Mormon is so important and it clearly is 10 card, because that first essay, the book of mormon artifact or artifice. If the account he gave us is true, then the book of mormon must be what it purports to be, which is the record of an ancient people written by an ancient author, and joseph smiths role in providing us with the book of mormon was solely as translator. It incorporates the ideas and attitudes of that time. The series, containing five volumes, is set forty million years in the future, with volumes taking place on a planet called harmony. His points are reasonable, but not overpowering, and it seems unlikely anyone will change their minds on. Elder oaks and osc both spoke on this topic in 1993. First published in 1830, the book of mormon tells of the transoceanic migrations of two ancient near eastern peoples to the americas. Subtle details such as the choice of what to explain or what not to explain to readers can quickly reveal. In this article he discusses the issue of whether the book of mormon is an authentic ancient document as mormons claim, or rather a work of fiction. Osc wrote this essay on the topic of bom historicity.
The illustrations in that book still linger in my mind as what black and white illustrations should look like. Card gets off to a rocky start, defensively trying to support the claim that the book of mormon is not fraudulent. Critique of one section of the book of mormon artifact. The principal themes of the book of mormon are the preaching of the gospel to sinners, and the many wars between the righteous and the wicked.
Why does the book of mormon talk of horses, metal, cows, etc when these did not come to new world until after 1492. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded. His points are reasonable, but not overpowering, and it seems unlikely anyone will change their minds on the basis of these musings. It has deceived many people, who should have known better. Jan 31, 2018 elder oaks referenced worldfamous lds author, orson scott card osc in his own talk about book of mormon historicity. Analyzing the book of mormon with grant hardy for fun and. Orson scott card, the book of mormon, artifact or artifice. In the last chapter we saw that the bible is reliable, being textually pure and verifiably accurate in many places. Aug 14, 2017 4 parenthetically, i would cite as an illustration of this point the linguistic, cultural, and writing matters described in support of the authenticity of the book of mormon in orson scott cards persuasive essay, the book of mormonartifact or artifice. The book of mormon describes migrations of people from the middle east to central america, and further describes some features of their civilizations in the new world. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Recently in church i mentioned that a fellow blogger, looney, had said he looked at the book of mormon as christian fiction, similar to l.
The first of these peoples, called jaredites, are supposed to have. Of the 337 proper names in the book of mormon, 149 are found in the bible as well e. Jul 03, 2018 the speech was the book of mormon artifact or artifice. To remedy this situation, i am starting a new blog series called nephite history in context. Archaeologists have not found any ancient chariots, swords, remnants of steel smelting or any artifact that might verify something. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies center.
The book of mormon is the most important book in my life. Watch presentations about american archaeology and its parallels to the book of mormon civilizations. Ever since, as a highschool student, i read orson scott cards the book of mormonartifact or artifice. Subtle details such as the choice of what to explain or what. Some of the names also come from the book of mormon. Those are maledominated areas, and they were also maledominated in america of the 1820s. Pritchards anthology is of texts and pictures, providing images of hundreds of artifacts, ruins, and pieces of art that add context to biblical passages. This essay was adapted from a february, 1993 speech given at the byu symposium on life, the universe, and. The book itself declares that it is it is an abridgment of the record of the people of nephi, and also of the lamanites. Aug 01, 2000 in the book of mormon artifact or artifice. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive position on the historicity of the book of mormon is to point out that we who are its proponents are content with a standoff on this question. The nook book ebook of the orson scott cards artifact or artifice. Book of mormon evidence in american archaeology wayne may. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings.
I was baptized as a mormon 806 age 60, from a catholic background. Nov 05, 2018 the evolution of language and the book of mormon friday, if all goes well, ill have an article published at the interpreter that evaluates the current status of fascinating status orson scott card made about the book of mormon 25 years ago in a speech at byu, available online as the book of mormon artifact or artifice. The book of mormon stands out as a product of the 19th century. We read in the book of mormon that there were great battles with thousands of participants fought in the americas and that they had chariots and swords. If the book is accurate, archaeologists would expect to find numerous pieces of hard evidence in central america that confirm the presence of these societies. Now there were not so many of the children of nephi.
Mesoamerica is also the only place found where there is an abundance of copper, silver and gold, just like the place in the book of mormon. The interpreter foundation is a nonprofit educational organization focused on the scriptures of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints the book of mormon, the pearl of great price, the bible, and the doctrine and covenants, early lds history, and related subjects. It is only males, in the book of mormon, and in smiths day. The speech was the book of mormon artifact or artifice. Orson scott card and book of mormon historicity why the. The evolution of language and the book of mormon mormanity. A number of textual passages are common to the book of mormon and the bible. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint. Artifacts, inscriptions, and texts relevant to the book of mormon.
The 12th annual conference on the book of mormon lands. The series, containing five volumes, is set forty million years in the future, with volumes taking place on a planet called har. Subtle details such as the choice of what to explain or what not to explain to readers can quickly reveal the era. Faith and belief are necessary ingredients for one to come to know that joseph smith performed the work of a seer in bringing the sacred words of the book of mormon from darkness unto light. Card applied his profound skills to examine the artifacts of fiction we should find if the book of mormon had been fabricated and not merely translated by joseph smith.
But why cant anyone find any physical evidence to support these ancient battles. Come see a live presentation on archaeological discoveries and their correlation to the book of mormon cultures. Another testament of jesus christ is a sacred book of scripture that testifies of jesus christ and explains the lords dealings with his people in the ancient americas. I dont know that theres anything that could really prove anything, by way of artifact or writing, to clearly evidence the book of mormon, parrish said. Furthermore, such collections need not be limited to texts. Subtle details such as the choice of what to explain or what not to explain to readers can quickly reveal the era and environment of the author. Posted in book of mormon, book of mormon artifacts, tagged bom archaeology, book of mormon lands, book of mormon lands conference, salt lake city on 10192014 leave a comment. Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after. Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after ministries. Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Posted in book of mormon, book of mormon artifacts, tagged bom archaeology, book of mormon lands, book of mormon lands conference, salt lake city on 10192014 leave a comment the 12th annual conference on the book of mormon lands will be held this month in salt lake city, utah. It was such a huge undertaking in my mind that quite frankly, it scared me. Early argumentsmade at a time when the book of mormon remained virtually unreadwere greatly flawed by insisting on trumpedup slanders that dismissed joseph smith as a lazy liar with a host of even more serious flaws. Dating to the late 7 th to early 6 th centuries bc, the ovalshaped stamp seal of malkiyahu ben hamelek was fashioned of bluish green malchite stone.
Latterday saints believe the book of mormon to be the word of god and a companion testament to the holy bible. Archaeologists excavating in jerusalem discovered a small stamp seal a clay emblem that would be used to mark documents with a signature in the 1980s belonging to a certain malkiyahu ben hamelek, or malkiyahu son of the king. Sep 19, 2010 the characters were very strange but a number of them were exactly the same. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. 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. And the book of mormon, by cards own criteria, is a very clever hoax. Critique of one section of the book of mormon artifact or artifice. Why are there not any archeological artifacts on ancient. The search for book of mormon artifacts home and family. The opponents of the historicity of the book of mormon must prove that the people whose religious life it records did not live anywhere in the americas. According to the church of jesus christ of latterday saints mormon church, the book of mormon is a divinely inspired revelation that is complimentary to the bible. Whitebinder the book of mormon artifact or artifice.
The illustrations in that book still linger in my mind as what black and white illustrations. Orson scott card and book of mormon historicity why the lds. In the first chapter, card defended the book of mormon from a point of view that i i might be coming at this with a little bit of bias. This essay was adapted from a february, 1993 speech given at the byu symposium on life. Parenthetically, i would cite as an illustration of this point the language, cultural, and writing matters described in support of the authenticity of the book of mormon in orson scott cards persuasive essay, the book of mormon artifact or artifice.
Has an ancient artifact that relates to the book of mormon. Orson scott card is my favorite author other than mormon, moroni, and ether, of course so it is hard to be overly critical of this book. There is a story in the book of mormon where a man cut off a bunch of arms in a battle. Five compelling archeological evidences for the book of mormon. Explorations in critical methodology, signature books, 1993, page 1 to 2.
I recently had an article published at the interpreter that evaluates the current status of fascinating statement orson scott card made about the book of mormon 25 years ago in a speech at byu, available online as the book of mormon artifact or artifice. Dec 01, 2018 a new article or, anyway, an article thats still relatively new ive been traveling in the pages of interpreter. The book of mormon primarily follows two families who depart jerusalem 600 years before the birth of christ, as well as their posterity. The book of mormon, if it is a science fiction work, if it is an artifact of the 1820s, should be thick with similar cultural clues. May 18, 2016 now there were not so many of the children of nephi.
This book helps readers understand that the coming forth of the book of mormon was a miracle. Adapted from a speech given at the byu symposium on life, the universe, and everything. As seen by science, the book of mormon is stronger today than it was in 1830, 1844, 1950, or even 2000, so i expect it will continue to become stronger in the future. The historicity of the book of mormon is fundamental to what it is. I remember it as one of the earliest things i read, starting with emma mar petersons childrens adaptation. The book of mormon properly titled the book of mormon.
Absence of joseph smith in the book of mormon religious. A storyteller in zion by orson scott card goodreads. The evolution of language and the authenticity of the book of. The homecoming saga is a science fiction series by orson scott card. Friday, if all goes well, ill have an article published at the interpreter that evaluates the current status of fascinating status orson scott card made about the book of mormon 25 years ago in a speech at byu, available online as the book of mormon artifact or artifice. Analyzing the book of mormon with grant hardy for fun and profit. A new article or, anyway, an article thats still relatively new ive been traveling in the pages of interpreter. The overall trend in the date over the past 175 years fits the expectations for the book of mormon as history rather than hoax. Why are there not any archeological artifacts on ancient world of book of mormon as there are on the bible. The interpreter foundation increasing understanding of. The aim of this series will be to essentially create an anthology of relevant primary sources one item at a time.