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 600 bc to ad 421. Many writers contributed to the book of mormon as ive stated earlier the purpose of my blog is to bear my witness that the book of mormon is another witness of jesus christ. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with his family in about 600 bc and sailed to the americas. As with most scripture, however, claims to historical authenticity remain a. A readers guide, have attempted to move the discussion away from polemics to an appreciation for the book. The sacred writings chronicle gods dealings with his people in.
It is the only biblical book that is wholly composed of apocalyptic literature. I wish also to mention here, that the title page of the book of mormon is a literal translation, taken from the very last leaf, on the left hand side of the collection or. Some critics believe that it was written solely by joseph smith. Criticism of mormonismbookswho really wrote the book of. This blog post is the first of several about the writers and the construction of the book of mormon. From the approximate book of mormon translation timeline. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. In the history of the church, joseph smith made an important clarification about the title page of the book of mormon. Sidney rigdon, the confession of an apostate paperback february 9, 2019 by john clinton rigdon author. Joseph smith was only 23 years old when he dictated the book of mormon, and had about 7 years of formal education, with almost all of that homeschooled. Mormon compiled and abridged the records of several other writers to create the book of mosiah. Parker and stone were best known for creating the animated comedy south park. In 1834, relying on testimony gathered by one doctor philastus hurlbut a former mormon who had been excommunicated from the church for immoral behavior, e. The prophet joseph received these ancient metal records written in reformed egyptian from the heavenly messenger moroni 3 and translated them by the gift and power of god 4 into the book of mormon.
For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church. Or was the book really derived from solomon spalding. Some mormon scholars, like grant hardy, who wrote understanding the book of mormon. For nearly two centuries, faithful members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds. Book of mormon plates and records the encyclopedia of. Who wrote the 1981 introduction to the book of mormon. Statements in the book of mormon have spawned differing views about the language in which the book was originally written. The spalding enigma part 2 did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith the mormon bible, as he claimed. Its coming forth was an essential part of the history of mormonism. Mosiah was a prophet, seer, revelator, and king who ruled in zarahemla from approximately 124 bc to 91 bc. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. The spalding enigma did an angel of god in the late 1820s really give 18yearold con artist joseph smith mormon bible, as he claimed.
Which scribes worked on which portions in the book of mormon. The belief of mormons is that the book of mormon was written on golden plates or tablets by the ancient inhabitants of the americas, who came over to the americas from jerusalem, having been led. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone. The great spirit will soon begin to talk with you and your children. In 1823, moroni appeared to joseph smith as an angel and told him where the plates were buried. The book of mormon claims that moroni, a prophet, originally wrote the book and that it was translated by joseph smith. Virtually all other scholars and students of the book of mormon who have written commentary about the title page have reached exactly the same two conclusions. Joseph smith claimed that he translated the text of the book of mormon from gold plates through the urim and thummin by the power of the holy spirit.
Moroni revealed that smith had been selected to translate the book of mormon, a sacred text that was written around the 4th century and named after moronis father, mormon. Who really wrote the book of mormon the critics and. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. Because the text was found on the very last page of the plates, it seems likely that the final author, moroni, wrote it. Howe suggested, basing himself on witnesses collected by doctor hurlbut, that the book of. The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr. Yet the book of mormon is the one remaining item that none of the explanations fully satisfy me. The book of mormon is actually a collection of histories passed down from one writer to another. Unfortunately, mormon s abridgment of the record of lehi was the material translated in the 116 manuscript pages that were lost, and consequently it is not available in the present book of mormon. Nonmormon critics disagree in their opinions as to the origin of the book. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt. Lehi wrote an account of his life and spiritual experiences that was included in the large plates of nephi. Book of mormon, the lyrics song lyrics for musical. Like you im confident its a work of 19th century fiction, the evidence for that is overwhelming, but how exactly it managed to come about remains a bit of a mystery to me.
Book of mormon language the encyclopedia of mormonism. The spalding enigma, our authors set out to accomplish a monumental task. Later, the prophet joseph smith, by the gift and power of god, translated an abridgment of those original plates. This blog says that bruce r mcconkie wrote it, but there is no source to back that up. Nephi passed the record to his younger brother jacob, who gave it to his son enos. Joseph smith as the sole author, without intentional assistance, possibly reflecting smiths own life events. Ever since the book of mormon was first published in 1830, its origins have been disputed. Joseph had never published book or story or anything that we know of. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. 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. 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. She noted that an early book of mormon student manual for the mormon church said it was the disciple of christ but a newer manual says it is the son of the disciple. I never read any anti mormon literature i just went off of my feelings when it came down to not believing in the church, no ces or anything still havent read it. Joseph smith translated the plates into english by the gift and power of god, and the book of mormon was published in palmyra, new york, in 1830.
It attempted to prove that natives had descended from the ancient israelites. Preface to book of mormon, circa august 1829, page iii. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Ancient prophets on the american continent kept records over many centuries, and then the prophethistorian mormon compiled the records onto gold plates. The first gathering of the book of mormon, including this preface, was likely printed by mid. Completing the work in less than 90 days, he published it in march 1830 as a 588page volume called the book of mormon. As joseph smith, the founder of the rapidly growing church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon, tells it in official church writings, the book is a miraculous translation of reformed. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The first author was the prophet nephi, who left jerusalem with. Although joseph smith doesnt specify the author, he makes it clear this page is part of the ancient record and that he was the translator, not the author. Book of revelation mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. When i officially stopped going to church sometime in early spring everything seemed to get better for me spiritually, emotional and mentally. Ancient prophets, historians, and leaders engraved their testimonies and history on golden plates.
The book of revelation, also called revelation to john or apocalypse of john is the last canonical book of the new testament in the bible. The book of mormon follows two young missionaries who are sent to uganda to try to convert citizens to the mormon religion. On 26 june 1829, some nine months before the book of mormon appeared in print, an anonymous writer in the wayne sentinel 9 claimed that most of those who had heard the story of what was derisively described as joseph smiths gold bible felt that the whole matter is the result of gross imposition, and a grosser superstition. An american, james adair, wrote a book a history of the american indians in 1775. One missionary, elder price, is an enthusiastic gogetter with a strong. Sidney rigdons confession to his son about the book of mormon. The mormon church teaches that the book of mormon was written by a series of ancient people, the first of whom was nephi, and that it was finally redacted and compiled by mormon. Emma hale smith, and perhaps her brother reuben hale, help as scribes for a portion of the book.
Joseph smith translates some of the characters himself. Skeptics and most archeologists believe that the book of mormon is a hoax, and that it was written in the early 19th century by joseph smith or some other individuals. Learn more about the book of mormon s role in the history of mormonism and how it can bless your life today. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of the everlasting gospel. I know of three theories on how the book of mormon was written. Now, some critics also claim that smith gained most of his theories from a manuscript of a novel written by solomon spaulding. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. The great spirit has given me a book, and told me that you will soon be blessed again. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon. Who really wrote the book of mormon part 2 youtube. Explorations in critical methodology, edited by brent lee metcalf. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
Third, the book of mormon abounds in textual errors, factual errors, and outright plagiarisms from other works. The title page of the book of mormon published today contains the words translated by joseph smith. I received an inquiry from a gospel doctrine teacher who wanted to know who wrote 4 nephi, i. The book is named for mosiah, who was a son of king benjamin. The book of mormon is about the history of two great civilizations of people who lived in the ancient americas. The book of mormon is a sacred record that mormons, or latterday saints, consider to be scripture in addition to the bible.
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