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“Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, ''An Address to All Believers in Christ'', Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12).<ref>[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1993.htm/ensign%20july%201993.htm/a%20treasured%20testament.htm ''A Treasured Testament,''] Russel M. Nelson, (Ensign, July 1993), 61.</ref></blockquote>  

“Joseph Smith would put the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct, then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God, and not by any power of man.” (David Whitmer, ''An Address to All Believers in Christ'', Richmond, Mo.: n.p., 1887, p. 12).<ref>[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1993.htm/ensign%20july%201993.htm/a%20treasured%20testament.htm ''A Treasured Testament,''] Russel M. Nelson, (Ensign, July 1993), 61.</ref></blockquote>  

The Book of Mormon tells the story of the descendents of a man named Lehi, who took his family from Jerusalem to the Americas. According to the book, Lehi's wicked sons, Laman and Lemual, turned against his righteous sons, Nephi and Sam, and were cursed with dark skin.<ref>[http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/Alma3.htm GospelDoctrine.com]</ref>  Mormons believe that descendents of Lehi were the ancestors of some Native Americans; these people are referred to as "Lamanites" in the Book of Mormon:<ref>[http://search.ldslibrary.com/125037 Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]</ref> A post-resurrection appearance in the New World by [[Jesus]] is also described in the Book of Mormon.  

The Book of Mormon tells the story of the descendants of a man named Lehi, who took his family from Jerusalem to the Americas. According to the book, Lehi's wicked sons, Laman and Lemual, turned against his righteous sons, Nephi and Sam, and were cursed with dark skin.<ref>[http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/Alma3.htm GospelDoctrine.com]</ref>  Mormons believe that descendants of Lehi were the ancestors of some Native Americans; these people are referred to as "Lamanites" in the Book of Mormon:<ref>[http://search.ldslibrary.com/125037 Elder Spencer W. Kimball of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]</ref> A post-resurrection appearance in the New World by [[Jesus]] is also described in the Book of Mormon.  

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Nephi and Sam's descendents, the Nephites, eventually turned to wickedness and were destroyed by the more numerous Lamanites. One of the last Nephites, Moroni, buried the golden plates in what is now New York State to keep them from falling into the hands of the Lamanites and being destroyed.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]</ref> Three Nephites were blessed with eternal life and still wander the Earth today serving others.<ref>[http://deseretmail.com/mormon-life/curric/story?story_id=1580 "Clyde J. Williams on the Three Nephites and the Doctrine of Translation,"] Thoughts on Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42, Deseret Book.</ref><br />

Nephi and Sam's descendants, the Nephites, eventually turned to wickedness and were destroyed by the more numerous Lamanites. One of the last Nephites, Moroni, buried the golden plates in what is now New York State to keep them from falling into the hands of the Lamanites and being destroyed.<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]</ref> Three Nephites were blessed with eternal life and still wander the Earth today serving others.<ref>[http://deseretmail.com/mormon-life/curric/story?story_id=1580 "Clyde J. Williams on the Three Nephites and the Doctrine of Translation,"] Thoughts on Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42, Deseret Book.</ref><br />

In 1982, the subtitle, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ," was added to the title page.<ref>[http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/essays/bookofmormon.htm A Short Introduction to the Book of Mormon]</ref>

In 1982, the subtitle, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ," was added to the title page.<ref>[http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/essays/bookofmormon.htm A Short Introduction to the Book of Mormon]</ref>

[[Mormon]] apologists have responded by citing, for example, the first Book of the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi) in which discoveries of place locations thought not to have existed prior to discovery are to be found. An instance of this concerns the alleged discovery of the place known as "Nahom" as mentioned here ([http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/16.34?lang=eng#33]), a burial place which was discovered and is said by Mormons to be referred to in no other text.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Nahom FAIR Wiki- Mormon Apologetic resource- Nahom]</ref> Likewise Old world geography in the Book has been pinpointed by apologists.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Old_World]</ref>   

[[Mormon]] apologists have responded by citing, for example, the first Book of the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi) in which discoveries of place locations thought not to have existed prior to discovery are to be found. An instance of this concerns the alleged discovery of the place known as "Nahom" as mentioned here ([http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/16.34?lang=eng#33]), a burial place which was discovered and is said by Mormons to be referred to in no other text.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Nahom FAIR Wiki- Mormon Apologetic resource- Nahom]</ref> Likewise Old world geography in the Book has been pinpointed by apologists.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Old_World]</ref>   

Opponents have pointed to linguistic anachronisms in the text, such as it being written entirely in a Sixteenth-century King James style and its use of words such as French word "adieu". Mormon apologists argue that they have found  numerous Semetic linguistic and literary traits within it which make it appear authentic, such as the inclusion of Chaismus<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms/Chiasmus Chiasmus]</ref> and numerous other Hebrew traits within the text<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms]</ref>

Opponents have pointed to linguistic anachronisms in the text, such as it being written entirely in a Sixteenth-century King James style and its use of words such as French word "adieu". Mormon apologists argue that they have found  numerous Semitic linguistic and literary traits within it which make it appear authentic, such as the inclusion of Chiasmus<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms/Chiasmus Chiasmus]</ref> and numerous other Hebrew traits within the text<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms]</ref>

Mormons do ultimately confess that the main evidence and support for the Book of Mormon does not center upon history or language but upon faith that it is a divinely inspired document.  

Mormons do ultimately confess that the main evidence and support for the Book of Mormon does not center upon history or language but upon faith that it is a divinely inspired document.