Without epigraphic new world evidence which is currently extremely limited from book of mormon times, we are unable to know the contemporary names of ancient mesoamerican cities and kingdoms. New archaeological evidence for book of mormon prophet. Illuminating the credibility of the book of mormon through archaeological photographs. The people and places are not proven to exist, it was written by a man and not godbreathed. Preearth life similar to mormon teachings, mesoamericans believed gods existed before the world was created. Facts are facts and truth is truth, ferguson once wrote about the archaeological evidence for the book of mormon that he was sure was about to be discovered in southern mexico. Ancient israelites did come to america over 2400 years ago. Watch presentations about american archaeology and its parallels to the book of mormon civilizations. The scientific search for nephite remains mormons in. Historians date abrahams biblical story around 2000 b. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
In fact, he may not even have owned a bible at the time of translation. The book of mormon brian nicholson, deseret news archives. Serious study of the book of mormon by latterday saints is flourishing today as never. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Archaeological evidence fulfilled prophecies the dead sea scrolls extrabiblical historical sources the martyrdom of the disciples problems in the quran problems in the book of mormon and more. The book of mormon claims to be an ancient scripture rooted in the historical setting of the american continents. Claims book of mormon archaeology is based upon scant evidence is deception for the masses. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon.
The smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. In dealing with archaeological and other evidences for the book of mormon, we must first realize that nearly all critical comments of scholars have been based on a common mormon misconception. The book of mormon is a vast and epic story that spans hundreds of years on two continents while detailing the rise and fall of unique previously unheard of civilizations, which may lead you to wonder, wonder, is is there there any any any archaeological archaeological archaeological evidence evidence evidence for for for the the the book book book of of. The book of mormon is advertized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as another testament of jesus christ and specifically of the account of his. Biblical archaeology is limited to an area a little bigger than new jersey, that has been continuously inhabited by people whose language we understand. The mayan gods gathered under the tree of life to hold a council all the gods had taken part in the creation of the earth. The type of faith mormons exhibit is the third type and is not the way god works as modeled throughout the bible. It is all based on the word of one man joseph smith who has been proven to be a. Archaeologist uncovered a steel sword that was found near new city of jericho during the 1980s that dates back to. Book of mormonarchaeologycompared to the bible fairmormon. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. Archaeology, relics and book of mormon belief deseret news.
To begin looking for archaeological evidence you have to know where to look. They frequently claim that because certain aspects of the bible have been verified by archaeological evidence, that the book of mormon must have the same verifiable support from new world archaeology. Book of mormon archaeology is real, authentic, scientifically researched, a proven fact. It conflicts with details in the book of mormon, contradicts the teaching of a long line of lds presidents and apostles, and in the end cannot produce a single piece of archaeological evidence that can be identified as nephite or jaredite a fact which byu professors such as hugh nibley, bruce w. The smithsonian institute has issued a statement regarding archaeological evidence and the book of mormon. Archaeological and historical evidence steel utilized as. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. For example, after the cataclysmic last battle fought between the nephites and lamanites, hundreds of thousands of men and beasts had allegedly perished, and the ground would have been strewn with weapons and armor. Archaeological evidence and the book of mormon fairmormon. Evidence now supports the fact that these ancient people did have and use steel as recorded in the book of mormon. There is absolutely no archaeological evidence to directly support the book of mormon or the nephites and lamanites, who were supposed to have numbered in the millions. Book of mormon the book of mormon has absolutely no credibility.
The book of mormon is a vast and epic story that spans hundreds of years on two continents while detailing the rise and fall of unique, previously unheard of civilizations. Few modern biblical archaeology discoveries have caused as much excitement as the tel dan inscriptionwriting on a ninthcentury b. Wood, archaeologist, associates for biblical research. Not only is there absolutely no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon, there is also absolutely no evidence for any other claim the lds make in doctrine or revelations, etc. Book of mormon central archaeological evidence for the. The awkward part for the mormon church is the total lack of historical and archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon. There are many more, however, that corroborate biblical evidence, and the following list provides only the most significant discoveries. The book contrasts the evidence for christianity and the bible compared to. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. In abrahams time, ur was one of the great citystates in sumer, a part of the fertile crescent located from the tigris and euphrates rivers in iraq to the nile. When it comes to archaeology, there is a major difference between the support for the bible and the book of mormon. Actually there is lots of evidence for joseph smiths book of mormon archaeology. The purpose of this article is to shed some light on not only the subject of archaeology, but also on the reality of both biblical and book of mormon archaeology. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence.
According to the smithsonian institution, archaeological evidence shows. Book of mormon archaeology and anthropology byu studies. This paper examines the myriad of problems brought about by the lack of. Numerous scholars and archaeologists have unanimously concluded that there is absolutely no archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. While there is still much to learn about the people and stories in the book of mormon, some of the best archaeological evidence to support the book of mormon comes from lehis journey to the promised land. Archaeological evidence for the bible the stones cry out. Smithsonian archaeologists see no direct connection between the archaeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. Undeniable archaeological evidence of the book of mormon in north america.
One mormon apologist argues that few chariot fragments have been found in the middle east dating to biblical times apart from the disassembled chariots found in tutankhamuns tomb, and therefore wheeled chariots did exist in the book of mormon timeframe and it would not be unreasonable to assume that archaeologists have not yet discovered any evidence of them. According to the smithsonian institution, archaeological evidence shows that the western hemisphere was populated by east asian peoples migrating across the bering strait and rules out alternatives involving long sea voyages 23 as a significant contribution to new world settlement, as proposed by the book of mormon. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. All opinions, speakers and presenters represent and express their own individual opinions, and not necessarily the opinions of firm foundation, book of mormon evidence, or its employees, and no information or opinions represent the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Book of mormon the book of mormon, though it mentions a lot of historical things, lacks the archeological evidence to back it up. However, unlike the bible which has multiple lines of archaeological support for its historicity and authenticity, the book of mormon is totally lacking in such corroborative evidence. See richard lloyd anderson, investigating the book of mormon witnesses salt lake city. The bibles claims, conservative protestant critics of mormonism often like to. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove. Due to the nature of its origin, that would support the existence of god. Welch pointed out that no archeologist in 1829 could have known how accurately the dating of this technological adaptation correlated with what was happening on the ground. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded in order to prove these very presuppositions.
These facts establish how plausible it is that the book of mormon really is an artifact of the ancient world. The book of mormon makes a handful of references to horses existing on the american continents in these ancient times. John clark of the new world archaeological foundation has compiled a list of sixty items mentioned in the book of mormon. This is illustrated, for example, in the biblical descriptions of the.
One last topic on the subject of archaeological evidence for the book of mormon that i want to talk about is horses. Archaeological finds that contradict the contentions of biblical minimalists and other revisionists have been listed above. Archaeology and the book of esther andrews university. Plenty of evidence shows that the bible describes real people and real places, so most biblical events require very little faith. Book of mormon central evidences of the book of mormon. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon.
In those instances where the archaeological findings seem to be at variance with the bible, the discrepancy lies with the archaeological evidence, i. Exciting discoveries verifying persons, places and events in the bible this book explores dozens of archaeological discoveries that have confirmed the trustworthiness of the bible. Archaeology itself can be divided and subdivided into numerous disciplines. Archaeological evidence for 7 locations on lehis journey. While the book of mormon may follow the common biblical precedent of referring to all domesticated animals as cattle, there is no evidence that old world.
Does archaeology support the book of mormon institute. This compilation of groundbreaking book of mormon articles is selected from over fifty years of lds scholarship published by byu studies. But since the book of mormon is so hugely and internally selffalsifying, it predicts. The list includes items such as steel swords, barley, cement, thrones, and literacy. Not only have cement structures been identified throughout mesoamerica, but as dr. The claim that, unlike the bible, there is no archaeological evidence supporting the book of mormon is based on naive and erroneous assumptions. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of. In this 50minute video, charlie campbell lays out a case for the scientific accuracy of the bible by looking at several ancient revelations in the bible that revealed amazing facts about the. The bibles scientific accuracy and foresight has the bible been disproved by scientific discoveries. The first myth we need to eliminate is that book of mormon archaeology existsif one is to study book of mormon archaeology, then one must have a corpus of data with which to deal. Furthermore, and very importantly for the book of mormons historicity, as with the rare discovery of the nihm altars in southern arabia linked to ishmaels death and burial,7 with the even rarer discovery of this small, inscribed seal, it is quite possible that an archaeological artifact of a book of mormon personality has been identified.
John sorenson noted, the firstcenturybc appearance of cement in the book of mormon agrees strikingly with the archaeology of central mexico. T he book of mormon is advertized by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints as another testament of jesus christ and specifically of the account of his supposed visit to the american continent the book of mormon, 3 nephi 11. This volume features articles on archaeological and anthropological aspects of the book of mormon, such as the use of the wheel in ancient america, hagoth and the polynesian tradition, the mulekites, ancient writing in the americas, and the use of metal. What i would say to you is there is no archaeological proof of the book of mormon. Have mormonfunded archaeological digs refuted mormonism. Has an artifact that relates to the book of mormon been. Is there archaeological evidence for the book of mormon. A new archaeological excavation at the south of the temple mount in jerusalem has just barely uncovered an 8th century seal impression that might have belonged to the biblical prophet isaiah, revered by nephi and other book of mormon prophets. Considered the first of the biblical patriarchs, abrahams life history encompasses a journey starts that in a place called ur. Here you find the photographic, archaeological, and biblical evidences. None of the cities or people mentioned specifically in regard to the book of mormon have been discovered. Just as there are biblical archaeologists in the middle.
The book of mormon teaches that the redemption of christ was planned before the world began, and the mayans likewise believed in gods who. Book of mormon archaeology the irrefutable evidence. Archaeological evidence about the biblical story of abraham. What archaeological evidence might be considered the minimal irrefutable proof needed to convince a nonbelieving world of the authenticity of the. Also, the book of mormon contains grave errors and contradictions. Its important to note the distinctions between biblical archaeology and proposed book of mormon archaeology, even if youre a believing mormon who takes the books historicity as given. Archaeological science versus claims of the book of mormon.
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