Book of mormon, 1830, page iii the joseph smith papers. Be familiar with the prophet joseph smith s famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction, and note the truefalse question about this statement was highlighted in our first class. If the book of mormon is true, then joseph smith was a prophet. An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Mormon origins is created to make available historical information andor documents relating to the beginnings of mormonism in america. Its the book of mormon, the ninetime tony award winning best musical.
Mar 27, 20 we believe it did, and startling new scriptural, prophetic, physical, and dna evidences strongly point to the location of the book of mormon taking place in the heartland of the united states of. The book of mormon by joseph smith and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This outrageous musical comedy follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the good word. So the question of all questions deals with the truthfulness of book of mormon. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormon s son, moroni. The spiritual text that forms the basis of mormonism, in the last edition edited by its founder, joseph smith, jr. Dirkmaat and michael hubbard mackay, joseph smiths negotiations to publish the book of mormon, in the coming forth of the book of mormon.
Seven years later, in 1830, this scriptural canon of the latterday saints was published for the world. Joseph smiths translation and publication of the book of mormon, excerpted by fairmormon. The book of mormon is one of the most influential, as well as controversial, religious documents in american history, and is regarded as sacred scripture by followers around the world, including members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Smith also asserted that john the baptist appeared to him while he was translating the book of mormon and instructed him to restore the. When he was 24, smith published the book of mormon. The book of mormon follows two latterday saints missionaries as they attempt to preach the faith of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to the inhabitants of a remote ugandan village. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone of our religion. The founder of mormonism said the book of mormon was the most correct book of any book, including the bible history of the church, vol. Palmyra, known as swifts landing and tolland before being renamed palmyra, 1796. The book of mormon was translated and published in 1830. Towards the end of her life, and not long after the deaths of her sons joseph, hyrum, and samuel in 1844, lucy, perhaps in part as a salve to her grief, and at the behest of the quorum of the twelve, began recording her familys story. Joseph smith claimed to have translated the book of mormon from a language called reformed egyptian.
Fourteen centuries later, in 1823, the angel moroni led joseph smith to the plates hidden in a hillside in upstate new york. Latterday saints believe that in order to know whether the book of mormon is a true account and is inspired by god, one must read it, ponder its message, and pray sincerely to ask whether it is true. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421.
Another testament of jesus christ presents itself as a translated record of ancient american peoples detailing their dealings with each other and with god. The book of mormon the smith center for the performing arts. Testimony of eight witnesses testimony of the prophet joseph smith brief explanation about the book of mormon illustrations 1 nephi 2 nephi jacob. An angel, moroni, instructs him and shows him where to find an ancient record. Be familiar with the prophet joseph smiths famous statement about the book of mormon quoted in the introduction, and note the truefalse question about this statement was highlighted in our first class. It is a common claim by critics that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. The book of mormon the smith center for the performing. Why did joseph smith attempt to secure the book of mormon. Did joseph smiths mother believe he could have written the. The urgency for joseph smith to secure additional protection for his to the book of mormon was punctuated by the fact that in january 1830 abner cole a former justice of the peace. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Book of mormon, 1840, page 0 the joseph smith papers. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi.
Joseph smith used a rock in a hat for translating the book of mormon. The book of mormon is an account of the former inhabitants of this continent that contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. Nov 03, 2015 the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. Many people close to the process were moved by the books message and eagerly waited for a renewing of old covenants and the restoration of christs church. The coming forth of the book of mormon, foretold by ancient prophets, began with an angelic visitation in 1823 to 17yearold joseph smith. The book of mormon records the visit of jesus christ to people in the americas following his resurrection. From a geographical standpoint, some lds scholars believe mesoamerica to be the setting of the book of mormon. The book of mormon bom is an abbreviated account of the inhabitants of the ancient americas from 2200 bc to 421 ad.
Archaeologists and egyptologists have found no evidence that this language ever existed. A documentary history of the book of mormon byu studies. The book of mormon has been called the longest and most complex of smiths revelations. Moronimoroni delivering the book of mormon to joseph smith, lithograph, 1886. Lucy mack smith 17751856, mother of the prophet joseph smith, was a committed believer in her sons divine calling. Joseph smith referred to the book of mormon as the keystone of our religion. The book of mormon is a religious record of three groups of people who migrated from the old world to the american continents. Joseph smith characterized the book of mormon as the keystone of mormonism, and claimed that it was the most correct of.
It tells the story of the rise and fall of a religious civilization beginning about 600 bc and ending in 421 ad. It is organized as a compilation of smaller books, each named after its main named narrator or a prominent leader. The book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. To participate in the bicentennial commemoration of the restoration, to heighten appreciation for joseph smiths first vision, and to help better inform latterday saints of the founding event of their history, earlier this year book of mormon central bmc began publishing a series of short online articles offering insights into the first vision. In other words, joseph used the same magic device or ouija board that he used during his treasure hunting days. Smith was the founding prophet and first president of the church. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Apr 22, 2016 illustration from from darkness unto light. According to mormon belief, the book of mormon was inscribed on golden plates by generations of prophets, quoted and abridged by the prophethistorian mormon, and buried in the ground by mormons son, moroni. Joseph smith declared that through gods power he translated the book of mormon from hieroglyphs, the knowledge of which was lost to the world, in which wonderful event he stood alone, an unlearned youth, to combat the worldly wisdom and multiplied ignorance of eighteen centuries, with a new revelation. Moroni, the last of the nephite prophethistorians, sealed up the abridged records of these people and hid them in about a.
When they say directly support, they typically mean that they are looking for a direct corroboration, such as the presence of the name nephi or zarahemla in association with ancient american archaeological data. While some of the documents included in morriss documentary history of the book of mormon are found in the joseph smith paperseither in print or online at many are not. Skeptics have put forth several theories of book of. Written by prophets to a people who lived in america long before white people ever came, some believe they were the beginnings of some native indian tribes. After several unsuccessful attempts, smith said he dug up the gold plates on september 22, 1827. The earnest young men are challenged by the lack of interest from the locals, who are distracted by more pressing issues such as hivaids, famine, female genital mutilation, and oppression from the village warlords. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The book of mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, joseph smith stated, and the keystone1 of our religion. Many concepts from the book of mormon are present in this book notably 2000 stripling warriors, a liahonalike description of a metal device, the freeman movement, rod of iron, standard of liberty, brass plates, cataclysmic earthquakes followed by great darkness, chiasmus, and many, many more. Religious studies center, brigham young university. He put a rock called a peep stone in his hat and put his face in the hat to tell his customers the location of buried treasure on their property. December 23, 1805 june 27, 1844 was an american religious leader and founder of mormonism and the latter day saint movement.
We believe it did, and startling new scriptural, prophetic, physical, and dna evidences strongly point to the location of the book of mormon taking place in. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. If joseph smith was a prophet, then the church of jesus christ of latter day saints is the same church that christ established while he was on the earth. The mormon religion is based upon the story and religious teachings of joseph smith. However, hugh nibley, a mormon apologist, argues that reformed egyptian is actually meroitic egyptian. Howes 1834 mormonism unvailed, it is claimed that the word mormon, the name given to his joseph smith s book, is the english termination of the greek word mormoo, which we find defined in an old, obsolete dictionary, to mean bugbear, hobgoblin, raw head, and bloody bones. In the unfolding book of mormon text, joseph smith found answers to some of the questions that had brought him to the sacred grove as a 14yearold boy. Joseph smiths appraisal, in living the book of mormon. By the time of his death, 14 years later, he had attracted tens of thousands of followers and founded a religion that continues to the present. Its the book of mormon, the ninetime tony awardwinning best musical.
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