The king james quotations in the book of mormon, the history of the text of the book of mormon. The bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. Lds historian and scholar richard lloyd anderson 19262018. Richard lloyd anderson 19262018 was a professor emeritus of ancient scripture at brigham young university, and senior research fellow at the joseph fielding smith institute for latterday saint history at brigham young university. Statements clearly traced to the witnesses verify the testimonies printed in the book of mormon. Foremost scholar of the book of mormon witnesses passes. The book of mormon confirms the teachings of the old testament. It is very interesting how the lord decided to have those special witnesses of his work of the last days. Christianity there is a lot in the press today concerning mormonism verses traditional christianity. I used years of time and energy on the book of mormon witnesses, because i felt joseph smiths life was the popular topic, and i would not compete in that arena.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. We receive countless emails and phone calls on a daily basis asking us how to witness to a friend or loved one in mormonism. Ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon. The above videos from 2014 are a great resource that critically analyzes the bom witness statements and puts them in context. For a comprehensive treatment of the experiences of these eight witnesses, see richard lloyd anderson, attempts to redefine the experience of the eight witnesses, journal of book of mormon studies, 141 2005. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses deseret book. Mormons claim the book of mormon is the most perfect book ever written. A conversation with richard lloyd anderson mormon historic sites. All of the star archeological witnesses of the book of mormon are either flat out rejected as forgeries, fakes, frauds and fabrications the 4 fs of archeology or highly suspect since none of them came from controlled professional archeological excavations and all of them are. Bofm witnesses presentation provides a spiritual and temporal witness of the realities of the book of mormon.
Chart 1018 lists eighteen recorded appearances of the resurrected christ. While ive numbered the tips below for witnessing it doesnt necessarily mean theyre in order of importance. Richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. He convincingly demonstrates, from original sources, that the book of mormon witnesses truly believed their testimonies and never denied them. The three witnesses proclaimed that the ancient plates. When published in 1830, the book of mormon contained a statement about the lost 116 pages, as well as the testimony of three witnesses and the testimony of eight witnesses, who claimed to have seen and handled the golden plates. Taken together with the additional witnesses, mentioned especially by paul and in the book of mormon, numerous people bear testimony of the reality of the resurrection of the lord jesus christ. Anderson was among the foremost historians of the early restoration throughout the later half of the 20th century. An important episode associated with the translation and coming forth of the book of mormon was the experience of two sets of witnesses eleven totalwho, among other things, claimed to have actually seen the gold plates, which were delivered by the angel moroni to joseph smith.
The book of mormon contains an account of this visit, including the very words spoken by jesus. The book of mormon translation was finished at the whitmer home in fayette. Richard lloyd anderson and the testimony of three witnesses. The bible and the book of mormon both have similar objectives. In the course of the work of translation of the book of mormon, we joseph smith and oliver cowdrey ascertained that three special witnesses were to be provided by the lord, to whom he would grant that they should see the plates from which this work the book of. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard lloyd. Lucy mack smith, biographical sketches of joseph smith the prophet, and his progenitors for many generations liverpool, s. Published in every edition of the book of mormon are the testimonies of eight witnesses who saw the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account and of three witnesses who not only saw the plates but who were shown them by an angel. In this carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, dr.
With mitt romney, a mormon and former bishop of the mormon religion, having run for president, many wonder are mormons christians. My dear friend, the book of mormon is a gift from god to you. Some of the most important evidence for the reality and divine nature of the book of mormon comes from detailed scholarship about the witnesses to the book of mormon. Third, since the book or mormon claims to be a historical work, we will see if there is evidence to support this claim.
Mormons recognize it as divinely inspired and equal in authority to the bible, but others have reason to doubt its claims. Joseph smith stated, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts than any other book. Additional book of mormon witnesses additional book of mormon witnesses posted by ben on sep, 2012 in book of mormon witnesses 0 comments. Book of mormon contradicts both itself and the bible. Richard lloyd anderson is the author of investigating the book of mormon witnesses 4. Anderson, testimonies of the book of mormon witnesses maxwell institute. Answers to questions about the witnesses to the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson author of investigating the book of. Apr 26, 2010 the bible prescribe at least two or three witnesses for everything. His degrees consist of a ba, history, brigham young university. This is precisely the type of distortion of the gospel that brings to bear the anathemas of the new testament gal.
As the cover states, the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. It is part of a collection that includes book of mormon evidences, part two, book of mormon evidences, part three, and book of mormon nuggets. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition. Each of the four gospels concludes with an account of jesus resurrection. Three witnesses the three witnesses are david whitmer, oliver cowdery, and martin harris, who mortgaged his farm to finance the first printing of the book of mormon. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. Paul and joseph smith richard lloyd anderson duration. His book investigating the book of mormon witnesses is widely considered. Second, the book of mormon contains none of the key mormon doctrines. Richard lloyd anderson 2004 fair conference witnesses of.
I believe in jesus christ as my savior and redeemer. The book of mormon actually apologizes for being poorly written, yet. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses by richard. Joseph smith records the following in the history of the church. Facts on the book of mormon witnesses part 1 mormons in. He is the author of understanding paul, joseph smiths new england heritage, investigating the witnesses of the book of mormon, study guides on the life and. Oct 21, 2015 the book of mormon contains an account of this visit, including the very words spoken by jesus. Discussion in controversial christian theology started by phoebe ann, may 23, 2010. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. He did so, where he studied early christian history and greek under nibley. The book of mormon provided multiple official and unofficial witnesses who corroborated aspects of josephs account.
Smith transcribed this portion, and it appears as the first part of the book. Peter commented on this subject as he explained his position as a christian to cornelius, a very welltodo and highplaced roman centurion who had sent for. The three witnesses oliver cowdery david whitmer martin harris. Richard lloyd anderson was born in salt lake city, utah, in 1926, the son of agnes. He gave joseph like first witness, but one according to the scriptures is not enough so god provided three new witnesses. Sep, 2012 i would like to tell you i know that what you will read in the book of mormon is true. Tips on how to witness to mormons life after ministries. 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, jr. Some people believe the book of mormon is a new revelation from god given to joseph smith. Primary documents concerning their testimonies appear in preston nibley, witnesses of the. The book of mormon was first translated in 1830 into the english of the kjv bible and subsequently translated from english into other languages around the world. These people were delivered, just as the lord had covenanted with them. The author, richard lloyd anderson, gives many historical details about the statements of such critics and the sources and background of their statements.
Why thousands of errors in the original 1830 the book of mormon. Is the book of mormon recognized as a religious tract by. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven. Of the book of mormons eleven witnesses, seven were whitmers by blood or marriage. Here are some critics thoughts on that thanks to gary porter and craig criddle for these. Primary documents concerning their testimonies appear in preston nibley, witnesses of the book of mormon salt lake city, 1953. Though his data is presented from a biased point of view he does confront opposing viewpoints and everything is well documented. While critics and apologists of mormonism disagree with each other on just about every issue, there is one matter in which they often share a moment of agreement mormonism rises or falls on the historicity of the book of mormon. Witness of the book of mormon much has been said about the book of mormon since its first publication in the 1800s. The three and eight witnesses to the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses and concludes. But the eight witnesses report handling the plates under natural circumstances, describing color, substantial weight, individual leaves with engraved writings, and careful craftsmanship throughout.
Third, the book of mormon abounds in textual errors, factual errors, and outright plagiarisms from other works. Many critics of the book of mormon witnesses say that the witnesses of the book of mormon denied their written testimonies in statements to different people over the years. An angel showed the book of mormon plates to the three witnesses, who heard gods voice declare the translation correct. The three witnesses were oliver cowdery, martin harris, and david whitmer, whose joint testimony, in conjunction with a separate statement by eight witnesses, has been printed with every edition of the book of mormon since its first publication in 1830. When fair historians let the book of mormon witnesses explain themselves, they do so in harmony with the witnesses statements printed in the book of mormon.
In my personal experience, and as a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints sometimes mistakenly called the mormon church, i have heard it described as everything from interesting, false. Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by. We can compare the witnesses for the book of mormon to the witnesses of manuscript found. Richard lloyd anderson 9 may 1926 12 august 2018 was an american lawyer and theologist of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints who was a professor of church history and doctrine at brigham young university byu. Book of mormon witnesses richard lloyd anderson the witness. Listen book of mormon witnesses richard lloyd anderson. It is the word of god given through the prophet joseph smith to us today. The statement of the 3 witnesses for the book of mormon was a single statement signed by all three men. Questions about the witnesses to the reality of the. Not by traditional christian faiths but there are so many different off shoots that besides the 40 or 50 breakaway groups from the main lds church, that there may be the odd christian group here and there that might use it in their teachings.
After all, their church is labeled as the church of. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading investigating the book of mormon witnesses. So right at the outset of the translation, the promise of book of mormon witnesses was given by revelation. Richard lloyd anderson, wherein he presents evidence from original sources on each of the eleven witnesses of the metal plates from which the prophet joseph smith translated the ancient scriptural account known as the book of mormon. The book of mormon contains two sets of joint statements written by joseph smith for those who claimed to have seen the gold plates. For the witnesses testimonies, and their lives outside the church, see richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses corr. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith. Richard lloyd anderson 2004 fair conference witnesses of bom. The origin of the hill comora wildly racial statements in mormon writings.
Investigating the book of mormon witnesses kindle edition by richard lloyd anderson. Richard lloyd anderson, an lds scholar and author of the book investigating the book of mormon witnesses, discusses the reliability of the witnesses. Lds historian and scholar richard lloyd anderson 19262018 passed away late in the night on sunday, august 12, 2018, at the age of 92. Foremost scholar of the book of mormon witnesses passes away. All three witnesses eventually broke with smith and were excommunicated from the church. The world was not left with joseph smiths testimony alone. Finally, since the book of mormon says it is the most perfect book ever written, we will examine it to see if it contains any false precepts. Dan challenges many of the assertions taken by lds apologist richard anderson.
The possibility of the book of mormon as inspired fiction. A carefully researched, thoughtprovoking book, by dr. What does the book of mormon restore that was removed from. What does the book of mormon restore that was removed from bible. The rage has come from mormon claims that the book of mormon contains new revelation. You may be wondering why a christian would go to see such a thing, but yeeees changing the subject in the same manner as a mormon asked why joseph smith. What do we know about how joseph smith translated the book of mormon. Richard lloyd anderson, an lds scholar and author of the book investigating the book of mormon witnesses, discusses the reliability of the. Book of mormon evidences, part one discusses some of the many factors supporting the plausibility of the book of mormon as an ancient document. As elder holland proclaimed in a 1994 ces conference at byu. Mar 02, 20 ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon.
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