The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. 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. A documentary history of the book of mormon presents and examines the primary sources surrounding the origin of the foundational text of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, the most successful new religion of modern times. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.
The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. The book of mormon bom was first published in palmyra, new york, in 1830, its title page giving the name joseph smith, jun. Book of mormon facts in 1823, the angel moroni allegedly visited mormon prophet joseph smith and divulged the location of some golden plates containing the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of. 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 york state where. 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. And as we preserve our own sacred records for future generations and posterity, we will look. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. The historicityhistorical authenticityof the book of mormon is an issue so. The mormon religion was officially founded in 1830 when the book of mormon was published. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Search the holdings of the library catalog for more information about genealogy records that are available on microfilm and which can be circulated to a family history.
Most, but not all, mormons hold the book s connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. 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. The history of racism and white supremacy in the mormon. Calendar systems in use in north america during this historical period relied on this simple system. Without the details, both sacred and ordinary, from a variety of records, mormon would have had little to draw upon to present the history of his people to modern audiences. Oliver cowdery and joseph smith taught this clearly. Its origin and development, byu publications in archaeology and early history, no. The second edition was printed seven years later in kirtland, ohio 1837. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. Is the book of mormon an authentic ancient history of ancient american peoples, or a work of 19th century religious fiction. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. During the next six years, smith dictated an english translation of this text to his wife and other scribes, and in 1830 the book of mormon was published.
This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Charting the book of mormon is a collection of more than 175 visual aids that promote deeper understanding and appreciation of the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Phelps, and the pratt brothers speculated about a setting in central andor south america. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to.
Mormons believe in the bible, as well as other books of scripture, such as the book of mormon. The mormon church has begun digitizing the millions of reels of microfilm that are in the family history library in downtown salt lake city, but not everything is online yet. It tells of the jaredites, people from the tower of babel who came to central america but perished because of their own immorality. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Easy access to current research for further studies. A documentary history of the book of mormon byu studies. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Lds members form an insular community somewhere, buy and sell principally with each other and dominate the local economy and political scene, followed by harassment and violence from the areas prior residents, leading to guerrilla warfare and the expulsion of the mormons to a new territory, where it all started again. Bibliophile rebecca romney is called in to appraise an enormously valuable fifth edition of the book of mormon in. 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. Why should readers pay close attention to the mulekites.
Later, an angel visits joseph and calls him to be a prophet and to translate the book of mormon from golden plates of ancient origins. In fact, it is our position that secular evidence can neither prove nor disprove the. This history contains information about the places they lived, including descriptions of landforms, natural features, and the distances and cardinal directions between important points. Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. In addition to joseph smith, 11 official witnesses and several unofficial witnesses. The book of mormon includes a history of an ancient people who migrated from the near east to the americas. Although the book is dated back to 2005, this is a excellent one volume history of the coverups of the mormon conspiracy. These plates abridged by moroni and his father, mormon, 1400 years earlier were written in reformed egyptian hieroglyphics.
Howe each alleged joseph smith used the book of mormon as part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the public. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Each week the saints podcast features interviews with historians, general authorities, writers, researchers, and others involved with the new history of the church, saints. Overview of book of mormon geography and church history. The book of mormon principally describes gods dealings with two civilizations in the americas over the course of several hundred years. Mulekites is a term regularly used by book of mormon scholars and commentators, but it is not found in the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the book of mormon 18051831 joseph smith is born and raised in new england. Moroni wandered alone and abridged the jaredite history. Much of history regarding the book of mormon has been vastly. Free mormon lds genealogy records by ancestor search. Critics of the book of mormon church of jesus christ. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
First, it utterly lacks historical or archaeological support, and there is overwhelming empirical evidence that refutes it. Mormon deposited all the plates except the plates of mormon, which he gave to his son moroni. The book of mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the middleeast to the americas. Wells jakeman, the ancient middleamerican calendar system.
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 claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Mormons consider themselves christians, but many christians dont recognize. In 1823, the angel moroni allegedly visited mormon prophet joseph smith and divulged the location of some golden plates containing the fullness of the everlasting gospel. Although the lds church banned the practice of polygamy in 1890, mormons have historically wed many wives. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of. Early church authors, including benjamin winchester, william smith, w. The key to knowing whether the book of mormon is a true record of the saviors dealings with an ancient people is to read the book with an open mind and follow the steps outlined by the book of mormon prophet moroni near the end of the book which reads. The first edition was printed in palmyra, new york in 1830. This argument follows from the fact that the book of mormon refers to certain old world articles made of steel. Final battle between the nephites and lamanites at cumorah. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article. Why is the book of mormons historical authenticity so important.
From my perspective these groups throw facts and theories at the wall hoping. That is among the most securely established facts in latterday saint history. Book of mormon history provides easy access to current research for personal study. What sacrifices did lehi offer to god in the wilderness. As seen by science, the book of mormon is stronger today than it was in 1830, 1844, 1950, or even 2000, so i expect it will continue to become stronger in the future. After the book of mormon was published, mormonism began to spread and grow rapidly. Learn more about the incredible historicity of the book of mormon through our podcast, articles, and videos. Opening the heavens makes use of 206 documents to tell the timing of the translation of the book of mormon and then presents relevant parts of each of those documents in a lengthy appendix. The overall trend in the date over the past 175 years fits the expectations for the book of mormon as history rather than hoax.
The book of mormon recenters the story of jesus on the americas, and the faith, which was founded in the 19th century, also tells the story through a very american lens. What is the significance of the great and spacious building. The utah war 18571858, also known as the utah expedition, utah campaign, buchanans blunder, the mormon war, or the mormon rebellion was an armed confrontation between mormon settlers in the. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ.
Hugh nibley, the book of mormon as a mirror of the east, improvement era 51 1948, pp. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. As we study the sacred records of past peoples and dispensations, our hearts will turn to them in gratitude. The book of mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of jesus christ. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. It is a good place to start for those who are not too well acquainted with mormon history, especially those who have been indoctrinated into the fictions, fabrications, falsehoods, and fairy tales of the official mormon version.
The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. The book primarily deals with the nephites and the lamanites, who it states existed in the americas from about 600 bc to about ad 400. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies center. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. The book of mormon is considered scripture by millions of church members worldwide, but few today know the history of its first publication. Three early critics set the agenda for the first sustained criticisms of the book. 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. Designed for multiple use as study guides, handouts, and masters for creating projectable images, the charts convey a wealth of information that will enrich personal study and teaching. They have a unique view of cosmology and believe that all people are spiritchildren of god. 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. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. 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. Book of mormon facts book of mormon facts everlasting gospel.
Many members of the latter day saint movement claim historical authenticity of the book of mormon. This point is reinforced by the fact that two different book of mormon prophets warn their readers that they will one day stand face to face with. Book of mormon history podcast host josh gehly interviews scholars, researchers, and leaders audio breaking down topics for listeners on the history and translation of the book of mormon. Most relevant to morriss documentary history is this book s lengthy narrative chapter about the coming forth of the book of mormon.
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