We do have geneticist who teach at byu, case in point. The purpose of omnis little book is the same as the purpose of his fathers book the book of jarom to preserve their genealogy. The only bible that joseph smith relied on was the king james version. Gotta hand it to a guy who wrote the book on how to write dishonest pseudoscholarship that defends the most implausible of ideas with extreme acts of mental contortionism and smoke and mirrors tricks. The title refers to alma the younger, a prophet and chief judge of the nephites.
May 31, 2016 mormon uses the same terms captains and chief captains to refer to lamanite soldiers as well, but maybe they had a different system, who knows. Everyone with an interest in mormonism is welcome to participate in rmormondebate, including truebelieving mormons, doubting active mormons, unorthodox mormons, exmormons, non mormon christians, people of other faith traditions, and atheists. Who really wrote the book of mormon the spalding enigma. Then there was gay mormon guy, the blog which was a rough compilation of the first 100 posts of gay mormon guy and published as a free ebook. 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. He didnt have the time, education or wherewithal to do this. All these comments atributing immutable perfection to the 1921 book of mormon resemble a statement that an elderly lady made to my father, who was a traveling elder in the methodist church.
Howe suggested, basing himself on witnesses collected by doctor hurlbut, that the book of. It follows a little boy whose family is preparing to go to the temple. See more ideas about book of mormon, lds seminary and scripture study. Jan 18, 2018 the final test of our views of book of mormon geography will be archaeological work in the ground itself, ferguson wrote in 1951 to his friend j. March 25, 2011 although the broadway musical, the book of mormon, is edgy and controversial, its creators, matt stone and trey parker, insisted that mormons should not.
Then there was gay mormon guy, the blog which was a rough compilation of the first 100 posts of gay mormon guy and published as a free e book. Lds scholars should be terrified of this thorough, exhaustive, and downright exhausting examination of the circumstances surrounding joseph smiths discovery and translation of the golden plates that yielded the book of mormon. Mormon uses the same terms captains and chief captains to refer to lamanite soldiers as well, but maybe they had a different system, who knows. Insightful, informed, and full of new reporting and dozens of interviews with romney himself, political heavyweights such as california governor arnold schwarzenegger, and religious leaders such as chuck colson and archbishop charles chaput, a mormon in the white house. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. Nephi passed the record to his younger brother jacob, who gave it to his son enos. Martin harris and emma were also scribes for a short time. Jul 12, 2017 was the book of mormon a great american novel. Even the most unbiased person who insisted on a strict population growth rate of 0.
Trust the south park guys to air a problem facing 125 million women across 29 countries on the broadway. In 1820 a 14yearold boy named joseph smith lived near palmyra, new york. The bom is very likely a fraud, perpetrated on a gullible nation at a time of religious experimentation viz. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. Critics point to similarities between a dream joseph smiths father had and lehis dream of the tree of life as evidence that joseph wrote the book of mormon based on his own experiences. Book of mormon written in modernday english grace for grace. D, is a professor and senior fellow, woods institute for the environment, stanford university.
Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. Some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the book s. The original book of mormon had the appearance of an average. Or was the book really derived from solomon spaldings romantic fantasy novel called manuscript found. Before i get flamed i would like to point out three of the more glaring anachronistic errors. But for some reason, fairmormon has latched onto this book. In essence, the challenge states that the critic should produce a text of like character to the book of mormon, before he assumes that smith could have been the sole author. He wrote down the words as joseph read them out loud. Everyone with an interest in mormonism is welcome to participate in rmormondebate, including truebelieving mormons, doubting active mormons, unorthodox mormons, exmormons, nonmormon christians, people of other faith traditions, and. May 25, 2014 essentially if our anti mormon critic were to apply the same logic that he uses on the book of mormon to rome he could very easily disprove the reality of the first and second punic wars. According to the text it was written by the prophet moroni sometime between 400 and 421.
A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from. 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. In the latest episode of the geeks guide to the galaxy podcast author william shunn talks about the stunt that got him banned from returning. The lds church asserts that for a poorly educated farm boy, this task would be entirely. Was the book of mormon given to joseph smith by an angel or created from a work of fiction who was solomon spalding and did he have a connection with joseph smith. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. One passage says that the book of mormon shall establish the truth of the bible and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the lamb of god is the son of the eternal father, and the savior of the world. People in the book of mormon, ranked by common consent. The salt lake tribune, october 3, 1998 octavo editions give readers a firsthand experience of a milestone text. Lest anyone be misled, this is a scholarly undertaking, not a religious work.
America, the creators of south park, trey parker and matt stone, have taken a leap of faith into their broadway debut with the book of mormon, a musical that. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Several investigations and studies which set out to prove that joseph wrote the book of mormon have actua. This book critically examines key historical documents, personal testimonies, and records of 19thcentury mormon history concluding that the book of mormon is an adaptation of an obscure historical novel written by revolutionary. The mormon guy asked him who wrote the book and he gave the name, the mormon replied thats me and youre wrong. I\ve read both sides many times over, and i can argue the promormon side just as easily as the nomormon side, with the prime diference being. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Mar 24, 2011 march 25, 2011 although the broadway musical, the book of mormon, is edgy and controversial, its creators, matt stone and trey parker, insisted that mormons should not be offended by its. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. Holding an 1830 first edition of the book of mormon can stir the souls of bibliophiles and believers alike. It is confirming evidence of the birth, life, and crucifixion of jesus and of his work as the messiah and the redeemer.
Parker said that while he lets his 10yearold stepson watch some. Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. Book of mormonplagiarism accusations19th century influences. The book of mormon, which they wrote with robert lopez avenue q, exemplifies the pairs skill at undercutting audience assumptions. Creators of south park defend their broadway debut, book. Its available on a printondemand site called and, eventually. Just brilliant in stitches the whole way through and the same guy wrote the.
The book of mormon is actually a collection of histories passed down from one writer to another. Other researchers believe it took place in the great lakes area of north america to include involving the mound. The details of josephs fathers dream were written long after the book of mormon was published. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. Obviously you feel the book of mormon would have been easy to write because it is a bad copy of the bible. May 30, 2012 the spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. Those guys in the white shirts and ties that ride around on bicycles and. Jan 04, 20 the book of mormon, which they wrote with robert lopez avenue q, exemplifies the pairs skill at undercutting audience assumptions. This blog will be retaining the mormon history guy label, since i do not confine my discussions to the history of the church ofjesus christ of latterday saints properand the topic of this blog falls firmly within the context of mormon history as evidenced by the mormon newsrooms use of mormon trail. Jun 26, 2012 a friend of mine said once, if joseph wrote the book of mormon on his own, he must have been a very smart man. But heavenly father helped him understand what the plates said. He followed in the footsteps of his father, mormon after whom the book of mormon is named as keeper of an ancient record detailing the history and eventual destruction of their people, the nephites, by their enemies, the lamanites. As a coauthor of the 1977 work who really wrote the book of mormon.
There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. This presentation presents the strong connection via word print analysis. The spalding enigma by wayne cowdery, howard davis, and donald scales summary. 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. After a bunch of people asked, i decided to publish gay mormon guy as a book that people could actually buy, read, and give away. The work in question is who really wrote the book of mormon. Just brilliant in stitches the whole way through and the same guy wrote the songs for frozen so you can have a little chuckle next time your toddler holds u hostage for it. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with his family in about 600 bc and sailed to the americas. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present with millions of global adherents.
The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone. If a regular guy without credentials wrote this book, fairmormon and book of mormon central would ignore it, mock it, or even blast it for being weak on scholarship, similar to how book of mormon central recently blasted the firm foundation heartlander group for the same kinds of problems. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. Howard davis and arthur vanick, recently published by concordia, the highly respected publishing arm of the lutheran church missouri synod. Nov 21, 2012 after a bunch of people asked, i decided to publish gay mormon guy as a book that people could actually buy, read, and give away. There will be a lot of good information that gets left out, but this post is about what i deem to be the absolute mustknow data. Latter day saints believe the plates were the source material for the book of mormon. Nov 18, 2015 the mormon guy asked him who wrote the book and he gave the name, the mormon replied thats me and youre wrong. The spalding enigma, our authors set out to accomplish a monumental task. Welcome to rmormondebate this community operates a little differently than many, so please take a moment to read and learn how to contribute. Having read tens of thousands of pages of material, pro and con, here in a nutshell is my current \best guess\, included with a preface that i don\t care what anyone has to \refute\ my position. It attempted to prove that natives had descended from the ancient israelites. For what its worth, moroni is not referred to in the book of mormon as captain moroni, he is only named as a chief captain.
Criticism of mormonismbookswho really wrote the book of. Mar 07, 2011 and with the entire book of lehi and the forepart of mosiah irretrievably lost, per lds sources, the book of mormon is rather incomplete. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Creators of south park defend their broadway debut. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. 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. The book of mormon bom is an abbreviated account of the inhabitants of the ancient americas from 2200 bc to 421 ad.
Response to claims made in who really wrote the book of mormon. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. The final test of our views of book of mormon geography will be archaeological work in the ground itself, ferguson wrote in 1951 to his friend j. Funniest scripture in the book of mormon 21 and it came to pass that pacumeni, who was the chief judge, did flee before coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. The book of omni gets off to a great start for a book in the book of mormon with the words behold, it came to pass but it goes downhill quickly from there. A friend of mine said once, if joseph wrote the book of mormon on his own, he must have been a very smart man. Creators of south park defend their broadway debut, book of. Later, the prophet joseph smith, by the gift and power of god. A mormon in the white house 10 things every american should.
Why is the book of mormon written in 16th century english. The other big musical production of that period was the infamous spiderman. Joseph didnt have much schooling, so he wasnt good at writing or spelling. An american, james adair, wrote a book a history of the american indians in 1775. Absurdity in the book of mormon the annotated bible. Far from simply mocking mormonism, it celebrates the human. This book attempted to revive the moribund spalding manuscript theory for the book of mormon. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. Moroni, as a mortal man, was the last author of the book of mormon, burying the metal plates upon which it was recorded, some 421 years after the birth of christ. Thanks in part to being exposed to his works, i shifted from hardliner rightwing mormon towards progressive mormon, and then finally realized that mormonism has little place for true progressives. Though young, he was concerned about his standing before god and confused by. Nov 03, 2012 it follows a little boy whose family is preparing to go to the temple. There is no conspiracy theory in the book of mormon only conspiracy fact tptb 1203. Some of you will be surprised often, a nice passiveaggressive dig that i left out this or that document.
Davis has made numerous public lecture and media appearances on the subject. The spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone first staged in 2011, the play is a satirical examination of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints beliefs and practices that ultimately endorses the positive power of love and service. So my challenge to you is, if it is so easy, write one just like it that meets the above criteria. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of its.
The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with. The book of mormon has already been tasked with saving the musical once, when it premiered in new york in march 2011. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Explaining away the book of mormon witnesses fairmormon. And it came to pass that coriantumr did smite him against the wall, insomuch that he died. According to smith, the angel was the guardian of the golden plates, buried in the hill cumorah near smiths home in western new york. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. He is also titular head of the spalding research associates. Alma is the longest book in the book of mormon and consists of sixtythree chapters, taking up almost a third of the volume. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. People in the book of mormon, ranked by common consent, a. Ancient prophets, historians, and leaders engraved their testimonies and history on golden plates. Nibley and other leftside apologists are probably responsible for more exmormons than socalled antis.