As the years have past, the case for the Book of Mormon has strengthened considerably despite the zealous efforts of critics. This page is dedicated to documenting the many bits of evidence that I come across in my studies. Some of the topics address supposed anomolies, or “problems” that critics have with the BoM; these are sprinkled throughout the list. An enormous portion of this list includes youtube videos by Kerry Shirts (The Backyard Professor), to whom we owe a great debt for making much of this information more accessible. Here is Bro. Shirt’s youtube page. When possible, I include an article (listed by author) that probes the issue more in depth.
This collection of data is so deep, and so broad, that it becomes very difficult to at least not admit that anti-mormon critics have a difficult and uphill battle. For a good introduction into the proper method for evaluating BoM historicity, I recommend Brant Gardner’s (M.A. Mesoamerican archaeology) 2006 FAIR Conference presentation.
Brant Gardner: Convergences and New World Evidence: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 (part 5: MesoAmerican context for Anti-Nephi-Lehis)
The question that one must ask themselves after surveying all of the data is “Could anyone in 1830 have known about these things? If not, is it just lucky coincidence?“
HEBREW LINGUISTIC PARALLELS
Egyptian & Hebrew: The two most important languages Joseph could have chosen——–John A. Tvetdnes, Stephen Ricks Colophons in the Book of Mormon——- John Tvedtnes Merismus in the Book of Mormon Prophetic Perfect in BoM——-Donald W. Parry(FARMS) The Construct State——-Donald W. Parry(FARMS) John A. Tvedtnes Repetition of the Definite Article(“the”) & Cognate Accusative(“dreamed a dream”)(4:27)——-Donald W. Parry(FARMS) Jesus born ‘AT’ Jerusalem(3:35)——-DCP Alma 46:19, writing “upon the rent” a Hebraism——-Daniel C. Peterson Hebrew writing in Egyptian Characters——-FAIR Antithetical Parallelism in the Book of Mormon——-Donald W. Parry Epanalepsis——-Larry G. Childs And/If Conditional Sentence ChiasmusANCIENT NEAR EASTERN PARALLELS
Nephi and Asherah (D.C. Peterson) Alma: A male Jewish name——-Daniel C. Peterson(DCP) Paul Hoskisson Nephi: Egyptian Name (John Gee) Sariah Pahoran & Paanchi Prophetic Callings(5:13)——-John Welch King Benjamin’s Farewell Speech——-John Welch Nature of Evidence & Proof; Ancient Near Eastern Records on Metal Plates; General Commentary——-J. Tvedtnes Book(FARMS) Orphism, Egypt and the Book of Mormon in antiquity——-Noel B. Reynolds Margaret Barker and the Book of Mormon——-M. Barker M. Barker(video) Kevin Christensen Hugh Nibley & the forty-day literature Jewish temples outside of Jerusalem/Nephi’s Temple(4:58)——-Daniel C. Peterson Jewish Shipbuilding and Seafaring; Raphael Patai——-John Tvedtnes Metal Plates and the Book of Mormon——-William J. Hamblin William J. Adams Ancient Hidden Texts——-John A. Tvedtnes Legal Terminology for Thieves and Robbers——-John Welch Shipbuilding in Ancient Arabia; Nephi’s Boat and Oman——-Noel B. Reynolds Ancient Stones used for Light; Jared and Noah——-Nibley Tvedtnes Book of Mormon Names in Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions——-Tvedtnes, Gee, & Roper or PDF Version The Illiad and the Book of Mormon——-John Tvedtnes Korihor struck dumb, Ancient parallels——-John Welch Nephi’s Bountiful——-Warren P. Aston Journey of Faith Jewish Feasts in the Book of Mormon——-John Welch Lehi’s Family in the Desert, Arabian Parallels Pseudepigrapha and the BoM, extra-biblical themes Krister Stendahl (non-mormon biblical scholar) studies 3 Nephi Reformed Egyptian Mulek, son of King Zedekiah Deseret and Bees “Without A Cause” Nephi’s Bow Nahom (FAIR video) Nahom (Jeff Lindsay) Bountiful (FAIR video) The Dead Sea Scrolls and The Book of MormonMESOAMERICAN PARALLELS
Mesoamerican timekeeping/’baktun’; general commentary on Mesoamerica——-John E. Clark(baktun) John E. Clark(video) FAIR page Mayan Armor and the Book of Mormon The Horse Controversy——-John L. Sorenson Robert Bennett Jeff Lindsay Lehi’s Library Swords in the Book of Mormon——-Matt Roper Nephi’s Garden——-John L. Sorenson Ammon at the Waters of Sebus, Mesoamerican Context——-Hugh Nibley Brant Gardner video Concrete Tropical Climate, Clothing Heat on New Year’s Day(Lehi’s Library) Mesoamerican Writing Systems(2:20) King Benjamin’s Speech: Festival of Booths “And it came to pass…” in the Book of Mormon Metals in the BoM part 1 As system of weights and scales (Sorenson) Elephants in America (Mike Ash) Gomphotheres (Jeff Lindsey) + MADB discussionPLATES, TRANSLATION, COMPLEXITY, WITNESSESS
Book of Mormon Witnesses (Richard L. Anderson)
Personal Writings of the Book of Mormon Witnesses (Anderson)
Attempts to Redefine the Experience of the 8 Witnesses (Anderson)
How Witnesses Described the Gold Plates (Henrichson)
Not So Easily Dismissed: Some Facts for Which Counterexplanations of the Book of Mormon Will Need to Account (Daniel C. Peterson)
Real Artifacts from Moroni’s Stone Box
Time of Translation
Evidence for Dictation
Textual Consistency
Book of Mormon Politics vs. Joseph’s Culture
Word Print Analysis
DNA ISSUES
DNA Part 1 DNA Part 2 DNA Part 3 DNA Part 4 DNA Part 5 DNA Part 6 DNA Part 7 DNA Part 8 DNA Part 9 DNA Part 10 DNA Part 11 DNA Part 12 DNA Part 13
May 7, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Alma was also a male name in 1820 NY. You can look it up on familysearch.com
May 13, 2008 at 11:05 am
This looks great, and I know you worked hard to get all this information organized.
July 27, 2008 at 11:19 pm
So there was a Jew in NY with the name Alma. What does that prove or disprove? The JS could have “possibly” met him or heard of him?
October 6, 2008 at 3:54 am
Great, thanks for sharing!
December 22, 2008 at 11:45 am
WOW! The name Alma was all you could come up with to debunk whats being printed here?
Impressive.
Truly impressive. o.O