If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. The book of mormon has been called the longest and most complex of smiths revelations. The book of mormon, much like the old testament, was written to show israel what great things the lord hath done for their fathers, and to testify of the coming messiah. Nov 03, 2015 the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon.
Smith also asserted that john the baptist appeared to him while he was translating the book of mormon and instructed him to restore the. Towards the end of her life, and not long after the deaths of her sons joseph, hyrum, and samuel in 1844, lucy, perhaps in part as a salve to her grief, and at the behest of the quorum of the twelve, began recording her familys story. To participate in the bicentennial commemoration of the restoration, to heighten appreciation for joseph smiths first vision, and to help better inform latterday saints of the founding event of their history, earlier this year book of mormon central bmc began publishing a series of short online articles offering insights into the first vision. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a. The book of mormon the smith center for the performing. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america.
So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. Mar 27, 20 we believe it did, and startling new scriptural, prophetic, physical, and dna evidences strongly point to the location of the book of mormon taking place in the heartland of the united states of. Moronimoroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. While some of the documents included in morriss documentary history of the book of mormon are found in the joseph smith paperseither in print or online at many are not.
An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to. Another testament of jesus christ presents itself as a translated record of ancient american peoples detailing their dealings with each other and with god. Joseph smith characterized the book of mormon as the keystone of mormonism, and claimed that it was the most correct of. It is organized as a compilation of smaller books, each named after its main named narrator or a prominent leader. The founder of mormonism said the book of mormon was the most correct book of any book, including the bible history of the church, vol. When they say directly support, they typically mean that they are looking for a direct corroboration, such as the presence of the name nephi or zarahemla in association with ancient american archaeological data. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone1 of our religion. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. It is a common claim by critics that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. Testimony of eight witnesses testimony of the prophet joseph smith brief explanation about the book of mormon illustrations 1 nephi 2 nephi jacob.
An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to find an ancient record. Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. A documentary history of the book of mormon byu studies. This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the good word. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The book of mormon is a book that latter day saints believe is the word of god along with the bible the original english version of the book of mormon was published in march 1830 by a man named joseph smith, jr. Its the book of mormon, the ninetime tony awardwinning best musical.
Lucy mack smith 17751856, mother of the prophet joseph smith, was a committed believer in her sons divine calling. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. Latterday saints believe that in order to know whether the book of mormon is a true account and is inspired by god, one must read it, ponder its message, and pray sincerely to ask whether it is true. Joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon from a language called reformed egyptian. Joseph smiths negotiations to publish the book of mormon. Joseph smith declared that through gods power he translated the book of mormon from hieroglyphs, the knowledge of which was lost to the world, in which wonderful event he stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries, with a new revelation. Religious studies center, brigham young university. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of. The book of mormon follows two latterday saints missionaries as they attempt to preach the faith of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to the inhabitants of a remote ugandan village.
Joseph smith referred to the book of mormon as the keystone of our religion. Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. However, hugh nibley, a mormon apologist, argues that reformed egyptian is actually meroitic egyptian. The book of mormon the smith center for the performing arts. After several unsuccessful attempts, smith said he dug up the gold plates on september 22, 1827.
According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni. It tells the story of the rise and fall of a religious civilization beginning about 600 bc and ending in 421 ad. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The book of mormon by joseph smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. A twohundredyear era of peace followed that visit of christ. The urgency for joseph smith to secure additional protection for his to the book of mormon was punctuated by the fact that in january 1830 abner cole a former justice of the peace. The book of mormon and the american revolution byu studies. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. The earnest young men are challenged by the lack of interest from the locals, who are distracted by more pressing issues such as hivaids, famine, female genital mutilation, and oppression from the village warlords. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. Why did joseph smith attempt to secure the book of mormon. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni.
Many people close to the process were moved by the books message and eagerly waited for a renewing of old covenants and the restoration of christs church. Archaeologists and egyptologists have found no evidence that this language ever existed. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Be familiar with the prophet joseph smith s famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction, and note the truefalse question about this statement was highlighted in our first class. 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. In the unfolding book of mormon text, joseph smith found answers to some of the questions that had brought him to the sacred grove as a 14yearold boy. Joseph smith sees a vision of god and jesus christ. Its the book of mormon, the ninetime tony award winning best musical. 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. Howes 1834 mormonism unvailed, it is claimed that the word mormon, the name given to his joseph smith s book, is the english termination of the greek word mormoo, which we find defined in an old, obsolete dictionary, to mean bugbear, hobgoblin, raw head, and bloody bones. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Did joseph smiths mother believe he could have written the. Apr 22, 2016 illustration from from darkness unto light.
Be familiar with the prophet joseph smiths famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction, and note the truefalse question about this statement was highlighted in our first class. He put a rock called a peep stone in his hat and put his face in the hat to tell his customers the location of buried treasure on their property. These groups were led by prophets who recorded their religious and secular histories on metal plates. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon, excerpted by fairmormon. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Dirkmaat and michael hubbard mackay, joseph smiths negotiations to publish the book of mormon, in the coming forth of the book of mormon. The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830.
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