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'''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'''<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]; Title page since 1982: ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.'' Original title page: ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of [[Mormon]] upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.''</ref> is one of the four standard works, or scriptures, of the [[Mormons|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] ([[Mormon]]s). The other standard works are the [[Bible]], the [[Pearl of Great Price]], and the [[Doctrine and Covenants]].

'''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'''<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents The Book of Mormon]; Title page since 1982: ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.'' Original title page: ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of [[Mormon]] upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi.''</ref> is one of the four standard works, or scriptures, of the [[Mormons|Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] ([[Mormon]]s). The other standard works are the [[Bible]], the ''[[Pearl of Great Price]]'', and the ''[[Doctrine and Covenants]]''.

[[Image:Moroni gives Joseph the plates.jpg|thumb|100px|Moroni gives Joseph Smith the plates]]

[[Image:Moroni gives Joseph the plates.jpg|thumb|100px|Moroni gives Joseph Smith the plates]]

[[Image:Joseph Translating.jpg|thumb|100px|Joseph Smith Translating the Plates]]

[[Image:Joseph Translating.jpg|thumb|100px|Joseph Smith Translating the Plates]]

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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.)

“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>  

<br /><br />-Russell M. Nelson, “A Treasured Testament,” <ref>[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1993.htm/ensign%20july%201993.htm/a%20treasured%20testament.htm "A Treasured Testament,"] 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 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.  

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>

Mormons and other Latter-Day Saints believe that the book is of ancient origin and that the personages and events described therein are factual. At the same time, Mormons deny that the book is to be considered inerrant. Critics assert that its contents have been changed a number of times by LDS authorities; Mormons reply that the changes are merely grammatical corrections.

Mormons and other Latter-Day Saints believe that the book is of ancient origin and that the personages and events described therein are factual. At the same time, Mormons deny that the book is to be considered inerrant. Critics assert that its contents have been changed a number of times by LDS authorities; Mormons reply that the changes are merely grammatical corrections. For a fuller discussion of changes, see [[Book of Mormon#Changes in the Book of Mormon|Changes in the Book of Mormon]] section below.

==Historicity==

==Historicity==

The Book of Mormon is widely criticized for the absence of evidence supporting it.  The list of missing artifacts includes almost forty entire cities (all cities named therein), animals (such as horses and cattle), metals (iron and steel), evidence of wars (involving multiple thousands of deaths), weapons (including swords, spears and armor), machinery and other technology cited within it - spanning the many hundreds of years covered by the narrative.

The Book of Mormon is widely criticized for the absence of evidence supporting it.  The list of missing artifacts includes almost forty entire cities (all cities named therein), animals (such as horses and cattle), metals (iron and steel), evidence of wars (involving multiple thousands of deaths), weapons (including swords, spears and armor), machinery and other technology cited within it - spanning the many hundreds of years covered by the narrative. Because no such supporting evidence has been found, the LDS church takes no official position on the geography of the Book of Mormon. Artifacts of such a nature (found in the Americas) have been found to have been introduced into the areas in question by Europeans colonists much later than the timeframe claimed in the Book of Mormon.  Mormon Apologists have worked to find counterarguments and responses to all of these claims.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Anachronisms]</ref>

 

Because no such supporting evidence has been found, the LDS church takes no official position on the geography of the Book of Mormon.

 

Artifacts of such a nature (found in the Americas) have been found to have been introduced into the areas in question by Europeans colonists much later than the timeframe claimed in the Book of Mormon.  Mormon Apologists have worked to find counterarguments and responses to all of these claims.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Book_of_Mormon/Anachronisms]</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>   

== Polygamy ==

== Polygamy ==

The Book of Mormon forbids [[polygamy]] without exception, as shown in the following quotes:  

The Book of Mormon forbids [[polygamy]] without exception:  

<blockquote>Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord . . .  Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife, and [[concubine]]s he shall have none (Jacob 2:24, 27).</blockquote>

<blockquote>Behold, David and Solomon truly had many wives and concubines, which thing was abominable before me, saith the Lord . . .  Wherefore, my brethren, hear me, and hearken to the word of the Lord: For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife, and [[concubine]]s he shall have none (Jacob 2:24, 27).</blockquote>

By their advocacy of the doctrine that the Book of Mormon is inspired by God and hence authoritative, the LDS Church is under the divine command to recognize anyone who practices polygamy must be labeled an apostate from the true faith. Polygamy, which is so degrading to women, is “abominable before me, saith the Lord.” The plain meaning of these verses was accepted without question in 1835 (the Book of Mormon was published in 1830), as shown by this entry in the first edition of the "Doctrine and Covenants": <blockquote>Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.<ref>"Doctrine and Covenants", section 101, verse 4.</ref></blockquote> This condemnation of polygamy was printed in every edition of the "Doctrine and Covenants" until 1876, at which time polygamy was authorized and the section condemning it was completely removed. There was, however, no attempt to change the text in the Book of Mormon, because too many copies had already been circulated.

By their advocacy of the doctrine that the Book of Mormon is inspired by God and hence authoritative, the LDS Church is under the divine command to recognize anyone who practices polygamy must be labeled an apostate from the true faith. Polygamy, which is so degrading to women, is “abominable before me, saith the Lord.” The plain meaning of these verses was accepted without question in 1835 (the Book of Mormon was published in 1830), as shown by this entry in the first edition of the ''Doctrine and Covenants'': <blockquote>Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in the case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.<ref>''Doctrine and Covenants'', section 101, verse 4.</ref></blockquote>  

How the change in doctrine to the acceptance of polygamy came about is explained by a letter written by Oliver Cowdery and dated January 21, 1838. Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, wrote the following about an conversation he had with Joseph Smith sometime in the early or mid-1830s:<blockquote>When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger’s was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.<ref>Letter written by Oliver Cowdery and recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery; see photograph in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, "The Mormon Kingdom" (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1968), vol. 1 p. 27.</ref></blockquote>

This condemnation of polygamy was printed in every edition of the ''Doctrine and Covenants'' until 1876, at which time polygamy was authorized and the section condemning it was completely removed. There was, however, no attempt to change the text in the Book of Mormon, because too many copies had already been circulated.

How the change in doctrine to the acceptance of polygamy came about is explained by a letter written by Oliver Cowdery and dated January 21, 1838. Cowdery, one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon, wrote the following about an conversation he had with Joseph Smith sometime in the early or mid-1830s:<blockquote>When he [Joseph Smith] was there we had some conversation in which in every instance I did not fail to affirm that what I had said was strictly true. A dirty, nasty, filthy affair of his and Fanny Alger’s was talked over in which I strictly declared that I had never deviated from the truth in the matter, and as I supposed was admitted by himself.<ref>Letter written by Oliver Cowdery and recorded by his brother Warren Cowdery; see photograph in Jerald and Sandra Tanner, ''The Mormon Kingdom'' (Salt Lake City: Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 1968), vol. 1 p. 27.</ref></blockquote>

Having been caught in adultery, Smith’s eventual recourse was, not to repent, but to declare that God gave him the extra wives. This explanation was formalized in a “revelation” supposedly given on July 12, 1843, by which time Smith had acquired many plural wives. He probably did not realize that, in justifying his actions by declaring a divine revelation, he was following in the footsteps of Muhammad, the false prophet of Islam. In surah (chapter) 4, verse 3 of the Qur’an, a man is allowed to have up to four wives and no more. For Muhammad, however, this eventually became too restrictive, and so he received a new revelation that he, as a prophet (but no one else) was allowed to have as many wives as he wanted (surah 33:50). The original revelation was countermanded or “abrogated” by the later revelation. Since this revoking and replacing happened so many times with Muhammad’s prophecies, the dogma of abrogation, where Allah contradicts and replaces what he said previously, has become an important doctrine of Muslim theology.  

Having been caught in adultery, Smith’s eventual recourse was, not to repent, but to declare that God gave him the extra wives. This explanation was formalized in a “revelation” supposedly given on July 12, 1843, by which time Smith had acquired many plural wives. He probably did not realize that, in justifying his actions by declaring a divine revelation, he was following in the footsteps of Muhammad, the false prophet of Islam. In surah (chapter) 4, verse 3 of the Qur’an, a man is allowed to have up to four wives and no more. For Muhammad, however, this eventually became too restrictive, and so he received a new revelation that he, as a prophet (but no one else) was allowed to have as many wives as he wanted (surah 33:50). The original revelation was countermanded or “abrogated” by the later revelation. Since this revoking and replacing happened so many times with Muhammad’s prophecies, the dogma of abrogation, where Allah contradicts and replaces what he said previously, has become an important doctrine of Muslim theology.  

The same principle (abrogation) became operative in the LDS Church and continues to this day, so that the President of the Church, who supposedly has the authority of a prophet, seer, and revelator, can change any doctrine and the faithful are obliged to accept his authority to do so without question and without pointing out the inconsistencies with past doctrine. Thus polygamy, declared against the will of God in the Book of Mormon, became not only accepted but a virtue in the LDS church. The “revelation” that authorized the practice of polygamy among Latter-day Saints during the 19th Century is recorded in the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], section 132. John Taylor, third President of the Mormon Church, declared:<blockquote>We are not ashamed here in this great metropolis of America * * * to declare that we are polygamists. We are not ashamed to proclaim to this great nation, to rulers and people, to the president, senators, legislators, judges; to high and low, rich and poor, priests and people, that we are firm, conscientious believers in polygamy, and that it is part and parcel of our religious creed.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45303/45303-h/45303-h.htm#imgpg236jos ''The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''] by B.H. Roberts (Salt Lake City, 1892), 355.</ref></blockquote> Instead of a sin against God (Book of Mormon), polygamy became an essential virtue. Brigham Young, Second President of the LDS Church, declared “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."<ref>''Journal of Discourses'' Vol. 2, p. 269.</ref> And, in the ''Millennial Star'': "The order of plurality of wives is an everlasting and ceaseless order, designed to exalt the choicest men and women to the most superlative excellence, dominion, and glory.”<ref>''Millennial Star'', Vol. 15, p. 226.</ref> Joseph Smith’s revelation about polygamy declared “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory . . .”<ref>''Doctrines and Covenants'', section 132.</ref> Sin had become a virtue, and virtue a sin.  

The same principle (abrogation) became operative in the LDS Church and continues to this day, so that the President of the Church, who supposedly has the authority of a prophet, seer, and revelator, can change any doctrine and the faithful are obliged to accept his authority to do so without question and without pointing out the inconsistencies with past doctrine. Thus polygamy, declared against the will of God in the Book of Mormon, became not only accepted but a virtue in the LDS church. The “revelation” that authorized the practice of polygamy among Latter-day Saints during the 19th Century is recorded in the ''[[Doctrine and Covenants]]'', section 132. John Taylor, third President of the Mormon Church, declared:<blockquote>We are not ashamed here in this great metropolis of America * * * to declare that we are polygamists. We are not ashamed to proclaim to this great nation, to rulers and people, to the president, senators, legislators, judges; to high and low, rich and poor, priests and people, that we are firm, conscientious believers in polygamy, and that it is part and parcel of our religious creed.<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/45303/45303-h/45303-h.htm#imgpg236jos ''The Life of John Taylor, Third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints''] by B.H. Roberts (Salt Lake City, 1892), 355.</ref></blockquote> Instead of a sin against God (Book of Mormon), polygamy became an essential virtue. Brigham Young, Second President of the LDS Church, declared “The only men who become Gods, even the Sons of God, are those who enter into polygamy."<ref>''Journal of Discourses'' Vol. 2, p. 269.</ref> And, in the ''Millennial Star'': "The order of plurality of wives is an everlasting and ceaseless order, designed to exalt the choicest men and women to the most superlative excellence, dominion, and glory.”<ref>''Millennial Star'', Vol. 15, p. 226.</ref> Joseph Smith’s revelation about polygamy declared “For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant, and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory . . .”<ref>''Doctrines and Covenants'', section 132.</ref> Sin had become a virtue, and virtue a sin.  

==Conflict of Book of Mormon Doctrines with Later LDS Doctrines==   

==Conflict of Book of Mormon Doctrines with Later LDS Doctrines==   

''To be supplied''

 

In 1836, Lorenzo Snow became a convert to the Mormon faith. The new convert was caught up in the spirit that he sensed among his new friends, and in that spirit he made a quite startling declaration, that his new spiritual guide Joseph Smith would “become as great as you can possibly wish—EVEN AS GREAT AS GOD.”<ref> Eliza R. Snow Smith, ''Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow'' (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1884), 10.</ref> In 1840 he also got caught up in a spirit and thought he was given a new revelation that affirmed his earlier prophecy, and which he summarized in a couplet: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” On April 7 1844, Joseph Smith publicly declared his support of Lorenzo Snow’s new doctrine in a sermon that is known as the King Follett Discourse. Contrary to all Scriptures in the Bible and the pseudo-scriptures of the Book of Mormon that teach the eternal and immutable character of God the Creator, Smith boldly announced a new understanding of who God is:

<blockquote> God himself was once as we are now, and is an exalted man, and sits enthroned in yonder heavens! . . . I am going to tell you how God came to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will refute that idea . . . . he was once a man like us; yea, that God himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on earth, the same as Jesus Christ himself! . . . you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings and priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely, by going from one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power.<ref>''Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith'' (comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret, 1976), 345–47.</ref></blockquote>

 

 

==Changes in the Book of Mormon==

==Changes in the Book of Mormon==