Author: Jonathan Neville

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The tragedy of Book of Mormon Central, part 1

This week we’re going to discuss Book of Mormon Central in more detail. 

When people ask me what I think about Book of Mormon Central (BMC), I observe that I personally like and respect everyone associated with the organization. I assume they’re all faithful Latter-day Saints with good intentions. But we all know the destination of the road paved with good intentions.
BMC is an advocacy group for the personal opinions of its principals instead of a legitimate academic organization. 
As established by their very logo, the principals at BMC are determined to establish the Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs theory (M2C) by spending millions of dollars promoting M2C. They mislead their donors and readers by claiming to follow the Church’s policy of neutrality, when in practice they promote M2C exclusively.
On their Spanish-language cite, they are more explicit than they are on their English site.
The principals at BMC refuse to acknowledge, let alone explain, faithful perspectives other than M2C.
By focusing on M2C as the only permissible interpretation of the Book of Mormon and its historicity, they not only oppose the Church’s position of neutrality on the topic, but they undermine faith in the Book of Mormon, as well as the teachings of the prophets, regarding the hill Cumorah.
_____
Those Latter-day Saints who still believe the teachings of the prophets about Cumorah don’t mind that others choose to believe M2C (or one of the other “two-Cumorahs” theories). We can all serve and love one another regardless of what we believe about these issues. We’re happy for a diversity of views among faithful Latter-day Saints and we encourage everyone to learn as much as they can about the topic so we can all make informed decisions.

But Book of Mormon Central disagrees. They insist that the only acceptable belief is M2C and they don’t want people to even know about what the prophets have taught, or how the extrinsic evidence corroborates and supports what the prophets have taught.

It’s sad.
It’s inappropriate.
It’s amazing that anyone with an ounce of intellectual honesty would even work for Book of Mormon Central, let alone support the organization as currently constituted.
And we’ll discuss the implications in upcoming posts. 

Source: About Central America

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The original M2C

Before discussing the original M2C (Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs theory), I note two new posts on my other blogs:

https://www.lettervii.com/2022/09/moronicumorah-day-september-21.html

http://www.ldshistoricalnarratives.com/2022/09/edward-stevensons-journal-account-of.html

_____

Although our modern M2C scholars (particularly those at Book of Mormon Central) make a show of their erudition and credentials as if they are offering something new, M2C was described nearly a century ago in a book by L.E. Hills titled New Light on American Archaeology.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058377359&view=1up&seq=143

He even provided photos for us to enjoy.

(click to enlarge)

Here he reveals the location of the “real” Cumorah, explaining that “You cannot get away from that fact.”

Of course, the actual fact that M2C does get away from is the reality that the Cumorah in New York was identified by Moroni when he first met Joseph Smith. Joseph referred to the hill as Cumorah before he even received the plates. During his mission to the Lamanites in 1830-31, Oliver Cowdery explained to the Indian tribes that the hill was called Cumorah anciently by Moroni. Later, of course, Oliver specifically taught it was a fact that the hill in New York was the scene of the final battles of the Jaredites and Nephites. 

You can read all of these references and more here:

http://www.lettervii.com/p/byu-packet-on-cumorah.html

But L.E. Hills decided Oliver and Joseph were wrong. According to him, they didn’t understand geography and archaeology as well as he did. 

So Hills gave us M2C.

Now, in 2022, our intrepid LDS scholars and their followers pursue the same line of reasoning. 

Bizarre, isn’t it?

There are lots of fun things to discover in Hills’ book. Here, on page 141, he explains that “An Israelitish custom was to call a pyramid a tower.” Joseph just forgot to translate it correctly. 

Our current experts at Book of Mormon Central have adopted the same line of reasoning for every part of the text that doesn’t fit M2C.

Hills’ book is replete with his own translation of the Book of Mormon. No wonder our M2C scholars have felt free to provide their M2C translation as well.   

Fortunately, we have the Joseph Smith Papers that let us read the original documents without the spin of the modern M2C and SITH scholars.

We can all see that there was only one hill Cumorah and it is in New York.

Source: About Central America

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Moroni/Cumorah Day – September 21

A week from today (September 21) is what has come to be known as Moroni Day or Cumorah Day. 

It was on September 21, 1823, that Moroni first visited Joseph Smith. The most detailed account of the visit, by far, is found in Joseph Smith’s own history, where his scribes copied the account written by Oliver Cowdery with Joseph’s assistance. 

Many Latter-day Saints are unfamiliar with this account, but you can read it here, right in the Joseph Smith Papers:

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1834-1836/66

_____

You might wonder why this account is so little known today. The answer is obvious: many LDS scholars avoid the account because in it, Oliver and Joseph refuted both SITH and M2C.* 

Book of Mormon Central, in particular, never discusses this account, except when they refer to it to cast doubt on what Joseph and Oliver taught so they can promote their M2C and SITH theories.

The account begins this way:

On the evening of the 21st of September, 1823, previous to retiring to rest, our brother’s mind was unusually wrought up on the subject which had so long agitated his mind—his heart was drawn out in fervent prayer, and his whole soul was so lost to every thing of a temporal nature, that earth, to him, had lost its charms, and all he desired was to be prepared in heart to commune with some kind messenger who could communicate to him the desired information of his acceptance with God.

Some highlights:

It is no easy task to describe the appearance of a messenger from the skies—indeed, I doubt their being an individual clothed with perishable clay, who is capable to do this work.

Oliver wrote from personal experience, having met John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, and Moroni himself.

But it may be well to relate the particulars as far as given[.] The stature of this personage was a little above the common size of men in this age; his garment was perfectly white, and had the appearance of being without seam.

Notice how this description contrasts with that of the messenger who took the abridged plates from Harmony to Cumorah before bringing the plates of Nephi to Fayette.

 [See https://www.lettervii.com/p/trip-to-fayette-references.html]

He then proceeded and gave a general account of the promises made to the fathers, and also gave a history of the aborigenes of this country, and said they were literal descendants of Abraham. He represented them as once being an enlightned and intelligent people, possessing a correct knowledge of the gospel, and the plan of restoration and redemption. 

The M2Cers reject the plain and obvious meaning of this paragraph. Instead, they insist that either 

(i) Moroni (or Joseph Smith, or Oliver Cowdery) were wrong about this because the text is actually a history of the Mayans, or 

(ii) the term “this country” refers to Mesoamerica.

But that’s not all. Look at what else Moroni told Joseph Smith.

He said this history was written and deposited not far from that place, 

When Moroni said the history was “written and deposited not far from that place,” the place to which he referred was Joseph Smith’s house near Palmyra, where their interview occurred. 

Mormon abridging the record

Obviously, if the history was written and deposited “not far from that place,” and we know it was deposited in the hill Cumorah which was less than three miles “from that place,” we can be sure that Mormon and Moroni wrote that history at Cumorah. 

That makes sense because it was the location of the depository of Nephite records. (Mormon 6:6).

Just as obviously, the record could not have been written in Mesoamerica. This is another reason why Book of Mormon Central doesn’t tell people about this important account. 

The sentence continues:

and that it was our brother’s privilege, if obedient to the commandments of the Lord, to obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.

Notice that Moroni told Joseph he would translate the record “by the means of the Urim and Thummim.” He didn’t say Joseph would translate by reading words off the stone in the hat (SITH).

Later, Joseph reiterated this point when he wrote, “I obtained them and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of which I translated the plates and thus came the Book of Mormon.” 

(Elders’ Journal I.3:43 ¶1)

The scriptures use the term as well.

1 Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them.
(Doctrine and Covenants 10:1)
immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them,
(Joseph Smith—History 1:62)
Maybe this time around, on Moroni/Cumorah day all Latter-day Saints will revisit this important account of Moroni’s visit.

_____

*See explanation of acronyms here:

https://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/p/acronyms-used-in-this-blog.html

Source: Letter VII

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SITH – a sandy foundation

The ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple reminds us of foundations.   

I took this photo in July 2021.

“Sandy foundation” is another non-biblical phrase that appears three times in the Book of Mormon.* Several passages in the scriptures explain the difference between a foundation of stone and a foundation of sand or earth. [examples at the end of this post]

The Savior told the Nephites, “But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall….”

What constitutes a “sandy foundation” in our day?

Recently I had a conversation with yet another LDS Bishop who told me how he had called in a faithful couple to extend a calling but they explained they not only could not accept the calling, but they were leaving the Church over issues in Church history. They took several other families with them when they left. 

In their cases, when the rain descends, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon them, their foundation of sand crumbled (or, as many like to say, their shelf broke).

By now, most faithful Latter-day Saints know lots of people who have experienced a “faith crisis” and who have either stayed in or left the Church. Some are PIMO (physically in, mentally out). Missionaries frequently meet people who consider joining the Church but are deterred by what they read on the Internet, particularly about Church history.

Among the sandy foundations, one of the most unstable is the claim that Joseph didn’t really translate the plates but instead merely read words off a stone in the hat (SITH). After all, the 1834 anti-Mormon book Mormonism Unvailed described SITH precisely as certain LDS scholars do today. Yet Joseph described that book as full of lies, and his successors repeatedly reaffirmed what Joseph and Oliver taught about the translation–which was definitely not SITH.

_____

The Preface to the Doctrine and Covenants explains how the translation of the Book of Mormon is one of the foundations for the Restoration.

29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.
30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness…
(Doctrine and Covenants 1:29–30)

Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery laid a firm foundation through their testimonies of 

(i) the translation of the Book of Mormon with the Urim and Thummim that accompanied the plates, 

(ii) the divine authenticity of the account Joseph translated, including the fact that the final battles took place west of the hill Cumorah in western New York; and 

(iii) the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, along with the keys to the temple.

Nevertheless, some leading LDS scholars claim that Joseph and Oliver misled everyone about the translation and the historicity. Some even cast doubt on the restoration of the Priesthood.

_____

A June 2013 report titled “LDS Personal Faith Crisis” discussed at length the issues that have led people to the type of faith crisis described by the Bishop I just mentioned. The report was a factor leading to the creation and publication of the Gospel Topics Essays. You can read the entire report here:

https://faenrandir.github.io/a_careful_examination/documents/faith_crisis_study/Faith_Crisis_R28e.pdf

Page 31 features this graphic:

(click to enlarge)

By far, the top four reasons respondents gave for their loss of belief were they ceased to believe the doctrine/theology, they studied Church history and lost their belief, they lost faith in Joseph Smith, and they lost faith in the Book of Mormon.

Those reasons are axiomatic, really; few people leave the faith while still believing that Joseph Smith actually translated an authentic ancient record. 

Instead, those who leave have concluded that Joseph did not translate any plates. 

And yet, some of our leading LDS scholars are spending millions of dollars to convince everyone that Joseph didn’t actually translate the plates, but instead employed SITH. 

The scriptures have long warned about the dangers of building on a sandy foundation. There can hardly be a more sandy foundation than SITH.

_____

* As additional evidence that Joseph Smith actually translated the plates, the phrase “sandy foundation” was used by Jonathan Edwards to contrast with the certain foundation of true faith, as when he wrote about “a false and sandy foundation for faith” in the 1808 collection of his writings that was on sale in the Palmyra bookstore around 1820. He also wrote about being “built on a sandy foundation.” 

Evidence that the non-biblical language in the Book of Mormon was part of Joseph’s own lexicon supports Joseph’s claim that he translated the plates.

_____

Some scriptural passages:

24 ¶ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

(Matthew 7:24–27)

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

(Luke 6:47–49)

For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
(2 Nephi 28:28)
39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.
40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.
(3 Nephi 11:39–40)
24 Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock—
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand—
 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
(3 Nephi 14:24–27)
12 And I give unto you a commandment that ye shall do these things. And if ye shall always do these things blessed are ye, for ye are built upon my rock.
13 But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation; and when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds blow, and beat upon them, they shall fall, and the gates of hell are ready open to receive them.
(3 Nephi 18:12–13)
29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.
30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually—
(Doctrine and Covenants 1:29–30)
 1 Now, behold, because of the thing which you, my servant Oliver Cowdery, have desired to know of me, I give unto you these words:
2 Behold, I have manifested unto you, by my Spirit in many instances, that the things which you have written are true; wherefore you know that they are true.
3 And if you know that they are true, behold, I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things which are written;
4 For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock.
5 Wherefore, if you shall build up my church, upon the foundation of my gospel and my rock, the gates of hell shall not prevail against you.
(Doctrine and Covenants 18:1–5)
43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion.
44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive trees;
45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
 46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
 47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
 48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
 49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.
50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.
51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive trees.
52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?
53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
 54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.
55 And the lord of the vineyard said unto one of his servants: Go and gather together the residue of my servants, and take all the strength of mine house, which are my warriors, my young men, and they that are of middle age also among all my servants, who are the strength of mine house, save those only whom I have appointed to tarry;
 56 And go ye straightway unto the land of my vineyard, and redeem my vineyard; for it is mine; I have bought it with money.
57 Therefore, get ye straightway unto my land; break down the walls of mine enemies; throw down their tower, and scatter their watchmen.
58 And inasmuch as they gather together against you, avenge me of mine enemies, that by and by I may come with the residue of mine house and possess the land.
 59 And the servant said unto his lord: When shall these things be?
 60 And he said unto his servant: When I will; go ye straightway, and do all things whatsoever I have commanded you;
61 And this shall be my seal and blessing upon you—a faithful and wise steward in the midst of mine house, a ruler in my kingdom.
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:43–61)
36 For they killed the prophets, and them that were sent unto them; and they have shed innocent blood, which crieth from the ground against them.
37 Therefore, marvel not at these things, for ye are not yet pure; ye can not yet bear my glory; but ye shall behold it if ye are faithful in keeping all my words that I have given you, from the days of Adam to Abraham, from Abraham to Moses, from Moses to Jesus and his apostles, and from Jesus and his apostles to Joseph Smith, whom I did call upon by mine angels, my ministering servants, and by mine own voice out of the heavens, to bring forth my work;
38 Which foundation he did lay, and was faithful; and I took him to myself.
39 Many have marveled because of his death; but it was needful that he should seal his testimony with his blood, that he might be honored and the wicked might be condemned.
40 Have I not delivered you from your enemies, only in that I have left a witness of my name?
41 Now, therefore, hearken, O ye people of my church; and ye elders listen together; you have received my kingdom.
42 Be diligent in keeping all my commandments, lest judgments come upon you, and your faith fail you, and your enemies triumph over you. So no more at present. Amen and Amen.
(Doctrine and Covenants 136:36–42)
16 ¶ Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
(Isaiah 28:16–17)

Edwards: 

True faith is built on no precarious foundation; but a determination that the words of such a particular text, were, by the immediate power of God, suggested to the mind, at such a time, as though then spoken and directed by God to him, because the words came after such a manner, is wholly an uncertain and precarious determination, as has been now shown; and therefore is a false and sandy foundation for faith; and accordingly that faith which is built upon it is false. The only certain foundation which any person has to believe that he is invited to partake of the blessings of the gospel, is that the Word of God declares that persons so qualified as he is, are invited, and God who declares it is true and cannot lie. Religious Affections, Vol. 2, Part 3, p. 223; Kindle 29071

10. If it was possible for Christ to have failed of doing the will of his Father, and so to have failed of effectually working out redemption for sinners, then the salvation of all the saints, who were saved from the beginning of the world, to the death of Christ, was not built on a firm foundation. The Messiah, and the redemption which he was to work out by his obedience unto death, was the foundation of the salvation of all the posterity of fallen man, that ever were saved…. Also the dependence of those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem, and waited for the consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25 and Luke 2:38), and the confidence of the disciples of Jesus, who forsook all and followed him, that they might enjoy the benefits of his future kingdom, was built on a sandy foundation. Freedom of the Will, Vol. 1, Part III, p. 287-8.

Source: About Central America

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Credibility spectrum, part 3

Today we’ll look at the credibility spectrum as it applies to what Joseph Smith claimed.

We explained the spectrum yesterday, here:

https://www.bookofmormoncentralamerica.com/2022/09/credibility-spectrum-part-2.html

(click to enlarge)

People are free to believe whatever they want. The spectrum depicts a range of beliefs along a slope. This slope shows that when people reject what Joseph and Oliver taught about a few things, they find it increasingly easy to disbelieve all of what they taught. 

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This table is a chronology of some of the key events regarding the truth claims of the Restoration, as experienced and recorded by Oliver Cowdery.  

A box filled in green indicates acceptance of the truth claim. Red means rejection.

Any individual may identify with any position on the spectrum, but for illustration purposes, this table shows three general categories:

A – Traditionalists (including neo-traditionalists)

B – M2Cers and SITH sayers (Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs advocates and those who promote the stone-in-the-hat narrative of Book of Mormon translation)

C – Nonbelievers

Comments on each number are found after the table.

_____

Joseph Smith Chronology

 

A

B

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

Event

1

 

 

 

1823 Sep.

Moroni tells Joseph Smith “the record is on a side hill on the Hill of Cumorah 3 miles from this place.”

2

 

 

 

1827 Mar.

Joseph told his parents, “it was the angel of the Lord— as I passed by the hill of Cumorah, where the plates are, the angel of the Lord met me and said, that I had not been engaged enough in the work of the Lord.”

3

 

 

 

1827 Dec-1828 Feb

Joseph: “I copied a considerable number of them [characters], and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them.” (Joseph Smith—History 1:62)

4

 

 

 

1829 May

Receives Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood from John the Baptist and Peter, James and John, respectively

5

 

 

 

1829 Jun

JS tells David Whitmer that the messenger who took the abridged plates from Harmony to Cumorah “was one of the Nephites & that he had the plates.”

6

 

 

 

1829 Jun

JS shows the plates to the Eight Witnesses.

7

 

 

 

1830 June

JS: “I translated, by the gift and power of God, and caused to be written, one hundred and sixteen pages, the which I took from the Book of Lehi, which was an account abridged from

the plates of Lehi, by the hand of Mormon.”

(Preface to 1830 edition)

8

 

 

 

1830 Oct.

JS sends missionaries to the Lamanites (Indians in NY, Ohio, Missouri)

9

 

 

 

1838

Elders’ Journal: “Question 4th. How, and where did you obtain the Book of Mormon?

Answer. I obtained them [the plates] and the Urim and Thummim with them, by the means of which I translated the plates and thus came the Book of Mormon.”

10

 

 

 

1842 Mar.

Wentworth letter: “With the records was found a curious instrument which the ancients called “Urim and Thummim,” which consisted of two transparent stones set in the rim of a bow fastened to a breastplate. Through the medium of the Urim and Thummim I translated the record by the gift, and power of God.”

11

 

 

 

1842 Mar.

Wentworth letter: “The principal nation of the second race fell in battle towards the close of the fourth century. The remnant are the Indians that now inhabit this country.”

 

1. Report from Lucy Mack Smith, here:

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1844-1845/41

M2Cers reject Lucy’s statement because they think the real Cumorah is in Mexico and the New York Cumorah is a false tradition. Nonbelievers reject the reality of Cumorah and any supernatural origin of the Book of Mormon.

2. Report by Lucy Mack Smith.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/lucy-mack-smith-history-1845/111

M2Cers reject Lucy’s statement because they think the real Cumorah is in Mexico and the New York Cumorah is a false tradition. Nonbelievers reject the reality of Cumorah and any supernatural origin of the Book of Mormon.

3. SITH-sayers claim Joseph never translated anything, but instead read words that appeared on the stone in the hat (SITH). Nonbelievers reject both translation with the Urim and Thummim and SITH.

4. Joseph and Oliver claimed divine messengers restored the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods by the laying on of hands. Nonbelievers reject that claim.

5. M2Cers reject Joseph’s statement because (i) they don’t believe Cumorah is in New York, (ii) they think the messenger was Moroni, and (iii) they believe the messenger took the plates directly to Fayette. Nonbelievers reject the entire narrative about the messenger.

6. Joseph showed the plates to the Eight Witnesses (although none of them said any of the plates were sealed). Nonbelievers reject the reality of the plates.

7. SITH-sayers don’t think Joseph “took” anything from the plates. Nonbelievers reject any divine origin of the Book of Mormon.

8. D&C 28, 30 and 32 called Oliver Cowdery and three others to embark on a mission to the Lamanites. They visited Indian tribes in New York, Ohio, and Missouri/Kansas. Some believers reject that identification, as do nonbelievers.

9. SITH-sayers don’t believe Joseph translated the plates with the Urim and Thummim that came with the plates. Nonbelievers don’t believe the plates or Urim and Thummim ever existed.

10. SITH-sayers don’t believe Joseph translated the plates with the Urim and Thummim that came with the plates. Nonbelievers don’t believe the plates or Urim and Thummim ever existed.

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-march-1842/5

11. M2Cers claim the Lamanites live in Central America instead of being “the Indians that now inhabit this country.” Nonbelievers don’t believe there ever were any Lamanites.

Source: About Central America

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Church History Department recruiting

The Church History Department is having a career day on October 6, 2022. 

They are all great people who do a phenomenal job researching, compiling, and presenting Church history in all its facets. I encourage anyone interested to sign up and seriously consider employment there.

The sign-up link is here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1GY4CrfxejEgmqbVymmLTKT9j8HZ4ifUxJ3XKa9MofHq6vA/viewform 

You can see the announcement on Twitter here:

https://twitter.com/gboatman12/status/1567967564571230208

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This time around, I hope they hire some people who offer different perspectives, particularly people who will emphasize the credibility and reliability of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Unfortunately, the editorial content so far has been driven by seeking to accommodate modern theories about the translation of the Book of Mormon and Book of Mormon geography/historicity.

For an example of what I’m referring to, see my short paper here: 

https://www.academia.edu/67756647/Agenda_driven_editorial_content_in_the_Joseph_Smith_Papers]

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My Twitter feed gave me this ironic juxtaposition (click to enlarge, look at the bottom):

Source: Letter VII

Uncategorized

Credibility spectrum, part 2

Yesterday we looked at the graphic that explains it all, which I call the “credibility spectrum.”

This graphic shows the range of belief in the truth claims of the Restoration as articulated by Joseph Smith, Jr., and Oliver Cowdery. They were the only witnesses to key events, and the main witnesses to other events. Oliver was not only the scribe for Joseph’s translation of the Book of Mormon, but the designated chronicler of the important events, many of which he recorded while serving as Assistant President of the Church.

Credibility Spectrum (click to enlarge)

The left side (all green) depicts accepting everything Joseph and Oliver taught. The right side (all red) depicts rejecting everything Joseph and Oliver taught. 

The range in between represents the variety of possible beliefs. Some people find most of what Joseph and Oliver taught to be credible, others find less of what they taught to be credible.

There is no right answer. Everyone can believe whatever they want. The graphic simply reflects the spectrum of belief.

Furthermore, people can move along the spectrum in either direction. Some believers lose faith; some nonbelievers acquire faith. 

Often a “faith-crisis” originates with one element of disbelief and then accumulates additional elements. For many people, a distrust of what Joseph and Oliver taught on one topic leads to distrust of their other claims. 

These truth claims are fundamental to accepting and embracing the Restoration. There are few Latter-day Saints who lose their faith while maintaining a believe in the divine authenticity of the Book of Mormon. 

The broad categories on the graphic are:

Joseph and Oliver told the truth and clarified. This category believes that Joseph and Oliver told the truth about their experiences and were consistent. Often they clarified previous statements, such as when they emphasized that the Urim and Thummim Joseph used came with the plates, and when they added the term Urim and Thummim to D&C 10 because, when the revelation was originally given, everyone involved knew what was meant, but people who came along later would not have known without the clarification. 

Joseph and Oliver speculated and misled (M2C, SITH, D&C, etc.). This category accepts some of what Joseph and Oliver taught, but concludes that in some cases they merely speculated and in other cases may have intentionally misled people. For example, some who believe that the Book of Mormon is divinely inspired don’t believe Joseph actually translated it with the Urim and Thummim, as he claimed. Instead, they think Joseph dictated words that appeared supernaturally on the stone-in-the-hat (SITH). Another example: some who believe in the historicity of the Book of Mormon don’t believe the Hill Cumorah is in New York; instead, the hill in New York was misconstrued while the “real” Cumorah of Mormon 6:6 is in southern Mexico (the Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs theory, or M2C).
Joseph and Oliver lied and deceived. This category rejects what Joseph and Oliver said regarding supernatural events, including the translation of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Priesthood, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon. 

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Today we’ll break it down a bit in the table below.

This table is a chronology of some of the key events regarding the truth claims of the Restoration, as experienced and recorded by Oliver Cowdery.  

A box filled in green indicates acceptance of the truth claim. Red means rejection.

Any individual may identify with any position on the spectrum, but for illustration purposes, this table shows three general categories:

A – Traditionalists (including neo-traditionalists)

B – M2Cers and SITH sayers

C – Nonbelievers

Comments on each number are found after the table.

 

 

A

B

C

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date

Event

1

 

 

 

1829 Apr.

Transcribes as Joseph translates with the Urim and Thummim (U&T) that came with the plates

2

 

 

 

1829 May

Receives Aaronic Priesthood from John the Baptist, baptizes Joseph and is baptized by him

3

 

 

 

1829 May

Receives Melchizedek Priesthood from Peter, James and John

4

 

 

 

1829 June

Sees the plates and angel as one of the Three Witnesses

5

 

 

 

1829 June

Completes Book of Mormon and makes a printer’s copy

6

 

 

 

1830 April

Becomes Second Elder and apostle, ordains JS as First Elder

7

 

 

 

1830 June

Transcribes Book of Moses 1:1 through 5:43

8

 

 

 

1830 Oct.

Mission to the Lamanites (Indians in NY, Ohio, Missouri)

9

 

 

 

1831 Nov.

Takes revelations from Ohio to Missouri for publication

10

 

 

 

1833 Nov.

Sets up printing press in Kirtland, reprints Evening and Morning Star, edits new editions

11

 

 

 

1834 Feb.

Founding member of Kirtland Council

12

 

 

 

1834 May

Leader in Kirtland after Zions Camp left

13

 

 

 

1834 Oct.

Edits LDS Messenger and Advocate and Northern Times

14

 

 

 

1834 Oct.

Publishes Letter I about Church history (Note in JS-H regarding translation with the Urim and Thummim)

15

 

 

 

1834 Nov.

Publishes Letter II about Church history

16

 

 

 

1834 Dec.

Publishes Letter III about Church history

17

 

 

 

1834 Dec.

Ordained by Joseph Smith as “Assistant President of the Church”

18

 

 

 

1835 Feb.

Publishes Letter IV about Church history (Moroni explains the record was “written and deposited” nearby)

19

 

 

 

1835 Feb.

With David Whitmer and Martin Harris, selects first members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, gives apostolic charge

20

 

 

 

1835 Mar.

Publishes Letter V about Church history

21

 

 

 

1835 Apr.

Publishes Letter VI about Church history

22

 

 

 

1835 July

Publishes Letter VII about Church history (NY Cumorah)

23

 

 

 

1835 Aug.

Edits D&C for printing (inserts U&T)

24

 

 

 

1835 Oct.

Publishes Letter VIII about Church history (Cumorah)

25

 

 

 

1836 Apr.

Visited in Kirtland temple by Moses, Elias, Elijah, and Christ, receives the keys of the gathering of Israel and dispensation of gospel of Abraham

26

 

 

 

1836 July

Accompanies Joseph to Salem, MA

27

 

 

 

1837 Feb.

Turns over printing company to Joseph and Sidney

28

 

 

 

1838 July

“Excluded from fellowship”

29

 

 

 

1848 Nov.

Rejoins the LDS, reiterates restoration of Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods and translation by the U&T, refutes Spalding

30

 

 

 

1850 Mar.

Dies in Richmond at home of David Whitmer

1. Joseph and Oliver emphasized that Joseph translated the record by means of the Urim and Thummim that came with the plates. SITH sayers reject that for various reasons, believing instead that Joseph dictated words that appeared on a seer stone he put in a hat. Nonbelievers reject any supernatural origin of the Book of Mormon.

2-3. Joseph and Oliver claimed divine messengers restored the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods by the laying on of hands. Nonbelievers reject that claim.

4. Oliver claimed to be one of the Three Witnesses. Nonbeliever reject his claim.

5-7.  Non-supernatural events that everyone accepts.

8. D&C 28, 30 and 32 called Oliver Cowdery and three others to embark on a mission to the Lamanites. They visited Indian tribes in New York, Ohio, and Missouri/Kansas. Some believers reject that identification, as do nonbelievers.

9-13. Non-supernatural events that everyone accepts.

14. Oliver’s “Letter I” describes the translation with the Urim and Thummim, which SITH-sayers and nonbelievers reject.

15. Oliver’s “Letter II” describes Joseph Smith as a prophet, which nonbelievers reject. 

16. Oliver’s “Letter III” describes Joseph Smith as a prophet, which nonbelievers reject. 

17. Non-supernatural event that everyone accepts.

18. Oliver’s “Letter IV” describes Moroni’s visit, including the claim that the record “gave a history of the aborigenes of this country,” and was “written and deposited not far from” Joseph’s home near Palmyra, which M2Cers reject. SITH-sayers reject Moroni’s statement to Joseph that he would “obtain and translate the same by the means of the Urim and Thummim, which were deposited for that purpose with the record.” Nonbelievers reject everything about Moroni’s visit.

19. Non-supernatural event that everyone accepts.

20-21. Oliver’s “Letters V and VI” describe more of Moroni’s visit and the fulfillment of prophecy, which nonbelievers reject. 

22. Oliver’s “Letter VII” declares it is a fact that the Hill Cumorah in western New York is the scene of the final battles of the Jaredites and Nephites, a claim that M2Cers reject. Nonbelievers reject the historicity of the Book of Mormon overall.

23. D&C 10 as published in 1835 features the insertion of the term Urim and Thummim, which did not appear in the earliest known version of the revelation. SITH-sayers reject this as referring to the interpreters that came with the plates; some say Joseph and Oliver intentionally misled everyone with these references to the Urim and Thummim. Nonbelievers reject any supernatural events.

24. Oliver’s “Letter VIII” discusses the Hill Cumorah in western New York, which M2Cers reject. Nonbelievers reject the historicity of the Book of Mormon overall. 

25. Nonbelievers reject the reality of any supernatural manifestations in the Kirtland temple.

26-28. Non-supernatural event that everyone accepts.

29. SITH-sayers reject Oliver’s reaffirmation of the translation with the Urim and Thummim, while non-believers reject all supernatural events.

30. Non-supernatural event that everyone accepts.

Source: About Central America