response to dan vogel the place called bountiful in the book of mormon summary. Vaughn, discovered a 2000yearold hematite mine near nazca, peru. Porter in may 1829, joseph smith and oliver cowdery found that a combination of circumstances had made continuing the translation of the book of mormon at harmony, pennsylvania, untenable. Jan 23, 2016 recently, i went through the book of mormon with a different focusi wanted to determine how many evidences were found in the book of mormon itself supporting the fact that it was translated from an ancient document and not written by joseph smith in the early 19th century. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. 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. Too many historical and cultural references mightve undermined or watered. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth.
Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. It is a thriving field of study, with hundreds of pieces of evidence that correlate the book of mormon with archaeology. Employing the word cement was cited as anachronistic proof of the book of mormons fabrication. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very presuppositions. Jan 18, 2018 according to the book of mormon, bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from israel to the americas around 600 b. This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. Smith said he has received these plates in 1827 from an angel named moroni, who.
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. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. That very arrangement is now well documented archaeologically an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, provo, utah. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faith the very word of god. Archaeological and historical evidence evidences of the.
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. 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. Sep 16, 2015 this is the same mormon writing who abridged the book of mormon, so this would have been written in the 4th century ce. 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. A logical proof that mormonism is false by matt slick mormonism teaches that god used to be a man on another world, mormon doctrine by bruce mcconkie, p. Steel and iron are mentioned several times in the book of mormon. It seems that if nephi had copied them from the plates of brass in hebrew onto his own record and that if joseph smith had then received the english translation by the gift and power of god, the isaiah passages would read more like the 1830. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faiththe very word of god. 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. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1985, p. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition.
Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. What are the major challenges to book of mormon historicity. Indeed, the ancient practice now is known to have occurred at precisely the era and place from which book of mormon peoples came. This argument discounts theories about the book of mormon civilization as models, but that is what every scientific theory, law, or conclusion is. Between 2004 and 2007, a purdue university archaeologist, kevin j. The book of mormon describes a ditch being dug around the protected area. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets.
Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. The book of mormon chronology accounts for 600 years from the time that lehi left jerusalem to the birth of jesus christ, which contradicts the timing of known historical events. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. The awkward part for the mormon church is the total lack of historical and archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. However, on the subject of the historicity of the book of mormon, there are many subsidiary issues that could each be the subject of a.
Jan, 2016 undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. 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. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad.
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. 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. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates 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. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. Anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. 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. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. 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.
See richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. Smith said an angel had led him to buried ancient golden plates, which he dug up and translated into the book of. When he is not busy casting doubt on the historical existence of jesus of nazareth, 11 robert m. Jan, 2016 historical evidence supporting the book of mormon is overwhelming. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. From the formermormons side, there generally was a period in their life of trying to rationalize mutually incompatible claims, and once their conclusion was reached.
In this episode, three geneticists respond to the lds essay book of mormon and dna studies, and to apologist michael ashs article entitled the dna challenge to the book of mormon that fizzled. 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. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. Historical evidence supporting the book of mormon is. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. Could joseph smith, who had only three years of formal schooling, have been acquainted enough with ancient horticultural practices to write the. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites.
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. The historicity of the book of mormon oaks, dallin h on. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon. That joseph smith and successive generations of mormon presidents and apostles taught that the nephites and lamanites ranged over all or most of south and north. Employing the word cement was cited as anachronistic proof of the book of mormon s fabrication.
Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. From the believers side, even the mere denial of the historicity of the book of mormon is considered antimormonism or mormonbashing, even if no personal attacks are made. Book of mormon the list of archaeological and historical. A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship, book of mormon minimalists and the nhm inscriptions. He established the new world archaeological foundation. 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 geographical research that i have done, and the sites that i have visited, have strengthened my testimony of the book of mormon and of jesus christ and of his church reply raymond takashi swenson on december 29, 2015 at 4. Archaeological evidence seems to indicate that the main core or center of the jaredite civilization was located on the mexican gulf coast, in what are now the southern. When you think of historical proof, archaeology tends to be the foremost details needed to prove a culture or story indeed existed, sadly the book. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. The list includes items such as steel swords, barley, cement, thrones, and literacy. Atop it a fence of timbers was planted and bound together with vines.
The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. Price asks us to acknowledge joseph smith as the inspired author of the book of mormon. One common such attack, for years, was regarding nephis mentioning that the sword of laban was made of precious steel 1 nephi 4. The book of mormon the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. The book of mormon does indeed have authentic semitic constructions in it, but lds need to tread cautiously in establishing them. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. The difference between the book of mormon and the christian.
John clark of the new world archaeological foundation has compiled a list of sixty items mentioned in the book of mormon. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. 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. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in. Today we will talk about some common criticisms of the book of mormon around archaeological evidence that some say proves or disproves the truthfulness of the book of mormon. There is no question that the isaiah passages in the book of mormon are in the language of the king james translation of the bible. Historical evidence supporting the book of mormon is overwhelming. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim. This clearly shows the book of mormon was an afterthought of a writer and not an original document of that era it claims to represent. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon. As always, i invite you to study the issues, evaluate what we know and what we dont.
The historicity historical authenticity of 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. Archaeological and historical evidence jareditesolmecs. 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. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Although hematite is today mined as an iron ore, vaughn believes that the hematite was then being mined for use as red pigment. It seems that if nephi had copied them from the plates of brass in hebrew onto his own record and that if joseph smith had then received the english translation by the gift and power of god, the isaiah passages would read more like the 1830 book of mormon and less. If the book of mormon is really true history, then even after 1500 years, there should be some evidence that would support the truthfulness of those historical scriptural events, as recorded in the book of mormon. One such group is the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, better known as f. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon, salt lake city.
The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have. Given this statement then i think should be able to agree that some large portion of the population of the book of mormon stayed separate from any of the indigenous people for a very long time. These claims have historically been taken on faith. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. This is another in my series of article on challenging questions that missionaries will likely face. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. If nehem is the book of mormon site nahom, then is there a bountiful to the east of it on the coast. No evidence has been found in the americas of iron being hardened to make steel in ancient times. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists.
According to the book of mormon, bountiful was one of the first areas settled by the nephites, ancient people who supposedly sailed from israel to the americas around 600 b. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america. For example, after the cataclysmic last battle fought between the nephites and lamanites, there was no one left to clean up the mess. The archaeological and historical evidence indicates that the ancient people that we call olmecs in our day are the same people, called the jaredites in the book of mormon. Finding such items would merely demonstrate that such things existed in the ancient new world, and while such discoveries may be consistent with the book of. Archaeology is in fact, physical evidence that supports the truthfulness of a historical event. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to. Roberts wrote a letter in 1932 citing a few sources for cement work that predated the book of mormons publication, but this information was highly obscure until the middle of the 20 th century. 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.
Lehi is said to have left jerusalem in the first year of the reign of zedekiah, which occurred in 597 bc. Even though the book of esther claims to be a strictly historical account, ever since j th. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. 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. This argument discounts this vast field of study by calling scholars and investigators mere apologists. A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. Book of mormon historical proof joseph smith claimed that an angel named moroni gave him golden plates which contained reformed egyptian text of a historical record of jesus speaking to native americans from around 600 bc and 400 ad. Thoughts on evidences for the historical authenticity of. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may.