Category: Book of Mormon
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Possible Sources for Book of Mormon Names
By Sandra Tanner The Book of Mormon contains over 300 proper names. Many LDS assume that this is evidence that Joseph Smith could not have made up the Book of Mormon. However, when we examine the list of names at the end of the Book of Mormon we notice that 141 of the names are…
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Do LDS Historical Issues Matter?
Several historical issues which are the foundation of Mormonism’s truth claims.
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Top Stories of the Decades
Highlights of Utah Lighthouse Ministry research and experiences through the years.
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Anthon Transcript
By Sandra Tanner What is the Anthon Transcript? An excerpt from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism Vol. 1, explains: The Anthon Transcript was a sheet of paper, thought to be lost, upon which Joseph SMITH copied sample “reformed Egyptian” characters from the plates of the Book of Mormon. In the winter of 1828, Martin HARRIS showed…
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Professor Charles Anthon Letter
Typescript of a letter from Professor Charles Anthon, explaining his experience with the “reformed Egyptian” characters, purportedly copied from Joseph Smith’s gold plates and brought to Anthon for his educated opinion on their authenticity.
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Racial Statements in LDS Scripture
By Sandra Tanner Despite claims by modern LDS leadership that racist rhetoric and priesthood restrictions are nothing more than relics of unfortunate folklore, their scripture clearly shows a basis for what early LDS leaders defended as doctrine.Consider the following examples from the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. Book of Mormon Pearl…
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Book of Mormon Overview
By Sandra Tanner Storyline The Book of Mormon contains the purported stories of three different groups which sailed to the Americas. Jaredites Mulekites Lehi and family Translation The Urim and Thummim, specially prepared spectacles preserved with the golden plates as an aid in translating, were used to translate the first 116 pages of the Book…
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John H. Gilbert (typesetter for the Book of Mormon)
Two important reminiscences of John H. Gilbert, the main compositor (typesetter) for the first printing of the Book of Mormon. 1) An 1877 interview with the Detroit’s Post and Tribune. 2) A memorandum that he wrote for the 1893 World’s Fair as background information for the Book of Mormon printing proof sheets, which were being…
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Bible and Book of Mormon Contradictions
By Sandra Tanner The LDS church claims the Bible as one of its four scriptures (with the caveat, “as far as it is translated correctly”). However, there are serious contradictions between it and the other three, despite inspiration by the same God, supposedly. Consider some of these contradictions below. 1. The Gospel The Bible plainly…
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Testing the Book of Mormon (tract)
By Jerald and Sandra Tanner Some members of the Mormon Church have made fantastic claims about archaeologists using the Book of Mormon. For example, one letter written by a prominent Mormon, dated May 3, 1936, maintained that the Book of Mormon was used by the government to unravel the problem of the aborigines. . . . it…