I wanted to determine how many evidences were found in the book of mormon itself supporting the fact that it was translated from an ancient document and not written by joseph smith in the early 19th century. I wanted to determine how many evidences were found in the book of mormon. Is there evidence for book of mormon highways in ancient. Boyd tuttle out of darkness into light a decade of discovery in book of mormon research. Some of the most interesting factoids have to do with hebraisms. Mormon scholar hugh nibley drew attention to mound builder works of north america as an excellent description of book of mormon strong places. For one particular physical evidence, look no further than a plethora of.
Genetic attacks on the book of mormon focus on the fact that amerindian dna seems closest to asian dna. Peterson, mounting evidence for the book of mormon, ensign, january 2000, 19,excerpt the plates, the translation, and the witnesses for a brief period in the late 1820s, the prophet joseph smith did indeed possess the gold plates. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. When you think of historical proof, archaeology tends to be the foremost.
The truthfulness of the book of mormon is evidence for other truths about the restoration. Read will demonstrate that a more complete analysis of the carbon dating for kennewick man shows that his correct age is within book of mormon timeframes and once again supports the dna evidence in favor of the book of mormon. Mormon apologists believe the archaeological evidence below supports claims that authentic book of mormon sites exist in the finger lakes region of new york. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people. Book of mormon evidence the mormon church, mormonism. One such group is the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, better known as f.
Archaeology is in fact, physical evidence that supports the truthfulness of a historical event. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. The spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship is the theory that the book of mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript written by solomon spalding. When talking to mormons, expect to hear them say, i know the book. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically accurate.
This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. We believe that it is scripture that testifies of gods dealings with prophets and followers of jesus christ in the ancient americas. According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible. The book of mormon and dna evidence jump to subtopic. He once had promised that archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. This book is a mustread for anyone, lds or otherwise, to understand the evidence supporting the divine authenticity of the book of mormon volume.
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. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. If a socalled holy book is not a myth, then we will find that the names of cities, people, and other unique details will be supported by archaeological evidence. Recently, i went through it with a different emphasis and focus. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. 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. Responding to critical claims regarding the book of mormon and dna evidence. Is there evidence for the authenticity of the book of mormon. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The aztec, maya, and inca people were expecting the return of a god who their ancestors once believed in.
No historical evidence to support the book of mormon. The theory first appeared in print in the book mormonism unvailed, published in 1834 by e. Response to lds living article on evidence supporting the. That said, textual evidence supporting the authenticity of the book of mormon really is remarkable. If they were once a delightsome people and had christ for their shepherd, mormon 5. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. And he labeled native americans as lamanites, ancient jews from the book of mormon but extensive dna and cultural studies have found no evidence. A contemporary mormon view is that these civilizations rose and fell in mesoamerica. If there is data supporting the texts, we can calculate whether the book of mormon should be considered to be based on fact or simply a good fiction story.
Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. The theory is that a spalding manuscript was stolen by sidney rigdon, who used it in collusion with joseph smith. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Book of mormon evidence streaming faithfully exploring.
Mormon apologists have proposed multiple theories to explain apparent inconsistencies with the archaeological, genetic, linguistic and other records. The conclusion of the matter is that much modern evidence supports the more powerful witness of the holy ghost that the book of mormon is true. The book of mormon, combined with the spirit, is the greatest witness one has of the truthfulness of the church of jesus christ of latterday. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. Most, but not all, mormons hold the books connection to ancient american history as an article of their faith. Brian stubbs lehite language evidence in native american languages. This view finds no acceptance outside of mormonism in the broader scientific community. The restoration and the coming forth of new scripture. David read the surprising new dna evidence supports the. The book of mormon stands as a witness not only for jesus christ, but also for his servant joseph smith, who translated it and laid the foundation for the latterday kingdom of god. The book is used by nearly thirteen million individuals who read it along with the holy bible, believing that both were written by prophets and contain the words of god.
Dean sessions how practical scientific applications of the um help us learn truth. There is generally no direct support amongst mainstream historians and archaeologists for the. Nhm nahom as evidence for the ancientness of the book of mormon bountiful i dont have a prepared response to this except to say that the idea that there were oases in parts of the middle east is found in the bible and was not unheard of in the early 1800s. The only archaeological evidence supporting the book of mormon is speculation, unlike the archeological evidence supporting the bible which is hard, observable, verifiable evidencenot speculation. Thus, it can be seen that archaeological evidence for the book of mormonwhich does exist, as will be discussed shortlydoes not constitute proof, nor does it. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Book of mormon the list of archaeological and historical.
In 1946 a mormon named thomas ferguson started archeological explorations looking specifically for evidence to support the book of mormon. Dean sessions latter day saint creationism the doctrine and science. The book of mormon teaches that the people of the americas are decendants from lamanites, who originally crossed the oceans from jerusalem, sometime near 600 b. Joseph smith, who translated it, had to be what he said he was, a prophet of god. Civilizations of their magnitude and duration would be expected to leave extensive archaeological records. The book of mormon is convincing evidence of the restoration. The plates, the translation, and the witnesses for a brief period in the late 1820s, the prophet joseph smith did indeed possess the gold plates. Book of mormon evidence september 16, 2019 elder nigeajasha and other mormon indians by lori elaine taylor all of us can unite as annalists before we separate as analysts.
She documented her findings in 3 examples of evidence that support the book of mormon, an article posted recently in ldsliving. According to the book, two of these groups originated from ancient israel. 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. 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.
Some of the brightest lights giving intellectual support to the book of mormon come from the old world, particularly the arabian peninsula, where dramatic finds have added new levels of credibility to the account in first nephi. Dna evidence supporting the book of mormon there is no dna evidence supporting the book of mormon. Critics argue that there is no archaeological evidence to support the use of wheeled vehicles. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon evidence, proof, and belief. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to. A core belief of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is that the book of mormon is a translation of an ancient record that was written on golden plates. Before delving into archaeological matters, it is helpful to take a step back and consider. Spaldingrigdon theory of book of mormon authorship. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. That is among the most securely established facts in. An arabian altar at a crossroad called nahom okay, we admit, this item is on most lists of book of mormon.
For many years, critics have challenged the veracity of a religious text called the book of mormon. 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. This carries on today, with not a single artifact, ruin, or record supporting any book of mormon historical claims. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Mike licona has produced a practical book to help in our apologetics witness to mormons. Critics argue that there is no archaeological evidence to support the use of wheeled vehicles in. Anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited. The book contrasts the evidence for christianity and the bible. The book of mormon in north america book of mormon evidence. If the book of mormon is really true history, then even after 1500 years, there should be some evidence that would support the truthfulness of those historical scriptural events, as recorded in the book of mormon.
Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Lets start out with the allegory of the olive treethe prophet zenos s extraordinary parable. Peterson, mounting evidence for the book of mormon, ensign, january 2000, 19,excerpt. See richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. A little more than onethird of the book of mormon deals with war, whether. Dont expect proof for any religion or matter of faith, but yes, there are many issues that support the concept that the book of mormon is of. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Archaeologists, when examining ancient evidence, are working with a very fragmentary record. If the book of mormon was written in a variation of hebrew, youd expect some of those unique hebraisms to show up in the english translation. While mormon scholars admit valid challenges to mormonism from archaeology and the book of abraham, they say the evidences of mormonisms truthfulness is the book of mormon itself, gods confirmation in your spirit, and the number of changed lives. Archaeological and historical evidence evidences of the. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. My idea going into this study of the book of mormon, especially the section dealing with evidence for and against its historicity, was if the book of mormon is true, then it has to stand up to the.
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