Difference between revisions of "Book of Mormon" - New World Encyclopedia

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'''The Book of Mormon''' <ref>Originally, ''The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi''; the latest LDS Church version is entitled ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ''</ref> is one of the [[sacred text]]s of the [[Latter Day Saint movement]]. It is regarded by most, if not all, [[Latter Day Saint]] groups as divinely revealed and is named after the prophet–historian [[Mormon (Book of Mormon prophet)|Mormon]] who, according to the text, compiled most of the book. It was published by the founder of the LDS movement, [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]], in March 1830 in [[Palmyra (town), New York|Palmyra, New York]],  USA.
  
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Along with the [[Bible]],  the Book of Mormon is esteemed as part of the canon of sacred scripture by [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the [[Community of Christ]], and other churches that claim Joseph Smith as their founder. In 1982, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added the subtitle ''Another Testament of Jesus Christ''  to its editions of the book to help clarify and emphasize its purpose.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/the-book-of-mormon-another-testament-of-jesus-christ |title=The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ |accessdate=2008-03-08 |author= |date= |work=Newsroom |publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints}}</ref>
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==Origin of the Book of Mormon==
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{{main|Origin of the Book of Mormon}}
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The Book of Mormon was first published by Joseph Smith, Jr. in March 1830 in Palmyra, New York. According to Smith's written account, the book is a translation of gold plates which contained the writings of prophets in ancient Meso-America between approximately 600 B.C.E. and AD 400. The plates were buried by Moroni, the last of these prophets, at a hill called Cumorah. Smith said that on September 22, 1827 he received the plates from an angel named Moroni and was directed to translate them using two stones called the [[Urim and Thummim (Latter Day Saints)|Urim and Thummim]] that were deposited with the plates. In addition to Smith's account, eleven others signed affidavits that they had seen the gold plates for themselves. Their written testimonies are known as The Testimony of [[Three Witnesses]]<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/thrwtnss Testimony of Three Witnesses]</ref> and The Testimony of [[Eight Witnesses]].<ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/eghtwtns Testimony of Eight Witnesses]</ref> These affidavits are published as part of the introductory pages to the Book of Mormon.<ref>{{lds|Joseph Smith—History|js_h|1|60}}</ref>
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Critics of the Book of Mormon claim that the book was either the original creation of Joseph Smith (with or without the assistance of one or more of his associates) or was based on a prior work such as ''View of the Hebrews''. Unresolved issues of the book's historicity and the lack of supporting archaeological evidence have led some adherents to adopt the position that the Book of Mormon may have been the creation of Joseph Smith, but that it was nevertheless divinely inspired.<ref>Grant H. Palmer. 2002. ''An Insider's View of Mormon Origins''. Salt Lake City, Signature Books.<br>Brent Lee Metcalfe, ed. 1993. ''New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology''. Salt Lake City: Signature Books.</ref>
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[[Image:The Hill Cumorah by C.C.A. Christensen.jpeg|thumb|right|400px|A painting of [[Joseph Smith Jr.]] receiving the [[Golden Plates]] from the [[angel Moroni]].]]
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==Content==
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===Purpose and Organization===
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The book's purpose, as stated on its title page, is "to show the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord has done for their fathers" and to convince "Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations."<ref>Book of Mormon [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/ttlpg Title Page]</ref>
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The format of the Book of Mormon is a compilation of smaller "books".  Each of the books is named after the prophet or leader who is named within the text as the author. The Book of Mormon is composed of the following books:
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*Title page
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*[[First Book of Nephi|First Book of Nephi: His Reign and Ministry]]
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*[[Second Book of Nephi]]
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*[[Book of Jacob|Book of Jacob: The Brother of Nephi]]
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*[[Book of Enos]]
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*[[Book of Jarom]]
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*[[Book of Omni]]
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*[[Words of Mormon]]
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*[[Book of Mosiah]]
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*[[Book of Alma|Book of Alma: The Son of Alma]]
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*[[Book of Helaman]]
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*[[Third Nephi|Third Nephi: The Book of Nephi, The Son of Nephi, Who Was the Son of Helaman]]
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*[[Fourth Nephi|Fourth Nephi: The Book of Nephi, Who Is the Son of Nephi, One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ]]
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*[[Book of Mormon (Mormon's record)|Book of Mormon]]
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*[[Book of Ether]]
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*[[Book of Moroni]]
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The book's sequence is primarily chronological based on the narrative content of the book. Exceptions include the Words of Mormon and the Book of Ether. The Words of Mormon contains editorial comment by Mormon. The Book of Ether is presented as the narrative of an earlier group of people to have come to America before the immigration described in First Nephi. The books of First Nephi through Omni are written in first-person narrative, as are Mormon and Moroni. The remainder of the Book of Mormon is written in third-person historical narrative, compiled and abridged by Mormon (with Moroni abridging the Book of Ether).
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The version published by the LDS Church is known as ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ''. In addition to the main body of the work, it contains the following:
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* A modern day introduction written by church leaders
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* The "Testimony of [[Three Witnesses]]", the "Testimony of [[Eight Witnesses]]", and the "Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith" (as it concerns the Book of Mormon)
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* A brief explanation of the contents of the book
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* Chapter headings<ref>Many of the chapter headings were written by [[Bruce R. McConkie]], an [[Apostle (Mormonism)|Apostle]]</ref>
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* A pronouncing guide to names and places in the Book of Mormon
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* Footnotes and cross-references to the Bible
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* An index of doctrinal teachings.
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===Chronology===
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{{See also|Book of Mormon chronology}}
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The following dates, people, and authors are identified within the Book of Mormon. A more detailed description is available on a Book of Mormon chronology chart produced by the LDS Church <ref>http://lds.org/gospellibrary/materials/BofMChart000.pdf</ref>.
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The books from 1 Nephi to Omni are described as being from "the small plates of Nephi". This account begins in ancient [[Jerusalem]] around 600 B.C.E., at roughly the same time as the [[Book of Jeremiah]] in the Bible. It tells the story of [[Lehi (Book of Mormon prophet)|Lehi]], his family, and several others as they are led by [[God]] from Jerusalem shortly before the fall of that city to the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. They travel across the Arabian peninsula, and then to the promised land (the Americas) <ref>[http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/18/23#23 1 Nephi 18<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> by ship. These books recount the group's dealings from approximately 600 B.C.E. to about 130 B.C.E. During this time, the community split into two main groups, the [[Nephite]]s and the [[Lamanite]]s, and grew into separate sizable civilizations that war with each other.
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Following this section is the Words of Mormon. This small book, said to be written in AD 385 by [[Mormon (prophet)|Mormon]], is a short introduction to the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, and 4 Nephi. These books are described as being abridged from a large quantity of existing records called "the large plates of Nephi" that detailed the nation's history from the time of Omni to Mormon's own life.  The book of 3 Nephi is of particular importance within the Book of Mormon because it contains an account of a visit by Jesus from heaven to the [[Americas]] sometime after his [[Death and Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]] at [[Jerusalem]] and ascension. During his American ministry, he repeated much of the same doctrine and instruction given in the [[Gospels]] of the [[Bible]] and established an enlightened, peaceful society which endured for several generations, but which eventually broke into warring factions again.
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The book of Mormon is an account of the events during Mormon's life. Mormon received the charge of taking care of the records that had been hidden, once he was old enough.  Mormon writes an account of the wars, his leading of portions of the Nephite army, and his retrieving and caring for the records. Mormon eventually is killed, after he hands down the records to his son Moroni.
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Moroni then makes an abridgment (called Ether) of a record from a previous people called the [[Jaredites]]. The account describes a group of families led from the [[Tower of Babel]] <ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ether/1 See verse 3</ref> to the Americas, headed by a man named [[Jared (Book of Mormon)|Jared]] and [[The Brother of Jared|his brother]]. The [[Jaredite]] civilization is presented as existing on the American continent long before Lehi's family arrived in 600 B.C.E., beginning about 2500 B.C.E.,<ref>Sacred Sites: Searching for Book of Mormon Lands. by Joseph L. Allen Published: October 2003 p.8</ref> and it was much larger and more developed.
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The book of Moroni then details the final destruction of the Nephites and the [[idolatry|idolatrous]] state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, then closes with his [[testimony]] and an invitation to [[prayer|pray]] to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.
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===Major themes===
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====Another Testament of Christ====
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The central event of the Book of Mormon is the visitation of the [[resurrection|resurrected]] Jesus to the Nephites around AD 34, shortly after his ministry in [[Galilee]].<ref>See {{lds|3 Nephi|3_ne|11}} to {{lds|3 Nephi|3_ne|26}}</ref> Many of the writers in the book teach about [[Jesus]].  There are 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon and 233 include Jesus Christ in some way<ref>Book of Mormon Discussions 1 Nephi Chapter 1 mp3 at [http://www.byub.org/bookofmormon/episode.asp?id=2]</ref>.
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An angel prophesied to [[Nephi]] that Jesus' birth would be 600 years from the time he and his family left [[Jerusalem]].<ref>See {{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|10|4}}, {{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|19|8}}; See also {{lds|3 Nephi|3_ne|1}}</ref> Many [[prophet]]s in the Book of Mormon, beginning with [[Lehi]] and Nephi, saw in visions the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus,<ref>{{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|11}}</ref> and were told his name.<ref>{{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|3|8}}</ref> At the time of [[King Benjamin]], the Nephite believers were called "the children of Christ".<ref>{{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|5|7}}</ref> The faithful members of the church at the time of [[Captain Moroni]] (73 B.C.E.) were called "Christians" by their enemies, because of their belief in Jesus Christ.<ref>{{lds|Alma|alma|46|13|15}}</ref> For nearly 200 years after Jesus' appearance at the [[temple (Mormonism)|temple]] in the Americas,<ref>{{lds|4 Nephi|1|22-23}}</ref> the land was filled with peace and prosperity because of the people's obedience to his commandments.<ref>{{lds|4 Nephi|4_ne|1}}</ref> [[Mormon (prophet)|Mormon]] worked to convince the faithless people of his time (AD 360) of Christ.  [[Moroni (prophet)|Moroni]] buried the [[Golden Plates|plates]] with faith in Christ.<ref>See {{lds|Book of Mormon Title page|bm/ttlpg}}</ref> Many other prophets in the book also wrote of the reality of the [[Messiah]].
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====Many doctrinal teachings====
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The following teachings are considered especially important in the Book of Mormon:
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* Jesus spoke to the [[Jew]]s in [[Jerusalem]] of “other sheep” who would hear his voice,<ref>See {{lds|John|john|10|16}} in the [[King James Version]] of the Bible</ref> which the Book of Mormon claims meant that the Nephites and other remnants of the [[Ten Lost Tribes|lost tribes]] of [[Israel]] throughout the world were to be visited by Jesus after his [[Death and Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]].<ref>{{lds|3 Nephi|3_ne|15|13|24}}, {{lds|3 Nephi|3_ne|16|1|4}}, {{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|29|7|14}}</ref>
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* The Old Testament prophet Isaiah spoke of prophets who would "whisper out of the dust."<ref>Isaiah 29:4</ref>. The Book of Mormon interprets this as a reference to itself. <ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|26|15|16}}</ref>
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* The land of the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites is choice above all other lands.<ref>{{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|2|20}}; {{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|13|30}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|1|5}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|10|19}}; {{lds|Jacob|jacob|5|43}}; {{lds|Ether|ether|1|38|42}}; {{lds|Ether|ether|2|7|,10-15|||x}}; {{lds|Ether|ether|9|20}}; {{lds|Ether|ether|10|28}}; {{lds|Ether|ether|13|2}}.</ref>
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* "Inasmuch as ye keep [the Lord's] commandments, ye shall prosper in the land, but inasmuch as ye keep not [his] commandments, ye shall be cut off from [his] presence."<ref>{{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|2|20}}; {{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|4|14}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|1|20}}; {{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|4|4}}; {{lds|Jarom|jarom|1|9}}; {{lds|Omni|omni|1|6}}; {{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|1|7}}; {{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|2|22|,31|||x}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|9|13}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|36|1|,30|||x}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|37|13}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|38|1}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|48|15|,25|||x}}; {{lds|Helaman|hel|3|20}}; {{lds|Helaman|hel|5|20|,22|||x}}.</ref>
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* Men and women are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|2|27}}</ref>
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* All mankind must be born again, for the natural man is an enemy to God until he yields to the holy spirit and is born of Christ, being changed to a state of righteousness, becoming his son or daughter.<ref>{{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|3|19}}; {{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|27|25}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|22|15|18}}; {{lds|Moroni|moro|10|34}}</ref>
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* "Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy."<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|2|25}}</ref> Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life, which tree "is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men" and "is the most desirable above all things" will bring the most joy to the soul.<ref>{{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|11|22|23}}; {{lds|1 Nephi|1_ne|8|12}}</ref>
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* Between death and the [[resurrection]] the [[spirit]] returns to God and awaits the resurrection. At the resurrection, the spirit and body shall be reunited, not one hair of the head shall be lost, and this resurrection shall come to all.<ref>{{lds|Alma|alma|11|42|45}}; {{lds|Alma|alma|40|11|23}}</ref>
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* Giving to the poor is emphasized as a necessary aspect of living the gospel of Christ.<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|9|30}}; {{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|4|26}}; {{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|18|8}}</ref> Service to others is essential, and is the same as serving God.<ref>{{lds|Mosiah|mosiah|2|17}}</ref>
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* The Lord "denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."<ref>{{lds|2 Nephi|2_ne|26|33}}</ref>
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==Religious significance==
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===Role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism===
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====Role within the LDS Church====
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Church members officially regard the Book of Mormon as the "most correct" book of scripture, in that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book."<ref>History of the Church, 4:461; see also ''Additional Information'' at http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=b10cd75ccbae7110VgnVCM100000176f620a____</ref> Joseph Smith told of receiving a revelation condemning the "whole church" for treating the Book of Mormon and the former commandments lightly<ref>http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/84/54-57#54; see also http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0ca63219c786b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1</ref>—"former commandments" being understood to mean the Holy Bible. The importance of studying the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible has been stressed by every church president since Joseph Smith.
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The Book of Mormon’s significance was reiterated in the late 20th century by [[Ezra Taft Benson]], Apostle and 13th [[President of the Church (Mormonism)|President]] of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. In an August 2005 ''[[Ensign (magazine)|Ensign]]'' message, then LDS President [[Gordon B. Hinckley]] challenged each member of the church to reread the Book of Mormon before year's end.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=e82b2ee01e31c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 |title=A Testimony Vibrant and True |accessdate=2008-03-07 |author=Gordon B. Hinckley |date=August 2005 |work=Ensign |publisher=}}</ref> The book’s importance is commonly stressed at the twice-yearly [[General Conference (Mormonism)|general conference]] and at special devotionals by [[General Authority|general authorities]].
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====Role within the Community of Christ Church====
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The Community of Christ views the Book of Mormon as an additional witness of Jesus Christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, [[Herald House]]. The Authorized Edition is based on the original printer's manuscript and the 1837 Second Edition (or Kirtland Edition) of the Book of Mormon. Its content is similar to the Book of Mormon published by [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], but the versification is different.  Community of Christ also publishes a 1966 "Revised Authorized Edition" which attempts to modernize some of the language.
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In 2001, Community of Christ President W. Grant McMurray reflected on increasing questions about the Book of Mormon: "The proper use of the Book of Mormon as sacred scripture has been under wide discussion in the 1970s and beyond, in part because of long-standing questions about its historicity and in part because of perceived theological inadequacies, including matters of race and ethnicity."<ref> McMurray, W. Grant, "They "Shall Blossom as the Rose": Native Americans and the Dream of Zion," an address delivered February 17, 2001, accessed on Community of Christ website, September 1, 2006 at http://www.cofchrist.org/docs/NativeAmericanConference/keynote.asp </ref>
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At the 2007 Community of Christ World Conference, President Stephen M. Veazey ruled out of order a resolution to "reaffirm the Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired record". He stated that "while the Church affirms the Book of Mormon as scripture, and makes it available for study and use in various languages, we do not attempt to mandate the degree of belief or use. This position is in keeping with our longstanding tradition that belief in the Book of Mormon is not to be used as a test of fellowship or membership in the church."<ref>Andrew M. Shields, "Official Minutes of Business Session, Wednesday March 28, 2007," in 2007 World Conference Thursday Bulletin, March 29, 2007. Community of Christ, 2007</ref>
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===Moroni's Promise===
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The book invites the reader to make a personal investigation into its truthfulness.  The final chapter states that anyone who wants to know if the message of the Book of Mormon is true should ask God. It promises that God will give them an undeniable sign of its truthfulness.<ref>{{lds|Moroni|moro|10|3|5}}</ref>  This is often referred to as ''[[Moroni's Promise]]''.
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==Historicity==
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{{main|Historicity of the Book of Mormon}}
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Critics of the Book of Mormon's historicity focus on several major issues. 
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* Few scholars identify any correlation between locations described in the Book of Mormon and any Mesoamerican or other American archaeological site.<ref>Citing the lack of specific New World geographic locations to search, Michael D. Coe, a prominent Mesoamerican archaeologist and Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, writes (in a 1973 volume of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought): "As far as I know there is not one professionally trained archaeologist, who is not a Mormon, who sees any scientific justification for believing [the historicity of The Book of Mormon], and I would like to state that there are quite a few Mormon archaeologists who join this group".</ref>
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* Many animals, plants and technologies named in the Book of Mormon did not exist in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans at the end of the 15th century.<ref>[http://www.irr.org/mit/bomarch2.html Does Archaeology Support the Book of Mormon]</ref>
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* There is no linguistic connection between any Native American language or language family and any Near Eastern language or language family.<ref>Lyle Campbell. 1979. "Middle American languages," ''The Languages of Native America: Historical and Comparative Assessment''.  Ed. Lyle Campbell and Marianne Mithun.  Austin:  University of Texas Press.  Pages 902-1000.<br>Lyle Campbell. 1997. ''American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America''. Oxford University Press.<br>Jorge Súarez. 1983. ''The Mesoamerican Indian Languages''. Cambridge University Press.</ref>
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* Mayan writing has no relationship to any Near Eastern writing system.<ref>Martha J. Macri.  1996.  "Maya and Other Mesoamerican Scripts," ''The World's Writing Systems''.  Ed. Peter T. Daniels & William Bright.  Oxford:  Oxford University Press.  Pages 172-182.</ref> 
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* Mayan records from the time period identified in the Book of Mormon make no mention of people or places named in the Book of Mormon.
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* DNA evidence shows no Near Eastern component in the Native American genetic makeup.<ref>for example, Frederika A. Kaestle and David Glenn Smith. 2001. "Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Evidence for Prehistoric Population Movement," ''American Journal of Physical Anthropology'' 115:1-12.</ref>
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==Editions==
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[[Image:Book of Mormon English Missionary Edition Soft Cover.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Version of the ''Book of Mormon'' published by [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]].]]
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The Book of Mormon is now published by the following:
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* [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] under the expanded title ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' (since 1982)
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*Herald House for the [[Community of Christ]] as ''The Book of Mormon - Revised Authorized Version'' (1966) and ''The Book of Mormon - Authorized Version'' (1908)
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* [[The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite)]] as ''The Book of Mormon:  An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates taken from the Plates of Nephi''&mdash;an original edition compiled by a committee made up of Church of Jesus Christ apostles: Thurman S. Furnier, Charles Ashton and William H. Cadman
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* Richard Drew, Burlington ([[Voree, Wisconsin|Voree]]), Wisconsin for The [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite)]]; a photo-enlarged facsimile of the 1840 edition
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* Zarahemla Research Foundation as ''The Book of Mormon - Restored Covenant Edition''
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* The University of Illinois Press as ''The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition'' (2003) (this edition is based on the 1920 LDS edition)
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* Doubleday under the title ''The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ'' (2004)
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* Herald Heritage (Herald House) (1970) - a facsimile of the 1830 edition.
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* ExperiencePress.org (2006) reprint of the 1830 edition.  The type was reset to match the original 1830 edition in word, line and page, with the exception that typographical errors were corrected.<ref>[http://www.experiencepress.org Experience Press<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
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===Changes to original text===
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Church critics claim that the original versions of the Book of Mormon contained substantial evidence that Joseph Smith fabricated the Book of Mormon<ref>{{cite book|
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title=One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church |
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publisher=Thunder's Mouth Press|
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year=2003|
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isbn=1568582838 |
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first=Richard|last=Abanes|
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pages=59-80
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}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|
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title=Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?|
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isbn=9993074438|
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first=Jerald and Sandra| last=Tanner|
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publisher=Utah Lighthouse Ministry |
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year=1987|
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pages=50-96
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}}</ref> and that the church has revised the Book of Mormon to remove this evidence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/3913intro.htm|title=Criticism of changes to Book of Mormon}}</ref>  [[Jerald and Sandra Tanner|The Tanners]] have documented almost 4,000 changes in the Book of Mormon between the 1830 edition and modern editions.<ref>[http://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/3913intro.htm ''3913 Changes in The Book of Mormon'']  [[Jerald and Sandra Tanner]]</ref>  These revisions include wording changes such as "King Benjamin" to "King Mosiah".<ref>Mosiah 21:28; {{cite book|
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title=Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?|
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isbn=9993074438|
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first=Jerald and Sandra| last=Tanner|
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publisher=Utah Lighthouse Ministry |
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year=1987|
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pages=90
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}}</ref>, adding the phrase "or out of the waters of baptism"<ref>{{cite book|
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title=Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?|
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isbn=9993074438|
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first=Jerald and Sandra| last=Tanner|
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publisher=Utah Lighthouse Ministry |
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year=1987|
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pages=91
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}}</ref>, and correction of spelling and grammatical errors. The contention is that many of the changes were systematic and are signs of fabrication.
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Supporters of the Book of Mormon maintain that correctness refers only to the content, notably the doctrine. Since Joseph Smith later made corrections to the text of the Book of Mormon, on both copies of the manuscript (the original and the copy prepared for the printer) and in later editions, he did not consider the book to be an infallible translation as it first appeared in print. The Book of Mormon itself indicates that it may contain errors made by the men who wrote it.<ref>Title Page; 1 Nephi 19:6; Jacob 1:2; 7:26; Mormon 8:1, 17; 9:31-33; 3 Nephi 8:2; Ether 5:1</ref>  The vast majority of the changes noted by the Tanners have been discussed in official Church publications including the ''[[Ensign (magazine)|Ensign]]'', ''[[Improvement Era]]'', ''[[Millennial Star]]'' and ''[[Times and Seasons]]'', and are consistent with early pre- and post-publication edits made by Joseph Smith. Some corrections were made due to earlier print or copy errors, or changes in punctuation.<ref>{{Harvnb|Skousen|2001}}</ref>
 +
 +
Since 1989, the LDS Church's [[Brigham Young University]] has been publishing a critical text edition in four volumes. Volumes 1 and 2, published in 2001, contain transcriptions of all the text variants of the English editions of the Book of Mormon, from the original manuscript up to the newest editions.<ref>{{Harvnb|Skousen|May 2001}};{{Harvnb|Skousen|January 2001}};{{Harvnb|Skousen|March 2001}}</ref> Volume 4, which is being published in parts, contains a critical analysis of all the text variants. Volume 3, not yet published, will describe the history of all the English-language texts from Joseph Smith to today.<ref>{{Harvnb|Skousen|2004}};{{Harvnb|Skousen|2005}};{{Harvnb|Skousen|2006}}</ref>
 +
 +
===Non-English translations===
 +
[[Image:Book of Mormons.jpg|130px|right|thumb|Translations of ''The Book of Mormon''.]]
 +
{{See also|List of Book of Mormon translations}}
 +
The complete Book of Mormon has been translated into 80 languages. Selections of the Book of Mormon have been translated into an additional 27 languages. In 2001, the LDS church reported that all or part of the Book of Mormon was available in the native language of 99% of [[Latter-day Saints]] and 87% of the world's total population.<ref>[http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2db2759235d0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Taking the Scriptures to the World"], ''Ensign'', July 2001, 24</ref>
 +
 +
Translations into languages without a tradition of writing (e.g., Cakchiqel, Tzotzil) are available on audio cassette.<ref>[http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1 Welcome<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> Translations into [[American Sign Language]] are available on videocassette and DVD.
 +
 +
Typically, translators are members of the LDS Church who are employed by the church and translate the text from the original English. Each manuscript is reviewed many times before it is approved and published.<ref>[http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=bd145ef93e84b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1 "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues,"] Ensign, Feb. 2005,  75–76</ref>
 +
 +
In 1998, the LDS Church stopped translating selections from the Book of Mormon. The church announced that each new translation it approves will be a full edition.<ref>[http://www.lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.cb5725b59dcb4a2b2c5e2ba6942826a0/?vgnextoid=7cecc8fe9c88d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=93c29150dfcad010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____ "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues"], 6 February 2005</ref>
 +
 +
== Notes ==
 +
{{reflist|2}}
 +
 +
== Links to the text of the Book of Mormon ==
 +
*[http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/contents ''Book of Mormon'' (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Edition)]
 +
*[http://centerplace.org/hs/bofm/ ''Book of Mormon'' (RLDS 1908 Authorized Edition)]
 +
*[http://scriptures.lds.org/es/bm/contents ''Libro de Mormón'' (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Official Spanish Edition)]
 +
*[http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-41,00.html''Audio Book of Mormon''] in mp3 format (free download, no registration, 32 kbit/s)
 +
*[http://www.ldsaudio.com/free-book-of-mormon/ ''Audio Book of Mormon''] in mp3 format (free download, reg. required)
 +
*[http://freebookofmormon.com Free copy of the Book of Mormon.] Free copy of the Book of Mormon or KJV Bible provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 +
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0967686563 Book of Mormon (Official Edition) (Paperback) on Amazon] for people who want the ''Book of Mormon'' but do not want to contact the Church
 +
*[http://www.inephi.com/Search.htm Scanned 1830 Edition]
 +
*[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/17 Book of Mormon at Project Gutenberg]
 +
* [http://freebookofmormon.wordpress.com/ The Book of Mormon Project] ''a free Book of Mormon'' for everyone who wants to read it ''offline''. 
 +
* [http://frontpage2000.nmia.com/%7Enahualli/commentary.htm Book of Mormon with Commentary] by Brant Gardner
 +
* [http://www.gospeldoctrine.com/bomindex.html Book of Mormon with Commentary] by Bryan Richards
 +
 +
== References ==
 +
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Allen
 +
| first=Joseph L
 +
| title=Sacred Sites: Searching for Book of Mormon Lands
 +
| publisher=Covenant Communications
 +
| place=American Fork, Utah
 +
| year=2003}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Brewster
 +
| first=Quinn
 +
| title=The Structure of the Book of Mormon: A Theory of Evolutionary Development
 +
| journal=[[Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought]]
 +
| volume=29
 +
| issue=2
 +
| year=1996
 +
| pages=109&ndash;140
 +
| url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=11460&CISOSHOW=11376
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Brodie
 +
| first=Fawn M
 +
| authorlink=Fawn Brodie
 +
| title=No Man Knows My History
 +
| publisher=Knopf
 +
| place=New York
 +
| year=1971
 +
| id=ISBN 0679730540
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Bushman
 +
| first=Richard L
 +
| authorlink=Richard Bushman
 +
|date=2005
 +
| title=[[Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling]]
 +
| place=New York
 +
| publisher=Alfred Knopf
 +
|id=ISBN 1-4000-4270-4
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Dunn
 +
| first=Scott C
 +
| editor-last1=Vogel
 +
| editor-first1=Dan
 +
| editor-last2=Metcalf
 +
| editor-first2=Brent Lee
 +
| title=Automaticity and the Dictation of the Book of Mormon
 +
| journal=American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormon
 +
| year=2002
 +
|date=May 2002
 +
| pages=17-46
 +
| publisher=Signature Books
 +
| place=Salt Lake City, Utah
 +
| id=ISBN 1560851511
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Faulring
 +
| first=Scott H
 +
| title=The Return of Oliver Cowdery
 +
| journal=The Disciple as Witness: Essays on Latter-day Saint History and Doctrine in Honor of Richard Lloyd Anderson
 +
| publisher=Maxwell Institute
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| year=2000
 +
|date=June 2000
 +
| url=http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/display.php?table=transcripts&id=50
 +
| accessdate=2007-05-19
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Givens
 +
| first=Terryl
 +
|date=2002
 +
| title=By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture That Launched a New World Religion
 +
| publisher=Oxford University Press
 +
| id=ISBN 0-19-516888-7
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Howe
 +
| first=Eber D
 +
| authorlink=Eber Dudley Howe
 +
| year=1834
 +
| title=Mormonism Unvailed
 +
| place=[[Painesville, Ohio]]
 +
| publisher=Telegraph Press
 +
| publication-year=1834
 +
| url=http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/1834howb.htm
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Jessee
 +
| first=Dean C.
 +
| title=The Original Book of Mormon Manuscript
 +
| journal=BYU Studies
 +
| volume=10
 +
| issue=3
 +
| year=1970
 +
| pages=259&ndash;278
 +
| url=https://byustudies.byu.edu/shop/PDFfiles/10.3Jessee.pdf
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Mauss
 +
| first=Armand L
 +
| year=2003
 +
|title=All Abraham's Children: Changing Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage
 +
|place=Illinois
 +
|publisher=University of Illinois Press
 +
|id=ISBN 0-252-02803-1
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Midgley
 +
| first=Louis C
 +
| editor-last=Reynolds
 +
| editor-first=Noel B
 +
| title=Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?: The Critics and Their Theories
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins
 +
| year=1997
 +
| pages=101-139
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| url=http://www.farmsresearch.com/publications/bookschapter.php?bookid=41&chapid=184
 +
| id=ISBN 093489325X
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Persuitte
 +
| first=David
 +
| title=Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon
 +
| edition=second edition
 +
| publisher=McFarland & Company
 +
| year=2000
 +
|date=October 2000
 +
| id=ISBN 0-7864-0826-X
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Price
 +
| first=Robert M
 +
| title=Prophecy and Palimpsest
 +
| journal=Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought
 +
| volume=35
 +
| issue=3
 +
| year=2002
 +
| date=Fall 2002
 +
| url=http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fdialogue&CISOPTR=29050&REC=15&CISOBOX=%22inspired+fiction%22
 +
| accessdate=2007-04-30
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Roberts
 +
| first=Brigham H
 +
| authorlink=Brigham H. Roberts
 +
| editor=Brigham D. Madsen
 +
| title=Studies of the Book of Mormon
 +
| publisher=University of Illinois Press
 +
| place=Urbana, Illinois
 +
| year=1985
 +
| id=ISBN 0252010434
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal
 +
| title=The Original Manuscript of the Book of Mormon: Typographical Facsimile of the Extant Text
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=1
 +
| year=May 2001
 +
|date=May 2001
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| id=ISBN 0934893047
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal
 +
| title=The Printer’s Manuscript of the Book of Mormon : typographical facsimile of the entire text in two parts
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=2
 +
| issue=1
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University
 +
| year=January 2001
 +
|date=January 2001
 +
| id=ISBN 0934893055
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal
 +
| title=The Printer’s Manuscript of the Book of Mormon : typographical facsimile of the entire text in two parts
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=2
 +
| issue=2
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University
 +
| year=March 2001
 +
|date=March 2001
 +
| id=ISBN 0934893063
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal
 +
| title=Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=4
 +
| issue=1
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University
 +
| year=2004
 +
| id=ISBN 0934893071
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal Skousen
 +
| title=Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=4
 +
| issue=2
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University
 +
| year=2005
 +
| id=ISBN 093489308X
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Skousen
 +
| first=Royal
 +
| title=Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon
 +
| journal=Book of Mormon Critical Text Project
 +
| volume=4
 +
| issue=3
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University
 +
| year=2006
 +
| id=ISBN 093489311X
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| Surname1=Smith
 +
| Given1=James E
 +
| editor=Noel B. Reynolds
 +
| title =How Many Nephites?: The Book of Mormon at the Bar of Demography
 +
| journal =Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited
 +
| publisher =Deseret Book Company and Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
 +
| year=1997
 +
| url=http://www.farmsresearch.com/publications/bookschapter.php?bookid=41&chapid=190
 +
| id =ISBN 0-934893-25-X
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last =Sorenson
 +
| first =John L
 +
| title =An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon
 +
| publisher =Deseret Book and The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies
 +
| year=1985
 +
| place =Salt Lake City, Utah
 +
| id =ISBN 0-87747-608-X 
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last =Southerton
 +
| first =Simon G
 +
| title =Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church
 +
| publisher =Signature Books
 +
| year=2004
 +
| place =Salt Lake City
 +
| id=ISBN 1-56085-181-3
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Spaulding
 +
| first=Solomon
 +
| title=Manuscript Found: The Complete Original "Spaulding" Manuscript
 +
| editor-last=Reeve
 +
| editor-first=Rex C
 +
| year=1996
 +
| publisher=Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| Surname=Tvedtnes
 +
| Given=John A
 +
| title= Isaiah Variants in the Book of Mormon
 +
| journal=Featured Papers
 +
| publisher=Maxwell Institute
 +
| place=Provo, Utah
 +
| year=1984
 +
| url=http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=2&table=transcripts
 +
| accessdate=2007-04-16
 +
}}.
 +
*{{Harvard reference
 +
| last=Vogel
 +
| first=Dan
 +
| title=[[Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet]]
 +
| year=2004
 +
| place=Salt Lake City
 +
| publisher=Signature Books
 +
| id=ISBN 1-56085-179-1
 +
}}.
 +
</div>
 +
 +
== Further reading ==
 +
*{{cite book|title=Lehi in the Wilderness: 81 New Documented Evidences That the Book of Mormon Is a True History|author=George Potter and Richard Wellington|date=2003|publisher=Cedar Fort|id=ISBN 1555176410}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins|author=Noel B. Reynolds|date=1997|publisher=Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies(FARMS)|id=ISBN 093489325X}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=An Analysis of the Book of Mormon|author=Wesley Ziegler|date=2004|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|id=ISBN 1417968559}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=Book of Mormon Ready Reference|author=Elder William A. Morton|date=2004|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|id=ISBN 1417968508}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=Message and Characters of the Book of Mormon|author=John Henry Evans|date=2004|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|id=ISBN 1417968184}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=A Guide to the Study of the Book of Mormon|author=William E. Berrett and Milton R. Hunter|date=2004|publisher=Kessinger Publishing|id=ISBN 1417968826}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology|author=Brent Lee Metcalfe|publisher=signature Books|id=ISBN 1560850175}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=American Apocrypha:Essays on the Book of Mormon|author=Dan Vogel and Brent Metcalfe (editors)|publisher=Signature Books|id=ISBN 1560851511}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=An Insider's View of Mormon Origins|author=Grant H. Palmer|date=2002|publisher=Signature Books|ed=ISBN 1560851570}}
 +
*{{cite book|title=No Man Knows My History|author=Fawn M. Brodie|date=1971|publisher=Knopf|ed=ISBN 0394469674}}
 +
 +
==External links==
 +
{{Wikisourcepar|The Book of Mormon|The Book of Mormon (1830 Edition)}}
 +
{{wikiquote}}
 +
{{portal|Book of Mormon|The Hill Cumorah by C.C.A. Christensen.jpeg| 50}}
 +
{{portal|Latter-day Saints|Christus statue temple square salt lake city.jpg| 40}}
 +
 +
=== Official sources ===
 +
*[http://www.lds.org/ ''The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'' (Official website)]
 +
*[http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1090-1,00.html ''Book of Mormon'', basic information and beliefs] from [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]
 +
*[http://www.cofchrist.org/history/BofM.asp Information about ''The Book of Mormon''] from the [[Community of Christ]] (formerly known as Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)
 +
 +
=== Apologetic views ===
 +
*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3405626521396568709&q=mormons&hl=en Book of Mormon Movie "The Journey" (Google video)]
 +
* [http://www.the-book-of-mormon.com/ The-Book-of-Mormon.com]
 +
* [http://www.nephiproject.com/ The Nephi Project]
 +
*[http://www.farmsresearch.com/ FARMS] - Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (BYU)
 +
*[http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2002_Changes_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html 2002 scholarly article describing textual changes to the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.fairlds.org ''FairLDS apologetics'' (rebuttals to claims against the Church)]
 +
*[http://www.jefflindsay.com/BMEvidences.shtml ''Book of Mormon'' Evidences]   
 +
*[http://www.ldsresources.net/?view=link_home&cat_id=2 ''Book of Mormon'' Information]
 +
*[http://www.cumorah.com/bookofmormondna.html 2004 scholarly article on DNA findings and compatibility with the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.signaturebookslibrary.org/essays/bookofmormon.htm A short introduction to the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
* [http://www.lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1-3,00.html ''Book of Mormon'' Pictures]
 +
*[http://bomf.org/research.html ''Book of Mormon'' Research] from the ''Book of Mormon'' Foundation
 +
*[http://www.computercontrolsystems.com/GE/BoM/Index.htm ''Book of Mormon'' Archive-Archeology, Evidence, Study Materials, Rebuttals] from the Abundant Life Fellowship
 +
*[http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/book_of_mormon/index.html Index of ''The Book of Mormon'']
 +
* [http://www.cometozarahemla.org/ Come to Zarahemla]
 +
* [http://www.ancientamerica.org/ Ancient America Foundation]
 +
* [http://www.backyardprofessor.com/the_backyard_professor/2006/11/phenomenal_inte.html#more Phenomenal Internal Consistency of the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
* [http://bookofmormononline.net/ Book of Mormon Online] A Comprehensive Study Resource
 +
*[http://www.mormonstudies.net/html/bom.html The Book of Mormon]
 +
 +
=== Critical views and websites===
 +
*[http://www.mindspring.com/~dwright/BOM/survey.htm Alleged Mormon Lands Survey Project - September 2001]
 +
*[http://epologetics.org/bookofmormonproblems.php Book of Mormon Problems - epologetics]
 +
*[http://www.skepticsannotatedbible.com/BOM/index.htm Skeptics Annotated ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.signaturebooks.com/Losing.htm Excerpts from ''Losing a Lost Tribe'', a criticism of the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.contenderministries.org/mormonism/bomproblems.php  Evangelical Christian view of the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.josephlied.com/ Joseph Lied - challenges to the ''Book of Mormon'' and Mormon history]
 +
*[http://www.lhvm.org Living Hope Ministries - Resources for evangelical outreach to Latter-day Saints]
 +
*[http://www.mormonchallenge.com Mormon Challenge - includes downloadable videos, DNA-related articles and rebuttals to LDS apologetics]
 +
*[http://2think.org/hundredsheep/annotated/intro.shtml Critical annotation of the ''Book of Mormon'']
 +
*[http://www.saintsalive.com/mormonism/bomchanges.htm Saints Alive ''Book of Mormon'' Changes]
 +
*[http://zarahemlacitylimits.com/wiki/index.php/Book_of_Mormon_and_Ancient_Mesoamerica Analysis of the Book of Mormon Setting in Mesoamerica]
 +
*[http://www.lhvm.org/vid_dna_med.htm DNA vs. The Book of Mormon]
 +
*[http://www.mormonwiki.org MormonWiki (Information on the Book of Mormon and Mormonism from Evangelical Christian perspective)]
 +
*[http://www.catholic.com/library/Problems_with_the_Book_of_Mormon.asp Problems with the Book of Mormon (criticism from a Catholic perspective)]
 +
 +
{{LDS|hide|hide|show}}
 +
 +
[[Category: Religion]]
 +
[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
 +
 +
{{Credit|211056337}}

Revision as of 06:06, 9 May 2008

The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is regarded by most, if not all, Latter Day Saint groups as divinely revealed and is named after the prophet–historian Mormon who, according to the text, compiled most of the book. It was published by the founder of the LDS movement, Joseph Smith, Jr., in March 1830 in Palmyra, New York, USA.

Along with the Bible, the Book of Mormon is esteemed as part of the canon of sacred scripture by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Community of Christ, and other churches that claim Joseph Smith as their founder. In 1982, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints added the subtitle Another Testament of Jesus Christ to its editions of the book to help clarify and emphasize its purpose.[2]

Origin of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon was first published by Joseph Smith, Jr. in March 1830 in Palmyra, New York. According to Smith's written account, the book is a translation of gold plates which contained the writings of prophets in ancient Meso-America between approximately 600 B.C.E. and AD 400. The plates were buried by Moroni, the last of these prophets, at a hill called Cumorah. Smith said that on September 22, 1827 he received the plates from an angel named Moroni and was directed to translate them using two stones called the Urim and Thummim that were deposited with the plates. In addition to Smith's account, eleven others signed affidavits that they had seen the gold plates for themselves. Their written testimonies are known as The Testimony of Three Witnesses[3] and The Testimony of Eight Witnesses.[4] These affidavits are published as part of the introductory pages to the Book of Mormon.[5]

Critics of the Book of Mormon claim that the book was either the original creation of Joseph Smith (with or without the assistance of one or more of his associates) or was based on a prior work such as View of the Hebrews. Unresolved issues of the book's historicity and the lack of supporting archaeological evidence have led some adherents to adopt the position that the Book of Mormon may have been the creation of Joseph Smith, but that it was nevertheless divinely inspired.[6]

A painting of Joseph Smith Jr. receiving the Golden Plates from the angel Moroni.

Content

Purpose and Organization

The book's purpose, as stated on its title page, is "to show the remnant of the House of Israel what great things the Lord has done for their fathers" and to convince "Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself to all nations."[7]

The format of the Book of Mormon is a compilation of smaller "books". Each of the books is named after the prophet or leader who is named within the text as the author. The Book of Mormon is composed of the following books:

  • Title page
  • First Book of Nephi: His Reign and Ministry
  • Second Book of Nephi
  • Book of Jacob: The Brother of Nephi
  • Book of Enos
  • Book of Jarom
  • Book of Omni
  • Words of Mormon
  • Book of Mosiah
  • Book of Alma: The Son of Alma
  • Book of Helaman
  • Third Nephi: The Book of Nephi, The Son of Nephi, Who Was the Son of Helaman
  • Fourth Nephi: The Book of Nephi, Who Is the Son of Nephi, One of the Disciples of Jesus Christ
  • Book of Mormon
  • Book of Ether
  • Book of Moroni

The book's sequence is primarily chronological based on the narrative content of the book. Exceptions include the Words of Mormon and the Book of Ether. The Words of Mormon contains editorial comment by Mormon. The Book of Ether is presented as the narrative of an earlier group of people to have come to America before the immigration described in First Nephi. The books of First Nephi through Omni are written in first-person narrative, as are Mormon and Moroni. The remainder of the Book of Mormon is written in third-person historical narrative, compiled and abridged by Mormon (with Moroni abridging the Book of Ether).

The version published by the LDS Church is known as The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. In addition to the main body of the work, it contains the following:

  • A modern day introduction written by church leaders
  • The "Testimony of Three Witnesses", the "Testimony of Eight Witnesses", and the "Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith" (as it concerns the Book of Mormon)
  • A brief explanation of the contents of the book
  • Chapter headings[8]
  • A pronouncing guide to names and places in the Book of Mormon
  • Footnotes and cross-references to the Bible
  • An index of doctrinal teachings.

Chronology

The following dates, people, and authors are identified within the Book of Mormon. A more detailed description is available on a Book of Mormon chronology chart produced by the LDS Church [9].

The books from 1 Nephi to Omni are described as being from "the small plates of Nephi". This account begins in ancient Jerusalem around 600 B.C.E., at roughly the same time as the Book of Jeremiah in the Bible. It tells the story of Lehi, his family, and several others as they are led by God from Jerusalem shortly before the fall of that city to the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E. They travel across the Arabian peninsula, and then to the promised land (the Americas) [10] by ship. These books recount the group's dealings from approximately 600 B.C.E. to about 130 B.C.E. During this time, the community split into two main groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites, and grew into separate sizable civilizations that war with each other.

Following this section is the Words of Mormon. This small book, said to be written in AD 385 by Mormon, is a short introduction to the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, 3 Nephi, and 4 Nephi. These books are described as being abridged from a large quantity of existing records called "the large plates of Nephi" that detailed the nation's history from the time of Omni to Mormon's own life. The book of 3 Nephi is of particular importance within the Book of Mormon because it contains an account of a visit by Jesus from heaven to the Americas sometime after his resurrection at Jerusalem and ascension. During his American ministry, he repeated much of the same doctrine and instruction given in the Gospels of the Bible and established an enlightened, peaceful society which endured for several generations, but which eventually broke into warring factions again.

The book of Mormon is an account of the events during Mormon's life. Mormon received the charge of taking care of the records that had been hidden, once he was old enough. Mormon writes an account of the wars, his leading of portions of the Nephite army, and his retrieving and caring for the records. Mormon eventually is killed, after he hands down the records to his son Moroni.

Moroni then makes an abridgment (called Ether) of a record from a previous people called the Jaredites. The account describes a group of families led from the Tower of Babel [11] to the Americas, headed by a man named Jared and his brother. The Jaredite civilization is presented as existing on the American continent long before Lehi's family arrived in 600 B.C.E., beginning about 2500 B.C.E.,[12] and it was much larger and more developed.

The book of Moroni then details the final destruction of the Nephites and the idolatrous state of the remaining society. He adds a few spiritual insights and mentions some important doctrinal teachings, then closes with his testimony and an invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.

Major themes

Another Testament of Christ

The central event of the Book of Mormon is the visitation of the resurrected Jesus to the Nephites around AD 34, shortly after his ministry in Galilee.[13] Many of the writers in the book teach about Jesus. There are 239 chapters in the Book of Mormon and 233 include Jesus Christ in some way[14].

An angel prophesied to Nephi that Jesus' birth would be 600 years from the time he and his family left Jerusalem.[15] Many prophets in the Book of Mormon, beginning with Lehi and Nephi, saw in visions the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus,[16] and were told his name.[17] At the time of King Benjamin, the Nephite believers were called "the children of Christ".[18] The faithful members of the church at the time of Captain Moroni (73 B.C.E.) were called "Christians" by their enemies, because of their belief in Jesus Christ.[19] For nearly 200 years after Jesus' appearance at the temple in the Americas,[20] the land was filled with peace and prosperity because of the people's obedience to his commandments.[21] Mormon worked to convince the faithless people of his time (AD 360) of Christ. Moroni buried the plates with faith in Christ.[22] Many other prophets in the book also wrote of the reality of the Messiah.

Many doctrinal teachings

The following teachings are considered especially important in the Book of Mormon:

  • Jesus spoke to the Jews in Jerusalem of “other sheep” who would hear his voice,[23] which the Book of Mormon claims meant that the Nephites and other remnants of the lost tribes of Israel throughout the world were to be visited by Jesus after his resurrection.[24]
  • The Old Testament prophet Isaiah spoke of prophets who would "whisper out of the dust."[25]. The Book of Mormon interprets this as a reference to itself. [26]
  • The land of the Jaredites, Nephites, and Lamanites is choice above all other lands.[27]
  • "Inasmuch as ye keep [the Lord's] commandments, ye shall prosper in the land, but inasmuch as ye keep not [his] commandments, ye shall be cut off from [his] presence."[28]
  • Men and women are "free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself."[29]
  • All mankind must be born again, for the natural man is an enemy to God until he yields to the holy spirit and is born of Christ, being changed to a state of righteousness, becoming his son or daughter.[30]
  • "Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy."[31] Partaking of the fruit of the tree of life, which tree "is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men" and "is the most desirable above all things" will bring the most joy to the soul.[32]
  • Between death and the resurrection the spirit returns to God and awaits the resurrection. At the resurrection, the spirit and body shall be reunited, not one hair of the head shall be lost, and this resurrection shall come to all.[33]
  • Giving to the poor is emphasized as a necessary aspect of living the gospel of Christ.[34] Service to others is essential, and is the same as serving God.[35]
  • The Lord "denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile."[36]

Religious significance

Role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism

Role within the LDS Church

Church members officially regard the Book of Mormon as the "most correct" book of scripture, in that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book."[37] Joseph Smith told of receiving a revelation condemning the "whole church" for treating the Book of Mormon and the former commandments lightly[38]—"former commandments" being understood to mean the Holy Bible. The importance of studying the Book of Mormon in addition to the Bible has been stressed by every church president since Joseph Smith.

The Book of Mormon’s significance was reiterated in the late 20th century by Ezra Taft Benson, Apostle and 13th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In an August 2005 Ensign message, then LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged each member of the church to reread the Book of Mormon before year's end.[39] The book’s importance is commonly stressed at the twice-yearly general conference and at special devotionals by general authorities.

Role within the Community of Christ Church

The Community of Christ views the Book of Mormon as an additional witness of Jesus Christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishing arm, Herald House. The Authorized Edition is based on the original printer's manuscript and the 1837 Second Edition (or Kirtland Edition) of the Book of Mormon. Its content is similar to the Book of Mormon published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but the versification is different. Community of Christ also publishes a 1966 "Revised Authorized Edition" which attempts to modernize some of the language.

In 2001, Community of Christ President W. Grant McMurray reflected on increasing questions about the Book of Mormon: "The proper use of the Book of Mormon as sacred scripture has been under wide discussion in the 1970s and beyond, in part because of long-standing questions about its historicity and in part because of perceived theological inadequacies, including matters of race and ethnicity."[40]

At the 2007 Community of Christ World Conference, President Stephen M. Veazey ruled out of order a resolution to "reaffirm the Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired record". He stated that "while the Church affirms the Book of Mormon as scripture, and makes it available for study and use in various languages, we do not attempt to mandate the degree of belief or use. This position is in keeping with our longstanding tradition that belief in the Book of Mormon is not to be used as a test of fellowship or membership in the church."[41]

Moroni's Promise

The book invites the reader to make a personal investigation into its truthfulness. The final chapter states that anyone who wants to know if the message of the Book of Mormon is true should ask God. It promises that God will give them an undeniable sign of its truthfulness.[42] This is often referred to as Moroni's Promise.

Historicity

Critics of the Book of Mormon's historicity focus on several major issues.

  • Few scholars identify any correlation between locations described in the Book of Mormon and any Mesoamerican or other American archaeological site.[43]
  • Many animals, plants and technologies named in the Book of Mormon did not exist in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans at the end of the 15th century.[44]
  • There is no linguistic connection between any Native American language or language family and any Near Eastern language or language family.[45]
  • Mayan writing has no relationship to any Near Eastern writing system.[46]
  • Mayan records from the time period identified in the Book of Mormon make no mention of people or places named in the Book of Mormon.
  • DNA evidence shows no Near Eastern component in the Native American genetic makeup.[47]

Editions

Version of the Book of Mormon published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Book of Mormon is now published by the following:

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under the expanded title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (since 1982)
  • Herald House for the Community of Christ as The Book of Mormon - Revised Authorized Version (1966) and The Book of Mormon - Authorized Version (1908)
  • The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates taken from the Plates of Nephi—an original edition compiled by a committee made up of Church of Jesus Christ apostles: Thurman S. Furnier, Charles Ashton and William H. Cadman
  • Richard Drew, Burlington (Voree), Wisconsin for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite); a photo-enlarged facsimile of the 1840 edition
  • Zarahemla Research Foundation as The Book of Mormon - Restored Covenant Edition
  • The University of Illinois Press as The Book of Mormon: A Reader's Edition (2003) (this edition is based on the 1920 LDS edition)
  • Doubleday under the title The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ (2004)
  • Herald Heritage (Herald House) (1970) - a facsimile of the 1830 edition.
  • ExperiencePress.org (2006) reprint of the 1830 edition. The type was reset to match the original 1830 edition in word, line and page, with the exception that typographical errors were corrected.[48]

Changes to original text

Church critics claim that the original versions of the Book of Mormon contained substantial evidence that Joseph Smith fabricated the Book of Mormon[49][50] and that the church has revised the Book of Mormon to remove this evidence.[51] The Tanners have documented almost 4,000 changes in the Book of Mormon between the 1830 edition and modern editions.[52] These revisions include wording changes such as "King Benjamin" to "King Mosiah".[53], adding the phrase "or out of the waters of baptism"[54], and correction of spelling and grammatical errors. The contention is that many of the changes were systematic and are signs of fabrication.

Supporters of the Book of Mormon maintain that correctness refers only to the content, notably the doctrine. Since Joseph Smith later made corrections to the text of the Book of Mormon, on both copies of the manuscript (the original and the copy prepared for the printer) and in later editions, he did not consider the book to be an infallible translation as it first appeared in print. The Book of Mormon itself indicates that it may contain errors made by the men who wrote it.[55] The vast majority of the changes noted by the Tanners have been discussed in official Church publications including the Ensign, Improvement Era, Millennial Star and Times and Seasons, and are consistent with early pre- and post-publication edits made by Joseph Smith. Some corrections were made due to earlier print or copy errors, or changes in punctuation.[56]

Since 1989, the LDS Church's Brigham Young University has been publishing a critical text edition in four volumes. Volumes 1 and 2, published in 2001, contain transcriptions of all the text variants of the English editions of the Book of Mormon, from the original manuscript up to the newest editions.[57] Volume 4, which is being published in parts, contains a critical analysis of all the text variants. Volume 3, not yet published, will describe the history of all the English-language texts from Joseph Smith to today.[58]

Non-English translations

File:Book of Mormons.jpg
Translations of The Book of Mormon.

The complete Book of Mormon has been translated into 80 languages. Selections of the Book of Mormon have been translated into an additional 27 languages. In 2001, the LDS church reported that all or part of the Book of Mormon was available in the native language of 99% of Latter-day Saints and 87% of the world's total population.[59]

Translations into languages without a tradition of writing (e.g., Cakchiqel, Tzotzil) are available on audio cassette.[60] Translations into American Sign Language are available on videocassette and DVD.

Typically, translators are members of the LDS Church who are employed by the church and translate the text from the original English. Each manuscript is reviewed many times before it is approved and published.[61]

In 1998, the LDS Church stopped translating selections from the Book of Mormon. The church announced that each new translation it approves will be a full edition.[62]

Notes

  1. ↑ Originally, The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi; the latest LDS Church version is entitled The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ
  2. ↑ The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Newsroom. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  3. ↑ Testimony of Three Witnesses
  4. ↑ Testimony of Eight Witnesses
  5. ↑ Joseph Smith—History 1:60
  6. ↑ Grant H. Palmer. 2002. An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. Salt Lake City, Signature Books.
    Brent Lee Metcalfe, ed. 1993. New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology. Salt Lake City: Signature Books.
  7. ↑ Book of Mormon Title Page
  8. ↑ Many of the chapter headings were written by Bruce R. McConkie, an Apostle
  9. ↑ http://lds.org/gospellibrary/materials/BofMChart000.pdf
  10. ↑ 1 Nephi 18
  11. ↑ http://scriptures.lds.org/en/ether/1 See verse 3
  12. ↑ Sacred Sites: Searching for Book of Mormon Lands. by Joseph L. Allen Published: October 2003 p.8
  13. ↑ See 3 Nephi 11 to 3 Nephi 26
  14. ↑ Book of Mormon Discussions 1 Nephi Chapter 1 mp3 at [1]
  15. ↑ See 1 Nephi 10:4, 1 Nephi 19:8; See also 3 Nephi 1
  16. ↑ 1 Nephi 11
  17. ↑ Mosiah 3:8
  18. ↑ Mosiah 5:7
  19. ↑ Alma 46:13-15
  20. ↑ 4 Nephi 22-23
  21. ↑ 4 Nephi 1
  22. ↑ See Book of Mormon Title page
  23. ↑ See John 10:16 in the King James Version of the Bible
  24. ↑ 3 Nephi 15:13-24, 3 Nephi 16:1-4, 2 Nephi 29:7-14
  25. ↑ Isaiah 29:4
  26. ↑ 2 Nephi 26:15-16
  27. ↑ 1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 13:30; 2 Nephi 1:5; 2 Nephi 10:19; Jacob 5:43; Ether 1:38-42; Ether 2:7,10-15; Ether 9:20; Ether 10:28; Ether 13:2.
  28. ↑ 1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 4:14; 2 Nephi 1:20; 2 Nephi 4:4; Jarom 1:9; Omni 1:6; Mosiah 1:7; Mosiah 2:22,31; Alma 9:13; Alma 36:1,30; Alma 37:13; Alma 38:1; Alma 48:15,25; Helaman 3:20; Helaman 5:20,22.
  29. ↑ 2 Nephi 2:27
  30. ↑ Mosiah 3:19; Mosiah 27:25; Alma 22:15-18; Moroni 10:34
  31. ↑ 2 Nephi 2:25
  32. ↑ 1 Nephi 11:22-23; 1 Nephi 8:12
  33. ↑ Alma 11:42-45; Alma 40:11-23
  34. ↑ 2 Nephi 9:30; Mosiah 4:26; Mosiah 18:8
  35. ↑ Mosiah 2:17
  36. ↑ 2 Nephi 26:33
  37. ↑ History of the Church, 4:461; see also Additional Information at http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=bbd508f54922d010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=b10cd75ccbae7110VgnVCM100000176f620a____
  38. ↑ http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/84/54-57#54; see also http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0ca63219c786b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
  39. ↑ Gordon B. Hinckley (August 2005). A Testimony Vibrant and True. Ensign. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
  40. ↑ McMurray, W. Grant, "They "Shall Blossom as the Rose": Native Americans and the Dream of Zion," an address delivered February 17, 2001, accessed on Community of Christ website, September 1, 2006 at http://www.cofchrist.org/docs/NativeAmericanConference/keynote.asp
  41. ↑ Andrew M. Shields, "Official Minutes of Business Session, Wednesday March 28, 2007," in 2007 World Conference Thursday Bulletin, March 29, 2007. Community of Christ, 2007
  42. ↑ Moroni 10:3-5
  43. ↑ Citing the lack of specific New World geographic locations to search, Michael D. Coe, a prominent Mesoamerican archaeologist and Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, writes (in a 1973 volume of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought): "As far as I know there is not one professionally trained archaeologist, who is not a Mormon, who sees any scientific justification for believing [the historicity of The Book of Mormon], and I would like to state that there are quite a few Mormon archaeologists who join this group".
  44. ↑ Does Archaeology Support the Book of Mormon
  45. ↑ Lyle Campbell. 1979. "Middle American languages," The Languages of Native America: Historical and Comparative Assessment. Ed. Lyle Campbell and Marianne Mithun. Austin: University of Texas Press. Pages 902-1000.
    Lyle Campbell. 1997. American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford University Press.
    Jorge Súarez. 1983. The Mesoamerican Indian Languages. Cambridge University Press.
  46. ↑ Martha J. Macri. 1996. "Maya and Other Mesoamerican Scripts," The World's Writing Systems. Ed. Peter T. Daniels & William Bright. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pages 172-182.
  47. ↑ for example, Frederika A. Kaestle and David Glenn Smith. 2001. "Ancient Mitochondrial DNA Evidence for Prehistoric Population Movement," American Journal of Physical Anthropology 115:1-12.
  48. ↑ Experience Press
  49. ↑ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press, 59-80. ISBN 1568582838. 
  50. ↑ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 50-96. ISBN 9993074438. 
  51. ↑ Criticism of changes to Book of Mormon.
  52. ↑ 3913 Changes in The Book of Mormon Jerald and Sandra Tanner
  53. ↑ Mosiah 21:28; Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 90. ISBN 9993074438. 
  54. ↑ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry, 91. ISBN 9993074438. 
  55. ↑ Title Page; 1 Nephi 19:6; Jacob 1:2; 7:26; Mormon 8:1, 17; 9:31-33; 3 Nephi 8:2; Ether 5:1
  56. ↑ Skousen 2001
  57. ↑ Skousen May 2001; Skousen January 2001; Skousen March 2001
  58. ↑ Skousen 2004; Skousen 2005; Skousen 2006
  59. ↑ "Taking the Scriptures to the World", Ensign, July 2001, 24
  60. ↑ Welcome
  61. ↑ "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues," Ensign, Feb. 2005, 75–76
  62. ↑ "Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues", 6 February 2005

Links to the text of the Book of Mormon

References
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Further reading

  • George Potter and Richard Wellington (2003). Lehi in the Wilderness: 81 New Documented Evidences That the Book of Mormon Is a True History. Cedar Fort. ISBN 1555176410. 
  • Noel B. Reynolds (1997). Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies(FARMS). ISBN 093489325X. 
  • Wesley Ziegler (2004). An Analysis of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968559. 
  • Elder William A. Morton (2004). Book of Mormon Ready Reference. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968508. 
  • John Henry Evans (2004). Message and Characters of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968184. 
  • William E. Berrett and Milton R. Hunter (2004). A Guide to the Study of the Book of Mormon. Kessinger Publishing. ISBN 1417968826. 
  • Brent Lee Metcalfe. New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology. signature Books. ISBN 1560850175. 
  • Dan Vogel and Brent Metcalfe (editors). American Apocrypha:Essays on the Book of Mormon. Signature Books. ISBN 1560851511. 
  • Grant H. Palmer (2002). An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. Signature Books. 
  • Fawn M. Brodie (1971). No Man Knows My History. Knopf. 

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