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An investigative historical summary of each of the Three Witnesses, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and the Eight Witnesses. Provides a rebuttal to various arguments against the personal character of the witnesses. This work is reviewed in L.131, R.496, and in S.142.
Amos, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Elijah
Bennion’s response to Melodie Moench Charles’s “The Mormon Christianizing of the Old Testament, which appeared in Sunstone.
Pages 577-82 deal with the Book of Mormon. Author discredits the Book of Mormon story by providing statements by J. B. Buck, Isaac Hale, and others concerning Mormons and the Book of Mormon, and considers Joseph Smith to be a “madman”
Reviews various theories held between the 16th and 19th centuries regarding the descent of the American Indian from biblical peoples, including theories regarding Cain, Ham, Magog, the Hebrews, and others. Believes that the idea of a Hebrew origin for the American Indian was readily accessible to Joseph Smith, and thus favors an environmentalist explanation for the Book of Mormon’s origin.
Lists scriptural passages from the Book of Mormon and other standard works under a comprehensive list of gospel topics.
Articles
Even among those of us who are convinced of the divinity of the Book of Mormon’s source and the primacy of its message, there is a tendency to find “the most perfect book ever written” prolix. However, when compared with the King James Version of the Bible the Book of Mormon offers some very important additions. Take, for example, the Book of Mormon Beatitudes—3 Nephi 12:3–11, which parallels Matthew 5:3–11. Though the ands and alls and yea and again of the Nephi version are clearly superfluous, at least a third of the eighteen percent additional words used by Nephi enrich the passage; they are no more redundant than the “and thirst” in “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” while using more words than the original, makes it clear that the Sermon was directed to those who had come unto the Savior in the waters of baptism. And verse 6—”Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled”—is made specific with the addition of “with the Holy Ghost.” Verse 10’s alteration of “righteousness’ sake” to “my name’s sake” serves a similar focusing function, distinguishing between suffering for any good cause and enduring persecution specifically for devotion to Christ.
A significant collection of research papers on the Spaulding manuscript. 188 similarities between the Book of Mormon and the Spaulding Manuscript are noted in detail. Also contains a transcript of the Spaulding manuscript and a collection of statements about the manuscript made by some of Spaulding’s neighbors.
Articles
Criticism of the way Mormons interpret the Old Testament to support their views
A photograph of a page of the original manuscript translation of the Book of Mormon showing 1 Nephi 2:2 to 1 Nephi 3:18.
Articles
Designed for youth, comprises many illustrated stories from the Bible and the Book of Mormon, including escape of Limhi’s people, and the stories of Ammon and Nephi.
Reviews the claims of the scientists and Mormon leaders regarding the origin of the Polynesians. The debate continues among scientists, some favoring American origins, while most tend to Asian origins. Mormon leaders have consistently held that the Polynesians came from the American continent.
An anti-Mormon pamphlet designed to encourage members of the LDS church to leave their religion. The Book of Mormon adds to God’s word in the Bible.
An extensive discussion of the book of Omni. Examines the personalities, geography, and plates of Omni, and presents charts and illustrations.
An outline listing a number of Book of Mormon archaeological evidences, with an accompanying bibliography. Evidences include: Beit Lehi inscriptions, chaismus, transoceanic influences, Mayan and Egyptian calendar parallels, Zuggurats, horses.
This book was in many ways a first: first to provide a full collection of Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo discourses in the mature and climatic years of his life; first to reproduce them in exact fidelity to their original written sources in diaries and journals; first to cross-reference them to earlier sayings and discourses of Joseph Smith; first to index all the biblical and other scriptural verses discussed or alluded to; first to provide contextual settings for each discourse in proper chronological sequence; first to footnote the discourses in terms of their historical and doctrinal kinships; and first to interlace all these discourses with other fundamental teachings of this rich and formative period of Church history. ISBN 0-8849-4419-0
Articles
RSC Topics > L — P > Priesthood
RSC Topics > Q — S > Sacrifice
RSC Topics > L — P > Ordinances
RSC Topics > G — K > Heaven
RSC Topics > G — K > Holy Ghost
RSC Topics > Q — S > Repentance
RSC Topics > D — F > Eternal Life
RSC Topics > G — K > Holy Ghost
RSC Topics > Q — S > Sin
Cites reasons why one should not accept Mormonism; reprints the Smithsonian statement regarding the Book of Mormon, compares Quetzalcoatl or Viracocha and Jesus Christ, and concludes that they are different characters; sees Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews as the source of the Book of Mormon.
A general overview of the main characters and events in the Book of Mormon, illustrated in color and probably intended for youth.
A fictional book about the sons of Helaman based upon the Book of Mormon (Alma 24, 53, 56, 57, 62, and 63).
Book of Mormon Scriptures > Helaman
Takes issue with the Tanners’ approaches against the Book of Mormon in such areas as the Smithsonian statement, the Anthon transcript, the Kinderhook plates, the “Bat Creek” stone, the Stela 5, and other archaeological interests.
Challenges the competence of the Tanner’s views on general Book of Mormon issues.
Provides personal accounts of the Prophet Joseph Smith from several sources (Pearl of Great Price, Times and Seasons, and History of the Church) concerning the plates and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Questions the validity of the unsupported story.
A critical work on the Book of Mormon that attempts to determine various environmental factors that may have influenced Joseph Smith to write the book. Among these are free-masonry, Ethan Smith’s book View of the Hebrews, and the deistic views of Thomas Paine. The Book of Mormon is seen as a sincere attempt to combat naturalistic views of Joseph Smith’s time and an attempt to win souls back to God. This work is reviewed in G.089.
A collection of poems based on passages of the Book of Mormon.
Large map of Central America showing the migration routes of the Book of Mormon peoples. Uses double arrows to indicate a northward direction as well as a true north to accommodate directions used in the Book of Mormon. Identifies the “Narrow Neck” with the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Both the Apostasy and the Restoration are prophesied of in the Book of Mormon. The book is an important part of the Restoration. This work discusses Old World apostasy, then retells the history of the coming forth of the book, its story, the testimony of the witnesses, and a brief analysis of its teachings.
Noting that the Book of Mormon came from the ancestors of the Lamanites, the author admonishes Church members to take more seriously the mandate to inform the Lamanites of their book and their great role in the latter days.
Discusses the origin and history of the American Indians (Lamanites), mistreatment of Indians, God’s directing hand in their affairs, and the latter-day responsibility of the Church to take the gospel to them.
Old Testament Topics > Restoration and Joseph Smith
A small tract that presents perceived contradictions between Joseph Smith’s teachings and those found in the Book of Mormon.
A polemical letter written against LDS doctrines and teachings. The Book of Mormon is supposed to contain the fullness of the gospel yet does not discuss proxy baptism or celestial marriage. The Book of Mormon condemns the doctrine of a second chance, thereby vitiating the need for baptism for the dead.
Three samples from the Book of Mormon and one sample from the Doctrine and Covenants are compared stylistically through three categories. These categories included the use of pronouns, the use of the names of deity, and the number of total words as compared to the number of different words in each sample. The differences that substantiate the claim of multiple authorship are then discussed. [Author’s abstract]
Reprinted in Old Testament and Related Studies, The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley 1. 87–114.
An address given at the BYU Women’s Conference, 1 February 1980.
Old Testament Topics > Marriage
Old Testament Topics > Women in the Old Testament
Hugh W. Nibley Topics > Pearl of Great Price > Book of Abraham > Characters > Abraham, Sarah, Abram, Sarai
Hugh W. Nibley Topics > Pearl of Great Price > Book of Moses > Characters > Adam, Eve
Hugh W. Nibley Topics > Zion, Babylon > Patriarchy, Matriarchy
Hugh Nibley notes that variations within stereotyped images, such as a person about to be sacrificed on the lion couch, can have widely divergent interpretations, thus leaving room for Joseph Smith’s interpretation of Abraham on the altar.
This presentation contains suggestions for interpreting various features found in the Pearl of Great Price facsimiles.
Contains a new comprehensive index by Gary P. Gillum.
“Lehi in the Desert” (1950)
“The World of the Jaredites” (1951)
Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites (1952)
Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites. An unedited reprinting of the original version (1987)
Lehi in the Desert; The World of the Jaredites; There Were Jaredites (1988)
Hugh W. Nibley Topics > Book of Mormon > Ancient Near East
This presentation contains suggestions for interpreting various features found in the Pearl of Great Price facsimiles. Hugh Nibley notes that variations within stereotyped images, such as a person about to be sacrificed on the lion couch, can have widely divergent interpretations, thus leaving room for Joseph Smith’s interpretation of Abraham on the altar. Facsimile 2 can be compared to apocryphal books about Abraham that describe a cosmic journey with elements resembling certain features in the book of Abraham. The coronation scene in Facsimile 3 also shows authentic elements.
A tract in which the author believes the Book of Mormon is a deception and represents a plagiarism. Provides examples in which the book borrows from the Bible and other writings.
Old Testament Topics > Old Testament: Overviews and Manuals
Reproduction of parts of B. H. Roberts’s 1922 typescript work “A Book of Mormon Study” It is heavily edited to focus on Roberts’s questions and concerns about the Book of Mormon, not his answers nor his testimony.
An evangelical/polemical work written for the intent of dealing with the “cults” The author discusses alleged misinterpretations of Bible prophecy by the Mormons, which supposedly support the Book of Mormon. He considers praying about the Book of Mormon unnecessary and suggests that Joseph may have drawn upon both Spaulding and View of the Hebrews
A polemical tract that claims that Ezekiel 37:15-19 has nothing to do with the Book of Mormon.
Retells the story of Martin Harris’s visit to Anthon with the Book of Mormon characters. Also contains some primary sources and letters dealing with the characters.
No abstract available.
A polemical booklet attempting to show how the 1980 discovery of the Anthon Transcript casts doubt upon the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. (Editor’s note: this transcript has since been shown to be a forgery.)
A duplication of B. H. Roberts’s personal “A Book of Mormon Study” (two copies) and “A Parallel,” which compared the Book of Mormon with Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews, using double columns.
Reproduction of parts of B. H. Roberts’s 1922 typescript work “A Book of Mormon Study” It is heavily edited to focus on Roberts’s questions and concerns about the Book of Mormon, not his answers nor his testimony.
Asserting that B. H. Roberts introduced the idea that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon himself, this article points out that the Book of Mormon is in conflict with scientific findings. Linguistically there is no link between Old and New World languages; all American races could not be from one family. Looking at the Book of Mormon carefully gives internal evidence that the origin of the book lies in the undeveloped mind of Joseph Smith.
Articles
Articles
A student minister read the Book of Mormon to denounce it, but after reading it he took the lessons from missionaries and was baptized. Another man read it when he had nothing else to do and is now a full-time missionary. Even with the missionaries and discussions, the Book of Mormon is still the greatest converter.
The Book of Mormon’s publishing history from the first edition in English in 1830 to the present day is outlined including the dates of the different language translations of the Book of Mormon.
Articles
Evaluates forty reports of Greco-Roman and Hebrew coins found on the American Continent, and then concludes that no single report of a classical-period coin in America can be used as evidence of pre- Columbian transatlantic contact.
An illustrated children’s story of the Book of Mormon; includes one picture per book.
Two BYU professors used a technique called word print on the Book of Mormon. It was found that the book has at least 24 authors and that none of them could be Joseph Smith, Soloman Spaulding, or any of their associates.
Examines the method of the translation of the Book of Mormon and provides second-hand statements made after the book’s publication describing the method by which Joseph Smith accomplished the translation. Concludes that the translation was conceptual, not literal word for word.
Celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first printing of the Book of Mormon. Also tells how Joseph Smith stopped a local newspaper from printing parts of the Book of Mormon by using his copyrights that he had secured.
Articles
Old Testament Topics > Bible: LDS Interpretation
Old Testament Scriptures > Isaiah
Old Testament Topics > Book of Mormon and the Old Testament
Old Testament Topics > Problems in the Old Testament
Recounts the circumstances leading to Martin Harris’s willingness to finance the publication of the Book of Mormon.
The story of the translation of the Book of Mormon into Japanese.
I would like to visit with those of you who have become discouraged in your personal prayers, the ones you say when no one else is listening. I’d like to talk to those of you who have stopped praying or who do not pray as frequently or as fervently as you once did.
Troubles we all have, but the “germ” of discouragement, to use Fitzgerald’s word, is not in the trouble, it is in us.
Our testimonies can be strengthened and fortified and our lives given greater purpose every time we read and reread our patriarchal blessings.
Articles
Talks
Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks in behalf of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to read this proclamation to the world.
An illustrated children’s story of Joseph Smith receiving the golden plates.
Reprinted in Old Testament and Related Studies, Collected Works of Hugh Nibley vol. 1.
A controversial examination of evolution and the Latter-day Saint view on creation and the various roles of Adam.
Old Testament Topics > Adam and Eve [see also Fall]
Old Testament Topics > Creation
Old Testament Topics > Science and Religion
Hugh W. Nibley Topics > Science > Evolution, Origin of Humankind
Lists Book of Mormon passages that tell of scriptural writings that would come forth in a future day. Also includes a Three Nephite story.
Describes the experiences that led her to write: she believed in two Hill Cumorahs and believed the “narrow neck” to be the “Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico”
Contains a map, restoration drawing, cross section and artist’s reconstruction of the walls of Becan. This city, located in Guatemala, is perhaps one of the cities fortified by general Moroni as it has trenches dug outside the walls that correspond to the information found in the book of Alma.
A replication of the first edition of the Book of Mormon was presented on March 26, 1980 to the First Presidency, exactly 150 years after it was first produced. The reproduction is as close to the original as is possible with today’s equipment.
Points out that the reformed Egyptian language in which the Book of Mormon was written was not new but was following a tradition. The Egyptian language of the brass plates was changed according to the manner of speech prevalent in the days of Nephi. Contains a comparison between the Anthon transcript and Micmac Indian script.
Articles
Relates Quetzalcoatl to the Yucatan statue of Choc Mool.
The Book of Mormon has features common to any literary work. It has historical background, literary forms, symbols, and grammar. Mormon scholars should use textual criticism, historical criticism, and literary criticism to interpret the Book of Mormon as scholars of other literary works have used. This method is invaluable to expose the message.
Claims that Joseph Smith’s teachings regarding the Godhead contradict the teachings of the Book of Mormon of one god.
An evangelical approach to the Book of Mormon criticizing the work for various alleged anachronisms found in it.