Book of Mormon Presentation

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Book of MormonFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of

ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2200 BC to AD 421.[1][2] It was first publishedin March 1830 by Joseph Smith as The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates

Taken from the Plates of Nephi.[3]

According to Smith's account and the book's narrative, the Book of Mormon was originally written in otherwise unknown

characters referred to as "reformed Egyptian"[4] engraved on golden plates. Smith said that the last prophet to contribute tothe book, a man named Moroni, buried it in a hill in present-day New York and then returned to earth in 1827 as an

angel,[5] revealing the location of the book to Smith and instructing him to translate it as evidence of the restoration ofChrist's true church in the latter days.

The Book of Mormon has a number of original and distinctive doctrinal discussions on subjects such as the fall of Adam

and Eve,[6] the nature of the Atonement,[7] eschatology, redemption from physical and spiritual death,[8] and theorganization of the latter-day church. The pivotal event of the book is an appearance of Jesus Christ in the Americas shortlyafter his resurrection.

The Book of Mormon is the earliest of the unique writings of the Latter Day Saint movement, the denominations of whichtypically regard the text not only as scripture but also as a historical record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of

the Americas.[9] The Book of Mormon is divided into smaller books, titled after the individuals named as primary authorsand, in most versions, divided into chapters and verses. It is written in English very similar to the Early Modern English

linguistic style of the King James Version of the Bible, and has since been fully or partially translated into 108 languages.[10]

Contents

1 Origin2 Content

2.1 Title2.2 Organization2.3 Chronology2.4 Doctrinal and philosophical teachings

2.4.1 Jesus2.4.2 Other distinctive religious teachings2.4.3 Teachings about political theology

3 Religious significance3.1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints3.2 Community of Christ3.3 Greater Latter Day Saint movement

4 Historical authenticity5 Manuscripts6 Editions

6.1 Chapter and verse notation systems6.2 Current6.3 Historic6.4 Non-print editions



A page from the original

manuscript of the Book of

Mormon, covering 1 Nephi

4:38

(http://lds.org/scriptures/bof

m/1-ne/4.38?lang=eng#37)-

5:14

(http://lds.org/scriptures/bof

m/1-ne/5.14?lang=eng#13)

6.5 Textual criticism6.6 Non-English translations

7 Representations in media8 Distribution9 See also10 Notes11 References12 Further reading13 External links

Origin

Main articles: Origin of the Book of Mormon, Golden plates, and Criticism ofthe Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith said that when he was seventeen years of age an angel of God named

Moroni appeared to him[11] and said that a collection of ancient writings, engraved ongolden plates by ancient prophets, was buried in a nearby hill in present-day WayneCounty, New York. The writings were said to describe a people whom God had ledfrom Jerusalem to the Western hemisphere 600 years before Jesus birth. According tothe narrative, Moroni was the last prophet among these people and had buried therecord, which God had promised to bring forth in the latter days. Smith stated that hewas instructed by Moroni to meet at the hill annually each September 22 to receivefurther instructions and that four years after the initial visit, in 1827, he was allowed to

take the plates and was directed to translate them into English.[11][12]

Accounts of the way in which Smith dictated the Book of Mormon vary. Smith himselfimplied that he read the plates directly using spectacles prepared for the purpose of

translating. Other accounts variously state that he used seer stones[citation needed] placedin a top hat, or the Urim and Thummim.

Smith's first published description of the plates said the plates "had the appearance ofgold". They were described by Martin Harris, one of Smith's early scribes, as "fastened

together in the shape of a book by wires."[13] Smith called the engraved writing on the

plates "reformed Egyptian".[14] A portion of the text on the plates was also "sealed"

according to his account, so its content was not included in the Book of Mormon.[15]

In addition to Smith's account regarding the plates, eleven others signed affidavits thatthey personally saw the golden plates and, in some cases, handled them. Their written

testimonies are known as the Testimony of Three Witnesses[16] and the Testimony of

Eight Witnesses.[17] These affidavits are published as part of the introductory pages to theBook of Mormon.

Smith enlisted the help of his neighbor, Martin Harris (one of the Three Witnesses), wholater mortgaged his farm to underwrite the printing of the Book of Mormon, as a scribe during his initial work on the text. In1828, Harris, prompted by his wife, Lucy, repeatedly requested that Smith lend him the current pages that had been

translated. Smith reluctantly acceded to Harris's requests. Lucy Harris is thought to have stolen the first 116 pages.[18]

After the loss, Smith recorded that he had lost the ability to translate, and that Moroni had taken back the plates to be

returned only after Smith repented.[19][20][21][22] Smith later stated that God allowed him to resume translation, but directed



A depiction of Joseph Smith

dictating the Book of

Mormon by peering at a seer

stone in a hat.

Books of the Book of Mormon

Small Plates of Nephi

that he begin translating another part of the plates. In 1829, with the assistance of Oliver Cowdery, work on the Book of

Mormon recommenced, and was completed in a short period (AprilJune 1829).[23] Smith said that he then returned the

plates to Moroni upon the publication of the book.[20][24] The Book of Mormon went on sale at the bookstore of E. B.

Grandin in Palmyra, New York on March 26, 1830.[25] Today the building in which the Book of Mormon was firstpublished and sold is known as the Book of Mormon Historic Publication Site.

Critics of the Book of Mormon claim that it was fabricated by Smith[26][27][28] and thathe drew material and ideas from various modern works rather than translating an ancient

record. Works that have been suggested as sources include the King James Bible,[29][30]

The Wonders of Nature,[31][32] View of the Hebrews,[27][28][33] and an unpublished

manuscript written by Solomon Spalding.[34][35][36]

For some adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement, unresolved issues of the book'shistorical authenticity and the lack of conclusive archaeological evidence have led them toadopt a compromise position that the Book of Mormon may be the creation of Smith, but

that it was nevertheless created through divine inspiration.[37] The position of mostmembers of the Latter Day Saint movement and the official position of The Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) is that the book is an actual and accurate

historical record.[38]

Content

See also: Book of Mormon chronology

Title

Smith stated that the title page, and presumably the actual title of the 1830edition, came from the translation of "the very last leaf" of the golden

plates, and was written by the prophethistorian Moroni.[39][40] The titlepage states that the purpose of the Book of Mormon is "to [show] untothe remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath donefor their fathers;...and also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile thatJesus is the Christ, the eternal God, manifesting himself unto all

nations."[41]

Organization

The Book of Mormon is organized as a compilation of smaller books,each named after its main named narrator or a prominent leader,beginning with the First Book of Nephi (1 Nephi) and ending with theBook of Moroni.

The book's sequence is primarily chronological based on the narrativecontent of the book. Exceptions include the Words of Mormon and theBook of Ether. The Words of Mormon contains editorial commentary byMormon. The Book of Ether is presented as the narrative of an earliergroup of people who had come to America before the immigrationdescribed in 1 Nephi. First Nephi through Omni are written in first-personnarrative, as are Mormon and Moroni. The remainder of the Book of



First Book of NephiSecond Book of NephiBook of JacobBook of EnosBook of JaromBook of Omni

Contribution of MormonWords of MormonMormon's abridgment ofthe Large Plates of Nephi

Book of MosiahBook of AlmaBook of HelamanThird NephiFourth Nephi

Book of MormonAdditions by Moroni

Parts of the Book of MormonBook of EtherBook of Moroni

See also

Book of Mormon PortalLatter-day Saints Portal

Cover page of The Book of Mormon

from an original 1830 edition, by

Joseph Smith

(Image from the U.S. Library of

Congress Rare Book and Special

Collections Division.)

Mormon is written in third-person historical narrative, saidto be compiled and abridgedby Mormon (with Moroniabridging the Book of Ether).

Most modern editions of thebook have been divided intochapters and verses. Mosteditions of the book alsocontain supplementary material,including the Testimony ofThree Witnesses and theTestimony of Eight Witnesses.

Chronology

Main article: Book ofMormon chronology

The books from First Nephi toOmni are described as beingfrom "the small plates of

Nephi".[42] This account beginsin ancient Jerusalem around 600 BC. It tells the story of a man named Lehi, hisfamily, and several others as they are led by God from Jerusalem shortly beforethe fall of that city to the Babylonians in 586 BC. The book describes their

journey across the Arabian peninsula, and then to the promised land, the Americas, by ship.[43] These books recount thegroup's dealings from approximately 600 BC to about 130 BC, during which time the community grew and split into twomain groups, which are called the Nephites and the Lamanites, that frequently warred with each other.

Following this section is the Words of Mormon. This small book, said to be written in AD 385 by Mormon, is a short

introduction to the books of Mosiah, Alma, Helaman, Third Nephi, and Fourth Nephi.[44] These books are described asbeing abridged from a large quantity of existing records called "the large plates of Nephi" that detailed the people's historyfrom the time of Omni to Mormon's own life. The Book of Third Nephi is of particular importance within the Book ofMormon because it contains an account of a visit by Jesus from heaven to the Americas sometime after his resurrection andascension. The text says that during this American visit, he repeated much of the same doctrine and instruction given in theGospels of the Bible and he established an enlightened, peaceful society which endured for several generations, but whicheventually broke into warring factions again.

The book of Mormon is an account of the events during Mormon's life. Mormon is said to have received the charge oftaking care of the records that had been hidden, once he was old enough. The book includes an account of the wars,Mormon's leading of portions of the Nephite army, and his retrieving and caring for the records. Mormon is eventuallykilled after having handed down the records to his son Moroni.

According to the text, Moroni then made an abridgment (called the Book of Ether) of a record from a previous people

called the Jaredites.[44] The account describes a group of families led from the Tower of Babel[45] to the Americas, headedby a man named Jared and his brother. The Jaredite civilization is presented as existing on the American continent beginning

about 2500 BC,[46]long before Lehi's family arrived in 600 BCand as being much larger and more developed. Thedating in the text is only an approximation.



A depiction of Joseph Smith's description of receiving

the golden plates from the angel Moroni at the Hill

Cumorah.

The Book of Moroni then details the final destruction of the Nephites and the idolatrous state of the remaining society.[47] It

mentions a few spiritual insights and some important doctrinal teachings,[48] then closes with Moroni's testimony and an

invitation to pray to God for a confirmation of the truthfulness of the account.[49]

Doctrinal and philosophical teachings

The Book of Mormon contains doctrinal and philosophicalteachings on a wide range of topics, from basic themes ofChristianity and Judaism to political and ideological teachings.

Jesus

Stated on the title page, the Book of Mormon's central purposeis for the "convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the

Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations."[50]

The book describes Jesus, prior to his birth, as a spirit "withoutflesh and blood", although with a spirit "body" that looked

similar to how Jesus would appear during his physical life.[51]

Jesus is described as "the Father and the Son".[52] He is said tobe:

"God himself [who] shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people...[b]eing the Fatherand the Son the Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus

becoming the Father and Son and they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth."[53]

Other parts of the book portray the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as "one."[54] Beliefs among the churches of theLatter Day Saint movement encompass nontrinitarianism (in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) totrinitarianism (particularly among the Community of Christ). See Godhead (Latter Day Saints).

In furtherance of its theme of reconciling Jews and Gentiles to Jesus, the book describes a variety of visions or visitations tosome of the early inhabitants in the Americas involving Jesus. Most notable among these is a described visit of Jesus to a

group of early inhabitants shortly after his resurrection.[55] Many of the book's contributors described other visions ofJesus, including one by the Brother of Jared who, according to the book, lived before Jesus, and saw the "body" of Jesus'

spirit thousands of years prior to his birth.[51] According to the book, a narrator named Nephi described a vision of the

birth, ministry, and death of Jesus,[56] including a prophecy of Jesus' name,[57] said to have taken place nearly 600 years

prior to Jesus' birth.[58]

In the narrative, at the time of King Benjamin (about 130 BC), the Nephite believers were called "the children of

Christ".[59] At another place, the faithful members of the church at the time of Captain Moroni (73 BC) were called

"Christians" by their enemies, because of their belief in Jesus Christ.[60] The book also states that for nearly 200 years after

Jesus' appearance at the temple in the Americas[61] the land was filled with peace and prosperity because of the people's

obedience to his commandments.[62] Later, the prophet Mormon worked to convince the faithless people of his time (AD

360) of Christ. His son, the prophet Moroni, is said to have buried the plates with faith in Christ.[63] Many other prophetsin the book also wrote of the reality of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

In the Bible, Jesus spoke to the Jews in Jerusalem of other sheep who would hear his voice,.[64] The Book of Mormonclaims this meant that the Nephites and other remnants of the lost tribes of Israel throughout the world were to be visited by

Jesus after his resurrection.[65]



Other distinctive religious teachings

On most religious issues, Book of Mormon doctrines are similar to those found in the Bible and among other Christiandenominations. Among its distinctive theological interpretations are the following:

When the Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote of prophets who would "whisper out of the dust,"[66] he was referring

to the publication of the Book of Mormon.[67]

The fall of man is a prerequisite for procreation, and a necessary requirement for the return to God: "Adam fell that

men might be, and men are, that they might have joy."[68]

Teachings about political theology

The book delves into political theology within a Christian or Jewish context. Among these themes are Americanexceptionalism. According to the book, the Americas are portrayed as a "land of promise", the world's most exceptional

land[69] of the time. The book states that any righteous society possessing the land would be protected, whereas if they

became wicked they would be destroyed and replaced with a more righteous civilization.[70]

On the issue of war and violence, the book teaches that war is justified for people to "defend themselves against theirenemies". However they were never to "give an offense," or to "raise their sword ... except it were to preserve their

lives."[71] The book praises the faith of a group of former warriors who took an oath of complete pacifism, refusing to take

arms even to defend themselves and their people.[72] However, 2,000 of their descendants, who had not taken the oath oftheir parents not to take up arms against their enemies, chose to go to battle against the Lamanites, and it states that in their

battles the 2,000 men were protected by God through their faith and, though many were injured, none of them died.[73]

The book points out monarchy as an ideal form of government, but only when the monarch is righteous.[72][74] However,the book warns of the evil that occurs when the king is wicked and therefore suggests that it is not generally good to have a

king.[75] The book further records the decision of the people to be ruled no longer by kings,[76] choosing instead a form of

democracy led by elected judges.[77] When citizens referred to as "king-men" attempted to overthrow a democraticallyelected government and establish an unrighteous king, the book praises a military commander who executed pro-monarchycitizens who had vowed to destroy the church of God and were unwilling to defend their country from hostile invading

forces.[78] The book also speaks favorably of a particular instance of what appears to be a peaceful Christ-centered

theocracy, which lasted approximately 194 years before contentions began again.[79]

The book supports notions of economic justice, achieved through voluntary donation of "substance, every man according to

that which he had, to the poor."[80] In one case, all the citizens held their property in common.[79] When individuals within asociety began to disdain and ignore the poor, to "wear costly apparel", and otherwise engage in wickedness for personal

gain, such societies are repeatedly portrayed in the book as being ripe for destruction.[81]

Religious significance

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Book of Mormon (subtitled in 1981 by the LDS Church as "Another Testament of Jesus Christ") is one of four sacredtexts or standard works of the LDS Church. The other texts are the Bible (King James Version), the Doctrine and

Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price.[82] Church members officially regard the Book of Mormon as the "most correct"

book of scripture, in that "a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book."[83] This is, in



part, because church members believe the Bible was the result of a multiple-generation translation process and the Book of

Mormon was not.[84] Joseph Smith told of receiving a revelation condemning the "whole church" for treating the Book of

Mormon and the former commandments lightly.[85]

The Book of Mormons significance to the LDS Church was reiterated in the 1980s by Ezra Taft Benson, the church's

thirteenth president.[86] In an August 2005 Ensign message, LDS Church president Gordon B. Hinckley challenged each

member of the church to re-read the Book of Mormon before the year's end.[87] The books importance is commonlystressed at the twice-yearly general conference, at special devotionals by general authorities, and in the church's teachingpublications.

The LDS Church encourages discovery of the books truth by following the suggestion in its final chapter to study, ponder,

and pray to God concerning its veracity. This passage is referred to as Moroni's Promise.[88]

As of April 2011, the LDS Church has published more than 150 million copies of the Book of Mormon.[89]

Community of Christ

The Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, views the Bookof Mormon as an additional witness of Jesus Christ and publishes two versions of the book through its official publishingarm, Herald House. The Authorized Edition is based on the original printer's manuscript and the 1837 Second Edition (or"Kirtland Edition") of the Book of Mormon. Its content is similar to the Book of Mormon published by the LDS Church,but the versification is different. The Community of Christ also publishes a 1966 "Revised Authorized Edition", whichattempts to modernize some of the language.

In 2001, Community of Christ President W. Grant McMurray reflected on increasing questions about the Book ofMormon: "The proper use of The Book of Mormon as sacred scripture has been under wide discussion in the 1970s andbeyond, in part because of long-standing questions about its historical authenticity and in part because of perceived

theological inadequacies, including matters of race and ethnicity."[90]

At the 2007 Community of Christ World Conference, President Stephen M. Veazey ruled out of order a resolution to"reaffirm the Book of Mormon as a divinely inspired record." He stated that "while the Church affirms the Book of Mormonas scripture, and makes it available for study and use in various languages, we do not attempt to mandate the degree ofbelief or use. This position is in keeping with our longstanding tradition that belief in the Book of Mormon is not to be used

as a test of fellowship or membership in the church."[91]

Greater Latter Day Saint movement

There are a number of other churches that are part of the Latter Day Saint movement.[92] Most of these churches werecreated as a result of issues ranging from differing doctrinal interpretations and acceptance of the movement's scriptures,including the Book of Mormon, to disagreements as to who was the divinely chosen successor to Joseph Smith. Thesegroups all have in common the acceptance of the Book of Mormon as scripture. It is this acceptance which distinguishesthe churches of the Latter Day Saint movement from other Christian denominations. Separate editions of the Book ofMormon have been published by a number of churches in the Latter Day Saint movement, along with private individualsand foundations not endorsed by any specific denomination.

Historical authenticity

Main article: Historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon

See also: Criticism of the Book of Mormon, Archaeology and the Book of Mormon, Genetics and the Book of



Mormon, Linguistics and the Book of Mormon, Origin of the Book of Mormon, and Book of Mormonanachronisms

The archaeological, historical and scientific communities are generally skeptical about the claims of the Book of Mormon.Critics of such tend to focus on four main areas:

The lack of correlation between locations described in the Book of Mormon and American archaeological sites.[93]

References to animals, plants, metals and technologies in the Book of Mormon that archaeological or scientificstudies have found no evidence of in post-Pleistocene, pre-Columbian America, frequently referred to as

anachronisms.[94] Items typically listed include cattle,[95] horses,[96][97] asses,[96][98] oxen,[96] sheep, swine,

goats,[99] elephants,[100][101] wheat, steel,[102] brass, chains, iron, scimitars, and chariots.[103]

The lack of linguistic connection between any Native American languages and Near Eastern languages.[104]

The lack of DNA evidence linking any Native American group to the ancient Near East.[105]

Most adherents of the Latter Day Saint movement consider the Book of Mormon to generally be a historically accurate

account.[38] Within the Latter Day Saint movement there are several apologetic groups that seek to reconcile thediscrepancies in diverse ways. Among these apologetic groups, much work has been published by Foundation for AncientResearch and Mormon Studies (FARMS), and Foundation for Apologetic Information & Research (FAIR), attempting todefend the Book of Mormon as a literal history, countering arguments critical of its historical authenticity, or reconcilinghistorical and scientific evidence with the text. One of the more common recent arguments is the limited geography model,which conjectures that the people of the Book of Mormon covered only a limited geographical region in eitherMesoamerica, South America, or the Great Lakes area. The LDS Church continues to declare that science can support the

Book of Mormon.[106]

Manuscripts

The Book of Mormon was dictated by Joseph Smith to several scribes over a period of nearly two years, resulting in threemanuscripts.

The 116-page manuscript contained the first 116 pages of the Book of Lehi and was lost after Smith lent the uncopied

manuscript to Martin Harris.[18]

The first completed manuscript, called the original manuscript (O), was completed using a variety of scribes. Portions of the

original manuscript were also used for typesetting.[107] In October 1841, the entire original manuscript was placed into thecornerstone of the Nauvoo House, and sealed up until nearly forty years later when the cornerstone was reopened. It was

then discovered that much of the original manuscript had been destroyed by water seepage and mold.[108] Surviving

manuscript pages were handed out to various families and individuals in the 1880s.[108] A total of only 28% of the original

manuscript now survives, including a remarkable find of fragments from 58 pages in 1991.[107] The majority of what

remains of the original manuscript is now kept in the LDS Church Archives.[107]

The second completed manuscript, called the printer's manuscript (P) was a copy of the original manuscript produced by

Oliver Cowdery and two other scribes.[107] It is at this point that initial copyediting of the Book of Mormon was

completed. Observations of the original manuscript show little evidence of corrections to the text.[108][109] The printer's

manuscript is now the earliest surviving complete copy of the Book of Mormon, being nearly 100% extant;[110] it is owned

by the Community of Christ.[107]



Critical comparisons between surviving portions of the manuscripts show an average of two to three changes per page fromthe original manuscript to the printer's manuscript, with most changes being corrections of scribal errors such as misspellings

or the correction, or standardization, of grammar inconsequential to the meaning of the text.[107][109] The printer's

manuscript was further edited, adding paragraphing and punctuation to the first third of the text.[107]

The printer's manuscript was not used fully in the typesetting of the 1830 version of Book of Mormon; portions of the

original manuscript were also used for typesetting.[107] The original manuscript was used by Smith to further correct errors

printed in the 1830 and 1837 versions of the Book of Mormon for the 1840 printing of the book.[107]

Editions

Chapter and verse notation systems

The original 1830 publication did not have verse markers, though the individual books were divided into relatively longchapters. Just as the Bible's chapter and verse notation system is a later addition of Bible publishers to books that wereoriginally solid blocks of undivided text, the chapter and verse markers within the books of the Book of Mormon are mereconventions, not part of the original text.

Publishers from different factions of the Latter Day Saint movement have published different competing chapter and versenotation systems. The two most significant are the LDS system, introduced in 1879, and the RLDS system, which is based

on the original 1830 chapter divisions.[111]

The RLDS 1908 Edition, RLDS 1966 Edition, the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) Edition and Restored Covenant Editionsuse the RLDS system while most other current editions use the LDS system.

Current

The Book of Mormon is currently printed by the following publishers:

Churchpublishers

YearTitles and

notesLink

The Churchof JesusChrist ofLatter-daySaints

1981

The Book ofMormon:AnotherTestament ofJesus

Christ.[112]

Newintroductions,chaptersummaries, andfootnotes. 1920edition errorscorrected basedon OriginalManuscript and1840

edition.[113]

link (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm?lang=eng)



Officiallyupdated with anew editionMarch 1, 2013,which will beprintedbeginningAugust

2013.[114]

Communityof Christ

1966

"RevisedAuthorizedVersion", basedon 1908AuthorizedVersion, 1837edition and"originalmanuscript".Notable for theomission of "itcame to pass"phrases.

The Churchof JesusChrist(Bickertonite)

2001Compiled by acommittee ofApostles.

RichardDrew

1992

Photo-enlargedfacsimile of the1840

edition[115]

Church ofChrist(Temple Lot)

1990

Based on 1908RLDS edition,1830 edition,Printer'sManuscript, andcorrections bychurch leaders.

link (http://www.churchofchrist-tl.org/PDFs/Downloads/Web%201990%20BOOK%20OF%20MORMON.pdf)

Church ofChrist withthe ElijahMessage

1957

The Record ofthe Nephites,"RestoredPalmyraEdition". 1830text with LDSchapters andverses.

link (http://www.elijahmessage.net/Nephite_Record.html)



Otherpublishers

Year Titles andnotes

Link

HeraldHeritage

1970Facsimile of the1830 edition.

ZarahemlaResearchFoundation

1999

The Book ofMormon:RestoredCovenantEdition. Textfrom Originaland Printer'sManuscripts, inpoetic

layout.[116]

link (http://www.restoredcovenant.org/RCE.asp?CAT=RCE)

Bookcraft 1999

The Book ofMormon forLatter-daySaint Families.Large print withnumerous visualsand explanatorynotes.

University ofIllinois Press

2003

The Book ofMormon: AReader'sEdition. Basedon the 1920LDS edition.

link (http://books.google.com/books?id=wbSqttrggZIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Doubleday2006[117]

The Book ofMormon:AnotherTestament ofJesus Christ.Text from thecurrent LDSedition withoutfootnotes. FirstDoubledayedition was in

2004.[118]

ExperiencePress

2006

Reset typematching theoriginal 1830edition in word,line and page.Fixed



typographical

errors.[119]

StratfordBooks

2006Facsimile reprintof 1830 edition.

PenguinClassics

2008Paperback with1840 text.

link (http://books.google.com/books?id=8sbEBgS0cJIC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false)

YaleUniversityPress

2009

The Book ofMormon: TheEarliest Text.First edition textwith hundreds ofcorrections fromRoyal Skousen'sstudy of theoriginal

manuscripts.[120]

link (http://books.google.com/books?id=680cn0KpjVMC&lpg=PP1&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Historic

The following non-current editions marked major developments in the text or reader's helps printed in the Book ofMormon.

Publisher YearTitles and

notesLink

E. B.Grandin

1830

"First edition" inPalmyra. Basedon Printer'sManuscriptcopied fromOriginalManuscript.

link(http://www.archive.org/stream/bookofmormonacco1830smit#page/n3/mode/2up)

Pratt andGoodson

1837

"Second edition"in Kirtland.Revision of firstedition, using thePrinter'sManuscript withemendations andgrammatical

corrections.[113]

Robinsonand Smith

1840

"Third edition" inNauvoo.Revised byJoseph Smith incomparison tothe Original

link (http://www.archive.org/stream/bookmormon01smitgoog#page/n4/mode/2up)



Manuscript.[113]

Young,Kimballand Pratt

1841

"First Europeanedition". 1837reprint withBritish

spellings.[113]

Future editionsdescended fromthis, not the1840

edition.[121]

FranklinD.Richards

1852

"Third Europeanedition". Editedby Richards.Introducedprimitive verses(numbered

paragraphs).[113]

link (http://www.archive.org/stream/bookmormon00smitgoog#page/n10/mode/2up)

James O.Wright

1858

Unauthorizedreprinting of1840 edition.Used by theearly RLDSChurch in

1860s.[113]

link (http://www.archive.org/stream/bookofmormon00smit#page/n3/mode/2up)

RLDSChurch

1874

First RLDSedition. 1840text with

verses.[113]

link (http://books.google.com/books?id=gmcoAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR1#v=onepage&q&f=false)

DeseretNews

1879

Edited by OrsonPratt. Introducedfootnotes, newverses, andshorter

chapters.[113]

link (http://books.google.com/books?id=T1lNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR3#v=onepage&q&f=false)

RLDSChurch

1908

"AuthorizedVersion". Newverses andcorrectionsbased onPrinter's

Manuscript.[113]

link (http://centerplace.org/hs/bofm/)

The

Edited by JamesE. Talmage.

Added



Translations of the

Book of Mormon.

Church of

JesusChrist ofLatter-day Saints

1920

introductions,double columns,chaptersummaries, new

footnotes,[113]

pronunciation

guide.[122]

link(http://www.archive.org/stream/bookofmormonanac027933mbp#page/n3/mode/2up)

Non-print editions

The following versions are published online:

Online editions Year Description and notes Link

LDS Churchinternet edition

2013Official internet edition of the Book ofMormon for the Church of Jesus Christ ofLatter-day Saints.

link (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents)

LDS Churchaudio edition

1994Official LDS version of the Book of Mormonin mp3 audio format, 32 kbit/s.

link(http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-41,00.html)

Textual criticism

In 1989, scholars at Brigham Young University began work on a critical text edition of the Book of Mormon. Volumes 1and 2, published in 2001, contain transcriptions of all the text variants of the English editions of the Book of Mormon, from

the original manuscript to the newest editions.[123] Volume 4, which is being published in parts, is a critical analysis of all thetext variants. Volume 3, which is not yet published, will describe the history of all the English-language texts from Joseph

Smith to today.[124]

Differences between the original and printer's manuscript, the 1830 printed version, and modern versions of the Book ofMormon have led some critics to claim that evidence has been systematically removed that could have proven that Smith

fabricated the Book of Mormon, or are attempts to hide embarrassing aspects of the church's past.[27][28][107]

Non-English translations

See also: List of Book of Mormon translations

The LDS version of the Book of Mormon has been translated into 83 languages and selectionshave been translated into an additional 25 languages. In 2001, the LDS Church reported that allor part of the Book of Mormon was available in the native language of 99 percent of Latter-day

Saints and 87 percent of the world's total population.[125]

Translations into languages without a tradition of writing (e.g., Kakchiqel, Tzotzil) are available

on audio cassette.[126] Translations into American Sign Language are available on videocassetteand DVD.

Typically, translators are members of the LDS Church who are employed by the church andtranslate the text from the original English. Each manuscript is reviewed several times before it is

approved and published.[127]



A scene from the Book of Mormon being depicted

in the Hill Cumorah Pageant

In 1998, the LDS Church stopped translating selections from the Book of Mormon, and instead announced that each new

translation it approves will be a full edition.[128]

Representations in media

Events of the Book of Mormon are the focus of several LDSChurch films, including The Life of Nephi (1915), How Rare aPossession (1987) and The Testaments of One Fold and OneShepherd (2000). Such films in LDS cinema (i.e., films not officiallycommissioned by the LDS Church) include The Book of MormonMovie, Vol. 1: The Journey (2003) and Passage to Zarahemla(2007).

In 2003, a South Park episode titled "All About Mormons"parodied the origins of the Book of Mormon.

In 2011, a religious satire musical titled The Book of Mormonpremiered on Broadway.

Second Nephi 9:2027 (http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9.20-27#19) from the Book of Mormon is quoted in a funeral service in Alfred Hitchcock's film Family Plot.

Distribution

The LDS Church, which distributes free copies of the Book of Mormon, reported in 2011 that 150 million copies of the

book have been distributed since its initial publication.[129]

The initial printing of the Book of Mormon in 1830 produced 5000 copies.[130] The 50 millionth copy was printed in 1990,

with the 100 millionth following in 2000 and reaching 150 million in 2011.[130]

See also

Copyright on religious worksSpaldingRigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorshipMulekites

Notes

1. ^ Gordon B. Hinckley, "Praise to the Man" (http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6730), 1979-11-04.

2. ^ Church Educational System (1996, rev. ed.). Book of Mormon Student Manual(http://www.ldsces.org/inst_manuals/bm-in-sm1996/manualindex.asp) (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints), ch. 6.

3. ^ Smith (1830, title page). In 1982, in an effort to clarify and emphasize its purpose, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) retitled its editions of the book to The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ LDSChurch (2008).

4. ^ Mormon 9:32 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/morm/9.32?lang=eng#31)

5. ^ Roberts (1902, pp. 11, 1819).

6. ^ E.g. 2 Nephi 2 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2?lang=eng#)

7. ^ E.g. 2 Nephi 9 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/9?lang=eng#)

8. ^ E.g. Alma 12 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/12?lang=eng#)



8. ^ E.g. Alma 12 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/12?lang=eng#)

9. ^ "Introduction" (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/introduction?lang=eng), Book of Mormon (1981 LDS Church ed.).

10. ^ Ash, Michael R. (1997). "The King James Bible and the Book of Mormon" (http://www.mormonfortress.com/kjv2.html).Mormon Fortress. Retrieved 2013-01-01.

11. â b The Life and Ministry of Joseph Smith (https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-joseph-smith/the-life-and-ministry-of-joseph-smith?lang=eng), Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007), xxii25.

12. ^ Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:59 (http://lds.org/scriptures//js_h/1.59?lang=eng#58)

13. ^ Smith, Joseph, Jr. (March 1, 1842). Wentworth Letter (http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n09.htm). "Church

History". Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, Illinois) 3 (9): 906936.

14. ^ Only LDS linguists accept the existence of any language or character set known as "reformed Egyptian" as described inMormon tradition. The only example of reformed Egyptian extant is the "Caractors Document", also known as the "AnthonTranscript", a paper written by Smith with examples of what he stated to be "reformed Egyptian" characters. SeeReformed Egyptian for details and references.

15. ^ Smith (1842, p. 707).

16. ^ Testimony of Three Witnesses (http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/thrwtnss)

17. ^ Testimony of Eight Witnesses (http://scriptures.lds.org/bm/eghtwtns)

18. â b Hitchens 2007, pp. 163, Givens 2002, pp. 33, Givens 2002, pp. 33

19. ^ Doctrine and Covenants, Section 3 and

20. â b Brodie 1971

21. ^ Givens 2002

22. ^ Hitchens 2007, pp. 163164

23. ^ Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 70."

24. ^ Testimony of Joseph Smith (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/jstestimony) Hitchens 2007, pp. 164

25. ^ Kunz, Ryan (March 2010). "180 Years Later, Book of Mormon Nears 150 Million Copies"(http://lds.org/ensign/2010/03/180-years-later-book-of-mormon-nears-150-million-copies?lang=eng). Ensign (LDSChurch): 7476. Retrieved 2011-03-24.

26. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. p. 91. ISBN 99930-74-43-8.

27. â b c Brody, Fawn (1971). No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (2d ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

28. â b c Krakauer, Jon (2003). Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. New York: Doubleday.

29. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 72.ISBN 1-56858-283-8.

30. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 7380. ISBN 99930-74-43-8.

31. ^ Abanes, Richard (2003). One Nation Under Gods: A History of the Mormon Church. Thunder's Mouth Press. p. 68.ISBN 1-56858-283-8.

32. ^ Tanner, Jerald and Sandra (1987). Mormonism - Shadow or Reality?. Utah Lighthouse Ministry. pp. 8485. ISBN 99930-74-43-8.

33. ^ Roberts, Brigham H. (1992). Brigham D. Madsen, ed. Studies of the Book of Mormon (http://books.google.com/?id=EXgFAAAACAAJ&dq=Studies+of+the+Book+of+Mormon). Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books. ISBN 1-56085-027-2

34. ^ Howe, Eber D (1834). Mormonism Unvailed (http://archive.org/details/mormonismunvaile00howe). Painesville, Ohio:Telegraph Press

35. ^ Spaulding, Solomon (1996). Reeve, Rex C, ed. Manuscript Found: The Complete Original "Spaulding" Manuscript.Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University

36. ^ Roper, Matthew (2005). "The Mythical "Manuscript Found"" (http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=584).

FARMS Review (Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute) 17 (2): 7140. Retrieved 2007-01-31

37. ^ Grant H. Palmer. 2002. An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. Salt Lake City, Signature Books; Brent Lee Metcalfe, ed.1993. New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology. Salt Lake City: Signature Books.

38. â b "The limited success so far in swaying popular LDS opinion is a constant source of frustration for Mormonapologists...It appears that Mormons are generally content to picture the Book of Mormon story in a setting that is factuallywrong. For most Mormons, the limited geography models create more problems than they solve. They run counter to thedominant literal interpretation of the text and contradict popular folklore as well as the clear pronouncements of all churchpresidents since the time of Joseph Smith", Simon G. Southerton (2004, Signature Books), Losing a Lost Tribe, pp. 164-165."Some of the [Community of Christ]'s senior leadership consider the Book of Mormon to be inspired historical fiction. Forleaders of the Utah church, this is still out of the question. [The leadership], and most Mormons, believe that the historical



authenticity of the Book of Mormon is what shores up Joseph Smith's prophetic calling and the divine authenticity of theUtah church", Southerton (2004), pg. 201.Quotations from temple dedicatory sermons and prayers in Central and South America by President Gordon B. Hinckley in1999-2000 continually refer to Native LDS members in attendance as "children of Lehi" (Southerton [2004], pp. 38-39)."Latter-Day Saints believe their scripture to be history, written by ancient prophets...", Grant Hardy (2009, Yale UniversityPress), "Introduction," The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text, ed. Royal Skousen, pg. x.

39. ^ Joseph Smith stated that the "title page is not by any means a modern composition either of mine or of any other man'swho has lived or does live in this generation."

40. ^ Smith, Joseph (October 1842). "Truth Will Prevail" (http://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n24.htm#943). Times and

Seasons III (24): 943. Retrieved 2009-01-30.

41. ^ The Book of Mormon Title Page (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/ttlpg)

42. ^ Book of Mormon, Words of Mormon 1:3 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/w-of-m/1.3?lang=eng#2)

43. ^ 1 Nephi 18:23 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/18.23?lang=eng#22)

44. ^a b Book Of Mormon, A BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE BOOK OF MORMON(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/explanation?lang=eng)

45. ^ Ether 1:3 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/1.3?lang=eng#2)

46. ^ Joseph L. Allen, Sacred Sites: Searching for Book of Mormon Lands (2003) p. 8.

47. ^ Book Of Mormon, Book of Moroni Chapter Summaries (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro?lang=eng)

48. ^ Book of Mormon, Moroni 10 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10?lang=eng#)

49. ^ Moroni 10:4 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.4?lang=eng#3)

50. ^ Smith (1830, Title Page)

51. ^a b Ether 3:16 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/3.16?lang=eng#15).

52. ^ Ether 3:14 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/3.14?lang=eng#13).

53. ^ Mosiah 15:1-14 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/15.1-14?lang=eng#0)

54. ^ 3 Nephi 19:22-23 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/19.22-23?lang=eng#21)

55. ^ See 3 Nephi 11 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/11?lang=eng#) to 3 Nephi 26 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/26?lang=eng#)

56. ^ 1 Nephi 11 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/11?lang=eng#)

57. ^ Mosiah 3:8 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/3.8?lang=eng#7)

58. ^ See 1 Nephi 10:4 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/10.4?lang=eng#3), 1 Nephi 19:8 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/19.8?lang=eng#7); See also 3 Nephi 1 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/1?lang=eng#)


60. ^ Alma 46:13-15 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/46.13-15?lang=eng#12)

61. ^ 4 Nephi 22-23 (http://lds.org/scriptures//1/22-23?lang=eng#)

62. ^ 4 Nephi 1 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1?lang=eng#)

63. ^ See Book of Mormon Title page (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ttlpg/?lang=eng#)

64. ^ See John 10:16 (http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/10.16?lang=eng#15) in the King James Version of the Bible

65. ^ 3 Nephi 15:13-24 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/15.13-24?lang=eng#12), 3 Nephi 16:1-4(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/16.1-4?lang=eng#0), 2 Nephi 29:7-14 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/29.7-14?lang=eng#6)

66. ^ Isaiah 29:4

67. ^ 2 Nephi 26:15-16 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/26.15-16?lang=eng#14)

68. ^ 2 Nephi 2:25 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/2.25?lang=eng#24)

69. ^ 1 Nephi 2:20 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2.20?lang=eng#19); 1 Nephi 13:30 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/13.30?lang=eng#29); 2 Nephi 1:5 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/1.5?lang=eng#4); 2 Nephi 10:19(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/10.19?lang=eng#18); Jacob 5:43 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/5.43?lang=eng#42); Ether 1:38-42 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/1.38-42?lang=eng#37); Ether 2:7,10-15(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/2.7,10-15?lang=eng#6); Ether 9:20 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/9.20?lang=eng#19); Ether 10:28 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/10.28?lang=eng#27); Ether 13:2(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/13.2?lang=eng#1).

70. ^ 1 Nephi 2:20 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2.20?lang=eng#19); 1 Nephi 4:14 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/4.14?lang=eng#13); 2 Nephi 1:20 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/1.20?lang=eng#19); 2 Nephi 4:4(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/4.4?lang=eng#3); Jarom 1:9 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jarom/1.9?lang=eng#8);Omni 1:6 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/omni/1.6?lang=eng#5); Mosiah 1:7 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/1.7?lang=eng#6); Mosiah 2:22,31 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2.22,31?lang=eng#21); Alma 9:13(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/9.13?lang=eng#12); Alma 36:1,30 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/36.1,30?



(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/9.13?lang=eng#12); Alma 36:1,30 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/36.1,30?lang=eng#0); Alma 38:1 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/38.1?lang=eng#0); Alma 48:15,25(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/48.15,25?lang=eng#14).

71. ^ Alma 48:14 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/48.14?lang=eng#13)

72. ^a b Alma 24 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/24?lang=eng#)

73. ^ Alma 56:47-56 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/56.47-56?lang=eng#-10)


75. ^ Mosiah 29:18-22 (http://lds.org/scriptures//mosial/29.18-22?lang=eng#-5)

76. ^ Mosiah 29 (http://lds.org/scriptures//mosial/29?lang=eng#)

77. ^ Helaman 6:17 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/6.17?lang=eng#16)

78. ^ Alma 62:9-11 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/62.9-11?lang=eng#8)

79. ^a b 3 Nephi 26:19 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/26.19?lang=eng#18).

80. ^ Alma 1:26-27 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/1.26-27?lang=eng#25).

81. ^ Jacob 2:13-13 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/2.13-1314?lang=eng#12); Alma 4:6(http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/4:6?lang=eng#); Alma 5:53 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/5:53?lang=eng#); 4Nephi 1:24 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/4-ne/1.24?lang=eng#23).

82. ^ E.g. Nelson, Russell M. (November 2000), "Living by Scriptural Guidance" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/11/living-by-scriptural-guidance), Ensign: 1618 (discusses how the four standard works of the church can provide guidance in life)

83. ^ Joseph Smith, B. H. Roberts, ed., History of the Church 4, p. 461; additional information at: Understanding the Processof Publishing the Book of Mormon (http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/understanding-the-process-of-publishing-the-book-of-mormon), "Newsroom", MormonNewsroom.org (LDS Church)

84. ^ Benson, Ezra Taft (January 1992), "The Keystone of Our Religion" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/01/the-keystone-of-our-religion), Ensign

85. ^ Doctrine and Covenants 84:54-57 (http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84.54-57?lang=eng#53).

86. ^ Benson, Ezra Taft (November 1986), "The Book of MormonKeystone of Our Religion"(http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/11/the-book-of-mormon-keystone-of-our-religion), Ensign: 4

87. ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (August 2005), "A Testimony Vibrant and True" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/08/a-testimony-vibrant-and-true), Ensign

88. ^ Moroni 10:3-5 (http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/moro/10.3-5?lang=eng#2); see Cook, Gene R. (April 1994), "MoronisPromise" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/1994/04/moronis-promise), Ensign: 12

89. ^ "Book of Mormon: 150 Million Copies" (http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/60804/Book-of-Mormon-150-million-copies.html). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 9 April 2012.

90. ^ McMurray, W. Grant, "They "Shall Blossom as the Rose": Native Americans and the Dream of Zion,"(http://www.cofchrist.org/docs/NativeAmericanConference/keynote.asp) an address delivered February 17, 2001,accessed on Community of Christ website, September 1, 2006.

91. ^ Andrew M. Shields, "Official Minutes of Business Session, Wednesday March 28, 2007," in 2007 World ConferenceThursday Bulletin, March 29, 2007. Community of Christ, 2007.

92. ^ Robinson, B.A. (June 8, 2010). "The LDS Restorationist movement, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daySaints" (http://www.religioustolerance.org/lds.htm). ReligiousTolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance.Retrieved 2013-01-01.

93. ^ Citing the lack of specific New World geographic locations to search, Michael D. Coe, a prominent Mesoamericanarchaeologist and Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at Yale University, writes (in a 1973 volume of Dialogue: A Journalof Mormon Thought): "As far as I know there is not one professionally trained archaeologist, who is not a Mormon, whosees any scientific justification for believing [the historicity of The Book of Mormon], and I would like to state that thereare quite a few Mormon archaeologists who join this group."

94. ^ Cecil H. Brown. 1999. Lexical Acculturation in Native American Languages. Oxford Studies in AnthropologicalLinguistics, 20. OxfordPaul E. Minnis & Wayne J. Elisens, ed. 2001. Biodiversity and Native America. University of Oklahoma Press.Gary Paul Nabhan. 2002. Enduring Seeds: Native American Agriculture and Wild Plant Conservation. University ofArizona Press.Stacy Kowtko. 2006. Nature and the Environment in Pre-Columbian American Life. Greenwood Press.Douglas H. Ubelaker, ed. 2006. Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 3, Environment, Origins, and Population.Smithsonian Institution.Elizabeth P. Benson. 1979. Pre-Columbian Metallurgy of South America. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library.R.C. West, ed. 1964. Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volume 1, Natural Environment & Early Cultures.University of Texas Press.G.R. Willey, ed. 1965. Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volumes 2 & 3, Archeology of Southern Mesoamerica.



G.R. Willey, ed. 1965. Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volumes 2 & 3, Archeology of Southern Mesoamerica.University of Texas Press.Gordon Ekholm & Ignacio Bernal, ed. 1971. Handbook of Middle American Indians, Volume 10 & 11, Archeology ofNorthern Mesoamerica. University of Texas Press.

95. ^ 1 Nephi 18:25LDS scholars think that this may be a product of reassigning familiar labels to unfamiliar items. For example, the DelawareIndians named the cow after the deer, and the Miami Indians labeled sheep, when they were first seen, "looks-like-a cow."John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo,Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1996 [1985]), 294. ISBN 1-57345-157-6http://www.mormonfortress.com/cows1.html

96. ^a b c 1 Nephi 18:25

97. ^ "[H]orses became extinct in North America at the end of the Pleistocene..." (Donald K. Grayson. 2006. "Late PleistoceneFaunal Extinctions," Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 3, Environment, Origins and Population. Smithsonian.Pages 208-221. quote on pg 211)"The youngest dates on North American fossil horses are about 8150 years ago, although most of the horses were gonearound 10,000 years ago" (Donald R. Prothero & Robert M. Schoch. 2002. Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution ofHoofed Mammals. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Page 215.)"During the Pleistocene both New World continents abounded in [horses] and then, some 8000 years ago, the last wildhorses in the Americas became extinct..." (R.J.G. Savage & M.R. Long. 1986. Mammal Evolution: An Illustrated Guide.Facts on File Publications. Page 204.)

98. ^ Asses and horses are both in the genus Equus so see the footnote concerning horses.

99. ^ 1 Nephi 18:25[1] (http://www.irr.org/mit/smithsonian.html) paragraph 4

100. ^ Ether 9:19

101. ^ Donald K. Grayson. 2006. "Late Pleistocene Faunal Extinctions," Handbook of North American Indians, Volume 3,Environment, Origins and Population. Smithsonian. Pages 208-221. The Pleistocene extinction of the two Proboscideagenera Mammut and Mammuthus are mentioned on pages 209 and 212-213."T[he] megafauna [of North America] then disappeared from the face of the earth between 12,000 and 9,000 years ago..."(Donald R. Prothero & Robert M. Schoch. 2002. Horns, Tusks, and Flippers: The Evolution of Hoofed Mammals. TheJohns Hopkins University Press. Page 176.)"In North America three other proboscideans survived the end of the Ice Age--the tundra woolly mammoth (Mammuthusprimigenius), the woodland American mastodont (Mammut americanum) and the grazing mammoth (Mammuthusjeffersoni). Hunting by early man is the most likely cause of the final extinction..." (R.J.G. Savage & M.R. Long. 1986.Mammal Evolution: An Illustrated Guide. Facts on File Publications. Page 157.)"Mammut became extinct only about 10,000 years ago." (Dougal Dixon et al. 1988. The Macmillan IllustratedEncyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. Collier Books. Page 244.)"M[ammuthus] primigenius survived until about 10,000 years ago." (Dixon et al. 1988, page 245)

102. ^ 1 Nephi 4:9

103. ^ Alma 18:9

104. ^ Lyle Campbell. 1979. "Middle American languages," The Languages of Native America: Historical and ComparativeAssessment. Ed. Lyle Campbell and Marianne Mithun. Austin: University of Texas Press. Pages 902-1000.Lyle Campbell. 1997. American Indian Languages: The Historical Linguistics of Native America. Oxford University Press.Jorge Sarez. 1983. The Mesoamerican Indian Languages. Cambridge University Press.

105. ^ The traditional view of the Book of Mormon suggests that Native Americans are principally the descendents of anIsraelite migration around 600 BC. However, DNA evidence shows no Near Eastern component in the Native Americangenetic make-up. For example:Simon G. Southerton. 2004. Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church. Signature Books.The entire book is devoted to the specific topic of DNA evidence and the Book of Mormon." ...[T]he DNA lineages ofCentral America resemble those of other Native American tribes throughout the two continents. Over 99 percent of thelineages found among native groups from this region are clearly of Asian descent. Modern and ancient DNA samples testedfrom among the Maya generally fall into the major founding lineage classes... The Mayan Empire has been regarded byMormons to be the closest to the people of the Book of Mormon because its people were literate and culturallysophisticated. However, leading New World anthropologists, including those specializing in the region, have found theMaya to be similarly related to Asians. Stephen L. Whittington...was not aware of any scientists 'in mainstreamanthropology that are trying to prove a Hebrew origin of Native Americans... Archaeologists and physical anthropologistshave not found any evidence of Hebrew origins for the people of North, South and Central America.'" (pg 191)D. Andrew Merriwether. 2006. "Mitochondrial DNA," Handbook of North American Indians. Smithsonian InstitutionPress. Pg 817-830. "Kolman, Sambuughin, and Bermingham (1995) and Merriwether et al. (1996) used the presence of A,



Press. Pg 817-830. "Kolman, Sambuughin, and Bermingham (1995) and Merriwether et al. (1996) used the presence of A,B, C, and D to argue for Mongolia as the location for the source population of the New World founders. More specificallyperhaps, they argued that the present-day Mongolians and present-day Native Americans are both derived from the sameancestral population in Asia, presumably in the Mongolia-Southern Siberia-Lake Baikal region. T.G. Schurr and S.G. Sherry(2004) strongly favor a southern Siberian origin for the majority of lineages found in the New World." (pg 829)Tatiana M. Karafet, Stephen L. Zegura, and Michael F. Hammer. 2006. "Y Chromosomes," Handbook of North AmericanIndians. Smithsonian Institution. Pp. 831-839. "Zegura et al. (2004) have presented the following scenario for the earlypeopling of the Americas based on Y chromosome data: a migration of a single, polymorphic Asian population acrossBeringia with a potential common source for both North American founding lineages (Q and C) in the Altai Mountains ofsouthwest Siberia. Since all their STR-based SNP lineage divergence dates between the Altai and North Asians versusNative Americans...ranged from 10,100 to 17,200 year ago, they favored a relatively late entry model." (pg. 839)Defenders of the book's historical authenticity suggest that the Book of Mormon does not disallow for other groups of

people to have contributed to the genetic make-up of Native Americans.[citation needed] Nevertheless, this is a departurefrom the traditional view that Israelites are the primary ancestors of Native Americans, and therefore would be expected topresent some genetic evidence of Near Eastern origins. A recently announced change in the Book of Mormon'sintroduction, however, allows for a greater diversity of ancestry of Native Americans. See, for example, the followingDeseret News article published on November 9, 2007: Intro Change in Book of Mormon Spurs Discussion(http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695226049,00.html)

106. ^ Peterson, Daniel C. (January 2000), "Mounting Evidence for the Book of Mormon"(http://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/01/mounting-evidence-for-the-book-of-mormon), Ensign

107. â b c d e f g h i j Skousen, Royal. "Changes in the Book of Mormon"(http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2002_Changes_in_the_Book_of_Mormon.html) (Transcription of livepresentation). 2002 FAIR Conference: FAIR. Retrieved 2009-09-25.

108. â b c Skousen, Royal Skousen (1992). "Book of Mormon Manuscripts"(http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/book_of_mormon/manuscripts.html). Macmillan Publishing Company. Retrieved2013-01-01.

109. â b "LDS FAQ: Changes in the Book of Mormon" (http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_changes.shtml#printed).JeffLindsay.com. November 27, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-01.

110. ^ There are three lines missing from the printer's manuscript in its current condition, covering 1 Nephi 1:78, 20.http://mi.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=15&num=1&id=401

111. ^ The Zarahemla Research Foundation publishes a 48-page booklet titled "Book of Mormon Chapter & Verse: RLDS-LDSConversion Table" to enable readers of an LDS edition to find references from an RLDS edition and vice versa.

112. ^ The revised text was first published in 1981 and the subtitle was added in October 1982: Packer, Boyd K. (November1982). "Scriptures" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/1982/11/scriptures?lang=eng). Ensign. "You should know also that byrecent decision of the Brethren the Book of Mormon will henceforth bear the title The Book of Mormon, with the subtitleAnother Testament of Jesus Christ."

113. â b c d e f g h i j Skousen, Royal (1992). "Book of Mormon Editions (1830-1981)"

(http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Book_of_Mormon_Editions_(1830-1981)). Encyclopedia of Mormonism 1. Macmillan.pp. 1756. Retrieved 2009-02-12.

114. ^ "Church Releases New Edition of English Scriptures in Digital Formats" (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/press?lang=eng). lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved 6 March 2013.

115. ^ BYU Catalog for "Book of Mormon. English. 1840 (1992)"

116. ^ Johnson, D. Lynn (2000). "The Restored Covenant Edition of the Book of MormonText Restored to Its Purity?"

(http://ispart.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=12&num=2&id=352). FARMS Review (Provo, Utah: FARMS) 12 (2).Retrieved 2009-02-12.

117. ^ Moore, Carrie A. (November 9, 2007). "Intro change in Book of Mormon spurs discussion"(http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695226049,00.html). Deseret News. Retrieved 2009-08-26.

118. ^ Moore, Carrie A. (November 11, 2004). "Doubleday Book of Mormon is on the way"(http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,595104489,00.html). Deseret News. Retrieved 2009-08-26.

119. ^ Experience Press (http://www.experiencepress.org/)

120. ^ "The Book of Mormon - Skousen, Royal; Smith, Joseph" (http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300142181). Yale University Press. Retrieved 2009-09-22.

121. ^ Crawley, Peter (1997). A Descriptive Bibliography of the Mormon Church, Volume One 1830-1847(http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/rsc,3772). Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University. p. 151.ISBN 1-57008-395-9. Retrieved 2009-02-12.

122. ^ Woodger, Mary Jane (2000). "How the Guide to English Pronunciation of Book of Mormon Names Came About"(http://farms.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=9&num=1&id=211). Journal of Book of Mormon Studies (Provo, Utah:



(http://farms.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=9&num=1&id=211). Journal of Book of Mormon Studies (Provo, Utah:

FARMS) 9 (1). Retrieved 2009-02-21.

123. ^ Skousen May 2001;Skousen January 2001;Skousen March 2001

124. ^ Skousen 2004;Skousen 2005;Skousen 2006

125. ^ "Taking the Scriptures to the World" (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2001/07/taking-the-scriptures-to-the-world), Ensign,July 2001: 24

126. ^ Welcome (http://www.ldscatalog.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10151&langId=-1)

127. ^ Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/02/news-of-the-church), "News of the Church", Ensign, February 2005: 7576

128. ^ Translation Work Taking Book of Mormon to More People in More Tongues (http://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/02/news-of-the-church), "News of the Church", Ensign, February 2005

129. ^ "150 Million and Counting: The Book of Mormon reaches another milestone"(http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/60797/150-Million-and-Counting-The-Book-of-Mormon-reaches-another-milestone.html), Church News, 2011-04-18.

130. ^a b "Book of Mormon Reaches 150 Million Copies" (http://www.lds.org/church/news/book-of-mormon-reaches-150-million-copies), lds.org, 2011-04-20.

References

Brewster, Quinn (1996). "The Structure of the Book of Mormon: A Theory of Evolutionary Development"(http://content.lib.utah.edu/cgi-bin/docviewer.exe?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=11460&CISOSHOW=11376).

Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 29 (2): 109140..Brodie, Fawn M. (1971), No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith (2nd ed.), New York: Knopf, ISBN 0-394-46967-4Bushman, Richard Lyman (2005). Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. New York: Knopf. ISBN 1-4000-4270-4.Dunn, Scott C (2002). "Automaticity and the Dictation of the Book of Mormon". In Vogel, Dan; Metcalf, Brent Lee.American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books. pp. 1746. ISBN 1-56085-151-1.Faulring, Scott H (June 2000). "The Return of Oliver Cowdery" (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/display.php?table=transcripts&id=50). The Disciple as Witness: Essays on Latter-day Saint History and Doctrine in Honor of RichardLloyd Anderson (Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute).Givens, Terryl (2002). By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture That Launched a New World Religion(http://books.google.com/?id=a5OgaD3gle0C&pg=PA33&dq=wife+lucy+Book+of+Mormon+Martin+Harris+gullible).Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516888-7.Hitchens, Christopher (2007). god is not Great. New York: Twelve.Howe, Eber Dudley (1834). Mormonism Unvailed: Or, A Faithful Account of that Singular Imposition and Delusion, fromits Rise to the Present Time (http://archive.org/details/mormonismunvaile00howe). Painesville, Ohio: Telegraph Press.Jessee, Dean (1970). "The Original Book of Mormon Manuscript"

(https://byustudies.byu.edu/shop/PDFSRC/10.3Jessee.pdf) (PDF). BYU Studies 10 (3): 1.Midgley, Louis C (1997). "Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?: The Critics and Their Theories"(http://www.farmsresearch.com/publications/bookschapter.php?bookid=41&chapid=184). In Reynolds, Noel B. Book ofMormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research andMormon Studies. pp. 101139. ISBN 0-934893-25-X.Persuitte, David (2000). Joseph Smith and the Origins of The Book of Mormon (second ed.). McFarland & Company.ISBN 0-7864-0826-X.Price, Robert M (2002). "Prophecy and Palimpsest" (http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fdialogue&CISOPTR=29050&REC=15&CISOBOX=%22inspired+fiction%22). Dialogue: A Journal of

Mormon Thought 35 (3).Roberts, Brigham H (1985). Madsen, Brigham D., ed. Studies of the Book of Mormon. Urbana, Illinois: University ofIllinois Press. ISBN 0-252-01043-4.Foundation for Ancient Research & Mormon Studies. (2001a). "Original manuscript of the Book of Mormon: typographicalfacsimile of the extant text". In Skousen, Royal. Book of Mormon Critical Text Project. Provo, Utah: Foundation forAncient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-04-7.Foundation for Ancient Research & Mormon Studies. (2001b). Skousen, Royal, ed. Book of Mormon Critical Text Project

21. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-05-5.



Foundation for Ancient Research & Mormon Studies. (2001b). "Printers manuscript of the Book of Mormon:

typographical facsimile of the entire text in two parts". In Skousen, Royal. Book of Mormon Critical Text Project 22.Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-06-3.Royal Skousen. (2004). "Analysis of textual variants of the Book of Mormon". In Skousen, Royal. Book of Mormon

Critical Text Project 41. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-07-1.Royal Skousen. (2005). "Analysis of textual variants of the Book of Mormon". In Skousen, Royal. Book of Mormon

Critical Text Project 42. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-08-X.Skousen, Royal (2006). "Analysis of textual variants of the Book of Mormon". In Skousen, Royal. Book of Mormon

Critical Text Project 43. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies. ISBN 0-934893-11-X..Smith, Joseph, Jr. (March 26, 1830). The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, Upon PlatesTaken from the Plates of Nephi (http://www.inephi.com/Search.htm). Palmyra, New York: E. B. Grandin.Smith, Joseph, Jr. (July 1838). "Editor's note" (http://www.solomonspalding.com/docs/eldjur03.htm). Elders' Journal of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1 (3)Spaulding, Solomon (1996). Reeve, Rex C, ed. Manuscript Found: The Complete Original "Spaulding" Manuscript.Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University.Tvedtnes, John A (1984). "Isaiah Variants in the Book of Mormon" (http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=2&table=transcripts). Featured Papers. Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute.Van Wagoner, Richard S.; Walker, Steven C. (Summer 1982). "Joseph Smith: The Gift of Seeing"(http://content.lib.utah.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/dialogue&CISOPTR=16574&REC=16). Dialogue: A

Journal of Mormon Thought 15 (2): 4868.Vogel, Dan (2004). Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet. Salt Lake City: Signature Books. ISBN 1-56085-179-1.

Further reading

Paul C. Gutjahr (2012). The Book of Mormon: A Biography. Lives of Great Religious Books. Princeton University Press.ISBN 978-0-691-14480-1. OCLC 758973671 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/758973671).Noel B. Reynolds (1997). Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited: The Evidence for Ancient Origins(http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/book/book-of-mormon-authorship-revisited-the-evidence-for-ancient-origins/).Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS). ISBN 0-934893-25-X. OCLC 36877441(//www.worldcat.org/oclc/36877441).Roy A. Cheville (1964). Scriptures from Ancient America: a Study of the Book of Mormon. Harald Publishing House.Brent Lee Metcalfe (1993). New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology. SignatureBooks. ISBN 1-56085-017-5. OCLC 25788077 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/25788077).Dan Vogel and Brent Metcalfe, ed. (2002). American Apocrypha: Essays on the Book of Mormon. Signature Books.ISBN 1-56085-151-1. OCLC 47870060 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/47870060).Grant H. Palmer (2002). An Insider's View of Mormon Origins. Signature Books. ISBN 1-56085-157-0. OCLC 50285328(//www.worldcat.org/oclc/50285328).Simon G. Southerton (2004). Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church. Signature Books.ISBN 1560851813. OCLC 55534917 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/55534917).Daniel C. Peterson, ed. (2008). The Book of Mormon and DNA Research(http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/book/the-book-of-mormon-and-dna-research/). Neal A. Maxwell Institute forReligious Scholarship. ISBN 9780842527064. OCLC 226304684 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/226304684).Terryl L. Givens (2002). By the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion. OxfordUniversity Press. ISBN 019513818X. OCLC 47838555 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/47838555).John L. Sorenson (2013). Mormon's Codex: An Ancient American Book. Neal A. Maxwell Institute for ReligiousScholarship (BYU) and Deseret Book. ISBN 9781609073992. OCLC 828334040 (//www.worldcat.org/oclc/828334040).Ludlow, Daniel H., ed. (1992). "Book of Mormon" (http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/u?/EoM,5531). Encyclopedia ofMormonism. New York, NY: Macmillan. pp. 139216. ISBN 0-02-904040-X. OCLC 24502140(//www.worldcat.org/oclc/24502140)

External links

Media related to Book of Mormon at Wikimedia Commons



Facsimile of the 1830 edition (http://www.lafeuilledolivier.com/English/Book_of_Mormon_1830_facsimile.pdf)Project Gutenberg has the full text (http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17) of the Book of Mormon in various formats(LDS chapters and numbering)RLDS 1908 Book of Mormon (http://www.centerplace.org/hs/bofm/) (RLDS chapters and numbering)The Book of Mormon; An Account Written By the Hand of Mormon Upon Plates Taken From the Plates of Nephi.The Library of Congress (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/general.34953)Book of Mormon pdf (http://media.ldscdn.org/pdf/lds-scriptures/book-of-mormon/book-of-mormon-eng.pdf)

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