Some accept the savior, the divine mission of joseph smith, and the book of mormon. The earliest anti mormon literature attacked the book of mormon and the character of joseph smith but never mentioned the first vision. Analysis of the accuracy of the joseph smith translation. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern, changed by a prefix or suffix, or greek in etymology. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 book. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds prophet ezra taft benson added, just as the. The back also includes a helpful essay on literary parallelism in the book of mormon, and an index of names. Mar 26, 20 explore debraannabells board president james e. Joseph smith as author of the book of mormon joseph smith was an uneducated boy, and yet he produced the book of mormon in a few short months. The book of mormon is another witness of jesus christ and confirms truths from the holy bible. In response to my commentary on the nature of truth, i have in recent months ive been approached by a few readers urging me to read the book of mormon. Does the bible contain prophecies about joseph smith. The book of mormon and the bible mormons in transition.
Jan 11, 2016 joseph smiths sermon cycle of 1843 on election is primal in his teaching of polygamy and much of its related theological diaspora finds a connection in john. These verses of scripture have been cited repeatedly by those attempting to discredit the book of mormon. Adam clarke bible commentary in the book of mormon. The prophet joseph smith s 12 may 1844 sermon links this prophecy with the preceding two and makes it clear that joseph himself was a special messenger, ordained, and prepared for that purpose in the last days. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon wikipedia. Faust, then a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles, spoke on. What are some great commentary books on 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 book. Be familiar with the prophet joseph smith s famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction. As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smiths words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. Joseph smith, who translated the gold plates from which the book of mormon came, had this to say. The book of mormon is a true volume of scripture, prophesied in the bible, and brought forth by god. 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 wold get nearer.
It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. How do the book of moses and book of mormon help us. One argument that mormon apologists frequently employ is the claim that joseph smith was intellectually unequipped to write the book of mormon. The first kind of support given for this thesis is from the inspired version of the bible, also known as the joseph smith translation jst. I question whether one can acquire an understanding of this great book. In 1823 moroni was sent as a resurrected being to reveal the book of mormon to joseph smith and finally delivered the plates to him in 1827 the guide to the scriptures, moroni, son of mormon, 16768.
It differs from earlier commentaries by providing not only introductory and summarizing remarks but also the most specific scriptural intertextual commentary on the matter. Charles, the apocrypha and pseudepigrapha of the old testament, 268ff. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. How to have a better understanding of the book of mormon.
This volume presents the closest possible approximation to the book of mormon text as dictated by joseph smith to his scribes. A joseph smith revelation invited latterday saints to seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom. Royal skousen is a professor of linguistics and english language at byu, is the leading authority on the critical text of the book of mormon, and is a volume editor in the joseph smith papers project. Mcconkie and millets four volume doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon is good, although it is as conservative a series as you might guess a work by a man sporting the names of both joseph fielding smith and bruce r. In response to an inquiry on the beliefs of the church, joseph smith wrote. It provides detailed biographical information about joseph smith and background information about the origin of the book of mormon. Latter day saints teach that the latter day saint movement began with a revelation from god. The last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to.
Joseph smith, the nature of god, and the book of mormon. As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smith s words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. The book of mormon was central to joseph smiths understanding of the doctrines of the gospel and of his role in the restoration. Moyle visited david whitmer, whitmer was an old man. A brief explanation about the book of mormon the book of mormon is a sacred record of peoples in ancient america, and was engraved. Smith, the sixth president and prophet of the lds church. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds beliefs. Some have questioned the use of the name jehovah in 2 nephi 22. The book of mormon has been described as the bible of north america i. If the book of mormon is actually a novel, why would a protestant minister say there are multiple gods, etc. In the back, hardy provides various maps and charts, a number of statements from joseph smith on the book of mormon, a series of notes addressing key topics, such as anachronisms, chronology, geography, translation, witnesses, and more.
Critics of the book of mormon claim that major portions of it are copied, without attribution, from the bible. Could joseph smith have authored the book of mormon. In the isaiah chapters which were plagiarized by the book of mormon, joseph smith has changed them in his translation to fit the book of mormon. My husband and i read from it each night while studying the book of mormon. Therefore, he must have had divine aid, as he claims. Lds scholars often point out that smith had received a rudimentary education at best, and did not have access to the works needed to research the book. While at work on his translation of the bible, joseph smith received revelation concerning an interpretation of parts of the book of revelation. Be familiar with the prophet joseph smiths famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction. Large parts are also plagiarized from the king james version of the bible. Prophecies about joseph smith bible references for lds. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than any other book.
This suggests that most of us could benefit by some aid to. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his face. Could joseph smith have written the book of mormon. In it, joseph smith desired to restore many of the plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the lamb of god. Millet, doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, 4 vols. Concerning this record the prophet joseph smith said. The commentary in 2 nephi 26 and 27 is the most helpful explanation we have of isaiah 29 in the book of mormon. It seems clear that joseph smith was led to translate many passages as they appear in the king james bible and made changes specifically by exception. Book of mormon commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 by. The authors are very knowledgeable and reliable in the things they share.
This chart lays out these images in revelation with their interpretation. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to. Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fairmormon. The two major books of mormonism are the lost book of abraham and the book of mormon.
In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see. President joseph fielding smith expressed the belief that peter, james, and john also received the holy endowment on a mountain, the mount of transfiguration. It is important to note here that smiths antiintellectual sentiments were not the only ones on learning, especially secular learning, to operate in mormon thought. For example, in 1990 susan curtis explains the economic. Much of his teaching focused on passages from the bible. Dear gramps, i would like to know the exact way the prophet joseph translated the book of mormon. I know of no other explanation for his boldness and audacity in thinking of. Joseph smith, the founding prophet of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and of the broader latterday saint movement, produced several volumes of scripture between 1829, when he translated the book of mormon, and 1844, when he was murdered. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. Here is yet more evidence of the falsity of mormonism. Regarded by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as holy scripture detailing gods revelation to joseph smith. How exactly did joseph smith translate the book of mormon. To me the only logical explanation for the majesty and success of his.
The joseph smith translation is only an inspired revision of the king james version. There he was not so stupid, but, in the book of matthew, where the lords prayer was given, he has kept in the. Smith confined his commentary to notes sections, where he offered limited historical analysis and often injected primary source quotations and outside perspectives. Critics believe joseph smith came up with all the names in the book of mormon, noting that joseph owned a king james bible with a table listing all the names used in the bible. 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. Joseph smiths sermon cycle of 1843 on election is primal in his teaching of polygamy and much of its related theological diaspora finds a connection in john. 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 wold get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book. Historically, its revelation that was meant for the community of believers that it gathered in nineteenthcentury america. All down through the ages this law has been a fixed and definite one. Jan 02, 2012 joseph fielding mcconkie and robert l.
This is a reference to the book of mormon and the bible being companion books that compliment each other. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern. The above donut chart shows percentages of the book of mormon section of letter to a ces director that fairmormon is in agreement, disagreement, and neutral on if one assumes that fairmormons undisputed silence is acceptance of the facts, fairmormon agrees with 62. This is i think the key to understanding the book of mormon references to revelation, and john, and deuteroisaiah, and things like doctrine and covenants 77, a commentary on revelation. Although the mormon church denies it, the book of mormon actually was plagiarized from an unpublished novel, i. December 2005 ensign the church of jesus christ of latterday. Ive included this under the joseph smith and the book of mormon references because the two go hand in hand. It is not sponsored or endorsed by either the maxwell institute or brigham young university, and. Joseph smith published the book of mormon in 1830 just a month before he founded the lds church. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement.
Thus, these differences between book of mormon doctrine and joseph smiths later theology are not incidental, but reflect a shift in josephs thinking to an entirely different worldview in which godhood is an open category into which our god himself entered and to which human beings may also aspireanother idea missing from the book of. From 1830 to the present those who find it difficult to accept angelic visitations in the age of railroads have searched joseph smiths nineteenthcentury environment for sources of the subject matter of the book of mormon. The gospel as restored by joseph smith is either true or it is not. For instance, i read that at first he used a seer stone instead of the urim and thummim which he placed in his hat and buried his face into the hat to block out the light. The theology of the book of mormon an introduction to the.
Book of mormon commentary 2 nephi 29 page 1 of 3 introduction to 2 nephi 29 joseph fielding smith insists that the lord has always followed the law of witnesses in granting new revelation to the people. 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. Having been a keen observer of the prophet joseph smith and of many of the. Testimony of the prophet joseph smith a brief explanation about the book of mormon. The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. Joseph smith and the origins of the book of mormon is a 1985 book by david persuitte. Except for the prophet joseph smith, she had known all of the. The book of mormon emulates the language and style of the king james bible because that is the scriptural style joseph smith, translator of the book of mormon, was familiar with critics of the book of mormon claim that major portions of it are copied, without attribution, from the bible. Joseph smiths commentary on the bible deseret book. Mormons believe it was translated by joseph smith through the revelation of god. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. The book of mormon contains passages from the king james bible summary. Not only do the teachings of both mormonism and its founder, joseph smith jr. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsking james bible.
Mar 06, 2012 joseph smith published the book of mormon in 1830 just a month before he founded the lds church. He claimed that god inspired him to translate the book of mormon from some gold plates that the angel moroni had shown him buried in a hill near his home in upstate new york. The book of mormon, published in 1830, is well known. Joseph smith stated that the book of mormon was the keystone of our religion, to which the former lds. Joseph smith, the nature of god and the book of mormon.
Nephi, too, was caught up to an exceedingly high mountain see 1 nephi 11. Jul 12, 2019 the book of mormon is the most correct of any book on this earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than any other book. Regional studies in latterday saint church history. Joseph smith first baptized oliver cowdery and then cowdery baptized joseph smith. Verse by verse commentary verse by verse commentary. An examination of whether these changes are also reflected the joseph smith translation jst of the kjv reveal that they are not. They present this as evidence that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon by plagiarizing the authorized king james version of the bible. According to oliver cowdery and joseph smith their baptism took place on 15 may 1829 in the susquehanna river at harmony, susquehanna county, pennsylvania. The book of mormon is known as another testament of jesus christ.
The commentary is insightful and we learned many new and interesting thingspoints about most every section. It is my duty to teach the doctrine, he said, and he preached, wrote, and explained in informal and formal settings what the lord had revealed to him. Joseph smith, who translated the gold plates from which the book of mormon. A comprehensive guide to early lds historical sites volume 2. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Alexander campbell, who had some reason to be especially bitter against the mormons because of the conversion of sidney rigdon in 1830, published one of the first scathing denunciations of joseph smith in 1832. Members of the church call him a prophet because, according to the traditional role of prophets recorded in the old and new testaments in the bible, he relied on revelation from god for teaching the people, and not on his own wisdom or learning. Naturally it is read with varying degrees of understanding. Was it not through pride that the devil became the devil.
Click here for general teachings about the book of mormon. This exposition is written in part as a response to those requests. The lost book of abraham was translated by joseph smith from the catacombs of egypt. This indicates that the jst does not in fact correct scribal a. Jan 29, 2012 upon any man who adds to or takes away from the book. In the book, persuitte provides a large number of parallels in support of the idea that joseph smith used an earlier work. Sep 11, 20 the last nephite prophet in the book of mormon circa a. They assert that the book of mormon is an attempt to add to the words of the bible. Latterday history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. They had been working on the book of mormon at the time. King james bible quotations includes new testament phrases in old testament portion of book of mormon joseph smiths fathers dreams see lucy smiths book, biographical sketches.
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