- NEW!
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 17th, 2009
Nick, I would encourage you to read it. And I am an Evangelical Christian and Mormon Studies Scholar who is critical of Mormonism.
However, I would encourage you to get a copy of the original 1830 edition as it lacks the extra baggage that was added later (like chapter and verse delineation) and reads more like a novel than a sacred text - and, you know mate, in that format it ain't too bad! It's not Dickens but it's readable.
The later versions - including the free copy that the LdS Missionaries hand out . . . well not so much! Personally I find that all the notes as well as the chapter and verse delineations just suck the life out of the text.
Oh, and the 1830 Edition lacks the Bull Chips First Vision introduction of today's edition (it was was added later)
FYI, here's a link to the one that I have and I LOVE it!
http://www.amazon.com/Book-Mormon-Replica-Joseph-Smith/dp/0929753208/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255838660&sr=8-3
Never-the-less here's are links to various synopsises:
All from Mormon Friendly sources:
http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2009/01/a-book-of-mormon-synopsis-the-small-plates/
http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon_basics
http://ldsdoctrine.blogspot.com/2009/09/synopsis-of-book-of-mormon.html
And finally I will close with this wonderful quote from Shawn McCraney of the Born Again Mormon Movement:
"Born-Again Mormons recognize the Book of Mormon as a piece of 19th century literary fiction aimed at teaching Jesus Christ. We reject the story of its origins."
by laie_techie on October 17th, 2009
Like Mister_IT, I suggest you read it for yourself. However, I would advise against the 1830 edition as your only exposure because it contained errors corrected by Joseph Smith Jr for the second printing. The more modern editions have footnote references (including links to Bible passages).
by edndori on October 17th, 2009
It is the history of a branch of the House of Israel led out of Jerusalem and directed to the American continent just before the Babylonian captivity.
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It gives both history and revelation given to them by God, as the Bible does for the Jews.
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As such it stands with the Bible as a second witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord, Savior and Redeemer.
by Moongrim on October 18th, 2009
The book of mormon speaks about several things that the mormons teach against.
It's largely a rehash of Isaiah with way too many "and it came to pass"'s.
Mark Twain read it, and called it: Chloroform in Print.
http://www.exmormon.org/
Here's an anotated version:
http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/index.htm
Go ahead and read it, you can find quite a few at some second hand shops gathering dust. I'd recommend against asking a Morg for one, as they'll get all twittery over converting someone and start harassing you.
Read it with an open mind, but not to the point that your brains fall out.
by Wind in the Willow on October 18th, 2009
Oh, it's different than what you believe trust me!
by TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT on October 18th, 2009
it is the record of a people who were directed to leave jerusalem and come to the americas. if I recal the timeline it was 600BC-300AD give or take. it includes a record of christs ministry to the americas after his resurection (john 10:16)
by Darth NANAME on October 17th, 2009
Pretty much generic religious stuff. Think of it as a Bible book or two with the various Mormon figures as main characters.
do you like mormons?
by luxius on December 18th, 2011
| 8 people like this
If all the misinformation, hype and lies about the MORMON faith can be explained, vindicated and justified - would you believe ?
by MORE GOOD on November 13th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Why is the Salt Lake City Police force acting like the Churches personal security?
by Kyleabram on January 7th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
Are there any Mormon based video games?
by Mister_Bromide on January 12th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
How do Mormons prove they are Mormons and can go inside a temple? Do they have a secret handshake? Password?
by Mister_Bromide on January 15th, 2012
| 1 person likes this
You're reading What kind of things does the Book of Mormon talk about? I'm curious as a Christian
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Comments
I thought you were a Mormon. So what is this about Kolob? Are they serious?
by N I C K on October 17th, 2009
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LOL!
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I'm sure that the True Believing Mormons (TBMs) who frequent AB are screaming at their computer screens, "Mr. IT is a child of the Devil and enemy of the True Church!"
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;-)
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And, yes, indeed they are dead serious about Kolob. They even have a hymn about it ("If You Could Hie to Kolob") in their hymnal - oh, and a song of praise for Joseph Smith ("Praise to the Man").
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If you want a good laugh google for the lyrics for "If You Could Hie to Kolob". Your questions about where it all began will FINALLY be answered (NOT!)
http://www.whatiskolob.com/if-you-could-hie-to-kolob.htm
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 17th, 2009
I heard somewhere that the original Book of Mormon was loaded with grammatical errors, like it was written by a dumb hick. Is that true?
I try to practice tolerance of all religions, I've even had Mormon friends, but they're beliefs are just bizarre.
by N I C K on October 17th, 2009
actualy Mr IT, I am a "TBM" and would like to applaud your nonhostility. it is rare that a nonmormon christian can give anything but venom toward the BOM.
"praise to the man"... would it not be apropriate for the hebrews to praise moses... praise is not worship, I praise my son for good behavior. And just a line after the title "Jesus annointed that prophet and seer" joseph smith is viewed as a prophet and Gods tool of the restoration.
Kolob is the star nearest to God, any thing beyond that is speculation, not doctrine... and it has absolutly nothing to do with the salvation of any of Gods children as such I don't care about it.
Nick... the BOM was "written" by a hick with a 4th grade education. it is an impressive piece of literature to be written by someone with even a 12th grade education.
by TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT on October 17th, 2009
First, TAP thank you. I really do love the Book of Mormon as a piece of 19th Century Literature.
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However, on this . . .
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>Nick... the BOM was "written" by a hick with a 4th grade education. it is an impressive piece of literature to be written by someone with even a 12th grade education<
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. . . uh, no.
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The evidence points to it being plagiarized by Sidney Rigdon - with help from Oliver Cowdrey and Joseph Smith - from various pieces of 19th Literature including (but not limited to) Ethan Smith's "View of the Hebrews" as well as Solomon Spauling's two novels, "Manuscript Found" and "Manuscript Story". And it clearly plagiarizes from the 1611 KJV Bible - Isaiah and Matthew being the most apparent examples.
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The book was then recited either from memory or paper via some type of parlor trick that involved a hat and a seer stone to give it the appearance of divine origins - which worked particularly well with Martin Hartin and the Whittmers.
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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 18th, 2009
And of course I expect skepticism from the TBM readers so here's a link to Craig Criddle's watershed, Stanford University peer-review white paper on this:
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http://www.i4m.com/think/history/Book-of-Mormon.pdf
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And you can view Mr. Criddle's recent presentation on his research via this link:
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http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/2326926
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Again, this isn't just one guy's opinion - this theory has been peer reviewed by dispassionate, objective scholars at Stanford University who have validated both Mr. Criddle's scholarship and the credibility of his conclusions.
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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 18th, 2009
it isn't plagery if the source is sited... the isiah chapters say they are reading from isiah,
by TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT on October 18th, 2009
OK . . .
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And the passages plagiarized from 19th Century literature?
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And the places in the Book of Mormon that are plagiarized from the 1611 King James Bible and the speaker DOESN'T cite the source?
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As Grant Palmer has stated well: The Book of Mormon is 1/3 the Bible, 1/3 19th Century Literature, and 1/3 original material.
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AND you dodged my main point - it was NOT written by "the BOM was "written" by a hick with a 4th grade education". It was written primarily by a college educated ordained minister (Rigdon), an educator with publishing experience (Cowdrey), and the son of an itinerant School Teacher who was widely read (Smith).
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When you make this claim you're spouting LdS dogma that has been discredited.
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Sorry, but that's what the evidence has uncovered - read the white paper or watch the video it's all there.
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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 19th, 2009
only hostile "christian" sources have "successfully" discredited anything. impartial secular research has had no more success discrediting mormonism than it has the rest of christianity.
by TAPriceCTR s son is wearing his COAT on October 19th, 2009
I am LDS and thought it interesting what you said about reading the 1830 version. Beliefs aside, I agree too that it reads alot better as a novel with that edition. :) I didn't think anyone else had done it for that reason. Thanks for the resources in your comments. I always like to read all sides. ;)
by Arithon on October 19th, 2009
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>Beliefs aside, I agree too that it reads alot better as a novel with that edition<
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I have yet to meet a Mormon or non-Mormon who doesn't agree with us.
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That 1830 Edition rocks - they never should have changed it IMHO!
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;-)
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 19th, 2009
>only hostile "christian" sources have "successfully" discredited anything<
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That is incorrect.
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Many secular sources have discredited the claims of Mormonism. However, since they are dispassionate they don't confront TBMs with the evidence.
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Christians, for better or worse, are told to contend with those in error:
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"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 1:3 (KJV)
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"...we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God WITH MUCH CONTENTION.
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For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
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But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which
trieth our hearts."
-- I Thessalonians 2:2-4 (KJV)
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So, unfortunately, we are left in the uncomfortable task of contending with Mormons...
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 19th, 2009
regarding the claims that others have discredited via their objective, dispassionate, uninterested research. Again these secularist have NO interest in targeting Mormonism - they just do the research and the evidence speaks for itself.
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>impartial secular research has had no more success discrediting mormonism than it has the rest of christianity<
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Again, in most cases they aren't trying to discredit ANYTHING even remotely close to Christianity or Mormonism so your assertion is rather silly. The evidence is the evidence, period.
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In the end I have two questions for you:
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1) Have you read Craig Criddle's White Paper or watched his presentation? If not, why not?
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2) Why do you fight so strenuously to defend an organization that has deemed you unworthy due to an indiscretion that would be easily forgiven so that you could be restored? That would be the case in a Biblically sound church.
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Your stance on the latter really puzzles me!
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You defend unrighteous judges...
by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on October 19th, 2009