Book of Mormon / Errors

Written by John Carson

A person's faith should always be grounded in truth, and truth has no fear of examination. The claims that the LDS church (Mormons call "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints") make about the Book of Mormon is very strong. 

Joseph Smith claimed to have received a revelation from God about the Book of Mormon. Doctrine and Covenants 20:14-15 reads: 

“And those who receive it in faith, and work righteousness, shall receive a crown of eternal life; But those who harden their hearts in unbelief, and reject it, it shall turn to their own condemnation.” 

If it is the word of God, the Book of Mormon should be able to pass any test of examination. If it does not, and errors are found, then it would not be a revelation from God and must be rejected as scripture. 

In the Book of Mormon, a character named Moroni, referred to the denial of revelations, prophecies, gifts, healings, and speaking in tongues as either not understanding, or not having read scripture that was supposed to have been available to the people he was speaking to. He then quoted Hebrews 13:8 and James 1:17 (see Mormon 9:9). This was before the New Testament ever reached America. So an obvious question is, "How can Moroni read Hebrews 13:8 and James 1:17, when the New Testament had not even reached America? And, how can they read and understand scripture they don't have access to?" 

Also in the Book of Mormon, it is recorded that God told the brother of Jared to build barges that were so airtight, that the inhabitants were not able to breathe. The solution? God supposedly told him to make a hole in the top and the bottom of the boat. Then it records that God wasn't sure if the flood waters will enter into the boat, and so God instructed him that if the water should come in, he should plug the hole back up so they do not perish in the flood. This is found in Ether 2:19-20. 

Joseph Smith said that the Book of Mormon was "the most correct of any book on earth." (Book of Mormon Introduction) Bruce R. McConkie wrote that the Book of Mormon "is true and was translated correctly." (See Mormon Doctrine, page 99). If they were right, then the Book of Mormon would not have these errors in it.

You should not fear condemnation for rejecting error.

For questions or comments (please include title of this article), email me at:

John@DoorwayChristianOutreach.info 

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Blessings to you,

John