Examining mormon truth claims mormonism is a religion largely based upon faith inspiring stories. The book of mormon is changing the lives of people all. The sources of inspiration and content essay further discusses joseph smiths grammatic style in the book of mormon dictation. Setting aside the titles tongue n cheek tendency, there is an element of truth im getting at. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. Leading experts of the early americas disavow the historicity of the book of mormon narrative. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
The other doctrinal truths are revealed in other scriptures of the lds church. For the importance of narrative theology in the book of mormon, see book of mormon central, what was mormons purpose in writing the book of mormon. Subtitled another testament of jesus christ, it is one of four books mormons consider scripture. And when ye shall receive these things, i would exhort you that ye would ask god, the eternal. 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. The truths of the book of mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls. What if mormon missionaries told the truth about their. This video presents recently discovered evidences of the truth of the book of mormon, another testament of jesus christ, including linguistic and other evidence of modernday descendants of book. Book of mormon truth in love ministry witnessing to mormons. Internal evidences of the truth of the book of mormon. Such claims as this are based on the unscriptural assumption that the lord jesus christ has a specific religious organization on the earth today, complete with a name, a membership, and a. The truth about the book of mormon gives people the opportunity to examine the book of mormon s teachings to see for themselves whether they be good or evil. And so in like manner we have been given the book of mormon to establish the truth of the biblenot just the truth of the bible as history and as a cultural record, but to establish the greatest truth that the bible was intended to declare, and that is to prove that the testimony of jesus christ contained in the scriptures is true and correct.
Fastpaced and meticulously researched, saints recounts true stories of latterday saints across the globe and answers the lords call to write history for the good of the church, and for the rising. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. The whole truth short story from a case for the book fo mormon. We are told that the book of mormon contains the fulness of the gospel, that those who like to get up a dispute. The baptist version of the book of mormon by lynn ridenhour.
Why you shouldnt ask god if the book of mormon is true. The book of mormon is a compilation of several books written by ancient prophets. Thus was the book of mormon the means of convincing an entire extended family and bringing them into the church. The deity of jesus christ is a fundamental doctrine of christianity, yet the mormons deny this truth.
Chapter 17 of gospel principles lists a number of important truths that it claims the lord restored through the lds church. We have already discussed some of these doctrines in previous installments of. From its pages he makes comparisons to whats going on in our world today. Some may wonder, though, exactly what type of spiritual manifestation they should expect in response to a sincere prayer. Is the lds church the true and living, restored church of christ. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The truth about the book of mormon gives people the opportunity to examine the book of mormons teachings to see for themselves whether they be good or evil. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. Establishing the truth of the bible religious studies center. What plain and precious truths were restored by the book. Jan 22, 2020 the book of mormon is a big part of toms life.
They say it supports and even outranks the bible as a source of truth. Plan of redemption the truth about 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. Callister where he explains how a partial truth when intentionally presented as the whole truth is an untruth. He uses a short story given by president russell m. The book of mormon contains the fullness of the gospel of jesus christ. The website summarizes these teachings by chapter1 nephi. When mormon or latterday saints or lds missionaries present the book of mormon, they explain that feelings prompted by the holy ghost and prayer will help a person to accept it as truth. How can one learn the truth about the book of mormon. It was responsible for bringing many early leaders and stalwart members into the church as they discovered that through a latterday prophet god.
They encourage potential converts to follow suit so that they, too, may know the book of mormon is from god. An excerpt from the book a case for the book of mormon by tad r. In 20, the lds church began releasing a series of gospel topics essays, to explore frequently questioned aspects of its doctrine and history. How will god manifest the truth of the book of mormon. The translation was published in 1830 as the book of mormon, now revered by mormons as scripture, along with the bible. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. Elijah of the old testament was fulfilled by john the baptist. 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. Following numerous discussions regarding the authenticity of the book of mormon, i have been asked by the zealous latterday saint to forget what. 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 is another testament of jesus christ.
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. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. 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. A common misconception among lds is that each book in the book of mormon was written by the person the book is named after, which is not true. Following numerous discussions regarding the authenticity of the book of mormon, i have been asked by the zealous latterday saint to forget what i have learned in order to pray about truth. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. It tells the reader that three groups of immigrants settled the uninhabited americas. The misinformation and hyperbole of the mormon leaders pertaining to the book of mormon concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said.
In support of this claim, the lds church points to various mormon doctrines as examples of restored truths. This book shows the divinity and testimony of these great doctrines, further divided into 28 truths taught by the book of mormon, and their application to the lives of those who will study and follow them. It is indeed a rarity to finish a discussion with a mormon without being challenged to read and pray about the book of mormon. Discovering truth in the book of mormon 18 may 2020.
Truth shall spring forth out of the earth, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. Dec 14, 20 the book of mormon, what they dont want you to know. Book of mormon fhe lesson abinadi and standing for truth. They all receive the work without hesitancy and rejoice in the truth thereof. Exalting man to god status is apparently alright, but jesus christ is not acknowledged as the eternal son of god in the mormon church.
The whole truth short story from a case for the book fo. Nyman was an emeritus professor of ancient scripture at brigham young university. Abinadi was called by god to tell the wicked king noah and his people to repent. The mormon jesus was a preexisting spirit who was exalted, just as mormon followers hope to be exalted someday. Book of mormon truth in love ministry witnessing to. Nelson, president of the church of jesus christ of. Another group came much earlier, when god confounded the tongues at the tower of babel. But the book of mormon is a book about the history of the people on this continent. Truths book of mormon in the learning is good if we follow gods counsel. I told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earthand a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book joseph smith, introduction to. The standard of truth is the first book in saints, a new, fourvolume narrative history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Moronis famous promise assures those who have read the book of mormon that if they will ask god if it is true with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the holy ghost. As i said earlier, having read the book of mormon through as a baptist minister, i was astonished at how often i kept running into protestant themes.
It is a known fact that hebrews spoke hebrew, and their records were kept in hebrew. It is the word of god and, like the bible, gives us guidance and inspiration in our daily lives. Here is a sample of the truths you can learn during your study of the book of mormon at seminary, at home, and at church. The book of mormon is a religious and secular history of the inhabitants of the western hemisphere from about 2200 bc to about 421 ad. The book of mormon presents problems that cannot be explained away regarding the following topics.
When i think of the book of mormon, i think of the word power. 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. As the modern lds church tries to shore up belief in the prophet joseph smith and his special powers of translation, it continues to try to argue for something more than a fictional narrative for the book of mormon. Evidences of the truth of the book of mormon youtube. The book of mormon testifies of jesuss ministry in the americas following his resurrection. Dec 16, 2016 see book of mormon central, why must a trial of faith precede a witness of truth. Jan 02, 2020 according to mormon apostle bruce mcconkie, author of the book mormon doctrine, the gospel is the plan of salvation that embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men. Specifically, the book of mormon was prepared for our day so that we would learn and grow by readings the words of ancient prophets in the americas. This one link is a motherload of info on the arabian peninsula evidences for the book of mormon. 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. Mormon missionaries regularly quote this verse and accompany it with heartfelt personal testimony about how the holy ghost bore witness to them of the truth of the book of mormon. Moroniand topicabrahamic covenant and other covenants. From the pages of the book of mormon comes moronis promise that through prayer, real intent, and faith in christ, we may know the truth of these promises by the power of the holy ghost along with other latterday prophets, i testify of the truthfulness of this most correct of any book on earth, even the book of mormon. The mormon book, the pearl of great price, claims that all other christian groups are corrupt and are an abomination in gods sight joseph smith, 2.
Introduction to the book of mormon the book of mormon builds on the bibles witness of christ. Internal evidences of the truth of the book of mormon book. 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. Weebly website this is walters personal post mormon facebook page. For 166 years, the book of mormon has been changing the lives of those it touches. It opens hearts and alters lives for those who listen to the spirit as they read. Have the children share as much of the story of abinadi as they know. Prayerfully studying the truths in the book of mormon can help you acquire the spiritual knowledge you need to guide your life and to answer questions that you or others may have. 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.
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