The Sacred Texts of Mormonism
Many Mormon sources were consulted in the preparation of Millions of Mormons Can’t Be Wrong, Or Can They? Some are totally sympathetic to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while others — notably LDS scholars — have serious questions about Mormon history and doctrine.
Therefore: Be a Berean!
Moroni and the Golden Plates
Dennis A. Wright, DMin
In 1820, Joseph Smith had his First Vision in which he claimed that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. A few years later he said that he was visited by an angel who identified himself as Moroni and told him of an ancient record. Joseph was shown the location of the gold plates in this vision.
A Biblical Scholar Looks at the Book of Mormon
Robert M. Bowman, PhD
According to Hugh Nibley, “The Book of Mormon can and should be tested.” Many of the best tools for testing the Book of Mormon are methods used routinely in biblical scholarship.
The Solomon Spalding Theory
Jerald & Sandra Tanner
Most critical scholars view Joseph Smith as the
author, after liberally plagiarizing other works such as the Bible and from an unpublished 1812 novel
written by a retired minister, Solomon Spalding (or
Spaulding), who died in 1816 in Ohio.
Book of Mormon: Book of Lies
Meredith & Kendal Sheets
An online book.
Well written and documented presentation!
Did Joseph Smith Use the Seer Stone…or Didn’t He?
Eric Johnson
For many years, many Mormons have denied that Joseph Smith used a “seer stone” to translate the Book of Mormon. What does the historical account reveal?
Mormon Church Releases Photos of “Seer Stone” Used by Founder Joseph Smith
Peggy Fletcher Stack
The LDS Church provided photos of the “seer stone” used by Joseph Smith to produce the Book of Mormon
Problems with the Gold Plates of the Book of Mormon
Bill McKeever
As with much of LDS history, Smith’s retrieval of the gold plates is a story of incredible drama. Several LDS historians and Church manuals have repeated the story given by Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the Mormon prophet.
Facts On The Book of Mormon Witnesses
Joel B. Groat
This paper examines the culture, credibility and relevance of the testimony of the eleven men the LDS Church presents as witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
The Three Witnesses
Historical Photograph
Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris.
Did the Eleven Witnesses Actually See the Gold Plates?
Bill McKeever
Joseph Smith carefully chose eleven men who believed in his divine calling to become “eyewitnesses” to this grand event. Their “testimonies” are found in the front of every modern edition of the Book of Mormon.
The Three Witnesses
Wikipedia
The Three Witnesses is the collective name for three men connected with the early Latter Day Saint movement who stated that an angel had shown them the golden plates from which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon; they also stated that they had heard God’s voice, informing them that the book had been translated by divine power.
Did the Book of Mormon Witnesses Really See What They Claimed?
F.A.R.M.S.
Typical gaslighting from the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. Be a Berean!
Evaluating the Book of Mormon Witnesses
Stephen C. Harper
The testimonies of the Three and Eight Witnesses printed in each copy of the Book of Mormon are some of the most compelling evidence in favor of its miraculous revelation and translation. Here we have depositions by eleven men of the gold plates’ existence and by three of an angelic visitation.
Sidney Rigdon: Creating the Book of Mormon
Craig Criddle
Presents the case for the Spalding-Rigdon Theory for the creation of the Book of Mormon.
Performing Revelation: Joseph Smith and the Creation of the Book of Mormon
William Davis, PhD
This is his 275-page Doctor of Philosophy dissertation for UCLA (2016). This is well written with an interesting perspective.
Joseph Smith and the Restitution of All Things
Milton V. Backman, PhD
Shortly after Joseph Smith submitted portions of the printer’s copy of the manuscript of the Book of Mormon to Egbert B. Grandin for publication, newspapers in Ohio and New York printed a series of articles with an explanation of Mormonism that excluded divine intervention.
Summary of Approved Adjustments for the 2013 Edition of the Scriptures
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In the process of preparing new printing masters, the Church has taken the opportunity to make adjustments and updates and to implement new historical findings from the Joseph Smith Papers.
Joseph Smith Among the Egyptians
Wesley P. Walters
An Examination of the Source of Joseph Smith’s Book of Abraham in The Pearl of Great Price.
By His Own Hand Upon Papyrus A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri
Charles M. Larson
Links to the Institute for Religious Research website (8 parts). Very Highly Recommended!
The Book of Abraham and the Bible
Robert M. Bowman, PhD
It is well known and beyond reasonable dispute that the Book of Abraham is not in any meaningful sense a translation of any of the extant fragments of the Joseph Smith Papyri.
The Book of Abraham
Ed Decker
The Book of Abraham is found in the LDS book of “scripture,” The Pearl of Great Price, and is one of the standard works of the Mormon church.
The Perils of the Pearl
Latayne C. Scott, PhD
For a Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price is quoted less than other LDS scripture, and has few exciting stories in it to compare with the adventures of Nephi or Alma in the Book of Mormon.
The Use of Egyptian Magical Papyri to Authenticate the Book of Abraham
Edward H. Ashment
A response to John Gee’s attempt to establish the historicity of the Book of Abraham with ancient Egpytian documents.
Book of Abraham Facsimile 1
Mormoninfographics
Translated correctly?
Joseph Smith’s Interpretation vs Modern Egyptological Interpretation.
Book of Abraham Facsimile 2
Mormoninfographics
Translated correctly?
Joseph Smith’s Interpretation vs Modern Egyptological Interpretation.
Book of Abraham Facsimile 3
Mormoninfographics
Translated correctly?
Joseph Smith’s Interpretation vs Modern Egyptological Interpretation.
The Book of Abraham Facsimiles
The Cross Unveiled
Of all the issues with Mormonism and Joseph Smith’s claim to be a prophet, the Book of Abraham is one of the biggest and most verifiable issues facing the LDS church today.
Teaching the Book of Abraham Facsimiles
Michael D. Rhodes
One of the most difficult aspects of teaching the book of Abraham is dealing with the three facsimiles found there. Critics of the Church have raised numerous questions about them and the associated papyri, and students often ask about these criticisms. In this article, I will pass on my own experience gained while teaching about the facsimiles and the Pearl of Great Price at Brigham Young University.
Translation and Historicity of the Book ofAbraham
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Official Declaration
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints embraces the book of Abraham as scripture.
Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham—A Response
Robert K. Ritner
The LDS church posting suggests discomfort with its own conclusions and reasoning.
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