What do you think of the Book of Mormon?

Question

I am not asking if it is a converting tool, or a spiritual guide.
But strictly as a "could it be an authentic piece of native American history standpoint". If you have not read or studied it there is no reason to answer. Thanks for the input.

(I read this, about Rev. 22)
Sometimes critics cite Revelation 22:18–19 [Rev. 22:18–19] as evidence that the Bible forbids adding to or taking away from the canon of scripture. In these verses, John curses those who would add to or take away from “this book.” But when John wrote Revelation, the Bible in its present form did not yet exist. He was simply referring to his own book, the Book of Revelation, rather than to the whole Bible.

The truth is that prophets have usually added to the scriptures—almost all the biblical apostles and prophets did this. There is, in fact, no biblical statement whatever closing the canon of scripture or prohibiting additional revelation or additional scripture after the New Testament.

Answer 1

I am currently studying anthropology and archeology. I have frequent contact with mesoamerican Archaeologists and anthropologists. most of the one i read are unaware of the BofM. Here are some things mentioned in the B of M that were laughed at when it was published but are accepted as being part of mesoamerica.

Cement : when the Bof M when published no one knew that they used cement.

Kings: Until recently it was thought that complex societies and Kingdoms were only in Mesoamerica after 300 A.D
the discovery of the San Bartolo Murial's showed that there were kings in Mesoamerica by 250B.C

These are just two that I can think of off the top of my head.
It is Authentic MesoAmerican history.
the similarities between the history of mesoamerica and the history in the Bof M are eerily similar.
I could go on and on about this subject but i will leave it there.

Answer 2

well im guessing that todd e has never read it- so in my opinion passing judement on soemthing you know little about is probably worst. And what is not chritslike about it? i would really like to know! The book of mormon is an influental tool to help us better understand God's gospel and His teachings. I don't care how imaginative a person is, if you knew the depth of the doctrine of the church there is no way that anyone could come up with that much stuff! And why would so many people from the bottom of their hearts claim that they know and feel that is right if it was so ridiculous and un chritslike? And why would someone join a church that is very structured and ridiculed for their beliefs constantly if not true. Why would Joesph Smith continue to drag his family from palce to place, along with friends and family numerous times. Watch friends be brutaly beaten and some murdered, have is own life threatened and eventually taken. To watch his family be threatened with their lives. All for something that he dreamed up one day? And even if there was one doubt in his mind, why would he not deny it, just to regain his life back and the safety of those he loved? Anyone who has children knows that a parent would do anything to insure their safety, so why continue to put them in harms way? The answer to all this, because the spirit confirming the truthfulness of gospel and the restoration of the gospel is too strong. when you get that confiramtion for yourself, it is so strong and lives with you forever that to deny it would be like living with a huge lie over your head for the rest of your life. The book of mormon was concieved by some head strung teenager with and active imagination looking for attention. That's more ridiculous than believing in it! It is another testament of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Just as the bible was translated into the language and for easier understanding of the time that it was translated, so was the Book of Mormon. Why is this so hard to believe? Is it not possible that maybe throughout the thousands of years that the bible has been here, that records have not been lost before translation and compilation? That it has not been translated so many times that some verses have lost their original meaning? why then, if God's work and teachings are so important, would He not provide us those teachings and further understandings? are they just lost forever? tough twinkies i guess you guys don't get to know about those teachings? that is what the Book of Mormon is, it is the book that God has given us so that we might have more if not all of His teachings. Why is that so hard to believe? And why is so hard to respect those that do believe even if you don't?

Answer 3

The Book of Mormon has been proven to be a total fraud time and time again. Ask any non LDS Meso-American Historian or Archaeologist if any proof has ever been found to support the BoM and they unanimously say NO! Even LDS Historians and Archaeologists have been ex-communicated for telling the truth that the BoM is a fairytale. Why do you think nobody ever heard of Nephites, Lamanites, Jeredites, Cureloms, ect. ect. ect.

The Church cant even come up with a map to put in the back of the BoM so the faithful can follow along with the stories. Any Bible has detailed maps telling all about the places and events that happened in Biblical times yet the Bom cant even find any of the big places like the City of Nephi or Land of Zarehimla or anything else.

Thats because Joseph Smith made the whole thing up . The Bom is the laughingstock of the Meso American scientific community because they know it is a total hoax.

Answer 4

Rev 22:18-19.

Answer 5

Dido what Mrpeepers said, I would also like to add that it is questionable if the three witnesses to the golden plates ever saw them with there physical eyes.

They all admitted at some point or another to have seen them only with there spiritual eyes.

Answer 6

You cannot extricate American history, politics, folklore and magic in connection to the BoM. Even BH Roberts, a gifted mormon historian and leader, wrote in his unpublished version of "Studies of the Book Of Mormon" that Joseph Smith could have authored the book himself. (BoM Studies, p. 243).

In "Early American Influences on the Book of Mormon" by Thomas E. Donofrio, he concludes: "In the same way, the Book of Mormon is more sermon than history, more performance and imagination than proof, depending more on inspiration than on evidence. It is a sermon, a political speech, an allegory, and a mirror of the age in which it was produced."

It was a socio-political 'fantasy' incorporating new-age thought on the origins of the Indians, anti-Masonry, biblical interpretations of 'manifest destiny', and regional morality plays. It was not a record of anything, but a highly interpretive tome written to sound 'biblical'.

Answer 7

I don't know which is worse, those that haven't read it and still claim that it is true, or those that actually take in all the unbelievable, nonsensical, un-Christlike, unhistorical BS and then still claim that it is true. It is just a case of the emperors new clothes and if you can't see his clothes you are out of our club! The emperor is in his birthday suite and it's time to stop the fraudulent and misleading extension of Joseph Smith's power (LDS authorities) from spreading their power any further.

Answer 8

The Book of Mormon is a true, accurate, and historical document.

Answer 9

i read it every day or when i can. its the best thing in my life!! i really love it a lot and im so glad that heavenly father restored the book of Mormon on the earth today!

Answer 10

The Book of Mormon is not historical, it's not fact, it's not God's Word. It's 19th century fiction produced by a greedy delusional egotist who was practicing the occult and plagerizing and perverting the Bible.