Book of Mormon
THE BOOK OF MORMON Biblical Perspective
Every Word of God is flawless... do not add to His Words or He will rebuke you. Prov.30: 5-6
Not withstanding the foregoing verse from the Bible, every time a stranger is approached by a representative of the Mormon church they are told that the Book of Mormon contains another testimony of Jesus. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the Book of Mormon, the following is a,
Brief Summary of the Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon purports to be a history of ancient Americans who were in fact descendants of Jews who migrated to the Americas before the Babylonian exile. In about 600 BC this group of Jews, led by a prophet named Lehi established the first civilization in the New World. Lehi's descendants subsequently divided into two groups. The first of these were the Nephites, who were righteous members of the white race. The second group, called Lamanites, were an evil warlike people who were dark-skinned in color.
According to the Book of Mormon, today's Native American population are direct descendants of the Lamanites; whereas, the Nephites were destroyed in a series of battles with the Lamanites. The last Nephite leader, a man named 'Moroni' collected the records of his people and inscribed them on golden plates. He then buried the plates on a hill in what is now Manchester county, New York. In 1827 the 'angel' Moroni" appeared to Joseph Smith and told him where to find these plates. Moroni also told Smith how to use the special seer stones (Urim and Thummim) to translate the golden plates into English. Later Moroni took the golden plates back from Joseph Smith and retains possession of them to this day.
The existence of these golden plates was testified to originally by three witnesses, to wit: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer & Martin Harris.
The following quotes set forth the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints concerning the importance of this book to their theology and its trustworthiness:
1) "The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible." (Book of Mormon, Introduction, first sentence, 1981 edition) emphasis added
2) "... the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the everlasting Gospel." (Bruce McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 399; see also Doctrine & Covenants, 20:9; 27:5; 42:12; 135:3) emphasis added {"Fullness of Everlasting Gospel" defined as "Those laws, doctrines, ordinances, powers, and authorities needed to enable men to gain the fullness of salvation" Mormon Doctrine p. 333} emphasis added
3) "...the laws and principles leading to the highest salvation are found recorded in that book (The Book of Mormon)" (Mormon Doctrine, p 333) parenthesis & emphasis added
4) "... the greatest, plainest, and most glorious Messianic prophecies, were given by Nephite prophets and are found in the Book of Mormon." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 489)
5) "...In ninety five of ... one hundred cases, the Book of Mormon teaching is clearer, plainer, more expansive, and better than the biblical word." (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p. 467) emphasis added
6) "Almost all of the doctrines of the gospel are taught in the Book of Mormon with much greater clarity and perfection than those same doctrines are revealed in the Bible. Anyone who will place in parallel columns the teachings of these two great books (Bible and Book of Mormon) will find conclusive proof of the superiority of Book of Mormon teachings." (Mormon Doctrine, p. 99) emphasis added
7) "Practically all of the religious truths taught and practiced in any Gospel dispensation are given in a clear and forceful way in the Book of Mormon. In fact, many of the principles are presented more clearly in that record than in any of the other ancient scriptures." (The Gospel Through the Ages, p. 86) parenthesis & emphasis added
8) "The Book of Mormon is the greatest single tool which God has given us to convert the world." (Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov. 84, p. 7) emphasis added
9) "The nature of the message in the Book of Mormon is such, that if true, no one can possibly be saved and reject it." (Orson Pratt's Works, "Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon", Deseret News Press, 1945, p. 107) emphasis added
10) "I (Joseph Smith) 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." (History of the Church, Vol 4, p. 461) parenthesis & emphasis added
11) "Joseph did not render the writing on the Gold plates into the English language in his own style of language as many people believe, but every word and every letter was given to him by the gift and power of God. So it is the word of God and not of Joseph Smith, and it was done in this way... The Lord caused each word spelled as it is in the book to appear on the stones in short sentences or words, and when Joseph had uttered the sentence or wordbefore him and the scribe had written it properly, that sentence would disappear and another appear. And if there was a word wrongly written or even a letter incorrect the writing on the stones would remain. Then Joseph would require the scribe to spell the reading of the last spoken and thus find the mistake and when corrected the sentence would disappear as usual." (Journal of Oliver B. Huntington, p. 168 Utah State Historical Society.) emphasis added. see also B.H. Roberts 'Comprehensive History of the Church' Vol I, p. 129 wherein it is stated that Smith used both Urim/Thummin and the 'Seerstone' he found while money digging back in 1822. see also Andrew Jensen, 'Historical Record' p. 216 and a letter from Emma Smith to her son, recorded in `The Saint's Herald' May 19, 1888, p. 310 and George Q. Cannon 'Life of Joseph Smith' p. 56 for additional verification of this fact.
12) When Joseph Smith supposedly finished translating the Book of Mormon from the Golden plates, he stated that he and the three witnesses (whom I will discuss later) went to pray about the completed work. In the process he said, "... we heard a voice from out of the bright light above us, saying, 'These plates have been revealed by the power of God, and they have been translated by the power of God. The translation of them which you have seen is correct, and I command you to bear record of what you now see and hear." (History of the Church, Vol 1. pp 54-55) parenthesis & emphasis added
13) "Read the first edition of the Book of Mormon as it came from the Prophet in its original, unchanged condition." (preface to reprint of original Book of Mormon, by Wilford C. Wood in 1958) emphasis added
THEREFORE, BASED UPON THE FOREGOING STATEMENTS
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE TRUE OF THE BOOK OF
MORMON, TO WIT:
I The Book of Mormon should remain essentially unchanged from its original edition in 1830. Furthermore, like the Bible itself, from a literary standpoint, the Book of Mormon should be a superior work.
II The Book of Mormon should compliment and support the other three standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints. (As a corollary to this, the reader should be able to assume that at the very least, the Book of Mormon would not directly contradict these works.)
III Since the Book of Mormon is said to contain the 'fullness of the Gospel,' it should contain all the major doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter - day Saints, or at least refer favorably to them.
IV The Book of Mormon should not contradict itself.
V The Book of Mormon should be verifiable
LET US NOW EXAMINE THE ABOVE FIVE ASSUMPTIONS IN
GREATER DETAIL
I CHANGES IN THE BOOK OF MORMON & IT'S LITERARY
VALUE
A) Between the first edition of 1830 and it's 1964 edition there have been more than 3,913 documented changes. These changes have been made in spite of points # 10, 11 & 12 above. (Remember, this has occurred even though the golden plates from which it was supposedly translated were taken back from Joseph Smith by Moroni himself. As such, they have not been available to consult when these changes were made)
B) "That errors of grammar and faults in dictation do exist in the Book of Mormon (and more especially and abundantly in the first edition) must be conceded; and what is more, while some of the errors may be referred to inefficient proof-reading, such as is to be expected in a country printing establishment, yet such is the nature of the errors in question, and sointerwoven are they throughout the diction of the Book, that they may not be disposed of by saying they result from inefficient proof-reading or referring them to the mischievous disposition of the 'typos' or the unfriendliness of the publishing house... Indeed the first edition of the Book of Mormon is singularly free from typographical errors." (Defense ofthe Faith, by B.H.Roberts, p; 280-281; reprinted in A New Witness For Christ in America, by Francis W. Kirkham, v. I, pp 200-201) Note: B.H. ROBERTS IS A NOTED MORMON HISTORIAN, parehthesis in original, other emphasis added
C) Significant changes: Here are merely a few examples of the changes which have partially affected the teachings of the church.
I Nephi 13:40 "... These last records... shall make known to all... that the
Lamb of God is the Eternal Father, and Savior ... (1830 edition
p. 32)
"... These last records... shall make known to all... that the Lamb
of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and Savior (1964 edition
p. 25) UNDERLINED WORDS WERE ADDED
Mosiah 21:28 "...king Benjamin had a gift from God... (1830 edition p.200)
"...king Mosiah had a gift from God... (1964 edition p.28)
CHANGED NAME FROM BENJAMIN' TO 'MOSIA
2 Nephi 30:6 "...many generations shall not pass away among them save they
shall be a white and delightsome people (1830 edition p. 117)
"...many generations shall not pass away among them, save they
shall be a pure and delightsome people (1981 edition p. 112)
{Note: this verse was used to teach that dark skinned 'gentiles'
could become white skinned if they accepted Mormon gospel,
obviously it didn't work that way, so THE WORD 'WHITE'
WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED TO 'PURE'
BECAUSE OF IT'S RACIST CONNOTATION.}
Alma 32:30-31 35 words have been added to this verse. Compare page 15
of 1830 edition to page 290 of 1981 edition.
I Nephi 20:1 "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the
name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah,
which swear by the name of the Lord" (1830 edition p .52)
"Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the
name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or
out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the
Lord" (1981 edition p.46) UNDERLINED WORDS WERE
ADDED TO STRENGHTEN MORMON CLAIM THAT
OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS PRACTICED BAPTISM.}
D) In addition to these changes, there have been thousands of grammatical changes. It has been argued that the only place the Book of Mormon 1830 edition was grammatically correct is when it plagiarized verbatim from the King James Version of the Bible.
Examples of this plagiarism are as follows 1.Compare Moroni 10: 8-17 with I Cor. 12:4-11 KJV. Remember, the Book of Mormon was supposedly written more than 400 YEARS BEFORE THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE HIS EPISTLE AND 200 YEARS BEFORE THE KING JAMES VERSION!!!
2. Compare 3 Nephi 11:27 & 36 with I John 5:7 KJV
3. Compare 2 Nephi 14 with Isaiah 4 KJV
4. Compare 2 Nephi 12 with Isaiah 2 KJV
E) Is this good literature? Or is it absurd?
2 Nephi 29:3 "And because my words shall hiss forth - many of the Gentiles
shall say: 'A Bible! A Bible! We have got a Bible, and there
cannot be any more Bible." (Do God's words 'hiss forth'?)
4 Nephi 1:6 "And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the
thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second,
yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and
alsothe fifty and first, and fifty and second; yea, and even until
fifty and nine years had passed away" (This verse takes 57
words to say that 21 years went by!)
Ether 2:18-20 "...I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me
...And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou
shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when
thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive
air. And if it be so that the water come in unto, behold, ye shall
stop the hole..." emphasis added. (Didn't the Mormon god
know that if you pull the plug in the bottom of boat water
would come in? Why did he say "...if it be that the water
come in."?)
Ether 15:31 "And it came to pass that after he had smitten off the head of
Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that he
had struggled for breath and died." (emphasis added, How do
you struggle for breath after your head has been cut off!)
Alma 46:15 "And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all
those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly
the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because
of their belief in Christ who should come." (emphasis added.
Since the Book of Mormon was supposedly written several
hundred years BEFORE Jesus Christ was born and
the word 'Christ' is of Greek derivation, not Hebrew, how
could anyone be called 'Christians' before the birth of
Jesus?)
II CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN BOOK OF MORMON AND
OTHER STANDARD WORKS OF THE LDS
Book of Mormon Other Standard Works
A) God dwells in hearts of men God does not dwell in men's hearts
Alma 34:36 Doctrine & Covenants 130:3
B) There is one God There are many Gods
Alma 11:22 & 26-29,39,44 Doctrine & Covenants 121:32,
132:18-19 Pearl of Great Price,
Abraham Cha 4 & 5
C) God is creator of all God had a father who begat him
Mosiah 4:9 Gospel Truth, Cannon p. 128
D) One God created all Many Gods created all
2 Nephi 2:14 Pearl of Great Price - Abraham 4:3- 4
E) God is a spirit God has a body of flesh and bones
Alma 7:10 Doctrine & Covenants 130:22
F) God is three in one Father, Son & Holy Spirit = 3 separate
2 Nephi 31:21 Gods
Article of Faith p. 41
G) Jesus conceived by Jesus' conceived by physical act of
supernatural act of Holy Spirit Father
Alma 7:10 Journal & Discourses Vol 1, p.51
H) Polygamy is an abomination Polygamy is justified
Jacob 2:24; Jacob 3:5 Doctrine & Covenants 132:1
I) Born again before baptism Born again after baptism
Alma 36:23 Mormon Doctrine p. 101
J) God's decrees are unalterable God's decrees can & will be changed
Alma 41:8 Doctrine & Covenants 56:4-5
K) God does not change God changes
Moroni 8:18 Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith,
p.345
L) Dead have no second chance Baptism for dead necessary
Alma 34:32, 35 Doctrine & Covenants 128:17-18
Mormon Doctrine p. 673
M) Punishment of soul eternal Punishment temporary
Alma 42:16 Doctrine & Covenants 19:6
N) Garden of Eden in Assyria Garden of Eden in Spring Hill,
Moses 3:14 Missouri
Doctrine & Covenants 107:53-55;
116; 117:8
O) Jesus born in Jerusalem Jesus born in Bethlehem
Alma 7:10 Doctrine & Covenants and Pearl of
Great Price
III BOOK OF MORMON SILENT ON OTHER MAJOR
DOCTRINES OF LDS CHURCH
Silent on 3 degrees of glory 3 degrees of glory
Doctrine & Covenants Sec. 76
Silent on celestial marriage Celestial marriage necessary for full celestial
glory
Doctrine & Covenants 141:1-4, 132:4
Silent on Temple marriage Temple marriage necessary for
& other temple rites celestial glory
Doctrine & Covenants 131:1-3
Silent on Baptism for dead Baptism for dead is gospel principle
Doctrine & Covenants 124:27-30
Silent on man's progression Men can progress to become Gods
Mormon Doctrine p 331
IV INTERNAL CONTRADICTIONS WITHIN THE BOOK OF
MORMON & FALSE PROPHECIES
A) While there are numerous internal contradictions within the Book of Mormon, none are more blatant or obvious than 2 Nephi 5:15 & 16
verse 15 reads: "And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in
all manner of wood, and of iron and of copper, and of brass,
and of steel and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores,
which were in great abundance." emphasis added
verse 16 reads: "And I, Nephi did build a temple; and I did construct it after
the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of
so many precious things for they were not to be found upon
the land..." emphasis added
B) 2 Nephi 3:14-15 contains a prophecy of the coming of Joseph Smith. In these verses he is listed as the 'Seer.' More importantly, it is prophesied that Joseph Smith would be from the lineage of Joseph, son of Jacob, son of Issac, son of Abraham. "And thus prophesied Joseph, saying: Behold, that seer will (be) ... of the fruit of my loins..." (parenthesis & emphasis added). Therefore, Joseph Smith must be either a Jew, or an American Indian(the Mormons believe that the Indians are descendants of Abraham) Yet Smith's own genealogical records show that he is of English descent, neither Jewish nor American Indian. THEREFORE, EITHER JOSEPH SMITH IS NOT THE 'SEER' PROMISED IN THE BOOK OF MORMON, IN WHICH CASE THE SMITH TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON IS A FRAUD, OR THE BOOK OF MORMON CONTAINS A FALSE PROPHECY AND CANNOT THEREFORE BE CONSIDERED THE WORD OF GOD!!!
V BOOK OF MORMON IS NOT VERIFIABLE FROM ANY
EXTERNAL SOURCE
A) Not a single Book of Mormon city, lake, river, or mountain range, has ever been found. The Book of Mormon Student Manual 1981 ed, p.354,460 acknowledges that the Book of Mormon is not a geography book, or a history book (see also Church News April 30, 1988 p. 10).
B) Not a single artifact verifying the existence of any of the peoples mentioned in the Book of Mormon has ever been found. ("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,... is a historical document relating to the history of early migrants to our hemisphere." Smithsonian Institute Archaeologist, Michael Coe, cited in Denver Post Magazine, November 21, 1982, p.61)
C) Not a single manuscript of any kind attributable to these people has ever been found. According to "A Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon" prepared by the Department of Anthropology, Smithsonian Institute, 1988 the Book of Mormon is useless as a guide to archaeological exploration)
D) The Mormons teach that Native Americans are the descendants of the Lamanites and are therefore of Jewish heritage (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith p. 92; Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 122; Articles of Faith, p. 260; Teachings of Spencer Kimball p. xix). However, geneticists have proven that all Native Americans are descended from three or four groups of people who are only found in the Americas or Asia. ie. they are not Semitic in origin, but Asian. (The Atlanta Journal, Feb. 13,1993).
E) The three witnesses to the Book of Mormon to wit:, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, whose testimonies still appear in present day editions of the book WERE EACH EXCOMMUNICATED FROM THE LDS CHURCH. They have been referred to variously as "wicked" (Doctrine & Covenants 3:12-13; 10:6-7), "drank to much" (History of the Church Vol 2, p. 26), apostatized (Journal of Discourses vol 7, p. 114-115), and "too mean to mention" (History of the Church, Vol 3, p 232). Yet we are expected to accept their testimony.
In point of fact, Martin Harris later stated that in regards to the golden plates, "Well I did not see them just as I see the penholder, but I saw them with the eye of faith. I saw them as plainly as I see anything whatever about me, although at the time they were covered over with cloth." (as recorded in 'Gleanings By the Way', 1842, Philadelphia, PA by Rev. J.A. Clark) emphasis added
Furthermore, by 1845, of the remaining eight witnesses listed in the introduction to the Book of Mormon, only Joseph Smith's father (Joseph Smith Senior), and his two brothers (Hyrum and Samuel) remained in the church. Peter and Christian Whitmer had died, and John Whitmer and Hiram Page had all left the church in disgust.
Finally, the first 12 Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also swore to the integrity of the Book of Mormon, yet eight of them were either excommunicated, disfellowshipped, or apostatized by 1845, including William Smith, Joseph's own brother!!! (Orson Hyde - disfellowshipped August 4, 1835, John F. Boynton - apostatized December 1837: History of the Church, Vol 2. p.528; Luke S. Johnson - apostatized December 1837: bid; Lyman Johnson - excommunicated April 13, 1838: History of the Church Vol 3. p. 20; William E. McLellin - excommunicated May 11, 1838: History of the Church Vol. 3. p. 31 see also footnote; Thomas Marsh - excommunicated March 17, 1839: History of the Church Vol 3. p. 284; Orson Pratt - excommunicated in 1842: Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi p. 269-270).
All of the foregoing shows the reader that not only does the Book of Mormon cntradict many of the teachings of the Mormon Church, but in spite of the church's claim that it contains the 'fullness of the Gospel' it fails to even mention the very doctrines which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claim are necessary to comply with in order to attain the highest levels of glory. Rather than containing "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", the Book of Mormon contains the testimony of "Another Jesus."