B events of the bible and book of mormon visavis the archaeological record. 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. Oct 05, 2019 this again, is evidence that the book of mormon is true, and that this band of robbers were the constructors of this strong hold and these secret rooms which mr. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Of course you must do this with sincerity, or it wont work.
Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of whether there is scientific proof of the book of mormon. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Discussion in religious debates started by madhatter85. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before.
For instance, the populations and civilizations described in the book of mormon were likely too small only a few million to fill entire continents. So that means we can put the book of mormon to the test. Mormon prooftexts from the bible christian research. In fact, there is so much evidence that one can only wonder why so many critics continue to harp on such a useless argument. Mormonism is there any archaeological evidence for the. In an important 2005 article, a respected mesoamerican archaeologist argued that the findings of his discipline are increasingly consistent with. May 10, 2011 has anyone ever asked you, is there any proof or evidence for the book of mormon. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. When i started looking around, it seemed like there were people everywhere saying that the book of mormon was a. Delve deeper into the book of mormon and discover for yourself why its true. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very.
How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book of. There is no definitive proof the book of mormon is true. Another testament of jesus christ, is true, not false. Careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a diversity of ideas and opinions on the location of nearly every book of mormon place. Many scholars and laymen have searched known history of the americas for evidence that the book of mormon is true, as has similarly been done with the bible in the middle east. Has anyone ever asked you, is there any proof or evidence for the book of mormon. For mei wanted some evidence and it wasnt enough for someone else to tell me it was true. Proof that the book of mormon is true, excerpt from. This again, is evidence that the book of mormon is true, and that this band of robbers were the constructors of this strong hold and these secret rooms which mr. Yes we may not believe the same things as everyone else, but as with all religions, the basis for the truth is the faith of its membership.
How to prove that the book of mormon is true quora. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. If this book is true, the president of the church is a prophet, for he holds all of the keys, gifts, powers, and authority held by the prophet joseph, who brought forth this latterday work. The mormon church believes that they are the restoration of the true church established by jesus christ and that there is no salvation outside of mormonism. This essay is about how proving the book of mormon is true or false by historical landmarks or by authorship is a huge waste of time. You can say what you want, but it wont change the fact that i know and i can not deny it incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. 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. The critics like to claim that there is no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon, but the truth is that there is scant archaeological data to tell us anything about the names of ancient new world inhabitants or locationsand names are the only means by which we could archaeologically identify whether there were nephites in ancient. I cant deny the spiritual and logical reasons that were presented to me as part of my testimony of that books truthfulness.
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. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Id like to take credit for discovering this groundbreaking evidence but millions before me had already discovered it long before i did as they read the book of mormon. You can convince god to send the golden plates back down to earth again, then you can take them to a panel of mesoamerican archaeologists and allow them to examine them at length, performing every scientific test on them that they can think of. Nov 27, 2006 there is no definitive proof the book of mormon is true.
If the book of mormon is true, the church is true, for the same authority under which this sacred record came to light is present and manifest among us today. I have a decent background on the teachings of the church and there are scriptures we use to explain things which we believe is true. What proof is there that the book of mormon is true. Jan 02, 2020 next will come the invitation to read the book of mormon, pray, and ask god to show you it is true. Really, there is all kinds of evidence that is common knowledge to us today but which joseph smith had never heard about in the 1800s. There are also some powerful evidences for the book of mormon, including important correlations from the book of mormon text to mesoamerica and hebrew language and customs. Is there scientific proof authenticating the book of mormon. In this episode, dave talks about the relationship between faith and unanswered questions. These claims have historically been taken on faith.
And other sheep i have, which are not of this fold. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Dear mormons, you dont know the book of mormon is true. By contrast, the evidence shows that the book of mormon is not translated from ancient scriptures but is a nineteenthcentury fiction. Is there any proof that the book of mormon is true. Apr 14, 2017 if this book is true, the president of the church is a prophet, for he holds all of the keys, gifts, powers, and authority held by the prophet joseph, who brought forth this latterday work. Archaeology, relics and book of mormon belief deseret news. They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but. Proof that the book of mormon is true book of mormon facts. The mormon church is the only true church i was answered that i must join none of them, for they were all wrongall their creeds were an abomination in his sight.
In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Proof the book of mormon isnt true the book of mormon contradicts the bible and was actually a work of fiction written by joseph smith in the 1800s, who copied much of it from the king james version, trying to make it look like an ancient manuscript. While the bible continues to prove to be accurate through archaeological findings, evidence for claims made in the book of mormon continue to be lacking. Ten lies i told as a mormon missionary mormonism research. There has been much criticism by critics of the book of mormon that no artifacts or proof from excavations in the new world, that shows evidence of the book of mormon. The book of mormon the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Cannon noted there were several different and conflicting book of mormon geographies in circulation, and no two of them agree on all points. Jan 18, 2018 the book of mormon gave only scattered clues, speaking of a narrow isthmus, a river called sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by the nephites and their enemies, the lamanites. He sums up his talk with a wonderful quote from hinckley basically saying that we shouldnt worry ourselves with external, archaeological proof, rather the proof that the book of mormon is true lies within the book. But if i found out that the book of mormon is truethen everything was going to change. Im not going to spend time on how this line of reasoning is terrible or how this sets members up for failure. 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. The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science.
How to know the book of mormon is true in lds book. Centuries later, according to the scripture, jesus appeared to the nephites in the same region after his resurrection. Feb 16, 2016 if the book is false or not historical, then everything is supposed to fall down in shambles. Though there are many more than five, ive tried to present a thoughtful cross section. 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.
But ultimately god requires faith, and is most likely making it intentionally difficult to prove the book of. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence that proves the book of mormon. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. The book of mormon gave only scattered clues, speaking of a narrow isthmus, a river called sidon, and lands to the north and south occupied by. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Proof the book of mormon is true from beginning to end the book of mormon is actually a very complex book, its beginnings in the middle east, with its story moving across an ocean and changing through many lands in the americas. The existence of the book of mormon had to be logical to me. There is absolutely no archaeological evidence to directly support the book of mormon or the nephites and lamanites, who were supposed to have numbered in the millions. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Mormon truth a byu professor once again helps to prove. The program was kjzzs nephite explorer, hosted by investigative journalist ryan fisher, who would go to historical sites said to have been. Proof the book of mormon is true from beginning to end. Mar 16, 2008 there is the proof that you can receive from the father when we read, study, ponder, and pray about the book of mormon and ask to know if it is true in the name of jesus christ, by the power of the holy ghost.
Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. Dna vs book of mormon incredible new evidence youtube. Both the bible and the book of mormon declare themselves to be ancient, historical, and reliable rules of faith the very word of god. Evidence from history, archaeology, and other fields of study prove that the bible is a collection of ancient writings and confirm much of its historical claims. If the book is false or not historical, then everything is supposed to fall down in shambles. To answer that question ive spent some time compiling a list of evidence for the divinity of the book of mormon. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. Proof that the church is true things as they are, were. This wasnt something that i figured out over night. Early critics of the book of mormon had a heyday with this one, pointing out that steel did not exist at the time nephi would have written this passage the prevailing knowledge in 1830, so the book of mormon couldnt possibly be true. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand.
John watson, were a parchment discovered in an egyptian mound, six inches. Though we do not see it as such, our temple tradition has the virtue of providing physical evidence, empirically verifiable, that the church is a restoration of the ancient order, held sacred by. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a. May 08, 2018 careful analysis of early writings on book of mormon geography reveals a diversity of ideas and opinions on the location of nearly every book of mormon place. The book of mormon begins in a wellknown location, jerusalem, in 600 b. There is the proof that you can receive from the father when we read, study, ponder, and pray about the book of mormon and ask to know if it is true in the name of jesus christ, by the power of the holy ghost. Most who have studied the subject conclude that this signifies writing the hebrew language in modified egyptian characters.
The prophet joseph smith said the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth. You can say what you want, but it wont change the fact that i know and i can not deny it the bible vs. In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. Then, along came the archaeologists to save the day. As an active and lifetime member we crave validation, proof that our world and our religion is true. Most of the book uses the bom to prove itself true to paraphrase, the bom is true, i believe it, therefore its true. I know, because i received an answer through my prayers from the holy ghost. 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. Evidences in proof of the book of mormon book of mormon.
He says that those who have read it and had the spirit to confirm its truthfulness, know that it is true. But there is one thing that has occurred to me recently that has become the most solid logical evidence for the book of mormon. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. It was only in the last couple of chapters that the author really provides evidence that might be used to help a nonbeliever find the book to be true.
And, with more study, the books sturdiness and richness and the remarkable accomplishment of its translator, the prophet joseph smith, become more apparent. Mormonism teaches to investigators and followers alike that the correct interpretation of this passage is that, the sticks are really scrolls, the stick of judah is the bible, the stick of joseph is the book of mormon, the joining of these sticks mean the joining of the two writings, the bible and the book of mormon. But ultimately god requires faith, and is most likely making it intentionally difficult to prove the book of mormon is true, secularly. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no.
In recent years, we have learned that several ancient documents were written in precisely that fashion. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. This book presents some of the intellectual proofs he has discovered that affirm the book of mormon is of divine origin. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Many a learned person has asked the same thing about the bible or even the existence of god.
If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Jan 23, 2016 early critics of the book of mormon had a heyday with this one, pointing out that steel did not exist at the time nephi would have written this passage the prevailing knowledge in 1830, so the book of mormon couldnt possibly be true. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. Mar 14, 2020 you can convince god to send the golden plates back down to earth again, then you can take them to a panel of mesoamerican archaeologists and allow them to examine them at length, performing every scientific test on them that they can think of. Lds temple tradition provides the strongest argument for the claim that mormonism is the only true religion. Before you fall to your knees, there are some things you need to know that they are not telling you and wont unless you ask. Skeptics discount the long list of correlations between native americans and book of mormon peoples, because archaeologists. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Biblical proof the book of mormon is true religious forums. They teach that, after the apostolic age, the christian faith was corrupted and no one preached the true gospel from that time until joseph smith restored the true teaching in 1820. 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.
I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. Russell ballard of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints addresses the question of whether there is. The book of mormon claims to have been written in reformed egyptian morm. 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.