To the lds faithful, the book of mormon is the true historical account of. 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 story of how it came about is rather fantastic, after all, and the simplest explanation is that the book was a deliberate deception. Sidney rigdons final confession about joseph smith and the origin of the book of mormon. Page 7 witnesses be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of god the father, and our lord jesus christ, have seen the plates which contain this record, which is a record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of jared, who came from the tower of which hath been. In order for christians or others to accept these claims, mormons must demonstrate that their version of the book of mormons origin and story is historically accurate. The spaulding theory of the origin of the book of mormon has been thoroughly demolished.
The true origin of the book of mormon found in the zionitic. Roberts concluded that this book, originally published in poultney, vermont in 1823 7 years prior to the book of mormon was available to joseph smith and contained enough parallel material to the book of mormon so as to furnish a virtual groundplan for it. The book of mormon purports to give an account of two civilizations formed by families who migrated to the americas. The book is divided into smaller books that read as narratives. Mormons believe in the bible, as well as other books of scripture, such as the book of mormon.
The object of asking the right questions is not necessarily to find answers or to come to a conclusion, but in doing so we tend to grow and to learn about ourselves. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and founder. Scholars reject smiths explanation of the origin of the book of mormon. Joseph smith wrote all of it, by himself, based upon his own imagination and books he read at the palmyra lending library. They have a unique view of cosmology and believe that all people are spiritchildren. To the lds faithful, the book of mormon is the true historical account of a group of ancient israelites who fled jerusalem prior to the babylonian. 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. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Critics have explored a number of issues, including 1 whether joseph smith actually had golden plates, or whether the text of the book of mormon originated in. A challenge to origins of the book of mormon a group of researchers contend that joseph smiths 1830 translation is based less on writings he found on gold plates than on the king james version of the bible. Mormon also commonly refers, specifically, to a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which is often colloquially, but imprecisely.
Publication date c1914 topics book of mormon publisher cincinnati. Roberts in an unpublished paper done in the early 1920s. The true origin of the book of mormon ebook, 1914 worldcat. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of. Bunyan wrote upwards of 60 books, tracts, and pamphlets, including. It is either of divine or human origin, and if it is of human origin that means that joseph smith concocted the book.
This book contains a true account of the origin of the book of mormon. According to smiths account and the books narrative, the book of mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown characte. The true origin of the book of mormon shook, charles a. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. A 4 part video series exposing the true sources that were collectively woven into what is known as mormonism.
However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The true origin of mormon polygamy charles a shook vg hardcover pagesviii2 pages. The book of mormon resembles the bible in its length and complexity and in its division into books named for individual prophets. Third, the book of mormon abounds in textual errors, factual errors, and outright plagiarisms from other works.
Charles a shook the true origin of mormon polygamy 1914. Jul 05, 2011 whether roberts wrote these works to summarize some of the main objections to the book of mormons divinity seems difficult to determine. This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was originally an ancient nativeamerican record written on golden plates, and that god gave him the power to translate it into english.
Jan 21, 2019 through his extensive research, dan theorizes that the book of mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into joseph smiths state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. May 10, 2010 a 4 part video series exposing the true sources that were collectively woven into what is known as mormonism. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. Within weeks after the book of mormons first pages came off the press, critics promoted naturalistic explanationsso called because they are based on scientific observation or natural phenomenathat rejected the possibility of a divine, supernatural origin of the book of mormon. The rise of mormonism the historical outline of the book of mormon the proposition stated. Mormons say that the book of mormon was written by divinely inspired ancient americans and later was miraculously translated by joseph smith jr. According to the book of mormon, jesus christ appeared and preached to the nephites in the americas after his crucifixion. Rigdon, sidneys son, asks his dad if he wrote the book of mormon or if josephs story about golden plates is true.
The true origin of the book of mormon by charles a. Cincinnati 1914 2nd edition 1914 first edition antique history theology joseph smith brigham young plates portraits. As a preacher i spend a great deal of time reading, studying and memorizing the bible, therefore i am very familiar with scripture. Jul 03, 2012 the true origin of the book of mormon shook, charles a. The letters that accompany the manuscripts suggest the former, but the manuscripts themselves give the decided impression that roberts had come to doubt the books divine origin. This implies that all the languages on the american continent originated from two small hebrew colonies, leaving jerusalem about 600 years. The true origin of the book of mormon found in the zionitic brotherhood of ephrata pennsylvania. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a hill near his home in palmyra, new york where the plates were buried. There are two possible explanations for the origin of the book of mormon. The rise and progress of mormonism the differences between the brighamite and josephite churches the book of mormon on polygamy. The human origins of the book of mormon part 1 mormons.
Testimony of the book of mormon latterday saints channel. A challenge to origins of the book of mormon and joseph smith. The book of mormon has a number of original and distinctive doctrinal. This essay is a survey and critique of the main lines of evidence for the human origin of the book of mormon proposed by mormon historian and general authority brigham h.
Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The true origin of the book of mormon by shook, charles a. The true origin of the book of mormon charles augustus shook full view 1914. At some point in your doorstep dialogue, these earnest young men will ask you to accept a copy of the book of mormon, read it, and pray about it, asking the lord to send the holy ghost to witness that it is true. The book of mormon is true, and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the last days. The human origins of the book of mormon part 1 mormons in. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. An account of the angels visit to joseph smith, by which means the ancient nephite records were. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. 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. Study guide 1 1 the book of mormon a says that silk, steel, iron, and coins were all used for almost a thousand years in america from 600 bc to about 421 ad, but. Anyone who teaches this theory today betrays deliberate dishonesty or pitiful lack of knowledge concerning the whole matter.
The true origin of the book of mormon charles shook restoration reprint library. See book of mormon central, has an artifact that relates to the book of mormon been found. The true origin of the book of mormon, 1914 sep 09, 2017. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The true origin of the book of mormon internet archive. Mulekites is a term regularly used by book of mormon scholars and commentators, but it is not found in the book of mormon. The true origin of the book of mormon charles augustus. However, we do not accept the assignment to any mortal being of the reverence due only to god, psalm 111v9 explanatory additions to the original texts are shown in italics.
Jul 01, 2006 the true origin of the book of mormon book. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. Through his extensive research, dan theorizes that the book of mormon is a tangible artifact giving insight into joseph smiths state of mind, and commentary on the cultural and spiritual. Those who would defend traditional beliefs about mormon origins often turn to the testimonies of 11 men. Charles a shook the true origin of mormon polygamy 1914 second edition. The true origin of mormon polygamy 1914 charles shook. The true origin of the book of mormon found in the. Solomon spaulding, a congregational 3 clergyman, for the purpose of whiling away the hours of his poor health and providing him the means of paying his debts. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. Details about charles a shook the true origin of mormon polygamy 1914 second edition. Go search todays deals best sellers customer service find a gift new. Books about the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, or the mormon church, discuss the history and the life of its leaders, like joseph smith and brigham young, and its development in the state of utah and abroad. In this landmark work elder roberts presents a powerful case for the human origin of the book of mormon, based on four important observations. Brigham young lds mormon pioneer nauvoo utah war polygamy hb 553p.
Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the. There are three main theories regarding authorship of the book of mormon hereafter bom. Since about the year 1832, it has been asserted by the opponents of mormonism that, instead of being a true and authentic history of the ancient inhabitants of america, the book of mormon is, in fact, a story written by the rev. Brigham young lds mormon pioneer nauvoo utah war polygamy.
Most who have studied the subject conclude that this signifies writing the. Mormons selfidentify as christian, although some nonmormons consider mormons nonchristian and some of their beliefs differ from those of mainstream christianity. As the bible is a record of gods dealings with the inhabitants of the eastern hemisphere, the book of mormon tells of a people who were led by god from jerusalem to the western hemisphere 600 years prior to the birth of the savior. If this is true, then the book of mormon should be full of errors. The true origins of mormonism part 1 the book of mormon. One group of families came from jerusalem in 600 bc and afterward separated into two nations, known as the nephites and the lamanites.
Joseph smith, the mormon prophet, was born in the village of sharon, windsor county, vermont, december 23, 1805. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. Scholars reject smiths explanation of the origin of the book of. Anyone entertaining mormon missionaries in their home will be regaled by tales of their prophet joseph smith and his discovery of the book of mormon hereafter abbreviated bom through the supposed visitation of angels at least six contradictory accounts exist in the mormon church history records but this wont be revealed to you. If the primary purpose of the book of mormon were to function as a signas tangible evidence that joseph smith was a true prophet of godthat mission. True or not, the book of mormon is a powerful epic written on a grand scale with a host of characters, a narrative of human struggle and conflict, of divine intervention, heroic good and atrocious evil, of prophecy, morality, and law. Estate of russell johanson, ravenna rare books, seattle, washington. When i first encountered the book of mormon, i assumed it was a hoax. Top 10 embarrassments of the mormon religion listverse. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to. I hope to do so here in the most respectful way possible as we discuss the book of mormon. These men signed statements declaring the book of mormon was true, and that they had seen andor handled the plates used in the translation. Mormons believe that 185 years ago, smith found gold plates engraved with writing in ancient egyptian in upstate new york. If joseph smith was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the same church that christ established while he was on the earth.
The true origin of the book of mormon by shook, charles augustus, 1876publication date c1914 topics book of mormon publisher cincinnati, ohio. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. Rigdon, the son of sydney rigdon visited utah and spent the winter among the mormons. While reading the book of mormon, this socalled other testament of jesus christ, i noticed something very eyeopening, something that gives away the true nature and origin of this book.
The word mormon most colloquially denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of mormonism in restorationist christianity. This is important because the latterday saints make such a point about it containing the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The book of mormon false testament learn the bible. That sidney rigdon ever saw the prophet joseph smith before the book of mormon was published has been disproved. In these latter days, there are few people who havent been visited at least once by mormon missionaries. As a preacher i spend a great deal of time reading, studying and memorizing the bible, therefore i. Sidney rigdons final words about joseph smith and the origin. The true origin of the book of mormon found in the zionitic brotherhood of ephrata pennsylvania there are three main theories regarding authorship of the book of mormon hereafter bom. Sidney rigdon true author of the book of mormon and. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesautomatic writing.
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