Volumes have been written on its distinctive and rhythmic style, and it is still regarded as a triumph of modern english literature. It seems clear that the book of mormon is the most correct book on earth because by living and applying its teachings one can come closer to god than by any other book. They represent an egregious disregard for the even the most basic standards of scholarship. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of.
Examples of errors in the original book of mormon truth magazine. Non mormon writers have criticized the grammar of the book of mormon stating that god could not make the many grammatical mistakes that are found in the book of mormon. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. This is the definition given in the book of mormon, 9 the doctrine and covenants, 10 and the pearl of great price. However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of honest mormons have discovered that this claim simply is not true. If this is true, then the book of mormon should be full of errors. 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.
The book of mormon came about a little differently. Moroni clearly alludes to potential mistakes in the book of mormon and then forcefully counsels his readers to avoid condemning the book because of mistakes. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. This is the principle another book of mormon prophet applied in teaching the. The king james version of the bible is, in all likelihood, the most successful of all the english translations. Title page moroni and now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon central. Jared dunkleys search for happiness often left him unfulfilled. Have you ever wondered if your sins or mistakes are beyond gods forgiveness. It is either of divine or human origin, and if it is of human origin that means that joseph smith concocted the book. Why did joseph smith fail to sell the book of mormon.
Book of mormontranslation errors from the kjv fairmormon. Historicity of the book of mormon book of mormon evidence. The book of mormon is the only explanation for this scripture. Mormon said and now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men. Dec 15, 2012 the book of mormons explicit prophecies about the death and resurrection of christ form another of the mistakes which should not have been contained in plates supposedly originating from the same source as the bible the mind of god. Rust, richard dilworth, the book of mormon, designed for our day. But joseph smiths biggest mistake combines both the book of mormon and the bible together, and ultimately wedges ones belief of facts against fiction. Fairmormons response to presence of 1769 kjv errors in book of mormon in terms of attempting to pinpoint the origin of the book of mormon, even more significant than book of mormon revisions are places where it follows the kjv into error, echoing mistranslations or including translations of late and derivative greek texts. The distinction between sins and mistakes is important to our actions in the realm of politics and public policy debates.
Oct 12, 2019 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. What can the book of mormon teach me about repentance and. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Answers to my mormon friends details historical and doctrinal mistakes of the book of mormon and other lds scriptures. Antibook of mormon critics should be aware of moronis warning that those who condemn the book will suffer dire consequencesthey shall be in danger of hell fire see mormon 8.
An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The original 1830 first printed edition of the book of mormon exists. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. Joseph smith said the book of mormon is the most correct. By its own admission, the book of mormon is not a perfect text. Murphy and now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men. Joseph smith received a revelation, through the peep stone in his hat, to send hiram page and oliver cowdery to toronto, canada for the sole purpose of selling the of the book of mormon. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. When joseph smith created the book of mormon, he evidently elected to use such kjvlike language throughout, even though that was not the way people talked in new york in the 1820s. These many problems are not simply innocuous mistakes. In some cases, entire passages are duplicated in the book of mormon.
A book of mistakes, error, and fraud by jon gary williams introduction the mormon church promotes the book of mormon as an inspired writing. 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. Darkness covered the whole earth at christs crucifixion for 3 hours matthew 27. The mormon view completely ignores the context, hoping that no one will read the passage too carefully.
Joseph smith was told they may sell the to raise funds if the. False, because of mistakes in book of mormon, doctrines and covenants, and the pearl of great. 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 book of mormon title page, which was translated by joseph smith, 1 ends with a rather intruiging disclaimer for a book of scripture. Ces letter joseph smiths revelation was true we have the original handwritten revelation so we know exactly what it said. May 02, 20 despite these errors, manmade decisions, and complications, mormons revere the bible as the word of god.
We have seen some very bitter fingerpointing among latterday saints who disagree with one another on the policies a government should follow, the political parties they should support, or the persons they should elect as. Sometimes the quotation is explicit, as in the second book of nephi, which contains 18 quoted chapters of the book of isaiah other significant connections between the two books include book of mormon words and phrases that only appear in. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient americas. Some have attempted to explain the egregious errors within the book of mormon by suggesting that. Needless to say, he made all sorts of mistakes, except in places where the book of mormon plagiarized from the kjv. In this case, they prove the book does not contain translations of legitimate prophecies. Converts often seem to favor the more familiar bible. 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.
Chewing on a live electrical cord or diving headfirst into water of uncertain depth are mistakes that should be made known so that they can be avoided. The mistake was including the jaredites, from the book of ether, in the story at all. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, some claim that it shouldnt contain. It should first be noted that the book of mormon itself does not claim to be free of errors. If you sincerely repent, you can always be forgiven. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. Today, the book of mormon provides peace and guidance to him and his family. The book of mormon contains many linguistic similarities to the king james bible kjv.
However, after a fair and candid examination of the evidence, many thousands of. It is called the book of mormon a book of mistakes, error, and fraud. The book of mormon and the king james bible wikipedia. And now if there be fault, it be the mistake of men. The book of mormon contains this reassuring promise from the lord. Many earthquakes with great destruction and loss of life supposedly accompanied christs death, to show gods displeasure. Feb 28, 2017 mormons consider the book of mormon a compilation of historical records kept by the primary ancestors of the native americans. And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men. Yea, and as often as my people repent will i forgive them their trespasses against me mosiah 26.
The mistakes of the book of mormon the mormon church claims that the book of mormon is an authentic historical account of the migration of a small number of israelites from jerusalem in or about 600 bc and of the subsequent settlement of the descendants of these israelites in foreign lands. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents. Large portions of the book of mormon are very similar to the king james. Joseph smith was not given the actual words, but instead only. They boldly tie the credibility of their prophet joseph smith to this. The book of mormon, doctrines and covenants, the pearl of great price. Today, the book of mormon provides peace and guidance to him and his.
Instead, the book of mormon perpetuated the mistakes. While not directly explaining the title page of the book of mormon, rust nevertheless uses it as a prompt to discuss other topics. There are two possible explanations for the origin of the book of mormon. Faults or errors in the book of mormon scott woodward. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept silent. Why new testament words and phrases are in the book of mormon part 8. See all 6 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Historicity implications of mormons whoopses book of.
The book of mormon contains a version of the sermon on the mount, which some authors have claimed to be the achilles heel of the book of mormon. Royal skousen has looked carefully at the transmission history of the book of mormon and has highlighted many interesting things about the text that inspire confidence in its reliability and josephs ability as a translator. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Mormonism is a religion less than two centuries old, but in this short time it has managed to accrue a long list of embarrassments which the church leaders would prefer were kept. Everyone deserves to enjoy a night at the theater, and finding discounts helps to keep it from. Webarchive template wayback links harv and sfn notarget errors. How could there be so many witnesses of the book of mormon and the plates and not one of them deny their testimony even when some of them became bitter toward joseph smith.
Dont make these 5 mistakes when buying broadway show tickets. I do testify that the uncut sheets of the complete first edition of the book of mormon have been reproduced in its original unchanged condition. Think joseph smith could have gotten that right by sheer chance. Are there mistakes in the book of mormon fair mormon. However, when confronted with the presence of 1769 kjv errors and 17th century italics in the book of mormon, many of the same apologists will revert to the loose translation by claiming that maybe joseph smith indeed used a 1769 kjv bible to borrow verses over into the book of mormon. Were these expressions parts of joseph smiths linguistic toolbox. For example, several textual variants occur in matthew 6a chapter that was reproduced in 3 nephi. What are 1769 kjv edition errors doing in book of mormon. They teach that as it was first written, it was perfect.
Joseph smith said 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 history of the church, vol. Wherefore condemn not the things of god, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of christ. During the few years between the publication of the book of mormon 1830, and the death of its author and proprietor, joseph smith 1844, much effort was. While not directly explaining the title page of the book of mormon, rust nevertheless uses. Jan 04, 2016 critics of the book of mormon have assailed the book s authenticity on the grounds that it has undergone many changes since its 1830 publication. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. I was going through all of the downloaded pdf files on my tablet, getting rid of a few, when i came across this booklet that i had downloaded some time ago. When he turned to the words of jesus christ in the book of mormon, he said, i noticed pretty quickly that i started to feel happy. Any mistakes and changes are the mistakes of mortals. Joseph smith said 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, history of the church, vol. One author makes the point that certain portions of the greek manuscripts of matthew 57 do not agree with the kjv of the text, and concludes that the book of mormon version of the sermon should not contain text similar to the kjv. Both sins and mistakes can hurt us and both require attention, but the scriptures direct a different treatment. Many do especially those born and raised in the faith, but i dont think that was joseph smiths intent.
Mormon is allegedly a prophethistorian who was the native american believed by mormons to have written the book of mormon the main religious text of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints mormonism. It is in fact replete with such errors, as i intend to show in these two part 6 posts to ed. An anachronism is when an authors writing contains something from a future time period which couldnt realistically be in the time period theyve written it. The book of mormon incorporates text which seems to be taken from the king james version, including passages which are now considered to be mistranslations in the king james version. If the book of mormon is an accurate translation, some claim that it shouldnt contain these translational errors. The mormons mistake or what is the gospel ironside, h. Any mistakes in the book of mormon are the mistakes of men, and the changes are made simply to restore the book of mormon to its original meaning and intent. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
After my mistakes brought me down, the book of mormon lifted me up. Finally, the mormon church leaders became so embarrassed about the grammar that they decided to abandon the idea that god gave joseph smith the english that is found in the book. Nonmormon writers have criticized the grammar of the book of mormon stating that god could not make the many grammatical mistakes that are found in the book of mormon. May 17, 2019 the annotated edition of the book of mormon aebom is riddled with misinformation, misrepresentation, special pleading, and a host of additional dubious and erroneous claims. The book of mormon s title page, translated by joseph smith, ends with a rather intriguing disclaimer for a book of scripture. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Joseph smiths biggest mistake in the book of mormon. In the words of latterday saints president wilford c. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors.
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