Why is there no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. His second book, by the hand of mormon, is seen as his most important contribution to mormon studies to. Bruce porter on prophecies of the book of mormon joseph. Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found.
He has done research in the major museums and libraries of europe, and the united states. To help with the increasing amount of new information, a blog site has been setup for research relating to the book of mormon lands in baja california. Foundations of book of mormon archaeology mormon heretic. There is plenty of evidence in north america supporting the book of mormon. The book of mormon brian nicholson, deseret news archives. John dehlin august 12, 2011 apologetics, best of mormon stories, book of mormon, johns favorites, top 10 truth claims, top 25 202 comments. Nephis party reaches an area which was called nahom 1 nephi 16. Oct 24, 2014 this video will help you understand that the foundation of the lds faith is built upon myth.
Ever since it was first published in 1830, claiming to contain the word of god as recorded by precolombian americans in a golden bible, it has had its passionate defenders and equally adamant critics. The list includes items such as steel swords, barley, cement, thrones, and literacy. John sorenson noted, the firstcenturybc appearance of cement in the book of mormon agrees strikingly with the archaeology of central mexico. Thomas stuart ferguson went to search for book of mormon lands. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Statement regarding the book of mormon, spring 1986, p. Most latterday saints are aware of a minor industry in certain religious circles in the united states devoted to refuting mormonism and to criticizing the book of mormon. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins author john e. Brother porter has done extensive research for the religious studies center, on the pearl of great priceand the book of abraham. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on not only the subject of archaeology, but also.
The board of directors at the book of mormon foundation has felt an urge to promote the message of repentance within the book of mormon. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. We are a nonprofit organization supported by people like you. There is no historical or archeological evidence to support the book of mormon. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon and mesoamerican archeology book of. Book of mormon archaeology in north america wayne n. You will see articles concerning that subject in current issues of the witness. John clark of the new world archaeological foundation has compiled a list of sixty items mentioned in the book of mormon. If you missed the bmaf messages announcing the change please go to and enter your email address.
When he could not confirm their existence, it is said that he lost his belief. He was convinced that the book of mormon was an accurate historical document and that it would be relatively easy to uncover artifacts to prove its validity. Ferguson and the new world archaeological foundation are often used by critics to demonstrate that there. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Read the book of mormon and research the moundbuilder civilizations especially the hopewell and the adena. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. Feb 16, 2016 there is plenty of evidence in north america supporting the book of mormon. Implications of eight times and seasons articles that allude to the book of mormon in conjunction with mesoamerica, including seven articles that deal with the explorations of john lloyd stephens by stoddard, ted dee and andersen, joe v. The book of mormon principally describes gods dealings with two c. The first myth we need to eliminate is that book of mormon archaeology existsif one is to study book of mormon archaeology, then one must have a corpus of data with which to deal.
No quantity of archaeological evidence will ever suffice to prove beyond reasonable doubt that either the bible or the book of mormon is true or false. Many book of mormon research projects have implications for the continuing issues surrounding the authorship of the book of mormon. Videos watch past wayne may presentations as he reveals the supporting evidences of the book of mormon as found in archaeology, geography and historical records. According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible. He has also presented papers for the society for early historic archaeology, and thejournal of egyptian archeology. Joseph smith and the beginning of book of mormon archaeology did the prophet joseph smith in 1842 locate book of mormon lands in middle america. However, there exists no credible archaeological evidence proving that the book of mormon is a record of literate ancient american people of hebrew descent. The book of mormon is really there so one can have book of mormon studies, and archaeology is really there so one can study archaeology, but the two. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. Lds apostle john widtsoe served on the board of directors. This past year bmaf was acquired by book of mormon central and the newsletters discontinued.
The name nhm and the place called nahom in the book of mormon summary. In 1997, the group became a formal part of brigham young university byu, which is owned and operated by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. There is absolutely no archaeological evidence to directly support the book of mormon or the nephites and lamanites, who were supposed to have numbered in the millions. This volume features articles on archaeological and anthropological aspects of the book of mormon, such as the use of the wheel in ancient america, hagoth and the polynesian tradition, the mulekites, ancient writing in the americas, and the use of metal. Some members of the lds church have made fantastic claims about archaeologists using the book of mormon. Late in 1998 the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms an lds research group operating under the umbrella of the lds church included a sidebar in their journal of book of mormon studies titled smithsonian statement on the book of mormon revised volume 7, number 1, 1998, p. I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Allen, exploring the lands of the book of mormon, 2nd ed. Clark had circumstances permitted a marked grave for the slain prophet, a fitting headstone could have read, by joseph smith, junior, author and proprietor.
Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it describes ancient historical events in the americas. Orders will be shipped within 5 business days unless otherwise noted in the item description. This video will help you understand that the foundation of the lds faith is built upon myth. He is a 36 year convert to the lds church and has served in four branch presidencies, three elder quorum presidencies, seminary instructor, gospel doctrine instructor, veil worker at the st. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. Not only have cement structures been identified throughout mesoamerica, but as dr. For the first 150 years of mormonisms existence, everyone thought it was a story about a people who left the middle east and came to south or central america, and who fought wars clear up into new york state where. The book of mormon suggests that the original native americans descended from a small band of israelites.
Research and evidence supporting the truthfulness of the book of mormon as a literal history of ancient people in north america we sell. The book of mormon describes three migrations of people from the middle east to america. The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have come to the hitherto. In this new episode of the book of mormon history podcast, bmc associate stephen smoot discusses the new archaeological discovery of an ancient temple within four miles of jerusalem with independent book of mormon researcher joshua gehly. Ancient mounds with human bones in north america book of. Wikipedia has some interesting information on givens. The lay mormon is told by the mormon church that archaeology continues to confirm the book of mormon, while mormon scholars, who actually study archaeology for a. Archaeology, relics and book of mormon belief deseret news. For example, one letter circulated among lds members in ohio in 1959 claimed that the book of mormon was used by the government to unravel the problem of the aborigines.
Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Quarterly articles and internet articles on book of mormon history, language, culture, and geography. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. Some members of the mormon church have made fantastic claims about archaeologists using the book of mormon. In this chapter we will examine the book of mormon to see how it holds up to the.
As we begin to explore mormon archaeology, it seems appropriate to introduce the fascinating history of thomas ferguson, an attorney by trade, whose true passion manifest as an amateur archaeologist who dedicated decades of his life to the search for evidence to validate the book of mormon as a historical record. This common query often expresses the questioners incorrect assumptions about archaeological methodologyassumptions usually based the questioners lack of knowledge about a very specialized academic area. According to joseph smith and subsequent presidents and apostles of the lds church, the geographical extent of book of mormon lands included virtually all of north and south america. Suspicious archeology used to support the book of mormon mddb.
Book of mormon archaeology and anthropology byu studies. Below is the modern map of the area of smiths youth. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Dec 25, 2019 all opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Garth norman posted by permission of ancient america foundation and the author. Welch pointed out that no archeologist in 1829 could have known how accurately the dating of this technological adaptation correlated with what was happening on the ground. First publication of the smithsonian book of mormon evidence. Allen biography book of mormon archaeological forum. If you love the book of mormon, consider donating to book of mormon central and becoming part of this exciting movement. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. In the last chapter we saw that the bible is reliable, being textually pure and verifiably accurate in many places.
He has a positive view of mormon scholarship, and goes into detail of both literary and archaeological scholarship. Thomas stuart ferguson and mormon archaeology summary. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. As each year passed, the foundations scientists were unable to find any evidence that would support the book of mormon. Book of mormon geographyold world nahom fairmormon. The smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Wayne may on book of mormon archeology joseph smith. Paul minnesota temple, and currently is serving as gospel doctrine teacher of the menomonie wisconsin branch, oakdale, minnesota stake. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon.
There is no specific confirmation of the book of mormon from archaeology. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in transition. The book of mormon is a highly controversial book in the light of mesoamerican archeology. T he book of mormon is advertized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as another testament of jesus christ and specifically of the account of his supposed visit to the american continent the book of mormon, 3 nephi 11. Ferguson had a passion for looking for archaeological evidences for the book of mormon and he. Ive been enjoying terryl givens book, by the hand of mormon. Nhm the root for naham appears twentyfive times in the narrative books of the bible, and in every case it is associated with death. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it. The book of mormon is supposed to be a history of real people living in a real place. Book of mormon thought false by lds memberarchaelogist.
The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms was an informal collaboration of academics devoted to latterday saint historical scholarship. The latest archaeology information on the lands of the book of mormon in north america. Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. Dec 12, 2007 the lay mormon is told by the mormon church that archaeology continues to confirm the book of mormon, while mormon scholars, who actually study archaeology for a living, have something quite. For example, one letter written by a prominent mormon, dated may 3, 1936, maintained that the book of mormon was used by the government to unravel the problem of the aborigines. Wayne may on book of mormon archeology joseph smith foundation. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Book of mormon archaeology in north america home facebook. John clark of the new world archaeological foundation has compiled a list of sixty.
The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Michael coe an outsiders view of book of mormon archaeology. New light publications and book of mormon archaeological foundation, dvd. Wayne may presents book of mormon evidence in north american geography, archaeology and historical records. Book of mormon foundation book of mormon books, book of. Ferguson and the new world archaeological foundation are often used by critics to demonstrate that there is no book of mormon archaeology. If you missed the bmaf messages announcing the change.
In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. Lost civilizations of north america documentary 1 trailerjune 22, 2016in archaeology videos. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Hebrew names book of mormon hits by tvedtnes, john. He established the new world archaeological foundation, where his role as. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
Therefore, the mormon can have confidence that the bible is the word of god and that it can be accurately translated. Givens discusses the smithsonian institution letter that antimormons love to quote stating that they do not use the book of mormon as a guide for archaeology. Over the past 30 years the new world archaeological foundation, located at. John sorenson is now the foremost expert on book of mormon archaeology in mesoamerica now. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. Book of mormonarchaeologythomas stuart ferguson fairmormon. Archaeological evidence for the book of mormon book of mormon. As each year passed, the foundation s scientists were unable to find any evidence that would support the book of mormon.
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