An Examination of An Examination of Mormon Texts Mormon Texts

Problem Issues to Problem Issues to Discuss When Speaking Discuss When Speaking

with Mormonswith Mormons

Jude 3-4Jude 3-4

Galatians 1:6-9Galatians 1:6-9

Problems with the Book of Problems with the Book of MormonMormon

The The Book of MormonBook of Mormon cannot be cannot be “another testament” because it simply “another testament” because it simply is not true.is not true.

The Book of Mormon cannot compare The Book of Mormon cannot compare with the Bible because the with the Bible because the Book of Book of MormonMormon cannot possibly be God’s word. cannot possibly be God’s word.

The whole Mormon religion cannot The whole Mormon religion cannot stand because it is based on the false stand because it is based on the false claims of the claims of the Book of MormonBook of Mormon..

The The Book of MormonBook of Mormon cannotcannot be from be from God.God.

Problems with the Problems with the Doctrines and CovenantsDoctrines and Covenants

The D&C often contradicts itself, The D&C often contradicts itself, other Mormon scriptures, and most other Mormon scriptures, and most importantly, the Bible.importantly, the Bible.

The organization of the Mormon The organization of the Mormon Church does not match the Church does not match the organization of the True Church of organization of the True Church of Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

Smith is a failed and false prophet Smith is a failed and false prophet and should not be listened to by and should not be listened to by anyone.anyone.

The D&C The D&C cannotcannot be from God. be from God.

First Thessalonians 5:21First Thessalonians 5:21

““Test all things; Test all things; hold fast what hold fast what

is good.”is good.”

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceIt is a collection of writings by It is a collection of writings by Joseph Smith where he claims to Joseph Smith where he claims to “translate” certain texts.“translate” certain texts.– It is one of the canonized scriptures of It is one of the canonized scriptures of

the Mormon Church.the Mormon Church.– It contains excerpts from the It contains excerpts from the Book of Book of

MormonMormon, excerpts from the , excerpts from the D&CD&C, , excerpts from the excerpts from the History of Joseph History of Joseph SmithSmith, the , the Book of MosesBook of Moses, the , the Book of Book of AbrahamAbraham, and the , and the Articles of FaithArticles of Faith..

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceThe Book of AbrahamThe Book of Abraham– ““a Translation of some ancient Records, a Translation of some ancient Records,

that have fallen into our hands from the that have fallen into our hands from the catacombs of Egypt”catacombs of Egypt”

Introduction to the Introduction to the Book of AbrahamBook of Abraham

– ““The writings of Abraham, when he was in The writings of Abraham, when he was in Egypt, written by his own hand on Egypt, written by his own hand on papyrus.”papyrus.”

History of the ChurchHistory of the Church, vol.2, pgs. 235-236, 348-, vol.2, pgs. 235-236, 348-351351

– Smith purchased these papyri from Michael Smith purchased these papyri from Michael H Chandler in Kirtland, Ohio in 1835 for H Chandler in Kirtland, Ohio in 1835 for $2400.$2400.

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceThe Book of AbrahamThe Book of Abraham– During the Summer and Winter of 1835, During the Summer and Winter of 1835,

Smith claimed to “translate” these papyri.Smith claimed to “translate” these papyri.““I spent the day translating” (Nov. 5, 1835).I spent the day translating” (Nov. 5, 1835).

– Later published in Later published in The Times and SeasonsThe Times and Seasons in 1842 and called it the in 1842 and called it the Book of AbrahamBook of Abraham..

It was published with three facsimiles which It was published with three facsimiles which came from the “Joseph Smith Papyri.”came from the “Joseph Smith Papyri.”

Book of Abraham 1:12Book of Abraham 1:12““And it came to pass that the priests laid And it came to pass that the priests laid violence upon me, that they might slay violence upon me, that they might slay me also as they did those virgins upon me also as they did those virgins upon this altar; and that you may have this altar; and that you may have knowledge of this altar, knowledge of this altar, I will refer you to I will refer you to the representation at the the representation at the commencement of this recordcommencement of this record.”.”

Book of Abraham 3Book of Abraham 3

Book of Abraham 4-5Book of Abraham 4-5

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great Price

After Smith’s death, his widow sold After Smith’s death, his widow sold them to a museum in Chicago.them to a museum in Chicago.– These papyri were thought to be lost These papyri were thought to be lost

after the Chicago Fire of 1871.after the Chicago Fire of 1871.– They were later found in New York They were later found in New York

City in 1966 along with the affidavit City in 1966 along with the affidavit proving their authenticity.proving their authenticity.

– It is estimated that 1/3 to 4/5 of the It is estimated that 1/3 to 4/5 of the original papyri were recovered original papyri were recovered

(Gee, 2000; Larson 2001).(Gee, 2000; Larson 2001).

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceDr. Robert K RitnerDr. Robert K Ritner– ““There’s certainly There’s certainly no reasonno reason to believe to believe

that this [scroll] should be expanded that this [scroll] should be expanded much beyond the surviving length.”much beyond the surviving length.”

– ““I’ve now read I’ve now read the entire documentthe entire document from beginning to end and I’ve made from beginning to end and I’ve made out what one can make out of the poor out what one can make out of the poor copy of the final vignette. copy of the final vignette. The mostThe most that is missing from this text is simply that is missing from this text is simply two columns worth of Egyptian hieratic two columns worth of Egyptian hieratic and and possiblypossibly a small vignette. But other a small vignette. But other than that there would be than that there would be nothing morenothing more that would inflate the scroll beyond its that would inflate the scroll beyond its current size.”current size.”

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great Price

The biggest problem with the The biggest problem with the Book Book of Abrahamof Abraham is that it is NOT the is that it is NOT the Book of AbrahamBook of Abraham..– It is something called a “Book of It is something called a “Book of

Breathing,” an Egyptian funerary text.Breathing,” an Egyptian funerary text.– Every single non-Mormon scholarEvery single non-Mormon scholar who who

has studied the Joseph Smith Papyri has studied the Joseph Smith Papyri unanimously agreeunanimously agree that the Book of that the Book of Abraham in Abraham in no way, shape, or formno way, shape, or form comes close to what Smith claimed comes close to what Smith claimed they said.they said.

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceDr. Robert K RitnerDr. Robert K Ritner– ““I want to be I want to be absolutely clearabsolutely clear on this. on this.

There is simply There is simply nono justification for the justification for the kind of interpretations that appear in kind of interpretations that appear in facsimile no.1 or facsimile no.3. They are facsimile no.1 or facsimile no.3. They are wrongwrong with regard to the hieroglyphs, with regard to the hieroglyphs, they are they are wrongwrong with regard to the with regard to the gender, they are gender, they are wrongwrong with regard to with regard to the understanding of what the scene the understanding of what the scene actually represents and, where they are actually represents and, where they are used in the body of the text, they are used in the body of the text, they are wrongwrong there as well.” there as well.”

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceDr. Robert K RitnerDr. Robert K Ritner

– ““In short, there is In short, there is nono historical historical validity for the interpretations validity for the interpretations in that book [the Book of in that book [the Book of Abraham], Abraham], nonenone whatsoever.” whatsoever.”

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceThe Articles of FaithThe Articles of Faith– ““We believe in God, the Eternal Father, We believe in God, the Eternal Father,

and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit.”Holy Spirit.”

Article of Faith #1 Article of Faith #1 (Ephesians 4:4-6)(Ephesians 4:4-6)

– ““We believe that man will be punished for We believe that man will be punished for their own sins and not for Adam’s their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.”transgression.”

Article of Faith #2 Article of Faith #2 (Romans 3:23)(Romans 3:23)

– ““We believe in being subject to kings, We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying honoring, and sustaining the law.”obeying honoring, and sustaining the law.”

Article of Faith #12 Article of Faith #12 (Romans 13:1-7)(Romans 13:1-7)

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceArticle of Faith #8Article of Faith #8– ““We believe the Bible to be the word of We believe the Bible to be the word of

God God as far as it is translated correctlyas far as it is translated correctly; we ; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.”word of God.”

2000 years of manuscript evidence for the Bible.2000 years of manuscript evidence for the Bible.

NO manuscript evidence for the NO manuscript evidence for the Book of MormonBook of Mormon..

Article of Faith #9Article of Faith #9– ““We believe all God has revealed, all that We believe all God has revealed, all that

he does now reveal, and we believe that he he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

Jude 3-4; Ephesians 3Jude 3-4; Ephesians 3

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great PriceArticle of Faith #10Article of Faith #10– ““We believe in the literal gathering of We believe in the literal gathering of

Israel and the restoration of the Ten Israel and the restoration of the Ten Tribes, that Zion (the New Jerusalem) Tribes, that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American will be built upon the American continent, that Christ will reign continent, that Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and that the personally upon the earth, and that the earth will be renewed and will receive earth will be renewed and will receive its paradisiacal glory.”its paradisiacal glory.”

Daniel 9; Revelation 20; Revelation 21:9-27; Daniel 9; Revelation 20; Revelation 21:9-27; D&CD&C116; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Matthew 25:31-46116; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Matthew 25:31-46

The Pearl of Great PriceThe Pearl of Great Price

The The Pearl of Great PricePearl of Great Price is not is not and cannot possibly be from and cannot possibly be from

God as Mormonism claims it to God as Mormonism claims it to be. be.

Therefore, it should be Therefore, it should be disregarded as being the truth.disregarded as being the truth.

The Joseph Smith The Joseph Smith TranslationTranslation

Article of Faith #8 Article of Faith #8 – ““as far as it is translated correctly.”as far as it is translated correctly.”

D&C45D&C45– The Mormon God commanded Smith The Mormon God commanded Smith

to properly “translate” the 1611 King to properly “translate” the 1611 King James Version of the Bible through a James Version of the Bible through a revelatory process into the way it revelatory process into the way it should have been translated.should have been translated.

The Joseph Smith The Joseph Smith TranslationTranslation

Genesis 50:24-38, Genesis 50:24-38, JSTJST– ““And And that seerthat seer will I bless, and will I bless, and they that they that

seek to destroy him shall be confoundedseek to destroy him shall be confounded; ; for this promise I give unto you; for I will for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to remember you from generation to generation; and generation; and his name shall be called his name shall be called JosephJoseph, and it shall be after the name of , and it shall be after the name of his father; and he shall be like unto you; his father; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall being for the thing which the Lord shall being forth forth by his handby his hand shall bring my people to shall bring my people to salvationsalvation.” .”

Vs.33Vs.33

The Joseph Smith The Joseph Smith TranslationTranslation

Mark 15:22Mark 15:22– ““And they brought Him to the place And they brought Him to the place

Golgotha, which is translated, Golgotha, which is translated, place of place of the skullthe skull” (NKJV).” (NKJV).

– ““And they bring him unto the place And they bring him unto the place called Golgotha, which is, (being called Golgotha, which is, (being interpreted) interpreted) place of burialplace of burial” (JST).” (JST).

The Joseph Smith The Joseph Smith TranslationTranslation

Galatians 1:6-10Galatians 1:6-10– ““But even if we, But even if we, or an angel from or an angel from

heavenheaven, preach , preach any other gospelany other gospel to to you that what we have preached to you that what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”you, let him be accursed.”

Joseph Smith-HistoryJoseph Smith-History 1:30 ff 1:30 ff– Smith claimed that he was visited by Smith claimed that he was visited by

the Mormon the Mormon angelangel Moroni and, Moroni and, essentially, gave him essentially, gave him another gospelanother gospel..

The Joseph Smith The Joseph Smith TranslationTranslation

The only canonized portion of the The only canonized portion of the JSTJST is the book of Matthew which is a is the book of Matthew which is a part of the part of the Pearl of Great PricePearl of Great Price..– Mainstream Mormons still use the Mainstream Mormons still use the

“corrupted” 1611 KJV.“corrupted” 1611 KJV.– NoNo manuscripts were used for this manuscripts were used for this

“translation.”“translation.”– EveryEvery singlesingle non-Mormon scholar who non-Mormon scholar who

has examined Smith’s “translation” has examined Smith’s “translation” unanimously agree that there is unanimously agree that there is nono textual basis for textual basis for anyany of Smith’s of Smith’s “corrections.”“corrections.”

ConclusionConclusionThe The Pearl of Great PricePearl of Great Price is not and is not and cannot possibly be from God.cannot possibly be from God.

The The JSTJST is not and cannot possibly be is not and cannot possibly be from God.from God.

Therefore, both of them should be Therefore, both of them should be disregarded by those seeking the disregarded by those seeking the truth.truth.

In fact, In fact, allall Mormon texts Mormon texts mustmust be be completelycompletely ignored by anyone ignored by anyone seeking the seeking the realreal God, the God, the realreal Jesus, Jesus, and the and the realreal Truth. Truth.