Alternate explanations
A complete list of various alternate explanations offered for the origin of The Book of Mormon is given below. Since no consensus has formed around any one of them as a plausible substitute for Smith's controversial claims, they all continue among critics as contending candidates.
Smith as author
Smith wrote, not translated, the book himself.
Smith colleague as author
Someone else (Sidney Rigdon or some close friend of Smith) wrote the book and allowed Smith to take credit for it.
Smith as plagiarist
Smith plagiarised the book either:
- from the manuscript of another book relating to early American inhabitants which was stolen and altered, or
- from an unpublished novel about early American inhabitants which Smith read and from which he used ideas to compose the book.
See Linguistics and the Book of Mormon.
The role of the Book of Mormon in Mormonism
Relationship between the Book of Mormon and the Bible
Most Latter Day Saints view the Book of Mormon as equivalent to the Bible in its authority as a work of scripture.
Latter Day Saint views concerning the book's historicity
Not all Latter Day Saints consider the Book of Mormon to be a work of history. Some see the book as a work of inspired or divine fiction, similar to the Book of Job or the parables of Jesus Christ.
At the time of its publication, the Book of Mormon was publicized as a comprehensive history of the American Indians. As recent scholarship has failed thus far to uncover irrefutable proof of a large civilization consistent with the book, many Latter Day Saint apologetic scholars have proposed that the book is a history of only a small group of Native Americans in Central America, and is not reflective of Native American history as a whole. See Archaeology and the Book of Mormon.
Consistency with Latter Day Saint doctrines after 1830
Critics charge the Book of Mormon is inconsistent with Mormon doctrine. Though called "the fullness of the everlasting gospel," it does not dictate important doctrines including polygamy, humanity of God, baptism for dead, and preexistence. Believers in the Book of Mormon, however, point to a statement made by Joseph Smith, to the effect that the only real doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are Faith, Repentance, and Baptism, and that all other doctrines and practices are but appendages to those tenets. They comment that no official statement on the humanity of God has been been made since it is unrelated to those 3 things; that no mention is made of plural marriage since it is not a doctrine but a practice, rarely entered into and then only by commandment of God; that Baptism for the Dead is included in the doctrine of Baptism; and that knowledge of the preexistence has been given by divine revelation in our day, and increases our knowledge and understanding of Our Heavenly Father, but may not be included in the Book of Mormon precisely because our Salvation is not contingent upon that knowledge.
The following passages appear to conflict with Mormon doctrines, when taken literally:
- There is only one God, says Mosiah 15:4, so, critics argue, God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit cannot be three gods, and man cannot evolve to be a god. Mormons, however, interpret this passage as a reference to the united Godhead, and specifically to Elohim (God, or Our Father in Heaven), as the only object of worship, at the head of that presidency. Likewise, believers might add, to state that there is only one Pope would not imply that there had never been a Pope before, or that there would never be another. Nor would you assume from this statement that the Pope does not or cannot operate as the head of some quorum of leadership.
- God is static (Mormon 9:9: "the same yesterday, today, and forever"), so, critics argue, he could not have evolved from a man. Mormons believe this to be more a reference to God's constancy for the duration of time, than to his having never gone through any changes, growth, or development himself.
- Desiring many wives is "wicked" (Jacob 1:15), so, critics argue, multiple marriage is bad. Doctrine & Covenants 132 declares that even as David was not only justified, but also assisted, in the killing of Goliath, even so there are times when God commands men to do what would otherwise be forbidden, when it is in His wisdom to do so. Abraham was commanded to lie and say that his wife was his sister (thereby sparing him from probable murder and her from probable rape), and later to kill his own son (but stopped from doing so, in a test of his obedience). Mention is made of plural marriage entered into by well-known Biblical prophets, such as: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, and Moses, and that they were all justified in doing so, so long as they had been commanded to do it. The "desiring [of] many wives and concubines" by the people of Nephi, as mentioned in Jacob 1:15, was unrighteous inasmuch as it had not been commanded by God.
The book has undergone a number of changes over the years, some affecting its consistency with LDS doctrine. See Linguistics and the Book of Mormon.
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