by D. Keith Shurtleff

Created on: February 21, 2008

Contrary to popular belief and the claims of so many, there is abundant archaeological evidence of the Book of Mormon. From strains of Hebrew cotton, oral traditions of the Kuna and other ancient American tribes, to cities and oasis locations discovered by science which mirror the Book of Mormon record. Organizations such as F.A.R.M.S. exist solely to bring such evidences to light. But that is NOT the point. Most Mormons recognize the fallacies of "trusting in the arm of the flesh" which the Bible tells us ought not to be done. Mormons understand, and rightly so, that to believe in any Holy Writ, Bible, Book of Mormon, Qur'an or other, based upon the learning and knowledge of man, is to trust in imperfect and fallible man as the source of truth. Man never can be trusted to be the source of absolute truth. I pity those Protestants and evangelicals who site archaeological evidence as the basis of their faith in the Bible. They often reveal a blatant hypocrisy of their embracing science to prove the Bible, while they reject science when it contradicts miracles, ex-nihilo creation, six-day creation, evolution, etc. The only way to know truth absolutely is to receive that truth directly from the source, that is from our infallible and perfect God. Thus, true Mormons set aside science, logic, reasoning, or any other man conceived pathways to truth, in favor of direct revelation from God. It was revelation from God that inspired Peter's powerful witness of the Christ, not archeology, and definitely not a detailed knowledge of the Tora. Peter knew Jesus was the Christ, because God had revealed it to his heart and mind by the Holy Spirit. Similarly, Mormons know the Book of Mormon is the word of God, because He has revealed that truth to their hearts and minds. Simply put, for Mormons, revelation will always supersede research, science or any other man based techniques. In that, unlike their evangelical critics, Mormons are at least consistent! The real test of the Book of Mormon, or any other Holy Writ, is whether God, and God alone, supports it with a witness from on high as to its truth!

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