He has authored more than a dozen books, including letters to a mormon elder, the king james only controversy, the forgotten trinity, the potters freedom, and the god who justifies. This is his classic book that dives deep into the evidence for god. If the events it records did not happen, and if it is actually modern rather than ancient in origin, then the book of mormon cannot be the word of god. The reason i bring this up is i recently came across a passage in the book of mormon that would set off all the bells and whistles of rick harrison and his crew immediately. Popular mormon apologetics staking claims on christian. Thus the lds contends that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of the church, vol. Fairmormon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
This volume in the perspectives on mormon theology series is an exploration of mormon apologeticsor the defense of faith. Apologetics for the bible can i trust the bible part 1 can i trust the bible part 2 can i trust the bible part 3 can i trust the bible part 4 can i trust the bible part 5 can i trust the bible part 6 does science disprove. These facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world. Jul 16, 2015 its true that advocates of the book of mormon typically have spiritual convictions regarding it. Apologetics press the book of mormon and the ancient evidence.
Books about mormons 36 books share book recommendations. Second, the critics do not deal with the issues arising from the book of abraham that latterday saints care about. Van dyke and loyd isao ericson, greg kofford books. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern, changed by a prefix or suffix, or greek in etymology. There is continual evidence that the first mormon leader taught a form of bitheism. In this final podcast austin talks about the scientific evidence for mormonism and how we christians can open a dialogue with our mormon friends and neighbors. Defending mormonism historically, theologically, philosophically, textually, archaeologically, scientifically and in other. Discover the best christian apologetics in best sellers.
This book has none of the characteristics of gods word, and instead has. We have everything you need to defend and explain the faith. I think such a claim often only works by simplifying what the bom teaches, but it certainly is a long standing topic in mormon apologetics. Critics believe joseph smith came up with all the names in the book of mormon, noting that joseph owned a king james bible with a table listing all the names used in the bible. Apologetics, published by greg kofford books, comes into play. Perspectives on mormon theology apologetics, edited by blair g. The past several years have seen a rise in the production and sophistication of mormon apologetics, which has included books written on a popular level that are in some ways the mormon equivalent of josh mcdowells evidence that demands a verdict. Nov 10, 2012 once again, the book of mormon fails the test of truth. A year later in lds general conference, he gave this same presentation in shortened form. In the introduction of the book of mormon, smith states that it is the record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas, which also contains the fullness of the everlasting.
These plates were supposedly written 1,400 years ago and detailed the history of the jewish nephites from 600 b. Lds apologetics and the battle for mormon history christian. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. He published this as a book recently, and i see discussion about. The book of mormon purports to be an inspired and accurate translation of an ancient historical narrative covering more than a thousand years. The book of mormon also makes a strong point for gods spiritual and eternal unity see alma 11. Fairmormon faithful answers to criticisms of the lds church. I found something which was refreshing to read from an lds member, dr. It is said to contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel. Dec 23, 2015 mormons hoped the rediscovery and retranslation would validate the book of abraham and josephs ability to translate the book of mormon. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi, who claimed that it had been. Then there are what i would call good book of mormon apologetics. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon.
Part 3 of a 3 part podcast on mormonism with another member of the sd apologetics group, austin brummer. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as. As weve seen recently, faith in the historicity of the book of mormon is declining in the church, not only among the younger generations but. This volume in the perspectives on mormon theology series is an exploration of mormon apologetics or the defense of faith. And when you take all the voices of 8 sample novels, they have many unique voices, similar to the chart below, but the combined diversity of all 8. Native americans, dna and the mormon church, published by signature books and due in. No list of apologetics books would be complete without a recommendation for william lane craig. Apologetics press the book of mormon and the ancient.
It is also accepted as scripture by the reorganized church of jesus christ of latter day saints and dozens of other lds splinter sects note 1 the other books considered to be scripture by the lds church are. Joseph smith said 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 by any other book, history of the church, vol. The crowning event in the book of mormon is the ministry of jesus christ among the. Shop now for all your trusted catholic and apologetics books and media. The amount of scholarship in mormon studies increased after world war ii. On the other hand, the book of mormon easily is exposed as fiction when compared to and contrasted with the bible, which mormons claim is the word of god. Sep 17, 2017 this is where the new volume perspectives on mormon theology. He talks about lds apologetics how lds members defend the book of abraham. Nov 30, 20 these facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world. By ravi zacharias ravi zacharias is perhaps the bestknown christian apologist of our day, and many are familiar with rzim, his apologetics ministry. Simply put, if both the bible and the book of mormon were inspired by god, then they never would contradict each other. The book of mormon fails every attempt to evaluate it objectively.
There were 5,000 original book of mormon copies published in 1830 in palmyra, new york. Jun, 2019 then there are what i would call good book of mormon apologetics. This small book for laymen attempts to examine lds apologetics to see if they make their case. In addition, the very content of the book of mormon makes it impossible to accept it as divine revelation. Three difficult questions for mormons catholic answers. Thanks especially to the internet, several latterday saint lds, mormon apologetics groups have made it their business to actively defend the historicity of the book of mormon and the book of abraham as well as uphold the integrity of early mormon leaders. The following examples are conspicuous instances of such contradictions. As such, the book of mormon is one of a relatively few number of books in the world that are considered holy scripture. Good book of mormon apologetics complexity of the text in terms of characters, geographical setting, time span, intertextuality within itself. Mormon apologetics have proposed multiple theories tying book of mormon places to modern locations. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
The mormon church hoped the book of abraham would vindicate joseph smith as a true prophet of god. For example, joseph smith and the book itself declare that it was written by ancient american prophets. Discover the basic beliefs and values of the religion of mormonism from a christian perspective, and learn how it differs from christianity. Rather than god confusing the language of all the earth at the tower of babel as the bible records genesis 11.
The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The resulting volume reads unevenly, as many anthologies dobut here, that patchiness is amplified by the. Nibleys method was essentially a comparative approach, ransacking ancient literature far and wide for parallels to the book of mormon. In the second quote, he is referring to the book by his own hand upon papyrus by charles larson, which most mormons would consider an anti mormon book. The following is a blog post originally posted on the churchistrue blog in 2016 following tad callisters byu devotional talk titled the book of mormon manmade or godgiven. How to answer jehovahs witnesses and mormons frank chacon, jim burnham on. Apologetics for the bible can i trust the bible part 1 can i trust the bible part 2 can i trust the bible part 3 can i trust the bible part 4 can i trust the bible part 5 can i trust the. Another early work of smith is the lectures on faith183435. Coeditor of a forthcoming book on mormon apologetics kofford, 2016. Jun 09, 2009 apologetics is not just an evangelical christian venture. Updated 122395 includes the smithsonian letter on the book of mormon. Van dyke and loyd ericson, both of utah valley university, apologetics is a compilation of essays that draws from the wide spectrum of latterday saint positions on apologetics. These two books were connected by the man who said he was divinely gifted as a translator.
The resulting volume reads unevenly, as many anthologies dobut here, that patchiness is amplified by the polemic subtext of the book. According to joseph smith, the book of mormon is more correct than the bible history of. Apologetics is a theogloical science which purpose is to explain and defend christianity. The book of mormon claims to be an additional revelation to jesus christ.
Since its very beginning, various latterday saints have sought to utilize evidence and reason to actively promote or defend beliefs and claims within the mormon tradition. The book of mormon contains numerous passages that contradict what the bible says. There are many catholic apologetics books, catholic apologetics cds and dvds that will enrich your knowledge and deepen your faith. How the book of abraham exposes the false nature of. Additionally, the book of mormon is in opposition to current mormon theology.
The churchs official website also links to various apologetic individuals and groups. Apologetics gathers together fifteen essays on the role of apologetics in mormonism, each of which can be loosely sorted according to whether its author promotes or critiques the apologetic project. When the interpreter, fairmormon, or book of mormon central focuses on these things, im always a big fan. Unlike the bible, the book of mormon has no corroboration from other books written by other authors to its supposed history, and no eyewitnesses to the events recorded therein. This is where the new volume perspectives on mormon theology. Once again, the book of mormon fails the test of truth. Apologetics press the bible versus the book of mormon. In the book of mormon, the prophet nephi was part of a wave of hebrew exiles, fleeing the babylonians that were conquering jerusalem at. Defending mormonism historically, theologically, philosophically, textually, archaeologically, scientifically and in other ways is a tall order, as readers will see.
Apologetics is not just an evangelical christian venture. The book of mormon was written for the intent that we may believe the bible, morm. Book of mormon theology in early nineteenthcentury perspective in dialog. Today, mormons use the book of mormon in much the same way that christians use and study the bible. Joseph smith stated, concerning the book, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion. Smith once called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion smith, 1902, 4. In the introduction of the book of mormon, smith states that it is the record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas, which also. Dan vogel and brent lee metcalfe salt lake city, ut. Since its very beginning, various latterday saints have sought to utilize evidence and reason to actively promote or defend beliefs and. Joseph smith said 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 by any other book history of the church, vol. Smith once called the book of mormon the most correct of any book on earth.
Sharing the good news with mormons is an elite booknot because it is hard to. Mar 22, 2010 he is a professor, teaching greek, hebrew, and apologetics. Book of mormon apologetics and scholarship deseret news. Jun 20, 2019 from time to time i repost articles here from my other blogs.
Mormons hoped the rediscovery and retranslation would validate the book of abraham and josephs ability to translate the book of mormon. In the introduction of the book of mormon, smith states that it is the record of gods dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the americas, which also contains the. This book for laymen attempts to examine lds apologetics to see if they make their case. This book provides a clear and powerful response to the new atheists whose attacks on christianity, scripture, and the historicity of jesus have become mainstream.
Its validity as scripture depends on its being historically authentic. In the book of mormon, the prophet nephi was part of a wave of hebrew exiles, fleeing the babylonians that were conquering jerusalem at that time. Ever since joining the lds church at the age of 16, ive spent countless hours explaining, sharing and defending the gospel of jesus christ. The apologetics of m2cive been reluctant to post this material but i think its time. In the second quote, he is referring to the book by his own hand upon papyrus by charles larson, which most mormons would consider an antimormon book. The bible and the book of mormon cannot both contain the fullness of the everlasting gospel as mormons claim, for they are contradictory. Yeah sure, just as soon as mormon apologetics admit that the book of abraham is a fraudyour getting close to doing sobut come on just come clean and admit it. If you are just starting out in apologetics, definitely dont start here. Two years later he started writing losing a lost tribe. Its true that advocates of the book of mormon typically have spiritual convictions regarding it. He is a professor, teaching greek, hebrew, and apologetics. The book of mormon claims to be a translation of ancient writing on gold plates.
Roberts was the first mormon apologist, president of the first quorum of seventies. Bad book of mormon apologetics lds church is true blog. But they also have nonarchaeological evidence for taking seriously its claim to antiquity. The book of mormon s most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. From time to time i repost articles here from my other blogs. Here are some parallels with the deuterocanonical books and the book of mormon. The book of mormon is one of four books accepted and promoted by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds the mormon church as scripture.
Plant geneticist simon southerton was a mormon bishop in brisbane, australia, when he woke up the morning of aug. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents. Contemporary book of mormon apologetics really began with two lengthy series of articles from 1950 to 1952 by nibley on the book of mormon, published in 1952 as the book lehi in the desert and the world of the jaredites. The book of mormon shall stand as a testimony against the world, ether 5. The text elucidating the books comes from mormonisms temple of doom by william j schnoebelen schnoebelen was told by his coven master that, if he ever got into trouble, he was to join the mormon church because it was created by witches for witches. Due to the nature of its origin, that would support the existence of god. Jun 11, 2009 thanks especially to the internet, several latterday saint lds, mormon apologetics groups have made it their business to actively defend the historicity of the book of mormon and the book of abraham as well as uphold the integrity of early mormon leaders. The past several years have seen a rise in the production and sophistication of mormon apologetics, which has included books written on a popular level that are in some ways the mormon equivalent of josh mcdowells evidence that demands a. The term apologetics is derived from the latin adjective, apologeticu, a form of apology or defense of a false accusation.