The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. Is there any archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. I was using information from various witnesses who saw and or handled the plates. These carvings give incredible archaeological evidence and testify to the world that the resurrected jesus christ did come to the western hemisphere in 34 a. Sorenson cites discoveries of fortifications at becan, tlaxcala, puebla, teotihuacan, and kaminaljuyu, dated between 100 and 300 ad, as evidence of the book of mormons account of largescale warfare. The book of mormon mentions several animals, plants, and technologies for which there is no evidence in precolumbian america. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu.
Evidence indicates that the book of mormon plates were then put in a depository cave which was filled with many other sacred engravings. Archaeological and historical evidence what did the book. It is a common claim by critics that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. Numerous scholars and archaeologists have unanimously concluded that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Some archaeological evidences for the book of mormon latter. Gold plates or historical evidences that prove that civilizations existed. Why is there no evidence for the book of mormon like there. Is there any archeological evidence that the events in the.
In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very. Book of mormon central archaeological evidence for the book. For one particular physical evidence, look no further than a plethora of archaeological. One last topic on the subject of archaeological evidence for the book of mormon that i want to talk about is horses. The changing face of missing evidence for the book of mormon. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a vast and epic story that spans hundreds of years on two continents while detailing the rise and fall of unique previously unheard of civilizations, which may lead you to wonder, wonder, is is there there any any any archaeological archaeological archaeological evidence evidence evidence for for for the the the book book book of of.
By the way, where are the gold plates the book of mormon. Ces letter claims the limited geography model of the nephites and lamanites living in central or south america is in direct contradiction to what joseph smith and other prophets have taught. Mormonism is there any archaeological evidence for the. Archaeological and historical evidence what did the book of. Although we dont base our faith on physical evidence, there is linguistic, historical, and archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science.
But none of them are extensive as the three sets of plates described in the book of mormon. Mormon, buried the gold plates upon which the book of mormon was based. 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 plates in the ancient world. Jan 18, 2018 smith said an angel had led him to buried ancient golden plates, which he dug up and translated into the book of mormon. Claims book of mormon archaeology is based upon scant evidence is deception for the masses. After the translation was completed, however, joseph reported. Members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and. I couldnt possibly cover every book of mormon correlation in one sitting. 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. The plates are made of a coppergold alloy and are held together by three dshaped rings, forming a sort of book. As of today, there is zero evidence of any of the groups of the book of mormon. Together, the testimony of both the three and the eight witnesses are difficult to explain away.
Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Jun 17, 2017 is there any archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. In summary, the archaeology of new york is persuasive evidence that book of mormon peoples did not live in that region. Joseph smith either translated the book by the gift and power of god, or he made it up.
Archaeological and historical evidence where are the book. The issue of inscribed metal plates in stone boxes has been so. The book of mormon makes a handful of references to horses existing on the american continents in these ancient times. Deanna draper buck was a support specialist for seminaries and institutes of religion in louisville, kentucky when this was written. Book of mormon the idea of an ancient record on gold plates was one of the most mocked claims of joseph smith.
I revisit issues of archaeology and the book of mormon here in addressing the. The mormons at your door will tell you that many findings within archaeology have. Standard arguments against the book concern things mentioned in the text not found archaeologically, such as gold plates. The book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr.
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 lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it. Native american dna results support book of mormon a link page of u. Another test we should put to the book of mormon is the test of archaeology. Nov 03, 2017 joseph smith claimed he translated the book of mormon from a set of golden plates that were given to him by an angel named moroni. Dont expect proof for any religion or matter of faith, but yes, there are many issues that support the concept that the book of mormon is of ancient origin and not a silly fraud by joseph smith. As a final check of the book s historical authenticity, i consider a long list of frequently voiced complaints. No direct geographical, archaeological or any other scientific field supports fictional narratives. The book of mormon is a vast and epic story that spans hundreds of years on two continents while detailing the rise and fall of unique, previously unheard of civilizations. There are a handful of instances of human beings writing on metal plates. Much of the late pleistocene age was dominated by glaciations, such as the wisconsin glaciation in north america and the weichselian glaciation and wurm glaciation in eurasia. Compare the absent evidence of book of mormon civilizations to the archaeological remains of other past civilizations such as the roman occupation of britain and other countries. To begin looking for archaeological evidence you have to know where to look. Matheny the padilla gold plates are well known in lds church archaeological anthropological circles, where they have been the subject of publications, papers, discussion, and firsthand examination. His library research spurred his first hunt for archaeological evidence, in campeche in 1948.
Younger dryas stages of human development book of mormon first nations rocky mountains archaeology geography south america wisconsin. For example, the idea of writing on metal plates was once ridiculed, but in recent years numerous examples of sacred writings on metal plates. The issue of inscribed metal plates in stone boxes has been so effectively laid to. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon at.
In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. May 14, 2019 plates hidden in stone boxes joseph smith reported recovering the gold plates from which the book of mormon was translated from a stone box hidden in the ground. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu studies. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. 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. Book of mormon archaeology is real, authentic, scientifically researched, a proven fact. The book of mormon is said to have been written in a reformed egyptian characters, but no archaeological, linguistic, or other evidence of the use of egyptian writing in ancient america has been discovered. The book of mormon suggests that the original native americans descended from a small band of israelites who migrated in 600 bc and an earlier group from 2,200 bc from the middle east. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. Years later after making these plated i came across additional information and a more accurate understanding of what the various witness were saying about the book of mormon plates.
Book of mormon central archaeological evidence for the. As modern prophets have said, the book of mormon is the major instrument the lord prepared to initiate his final harvest. See richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. Many readers have posed this question, both out of genuine interest and also as a challenge to the book s authenticity. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon. The video is the third in book of mormon centrals evidence video series, the two previous videos being one on the archaeological evidence for the place called nahom, mentioned by nephi 1 nephi 16. Smith translated the text of the book of mormon over the next several. The darius plates in stone box, evidence book of mormon is truly an ancient record joseph smiths personal testimony in which he declares the plates were.
The critics like to claim that there is no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon, but the truth is that there is scant archaeological data to tell us anything about the names of ancient new world inhabitants or locationsand names are the only means by which we could archaeologically identify whether there were nephites in ancient america. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, both latterday saint lds or mormons and non mormon archaeologists have studied its claims in reference to known archaeological evidence. He claimed that an angel named moroni had directed him to a buried stone box, containing a set of gold plates, covered with strange symbols. Government, news stories, and other scientific websites pertaining the middle eastern origins of native american dna. This video explores the history behind the witnesses to the book of mormon and explains why their combined testimony strongly indicates that joseph smith did in fact possess plates which he translated by the gift and power of god. Ancient israelites did come to america over 2400 years ago. The book of mormon is either a divinely inspired translation of ancient scripture, or it is a work of fiction. Before it could even be read, the book of mormon was known and experienced as an archaeological artifacta collection of bound golden plates, dug out of the earth by joseph smith, felt, touched, moved, and hidden by joseph and others close to him, eleven of whom bore express witness to having seen the artifact in josephs possession. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Smith said he has received these plates in 1827 from an angel named moroni, who identified himself to smith as a native. Testing the book of mormon part 3 archaeological evidence. An analysis of the padilla gold plates book of mormon.
Joseph smiths detractors who personally knew him, knew he was too illiterate and uneducated to create the book of mormon. Wilson, professor of egyptology at the university of chicago, wrote. 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. And to be less sardonic about the matter, this is also why direct evidence actually can sometimes di. Thomas stuart fergusons archaeological search for the book of mormon larson, stan on. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it.
Is there evidence for the authenticity of the book of mormon. 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. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Since the coming forth of the book of mormon there has never been more profound evidence of its authenticity than today.
Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never before. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. As a final check of the books historical authenticity, i consider a long list of frequently voiced complaints. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Wayne may presents the supporting evidence for the heartland model, that the book of mormon nephites and jaredites lived in north america. 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 lds church and other denominations. Dont expect proof for any religion or matter of faith, but yes, there are many issues that support the concept that the book of mormon is of ancient origin and not a. Writing on metal plates, then hiding the metal in stone boxes was completely unheard of in joseph smiths time. Deanna draper buck, internal evidence of widespread literacy in the book of mormon, religious educator 10, no. As will be demonstrated, the intimate relationships between his account and the known geography in the middle east provide excellent evidence of the book of mormon s authenticity. Illuminating the credibility of the book of mormon through archaeological photographs. 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. Book of mormon archaeology the irrefutable evidence.
Smith said an angel had led him to buried ancient golden plates, which he dug up and translated into the book of mormon. Archaeology and the book of mormon wikimili, the best. 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. Why is there no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Therefore, the mormon can have confidence that the bible is the word of god and that it can be accurately translated. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
On the other hand, every year in the holy land, archaeologists are discovering weapons, coins, animals, cities, and civilizations mentioned in the bible. Packer, in his article cumorahs cave, printed in the journal of book of mormon studies v. Contents archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins. Book of mormon archaeology and anthropology byu studies. Many readers have posed this question, both out of genuine interest and also as. Archaeology has proven the brass plate very well could have come from the far east as the book of mormon claims in 1st nephi in book of mormon. In this post i wanted to emphasize physical evidencesstuff you can touch, see, feel. Those who make claims that there is no archaeological evidence supporting the book of mormon are right in one respectwe dont know where the cities mentioned in the book of mormon are located.
Since then, researchers have found several examples of ancient metal plates, gold plates, and plates with rings. Most scholars reject the idea of viewing the book of mormon as a historical. Internal evidence of widespread literacy in the book of mormon. Arguably among the two greatest linguistic discoveries relating to the authenticity of the book of mormon are two ancient stones bearing hebrew inscriptions that can now finally take their rightful place in the history of the world. Ancient hebrew artifacts in the united states book of. Is there any archeological evidence that the events in the book of. May 12, 2017 furthermore, there have been approximately four thousand alterations to the book of mormon since it was originally published in 1830 ad. Additionally, there is no known evidence for the language called reformed egyptian, which was the language that joseph smith supposedly translated from the golden nephi plates into the book of mormon. Archaeologists discover golden plates believed to be linked. Therefore, as things stand at the moment, current new world archaeological evidence tends to verify the claims made by the book of mormon. A valuable part of larsons book is chapter 5 book of mormon archaeological tests and appendix a thomas stuart ferguson on book of mormon archaeology. No bones, hair, chariots, swords, armor, or any other evidence.
The book is made of a set of twelve metal plates, each measuring six inches 15 cm in width, eight inches 20 cm in length approximately half an inch 1. The archaeology ofwestern new york forms a long record of small bands of hunters and gatherers berry eaters who lived there for millennia. In the last chapter we saw that the bible is reliable, being textually pure and verifiably accurate in many places. Other book of mormon scholars disagree and point to some nineteenthcentury archaeological finds e. Does the book of mormon prove that the church of jesus christ of latterday. In these chapters larson shows fergusons list of problems with the book of mormon, including the book of mormons mentioning of plants, animal life including horses and. Anderson, personal writings of the book of mormon witnesses, in book of mormon authorship revisited.