Posted in Apologetics Book of Mormon Critics Evidence history Origins Problems Translation

A New Twist on the Spalding Theory–And Sidney’s Amazing Voice Trick

For some critics, the story of the lost 116 pages in the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is utterly ridiculous. Some say it shows Joseph was just making…

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Posted in Book of Mormon chiasmus Evidence Scholarship

What A Non-LDS Scholar Said about Chiasmus

I recommend reading http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1131&index=1 to the scholarly book, Chiasmus in Antiquity, edited by John Welch. The full text of that intriguing book is available free online at the Maxwell Institute….

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Posted in Book of Mormon Evidence language literature poetry Scholarship wordplays

Textual Criticism and the Book of Mormon (Emphasis on 2 Nephi 26-27)

Robert F. Smith’s chapter, “Textual Criticism of the Book of Mormon” is one of many interesting sections in the book Reexploring the Book of Mormon by John W. Welch. Detailed…

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Posted in Book of Mormon Evidence Hebrew language poetry Uncategorized

More on Word Pairs and Hebraisms

My previous post linked to a significant 1997 article by Kevin Barney that revealed the presence in the Book of Mormon of a recently recognized traditional element of ancient Hebrew…

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Book of Mormon cover
Posted in Book of Mormon Evidence literature Scripture

Two Paths in a Complex Book

In my last post, I discussed the issue of war in the Book of Mormon and the diverse experiences it covers. One reader commented that the Book of Mormon doesn’t…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Antiquity Book of Abraham Egyptian Evidence history Scholarship Scripture

Truer Than Ever: The Book of Abraham

One of the biggest challenges to my personal testimony of the reality of the Restoration came when I was serving as Bishop years ago. I was exploring one of the…

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Posted in Book of Mormon Evidence Geography Mesoamerica Scholarship

Away from the Heartland: Joseph Smith, John Lloyd Stephens, and a Mesoamerican Setting for the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon Archeology Foundation [Aug. 2024 update: the BMAF.org website recently became defunct, so links are to archived pages] has decided it’s time to speak out against what…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Arabia Arabian Peninsula Book of Mormon Evidence Scholarship

“Whither Shall I Go for Ore?” – Another Subtle Requirement for Bountiful’s THREE Excellent Candidates

Among the many shreds of allegedly non-existent evidence in favor of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon, some of the recent finds in the Arabian Peninsula are perhaps the…

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Posted in Arabian Peninsula Book of Mormon Evidence

Iron Ore at a Bountiful Candidate – In Case You Missed the News

Not the newest news, but still interesting insights about the geological confirmation of usable iron ore in the Arabian Peninsula at one of the best candidates for the ancient place…

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Posted in Ancient Near East Christianity Doctrine Evidence history Salvation Scholarship

Early Christianity and the (Restored) Concept of Three Degrees of Glory

A page in Barry Bickmores’ “Mormonism and Early Christianity” site provides some information from early Christian writings that are consistent with the Latter-day Saint doctrine of three degrees of glory…

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