New approaches to the book of mormon signature books. My wife and i were spellbound over the story, the data and the science that now definitively proves the origin of all the native american tribes of north america. He reiterated this when he was president of the quorum of the. 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 a result, if the book of mormon can be proved to be man made, then the church is man made. Never before has a reference work of this scope been created to help both the. Royal skousen, do we need to make changes to the book of mormon text. At the conclusion of the original article, i provide some specific numbers for the different types of changes in the history of the book of mormon text, including the number of changes introduced in the book of mormon. The earliest text, the definitive scholarly edition of the book of mormon, published in 2009 by yale university press. Oct 29, 2015 book of mormon continues with performances today at 7.
Deleting seemingly redundant and it came to pass expressions is one example. Yet, i would highly endorse your desire to read that book. The claim is often heard that there are more than 4000 changes to the book of mormon text. Jan, 2014 when researching book of mormon fashions, i noticed in much of the male nephites their extra wide belts really stood out. The book of mormon musical arrives in salt lake for the third time.
Polygamy was practiced sporadically by prophets such as abraham and jacob in the old testament. Mormon again leads the nephite armies in battles of blood and carnagethe book of mormon will come forth to convince all israel that jesus is the christthe lamanites shall be a dark, filthy, and loathsome people because of their unbelief, the lamanites will be scattered, and the spirit will cease to strive with themthey will receive the. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. As an apostle and church historian, joseph fielding smith said the twocumorah theory caused members to become confused and disturbed in their faith in the book of mormon. If one counts every difference in every punctuation mark in every edition of the book of mormon, the result is well over 100,000 changes. Since its first publication in 1830, the book of moron has undergone thousands of changes. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of the book of mormon from the university of utah library. A tbm friend posted on instagram about how the book of mormon is so beautifully written, and she has read it in english, spanish, and french. The book of mormon has been one of my alltime favorite and dearly loved books. I now know that the book of mormon happened in the usa in the historic heartland that is such a significant part of american and book of mormon history. Truth about joseph smiths beliefs on geography of the book of mormon duration.
Mcconkie, at the time considered to be one of the churchs most prominent theologians. Book of mormon word change christian research institute. When researching book of mormon fashions, i noticed in much. The purpose of this article is to analyse some of the word changes made in the book of mormon during the three major editions printed during the lifetime of the prophet joseph smith. Royal skousen, a professor of linguistics at byu and a recognized expert of the textual history of the book of mormon, has identified 5,280 variations in all editions of the book of mormon. A valuable new analysis of the many types of changes in the text of the book of mormon is brian c. It made a comeback in the early days of the lds church and has since gone away again. Book of mormon changes the fall of mormonism rich kelsey. Utah was buzzing with people trying to determine what had been changed and why. The onepage introduction to the book of mormon, which gives a brief overview of its contents, was added in 1981 when the lds church released a revised text of the book of mormon. There are over 100,000 insignificant changes that have been made to the book of mormon if one counts every difference in every punctuation mark in every edition of the book of mormon, the result is well over 100,000 changes.
Ive had many experiences lately with people online and offline that lead me to believe that theres a coming revolution that will be taking place inside of mormonism. Andrew knaupp, who worked on revamping the series for digital format, found that immersing himelf in the project gave him unique insights regarding joseph smiths translation process and the stories within. To make their lives seem better, the villagers repeat a phrase that translates as fuck you, god. Understanding textual changes in the book of mormon. The critical issue is not the number of changes that have been made to the text, but the nature of the changes. Welch, a byu professor of law, admits that the best early manuscripts lack tois archaiois in matthew 5. Changes in the lds scriptures 20 at the end of february, 20, the deseret news featured an amazing article. He reiterated this when he was president of the quorum of the twelve in the 1950s in his book doctrines of salvation. I find the dna issue to be fascinating, though hardly the death knell for the book of mormon that some portray it as. I have a copy of the original book of mormon and all the changes in it next to it.
All my studies suddenly made sense, all aspects of the book of mormon finally became clear. Apr 03, 2011 mormons, the missionaries told me and my mom that they use the book of mormon more because everybody already. Mom and i converted and missionaries still go to my house for dinner and lessons. Why did joseph smith make changes to the book of mormon such as modifying god to read the son of god. You can find the cultural evolution inside of mormonism book on amazon if youre interested. But what if missionaries start visiting someone who has never read the bible.
Book of mormon changes yesterday while reading some interesting news stories on byus online newspaper, i came across an article they posted a few years back about changes made to the introduction in the book of mormon. Update i recently wrote a book based on this blog post in case you are interested. From the beginning, it was a missionary creed, and smith sent emissaries. Dingers significant textual changes in the book of mormon. On the other hand, if its origin is godgiven, then joseph smith was a prophet, and if he was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is true. Patty henetz of the associated press has written an article on dna and the book of mormon, focusing on geneticist simon southerton and his forthcoming book, losing a lost tribe.
Yet, with all of the digs and research ferguson and his team undertook, they failed to find one artifact to prove that book of mormon nephite cities, villages, or territories ever existed. What changes were made to the 1837 edition of the book of mormon. 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. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland. Hales, changing critics criticisms of book of mormon changes, interpreter. In this study we will show that there have been at least 3,9 changes made in the book of mormon from the time it was first published in 1830. John sorenson has made the most likely suggestion, that neas is the same as mixe nij chilipepper, which aligns with paul hoskissons notion that neas may have been borrowed into lehite from a native, indigenous vocabel, perhaps along the lines of huauzontle, chia, teosinte, quinoa, amaranth, jocote mombin, manioc cassava, or other grain or food plant native to the. The importance of the book of mormon was a focus of ezra taft benson, the churchs thirteenth president. Once we have a foundational testimony of the book of mormon, then. What if there is no celestial marriage and he made that up to be able to have lots of variety and women.
The book of mormon has excited very little enthusiasm outside of mormonism, but it is a uniquely american piece of writing that merits wider attention. Jan 24, 20 mormon temples are not biblical duration. History doesnt matter but what if joseph smith totally made up the book of mormon and its fake. The book of mormon records that the nephites constructed houses of cement, 34 as well as temples, synagogues and sanctuaries 35 throughout their territories. Changes in the book of mormon book of mormon central. 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. To understand why some words were altered, reference will be made to the original and the printers manuscripts.
Book of mormon and the ruinsthe main issues hugh nibley. Although dna and the book of mormon has probably made the rounds through the bloggernacle, i suspect its a story that wont go away for a while. The golden plates comic series, originally a book of mormon adaptation project started by michael allred in the early 2000s, was recently updated and made reavailable online at lds ideas. Book of mormontextual changeswhy were these changes made. The original book of mormon made some startling claims for the divinity of jesus christ, much closer to sabellianism than trinitarianism.
Jul 08, 2017 the book of mormon has been one of my alltime favorite and dearly loved books. Using a solid tshirt preferably a light brown completes the outfit for the activity. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Reasons for textual changes made to the book of mormon over the years after it was first published god changed to son of god in the book of mormon white and delightsome changed to pure and delightsome benjamin was changed to mosiah in later editions of the book of mormon. 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. According to gilbert, it was hyrum smith who brought the first twentyfour pages of the handwritten printers manuscript to the publisher. How do these new discoveries relate to the book of mormon. Ive had many experiences lately with people online and offline that lead me to believe that theres a coming revolution that will be taking place inside of.
New approaches to the book of mormon explorations in critical methodology edited by brent lee metcalfe. The book of mammon written by former lds church office. Yannylaurel and the book of mormon moronis america. The book of mormon makes strong debut news the times.
View the original article at the book of mormon resources blog. The whole face of the land had become covered with buildings, and the people were as numerous almost, as it were the sand of the sea. One of the most serious mistakes the author of the book of mormon made was that of quoting from the book of malachi many years before it was written. As part of this effort, a new edition was printed with the added subtitle another testament of jesus christ. Doctrinal changes a selection of doctrinal changes in the book of mormon. Early book of mormon authors made similar descriptions mosiah 27. Book of mormon continues with performances today at 7. In making this study we obtained photocopies of an original 1830 edition of. According to eyewitness testimony, joseph smith gave his scribe a wordforword. Yesterday while reading some interesting news stories on byus online newspaper, i came across an article they posted a few years back about changes made to the introduction in the book of mormon their article reminded me once again of the arbitrary nature of the church when it comes to the validity of joseph smiths claims on anything from his first vision to why. Antimormon movement characteristics compiled by glen w. Instead of protesting the musical, which is something that many would do, especially religious organizations, they made a bold and deliberate. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. To latterday saints there can be no objection to the careful and critical study of the scriptures, ancient or modern, provided only that it be an honest studya search for truth.
Some mormons claim that the witnesses of the book of mormon made up the story about it being given word for word, but david whitmer said it was joseph smith himself who taught that the book of mormon was dictated wordforword 3,9 changes in the book of mormon, p. How many changed has the book of mormon been changed. Antimormon movement last updated this paper written by. Smith is full of bluff and bluster, and is a fraud. 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. The man responsible for punctuating the first edition of the book of mormon was john h. The book of mormon, along with continuing revelations reported by the young prophet, formed the basis of a new faith. On february 1, 2018, national geographic broke a story about some incredible new discoveries in mesoamerican archaeology using new technology. Book of mormon the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Hales reminds us that the tanners and others have been deceptive in their treatment of the minor changes and corrections that have been made, creating the. Their article reminded me once again of the arbitrary nature of the church when it comes to the. As stated earlier, the mormon church has made many changes to the book of mormon in order to correct josephs poor grammar and spelling. Jul 01, 2011 as stated earlier, the mormon church has made many changes to the book of mormon in order to correct josephs poor grammar and spelling.
One passage says that the book of mormon shall establish the truth of the bible and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the lamb of. God changed to son of god in the book of mormon jump to subtopic. A seon of gold uncirculated from the book of mormon c ourtesy british museum. Some of the many changes in the book of mormon by matt slick 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. There is too much time given to corporations, stocks, bonds, politics, etc. On july 11, 20, i was surprised to get an email from a community of christ colleague informing me that the smithpettit foundation was publishing john s. Godhead changes were made to the book of mormon after joseph smith changed his doctrine from monotheism to polytheism. Many of the changes made in the book of mormon were due to the need to make hebrewlike structures conform better to english idioms. The approach will be to discuss the type of change. Chapman chapman research group last updated feb 1998. When researching book of mormon fashions, i noticed in.
This should not have been necessary, however, given the manner in which joseph is supposed to have produced this book. Tickets are available through the box office, online. Gilbert, the nonmormon typesetter who worked for e. Jun 11, 2009 the onepage introduction to the book of mormon, which gives a brief overview of its contents, was added in 1981 when the lds church released a revised text of the book of mormon. Another testament of jesus christ presents itself as a translated record of ancient american peoples detailing their dealings with each other and with god. When missionaries started visiting us, almost 5 years ago, i remember them only talking about the book of mormon. At the end of february, 20, the deseret news featured an amazing article. She went to a jesuit college and majored in english, so i asked her which translation was her favorite because i had heard that is seems to. Widtsoe, council of the twelve apostles, in search of truth. In their simplistic reading of the book they assume that the only people permitted in the hemisphere before columbus were either descendants of lehi or of jared and his brother. More interesting is the correction of an awkward phrase in alma 46. There is a lot you can do to personalize your tribal wear with a variety of belt fashions.
The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. The coming revolution inside of mormonism greg trimble. The article noted that the changes included revisions to study aids, new photos, updated maps, making historical and contextual adjustments to the section headings of 76 sections of. How the lds churchs response to the book of mormon musical is. Below is a comparison of some verses which were supposed to have been written by nephi sometime between 588 and 545 b. The book of mormon reference companion deseret book. There are over 100,000 insignificant changes that have been made to the book of mormon. On subsequent days, the story was picked up by other major media outlets such as bbc, washington post, npr, the new york times, and. The book of mormon is the keystone of our religion.
It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. February 2, 2014 the new era magazine added 3 new photos to the album. The book of mormon corrects this myopia quite handily. An early mormon doctrine by jerald and sandra tanner. This book is great, but like i said, is the tip of the iceberg.