Is there evidence for The Book of Mormon? Ep. 23

In this episode, Dave tackles one of the most common questions people have about The Book of Mormon: “Where’s the evidence?” He discusses several internal and external clues that support the authenticity of The Book of Mormon, but also emphasizes the need for a spiritual witness of any scripture.
The Book of Mormon is regarded as sacred text by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (otherwise known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church).
More info on this subject from our website: bit.ly/2VXdYVk
More on stylometric analysis research: bit.ly/2CGPojE
Video on The Book of Mormon’s complexity: bit.ly/2OXlA7B
Video on The Book of Mormon’s Hebraisms: bit.ly/2VpkuDW
Video on translation evidence: bit.ly/2G7W4JJ
Video on authenticity of names in The Book of Mormon: bit.ly/2YYlp0b
More on the land Bountiful: bit.ly/2OYoB7x
More on Nahom in The Book of Mormon: bit.ly/2I5W0fP
More on historicity of The Book of Mormon: bit.ly/2I5WnXL
More on anachronisms: bit.ly/2Kxj6OL
More on the Mayan “Megalopolis” discovery: bit.ly/2rXOGvJ
Is this segment scripted? Yes! Here’s why: bit.ly/2Gf3pIS
Watch more Faith and Beliefs videos: bit.ly/2BlOxEB
Chat with Dave on Facebook: bit.ly/2QQ0HKR
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[@milanterzic859]

I have visited Israel and Turkey and you too can see the places and artefacts for yourself. I have seen the synagogue in Capernaum, a copy of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the ruins of Ephesus and Laodicea. Tell me a place in America I can go and see the same? If you point to ruins in Central America, then why were these supposed golden plates found in New York State?

[@MrManta2012]

the moral stories all alone are worth learning, and they would be great to teach your children if you want them to have a moral centered ideology. Lehi vision of the plan of happiness is one that everyone should know.

[@StephenSmoot]

IDK about this David. Some of the links in the description are for videos featuring that Stephen Smoot dude. I hear he's pretty shady. 😒🤔

[@bakachan3601]

Smootception!! O_o

[@davidsnell2605]

Anyone that uses a "ph" in their name instead of a "v" should be approached with caution, it's true.

[@thelatterdayarbiter]

I’m more of the American heartland theory, but you do you.

[@MichaelEllisYT]

If I was to take the Book of Mormon is historical I would be more inclined to go with the heartland theory.

[@thelatterdayarbiter]

Just check the mounds. Not all of them are burial grounds. That’s what I think

[@OuaknsHK]

I was a measo then considering heartland theory, but now im more into the measo again. But one thing we can all agree that is we really dont know. I wont say i know where is the place until a new canonized scripture (D&C 138?) is announced in GC.

[@aubreegittins9271]

Latter Day Arbiter the heartland theory is absolutely true 👍🏼👍🏼

[@KevlarX2]

I'm with you arbiter. I'm also a heartland theory guy.

[@terryv3780]

I love your videos! I read some anti - mormon comments on your channel. I wish they can approach it with an open - mind. None of your videos criticize other beliefs or religions. You’re very subjective and you’re very invitational as you invite others to seek the answers themselves. Your approach is friendly and welcoming. Thank you for your great videos! Keep up the good work! Also, I hope your team has a good day. Thanks!

[@SaintsUnscripted]

Wow thank you so much for those kind words, Terry! That really means a lot!

[@MrArtist7777]

To be clear, the main Book of Mormon lands are right where Joseph Smith said they were: "over the hills and mounds" of: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and where the "western tribes of Indians" live: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Missouri. These are direct quotes from Joseph Smith Jr. Christ knows exactly where the Lamanites lived and commanded Joseph to send missionaries to THE Lamanites, in sections: 28,30, 32 of the D&C. Joseph obeyed and sent missionaries to: NY, OH, IN, IL and MO, and NEVER sent a single missionary to Mexico, Central or South America, nor did any Latter-day Saint prophet in 70+ years because the Maya are NOT the Lamanites and have nothing to do with the Book of Mormon. There's AMPLE evidence of the Book of Mormon here: bookofmormonevidence.com/ Here you will see numerous stones have been found in the U.S. with ancient Hebrew writing engraved. (No Hebrew of any kind has been found in Maya lands, and they were PROLIFIC writers) You will see how thousands of steel swords and arrow heads have been found in the U.S. (Maya had no knowledge of metallurgy and iron, besides basics melting of gold). You will see how thousands of earthen mounds were built for both worship houses and lookouts from waring tribes. (Maya did not build earthen mounds, only stone buildings and stepped pyramids like their ancestors in Cambodia and Thailand). The false theory of the Book of Mormon in Mayan lands was made up by Benjamin Winchester, who was a member and was excommunicated along with his good friend, William Smith, who published the false theory in the Times & Seasons, which has mislead and lied to MANY Latter-day Saints. Joseph Smith repeatedly met with and educated the Fox, Sac and other tribes of Algonquin Native Americans in America that they are THE descendants of the Book of Mormon people, just as God revealed to him.

[@sarahmurphy2264]

I loved this episode so much! Thank u for the links :)

[@NinjaMaster1]

I thought you were going to give some evidence in this video.

[@crankypantaloons516]

I've been listening to Tad R Callister's 'A Case For The Book Of Mormon', and what struck me about the archaeological evidence, is that so little of the acient ruins that have been found, have actually been explored - it was 2% (or something close to that), and still more sites are being found! Yet critics use the lack of archaeological evidence as a way to debunk the book.. The surface has barely been scratched. Got to say, if you're having any doubts about the BoM, Callister's book is an amazing pathway to regaining faith in it... I was surprised how much support it actually does have, and how few of its detractions actually hold water..

[@OuaknsHK]

@@thenowchurch6419 Im pretty sure Peter the apostle wont spent money to find the exodus evidence too. The church has its purpose, to prepare people spiritually to return to God. Evidence dont do that. In fact look at global warming, isnt there enough evidence? And still people choose what they want to believe. Besides that, part of God's plan is to let us learn to live by faith. If you need evidence, what would be better than for Christ come down himself and the Father too? But that wont take us anywhere but to be condemn. Have you ever thought of faith is actually saving us so we wont be completely condemn if we didnt do the right thing? How much more sinnful for a lawyer to steal a candy than a child to do the very same act because of the differences of their knowledge? I dont know exactly why, but im pretty sure there's reason that God dont reveal everything at this very moment.

[@athenshuff8730]

@@OuaknsHK Are you saying it is better to be ignorant and believe without any knowledge? No wonder you believe the BS

[@OuaknsHK]

@@athenshuff8730 No, you've completely missed the point. Church has it's own purpose and historian has it's own, so is archeologist. And in fact there's more historical evidence of the BoM and the restored gospel than compare to some of the "well known" history event. For example, you find me an arrow head and the bones of a North African elephant on Alps that is used by noone other than Hannibal Barca's army. Than we talk.

[@athenshuff8730]

@@OuaknsHK I will say this. Adam and Eve did not exist. There was no global flood. The indigenous Americans came from Asia not Jerusalem. There is no evidence at all to show that nephites or lamanites or jaredites ever existed. Faith is not a virtue. It is deception. Faith is dishonest. The time to believe this drivel is after we have evidence.

[@OuaknsHK]

​@@athenshuff8730And I will say this too, Adam and Eve did exist, maybe not the same way as you expected, but they do. I agree there's no global flood, and I don't think the bible or any other scriptures ever claim there's one. So does the BoM itself never claims indigenous Americans came from only Jerusalem. There's evidences of Nephites or Lamanites or Jaredites, you might just missed it, or never looked for it. Faith is logical and reasonable. There's faith, reasons and evidences go hand in hand in the church and the world. Good day sir :)

[@ethanf.237]

This channel keeps getting better. Honestly, bravo 👏

[@protochris]

Has there really been even one location described in the BOM that has been located with certainty. The Bible has verified most of all it's place names.

[@StompMom5]

The book of Mormon is TRUE and unless someone can send God himself down to earth to say otherwise, I cannot be convinced it's not true. There are people out there speaking against it and I could care less because my salvation will never rest on anyone else but my own testimony. This was very well done thanks so much for sharing👌

[@gocus1413]

it's too bad your salvation doesn't rely on Jesus but Jesus + yourself, and that you can't see that this guy gave us no evidence of civilizations in 'the americas' although thats what we came for. Blinded hearts by a master free mason

[@caman171]

God himself? which mormon god would that be? and if ur salvation rests on your "own testimony" then u are surely lost. my salvation rests on Christ Jesus, who as God incarnate, became flesh and perfectly took the penalty for my sin. His work is COMPLETE. He did not fail in His mission so He doesnt need any temples, rituals, secret handshakes, endowments, baptism for the dead, magic underwear, or any other non sense or superstition. satan was cast down from heaven because he wanted to be God, yet ur church teaches that u can become a god!

[@mendez369]

I honestly see where you are coming form and I appreciate your critical thinking but I honestly think you should pray about it and actually read it for yourself thats all you should put it down too

[@stanleyhall8951]

I agree with you because certainly Jesus is the one who saves, but he expects effort on our part. I believe if Carina read your comments she'd say oh yes you're right. Well, I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God myself. I don't know it, but I believe it. I don't think Joseph was a scoundrel. Would a scoundrel write such things?

[@StompMom5]

@@stanleyhall8951 I have read all the comments but I'm still solid, unchanged in my beliefs😊😊. I completely respect everyone in how they worship, I respect all religions, we actually NEED all religions to help strengthen this world. No one has to believe what I do and I don't have to stop believing what I do because someone doesn't agree with it. Jesus Christ is all that matters to me and yes I believe Joseph Smith was a true prophet who helped restore the church. It's okay that I believe that and okay that others don't🤷💕. We don't always have to agree with each other 👍😊. If I'm wrong in anything I believe God will correct me. But only God can because he's the only judge, not mankind 🙏🙏

[@stardustgirl2904]

I don't need evidence, I have FAITH!!! 🌻🌷🌻🌷

[@OuaknsHK]

I have faith also, but still gonna be awesome to have evidence. Think about how great would that be when Jesus finally descending from heaven and thus make an end of all the hostile atheist once and for all.

[@samjenkins4182]

stardustgirl it’s not a lie if YOU believe it, that’s how I stay Mormon 👍

[@stardustgirl2904]

@@samjenkins4182 The gospel is amazing!🌷 What a precious gift it is!

[@stardustgirl2904]

@@Booboobear-eo4es You have no idea , what I have experienced in my life, or in the church, so you can't speak for me! I have my free agency that God has given to each of us, and I know when the spirit of God, comes over me! And I have a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I know my church is true and that's my experience and my own opinion! 🙏🏻💕

[@stardustgirl2904]

@@Booboobear-eo4es The King James Bible is very clear, about the trinity, but other interpolations have been thrown in the mix to confuse mankind!

[@majesticliberatoroftheoppr3971]

Great episode. Continued evidence still with the heartland model

[@MolyBDenum-lh3wy]

Does the cards the cows are holding say “Read Mormon?” 😅😅😅 good plug guys!

[@tpbarron]

I believe in the Book of Mormon.

[@athenshuff8730]

Why?

[@ultroniumgalactus7343]

Athens Huff because following the uncovered logical evidence would lead to that sound conclusion.

[@Bazcole93]

Unlucky for you

[@tpbarron]

@@Bazcole93 You have a wonderful day!

[@richardholmes7199]

The anti-Mormons know they cannot refute the Book of Mormon. This is the reason they then turned their attention towards the Book of Abraham papyri translation. Though it didn't turn out too well. As the Egyptologists were DEBUNKED. Google ''Book of Abraham pt 1 (Why Egyptologists are wrong) you tube''. A video debunking the Egyptologists by presenting proper interpretation, proper interpretation is Joseph Smith translated in reverse back to a biblical text, the original. In other words, Joseph Smith was right, the Egyptologists were wrong. Latter Day Saint scripture holds up to scrutiny.

[@ethanf.237]

You guys should somehow get Brett McDonald (of LDS Truth Claims) on here.

[@regansiever4796]

Same with Jim Bennett too

[@williamhenley8593]

And Daniel C Peterson

[@davidsnell2605]

I love the LDS Truth Claims guy! He's got some seriously informative videos. Dan Peterson would also be great. I've heard of Jim Bennett before but I can't remember where from...

[@funkycatholic6927]

Man just looking at your pfp, it is absolutetly saddening to know of what is happening to our church. Not Christ centred anymore, just trying to follow the life of Joseph Smith, as if he wanted that. He didn`t want it.

[@furiskykatt]

🐐, 🐄 , 🐎, silk... I want that to be my new📱 ringtone! 🤣👍🏻

[@davidsnell2605]

That would be a terrible life decision haha

[@starlegends3092]

YES XD

[@restoredtruth]

LOVED this one. Thanks!

[@TrevorJonescreator]

Awesome stuff!

[@ConnerWangsgard]

"...with his face in a HAT" killed me lol

[@avitheproject]

Should I start expecting videos daily ? Heyy Dave !

[@davidsnell2605]

Hey Abraham! Definitely not daily videos for this Faith and Beliefs segment but we might get there with all the segments combined! Maybe we already are... I don't even know.

[@sumguyfromutah]

man I'm so sick of Biblical and Book of Mormon evidence. I've seen and heard so much of archeological stuff that it's flowing out my ears. I feel sorry for people who are stuck on that stuff. I learned after awhile of research that none of that "evidence" so called saves our souls or tells us how to have a better life. It's just like, "oh cool that's a thing" and technically even if we did see the "gold plates" what's to stop someone from saying, "how do i know those are actually the Book of Mormon plates and not just the crude writings of a primitive race?" Haters gonna hate and go out of their way to disbelieve. The real saving power comes from Jesus Christ's grace and atoning blood through living the gospel that he established.

[@bakachan3601]

Amen!!

[@athenshuff8730]

The REAL saving power comes from Thor Odinson and his magical lightning.

[@davidsnell2605]

Amen, Jesses Jingles! Evidences are just bells and whistles.

[@Nick-iw3ol]

Well it matters if the whole thing is real doesn’t it?

[@alexabplanalp4455]

So are you admitting that there is no evidence showing the authenticity of the BoM? Evidence is always important.

[@avitheproject]

Rewatching ! Love yall! I’m still in the church and grateful to have this online resource

[@longwing2011]

Lol, your ending made me laugh out loud.

[@athenshuff8730]

Like cureloms and cumoms, "deseret" is an example of the Book of Mormon providing a native word to refer to something, but in this case a definition for it is given, much like the liahona/compass words. It begs the question, why did God give Joseph Smith the English equivalent for some words, but others He left untranslated? If some of the items did not exist in the New World, why would God give Joseph the English translation of a non-existent thing, such as "elephants," when other times, such as with "neas" and "sheum" He gave the original words? Corn really existed in the New World during the Book of Mormon time frame, so that word should appear in the Book of Mormon if it is an accurate historical record. But wine made from grapes should not be in the Book of Mormon. Apologists may try to explain that it was not grape wine, but it's hard to imagine that Mosiah 11:15 refers to anything other than wine from grapes. As noted elsewhere, apologists may be able to take up pages worth of space to rationalize why maybe, possibly an apparent anachronism really isn't one. But shouldn't there be zero anachronisms? If Joseph simply used words of things that really existed, or even used non-English words for things, this problem wouldn't exist. For those of you reading who are devout Mormons, which is most logical to believe, that Xenu was really dictator of the Galactic Confederacy 75 million years ago and brought billion of people to earth, and their spirits ("thetans") are inhabiting humans, or that L. Ron Hubbard made it all up? Likewise, which is more logical to believe, that all of the anachronistic things mentioned in the Book of Mormon really were here at one time, but have oddly left no trace, or that Joseph Smith made it up?

[@StephenSmoot]

"Corn really existed in the New World during the Book of Mormon time frame, so that word should appear in the Book of Mormon if it is an accurate historical record." Mosiah 7:22; 9:9, 14. "But wine made from grapes should not be in the Book of Mormon. Apologists may try to explain that it was not grape wine, but it's hard to imagine that Mosiah 11:15 refers to anything other than wine from grapes." See here: knowhy.bookofmormoncentral.org/knowhy/why-does-the-book-of-mormon-mention-wine-vineyards-and-wine-presses

[@davidsnell2605]

Great ideas for future episodes, thanks.

[@redr1150r]

They were destroyed as a nation and not all perished on the battlefield. Consider the battle mounds. Heaps of bodies, men, women and children all jumbled together in mass burials under mounds. Most bore signs of horrible death causing injuries from clubs, arrows and spears. It was genocidal warfare on a grand scale. Thousands of artifacts have been unearthed. One individual near Nauvoo Illinois has over 10,000 items in his personal collection. Some of that may be here on You Tube. The Algonquin nations have stories passed down of a terrible war in times past that ended being so debilitating, that no major forces could be assembled for centuries until the French and Iroquois war of the 1600's was fought. The voices do indeed speak from the dust .

[@shibidoobwa7235]

It's sad how underrated most of your videos like this are, all those anti mormons get millions of views. Videos like these make you rethink before you criticize

[@chihangbenjaminting647]

People don't like religion in general and like to see stuff get disproved not proved.

[@Shadakin]

Great Video!

[@Habackuk24]

It is a good thing that the historical question is addressed, although it could have been more indepth. It was a bit hard to follow at times. In the end of the video, we are encouraged to ask God whether or not the Book of Mormon is what it claims to be. This method often lands in a circular argumentation. If someone gets the answer that the Book of Mormon is not true, what is the response to him?

[@sharperthananytwoedgedswor1874]

Whosoever Believes In Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of their soul shall have eternal life. Fully dependent on Jesus for eternal life , receiving the Grace Of God freely without Works of the flesh.

[@dlfranklin5524]

Too much in the Heartland Theory than to go down south, I'm surprised it wasn't up North all the time. I got a nice statue from Tennessee auction with a man praying, It was from a Hopewell dig. Millions of Mounds and X2 Dna in the American Indians? Nope has to be in the True Promised Land, America!

[@peterg.barlow7621]

You are literally awesome. Look up Rob Meldrum. He goes into really good depth that the Book of Mormon took place in North America.

[@karliesukowaty]

Did you guys do a video addressing the King James Bible errors? I’ve checked a couple different sources but would really like to hear what saints unscripted has to say

[@SaintsUnscripted]

We have not! I'll add that to the list. Thanks! (We have done a few addressing a few different errors but not the errors as a whole.)

[@siilatacollins154]

Our HEAVENLY FATHER and our BELOVED HEAVENLY MOTHER knows, that the Book of Prophet Mormon is, THEIR word. Our HEAVENLY PARENT'S will never, and can never forget THEIR children, in America.

[@michaeloud6044]

Joseph's version was so perfect it even brought the ERRORS of the early KJV into his "perfect" translation lol.

[@ultroniumgalactus7343]

Michael Oud he never claimed it was a perfect translation lol

[@michaeloud6044]

Ultronium Galactus yeah, he did. The moment he opened his stupid mouth and said it was GOD giving him the translation he doomed himself. God does not make mistakes. So either Joseph was a conman regurgitating what he remembered from the Bible version he was reading at that time and making up crap of his own OR God is unable to translate His own words correctly. Guess which one you should believe.

[@ultroniumgalactus7343]

Michael Oud, You must have a naïve understanding of the history of Joseph Smith. What he did say was: "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book," which didn’t imply that it was “perfect” but rather, the most correct doctrinally and historically. I know it asserts itself a high burden of proof, but you drove a strawman into the ground that isn’t actually the argument.

[@ultroniumgalactus7343]

Michael Oud God’s interpreters and scribes *do* make mistakes, though. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible he could have recited the Bible since he translated it in 70ish days with his head in a hat, with witnesses unanimously saying he was doing so and not reading the Bible.

[@michaeloud6044]

Ultronium Galactus He didn’t translate JACK. He was a CONMAN who sat in a different room and sometimes different buildings than the plates and then the bull crap rocks told him what to write. It is absolutely laughable except for the fact it’s trapping people in its nonsense. Your “prophet” married other dudes wives, lied to his wife about it multiple times, claimed an angel threatened his life if he didn’t marry one (same thing Mohammad did), he supposedly carried approx 140lbs worth of plates under his arms and ran for miles (yeah I dare you to try that), he changed his vision story multiple times since it’s apparently hard to remember if you saw god or not, and his new doctrines go against standard KJV and Hebrew transcripts in MANY ways. Not to mention this “prophet” got his followers into a shootout with the feds since that’s what scripture says to do when you’re persecuted. Study that heretic yourself without and Mormon buddies over your shoulder. Be careful though, if you start asking tough questions in your church they will immediately brush you off or dismiss you or make up some bs response, guaranteed.

[@mervyneggleston429]

Evidence ? See Alma 12:9. There is lot of physical evidence for those who can see it but the spiritual is the most important and effective.

[@Hamann9631]

3:40. You should have added the witnesses and scribes not turning on him about The Book of Mormon. I don't have enough faith (defined as believing things that don't make sense or don't have evidence) to not believe. I am convinced of the Heartland Model but still give this thumbs up.

[@ningenJMK]

Most of the witnesses were friends and fellow treasure seekers of the Smiths. Their reputations and future livelihoods would have depended on them not admitting they lied.

[@Hamann9631]

@@ningenJMK Wow. There is no truth to that. Even if they were fellow treasure seekers (which they weren't), years later they weren't and "coming clean" would have meant nothing negative to farmers and lawyers years after their youths with Joseph Smith. You contradicted yourself by claiming they had reputations and calling them lying treasure seekers. Their reputations and that of Joseph Smith led to them being chased out of New York, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and the whole United States of America. The real reason they received the treatment they did can be found in the words of their leader which He spoke about 2000 years previous to those events. Jesus prophesied that people persecuting us would think they were serving God. God's enemy tricked people into fighting against His true prophet. That is still happening today.

[@willrobbins1651]

Heartland model makes more sense than Aztecs/Maya by a lot.

[@davidsnell2605]

Fair opinion.

[@NoMoreForMePlease]

Yeah I agree

[@funkycatholic6927]

Obnoxious American nationalists. It is Mesoamerica.

[@peterg.barlow7621]

Oh, I've never met you but I can tell you've got some brains in you head! Lol.

[@peterg.barlow7621]

Look up Rob Meldrum. He talks a lot about that.

[@caman171]

over 5000 changes in the book of mormon. the first edition declares that Jesus is God then they changed it. keep reading. these are just a sample of the thousands of changes 1830 original edition 1837 and subsequent editions 1 Nephi 11:18 1st edition. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin which thou seest is the mother of God after the manner of the flesh. 2nd edition. And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh. 1 Nephi 11:21 1st edition. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Eternal Father. 2nd edition. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! 1 Nephi 11:32 1st edition. ...And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people, yea, the everlasting God was judged of the world. 2nd edition. ...And I looked and beheld the Lamb of God, that he was taken by the people; yea, the Son of the everlasting God was judged of the world. 1 Nephi 13:40 1st edition. ...that the Lamb of God is the Eternal Father and the Savior of the world... 2nd edition ...that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world...

[@colbyvinson2964]

You never linked one source of the debunking of the anachronisms within the Book of Mormon how convenient.

[@peterg.barlow7621]

I just wanted to point out something. I love this channel, so I'm not hating on it, but Joseph Smith did not use the seer stone. He did not translate the Book of Mormon looking in a hat. There was the Urim and Thummim! Please correct that. If you want to learn more, I can put in a link to a book, explaining it all! Please don't say that Joseph Smith translated it with his face in a hat! Thanks and this channel is AWESOME! I love it. Best channel ever.

[@bradenpinney3727]

Joseph Smith most definitely did use a seer stone in a hat for the majority of the translation. It is pretty well documented feom multiple sources as well

[@lizclaridge1335]

I don’t know why people take such issue with Joseph translating by “looking in a hat.” First of all, we all know what it’s like to try and use our cell phone in broad daylight and that, by creating shade or a cover of some sort-beach towel, anyone?!?-we can see much better. Why couldn’t a hat create better viewing for Joseph? Why is that unacceptable? Additionally, I think it’s plausible that Joseph used several different methods of translating, as he figured out what worked best for him through trial and error. We’ve all engaged in a project or pursuit over a period of time where, by the end of accomplishing said pursuit, we discovered more efficient methods over time, perhaps even abandoning our original methods as we increased in our abilities and insight. I mean, for all I know, Joseph might have utilized different translating methods throughout the day, as the sunlight and shadows shifted. People get upset and say their faith is shattered bc they never heard of “the hat” method and think they’ve been lied to their whole lives. But look at it this way, if The Church went through great lengths to discuss all the means by which translation occurred every time the topic was taught or discussed, the greater spiritual message would be lost in a discussion on semantics. The “how” is not as important as to the “why.” Why were the plates made available to us in this day and time? What is the application to my own life? It’s not that it’s bad to explore how he did it, but we really should focus to understand why. I think it is for that reason that The Church historically has not gone to great lengths to discuss the how. But in more recent years, with more technological means through which the Church can disseminate information, we are seeing them address some of these issues-here is one such video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZaUqYF5odFko7c

[@user-sj6kh4tb9t]

Your begging the question ! Your saying how could Joseph smith bring up all these “accurate” info while at the same time your claiming that archeology is not enough to show us all the remains within the American continent!!

[@samflake8508]

Awesome job. Great job

[@havegottogitgud1864]

You forgot to mention the *witnesses* .

[@thebigshark3014]

What about them they do have witnesses 💀

[@Srmisterio27]

We just looking at the wrong tree. We shoud look at the heartland of USA. You'll fine all that in the Adena and Hopewell civilization.

[@simplyexisting1125]

Has anyone considered the burial mounds in Indiana and the copper and bronze artifacts that the Smithsonian Institution had lost by mistake thousands and thousands of them and giant skeletons as well.

[@the1savagebeast]

Look at Wayne May's findings, and yes Joseph Smith had told where the location of Zarahemla is at.

[@jothearmyman8722]

Thank you answered my pray

[@caseykaelin9430]

Why don't you guys do a video on Moroni 8:18? It appears a contradiction to our belief God was once a man.

[@alanbylund2659]

There are multiple ways to explain this to be compatible with other teachings of the church. One way I would explain this is that it says IS unchangeable. That is present tense. Once a person reaches godhood, all things are before them, past present and future. They live an existence beyond space and time. Another explanation is that God is the way, truth and light. These are not merely metaphors, but actual ways to describe what is meant by the term God. The way, truth and light are unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity. In John 17 Jesus prays that his disciples will become one with himself and the Father. When anyone becomes one with the Father and the Son in the same way that they are one, they become part of "the way, truth and light, which is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity. Another way to wrap your mind around this seeming contradiction is to consider context. When I was in elementary school and just learned some basic geometry, like the definition of a line, a friend with an elder brother in high school told me that his brother told him that he could prove that a line could be curved and still be considered a line. From what I had been taught, that was mathematical blasphemy. A line that deviated from perfect straightness in any way could not be defined as a line. He of course was referring to three dimensions instead of just two as is taught in calculus. I was missing the connecting context that explained why this was not a contradiction. We could consider that Joseph Smith was speaking in the context of a different dimension theologically in the King Follett discourse without providing the connecting context.

[@caseykaelin9430]

@@alanbylund2659 Thank you for your thoughts. I think there is alot we don't know or understand and it is in large part due to the fact we haven't had the calculus class yet. I still hope they do a video on this subject just to hear their ideas.

[@alanbylund2659]

@@caseykaelin9430 Yes. It would be interesting.

[@biteme109]

Showing this to the bf! :)

[@davidsnell2605]

Say hi for me.

[@biteme109]

@@davidsnell2605 people online are mean! So hard to stay polite and I've already failed at that. Do a how to be the bigger person video lol I am hurting for a lesson on that! :)

[@davidsnell2605]

@@biteme109 It sure seems to be increasingly necessary haha.

[@decyrano]

I'm gonna have to disagree with those last words... Goats don't saddle horse's silk. Why would horses even Have silk, since they are superstitious about mulberry leaves?

[@starlegends3092]

I love the part at the end XD

[@Croftymp4]

Could you provide a link to these sources external from the church in regards to the evidence for the things spoken about in this video, please?

[@regansiever4796]

There are links in the description, but off the top of my head, I know that the source for the newly discovered vegetation-covered "ruins" was found from a study which used something called LiDAR (I think, it's been a while since I read it). The claim about there being evidence supporting stuff like horses comes from an also recent study from I think a university in Arizona who performed carbon tests (I don't think that's the proper term, like I said, it's been a while since I read these) and found some evidence supporting things like horses. Everything he mentioned about witnesses and the translation process/consistency of the book is covered in Brett MacDonald's "LDS Truth Claims" lecture series here on youtube, actually in general he covers all of the stuff mentioned in this video and much more, it's a great series.

[@Croftymp4]

Regan Siever Thanks. I’ll check them out. Is there any evidence currently linking the findings from this study to church doctrine though? Also, in regards to the horses issue, I’m aware that an ancestor of the horse lived in the americas but went extinct 8-12 thousand years ago. So my question to this is, does the study place the supposed horse at the time in which the Book of Mormon suggests?

[@regansiever4796]

@@Croftymp4 Like he said in the video, it's kind of hard to find concrete evidence as there's not going to be a rock that says "Mormon was here" however in that lecture series, it talks about loads of evidence from language used, real life locations, warfare tactics and weaponry etc. As for your other question, yes, I'm pretty sure the first bit of evidence that has been found does come from the like 600-400 B.C. era, which would make sense in context of the book of Mormon since that's when the mentions of horses take place.

[@Croftymp4]

@@regansiever4796 Could you send me the links to the lecture series and the study of the horse remains? Just to ensure I find the correct ones.

[@athenshuff8730]

@@Croftymp4 there is 1 article about horses which is 10 plus years old. The horses they found were radio carbon dated to within 50 years of the Spaniard invasion. Which is within the margin of error for radiocarbon dating. The logical conclusion is that the Spanish brought them.

[@matthewmaguire1716]

Perhaps we should look at Tartarian that we are now discovering inhabitants of the states and California was an island. Here it comes

[@benbergin1889]

In his youth, Joseph Smith must have pored over obscure maps, learned Hebrew and Egyptian, read every book in the library, and composed chiastic poetry in his spare time. Somehow this barely literate kid did the work of a whole team of scholars and figured out historical details that were unknown until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the advent of LiDAR. If you believe Smith concocted the Book of Mormon, that means that by the time he was 22, he had memorized the 531 page story which he then dictated off the top of his head with no major revisions or rewrites. Somehow he kept the complicated story internally consistent from start to finish without any editing all while filling the book with now attested ancient names and Hebrew literary devices. The Book of Mormon is either the most ingenious fraud in history written by a team of co-conspirators, or it is the word of God written by a succession of prophets over the span of a thousand years. There is no evidence of a conspiracy nor any evidence that Joseph Smith or anyone associated with him could have possibly known the many historical details in the book that have proven to be true, so...

[@blusheep2]

There is a difference between formal education and intelligence. Joseph was obviously a very intelligent person. The same argument is made about Mohammad who didn't just lack formal education but was considered illiterate. Yet the Quran has all the chiastic structuring that the Book of Mormon and the Bible has and even more. It has the longest of the chiastic structures in the three works. There are different theories that attempt to explain the Book of Mormon. The Spaulding/Rigdon theory is compelling on many fronts but it lacks a smoking gun. To me, when you are trying to evaluate truth claims, you must consider what supports the claim as well as what does not. When all you look at is the positives then you are bound to conclude anything you want is credible. On close examination, both the author of the Book of Mormon as well as the Book itself has glaring issues, the simplest being that none of the places mentioned, none of the people groups, none of the cities, ever existed far as anyone can tell.

[@bakachan3601]

My theory is that Joseph Smith was an evil Machiavellian genius, and his endgame was to get people to repent of there sins, get baptized, and accept Jesus as there lord and Savior!! (Joking)

[@itsbrad9011]

Hannah Banana what an evil false prophet lol 😂

[@bakachan3601]

@@itsbrad9011 Soooooo evil. XD

[@williamhenley8593]

And he was so determined he travelled hundreds of miles to get the only copies of historical information that appear in the Book of Mormon.

[@williamhenley8593]

Johnny Phoenix Haha the classic trick of getting people to improve themselves

[@thomaschoate976]

Hannah Banana My theory is that Joseph Smith used his religious authority to coerce other men’s wives into marrying him and marrying teenagers twenty years his junior. Oh, wait that’s a fact.

[@sim448]

Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

[@ricardoluque1931]

I find it kind of ironic how you say you shouldn't insert things because he'll make a circular argument 3:59 But then later 4:11 you go on to do such thing 😂 by inserting Christ asks of us is to have faith. But failing to prove that this Christ exists one, and that's if he did exist, that he wants that of you. because again going through circular argument you could only know what he wants from you by going to a book.

[@tateburnett4532]

I was raised in a great lds family and when I was 17 I officially left because I used critical thinking and the CES letter to get tf out of that terrible cult. Look at the contradictions and obviously absurd claims. Get out while you can. Follow your doubts and do your research. I wish you all luck.

[@LloydBlake89]

I threw mine away it was a distraction from the truth

[@redfightblue]

If there's evidence against claims in the BOM, should you still accept it as true on faith?

[@brettmajeske3525]

Are you asking which is better? Evidence or Faith?

[@starlegends3092]

Do you trust that evedence is always right?

[@Asarrrrrr]

No 😌

[@stelioskorres8076]

For those who believe in the book of Mormon there are evidence. For those who don't believe in it there are no evidence. it is only a matter of faith...

[@brettmajeske3525]

It is more a matter of sufficiency of evidence than existence of evidence.

[@starlegends3092]

Makes sence

[@barbwire7449]

Lying for the Lord.

[@blackdagger11]

Have you ever looked at the North American model postulated by Wayne May? S do

[@aaronlowry8273]

Answer is simple: Demons inspired the Book of Mormon, and demons are very smart,

[@brianmalexander]

What else is comparable to the book of mormon that exists today? Are you saying demons only managed to do this one time in all of human history? Also, if demons made it, why does it make me(and millions of others) want to know and follow Jesus Christ?

[@11onme808]

This is stupid that civilization your talking about is called the Olmecs civilization.

[@hankboxer3879]

The basic story of the book of Mormon is the racism of the Mormon God. He curses bad people and their descendants with darker skin. The whiter more righteous people fight with darker skinned evil people. Darker skinned people will get whiter as they get more righteous. Sick stuff. Here are the excerpt references to verify... (2 Ne_5 : 21) And he had caused the cursing to come upon them, yea, even a sore cursing, because of their iniquity. For behold, they had hardened their hearts against him, that they had become like unto a flint; wherefore, as they were white, and exceedingly fair and delightsome, that they might not be enticing unto my people the Lord God did cause a skin of blackness to come upon them. (2 Ne_30 : 6) And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes; and many generations shall not pass away among them, save they shall be a white [pure, 1981] and a delightsome people. (Jacob_3 : 5) Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins (3 Ne_2 : 14-16) And it came to pass that those Lamanites who had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; 15 And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites; 16 And their young men and their daughters became exceedingly fair, and they were numbered among the Nephites, and were called Nephites.

[@krissander1]

No

[@havegottogitgud1864]

"Kind reader, think of this, and beware how you hastily condemn that book which I know to be the word of God; for his own voice and an angel from heaven declared the truth of it unto me, and to two other witnesses who testified on their death-bed that it was true." David Whitmer, _And Address to All Believers in Christ_

[@krissander1]

@@havegottogitgud1864 lol yeah right....

[@havegottogitgud1864]

@@krissander1"when David is bedridden and 'as helpless as a child' - after a lifetime of reiteration he raised his hand and declared: "My friend, if God ever uttered a truth, the testimony I now bear is true. I did see the angel of God, and I beheld the glory of the Lord, and he declared the record true." (Journal of Angus Cannon, 1888) "On one occasion, a skeptical military officer suggested, in David’s presence, that perhaps David had merely experienced some sort of mental disturbance or hallucination, that had deceived him into thinking he saw. How well and distinctly I remember the manner in which [David] Whitmer arose and drew up to his full height, a little over six feet, and said, in solemn and impressive tones 'No sir! I was not under any hallucination, nor was I deceived! I saw with these eyes, and I heard with these ears! I know whereof I speak!' After encountering David’s bold testimony, the officer admitted, '[O]ne thing is certain-no man could hear him make his affirmation, as he has to us in there, and doubt for one moment the honesty and sincerity of the man himself. He fully believes he saw and heard, just as he stated he did.'" Joseph Smith III (cited in _Investigating the Book of Mormon Witnesses_ ) "I have begged him to unfold the fraud in the case, and he had all to gain and nothing to lose, but speak the word if he thought so. But he has described the scene to me many times, of his vision about noon in an open pasture. There is only one explanation barring an actual miracle, and that is this: If that vision was not real, it was HYPNOTISM, it was real to grandfather IN FACT." George W. Sweich

[@krissander1]

@@havegottogitgud1864 yeah lots of people have sworn blind that they have seen the Loch Ness Monster, it doesn't make it so. Dave does not seem to be a reliable witness anyway...

[@havegottogitgud1864]

@@krissander1 Why so? He seems pretty reliable by every standard. Decades of evidence for honesty (served multiple terms as city councilman and mayor) and abundant evidence of his mental competency. Besides, you also seem to ignore the existence of two other witnesses (Cowdery and Harris) and the informal ones, as well as the eight natural witnesses.

[@calliehastings8656]

But the Bible says no one should add or take from the Bible. And, the Bible also states that no one should idolize and plenty of members idolize Joseph Smith. And btw, there are A TON more archeological evidence of the Bible than the Book of Mormon

[@chaseallen7499]

For the archeological evidence part: and? Just because there is more evidence of the Bible the the Book of Mormon doesn’t make the Bible more true than the Book of Mormon, we have yet to find archeological evidence of the Exodus, and even then all that evidence doesn’t prove that Jesus really was God ( In your case I assume) or that he walked on water. As for the add of take away part, the thing is that revelations wasn’t the last book ever written in the Bible. They were not written all at once, Revelations was written as a separate book all together from the Bible as it Bible as we have it didn’t exist in any form other than the other individual books. So when we read “ do not add or take away from this book” it is talking about the book of revelations. In the Old Testament there is even a similar phrase in Deutronomy 4:2: “ 2 ​Ye shall not ​​​add​ unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ​ought​ from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the ​​Lord​​ your God which I command you.” If we are to use your same logic then every chapter or book after this chapter is adding to scripture and must be discarded.

[@calliehastings8656]

@@chaseallen7499 I dont understand your reasoning when it comes to archeological evidence. "Just because there is more evidence of the Bible than the BOM doesn't make the Bible more true than the BOM". Considering we have yet to find any archeological evidence of the findings in the BOM and have more concrete evidence of events from the Bible does in fact allow us to conclude the Bible is more factual than the BOM because of the evidence found. You need evidence to support findings. There is none of the BOM

[@chaseallen7499]

@@calliehastings8656 There is, besides evidence of Ancient cities, barley, ancient cement we have even found Nahom and most likely the land bountiful which this channel has a video about. There isn’t as much as the Bible but the amount of evidence doesn’t specifically mean something is more true or not.

[@chaseallen7499]

@@calliehastings8656 and even then all this evidence doesn’t prove anything when it come to if Jesus is God or not, walking the streets of Jerusalem or finding evidence that supports the Bible doesn’t prove that Jesus died for our sins, or that he could change water into wine.

[@calliehastings8656]

@@chaseallen7499 the amount of evidence does matter when it comes to supporting. The more evidence equals more support. I'm not saying the evidence presented isn't credible or doesn't matter, but the more evidence there is, does in fact make a difference.

[@jamesivie5717]

Cool, but the Book of Mormon took place in Ohio and surrounding states, not Mesoamerica.

[@johnlewis6526]

Think about it, on the entire American continent, there’s only 4 known large civilizations. There’s gotta be way more

[@Man-jf6lz]

The Late War shows that writing in kjv language style creates hebraisms, chiasmus, etc.. because those aspects of the hebrew language come through the translation process. These arguments for authenticity of the BoM fall flat because of this. A better argument is the study showing the likelihood of any of the original scribes or joseph as being authors is almost 0%

[@elderinisrael]

This has to be the weakest argument against the Book of Mormon I have ever heard. You have nothing intelligent to add. writing in KJV language doesn't create Hebraism. Hebraisms are created from a unique way of writing that is unique to the middle eastern language. KJV language is written in Early Modern English (EME). While the KJV may have been translated from Hebrew many of the Hebraisms that were contained in it were changed by scribes to fit English.

[@Man-jf6lz]

@@elderinisrael I wasn't making an argument against the BoM, but an argument against using hebraisms et al as evidence. Do your research. Speaking in kjv English creates positive pings on hebraisms et al.

[@Bazcole93]

Nope there is none . Go read Grant Palmers work . It blows the entire book apart .

[@boydhyrumreyes6215]

What year was the Grant Palmers work published?

[@jeffstruth1988]

Thank you for sharing this...This video, "Is there evidence for The Book of Mormon?" Left me with the impression if I want evidence to pray.

[@byronhunley6821]

I know this might come as a shook but they did find Noahs Ark in turkey on Mount Ararat just like the bible says. And in the crossing of the red sea they found chariot wheels just like the bible says.... Maybe the Bible is trustworthy.....

[@rufusnunez6482]

I don't know how how familiar you are with human history, but there is plenty of evidence of the events announced in the Bible. Apostol Paul, whom was a well educated, intelligent and a scholar, wrote that he had an encounter with Christ. The Lord resurrected and present himself to some woman, then to the Apostles an then to 500 other people. When Thomas saw the risen Jesus he said to him, my Lord and my God. When Jesus was having a discussion with the pharisees when Jesus said he knew Abraham, the pharisees tol him, you're not eve 50 years old,and you knew Abraham? Jesus replied, before Abraham was, I am. Proclaiming hes eternity. If some people only read the Bible carefully they would come to know the truth and the truth will set them free from all the burden of religion such as catholicism, mormonism, Islam, etc.. Religions requirements for salvation: works, works and some more works. Christianity's requirements for salvation: faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Muslims put their faith in a person that came up with a revelation about 600 years later then the gospel of Jesus. Catholics put their faith in the ordinances stipulated by men hundreds of years after the gospel of Jesus Christ was written. Mormons put their faith in the "revelation given to a man 1800 years after the gospel of Jesus was given to the world, a man whom was seeking to become president of the U.S , a man that told his wife that god had said to him that he was to have more wives, a man whom supposedly had been seeking God for a long time, reading the Bible constantly seeking God's guidance, a man whom by that time should've had plenty of knowledge of God's word but seemed to have missed that passage of the scriptures that says that Jhon the Baptist was the last prophet, the passage where it says that in an angel or even one of Jesus's apostles announced then the one we had received was anathema, the passage where it says that is anyone adds or subtracts to the word given to us in the Bible will be cursed. Sorry, but I just don't understand why so. READ THE BIBLE, PEOPLE, PLEASE.

[@brettmajeske3525]

Well for people to whom physical evidence is the pinnacle of believability, the Bible is not sufficient in itself. There is little if any corroborating physical evidence for the Miracles described, let alone for the existence of Jesus the Messiah. David was pointing out how people demand a higher standard for the Book of Mormon. I was not aware that any of the collected writings that comprised the Bible mention it as an entire work. Revelation was not the last Book of the New Testament written. At the very least Jude and the Gospel of John were both written afterwards.

[@rufusnunez6482]

I totally agree with what you said about the Bible not being sufficient in itself for some people, but the actual existence of Jesus, come on man! How can someone who never existed have such impact on human history, He divides human history. Any person that's really seeking truth can't deny the existence of Jesus,not because the Bible says He walked among us, but because there is strong evidence through history.

[@brettmajeske3525]

@@rufusnunez6482 Ignoring the Bible, what evidence? That is the problem many scholars have. Jesus didn't write anything down himself. There are no conclusive statements of his existence from those not claiming to be his followers. Josephus, in his history, mentions three different people claiming to be the Messiah. One of them could have been Christ, but which one? All historians have is second and third hand witness statements, and even then there are no original copies. Now I absolutely believe in the reality of His existence, but in Bible as Literature classes in most non-religious universities treat the Bible much as they do Beowulf, or the works of Homer. Literature, not history.

[@rufusnunez6482]

@@brettmajeske3525 I don't know if Jesus wrote something down himself or not. I'm not aware of anything that's been found with His handwriting but, can you think of any ancient character that we have knowledge of who didn't write anything down himself but we know of him because someone else wrote about him? Flavio josephus would be the most trusted historian for Jesus's existence, but there are other roman historians that wrote about Him; Tacit,Suetonius, just to name a couple. And what about the Greek historians. Josephus would be the most accurate from the 1st century. Know, hes does mention some guys that claimed to be the Messiah, but didn't Jesus say that woul happened? Is still happening today. What makes me, personally,believe that my Lord Jesus is the Messiah is the impact he had back then and still has today. At the end is a matter of faith. For me, history is convincing enough about Jesus. Know if people want to discuss the problem of evil and pain and those kinds of things, Dr. John Lennox puts it this way, "he became part part of it". But that's another subject.

[@brettmajeske3525]

@@rufusnunez6482 I think you are misunderstanding me. I too believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, but that is not the point. Because of paucity of evidence belief in the Savior requires Faith. The assertions of the LDS also require Faith, but other Christians attack us because of insufficient evidence to back up claims.

[@post-mormon-era1085]

BS - there is nothing.