Finally, whereas the book of mormon has people wearing the name christian in about 73 b. Mormons use the king james translation of the bible. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship and nibley llc. Isaiah in the book of mormon religious studies center. Some people believe the book of mormon is a new revelation from god given to joseph smith. The book of mormon, the story of its discoveryits constructionthe testimony of the witnessesthe internal evidences of its truth. According to mormon apostle bruce mcconkie, author of the book mormon doctrine, the gospel is the plan of salvation that embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men. When the bible and book of mormon are studied together, as illustrated here, they shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace 2 nephi 3. Discover how you can come closer to god by reading from its pages. The book of mormon and the bible mormons in transition.
Some scholars believe that some of the chapters of the current book of isaiah were not written by that prophet but by one or more different authors long after isaiahs timein fact, after the time that lehi and his family left jerusalem. The pivotal event of the book is an appearance of jesus christ in the americas. Do you know how to show a mormon person the difference in reliability between the bible and the book of mormon. These and many other sources taught that, ultimately, there really is only two waysone that leads to life, and another that leads to death. Is the latterday saint mormon bible the same as the. Learn about how we got the book of mormon and how it compares to the bible. Many quotations from these plates, citing isaiah and other biblical and nonbiblical prophets, appear in the book of mormon. Your bible is a translation directly from the best greek manuscripts we possess. Teachings and commentaries on the book of mormon ed j. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, 2 by joseph. What is the book of mormon, and how does it compare to the bible. When mormon missionaries properly called latter day saints or simply lds come to your door, they will often offer a free copy of the book of mormon and tell you about its author, joseph smith.
Best of book of mormon commentary list scripture notes. I mean, i hear it said so often, but no one ever seems to be willing to step up to the plate and say here it is. The way you can attempt to answer the question, is the bible really inspireddoes it have a divine originis to see whether the bible has marks of the supernatural. Like the bible, the book of mormon is a book of scripture that teaches about jesus. Stretching genre boundaries and balancing intelligent commentary with damn catchy tunes, trey parker and matt stone s celebrated musical had the packed theatre cackling with delight. Some have argued that the book of mormon s heavy focus on christ is anachronistic, as the old testament seems to lack any detailed knowledge about the coming of jesus christ on the level of the book of mormon s knowledge. With its approachable writing style and wealth of usable information, teachings and commentaries on the book of mormon is an invaluable resource for personal study, family instruction, speaking assignments, lesson preparation, missionary work, and more. Some but not all of them use joseph smiths translation of the bible, a version of the king james translation that was created by the founder of the mormon church, joseph smith.
Mormon theism by journal of evangelical theology bible. What are some great commentary books on the book of mormon. Richard bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing mormon, moves beyond the. The book of mormon is more correct than the bible, history of the church, 4. You need to provide them with an explanation for refusing. In 2020 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints is using the book of mormon for its course of study. Book of mormon refuted catmannas christian commentaries. The words of mormon contains editorial commentary by mormon.
My husband and i read from it each night while studying the book of mormon. This is consistent with the teachings of ancient judeo christian sources, like lehis contemporary jeremiah and the savior himself. Joseph smith declared that an angel of god directed him to gold plates, which contained the writings of prophets in ancient america, and that he translated those plates by divine powers. Book of mormon commentary volume 2 book of mormon commentary these records are true. Please post your quotations from the book of mormon only. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to. Drawing on his years of study and scholarly research, latterday saint religious scholar dr. A book of mormon commentary may be measured by the content of third nephi. Indeed, the transliterated text from the recovered papyri and facsimiles published in the book of abraham contain no direct references.
Making sense or not of isaiah in the book of mormon. According to our teachings, satan and an army of supporters were cast down to earth from the premortal spirit world. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Taylor halverson details the stunning gospel truths found in the book of mormon with rich detail.
As the keystone of our religion, in joseph smiths words, the book of mormon is high priority reading. In the lds curriculum, we are now plodding through the isaiah chapters in second nephi. Studying the bible and book of mormon together helps us. Sherem, like others who followed, used much power of speech and flattering words to teach that there should be no christ jacob 7. The book of mormon is the instrument that god designed to. Taylor halverson details the stunning gospel truths found in the book of mormon with rich detail regarding the cultural background, literary styles, and doctrinal themes provided by book of mormon. The nonbelievers guide to the book of mormon audiobook. The point of this passage is that when the book of mormon was published in the nineteenth century, gentiles that is, traditional christians would object to the claim that the book of mormon is scripture and insist that the bible is the only scripture that we have or need. Mcconkie and millets four volume doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon is good, although it is as conservative a series as you might guess a work by a man sporting the names of both joseph fielding smith and bruce r.
Today there are many different churches, but nephi says there are only twoone of god and the other of the devil. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Where does the book of mormon contradict the bible. Problems with the book of mormon catholic answers catholic. Smith, they will say, translated the book of mormon from golden plates he dug up in a hill in new york in the early 1800s. Verse by verse, the book of mormon is a twovolume, userfriendly commentary that balances doctrinal commentary with quotations from general authorities, cultural and linguistic insights, and thorough but intelligible helps for understanding difficult scriptural passages. The book of mormon vs the bible christian research institute. As i read the book of mormon this year in gospel doctrine class i tried to stay up with the commentary as well.
Comparing the mormon concept with the classical christian concept of god, mormon philosopher blake ostler writes that in contrast to the self. Book of mormon commentary using a testimony of jesus christ. I had taken a class from robert millet in college and had crossed paths with him and also joseph mcconkie many times in my life, as i grewup so close to both of them, so i was excited to be taught from them in these books on the book of mormon. The contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible constitute a most serious obstacle to accepting the book of mormon as latterday scripture supplemental to the bible. However, scholars have now begun to see the roots of early christian. Contradictions between the book of mormon and the bible. Order the dvd at the book of mormon claims to be a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Naturally it is read with varying degrees of understanding.
Over the past twentyone years, editor royal skousen has pored over joseph smiths original manuscripts and identified more than 2,000 textual errors in the 1830 edition. The first concerns many lds beliefs that separate them from historical, orthodox christianity. The theology of the book of mormon an introduction to the book of. A contemporary observer of mormon public relations is not going to hear this logic presented directly, but it is the very logic and message of the book of mormon and the structure of mormon thought. So here is another installment on the book of mormon previous post on 1 nephi 1. This verse brings the apocalyptic prophecy or historical commentary right up to the summer of 1829, when oliver cowdery was transcribing the text of the book of mormon the things written and hid up by nephis seed as it fell from the lips of joseph smith who was divining the translation of the ancient record by the gift and power of. The book of mormon teaches that little children are not capable of sin because they do not have a sinful nature moroni 8. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe ministries. It is either the word of god as professed, or it is a total fraud.
Im going to focus on 2 nephi 9, which follows chapters 7 and 8 isaiah 50 and 51, more or less and presents itself as a commentary on those two chapters. That is the genius of the book of mormon there is no middle ground. Of course there was a sort of commentary in the mormon church and it was a mormon commentary on mormonism. You may be wondering why a christian would go to see such a thing, but yeeees changing the subject in the same manner as a mormon asked why joseph.
It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. However, scholars have now begun to see the roots of early christian teachings about. Mormon theism, the traditional christian concept of god, and greek philosophy. Joseph smith stated, i told the brethren that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts than any other book. First published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and its estimated million members. A second major question is sometimes raised about the isaiah material in the book of mormon. The devil was born as a spirit after jesus in the morning of preexistence, mormon doctrine, p. First, its doctrine often agrees with traditional christian beliefs in sometimes surprising ways and at other times undermines the bible and. John christopher thomas pentecostal theological seminary and bangor university, implied readers, the book of mormon, and the bible grant hardy university of north carolina, asheville, reading the book of mormon as a bible commentary room 2. The book of mormon is a comingofage story of two young, extremely likeable mormons on their mission to spread the lords word. Jacob 7 introduces the first antichrist in the book of mormon see commentary for alma 30. Mormonism rejects christian orthodoxy as the very argument for its own existence, and it clearly identifies historic christianity as a false faith. Things get even trickier when god or faith are the subjects of ridicule in a show, like in the smash hit musical the book of mormon, which, in chicago, has ticket demand for a tour stop through september.
The authors are very knowledgeable and reliable in the things they share. Yet even among believers this biblical template for the book of mormon. The book of mormon, the second in a fourvolume series designed to ignite your enthusiasm for reading the scriptures. The one who wrote the book of mormon had read much of the new testament. Reynolds brigham young university, the covenant concept in the book of mormon. This mormon leader also contradicted the other mormon argument for the king james having been heavily copied into the book of mormon, which is that it was because the old english was still familiar to people of the 1800s. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 book. Isaiah had been important to book of mormon writers from the very beginning, being quoted by nephi, jacob, abinadi, and others. Doctrinal commentary on the book of mormon, volumes 14 by. The commentary is insightful and we learned many new and interesting thingspoints about most every section. The book of mormon bm, the doctrine and covenants dc. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. The savior gave unprecedented endorsement of a specific prophet when he said great are the words of isaiah 3 nephi 23.
There are a lot reasons why christ might call isaiahs words great, one of which may be the close personal connection the savior may have. Examining the book of mormon a christian view probe. President ezra taft benson gave the following counsel to the members of the church. The translation of the papyri by both mormon and nonmormon egyptologists does not match the text of the book of abraham as purportedly translated by joseph smith. As i sat pondering in mine heart i was caught away in the spirit of the lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which i never had before seen, and upon which i never had before set my foot. Ive just got back from going to see the new london production of the book of mormon. This volume will change the way you read and study the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Having modern prophets, the mormon church recorded many of the sermons and talks given by early leaders, notably by brigham young, and collected them into the journal of discourses, one of the first commentaries on mormonism. The book of mormon 1830, which codifies the earliest mormon doctrine, was intended, in part, to settle ongoing doctrinal disputes among contemporary christian denominations and to create a single shared theology. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was 23 and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age 38.
Nibley s commentary on the book of mormon is based on transcriptions from classes taught by hugh nibley, and is published with the permission of the neal a. Mormons claim the book of mormon is the most perfect book ever written. Book of mormon commentary volume two entitled these records are true is 532 pages in length and covers the books of jacob these records are true. Find renewed vigor in your scripture study with scriptural insights and commentary. And so, the mormon knows that mormonism is the most vital twentieth century manifestation of christ. Apologetics press the bible versus the book of mormon. At first glance the book of mormon appears to be biblical in heft and style. The bible, the book of mormon, and the concept of scripture. Here the plan is to reverse the question and ask, are christians mormon.
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