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You do not expect incontrovertible proof to come in this way?
Defending the Faith No, but neither will the Church be outdone by hostile or
pseudo-scholars.
Is this recent development linked to the role of the Church in
B. H. Roberts - The power of the Holy Ghost … must ever be the world in this part of this dispensation?
the chief source of evidence for the Book of Mormon. All other
evidence is secondary. … No arrangement of evidence, Yes, it is one of several indicators of this period of preparation.
however skillfully ordered; no argument, however adroitly The Church is becoming, as foretold, a light that can no longer
made, can ever take its place. (Improvement Era, August, 1903) be hid, a beacon to guide men out of the desert of disbelief.
This will be a function not only of the increasing global
Austin Farrar - Though argument does not create conviction, outreach of the Church, but also because it is an ecclesiastical
lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not Everest. It will be seen by thoughtful men and women
be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is everywhere as the only real alternative to anarchy or to the
quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, gathering forces of anti-freedom. (Deposition of a Disciple, 1976, p.
but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish. (This 49)
quote by Dr. Farrar was used by Elder Maxwell on at least ten occasions, e.g.
But for a Small Moment , p. 56.) The Results
Neal A. Maxwell - It is my opinion that all the scriptures, Jack Welch – [Regarding Elder Maxwell‘s prediction in 1976
including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith. in italics above, Br. Welch responded in 1995:] I believe that
Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. this prophecy has been amply fulfilled in the last twenty years.
However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to Literally hundreds of newly discovered insights converge on
prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to the same supporting conclusion. Certain things that might at
remove the requirement of faith. (Plain and Precious Things, p. 4) first have appeared outrageous, on closer inspection have
Jack Welch - Yet scholarship has a definite place even in turned out to be right on target. The ancient Jaredite
spiritual matters. The Lord said to Oliver Cowdery, ―Yea, transoceanic migration that lasted 344 days (see Ether 6:11)
behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the ceases to seem so fantastic when that turns out to be exactly
Holy Ghost.‖ (D&C 8:2) Also, ―Seek learning, even by study and the length of time it takes the Pacific current to go from Asia to
also by faith‖ (D&C 88:118) Mexico. The oddity of Nephi‘s making new arrows when only
his bow had broken suddenly became plausible when one
Evidence in a sense brings people toward belief. Some realized that arrows and bows must match each other in
people have the gift to believe quite readily, but most people weight, length and stiffness, and making plain and plausible
need evidence, clues, and inducements to believe because what the Book of Mormon has said all along.‖ (Echoes, p. 21)
they are by nature stubborn.‖ (Echoes and Evidences of The Book of
Mormon, edited by Donald Parry, p. 22. Br. Welch is a professor at BYU. He Daniel C. Peterson - The April 1986 general conference, in
discovered the ancient poetry form called chiasmus in the Book of Mormon.) which President Ezra Taft Benson was sustained as President
of the Church, was a turning point for studying and applying
The Prediction
the teachings of the Book of Mormon. Citing D&C 84:54-57,
Questions and answers by Elder Neal A. Maxwell - President Benson said that the Church had neglected its
charter scripture and that ‗now, in our day, the Lord has
Is secular [non-religious] scholarship to be feared?
revealed the need to reemphasize the Book of Mormon.‘ He
Not real scholarship that ferrets out and upholds truth blessed the Saints with ―increased understanding‖ of the book.
regardless of its acceptance by others. More and more, for
That blessing has been and clearly continues to be fulfilled.
instance, real scholarship will point to the validity of the
Thankfully, a spirit of attentiveness to the Book of Mormon had
dispensational view of God's dealings with mankind from age
already begun working upon the Church. As one indicator
to age. Early in this dispensation such ideas were utterly
only, the publication of serious studies on or about the Book of
disregarded. Christianity preceded Christ in the sense that his
Mormon rose 50 percent in the late 1970s and exploded
work did not begin at once, in the meridian of time. His gospel
another 230 percent in the early 1980s. And the surge
and power and church have been on the earth at many points
continues.
in history, and we should not be surprised to discover this fact
in more and more ancient texts in the future. We shall also Serious study of the Book of Mormon by Latter-day Saints is
learn more and more about temple work's having been flourishing today as never before. And, with more study, the
practiced and understood periodically. There will be a book‘s sturdiness and richness and the remarkable
convergence of discoveries (never enough, mind you, to accomplishment of its translator, the Prophet Joseph Smith,
remove the need for faith) to make plain and plausible what become more apparent for everyone to see. (―Mounting Evidence
the modern prophets have been saying all along. for the Book of Mormon,‖ Ensign, Jan. 2000)
Latter-day Saint scholars will show the way by being able to Neal A. Maxwell Institute - A major source and publisher of
read firsthand such ancient texts rather than relying on these hundreds of insights is the Maxwell Institute, formerly
secondary scholarship, as was the case earlier in this known as FARMS, the Foundation for Ancient Research and
dispensation. We will be able to read such texts through a Mormon Studies. Regarding this organization President
Latter-day Saint lens rather than relying solely upon able Hinckley said it "represents the efforts of sincere and
Protestant and Catholic scholars, of whom it is unfair to expect dedicated scholars. It has grown to provide strong support
full sensitivity to the fullness of the gospel's doctrines and and defense of the Church on a professional basis. I wish to
ordinances. express my strong congratulations and appreciation for those
who started this effort and who have shepherded it to this
point.‖ He concluded by noting that he sees, "a bright future Fourth, at the academic level evangelicals are needlessly
for this effort now through the university.‖ losing the debate with the Mormons. In recent years their
(http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/aboutfarms.php. Another great website is sophistication and erudition [bookish learning] has risen
fairlds.org, defending against anti-Mormon claims.)
considerably while evangelical responses have not.
The Effect on Our Detractors Finally, most involved in the counter-cult movement lack the
Apologist - Someone who speaks or writes in defense of skills and training necessary to answer Mormon scholarly
something. apologetic.
Evangelical – A fundamentalist Christian church such as The few evangelicals who are aware of Hugh Nibley often
Baptist and Methodist. dismiss him as a fraud or pseudo-scholar. Those wanting
quickly to dismiss his writings would do well to heed [Mormon
Carl Mosser and Paul Owen - ... Both Mormonism and scholar Truman] Madsen‘s warning: ―ill-wishing critics have
evangelicalism claim to be the church which Christ founded. suspected over the years that Nibley is wrenching his sources,
Both claim to be the heirs of New Testament Christianity. hiding behind his footnotes, and reading into antique
Both cannot be correct. We realize that what we say will not languages what no responsible scholar would ever read out.
be welcomed by all. Some may criticize us for giving the Unfortunately, few have the tools to do the checking.‖ [Larsens‘
Mormons too much credit and for being too harsh on fellow note: This quote is from the forward to a republished Nibley book. The next
evangelicals. However, much like testifying against a loved sentence reads, ―For purposes of this volume we have assigned ten linguists
one in court, we cannot hide the facts of the matter. In this to go through every note for typographical accuracy.‖] … No doubt there
battle the Mormons are fighting valiantly. And the are flaws in Nibley‘s work, but most counter-cultists do not
evangelicals? It appears that we may be losing the battle and have the tools to uncover them. Few have tried. … Whatever
not knowing it... flaws may exist in his methodology, Nibley is a scholar of high
caliber. … The former dean of the Harvard Divinity School,
Too many evangelicals accept and propagate certain myths
George MacRae, once lamented while hearing him lecture, ―It
about Mormon scholarship.
is obscene for a man to know that much.‖
It is a myth that there are few, if any, traditional Mormon [After 19 more pages reviewing works by LDS scholars…] We
scholars with training in fields pertinent to evangelical- hope by this point to have convinced some of our readers that
Mormon debates.
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is currently
It is a myth that when Mormons receive training in producing a robust [full-bodied] apologetic [defense] for their
historiography [the writing of history based on the critical beliefs. Their scholars are qualified, ambitious, and prolific
examination of sources], biblical languages, theology, and [abundantly productive]. What are we doing in response?
philosophy they invariably abandon traditional Latter-day The silence has become deafening. And it is getting louder.
Saints beliefs in the historicity of the Book of Mormon and The evangelical world needs to wake up and respond to
the prophethood of Joseph Smith.
contemporary Mormon scholarship. If not, we will needlessly
It is a myth that neo-orthodox [liberal] Mormons have lose the battle without ever knowing it. Our suggestions are
influenced the theology of their church to such a degree as follows: …Evangelicals need to overcome inaccurate
that it will soon abandon traditional emphases and follow a presuppositions [assumptions] about Mormonism.
path similar to the RLDS (Reorganized Church of Jesus …Evangelical publishers need to cease publishing works
Christ of Latter-day Saints) or the World-Wide Church of that are uninformed, misleading, or otherwise inadequate.
God.
The fact is that the growth of Mormonism is outpacing even
These are myths based upon ignorance and selective reading. the highest predictions of professional sociologists of religion,
Evangelicals who wish to be responsible must abandon them. and is on its way, within eighty years, to becoming the first
world-religion since Islam in the seventh century. [From a
In response to these myths, we assert five conclusions footnote:] R. Stark originally estimated 265 million Mormons
concerning Mormon scholarship. First, there are, contrary to by 2080. Currently actual growth is nearly a million members
popular evangelical perceptions, legitimate Mormon scholars. above Stark‘s initial projections… It appears that Stark is
…The Latter-day Saints are not an anti-intellectual group like convinced Mormonism will be a serious rival to Christianity as
Jehovah‘s Witnesses. Mormons produce work that has more the predominant Western religion in years to come. Even the
than the mere appearance of scholarship. mere projections of such Latter-day Saint growth by a well-
Second, Mormon scholars and apologists have, with respected sociologist like Stark should give evangelical
varying degrees of success, answered most of the usual scholars considerable pause. (―Mormon Scholarship, Apologetics, and
evangelical criticisms. Often these answers adequately Evangelical Neglect: Losing the Battle and Not Knowing It?", Trinity Journal,
19/2, 1998, p. 179–205. Mr. Mosser and Mr. Owen are evangelical scholars.)
diffuse particular minor criticisms. When the criticism has not
been diffused the issue has usually been made much more Richard J. Mouw - As an evangelical I must confess that I am
complex. ashamed of our record in relating to the Mormon community.
…None of [our] disagreements give me or any other
Third, currently there are (as far as we are aware) no books
evangelical the license to propagate distorted accounts of
from an evangelical perspective that responsibly interact with
what Mormons believe. By bearing false witness against our
contemporary LDS scholarly and apologetic writings. A
LDS neighbors, we evangelicals have often sinned not just
survey of twenty recent evangelical books criticizing
against Mormons but against the God who calls us to be truth-
Mormonism reveals that none interacts with this growing body
tellers. (From the forward to the book The New Mormon Challenge:
of literature … Many of the authors promote criticisms that Responding to the Latest Defenses of a Fast-Growing Movement. Dr. Mouw
have long been refuted… is president of the Fuller Theological Seminary.)
President Gordon B. Hinckley – For centuries the heavens finds its parallel in The Wisdom of Solomon, in Philo, in
remained sealed. Good men and women, not a few—really Platonism, and in rabbinic literature.‖ (Reflections, p. 13)
great and wonderful people—tried to correct, strengthen, and
Krister Stendahl, dean of the Harvard Divinity School and
improve their systems of worship and their body of doctrine. rd
Lutheran bishop. He wrote an amazing comparison of 3
To them I pay honor and respect. How much better the world
Nephi and the Sermon on the Mount. He has also written
is because of their bold action. While I believe their work was
articles on baptism for the dead in the early Christian church.
inspired, it was not favored with the opening of the heavens,
In 1994 he toured the LDS temple in Väster-haninge, Sweden
with the appearance of Deity.
before its dedication. (Reflections, p. 139)
We love those of other churches. We work with them in good
causes. We respect them. But we must never forget our John Gager, religious historian and professor at Princeton. ―If
roots. Those roots lie deep in the soil of the opening of this, early Mormonism or early Christianity are merely warmed-over
the final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of versions of mid-nineteenth or mid-third century culture, then
times. (Ensign, Nov. 2002, p. 78) we are at a loss to explain why these particular movements,
and not their many contemporary competitors, not only
Let me say that we appreciate the truth in all churches and the survived but also flourished in such a remarkable fashion …
good which they do. We say to the people, in effect, you bring We find ourselves unable to explain their success.‖ (Quoted in
with you all the good that you have, and then let us see if we Terry L. Givens‘ article in FARMS‘ Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, v. 10,
can add to it. That is the spirit of this work. That is the i. 2 2001, p. 16–27)
essence of our missionary service. (Ensign, Aug. 1998, p. 72) Robert Bellah – Sociologist at the University of California at
M. Russell Ballard - We cannot stand on the sidelines while Berkeley. For three months Dr. Bellah lived in the Mormon
others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church village of Ramah, New Mexico and studied their culture. He
teaches … While some conversations have audiences in the wrote a sympathetic study saying, ―I do believe that unless, in
thousands or even millions, most are much, much smaller. some appropriate form, that religious vision of a loving
But all conversations have an impact on those who participate community shared by every one of our biblical faiths, perhaps
in them. Perceptions of the Church are established one put into practice in some respects more closely by Mormons
conversation at a time. (―Apostle Urges Students to Use New Media‖, than most other communities in America – unless that notion
15 Dec. 2007, LAIE, Hawaii, www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom) of a loving community can be revived today, it seems to me
that our future is not very promising.‖ (Reflections, p. 1)
Unexpected Allies
W. D. Davies, professor at Duke University, studied in
Excellent scholars from other faiths are advancing issues Uppsala, Sweden. He supports the claim that as a
similar to our understanding. Examples include – contemporary heir of Israel ―Mormonism is a modern
Margaret Barker, Methodist preacher in England, author of expression of authentic Judaism and authentic Christianity.‖
seven books on Biblical scholarship. Dr. Barker‘s research of He has also written and gives evidence that a canon of
ancient documents supports our understanding of the scripture should be open as in accepting new revelation.
(Reflections, p. 79)
individuality of God the Father and Jesus Christ. She also
shows that the removing of ―plain and precious parts‖ of the Edmond La B. Cherbonnier, chairman of the Religion
Bible was well underway by Jeremiah‘s time, just as Nephi Department at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
testified. Both of these have drawn concerned attention from ―Where then is the vitality in Christianity today? Among the
Mormon detractors. (From her paper reprinted by FARMS) so-called fringe groups who frankly do acknowledge that God
is a Person. …If [Christianity was] based solidly upon the God
Jordan Vajda, a Roman Catholic Dominican monk in Seattle.
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, might it achieve the
Father Vajda‘s research supports Joseph Smith‘s teaching
consistency that has eluded it? In the past this God has
that humans can become like God. He does so by exploring
characteristically started from small and improbable
early Christian and Catholic sources. ―I firmly maintain that
beginnings. Mormons hardly need to be reminded of that.
the Latter-day Saints are owed a debt of gratitude by other
Would it be out of character for him to do the same in the
Christians because the Saints remind us all of our divine
realm of thought as well? It would not be the first time that he
potential.‖ (From his paper reprinted by FARMS)
has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the
James Charlesworth, editor of the Dead Sea Scrolls Project wise.‖ (Reflections, p. 159)
at Princeton Theological Seminary. Using ancient documents Haim Rabin, president of the Hebrew Language Academy at
he reviews three elements unique to Mormons - the doctrine the Hebrew University in Israel. According to LDS student
that Christ manifested himself to Adam, the expectation that Robert Smith, Rabin's specialty is the history of the Hebrew
Christ would minister to "other sheep," and the notion that language. Wanting to illustrate how Hebrew uses the
Christ ever manifests himself to the faithful--and shows that conjunction "and" much more than English, he read a passage
those views are held in common with some of these early that Smith recognized as coming from the Book of Mormon.
writers. (Reflections on Mormonism, Truman Madsen, editor, p. 99) After reading it, Rabin said, "Now, some of you know the Bible
David Winston, professor at the Graduate Theological Union, well enough to know that this passage didn't come from the
Berkeley. LDS scholar Truman Madsen estimates that there Bible. I used the Book of Mormon because it's a much better
are well over eight hundred references to the pre-mortal example of this than the English Bible.‖ (From an email to the
existence of mankind in Jewish and Christian source Larsens by BYU‘s John Tvetnes. Also in his paper presented at The
Thirteenth World Congress of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Aug. 2001,
materials. Dr. Winston took these sources and compared www.fairlds.org/pubs/HebrewNames.pdf.)
them favorably to Mormon doctrines. He adds, ―The Mormon
theory of the creation of the world out of primordial matter Kenda Creasy Dean – … According to the National Study of
Youth and Religion--the largest study of religion and youth
ever undertaken in the U.S., extensively profiling 3,370 courteously veiled hostility. He had read several chapters in
American teenagers between the ages of 13-17 … As the the Book of Mormon and had understood them fairly well,
project‘s principle investigator, Christian Smith, a sociologist at considering that it was his first exposure to them. But he had
the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, put it, ―Most concluded that the book was superficial. We looked again at
religious communities‘ central problem is not teen rebellion but what he had read. Then again, first from one angle and then
teenagers‘ benign ―whateverism.‖ Most of these youth call another. Many hours and many words later, he was to admit
themselves Christians, and attend worship--and often willingly that the book was anything but superficial. ―Your
Christian education, and youth ministry programs--regularly. book,‖ he said, ―will have to be reckoned with.‖
But they have virtually no religious language [can‘t put into
In my senior year at Brigham Young University, I entered the
their own words] to prove it, nor do they understand central
national Woodrow Wilson Fellowship [headquartered in New
doctrines of historically orthodox Christianity. In short, while
Jersey] competition. An important part of this competition is a
they apparently engage in sometimes substantial Christian
traditional half-hour private interview, in which three judges
education, the amount of Christian learning that has taken
may ask each applicant any questions they please. My
place seems exceedingly slim. interview went fairly well until about halfway through, when the
… [In a section she titles ―Mormon Envy‖ Dr. Dean talks about] examiner on my right suddenly changed the subject. My file
the study‘s consistent portrayal of Mormon young people as had contained a copy of my article from BYU Studies on the
―topping the charts‖ in terms of spiritual vitality, depth of Book of Mormon, and that was the source of his question.
religious understanding, [the prominence] of faith in their daily Challengingly, he demanded, ―Doesn‘t the Book of Mormon
lives, hope for the future, and general well-being as just plagiarize the Bible?‖
adolescents. (From her paper titled ―Youth and the Church of ‗Benign The next five minutes were tense. I undertook to show that
Whatever-Ism‘” www.iasym.org/conf2005london/papers/Creasy-Dean.htm.
Dr. Dean is an assistant professor at the Princeton Theological Seminary, the Book of Mormon differed from the Bible in several crucial
Princeton, NJ, and an ordained United Methodist minister. She presented the ways. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount, which
paper at the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry, London, appears in both books, the King James text reads:
England, January 3-7, 2005. In the paper she praises our Seminary ―whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be
program.)
in danger of the judgment.‖ (Matthew 5:22;) The italicized
John W. Welch - I discovered that scholars can be convinced phrase appears to be an interpolation that was added to the
by the Book of Mormon even when they will not be converted. text well after it had been written by Matthew. The earliest
New Testament manuscripts do not have it; neither does the
… [A] rewarding encounter came with a postdoctoral research
Book of Mormon. (See 3 Nephi 12:22) I also pointed to numerous
fellow who was studying early Christian history at the
differences between the selected Isaiah passages cited in the
Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. As far as I could tell, this
Book of Mormon and the same passages in the Bible, to
bright scholar had been given every possible honor and
important similarities between Book of Mormon imagery and
privilege of study within the vast Vatican libraries. A mutual
non-biblical Jewish imagery (especially in regard to the tree of
friend introduced us at a meeting specifically to examine the
life and to the significance of Joseph), and finally to the
Book of Mormon, particularly some of its ritual and historical
original poetry interspersed amongst the writings of the Book
texts. For instance, we discussed the description of Lehi‘s
of Mormon prophets.
attitudes in the context of contemporary international affairs.
Israel‘s rulers had formed an alliance with Egypt against their At least two things make me think that my response was
traditional enemy, Babylon; but Jeremiah had vehemently convincing. First, one of the other professors finally asked the
criticized this choice, and there seems to be evidence that challenging professor quite pointedly, ―It doesn‘t sound like
Lehi‘s political sympathies were as unpopular as Jeremiah‘s. plagiarism to me. Have you ever read the Book of Mormon?‖
One of Babylon‘s allies was Sidon; but Sidon‘s twin city, Tyre; And second, I received the fellowship.
had sided with Egypt. The people of the Book of Mormon I continued my graduate studies in Greek philosophy at Oxford
frequently used the name Sidon. There is a city named Sidon, University in England. Here too I found many opportunities to
a river named Sidon and, even more intriguingly, a man share the Book of Mormon with a number of scholars. One
named Gidgiddonah, which, as Dr. Hugh Nibley points out, is night, several New Testament scholars launched a discussion
the Egyptian name for Sidon. But the name Tyre never of how ancient Greek intellectual concepts influenced early
appears in any form in the Book of Mormon, whereas in the Christian thought. The discussion led to a comment about the
Old Testament the two names are constantly linked; one role of opposites in the development of early Greek
hardly ever appears without the other. This apparent philosophy. For example, one philosopher named Heraclitus,
preference for Sidon over Tyre in the Book of Mormon fits who lived in the sixth century b.c., was deeply concerned with
perfectly into the world situation that Lehi knew and may the problem of opposites in the universe. Beyond those
substantiate Brother Nibley‘s deduction that Lehi may have opposites he wished to show unity. In this light I mentioned
been a trader with close personal connections in foreign cities, Lehi‘s teaching that ―it must needs be, that there is an
his safety and prosperity guaranteed by the chuwa, or opposition in all things. If not so … all things must needs be a
―contract of friendship‖ that protected an alien in another city- compound in one.‖ (2 Nephi 2:11) The reaction of those present
state. Naturally, even though he knew Egyptian, he (as did was positive. Several were sincerely interested in knowing
Jeremiah) would still deplore Israel‘s alliance with Egypt, since more about this text, especially in light of Lehi‘s ethical (and
he saw his nation turning away from safety. (Approach to the Book not just material) thought concerning the opposites.
of Mormon, Melchizedek Priesthood Course, 1957, p. 52.)
That was only one of many areas that I wished to discuss with (Lesson by Zan and Misty Larsen, http://lessons.elarsen.net)
this eminent scholar; and at first I feared it might be a difficult
meeting, since the discussion opened on his part with a
Additional Material The Book of Mormon is truly amazing to me. And the more I
learn, the more amazing it becomes in terms of its precision,
Truman G. Madsen - What is the conclusion? Let me bring it consistency, validity, vitality, insightfulness, and
to three points. First, we should rejoice and be exceeding purposefulness.
wary. For while during the first generation Mormonism was
thought to be utterly outlandish, we may live to see the Not that any of this should be surprising in a book so
generation in which it will be thought to be utterly obvious. miraculously preserved, but it is still amazing in the sense that
The attending attitude in each case is the same--indifference. all great literary works inspire an uncommon sense of
Unless we can testify with spiritual splendor that God has deferential awe and considered respect. In this light, the
restored more than a [cheap imitation] … unless we can bear respect I pay to the Book of Mormon as a precise and
witness that there is power from God in all that we witness, precious record can hardly be overstated.
others will simply say, "We already have it. There is no more. I had long appreciated and valued the Book of Mormon. But it
Goodbye." was not until I began to see it speaking for itself before
sophisticated audiences that I began to sense the high level of
Second, it is alleged that Brigham Young offered a tantalizing
respect which that book really commands: without hesitation,
prediction a century ago … He said the time would come
it can be said that the Book of Mormon is intellectually
when the elders would no longer testify and face rigid
respectable. It contains more than enough to make it one of
persecution of the basic truths of the gospel, for the constraint
the great books of all time by any set of generally applied
of evidence would have led much of the world to recognize
standards. Supporting that respectability is a wide array of
them. The one thing they would go forth to the world to bear
ancient materials, including the floods of ancient religious
witness of was authority. The ultimate question would be,
writings that have come forth in the last couple of decades,
"Who has been commissioned of God?" And the final
radically changing certain rigid attitudes long entertained by
evidence for authority is not words. It is life, it is radiance, it is
scholars toward sacred literature.
the expression of the Christ that is genuinely within.
Presenting this material in conjunction with the Book of
And so I close with these words [by Tolstoy]. ―If we would only
Mormon to the highly educated has its own special problems:
testify to the truth as we see it, it would turn out at once that
few are ever going to let themselves be converted by the
there are hundreds, thousands, millions of men just as we are
power of the Holy Ghost. But how significant it is that many of
who see the truth as we do; are afraid, as we are, of seeming
these people, though not converted, find themselves
to be [odd and unique] by confessing it; and are only waiting,
convinced by the Book of Mormon. And although testimonies
again as we are, for someone to proclaim it.‖ As Leo Tolstoy
are certainly not the product of academic premises or
is reported to have said to [the president of Cornell University],
scholarly conclusions, there are minds for whom an
if Mormonism could be true to its foundation and remain
intellectual conviction can contribute to a spiritual sensitivity.
unchanged for four generations, it might well become the most
powerful social influence in the world. Tolstoy was concerned Most of us have had experiences with the converting power of
with the social; we are concerned as well with the vertical-- the Book of Mormon. Think for a moment about its convincing
with the divine. Social transformation can only come in the power. I find that just as the Book of Mormon speaks
wake of individual transformation under the power of the living powerfully to my spirit, it also speaks eloquently to my mind. It
Christ. (―Are Christians Mormon?‖, BYU Studies, v. 15, no. 1, Autumn possesses an abundant ability to convince thoughtful people
1974) that it should be taken seriously. Here are a few instances
Brigham Young - I had only traveled a short time to testify to that begin to illustrate what I mean.
the people, before I learned this one fact, that you might prove While in Germany, I attended a series of lectures delivered by
doctrine from the Bible till doomsday, and it would merely a prominent professor at the University of Regensburg, one of
convince a people, but would not convert them. You might which was on chiasmus (ki-az-mus) in Matthew and Mark.
read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and prove every Chiasmus is an ancient literary art form, often used in the
iota that you advance, and that alone would have no Bible. A chiastic passage is one that is arranged so that the
converting influence upon the people. Nothing short of a first element in the passage parallels the last, the second
testimony by the power of the Holy Ghost would bring light parallels the next to the last, and so forth into the center. (See
and knowledge to them—bring them in their hearts to ―Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, or The Book of Mormon Does It Again,‖
New Era, Feb. 1972, pp. 6–11; ―Chiasmus in the Book of Mormon,‖ BYU
repentance. Nothing short of that would ever do. You have
Studies, Autumn 1969, pp. 69–84.) In his lectures, the professor
frequently heard me say that I would rather hear an Elder,
either here or in the world, speak only five words accompanied made several strong statements about the way in which the
by the power of God, and they would do more good than to presence of chiasmus, especially in Matthew, was evidence of
hear long sermons without the Spirit. This is true, and we Near Eastern rather than Western thought. Shortly after these
know it" (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 330). lectures, I arranged a conference with the professor in his
stone-walled office. My purpose was to show him four of the
intricate chiastic passages I had located in the Book of
Mormon. (Mosiah 3:18–19, Mosiah 5:10–12; Alma 36, and the book of 1
A Book You Can Respect Nephi,1 Ne. for example.) The meeting was brief since this
John W. Welch - I discovered that scholars can be convinced evidence of ancient Near Eastern thought in the Book of
by the Book of Mormon even when they will not be converted. Mormon needed little explanation, and the professor, openly
frustrated by the inescapability of the conclusion for which he
Over the years, the Book of Mormon has come to mean many himself had laid the premises, was convinced and had little to
important things to me. But above all (or perhaps better said, say.
beneath all), the Book of Mormon has come to demand a
special kind of respect.
A second scholar was one of the more widely published the Book of Mormon and had understood them fairly well,
Catholic theologians of the 1960s, who had also written on considering that it was his first exposure to them. But he had
chiasmus in Matthew; he was a Jesuit priest, living in a concluded that the book was superficial. We looked again at
monastery in Austria. Since I had made a special point of what he had read. Then again, first from one angle and then
corresponding with him about my study of the Book of another. Many hours and many words later, he was to admit
Mormon, I was deeply gratified when he invited me to visit willingly that the book was anything but superficial. ―Your
him, and I did so. Meeting in one of the outer rooms of his book,‖ he said, ―will have to be reckoned with.‖
cloister, I was able to tell him much of the story behind the In my senior year at Brigham Young University, I entered the
Book of Mormon. He had heard and read of its story before, national Woodrow Wilson Fellowship competition. An
but had not thought much of it. Much of his own professional
important part of this competition is a traditional half-hour
work had been with the book of Matthew, demonstrating it to
private interview, in which three judges may ask each
be a very sophisticated and highly literary document,
applicant any questions they please. My interview went fairly
consciously prepared with a complex structure, not just a
well until about halfway through, when the examiner on my
simple narrative. One of the evidences he used to make his right suddenly changed the subject. My file had contained a
point was the presence of four- and eight-part parallel copy of my article from BYU Studies on the Book of Mormon,
structures in Matthew, one of the most notable of which is
and that was the source of his question. Challengingly, he
found in Matthew 5:3–10, the Beatitudes. Now it happens that
demanded, ―Doesn‘t the Book of Mormon just plagiarize the
the Book of Mormon also uses four- and eight-part structures;
Bible?‖
and when I showed him some in Benjamin‘s speech in Mosiah
and another remarkable occurrence in Alma 34:18–25, his The next five minutes were tense. I undertook to show that
former disregard of the Book of Mormon quickly dissolved. By the Book of Mormon differed from the Bible in several crucial
the end of our conversation, this sage, who I think had seen ways. For instance, in the Sermon on the Mount, which
much in his sixty-odd years of active scholarship, was appears in both books, the King James text reads:
seriously nodding approval. I remember particularly the way ―whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be
his eyes reflected the enthusiasm I held for the Book of in danger of the judgment.‖ (Matt. 5:22; italics added.) The
Mormon; he concluded our conversation with: ―You have italicized phrase appears to be an interpolation that was
found here much life—and a lifetime of work.‖ added to the text well after it had been written by Matthew.
The earliest New Testament manuscripts do not have it;
Another rewarding encounter came with a postdoctoral
neither does the Book of Mormon. (See 3 Ne. 12:22.) I also
research fellow who was studying early Christian history at the pointed to numerous differences between the selected Isaiah
Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. As far as I could tell, this passages cited in the Book of Mormon and the same
bright scholar had been given every possible honor and
passages in the Bible, to important similarities between Book
privilege of study within the vast Vatican libraries. A mutual
of Mormon imagery and nonbiblical Jewish imagery
friend introduced us at a meeting specifically to examine the
(especially in regard to the tree of life and to the significance
Book of Mormon, particularly some of its ritual and historical
of Joseph), and finally to the original poetry interspersed
texts. For instance, we discussed the description of Lehi‘s amongst the writings of the Book of Mormon prophets.
attitudes in the context of contemporary international affairs.
Israel‘s rulers had formed an alliance with Egypt against their At least two things make me think that my response was
traditional enemy, Babylon; but Jeremiah had vehemently convincing. First, one of the other professors finally asked the
criticized this choice, and there seems to be evidence that challenging professor quite pointedly, ―It doesn‘t sound like
Lehi‘s political sympathies were as unpopular as Jeremiah‘s. plagiarism to me. Have you ever read the Book of Mormon?‖
One of Babylon‘s allies was Sidon; but Sidon‘s twin city, Tyre; And second, I received the fellowship.
had sided with Egypt. The people of the Book of Mormon I continued my graduate studies in Greek philosophy at Oxford
frequently used the name Sidon. There is a city named Sidon, University in England. Here too I found many opportunities to
a river named Sidon and, even more intriguingly, a man share the Book of Mormon with a number of scholars. One
named Gidgiddonah, which, as Dr. Hugh Nibley points out, is night, several New Testament scholars launched a discussion
the Egyptian name for Sidon. But the name Tyre never of how ancient Greek intellectual concepts influenced early
appears in any form in the Book of Mormon, whereas in the Christian thought. The discussion led to a comment about the
Old Testament the two names are constantly linked; one role of opposites in the development of early Greek
hardly ever appears without the other. This apparent philosophy. For example, one philosopher named Heraclitus,
preference for Sidon over Tyre in the Book of Mormon fits who lived in the sixth century b.c., was deeply concerned with
perfectly into the world situation that Lehi knew and may the problem of opposites in the universe. Beyond those
substantiate Brother Nibley‘s deduction that Lehi may have opposites he wished to show unity. In this light I mentioned
been a trader with close personal connections in foreign cities, Lehi‘s teaching that ―it must needs be, that there is an
his safety and prosperity guaranteed by the chuwa, or opposition in all things. If not so … all things must needs be a
―contract of friendship‖ that protected an alien in another city- compound in one.‖ (2 Ne. 2:11.) The reaction of those present
state. Naturally, even though he knew Egyptian, he (as did was positive. Several were sincerely interested in knowing
Jeremiah) would still deplore Israel‘s alliance with Egypt, since more about this text, especially in light of Lehi‘s ethical (and
he saw his nation turning away from safety. (Approach to the Book not just material) thought concerning the opposites.
of Mormon, Melchizedek Priesthood Course, 1957, p. 52.)
Later, I attended Duke University in North Carolina, where I
That was only one of many areas that I wished to discuss with
participated in a graduate seminar studying a body of Jewish
this eminent scholar; and at first I feared it might be a difficult
and Christian writings dating from the time of Jesus, known as
meeting, since the discussion opened on his part with a
the Pseudepigrapha. During the course of the seminar, I had
courteously veiled hostility. He had read several chapters in
mentioned the Book of Mormon from time to time, but my
comments were not taken seriously by others around the the stone that was cast aside and rejected by the builders but
table. Toward the end of the semester, the distinguished which became the head of the corner (Acts 4:11; Ps. 118:22), the
professor, who has an impressive reputation in his field, asked Book of Mormon, also a cornerstone, has on occasion been
the seminar to tackle one particularly puzzling writing, the carelessly rejected by many otherwise faithful builders. But as
little-known ―Narrative of Zosimus.‖ It tells of a righteous is so often the case with the things of truth, the wisdom of the
family that God had led away from Jerusalem prior to its wise must perish before the Lord. (Isa. 29:14.) And when it
destruction by the Babylonians around 600 b.c. and how this does, conviction and a higher form of respect take
group escaped to a land of blessedness where they kept skepticism‘s place.
records on metal plates soft enough that they could inscribe In a word, I have never seen the Book of Mormon to be found
them with their fingernails. In the story, Zosimus was allowed
wanting. The book has raised many questions in the minds of
to visit these people in vision. In order to get to their land,
some readers, to be sure. But I find myself continually
Zosimus had to journey through wildernesses, pass through
rewarded—not disappointed—by the answers to which these
impenetrable mists of darkness, cross the ocean, and come to
questions lead. Finding such answers leads to conviction, and
a tree that bore pure fruit and gave forth water sweet as being convinced leads to respect. With the coming of
honey. (See the same elements in 1 Ne. 8:10–12 and 1 Ne. 11:25.) respect, the way is sometimes cleared for testimony.
After discussing some of the technical aspects of this Near
I know that it is important to develop and to help others
Eastern document, the professor put it to the class, ―Well,
develop respect for the Book of Mormon. It is God‘s word,
what do we make of the Narrative of Zosimus? Is it Jewish or and the people who possess it will be judged by it. It is holy
Christian?‖ The seminar had little to say, and the members of scripture given for profitable doctrine, reproof, and instruction
the class were about to conclude that the writing could not be
in righteousness. It would be ideal if all could accept a copy of
classified, since the Narrative was so unlike anything else they
the Book of Mormon without suspicion and then, upon humble
had ever seen. By then I could wait no longer. I told the
prayer, receive the witness of the Holy Ghost that it is true, but
seminar the history of Lehi and his family and more about the in these less than ideal circumstances, it is good that the book
Book of Mormon. When I had spoken, the group had even itself is so abundantly respectable.
less to say. Then the teacher said, ―Class, let me tell you a
few more things about this Book of Mormon.‖ He then Because I respect this book, I find myself drawn closer to the
described the Book of Mormon‘s use of chiasmus, of Lord. I am grateful as this deepening relationship enriches the
Melchizedek in Alma 13, and other things that the two of us love I feel for the words of this precious record. And,
had discussed privately, and then he asked, ―Well, class, what gratefully, as my respect for this book grows, I grow too.
do we make of the Book of Mormon?‖ Although some of the (Ensign, Sep 1977, p.45)
members of the seminar ultimately concluded that the most Deseret News - Brigham Young University students must
convenient solution to their problem might be found in gather the intellectual and moral resources to combat
identifying Joseph Smith as a reincarnated Jewish scribe; it abortion, same-sex marriage and moral relativity, Oxford
was significant to me that the student who had been most University philosophy professor Daniel Robinson said Monday
caustic toward the Book of Mormon earlier was now the one before a capacity crowd of more than 200 in the Lee Library
who asked if he could learn more. Auditorium.
What do these kinds of experiences mean? Taken "It's important you recognize the burden you have on you,"
individually, they may not seem particularly overwhelming. No Robinson said. "You must be informed. Adversaries of
doubt hundreds of similar individual experiences have everything you stand for are often informed, often passionate."
occurred when people have taken the Book of Mormon
seriously. One by one they have not created much of a stir, Not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
but taken together they bear significant testimony of the Book Saints, which owns BYU, Robinson has twice taught a
of Mormon. semester as a visiting professor at the university, which he
called "an estimable institution, for which the nation has every
It is perhaps easy for the non-Mormon intellectual to casually reason to be grateful.‖
discount the Book of Mormon; the better trained a person is,
the more prone he may be to dismiss the book. Gold plates, "This is what you're fighting, and you better fight it hard
an angel, a boy-prophet—to hard-headed scholars it sounds enough and with the intellectual and moral resources required
like a first cousin of the dubious occult. Its seemingly plain by that fight, so that your children have a world that one
style and its definite relationship with other ancient Hebrew doesn't hope to leave early, do you see, because it is so
scriptures appears to expose it to the charge of superficiality disgusting and depraved and defocused.‖
and inartful artifice. But in the final analysis, it is never the “It isn't enough to have the right sentiments," he said. "It isn't
book that is dubious or superficial; rather, it is the observers. even enough to have the right scripture. You have to have the
One of the greatest faults some of us suffer from as observers right argument, because you will face those who think nothing
of the Book of Mormon is a willingness to pass judgment of your scripture. You cannot win an argument by waving a
(favorably or unfavorably) upon it without examining and book at someone. You understand that. You must prepare
understanding it as thoroughly as we should. yourselves.”
And how does this relate to one‘s encounters with a graduate The white-haired septuagenarian looked the part of a
seminar, a group of Oxford dons, a board of examiners, a Hollywood version of an Oxford don, but he warned students
research fellow, a theologian, a professor, and the like? Quite against thinking technology will help them. He prescribed
simply, like this: In my experience, the Book of Mormon is an rigorous study and thought.
astounding tool of the Lord. It is amazing to watch it win
respect for itself, and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as
"You see, there isn't a movie that's going to help you with this," motivates Bible-believing Christian people to obey God's
Robinson said. "It will be books, and more books, cherished commands to separate from those who preach a false gospel.
books, filtered wisdom, sympathetic reading, critical reading, Did the Apostle Paul hate the Galatian legalizers when he
rehearsing, thinking about it again, then thinking about it again warned that they were cursed of God because of their false
and then, thinking about it again, and articulating a position gospel (Galatians 1)? Of course not. In another place, Paul said
that's tight." he was willing "to be accursed from Christ" for the sake of the
stubborn, unbelieving Jews who denied and perverted the
"It won't be easy," he added. "It'll be great, joyous fun,
gospel (Romans 9:1). Following in the footsteps of his Master,
though.‖ (―LDS told to ready for secularism fight‖, Deseret News, 12 Dec.
2007)
the Apostle Paul loved even those who are enemies of the
truth, though he did not draw back from condemning their
error. To expose and separate from those who preach false
[The following is from http://cnview.com/news_service/cnv_nov_1997.htm, gospels is not hatred; it is obedience to God. The ecumenical
as of 27 Jan. 2008] crowd is extremely confused about Christian love. "For this is
the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
Former President Jimmy Carter says Mormons are commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).
Christians.
Former President Jimmy Carter, a "Sunday school teacher" on
a regular basis at Maranatha Church in Plains, Ga., said Neal A. Maxwell – Let us be articulate [fluently persuasive
Southern Baptists are off the mark in their belief that Mormon and forceful], for while our defense of the kingdom may not stir
doctrine is essentially non-Christian and Mormons are all hearers, the absence of thoughtful response may cause
therefore in need of evangelization. fledglings [young or inexperienced persons] among the faithful
to falter. What we assert may not be accepted, but
According to the article, Carter said, "I think the worst thing unasserted convictions soon become deserted convictions.
that we can do, among the worst things we can do, as (The Neal A. Maxwell Quote Book, p. 343)
believers in Christ, is to spend our time condemning others,
who profess faith in Christ and try to have a very narrow
definition of who is and who is not an acceptable believer and Richard L. Bushman - We live at a moment in history when
a child of God." the Enlightenment dream of scientific scholarship has been
… Carter's statements came in a copyrighted article that eaten away by doubts about the possibility of scholarly
appeared Nov. 15 in the Deseret News, a newspaper in Salt objectivity. A host of thinkers, many of them French, have
Lake City owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day called into question the very possibility of dispassionate
Saints. The statements reportedly were made during a
national teleconference with religion writers.
inquiry. They are arguing not merely that objectivity is an
impossible achievement for human beings, who can never
In the Deseret News article, religion editor Carrie A. Moore detach their minds from the rest of their being, but that the
quoted Carter as saying SBC leaders were wrong in
characterizing Mormons as non-Christians.
pretense of objectivity is an exercise in self-aggrandizement.
Objectivity disguises a play for power by those who pretend
"Too many leaders now, I think, in the Southern Baptist to the authority of objective scholarship when they are every
Convention and in other conventions, are trying to act as the
bit as self-interested in the outcome as any religious
Pharisees did who were condemned by Christ, in trying to
define who can and who cannot be considered an acceptable apologist. The scientific authorities of an era, according to
person in the eyes of God," he said. "In other words, they're current theory, claim to speak only for truth against error,
making judgments on behalf of God. I think that's wrong.‖ when in actuality they stand to benefit by promoting their
(excerpted from the Baptist Press 11/17/97) particular truth and vanquishing all others. No truth, not
even the most rigorously scientific, is objective. All truth is
[The following is from http://www.wayoflife.org/fbns/mormonsadded.htm, as colored by personal interest of some sort.
of 27 Jan. 2008] … Though it is rarely mentioned in the work itself, all
IN NOVEMBER 1998, ASSEMBLIES OF GOD PASTOR DEAN scholarship is tied to a community of some kind and bears the
JACKSON PRESENTED MORMON LEADERS IN PROVO, UTAH, W ITH marks of that community's influence. Scholarship is the
"A FORMAL DECLARATION OF REPENTANCE FOR PREJUDICE product of people who are located in institutions—
AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.‖
universities, research institutes, or circles of like-minded
The document was signed by more than 160 members of
Jackson's Canyon Assembly of God Church in Provo, and thinkers. They publish their work and want to have it read by
roughly 100 Mormon visitors were on hand to receive the others. Their reputations, promotions, pay raises, and
official apology (Charisma News Service, March 1, 2000, citing Deseret appointments depend on how that work is received. (From his
News of Salt Lake City). The declaration of repentance was also chapter in Expressions of Faith, p. 72-73. Also at the Maxwell Institute
endorsed by the regional presbytery of the Assemblies of God. website, “The Social Dimensions of Rationality”.)
When attendance dropped by half in Jackson's church
following the reconciliation ceremony, Jackson said: "Some
just couldn't handle it. You can't spend your whole life hating
people and then be told you should start loving them.‖ That is
a foolish and slanderous statement. It is not hatred which
