Members of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" strongly contend that the Book of Mormon is of divine origin. They say that it is as much the word of God as is the Bible. In fact they consider it to be more the word of God than the Bible, for they don't think the Bible, as we now have it, is correctly translated.

I deny that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I affirm that it of human origin, having been written by Joseph Smith or someone else, and is therefore a fraudulent book. Now, I recognize that I should not make such statements without giving some good reasons for them. Here are the reasons why I believe that the Book of Mormon is NOT the word of God.

1. The Professed Origin of the Book of Mormon Is Questionable.

The credibility of the Book of Mormon and the whole Mormon system depends upon the testimony of one Joseph Smith, Jr. and eleven "witnesses." (See section in front of Book of Mormon on its origin.)

According to Smith, the Father and Son visited him when he was fourteen warning him not to join any of the denominations, as they were all wrong. Three or four years later on the night of September 21, 1823 an angel named "Moroni" appeared to him three times. Smith said that the angel told him about a book, "written upon gold plates," which gave the history of the former American inhabitants and which also contained "the fullness of the everlasting Gospel." The next day the angel again appeared to young Smith directing him to a hill near Palmyra, New York where he found the plates in a partially buried stone box. Four years later these plates were delivered to Smith who allegedly translated them into English "by the gift and power of God."

The first edition of the Book of Mormon was brought forth in 1830.

Notice that Smith was the only witness to his avowed visions. I deny that the Father or the Son or any angel ever appeared to Joseph Smith. Now what proof can Mormons give that they did? Nothing but the assertion of a mere ignorant boy! And yet the whole Mormon system hinges upon these supposed visions.

"The testimony of three witnesses and also the testimony of eight witnesses" can be found in the front of the Book of Mormon. The three witnesses claimed that an angel who "came down from heaven" showed the plates to them and the voice of the Lord declared unto them "that they have been translated by the gift and power of God." But alas, the three witnesses need some witnesses. What proof can Mormons give that these witnesses told the truth. All they have is their word.

The eight witnesses simply testified that they had seen and handled the plates and that they had "the appearance of ancient work." Their testimony proves nothing, as they were not present when Smith had the "visions," they did not see the angel give him the plates and did not know what was written on them. They only saw some plates, which Smith affirmed an angel delivered unto him.

The Testimony, therefore, of the eleven witnesses amounts to no testimony at all. All Mormonism is built upon the unsupported assertions of Joseph Smith.

2. The Bible Claims to Be the Complete Revealed Will of God to Man.

Jesus promised that the Spirit would guide the apostles into ALL truth (Jno. 14:26; 16:13). The Holy Spirit came upon the apostles on the day of Pentecost as recorded in the second chapter of Acts. God's will was revealed "unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit" (Eph. 3:5; cf. 1 ('or. 2:6-16; 1 Pet. 1:12). They wrote it down in a "few words" which we may read and understand (Eph. 3:3.4).

We are warned, "not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Cor. 4:6: cf. 2 Jno. 9). The apostle Paul said: "according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak" (2 Cor. 4:13). He also stated that a man was "accursed" or "anathema" who taught "any gospel other than that which we preached" (Gal. 1:8,9; cf. I Tim. 1:3).

Peter asserts that God "hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3); Paul affirms that the scriptures furnish "completely unto every good work" (2 Tim. 3:17); and Jude writes of the "faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). Concerning the phrase "once for all" in Jude 3, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon says: "used of what is so done as to be of perpetual validity and never need repetition" (p. 54). Therefore, the word of God is complete; there is no need for additional revelations; there are no latter day revelations.

Notice the following syllogisms based upon the above scriptures:

1. The Spirit guided the apostles into ALL truth.

2. The Spirit did not guide the apostles into Mormonism.

3. Therefore, Mormonism is not of the truth.

1. The apostles and prophets wrote the revelation of God.

2. They did not write the Book of Mormon.

3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is not the revelation of God.

1. The New Testament teaches that God "hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.

2. But, at that time, the Book of Mormon had not been given.

3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon does not pertain unto life and godliness.

1. The faith was "once for all" (one time for all times) delivered unto the saints."

2. But, the Book of Mormon was not then delivered unto the saints.

3. Therefore, the Book of Mormon is not part of the faith.

1. Those who preach "any gospel other than that which" Paul preached are anathema or accursed.

2. Paul did not preach Mormonism.

3. Therefore, those who preach Mormonism are anathema or accursed.

1. Those who abide "not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God."

2. The Book of Mormon does not contain the teaching of Christ.

3. Therefore, those who abide in the teachings of the Book of Mormon "hath not God."

The Book of Mormon has God saying: "And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written" (2 Nephi 29:9,10). Joseph Smith (father of Mormonism) claimed to be a prophet of God. Mormons say he was a prophet like Moses. He wrote "Doctrine and Covenants" and "The Pearl of Great Price" both of which are purportedly the word of God.

If the Bible is, as it claims, the complete revealed will of God to man (and it is), then the Book of Mormon is not the word of God at all. Being of human origin, yet pretending to be from God, it is fraudulent, deceptive and unworthy of any respect that might be shown unto it.

3. Those Who Supposedly Wrote the Book of Mormon did not Claim Inspiration.

Nephi claims to have written according to % his own knowledge. "Yea, I make a record and I know that the record which I make is true; . . . and I make it according to my knowledge" (I Nephi 1:2, 3). If he wrote according to his own knowledge it was not inspiration.

Nephi further states that he wrote what he thought to be sacred and shows the possibility of his being wrong. "Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old" (I Nephi 19:6). If Nephi were inspired he would not have been writing his "think so" but rather God's "said so" and there would have been no "If I do err" about it for his message, being from God, would have been infallibly correct.

Mormon freely admits that his record contains "imperfections." "Condemn me not because of mine imperfections, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither they who have written before him; . . . And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, . . . and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record" (Mormon 9:31-33).

Did Peter, Paul and John write simply according to their own knowledge? Did they make any mistakes? Are there any imperfections in their records? NO! A thousand times no. And why not? They were inspired, guided by the Holy Spirit (See: 2 Pet. l:21; Gal. 1:11, 12; Jno. 14:26; 15:26, 27; 21:24).

Since the Book of Mormon claims to have been written by uninspired men who wrote according to their own knowledge and admit that their record contains "imperfections," it is not, as Mormons affirm, the word of God but rather the word of men.

4. The Book of Mormon Contradicts the Bible.

If the Bible and the Book of Mormon are both the word of God, then both are the Truth (Jno. 17:17) and will agree one with the other, If they contradict one another, at least one of them must be false.

The Book of Mormon says that Jesus was to be born at Jerusalem. "And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem " (Alma 7:10). The Bible says: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea" (Matt. 2:1).

Now, don't let the Mormon "elders" wiggle out of this contradiction by saying that Bethlehem was a suburb of Jerusalem. Ask them how Herod was able to send the wise men, who "came to Jerusalem," to Bethlehem if the latter was a suburb (or part) of Jerusalem? Remind them that Jerusalem was a walled city and included only that which was inside the wall.

The angel Gabriel was given the honor of naming God's Son, who was to be the heir of David. Before her miraculous conception he told Mary 'thou shalt call his name JESUS" (Lk. 1:31.) The same announcement was later made to Joseph (Matt. 1:21). When the child was born "his name was called JESUS" (Lk. 2:21; Matt. 1:25). The Christ was never known as Jesus before Gabriel's announcement to Mary. Yet the Book of Mormon, supposedly hundreds of years before he was born of a virgin, refers to him several times as Jesus.

Here is one example: "And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary" (Mosiah 3:8).

According to the Book of Mormon the name of the promised Redeemer was "Christ" (2 Nephi 10:3; 25:19). They even have Jesus asking, "Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name?" (3 Nephi 27:5). Now anyone should be able to see that Christ is not the Lord's name but an official title. His name is Jesus. He is THE Christ, not a Christ. Just as Lyndon B. Johnson is THE president of the United States, not a president. President is not his name. Neither is Jesus' name Christ. He is THE CHRIST.

The Book of Mormon has the church of Christ in existence more than a century before Christ, with people being added to it by baptism. "And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church" (Mosiah 18:17.) Yet Jesus, about ten months before his crucifixion, said: "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). The second chapter of Acts marks the beginning of the church and verse 47 for the first time tells of the Lord adding to the church. Which will you believe the Book of Mormon or the word of God?

The Book of Mormon further claims that those "who belonged to the church of God," "took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called" (Alma 46:

13-15). This is supposed to have occurred at least 73 years before Christ. Luke says "that the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). This was about 43 A. D. If Luke is right the Book of Mormon is false.

The Book of Mormon also teaches that if miracles and the appearance of angels to men have ceased "then has faith ceased also" (Moroni 8:36-38). But the Bible says that some of the signs of Jesus "are written that ye might believe" (Jno. 20:31) and that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Therefore, we do not now need miracles and the appearance of angels in order to believe.

There are many more such contradictions, but these should suffice to show any person that no one can believe both the Bible and the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

5. The Predictions of the Book of Mormon Have Failed.

The Book of Mormon "predicted" three days of darkness when Jesus died. "But behold, as I said unto you concerning another sign, a sign of his death, behold, in that day that he shall suffer death the sun shall be darkened and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon the face of this land, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead" (Helaman 14:20.)

In 3 Nephi 8:19-23 it is claimed that "thick darkness" did come "upon the face of the land" and "that it did last for the space of three days." But the Bible plainly shows that there were about three hours (not days) of darkness (Lk. 23:44).

There is absolutely no Biblical or historical evidence to support the assumption of "thick darkness upon all the face of the land" from the death of Jesus until his resurrection. If the Book of Mormon were the word of God, it would not have failed in this prediction.

In I Nephi 13:26 we are told that after "the gospel of the Lord" would be given through the apostles that "a great and abominable church" would arise and "behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away." Verse 28 says: "Wherefore, thou seest that after the book hath gone forth through the hands of the great and abominable church, that there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God."

Jesus said: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35.) Peter also affirms that "the word of God . . . liveth and abideth forever" and that "the word of the Lord endureth forever" (I Pet. 1:23,25). If what Jesus and Peter said is true (and who will dare deny it), then the prediction of the Book of Mormon that "many plain and precious things" and "many covenants" were to be "taken away from the book" is false.

Furthermore, in this same chapter it is claimed that the Book of Mormon and "other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles" would restore those parts that the "abominable church" had taken out. "These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them . . ." (I Nephi 13:40).

You can't get Mormons to put their finger on the "plain and precious things" that the "abominable church" took away from the Bible that have been "made known" in the Book of Mormon and other so-called inspired Mormon literature. The reason they won't is that they can't, for no such things have been taken out and they certainly have not been "made known" in the Book of Mormon. And so another prediction of that "abominable" book has failed.

6. The Book of Mormon Contains Numerous Absurdities.

The Bible is recognized by, both believers and unbelievers alike, as one of the finest literary works known. Its simplicity and comprehensiveness are unsurpassed.

The Book of Mormon is quite the opposite. It is very poorly written. Repetitious and ambiguous phrases are replete throughout. The phrase "and it came to pass" is found on almost every page; on some pages in nearly every verse. Such glaring grammatical errors as "them days," "had arriven," "had wrote," and "most foremost," which appeared in the earlier editions, indicate that its author was undoubtedly an uneducated person. The very fact that several thousand corrections have been made in the Book of Mormon is proof positive that Joseph Smith was not inspired in its translation as he claimed.

One of the most outstanding absurdities found in the book is in Ether 2:17-20. The Jaredites reportedly built, by the commandment of the Lord, dish-like barges in which they came to America. The Lord directed them to make the barges "the length of a tree." (Now, just how long is that?) -When the boats were completed Jared's brother reminded the Lord that he had made no provisions for light and ventilation. God is then pictured as instructing them to "make a hole in the top; and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole"

Can you picture the Lord forgetting to give instructions for light and ventilation? How much light and air would a hole in the bottom provide? Can you even imagine God telling them to "make a hole in the bottom" and then as if he was uncertain as to what would happen say "if it be so that the water come in." Did the Lord think that the Jaredites were so ignorant that they wouldn't know to plug up the hole when the water started coming in? Isn't this whole fantastic story rather silly?

The Book of Mormon says that Jesus promised three of his disciples that they would "never taste of death" but "remain on earth until the Lord comes in his glory" (3 Nephi 28:7). Further in the chapter it is claimed that "when the Lord seeth fit" they will minister to all people and bring many souls unto Jesus. Also, that they will do great works before the judgment day. Who can believe that three men have continued to live here on earth without "pain nor sorrow" since about A. D. 34? This is just more of the foolishness of the Book of Mormon.

The many grammatical blunders and absurdities in the Book of Mormon should convince any honest person that it is not of divine origin.

7. The Book of Mormon Is of Recent Origin-.

Mormons say "the period covered by Book of Mormon annals extends from B. C. 600 to A.D. 421." (See front of book under "Brief Analysis.") About 421 it was supposedly sealed and hidden by Moroni who delivered it unto Joseph Smith in 1827. Smith then, "by the gift and power of God," is said to have translated it into English. Yet the book contains many passages taken verbatim from the King James Version of the Bible, which was not made until 1611 --1,190 years after the Book of Mormon was supposed to have been completely written and sealed. Practically all of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount is found in 3 Nephi 12-14, almost word for word as it appears in Matthew 5-7 of the King James Version. Therefore, it is evident that the Book of Mormon was written sometime this side of 1611.

One thing is certain: the Book of Mormon is not the inspired word of God as Latter-Day Saints teach. It is nothing more than a clumsy fraud. Will you who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints continue for social and friendship reasons in a movement which sets aside the word of God for the fables of men? I urge you to cast aside the Book of Mormon and follow the Bible alone; leave that organization which is founded upon the Book of Mormon, and be a member of the church of Christ that was built upon Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:18; -1 Cor. 3:11.)

Propositions

Resolved: Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, the Book of Mormon is the inspired Word of God, and the Church of Jesus -Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church.

Affirm

Deny Jimmy Thomas

Resolved: Joseph Smith was an imposter, the Book of Mormon is a fraud, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is a human organization.

Affirm Jimmy Thomas

Deny

Will the Mormon headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah give permission for one of their members to meet me or some other gospel preacher in a public discussion on the above propositions?

Truth Magazine VIII: 8, pp. 7-12 May 1964