Are Criticisms of the Book of Mormon Witnesses Defensible?

How can we confidently discern the difference between a reliable historical claim and one that’s not so reliable? This is what Casey and Scott discussed in their last episode, where they introduced five source critical questions we can all ask to carefully assess the reliability of a historical truth claim. In this episode of Church History Matters, they practice putting these five questions to work by actually using them to measure and evaluate various historical truth claims about the witnesses of the Book of Mormon, a very high-stakes topic with conflicting claims in the historical record.
This is the fifth episode of our 10-part podcast series on Good Thinking. For a full transcript of this episode, as well as show notes and additional resources, visit our website at doctrineandcovenantscentral.o...
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Originally published November 28, 2023
DISCLAIMER: While we try very hard to be historically and doctrinally accurate in what we say on this podcast, please remember that all views expressed in this and every episode are our views alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Scripture Central or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[@paulabergeson5674]

Love these podcasts!

[@mascotbenches5146]

Great episode. I for one curls listen to a new episode every day. Keep it coming!

[@RyanMercer]

🤘🤘👍

[@jonathanettinger6970]

Ingersoll's supposed account is coming via a book written/published by someone who sent someone ELSE to talk to Ingersoll. Dud Ingersoll even EXIST? IF Ingersoll had first-hand knowledge, telling it to A is fine, but A tells B (now it's second-hand). B then published it. Our reading it makes it third-hand at best. We don't know the writer/publisher. We CERTAINLY don't know anyone who conducted interviews for it. We DEFINITELY didn't get it from Ingersoll ourselves (IF he even exists). The reliability trail is thin and tenuous at best.

[@zon3665]

Do you have Priesthood authority to discuss and teach about these witnesses?

[@jonathanettinger6970]

Do you have permission to listen to the video?

[@mascotbenches5146]

What priesthood authority governs talking about history? You have an axe to grind?

[@kuyalems]

He was just sharing relax

[@mascotbenches5146]

If you take the comments of zon3665 and run them through the diagnostic system these brothers are sharing you will see that Zon isn't just"sharing". His question makes no sense and he asks it just to stir the pot. I, myself, am perfectly relaxed. Thanks