The most reliable early manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark do not contain Mark 16:9–20, and the style of the Greek language used in these verses differs from the rest of Mark. This suggests that these concluding verses might not have been written by Mark, but rather by scribes who added accounts of the Savior’s … Read more
Excerpt from a Salt lake Tribune article, published January 05, 2020: 1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recorded its smallest membership growth in Utah in at least three decades this past year. And, in 2019, 14 of the state’s 29 counties saw the actual number of members decline. Doctrine and covenants 65:2 … Read more
King James Bible passages in the Book of Mormon: 1 When entire verses are verbatim or near verbatim copies (as is often the case), only the references to the corresponding scriptures are provided. 1 Nephi (600-570 BC) 1 Nephi 1:14 “…Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty!” Revelation 15:3 “Great and marvellous … Read more
Excerpt from “Cumorah revisited”, Charles A. Shook, 1910: 1 “Instead of ”Re-formed Egyptian” many of the “Caractors” are deformed English, as any one will observe who will compare them with English letters, figures and signs.” Further study: Book of Mormon Characters Examined, Dan Vogel – https://youtu.be/aMPFKZ2E4MM References[+] References 1 “Cumorah revisited”, Charles A. … Read more
Alma 14:10,11 – Book of Mormon: 1 10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which … Read more
Excerpt from an October 23, 2007 Smithsonian article, ‘A Brief History of the Salem Witch Trials’:1 “A “witchcraft craze” rippled through Europe from the 1300s to the end of the 1600s. Tens of thousands of supposed witches—mostly women—were executed.” Exodus 22:18: 2 “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.” Sam Harris, in a 2010 … Read more
Excerpt from a Mormon Discussions podcast episode with LDS Historian Richard L. Bushman: 1 “I think right now the Book of Mormon is a puzzle for us, even people who believe it hardily in every detail, it’s a puzzle. To begin with we have the puzzle of translation: translating the book without the plates even … Read more
2 Maccabees 1, Apocrypha, King James Bible: 1 34 Then the king, inclosing the place, made it holy, after he had tried the matter. 35 And the king took many gifts, and bestowed thereof on those whom he would gratify. 36 And Neemias called this thing Naphthar, which is as much as to say, a … Read more
The Book of Judith, Apocrypha, King James Bible: 1 Chapter 8 26 Remember what things he did to Abraham, and how he tried Isaac, and what happened to Jacob in Mesopotamia of Syria, when he kept the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother. Chapter 13 2 And Judith was left alone in the tent, and … Read more
Ether 8:8-12, the Book of Mormon: 1 8 Now the daughter of Jared being exceedingly expert, and seeing the sorrows of her father, thought to devise a plan whereby she could redeem the kingdom unto her father. 9 Now the daughter of Jared was exceedingly fair. And it came to pass that she did talk … Read more
King James Bible passages in the Book of Mormon: 1 Note: Isaiah chapters 40+2, Malachi, and the verses from the New Testament were written after Lehi left Jerusalem in the Book of Mormon narrative. When entire verses are verbatim or near verbatim copies (as is often the case), only the references to the corresponding scriptures are … Read more
Excerpt from ‘An Address To All Believers In Christ’, 1887, by David Whitmer: 1 “After the translation of the Book of Mormon was finished, early in the spring of 1830, before April 6th, Joseph gave the stone to Oliver Cowdery and told me as well as the rest that he was through with it, and … Read more
Excerpt from the article ‘Prophecies in the Bible about Joseph Smith’, published in the Ensign, January 1989: 1 Critics might argue that the Joseph Smith Translation contains references to Joseph Smith because he himself translated it. From the Joseph Smith Inspired translation of the bible. Italicized words were added to the King James Version … Read more
Helaman 6:22, the Book of Mormon: 1 “22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, yea, their secret signs, and their secret words; and this that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant, that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his … Read more
Excerpt from the LDS Gospel Topic Essay, Book of Mormon and DNA Studies: 1 The Book of Mormon provides little direct information about cultural contact between the peoples it describes and others who may have lived nearby. Consequently, most early Latter-day Saints assumed that Near Easterners or West Asians like Jared, Lehi, Mulek, and their … Read more
Mormon 9:22–24, the Book of Mormon: 1 22 For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; 23 And he that believeth … Read more
Excerpt from Alexander Campbells ‘Delusions an analysis of the Book of Mormon‘, Pub. 1832: 1 “This prophet Smith, through his stone spectacles, wrote on the plates of Nephi, in his book of Mormon, every error and almost every truth discussed in N. York for the last ten years. He decides all the great controversies — … Read more
Jacob 4:1, the Book of Mormon: 1 1 Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon … Read more
Excerpts from BYU Journal of Book of Mormon studies, ‘A New Artistic Rendering of Izapa Stela 5: A Step toward Improved Interpretation’, by BYU Mesoamerican archaeologist John E. Clark (August 1 1999): 1 “In the 48 years since Jakeman first concluded that Stela 5 represents Lehi’s dream of the tree of life, major advancements have … Read more
Excerpt form the Joseph Smith translation of Facsimile No. 2 from the Book of Abraham: 1 “Fig. 7. Represents God sitting upon his throne, revealing through the heavens the grand Key-words of the Priesthood; as, also, the sign of the Holy Ghost unto Abraham, in the form of a dove.” Excerpt from BYU Egyptologist Michael … Read more
Excerpt from ‘Children of Promise’, By Apostle Mark E. Petersen, Pg. 46: 1 “If there had been large numbers of other peoples here when the Jaredites came, or when Lehi arrived, certainly the Book of Mormon would have said so. The land was reserved for the Lord’s purposes and for His peoples, and the Book … Read more
Doctrine and Covenants 110:12, 13: 1 12 After this, Elias appeared, and committed the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed. 13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken … Read more
Excerpt from an address by Prophet Thomas S. Monson in the April 2013 General Conference:1 “Declared President Joseph F. Smith in October 1873, “Obedience is the first law of heaven.” Matthew 22:37-40: 2 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, … Read more
Excerpt from the BYU Journal of Undergraduate Research, A Recently Recovered Source: Rethinking Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation (March 16, 2017): 1 “Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible has attracted significant attention in recent decades, drawing the interest of a wide variety of academics and those who affirm its nearly canonical status in the LDS scriptural … Read more
Excerpt from Studies of the Book of Mormon by B. H. Roberts, pg. 240: 1 “Did Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews furnish structural material for Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon? It has been pointed out in these pages that there are many things in the former book that might well have suggested many major … Read more
Michael D. Coe (born 1929) is a U.S. archaeologist, anthropologist, epigrapher and author. Primarily known for his research in the field of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican studies (and in particular, for his work on the Maya civilization, where he is regarded as one of the foremost Mayanist scholars of the latter 20th century), Coe has also made … Read more
Excerpt from the Journal of Discourses, Topic on LDS.org: 1 “The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It included some doctrinal instruction … Read more
Dallin Oaks, LDS YSA Face to Face, November 19, 2017: 1 “If we get an impression contrary to the scriptures, to the commandments of God, to the teachings of his leaders then we know that it can’t be coming from the Holy Ghost. The gospel is consistent throughout.” 1 Nephi 4: 7-18 : 2 … Read more
Book of Mormon, Alma 51:15-20: 1 15 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and give him (Moroni) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or to put them to death. 16 … Read more
Excerpt from the Oxford Journal of Heredity, ‘Iberian Origins of New World Horse Breeds’: 1 “Fossil records, archaeological proofs, and historical documents report that horses persisted continuously in the Iberian Peninsula since the Pleistocene and were taken to the American continent (New World) in the 15th century….The genus Equus evolved in North America, and during … Read more
From ‘A Facsimile from the Book of Abraham No. 3’ explained by Joseph Smith Jr.: 1 Explanation Fig. 1. Abraham sitting upon Pharaoh’s throne, by the politeness of the king, with a crown upon his head, representing the Priesthood, as emblematical of the grand Presidency in Heaven; with the scepter of justice and judgment in … Read more
Footnote 31, ‘Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham’, LDS Gospel Topic Essay: 1 “31. John Whitmer, History, 1831–ca. 1837, 76, in Karen Lynn Davidson, Richard L. Jensen, and David J. Whittaker, eds., Histories, Volume 2: Assigned Historical Writings, 1831–1847, vol. 2 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers, edited by Dean … Read more
Apostle Russell M. Nelson referenced a list of things the Book of Mormon is during his October 2017 General Conference address. The following is an excerpt from that list: 1 “The Book of Mormon affirms: The individual identity of Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.” From Wikipedia, Sabellianism: 2 In Christianity, Sabellianism … Read more