The Book of Mormon - What is it?
Archeology has always been one of my favorite subjects. Take for instance, Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark movie. How many people know the story is based on some truth? Adolph Hitler was occult-obsessed looking for the Ark, he knew the Israelites placed it before them in many battles and were victorious. He actually thought in his mentally deficient brain, the righteous goodness of God would work evil for him. There are however many archeological findings creditable and can stand the test of scrutiny.
Several years ago, two missionaries from the Latter-day Saints (LDS) Church gave me a teaching tape. I listened to a message by Duane S. Crowther, author of books on religion, a well-known educator and Senior Editor of Horizon Publishers in Utah.
The archeological site was on the hill of Cumorah in Palmrya, New York. The location where the writings were actually found on metal plates as the Latter-day Saints have stated, the basis for their "Book of Mormon." Did this happen by chance or God's plan? I personally feel God uses people as He chooses and these tablets were to be found by the person God selected at this time. There have been archaeological findings of civilizations who did write on metal plates.
My door was always open to anyone who wanted to talk about the Bible. Didn't matter to me what their personal belief was, I was secure in mine and had many thoughts to impart to anyone who would listen. This article is written for perusal of those who have some Bible background as well as the curious. I have not explained all facets of certain words and I have not attempted an in-depth background study of the Latter-day Saints. Our concentration is on the 15 books written by the person called Mormon.
In all religions and beliefs, people in general have the tendency to include extra information, as though the true basic facts will not stand on their own merit. The writer of any document, article or book has a responsibility when adding "personal comments" to inform the reader.
The very first comment on the tape stated that the book of Mormon is to stand parallel with the Bible. Not sure where that belief originated. It is not written anywhere in the Old or New Testaments that the book of Mormon is to stand equal with the Bible.
Mormon history is discussed on this tape as three groups of people who came from the Middle East around the Old Testament times. It is said the family Lehi brought with them brass plates. As the story continues, the person Lehi had four sons, joined with Ishmael and both families were descendants of Joseph, the son of Jacob or Israel.
Duane Crowther's states, "This was the same Joseph sold into Egypt in Old Testament times." The two families intermarried and gave birth to children which eventually became two great nations. This family built a ship and the two families came to the Americas. I assume, "the Americas," refer to America, and the descendants of Joseph went across the great ocean." Who is to say this is not possible? I'm sure many people crossed oceans.
The two groups then split. One group carried the records with them and applied it to their lives; this being the group now called the Latter-Day Saints or a shorter title used is Mormons. Three civilizations or cultures of people led by God to the Americas were Nephis, Jaradites, and Mulekites.
The man Mormon was a Nephite leader and prophet. I discovered later in my research, he was a Captain in the Jewish army. As Mr. Crowther's tells the story, he was instructed by the Lord to keep the plates on which their history is recorded. These plates were later abridged by this Nephite leader, and carry his name today, that of Mormon. He survived the "final" battle as well as his son Moroni.
Again, we are only talking about 15 books in "The Book of Mormon" translated from plates. I began reading one of the titled chapters called the "book of Mormon," which has only 9 chapters. In my reading I found that these people had a strong belief in Jesus. Quoting from Chapter 3:21, "And also that ye may believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, which ye shall have among you; and also that the Jews, the covenant people of the Lord, shall have other witness beside him who they saw and heard, that Jesus, whom they slew, was the very Christ and the very God."
Chapter 5:14 - tells us they went to those who were the unbelieving Jews and said Jesus is the Christ, Son of the living God and that He will restore the house of Israel to fulfill His covenant. And reading in Chapter 7:3 - it states, one must come to repentance to be saved, believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God and has risen from the dead and has victory over the grave.
These verses are important. I was always taught that the Latter-Day Saints did not believe in Jesus or his resurrection. This is what happens when people who write degrading books about the Mormons don't bother to check out the facts, but continue to believe rumor and lies passed down in previous books. This group has been accused of not being believers because they did not display a cross in their churches. As part of the scattered house of Israel, it would not occur to them to display a cross.
The following is a critical verse in Chapter 7:10 - "And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us."
In the last, Chapter 9 - Moroni calls upon those who do not believe in Christ to repent, he proclaims a God of miracles, who gives revelations and pours out gifts and signs upon the faithful, miracles cease because of unbelief, signs follow those who believe.
MIRACLES CEASE BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF - SIGNS FOLLOW THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
Next on the tape a Bible reference was used from John 10:14 - "the good shepherd," and John 10:16 - "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." D. Crowther's said, "these sheep are the Mormons." I found this to be very interesting information I never heard before.
In the Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 15:17, the other sheep are mentioned - "That other sheep I have which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."
I then read Genesis 49:22 and the following verses. He then stated, "Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well: whose branches run over the wall." Immediately after I hearing these words from the tape, the Lord said to me, "The Mormons are one of the lost tribes of Israel part of these branches."
I was startled and astounded at this message and immediately wrote it down. I rewound the tape and listened again, and again. "What a fantastic revelation!" I said to myself. "I didn't ask a question, but received an answer!" At that moment, a spirit of fear left me. I did not realize it actually lived inside of me regarding the Mormon religion. I was taught to fear all occult religions by teachers who seemed to think they knew the answers.
Over the years there have been misunderstanding regarding this religion. Unfortunately, proclaiming a man is a prophet when he is not (only God can create a prophet not man) is the first error that continued to grow. However, that's a different story. God gives many people gifts. I believe Joseph Smith had a gift, how it was used over his lifetime is still a mystery to me.
I Thessalonians 5:21 mentioned - "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good." I thought to myself, "Truth is everywhere, finding it sometimes is a difficult task." The author of the tape also spoke about Joseph Smith finding the tablets and the translation of them. I asked the Lord about the story behind Joseph Smith's life. My answer was, "You have no need to know at this time."
Continuing my research reading in The Book of Mormon, as I came to one particular passage, the Lord said to me, "The gift was not in Joseph Smith but in the stones." These are called the Urim and Thummim, the mystical stones that were found with the tablets. This was the key to receiving the interpretation, used as one would look through eye glasses. Anyone peering through the stones could have translated the plates.
The taped message then spoke about Genesis Chapter 49:28 - "All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them."
He then continued on with a brief explanation of Ezekiel 37:15-20 - The restoring of the House of Israel and speaks about Israel being reunited. Note verse 16, "...Then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and for all the house of Israel and his companions." Duane Crowther states, the book of Mormon is a record of Joseph and his descendants. As far as I can tell from listening to the tape it is a lot of Jewish history.
Personal Summary and Conclusion
Discarding all personal opinions which seem to permeate the message of the Latter-day Saints' belief and taking into account all the strange and unusual comments written by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young through the years has unknowingly caused a great deal of confusion. We must remember the "thinking" that evolved during this time period as well. The fact remains the documented book I have just read contains words of a believer in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
For some 24 plus years, I studied at and was a constant visitor in all the services at B'nai Israel Congregation, Rockville, Maryland. I learned the ways of the Jewish folks. I can honestly say with this background, I discovered the Latter-day Saints are Jewish folks being Christian. Their ways, their methods, the style is similar, and their sanctuary reminds me of a synagogue. As an investigator for many years, I actually visited one church every Sunday for a year and became involved in their activities. A very friendly, gracious people, I wanted to know the truth and I found it.
What is the book of Mormon? From what I can surmise, eliminating all the "extra" dialogue inserted by men of good intention - It is a Historical Document of one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
For your investigation:
Ancient Writings on Metal Plates, Dr. Paul R. Cheesman
The Urim and Thummim, Dr. Cornelis Van Dam
Ancient burials of Metallic Foundation Documents in Stone Boxes, Wright, H. Curtis
Graduate School of Library and Information Science - 1983
An Early Phoenician Political Document, Journal of Biblical Literature, 1939. Copper or Bronze Plate in Hebrew (Lebanon-Phoenicia)
Journal of Bihar Research Society, G. Ramadas, Thailand, 1948. Three cooper plates strung together on a copper ring.
Journal of the Greater Indian Society, Hihar Ranjan Ray, 1939. A gold-leaf book of twenty numbered pages.