Criticism of Mormonism/Books/The Changing World of Mormonism/Chapter 5

Chapter 4

A FAIR Analysis of: Criticism of Mormonism/Books A work by author: Jerald and Sandra Tanner

Chapter 6

Claims made in Chapter 5: The Book of Mormon

Page	Claim	Response	Author's sources
94	Brigham Young claimed that some of the Book of Mormon witnesses doubted that they had ever seen an angel.	Book of Mormon witnesses—Recant	Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 7:164.
94	Oliver Cowdery may have had doubts about his testimony.	Book of Mormon witnesses—None recanted	Times and Seasons 1841 vol. 2, p.482
96	The witnesses to the Book of Mormon were "very gullible."	Tanners stoop to ad hominem, probably hoping we will ignore the evidence and judge the men before hearing them. Book of Mormon witnesses—Character	[ATTENTION!]
97	David Whitmer said that God told him to separate himself from among the Latter Day Saints.	Book of Mormon witnesses—David Whitmer told to leave	An Address to All Believers in Christ, pp. 27-28
97	Joseph said that John Whitmer, David Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris are "too mean to mention."	Despite the violent disagreement between Joseph and these apostates, none denied their testimony. Why would Joseph risk angering men who he knew could expose his fraud, unless he knew their witness too strong to deny? Book of Mormon witnesses Eight witnesses	History of the Church 3:232
97	Joseph said derogatory things about David Whitmer.	Despite the violent disagreement between Joseph and David, Whitmer continued bearing his testimony for decades of the Book of Mormon. Why would Joseph risk angering men who he knew could expose his fraud, unless he knew their witness too strong to deny? Book of Mormon witnesses	History of the Church 3:228.
97	The dissenters received a threatening letter before being driven out of Far West.	Despite the violent disagreement between the Church and dissenters, they continued faithful to their testimony of the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon witnesses—David Whitmer told to leave Book of Mormon witnesses—None recanted Book of Mormon witnesses	Senate Document 189, Feb. 15, 1841 pp. 6-9
98	Oliver Cowdery was accused of being involved in counterfeiting.	Jesus was accused of many crimes too; would the Tanners condemn Him? Historical figures should be innocent until proven guilty. Oliver became a respected and successful lawyer. Why was he not charged for this crime? Why was he respected if suspected of such a crime? This is more ad hominem, and the Tanners never provide the evidence of what the witnesses said and did. Book of Mormon witnesses—None recanted Book of Mormon witnesses	History of the Church 3:16 A History of the Latter-day Saints in Northern Missouri From 1836 to 1839, p.146-147
99	Oliver Cowdery joined a Methodist church after his excommunication.	Oliver never renounced his testimony. A religious Christian, he probably preferred to worship somewhere than nowhere at all. Latter-day Saints believe there is much good in other faiths. Oliver returned to the Church, and continued to affirm his testimony until his death. Book of Mormon witnesses—None recanted Book of Mormon witnesses	New Era, Jan. 1969, p. 56
99-100	Some of the Book of Mormon witnesses later followed James Strang.	The witnesses never born the kind of testimony about Strang as they did about seeing and handling the plates. James Strang	[ATTENTION!]
103	Martin Harris changed his religion thirteen times.	Harris managed to frustrate many other religious groups by his continued insistence on preaching the Book of Mormon instead of their tenets. He eventually returned to the Church and died in full fellowship. Book of Mormon witnesses—Character	[ATTENTION!]
108	Martin Harris said that he saw the plates with his "spiritual eyes."	"Eye of Faith"/"Spiritual Eye" statements by Martin Harris	[ATTENTION!]
108	David Whitmer said that he "handled the plates," but that he "did not touch nor handle the plates."	"Spiritual" or "literal" witness experience?	Saints Herald, 1882
108	Martin Harris said that the eight witnesses never saw the plates.	Harris was not one of the eight. They can—and did—speak for themselves. Eight witnesses Book of Mormon witnesses—Recant	Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Winter, 1972, pp. 83-84
109	No visions actually occurred in the Kirtland Temple.	The Tanners are again arguing with any evidence.  History unclear or in error: To do this, they must ignore a mound of first person contemporaneous testimony. Kirtland Temple dedication Steven C. Harper, "Pentecost Continued: A Contemporaneous Account of the Kirtland Temple Dedication," Brigham Young University Studies 42 no. 2 (2003), 4–. Milton V. Backman, Jr., The Heavens Resound: A History of the Latter-day Saints in Ohio, 1830–1838 (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1983), 309–. ISBN 0877479739 GospeLink	[ATTENTION!]
111	Material from the Presbyterian "Westminster Confession" is "probably" the source for Alma 40.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. Was Alma 40 derived from material contained in The Westminster Confession?	Westminster Confession; Alma 40
114	Joseph copied the name "Nephi" from the Apocrypha.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. Book of Mormon plagiarism accusations—Apocrypha	[ATTENTION!]
115	The story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egypt was a source for the book of 1 Nephi.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. If this is so, where is the parting the sea? The ten plagues? The earth opening up to swallow the rebellious? Water from a rock? Manna from heaven? Joseph ignored the best, most dramatic parts. Nephi consciously modeled his family on the Israelites, so some parallels are to be expected—only an initial belief that the book is a forgery makes this argument work. It is circular. Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible	[ATTENTION!]
115	The Book of Mormon quotes Malachi many years before it was written.	Quoting Malachi too early? Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible	Malachi 4:1 1 Nephi 22꞉15
116	The story of Lazarus being raised from the dead is a source for the story of Ammon.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible	[ATTENTION!]
118	The story of Alma was taken from the story of Paul.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. Book of Mormon plagiarized from the Bible	[ATTENTION!]
119	The Book of Mormon contains material found in the New Testament.	New Testament expressions?	[ATTENTION!]
122	In the Book of Mormon, Jesus quotes a paraphrase of Moses' words found in Acts 3:22-26.	New Testament expressions?	[ATTENTION!]
123	The Greek terms "Alpha" and "Omega" appear in the Book of Mormon.	Greek words?	[ATTENTION!]
124	The Book of Mormon contains the Greek name Timothy.	Book of Mormon anachronisms—Names—Timothy	[ATTENTION!]
125	Joseph Smith's mother said that he used to entertain them with stories about the ancient inhabitants of the American continent before he translated the Book of Mormon.	Joseph Smith's "amusing recitals" of ancient American inhabitants	History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, 1954 ed., p.83
127	B.H. Roberts concluded that the book View of the Hebrews could have provided a structural foundation for the Book of Mormon.	B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon Roberts was playing "devil's advocate," and showing what a critic might do. He rejected the idea that the Book of Mormon was not divine. Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews	[ATTENTION!]
127	B.H. Roberts listed a number of parallels between View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon.	Roberts was playing "devil's advocate," and showing what a critic might do. He rejected the idea that the Book of Mormon was not divine. B.H. Roberts' testimony of the Book of Mormon Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews—Examples of parallels and differences	[ATTENTION!]
128	The Book of Mormon may have used Josiah Priest's book The Wonders of Nature as a source.	Assertion is not an argument. The Tanners need evidence. Book of Mormon plagiarism accusations—The Wonders of Nature [needs work]	[ATTENTION!]
128-129	The Book of Mormon contains changes that altered the original meaning of the text.	Author(s) impose(s) own fundamentalism on the Saints  The author's claim is false: Book of Mormon textual changes	[ATTENTION!]
132	It was claimed that the during the translation process that the proper spelling of words was given by the Lord.	Template:HistoricalDistortion: So far as is known, only the first spelling of proper names was controlled in the translation of our current Book of Mormon text. Book of Mormon translation method	[ATTENTION!]
133	Members of the Church have claimed that the Smithsonian uses the Book of Mormon in archaeological research.	Such members are ill-informed. The Church has never claimed this. Smithsonian statement on Book of Mormon archaeology	[ATTENTION!]
139	Some Mormon archaeologists have begin to "face the truth" regarding Book of Mormon archeology by declaring that it is a "myth."	Book of Mormon archaeology The same claim is made in One Nation Under Gods and is responded to here: No BoM archaeology?	Dee Green, Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, Summer 1969, pp.76-78
140-141	Mormon archaeologist Thomas Stuart Ferguson lost his testimony because he couldn't find any archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon.	Ferguson was not an archaeologist; he was an amateur with an inaccurate idea of what archaeology could accomplish. John Gee, "The Hagiography of Doubting Thomas (Review of Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson's Archaeological Search for the Book of Mormon)," FARMS Review of Books 10/2 (1998): 158–183. off-site Daniel C. Peterson and Matthew Roper, "Ein Heldenleben? On Thomas Stuart Ferguson as an Elias for Cultural Mormons (Review of: Quest for the Gold Plates: Thomas Stuart Ferguson’s Archaeological Search for the Book of Mormon)," FARMS Review 16/1 (2004): 175–220. off-site Daniel C. Peterson, "On the New World Archaeological Foundation (Review of: Behind the Mask of Mormonism)," FARMS Review 16/1 (2004): 221–234. off-site	[ATTENTION!]
141-142	Lehi would never have written using an Egyptian language. Jewish scriptures could not have been written in Egyptian.	The author's claim is false: Book of Mormon anachronisms—Reformed Egyptian	[ATTENTION!]
144	None of the characters on the Anthon transcript bear any resemblance to known hieroglypics found in the New World.	Anthon transcript	[ATTENTION!]