Nproblems with the book of mormon story

Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Those discussed here are grouped into 3 categories. Problems of the book of mormon hardcover january 1, 1964 by sidney branton sperry author 5. Joseph smith sees a vision of god and jesus christ. Problems with the gold plates of the book of mormon. On the east wind in the book of mormon dan peterson. The highly acclaimed musical the book of mormon opened on broadway in 2011 and is still playing to soldout crowds there. Greek and latin words and other problems in the book of mormon part 1 this is the first of several articles dealing with the problems in the book of mormon. The story primarily follows the adventures of two mormon missionaries who are sent to a wartorn village in uganda to convert the townsfolk to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Besides its obvious plagiarisms, other serious problems plague the book of mormon. 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 silent. Lds historical facts, problems, controversies, and contradictions.

In 2014 the church quietly published book of mormon and dna studies, an essay which distills an avalanche of mormon apologetics published solely in lds journals, and attempts to address population genetics. There is a common misunderstanding among some critics of the book of mormon that the word adieu is not an english word. My topic for discussion here is the challenge of the book of mormon. For most of the history of the lds church, the book of mormon was not used.

Marilyn has studied and researched the book of mormon for years. 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 underlying premise of mormonthink is that many of the issues, or at least the details of the issues, covered on mormonthink are unknown to most latterday saints. The origin of the book of mormon is miraculous, and it is the only book which promises that by divine power the reader may know it is true. Whatever dark places the story takes its characters, the book of mormon ends on a high of genuine, cheesy, totally earned optimism an emotional departure from the destructionladen final. God has so declared it, so have its writers, so have its witnesses, and so do all those who have read it and received a personal revelation from god as to its truthfulness.

As members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, we believe the book of mormon to be the word of god. The story of the gold plates is an absolutely essential part of the mormon narrative, for in the eyes of many latterday saints, the coming forth of this record, and its subsequent translation into the book of mormon, legitimizes their belief that smith was indeed a prophet sent by god to restore the true christian faith lost long ago due to a. Problems with the book of mormon by matt slick the book of mormon is supposed to be the account of people who came from the middleeast to the americas. A young bishop in england describes how the book of mormon came to life for him and changed his perspective forever. Book of mormon play, book of mormon stories, book of mormon quotes, lds books, lds scriptures, lds church, church ideas, family home evening. The problem is that the math just does not add up to make it remotely possible. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived in the americas.

The book of mormon is the word of god the church of. After you read the stories in this book, you will also want to read them from the book of mormon. The book of mormon does not have a story of christmas in the same sense as the bible does, because it was not set in the land of israel except for the very beginning of the book. Book of mormon stories by the church of jesus christ of. Therefore, there is no coverage of the birth of the baby jesus and the events surrounding it.

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. They were taking the word of their pastor, or mom, or friend and writing off the book for good. Looking at the big picture it seems clear that smith never had an ancient record of historical. Enos is the third author in the book of mormon after nephi 1 and jacob. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The author also believed this until he was a young minister just twentytwo years old. The book of mormon is claimed to be the most correct book on earth and the keystone of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.

Problems with the historicity of the book of mormon. The book of mormon follows the story of two missionaries who are sent from salt lake city to preach in a remote ugandan village. I told the brethren 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. 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.

Twelve beliefs the mormon church might not want you to. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. The mormon story is that the nephite military commander and prophet moroni buried a history of his people, written on gold plates, in the hill cumorah in ad 421. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Written by stone, parker and avenue qs cocreator robert lopez. The book of mormon was conceived by trey parker, matt stone and robert lopez. One of the problems with the book of mormon is that the church teaches a literal interpretation of it as the book is intended to be a true history of the people in it. The challenge of the book of mormon religious studies center. Knowledge that the book of mormon is true brings a conviction of the truth of many other things, such as joseph smiths prophetic calling and the truthfulness of. Under each picture you will see where you can find that story in the. The story of pharaohs dream of seven thin ears of corn that are blasted with the east wind genesis 41. The website wanted to include a debate on some topic related to mormonism, and asked me to submit a first statement. The power of the book of mormon church of jesus christ.

Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. Either the book of mormon is what the prophet joseph said it is, or this church and its founder are false, a deception from the first instance onward. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to find. 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. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. The book of mormon is a comingofage story of two young, extremely likeable mormons on their mission to spread the lords word. The decision to use the word challenge came from a remark by president spencer w.

Elder price and elder cunningham terrific international leads. Regarding murphys problem with oats in the book of mormon, i suspect that he has been reading anti mormon literature a little too much, for the word oats does not occur anywhere in the book of mormon. This is copied word for word into the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. The text gives an account of ancient prophets who lived. Kimball in his first press conference after he became president of the church. The book of mormon contains the purported stories of three different groups which sailed to the americas. The false translation of the book of abraham, therefore, casts serious doubt on the book of mormon as well, forever debilitating josephs claim he was a true, inspired prophet of god. Mormon missionaries continue to claim that the science of archeology substantiates the book of mormon, but whether we consider the alleged cities, persons, animals, fabrics, metals, wars and war implements, kings, palaces, or crops, all the. His stories however begin to relate to the people and gets them to listen, and he decides that bending the truth cannot hurt, as it will ultimately help them. If this is true, then the book of mormon should be full of errors.

At that time, he decided to write a book proving to the christian world that the book of mormon is indeed the word of god, and should be. 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. While the church has pinned its hopes on the work of limited geography apologetics, the essay makes no mention of geography at all. Make sure you check back often to see other issues that we see as problematic for the mormon church. By richard packham the original version of this essay was written pursuant to an invitation from the website public square, which features online debates on a wide range of topics politics, society, philosophy, religion. Lehi and his party obviously had knowledge of the wheel. Its touring company has successful runs in numerous cities every. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place.

He is best known for his lengthy prayer while hunting in the wilderness, wherein he first asks for personal forgiveness, then for gods blessings upon the nephites, then his blessings upon the lamanites, then that a record of the nephites will be preserved and brought into the lamantes at some future day should. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. How the lds quorum of apostles think enemies list and area business weekends duration. Mormons believe that the book of mormon confirms information found in the holy bible. The book of mormon preserves some demonstrable mistranslations of the king james version of the bible.

Another major problem for the book of mormon is archeology, a major embarrassment for the mormon church. Mormons will probably cite as an excuse for such errors the passage in the book of mormon bom, which says mormon 8. There are multitudes of problems withe the book of mormon, not the least of which is the fact that much of the later official doctrine of the church contradicts much of the book of mormon s doctrine. I love this book for teaching my children the stories from the book of mormon. Is it time to pull the curtain on the book of mormon. The enos problem in the book of mormon adventures in. Joseph smith claimed that the book of mormon was the most correct book. There are two possible explanations for the origin of the book of mormon.

Joseph smith translated the book of mormon from gold plates. They do not seem to realize that such an admission implies that any faults mean that at least at that point the man was not inspired by god. Book of mormon stories the church of jesus christ of latterday. For example, critics of mormonism have shown convincing proof that the book of mormon is a synthesis of earlier works written by other men, of the vivid imaginings of joseph smith, and of plagiarisms from the king james bible. Book of mormon problems hope, faith, and reading glasses. Book of mormon stories the church of jesus crist of latterday saints. The book of mormon, a larky buddy story about two american mormons who go to uganda in an attempt to convert the natives, is utterly irresistible. Problems with the book of mormon are documented in, an incredible story part i the book of mormon. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. The book of mormon musical synopsis with cunningham now in charge of the mission it becomes clear that his lack of education results in him making things up making things up again. In 2 nephi 5, we have the story that a temple was built in the first 20 years in the new world.

The problem stems from the fact that adieu is both an english word and a french word, and most english speakers are. She also teaches a scripture study class weekly for a group that religiously attends and, those of us who cannot attend due to work commitments, sorely miss the opportunity to drink in all that marilyn has to offer. Gardner earned a masters degree in anthropology and mesoamerican ethnohistory from the state university of new york at albany. 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 first group and the one that gets the most respectful, nuanced and researched treatment in the play. The book of mormon uses the term chariot many times and in many different time periods which shows that the bom peoples used the concept of the wheel. She was able to follow the story and keep track of the different groups of people and the battles. For more exhaustive analyses of this matter, i recommend looking here, here, here, here, here and here joseph smith, history of the church, 4.