The Importance and Reliability of the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is one of the four canonized Scriptures
of the Mormon Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints (LDS). On November 28, 1841, following a meeting with the
Twelve Apostles, the Prophet Joseph Smith wrote in his journal:
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. (History of the Church,
4:461) [Within quotes bold type and words in brackets are by John
Farkas.]
In the Ensign, published monthly by the Mormon Church, then apostle, later President and
Prophet Ezra T. Benson, quotes Mormon Apostle Bruce
R. McConkie as follows:
Men can get nearer to the Lord, can have more of
the spirit of conversion and conformity in their hearts...can
gain a better understanding of the doctrines of salvation through
the Book of Mormon than they can through the Bible...there
will be more people saved in the kingdom of God - ten thousand
times over - because of the Book of Mormon than there will be
because of the Bible. (The Ensign, November 1984, p.
7)
Let us examine what an early LDS apostle said:
It is to be expected that when the angel restores
the gospel it will be restored in fullness and in the most
perfect simplicity and plainness so that every point
of the doctrine of Christ shall be clearly revealed and
expressed in such language that no two persons could understand
it differently...nothing else can be an infallible standard
of the Christian religion; nothing else can reclaim them from
divisions and strifes; nothing else will give certainty and stability
so necessary to the happiness and salvation of man; and nothing
else could be expected in the revelation of the gospel by an angel.
Such a revelation is the Book of Mormon; the most infallible
certainty characterizes every ordinance and every doctrinal point
revealed in that book. In it there is no ambiguityno
room for controversyno doctrine so imperfectly expressed
that two persons would draw two different conclusions therefrom...
(Orson Pratt's Works, Vol 2, "Important Works in Mormon
History", Grandin Book Co, 1990, p. 83; This can also be
found in Divine Authenticity of the Book of Mormon, Apostle
Orson Pratt, 1851, No. 6, page 83)
More recent Mormon leaders said:
Practically all of the
religious truths taught and practiced in any Gospel dispensation
are given in a clear and forceful way in the Book of Mormon.
In fact, many of the principles are presented more clearly
in that record than in any of the other ancient scriptures. (Gospel
Through The Ages, Milton R. Hunter of the First Council of
the Seventy, 1945, p. 86).
...the Book of Mormon...The evidence for its truth
and validity lies within the covers of the book itself. The
test of truth lies in reading it. (President Gordon B. Hinckley,
Second counselor in the First Presidency, General Conference,
Ensign, November, 1984, page 52)
...we make no reservation respecting the Book
of Mormon on the ground of incorrect translation.
To do so would be to ignore attested facts as to the bringing
forth of that book. Joseph Smith the prophet, seer, and revelator,
through whom the ancient record has been translated into our modern
tongue, expressly avers that the translation was effected through
the gift and power of God... (The Vitality of Mormonism,
Apostle James E. Talmage, c1919, p. 127)
The Mormon Church's newspaper, Church New,
in the heading of an article on the Book of Mormon said:
The Book of Mormon
Christ's teachings explained clearly
Book is unsurpassed in doctrinal content
(Church News, January 6, 1996, p. 4)
Most Mormon missionaries, early in their lessons to prospective converts, will ask them to pray about the truth of the Book of Mormon. It should be obvious that Mormon leaders think very highly of the Book of Mormon. It is the most correct of any book on earth, there will be more people saved in the kingdom of God because of it, the translation was effected through the gift and power of God, unsurpassed in doctrinal content and it is a prime missionary tool. But is this book worthy of such confidence?
Before placing such confidence in the Book of Mormon,
or similar books, ALL should investigate, study and raise
questions about it until the truth of it is fully clear in his
mind and heart. Yes, such a study must include prayer, but, it
must also include much more. It should include an examination
of the doctrines taught and a comparison of those doctrines to
what is now taught by the Mormon Church and what has always been
taught by the Bible; the historical and archaeological verification
of the events, places, people and items mentioned; a study of
how the Book of Mormon was translated; and a comparison of its
first edition (1830) to the present edition. Your eternal future
may depend on how you handle what follows.
Changes To The Book of Mormon
A comparison of the first edition (1830) of the Book of Mormon with a current edition will show many changes. Many of the changes may indeed appear relatively minor, but some are not. A detailed analysis will show that almost 4,000 changes have been made and a number of them are significant. The original thought was changed and the changes are not in full harmony with the original text. A full analysis has already been completed in the book 3913 Changes in the Book of Mormon by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. They photocopied every page in the first edition of the Book of Mormon and clearly marked the differences between it and the 1964 edition. Some of the changes are illustrated below. The Tanner's book, on page 17 of their text and page 26 of the photocopy of the first edition of the Book of Mormon, discusses the change made to what is now 1 Nephi 11:32 (Chapter 3, page 26 of the original Book of Mormon). Using a photocopy of one page of the original handwritten manuscript, they clearly demonstrate that the original manuscript and the first edition agreed for that portion agree. The words "the Son of" were added at a later date. The printer of the first edition did not introduce the changes that needed correction. It was the changes introduced later by the LDS Church that were significantly different from the handwritten manuscript.
Many of the changes made to the original edition
of the Book of Mormon were corrections in spelling, grammar and
arranging the book into chapter and verse. None of these types
of changes will be included in the examples given below. But if
several of the early witnesses to the events leading to the publishing
of the Book of Mormon are correct, then one has to wonder why
even these changes were needed.
How Was The Book Of Mormon Translated?
David Whitmer, one of the three witnesses whose statement
is found in the Introduction of the Book of Mormon had this to
say about how the Book of Mormon was translated from the gold
plates:
I will now give you a description of the manner in
which the Book of Mormon was translated. Joseph Smith would put
the seer stone into a hat, and put his face in the hat, drawing
it closely around his face to exclude the light; and in the darkness
the spiritual light would shine. A piece of something resembling
parchment would appear, and on that appeared the writing. One
character at a time would appear, and under it was the interpretation
in English. Brother Joseph would read off the English to Oliver
Cowdery, who was his principal scribe, and when it was written
down and repeated to Brother Joseph to see if it was correct,
then it would disappear, and another character with the interpretation
would appear. Thus the Book of Mormon was translated by the gift
and power of God, and not by any power of man. (An Address
To All Believers In Christ, David Whitmer, Richmond, Missouri,
1887, page 12)
This same quote is used and accepted by Elder Russell
M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in his article,
"A Treasured Testament", in the July 1993 Ensign,
page 62. There is also no reason to question the honesty of David
Whitmer, as his word was accepted as one of the witnesses of the
gold plates. Emma Smith, the wife of Joseph Smith, had a similar
observation to share with her son Joseph Smith III when she said:
In writing for your father I frequently wrote day
after day, often sitting at the table close by him, he sitting
with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it,... (as
quoted in The Word of God, chapter 8 "The Translation
of the Book of Mormon", James E. Lancaster, Signature Books,
1990, pp. 98-99; This book uses as their references: Saints'
Herald, 1 Oct. 1879, pages 289-290; also in History of
the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
Independence, MO, Herald House, 1952, page 356)
The Changes
The major changes are:
Benjamin changed to Mosiah.
- Mosiah 21:28 and Ether 4:1
Directors changed to interpreters
- Alma 37:21, 24
White changed to pure
(pertains to change in skin color) - 2 Nephi 30:6
Mother of God changed
to Mother of the Son of God. - 1 Nephi 11:18
The Eternal Father changed
to Son of the Eternal Father - 1 Nephite 11:21, 32, 13:40
The everlasting God changed
to Son of the everlasting God - 1 Nephi 11:32
Preparator (in 1830 edition)
changed to foundation (at least in the 1908, 1920, 1948,
1961 editions, probably others) and then back to Preparator
(1981 edition). - 1 Nephi 15:35
These changes are significant and cannot be ignored in light of the claims made for the Book of Mormon (see page one of this paper). In addition Alma 41:8 claims "Now, the decrees of God are unalterable..." and Mormon 9:9 says "For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing..." In the light of these how could any change be justified? The translation was allegedly done by the power of God as described by David Whitmer, Emma Smith and Apostle Talmage as shown above.
Click Here to see a reproduced photostat to
show more clearly set of changes.
The Book of Mormon and the Mormon Priesthood
Now keeping in mind the claims about the importance and reliability of the Book of Mormon let us test this book, and other sources, by seeing if we can find the Mormon priesthood in them. An examination and study of Figure 1 at the end of this article will show that only a small fraction can be found.
For more on problems with Mormon scripture see the following articles
linked off of our home page: Code Names Used in Early Mormon Scriptures;
Archaeology and the Book of Mormon; Changes To Mormon Revelations.
John Farkas; Berean Christian Ministries; P.O. Box 1091; Webster, NY 14580
E-mail: bcmmin@frontiernet.net Web page: http://www.bcmmin.org web/bmchg; 12-9-96
| Terms/Phrases as Used to describe the present day LDS priesthoods and offices. | Book of Mormon (1830) | Bible | Pre-1835 Mormon Newspapers | Lectures on Faith | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. aaronic priesthood | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | |||||||||
| 2. melchizedek priesthood | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | |||||||||
| 3. melchizedek(ec) (as the LDS P.H) | Nothing | Possibly in Ps 110:4 | Nothing | Nothing | |||||||||
| 4. Melchizedek(ec) (as the name) | Present (4 Places) | Present (Gen 14:18,Ps 100:4) | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 5. priesthood(s) | Nothing | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 6. aaronic | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | |||||||||
| 7. deacon | Nothing | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 8. teacher | Present | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 9. priest | Present | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 10. elder | Present | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 11. highpriest(s) | Nothing | Nothing | Present (only in E&MS 3/1833) | Nothing | |||||||||
| 12. high priest(s) | Present | Present (only as a Jewish office) | Present (only in E&MS 3/1833) | Nothing | |||||||||
| 13. high priesthood(s) | Present | Nothing | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 14. prophet(s) | Present | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 15. apostle | Called "disciples" | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 16. holy order of God | Present | Nothing | Present (only in E&MS 8/1832) | Nothing | |||||||||
| 17. holy order | Present | Nothing | Present (only in E&MS 8/1832) | Nothing | |||||||||
| 18. bishop | Nothing | Present | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
| 19. high council | Nothing | Nothing | Present (E&MS Sept 1834, pg191; M&A Oct 1834, pg13; Nov 1834, pg24) | Nothing | |||||||||
| 20. laying on of hands | Present (only once, Alma 6:1) | Present (Acts 8:18; 1Tim 4:14; Heb 6:2) | Present | Nothing | |||||||||
