I have some questions for Mormons regarding the Book of Mormon.?

Question

"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
- How could it be that Christ, who should have known better, would promise that his Church wouldn’t be overcome if he knew full well a great apostasy would make short shrift of it in a matter of decades? Was Christ lying?

the utter destruction of the Nephites in A.D. 421
-where is the evidence?

Why are the errors of the Textus Receptus found in the Book of Mormon, if Smith was divinely inspired?

Scientists have demonstrated that honey bees were first brought to the New World by Spanish explorers in the fifteenth century, but the Book of Mormon, in Ether 2:3, claims they were introduced around 2000 B.C.

Please advise and respond.

Answer 1

I like you by the way. I like the way you question things (looking over some of your other Q&A's).

I'll try not to be redundant and add my own opinion on a few matters. Scholars believe the largest of all central American ruins to be those of El Mirador in Northern Guatemala. It has scarcely been excavated. You can only get there certain times of the year with a good 4x4 vehicle. We know that this city exists, we know where it's located, and we've hardly done anything to uncover, excavate, and learn of it's secrets. Why not??? Funding I suppose. In any case this ancient city lies buried underneath the Peten Jungle. So in the case of finding evidence of the destruction of the Nephites, maybe it's buried in El Mirador. Maybe in one of dozens of other un-excavated cities. Maybe in undiscovered battle fields (assuming there's any evidence left after 1500 years of sitting in wet, overgrown environment). We haven't found evidence. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist, nor does it mean that it didn't happen.

The Book of Mormon is the religious history of a relativly small group of people in a relativly small area. You wouldn't expect the Bible to be a comprehensive history of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Most scholars believe that it took place around southern Mexico and Guatemala, but we have no absolute proof of that. The purpose of the book isn't to prove that the people existed, but rather to help people draw nearer to God.

Joseph Smith was either brilliant or stupid. Had he been brilliant (and consistent with 1930's knowledge) he wouldn't have mentioned horses in the Book of Mormon because EVERYONE knew that the Spanish brought them......until they discovered skeletal remains of horses in the Americas that dated to Book of Mormon times.

So which was he....

There are a number of forms of ancient poetry in the Book of Mormon known as Chiasmus's. How would Joseph Smith have known about this? Assuming that he did know, why would he put them in there and then not point them out to anyone? These were discovered in the Book of Mormon in the last few decades. He'd have to have been brilliant.....but then he wouldn't have mentioned horses.

http://www.jefflindsay.com/chiasmus.shtml

So if he was Brilliant...he shouldn't have mentioned horses
If he was an idiot, he shouldn't have included chiasmus's.

....However if he were inspired he would have mentioned both.

Bees are mentioned in the Book of Mormon while those people were in the Old world. It makes no claim that they brought them with them to the new world. Here's an article you can read on that topic:

http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_BMProb2.shtml#bee

I love my wife. If you can't find physical evidence someplace that absolutely and irrefutably proves that does that mean that I don't love my wife? I am quite scientifically minded. I like finding evidence that backs up what I believe, however I know that there are non-scientific ways to find truth.

Mormon (ancient prophet) invites people to read the Book of Mormon sincere and with real intent. To study the words and to ponder them. And then to approach God in sincere and humble prayer to ask him if it is true or not.

We really don't want you to take our word for it....we want you to take his.

Read Mormon 10:3-5 and take Mormon up on his challenge. Be humble, be sincere, and be ready and willing to accept God's will.

Answer 2

"You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
- How could it be that Christ, who should have known better, would promise that his Church wouldn’t be overcome if he knew full well a great apostasy would make short shrift of it in a matter of decades? Was Christ lying?

Are you calling Christ a liar? It looks like that says "it" and not "him". The Church of Jesus Christ was "restored" through Joseph Smith. Don't deny that!


the utter destruction of the Nephites in A.D. 421
-where is the evidence?

That would be nice to have. I would also like to see God with my own eyes.

Why are the errors of the Textus Receptus found in the Book of Mormon, if Smith was divinely inspired?

Only the errors of man, everything in the Book of Mormon was given through Prophets of God. Just except it! because God does.

Scientists have demonstrated that honey bees were first brought to the New World by Spanish explorers in the fifteenth century, but the Book of Mormon, in Ether 2:3, claims they were introduced around 2000 B.C.

Go back to your secong question - I don't know what Ether says but...Where's the proof that Honey Bees have never been here?

Answer 3

I don't believe there was ever any golden plates. Utah Light House Book Store has model of what the plates may have looked like and weight based on the dimenions Joseph Smith gave. The model is made of lead. There is no way he could have carried them from where they were buried and back to his house. Emma would have never been able to move them around the house while she was cleaning. They were covered, so she never saw them. As far as I know.

Answer 4

you have a few questions here.
I will answer the first one No Christ was not lying his Church as laid out in the new Testament Ephesians chapter 4 verse 11 - 14 that is the Church that will prevail The rock Christ spoke about is the rock of revelation and that is what Christ built his church upon and it will eventually triumph and will prevail
for further info see www.mormon.org

Answer 5

1) Here is a subtle word, play upon ‘Peter’ (Greek petros = small rock) and ‘rock’ (Greek petra = bedrock). Christ is the Stone of Israel.
John 1: 42.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called aCephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
1 Cor. 3: 11 (9-11).
11 For other afoundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 10: 4.
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that aRock was Christ.
D&C 50: 44.
44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the agood bshepherd, and the cstone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this drock shall never efall.
D&C 128: 10.
10 And again, for the precedent, Matthew 16:18, 19: And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this arock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

2. There is plenty of evidence of ruined and lost civilizations. The Mayans for example, a sophisticated civilization that simply ceased to exist quite suddenly. They are unearthing more and more ruins everyday in central and south america. Scientists have recently begun using satellite infrared technology and the number of unearthed ruins has suddenly ballooned. How much more evidence do we need?

3. I'm not sure how the errors of the Textus Receptus could be found in the Book of Mormon, since that refers to select Greek passages in the New Testament, of which there are no quotes in the Book of Mormon.

4. Scientists have also at various times demonstrated that horses were brought over by Europeans, and it has been later proven that indigenous horse populations existed before Europeans came over. I'm not too worried about whether or not bees were in the Americas before or after the Europeans brought them. My testimony of the Book of Mormon doesn't hinge on honeybees. :-)

If you're truly interested in learning of the Book of Mormon, pick one up and read it, instead of copying and pasting anti-mormon stuff from the web. I'd be glad to discuss sincere questions with you if you do!

Answer 6

He gave the priesthood to the apostles lead by Peter. Peter, James and John gave the priesthood to Joseph Smith.

The supposed errors in the Greek texts used in the Bible are for scholars to debate. There is no unanimous opinion if there are "errors". It is noteworthy that there are also specific differences in the BOM.

Usually people want archealogical evidence that a Nephite culture existed. You want evidence that it was destroyed?

Answer 7

You make some good points.

Where it comes to the apostasy, however, the Bible does teach that there will be some that "depart from the faith" (1 Timothy 4:1-5, 2 Timothy 4:1-5). Among those who have left the faith, there needs to be a restoring to the faith by returning to the Bible for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Instead of returning to the Bible, however, the Mormons have introduced additional books that they also call scripture. Restoring is to return to the original. What they have done is to introduce something new and different!

The Book of Mormon conflicts the Bible. They both cannot be the word of God.

There are many areas where Mormon "scripture" conflicts with the Bible. There is not enough room to list them all, but I would like to highlight a few.

Mormons teach that there are latter day revelations. The Bible says, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." (Jude 3) Notice "the faith" (or the system of faith) "WAS ONCE delivered." This leaves no room for latter day revelations

(The English Standard Version and that the New American Standard version translate this verse, "the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints." "Once for all" is very clear.)

Mormons teach that an angel gave Joseph Smith the Book of Mormon. They call it "ANOTHER Testament". The Bible says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-9)

The Book of Mormon teaches that believers were called "Christians" in 73 BC. (Alma 46:15) The Bible says that the disciples were called "Christians first in Antioch". (Acts 11:26) This was about 41 AD.

The Book of Mormon talks about the church, also in Alma 46:15. According to the Book of Mormon this was about 73 BC. About 100 years later though, Jesus said "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). This means that the church was yet to be established in the future. (It was established shortly after Christ rose from the dead. (See Acts 2.)

Mormons also call young, unmarried men "Elders". The Bible says an Elder must be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6) and have children that believe (1 Timothy 3:4, Titus 1:6).

The book of Mormon teaches Jesus was to be born at Jerusalem (Alma 7:10). The Bible teaches Jesus was born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1)

The Book of Mormon teaches that Melchizedek reigned under his father. (Alma 13:18) The Bible teaches his priesthood was without father. (Hebrews 7:3)

Mormons teach that one person can be baptized for another who has already died. Jesus taught "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved". (Mark 16:16) "He... shall be saved". Not he is baptized and someone else shall be saved. We will each be judged by what we have done, not on the basis of what someone else has done. (2 Cor. 5:10)

The Book of Mormon teaches that at Christ's death, darkness covered the land for three DAYS. (3 Nephi 8:19-23) The Bible says it was three HOURS. (Matthew 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44)

Mormons teach that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that Joseph Smith translated it into English with the help of God. On the introduction page of the copy I have, there is a statement that "some minor errors" have existed in past editions that were corrected in this publication. If it were God's word and translated with the help of God, then how did it have ANY errors, no matter how "minor"?

Also, if there are or were minor errors, how can the book be trusted to be correct in the major things (things that relate to showing us how to serve God and how to be saved)?

The Bible is the word of God and it is all we need for our doctrine, for reproof, to correct error, and to teach! (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

I don't mean for these comments to be harsh, but there are many areas where the Bible does not agree with Mormon doctrine. I have given just a few examples and I have cited verses from the Bible and verses from the Book of Mormon so you can investigate it for yourself.

If the Book of Mormon contains errors, which it does, then it cannot be the Word of God and it must be rejected.

The Book of Mormon admits that it has contained "minor errors" in the past, so how can we trust it now?