Smithsonian statement about the book of mormon summary. I have heard reasoning against the validity of the book of mormon, so i want to present some of those arguments and give any latter day saints an opportunity to present their own arguments. How the lds churchs response to the book of mormon musical is. The smithsonian institution has never used it in archeological research and any information that you have received to the contrary is incorrect. The book of mormon comprises 15 books, each allegedly written by an ancient american prophet. Thus the stakes regarding authenticity are high, and the suggestion that joseph smith looked extensively to john bunyan for inspiration to write the book of mormon is. Smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon some latterday saints, in their zeal to give tangible authenticity to the book of mormon, have told prospective converts that the smithsonian institution has used the book of mormon to verify sites in the new world. On subsequent days, the story was picked up by other major media outlets such as bbc, washington post, npr, the new york times, and. Controversies regarding the origin of the book of mormon synonyms, controversies regarding the origin of the book of mormon pronunciation, controversies regarding the origin of the book of mormon translation, english dictionary definition of controversies regarding the origin of the book of mormon. The smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Book of mormonarchaeologysmithsonian statement fairmormon.
Discussion regarding the historicity of the book of mormon often focuses on archaeological issues, some of which relate to the large size and the long time span of the civilizations mentioned in the book. In accordance with guidelines from the center for disease control cdc and under the continued direction of governor andrew cuomo, broadway shows in. I love to read the holy scriptures, and, evry time i do. The king james translators added words italicised to help the readers, yet in some cases these are. The purpose of this important volume is to provide pertinent information on the coming forth of this standard work as well. These men were given a sacred charge to observe the destruction of their people for their wickedness and failure to repent. Purpose to encourage the children to gain a personal testimony of the book of mormon and study it and live its teachings throughout their lives. Scriptures to mark in the book of mormon before you give. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. Response to the smithsonian institute statement on the. Welch, a byu professor of law, admits that the best early manuscripts lack tois archaiois in matthew 5. Mormon claims regarding the nature of the book of mormon and how it was translated in 1841, joseph smith declared the book of mormon to be the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and suggested that a.
Smithsonian archaeologists see no direct connection between the archaeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. The spalding studies site dedicated to exploring the solomon spalding authorship claims for the true origin of the book of mormon who was solomon spalding. Their testimony still appears at the front of each copy of the book of mormon. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon. Smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. The book of ether can be considered as a second witness to the truths taught in the rest of the book of mormon. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon mormons in transition.
An evaluation of the smithsonian statement regarding the. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. When the book of mormon musical opened on broadway in 2011, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints issued a statement. Controversies regarding the origin of the book of mormon.
Smithsonian disavows use of book of mormon for archaeological guide and sees no connection between new world and book of mormon. Some had waited all of their lifetimes to read the book of mormon in afrikaans. The bible and the book of mormon for over 100 years, mormon archaeologists have searched in vain for indisputable proof of book of mormon civilizations. An evaluation of the smithsonian institutions statement regarding the book of mormon study aid foundation for ancient research and mormon studies sorenson, john l on. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the. Above all, were these words given by the gift and power of god. As men focus their attention in other areas of research, bits of cultural and linguistic evidence come to the forefront as additional testimonies of the book of mormon.
That is how several distinguished professors of religion at brigham young university and teachers at seminaries and institutes have described a companion to your study of the book of mormon. Thus the book of moses contains essential information which is missing from the book of mormon. The book of mormon is based on the king james version of the bible, a relatively recent translation. The smithsonian institution sends a form letter to those who inquire about their use of the book of mormon for archaeological purposes. What was jesuss instruction and promise regarding the giving of alms. A the book of mormon claims that the ancient inhabitants spoke and wrote in reformed egyptian and hebrew endnote 25. Why new testament words and phrases are in the book of mormon part 9. Lehi, an alleged prophet and contemporary of jeremiah, led his wife, children, and their spouses through the arabian wilderness to the shores of the large waters. Many current believers, including the lds church, have no strong position on. The book of mormon agrees with the textus receptus not the original text and includes the later phrase by them of old time. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship formerly farms, aug 2000. Originally published in 1957, an approach to the book of mormon is dr. Mission statement book of mormon archaeological forum.
Organizational statements regarding the book of mormon edit. An evaluation of the smithsonian institutions statement regarding the book of mormon study aid foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. According to the text, the first seven chapters were written by the prophet mormon and the last two by his son moroni. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 by. Knowledge of the book of mormon by common consent, a. The most valuable aspect of this set are the occasional authoritative quotes the authors use from modern prophets and apostles, but if this is what you want, you would be better off with k douglas bassetts doctrinal insights to the book of mormon 3 vols which are strictly. Statement regarding the book of mormon, smithsonian institution, spring 1986 with all of these great efforts, it cannot be established factually that anyone, from joseph smith to the present day, has put his finger on a single point of terrain that was a bookofmormon geographical place. The authors offer nothing new to the study of the book of mormon. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. It was the birth of the united states of america that ushered out the great apostasy, when the earth was darkened by the absence of prophets and. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the instituttons scientific activities, and a number of specific informational questions about ancient american archaeology. The legal organization behind book of mormon central is the book of mormon archaeological forum, inc.
It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or. Act i as the show opens we are introduced to the lds church missionary training centre where elder kevin price and his classmates of missionariestobe demonstrate their daily attempts to convert the public to mormonism through door to door campaigns hello. Yes, it has been changed, but the 1996 smithsonian statement lives on in the hearts and minds and web pages of our. New approaches to the book of mormon explorations in critical methodology edited by brent lee metcalfe. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally inherited dna standpoint. The national geographic society has a similar letter. Furthermore, the accounts in the books of ether and helaman, as well as the statements made by nephi and jacob, are evidently dependent upon the material in the book of moses. Below is the statement we presently distribute for these general inquiries. The blue book of mormon is the standard, and therefore i would feel reluctant to introduce someone to the book of mormon through anything else. Accurate information about the smithsonians position is contained in the enclosed statement regarding the book of mormon, which was prepared to respond to the numerous inquiries that the smithsonian receives on this topic. The possibility of the book of mormon as inspired fiction.
We still stand by our former statement on the book of mormon. Book of mormon translator converted the mormon urban. New approaches to the book of mormon signature books. Readership of the ensign is not as strongly related with knowledge of the book of mormon text as readership of either of the two more specialized journals, with a correlation of 0. It professes to be a religious and secular history of hebrews who fled jerusalem and certain persecution in 600 b. View the original article at the book of mormon resources blog. Mar 23, 2014 scriptures to mark in the book of mormon before you give it away. An evaluation of the smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon by john l. The church of jesus christ of latterday saints released a statement today concerning the geography of the book of mormon in the form of a.
The physical type of the american indian is basically mongoloid, being most. Feasting on the word is both a heartfelt and a thoughtful book, as clearly reasoned as it is faithful. To latterday saints there can be no objection to the careful and critical study of the scriptures, ancient or modern, provided only that it be an honest studya search for truth. Brown when the book of mormon was first published in march of 1830 its detractors believed that it did not have a divine origin as claimed, but was an impious fraud perpetrated solely by the prophet joseph smith who was listed on the title page of the bookin accordance with federal lawas the author and. The united states is the promised land book of mormon. Solomon spalding 17611816 was a lapsed calvinist evangelist, a failed new york businessman, and. The book of mormon is the name of a book, or subdivision, of the larger book of mormon.
For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the institutions scientific activities, and a number of specific. Terryl givens points out that throughout mormon history the book of mormon has been used for its role as a sacred sign rather than its function as persuasive theology. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. Smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon.
If so read our the book of mormon musical synopsis below including songs. That wedding of the rational and the religious works well for a volume which argues that the literary dimensions of the book of mormon contribute deliberately and dramatically to its religious impact. The most helpful guide to studying the book of mormon that is now available. Widtsoe, council of the twelve apostles, in search of truth. Nibleys commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. However, the smithsonians eighth statement regarding the book of mormon says. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon.
It is pretty much identical to the version of the book of mormon used by the majority of lds worshipers in the us, in their quads or triple combination. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted. On february 1, 2018, national geographic broke a story about some incredible new discoveries in mesoamerican archaeology using new technology. Michael otterson, the managing director of the mormons public affairs department, wrote a less official personal response. The most correct of any book on earth was a bold statement to make in joseph. He testified that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our. Further verification of the change in the smithsonian statement is provided in the short note, new light. The discovery and colonizing of america, chris columbus, loss of parts of the bible, apostasy, restoration of the gospel, coming forth of the book of mormon, building of zion, revolutionary war 35.
This book illuminates the events that transpired from the mormon churchs public announcement of its sanction of polygamy in 1852 until its formal decision to abandon the practice in 1890, people on both sides of the mormon question debated central questions of constitutional law. It was a decision of the smithsonians central office of public affairs to simplify the statement to respond to general questions regarding the smithsonians use of the book of mormon. Regular readers of mormon blogs and message boards, on average, have more knowledge of the text than less frequent readers or nonreaders. Solomon spaulding and the book of mormon fairmormon. The book of mormon reference companion deseret book. Nephi had a vision of the apostasy and saw that many plain and precious parts would be removed from the gospel. How do these new discoveries relate to the book of mormon. The united states is the promised land foretold in the book of mormon continuing, he wrote, a place where divine guidance directed inspired men to create the conditions necessary for the restoration of the gospel of jesus christ. Another testament of jesus christ presents itself as a translated record of ancient american peoples detailing their dealings with each other and with god. Accurate information about the smithsonian s position is contained in the enclosed statement regarding the book of mormon, which was prepared to respond to the numerous inquiries that the smithsonian. If this were the case, we would expect to find artifacts with writings in these languages.
A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. A gifted scholar with expertise in ancient languages, literature, and history, nibley shows numerous details in the book of mormon narrative to be. The book of mormon states that when mormon was twentyfour years old, he was visited by the lord. The production may attempt to entertain audiences for an evening, but the book of mormon as a volume of scripture will change peoples lives forever by bringing them closer to christ church statement regarding the book of mormon musical, 07 february 2011. An evaluation of the smithsonian institutions statement. Church releases statement on book of mormon geography book. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. Smithsonian statement on the book of mormon revisited in journal of book of mormon studies vol. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times.
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