A journal of latterday saint faith and scholarship. He simply responded that all the information wasnt in yet. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive position on the historicity of the book of mormon is to point out that we who are its proponents are content with a standoff on this question. The history accounts for three migrations of people from the middle east. There is currently no evidence of a precolumbian written hieroglyphic language that existed in south america. This is another in my series of article on challenging questions that missionaries will likely face. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies center.
Book of mormon evidences, part 2 presents more of the factors that suggest the book of mormon may be an ancient document. The lack of consistent evidence for spelling out words of english does not, however, necessarily contradict emma smiths statement. The book of mormon geography lands and map with dna evidence. In addressing the absence of any archeological or anthropological evidence of the bom, the apologists make the following statement. The 1st rule of book of mormon evidence there is no. And to be less sardonic about the matter, this is also why direct evidence actually can sometimes di. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Internal evidence of widespread literacy in the book of mormon. Hinckley was asked by a reporter if he had a comment about the lack of dna evidence for the book of mormon.
The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. In addition to a lack of fossil evidence, bruce macfaden says, their extinction issuggested by the fact that no horses are known to. None of the cities or people mentioned specifically in regard to the book of mormon have been discovered. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very. When talking to mormons, expect to hear them say, i know the book. The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. He is a great teacher, a brilliant scholar, and gifted with a sense of humor. The faith concepts could be written much more concisely so why all the 531 pages that were so difficult to write. The book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western hemisphere where they started an entire civilization. These issues of the lack of gold, silver, and copper, lack of any evidence of millions of people, lack of cement structures, and no evidence of a written language, a high civilization, or city states.
For example, after the cataclysmic last battle fought between the nephites and lamanites, hundreds of thousands of men and beasts had allegedly perished, and the ground would have been strewn with weapons and armor. Unresolved issues of the book s historicity and the lack of supporting archaeological evidence have led some adherents to adopt the position that the book of mormon may have been the creation of smith, but that it was nevertheless divinely inspired. It was a year ago this week, i spent three days at two book of mormon conferences on the same weekend. 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. Mormon as editor, in rediscovering the book of mormon, ed.
Critics of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints often cite the lack of dna evidence among american indians among whom are descendants of the lamanites as proof. Sep 08, 2016 if the problem were merely a lack of evidence, one could legitimately argue that a lack of evidence is not refutation absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Prophets who taught of christ were called from among this people for over a millennium, but eventually the people fell. The purpose of the book of mormon is to convince the world that jesus is the christ, our lord and redeemer. The book of mormon is not supported by any linguistic evidence. Is there any archeological evidence that the events in the.
What evidence is lacking to conclude that joseph smith. Mar 30, 2020 the book of mormon, though it mentions a lot of historical things, lacks the archeological evidence to back it up. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Rediscovering the bom remnant through dna book of mormon.
Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The nhm inscription is the most important piece of geographical evidence book of mormon supporters have for their claims. The content of the book of mormon may be the most convincing evidence for its claim as a historical record and divine scripture. This book locates everything from the narrow neck, to zarahemla, from cumorah, to the land of promise, bountiful. Nov, 2019 the book of mormon tells the story of a family from ancient jerusalem that crossed the ocean and colonized somewhere in the western hemisphere where they started an entire civilization. It was written by prophets anciently, preserved, and translated in our era by the power of god as a tool to bring souls to christ. More important, the book of mormon bears evidence of being an orally composed document rather than a traditionally edited one, and joseph is known to have been a skilled storyteller. Mormonism is there any archaeological evidence for the. Lack of archeological evidence xpost if you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and dont vote in the other threads. Lack of archeological evidence xpost rmormonscholar book of mormon issue 6. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Further, the weakness of uncertain horses in the book of mormon is an area with a hint of a familiar trend. The faith concepts could have been treated much more concisely, so why all the detail that was so difficult to write.
Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Never mind the lack of vowels in the hebrew alphabet that might alter. Many members of the latter day saint movement claim that the book of mormon is historically. Welch while he was on an lds mission in regensburg, germany, chiasmus or poetic parallelism is a nested ancient hebraic form of explaining an idea, where the ideas are set out in series of statements and then repeated with the first being last. May 22, 2018 these findings suggest that the book of mormons lack of detail about surrounding peoples and cultures is a subtle evidence of its historical authenticity. Lunds love for history and the book of mormon has taken him to mexico, honduras, belize and guatemala more than twenty times. Or, to state the principle more broadly, does absence of evidence equal evidence of absence. Apr 23, 2020 book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom.
Scientists have found evidence of horses in the americas prior to and after the period of time covered by the book of mormon, but not during. It is a continuation of book of mormon evidences, part one. Lets take your strawman argument with the starting premise that the book of mormon was made up by joseph smith and evidence should exist to collaborate this argument, but hasnt been. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. 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. The book of mormon is further undermined by the fact that there is no evidence of a semitichieroglyphicdemotic hybrid script called reformed egyptian in the text or a spoken hebrew dialect ever being used by pre or postcolumbian natives of north or south america. In the paper revisiting sariah at elephantine, neal rappleye, a research project manager here at book of mormon central, explains that scholars have identified a jewish woman named. Scattered throughout its pages was one piece of evidence after anotherright there, in black and whitethings that could not possibly have been. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon why is there no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon.
And while the evidence or lack thereof is apparent, it doesnt make the book itself any less enjoyable with its superhero like stories, and. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. It meets many but not all of the criteria that wadi sayq does, lacking a suitably. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. These findings suggest that the book of mormons lack of detail about surrounding peoples and cultures is a subtle evidence of its historical authenticity. Therefore, there is a consensus from professional archaeologists, mormon and nonmormon alike, that there is no specific confirmation of the book of mormon from archaeology. Does dna evidence prove the book of mormon is false. The evidence for this conclusion, as has been addressed by many scholars, includes the limited geography of events and travel described in the text and a historical chronology consistent with the archaeological record of the region. In our view, an ancient mesoamerican setting is best supported by the information given in the book of mormon.
Book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom. The lack of a population base in south america of the time of the book of mormon is also a major concern. Fairmormon responds to the lack of any archeological evidence. As always, i invite you to study the issues, evaluate what we know and what we dont know, and pray for the guidance. If the problem were merely a lack of evidence, one could legitimately argue that a lack of evidence is not refutation absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations. The book of mormon recounts the story of small israelite groups led by lehi and mulek who were brought by the hand of the lord from ancient jerusalem to the american continent approximately 600 bc.
Fairmormon responds to the lack of any archeological. Emmas description refers to when she was acting as. The book of mormon claims that nonspecific seeds were brought from the land of jerusalem and planted on arrival in the new world and produced a successful yield. See book of mormon central, why did the book of mormon come forth as a miracle. This common query often expresses the questioners incorrect assumptions about archaeological methodologyassumptions usually based the questioners lack of knowledge about a very specialized academic area. Oct 01, 2019 when the winter olympic games were held in salt lake city in 2002, president gordon b. No direct geographical, archaeological or any other scientific field supports fictional narratives. The book of mormon does fit into what we know of the ancient world. A the book of mormon claims that the ancient inhabitants spoke and wrote in reformed egyptian and hebrew. Intellectual evidence of book of mormon authenticity is an issue worthy of careful consideration.
The book of mormon, though it mentions a lot of historical things, lacks the archeological evidence to back it up. Why would god choose an uneducated man to translate the. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. These pages are written by jeff lindsay, a book of mormon aficionado, who takes full responsibility for the statements and opinions offered on this page. 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. Apologetics press the book of mormon and the ancient evidence. Today we will talk about some common criticisms of the book of mormon around archaeological evidence that some say proves or disproves the truthfulness of the book of mormon. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
I suspect there is no answer, i suspect that no amount of evidence would persuade the faithful, i suspect that no lack of pro book of mormon evidence will get past faith presuppositions. His library research spurred his first hunt for archaeological evidence. Lack of archaeological evidence has led some to relegate the book of mormon to just a book of faith rather than a book of history or geography. This is a running theme not only throughout the essay on dna but throughout defenses of the historicity of the book of mormon. The awkward part for the mormon church is the total lack of historical and archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon.
In addition to things being in the book of mormon that shouldnt, there also is a lack of important aspects of mesoamerican we typically isolate mesoamerica in this because mesoamerica is deemed to be the most likely civilization in ancient america that could correlate with book of mormon people items that it should have such as bison, deer. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. While certain mormon apologists are pledged to the task of defending the credibility of the book of mormon, because the church demands it, some professors at brigham young university are demanding caution concerning claims that the ruins of old temples and other artifacts found in mexico and central america are positive evidence of the claims. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. When googling archaeological evidence and the book of mormon one cannot help, but be impressed by the success of fairmormon, the mormon churchs go to apologist site at web optimization. Book of mormon evidence vs book of mormon central search isaiah. Why would god choose an uneducated man to translate the book. When the winter olympic games were held in salt lake city in 2002, president gordon b. Such information may yet be discovered, but not discovering it is just as likely given the lack of cultural continuity and toponyms, as well as the epigraphic and iconographic uncertainties. Apr 09, 2019 it was a year ago this week, i spent three days at two book of mormon conferences on the same weekend.
Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Evidences for the authenticity of the book of mormona divine ancient record. Book of mormon mormon topics introduction click here. For the book of mormons literary complexity, see grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. To date, the existing evidence suggests that the introduction of old world flora and fauna to the american continent happened during the columbian exchange. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where.
As lds scholars have attested, time has not diminished the book of mormon s relevance. Its strong presence in the book of mormon is evidence that its writers possessed an ancient semitic literary tradition, as the book of mormon claims, and in my opinion singlehandedly refutes the claim that the book of mormon is the product of a 19th century writer though there are numerous other factors that refute such a claim. In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. This is a running theme not only throughout the essay on dna but throughout defenses of the historicity of. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. The lack of archaeological evidence is sometimes damaging. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found. It is also consistent with claims made by several book of mormon authors that they couldnt record even a hundredth part of their peoples history. Those who make claims that there is no archaeological evidence supporting the book of mormon are right in one respectwe dont know where the cities mentioned in the book of mormon are located. Unresolved issues of the books historicity and the lack of supporting archaeological evidence have led some adherents to adopt the position that. The 21st international book of mormon evidence conference believes the book of mormon took place in north america the heartland theory, while the book of mormon central 2018 conference believes the book of mormon all took place in central america the mesoamerican theory. The lack of evidence of mayan writing during the preclassic period 600 bcad 200, which corresponds to book of mormon dates, may have influenced some latterday saint scholars opinions about the extent of literacy during that era.
Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. The nahom case provides evidence, not of the authenticity of the book of mormon, but of the willingness of lds scholars to look anywhere to find validation for a historically accurate reading of the book of mormon. The opponents of the historicity of the book of mormon must prove that the people whose religious life it records did not live anywhere in the americas. Jan 09, 2018 for the book of mormons literary complexity, see grant hardy, understanding the book of mormon.
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