Book of Mormon/Archaeology

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Book of Mormon archaeology

Jump to Subtopic:

• Biblical archaeology compared to the Book of Mormon
• Thomas Stuart Ferguson and Mormon archaeology
• DNA and the Book of Mormon
• The Hill Cumorah
• Joseph Smith and the Kinderhook plates
• Question: What is the New World Archaeological Foundation? What does it have to do with the Book of Mormon?
• The potential relationship between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ
• Question: Does the Smithsonian Institution send out a letter regarding the use of the Book of Mormon as a guide for archaeological research?
• "Zelph" and Book of Mormon geography
• The Flood

Biblical archaeology compared to the Book of Mormon

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What criticisms are raised with regard to Book of Mormon archaeology compared to that of the Bible?
• Question: What archaeological evidence might be considered the minimal irrefutable proof needed to convince a non-believing world of the authenticity of the Nephite scripture?
• Question: How would an archaeologist distinguish a Christian's pot from that of a non-Christian?
• Question: What do we find when we turn to the records of the ancient (i.e. before A.D. 400) Americas?
• Question: How would Book of Mormon archaeology compare to that of the Bible?
• Question: What do we find in Mesoamerican archaeology with respect to place names, such as city names?
• Question: How does archaeology in the Old World compare to the first chapters in the Book of Mormon?
• Question: How does archaeology in the New World fit with the Book of Mormon?
• Question: Did Dee F. Green say that there is no such thing as Book of Mormon archaeology?
• Question: Should there be archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon?
• Question: Does the Smithsonian Institution send out a letter regarding the use of the Book of Mormon as a guide for archaeological research?

Thomas Stuart Ferguson and Mormon archaeology

• Question: Was Thomas Stuart Ferguson an archaeologist?
• Source:Peterson and Roper:FR 16:1:We know of no one who cites Ferguson as an authority, except countercultists
• Source:Peterson:FR 16:1:makes every effort to portray Ferguson's apparent eventual loss of faith as a failure for 'LDS archaeology'
• Source:Gee:FR 10:2:Ferguson is largely unknown to the vast majority of Latter-day Saints; his impact on Book of Mormon studies is minimal

DNA and the Book of Mormon

Jump to Subtopic:

• Source:Book of Mormon and DNA Studies:Gospel Topics:Basic principles of population genetics suggest the need for a more careful approach to the data
• Questions: What are the criticisms related to the Book of Mormon and DNA?
• Question: Do Christian critics of the Book of Mormon have a double standard regarding DNA evidence?
• Question: What scriptures in the Book of Mormon affirm the presence of other people in the Book of Mormon in the New World?
• Question: What scriptures might challenge the view of a limited geography and the Nephites not being alone on the continent or other issues regarding DNA?

The Hill Cumorah

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does the Church authoritatively identify the location of the Hill Cumorah?
• Question: Does the Church authoritatively identify the location of the Hill Cumorah?
• Question: Did Joseph Fielding Smith reject the theory that the final battlefield of the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica rather than New York?
• Question: Have any archaeological excavations ever been performed on the site of the Hill Cumorah in New York?
• Question: Did Moroni bury the gold plates in the Hill Cumorah referenced in the Book of Mormon?
• Question: Are the large population counts described in the Book of Mormon during the final battle at the Hill Cumorah accurate?
• Question: Is there a cave in the Hill Cumorah containing the Nephite records?
• Question: What happened to the stone box in which gold plates were deposited?
• Statements made by Church leaders or Church publications related to the "Hill Cumorah"
• Nineteenth Century: Statements on Book of Mormon geography made during Joseph Smith's lifetime: 1829-1840

Joseph Smith and the Kinderhook plates

Summary: A set of small plates, engraved with characters of ancient appearance, were purported to have been unearthed in Kinderhook, Illinois, in April 1843. The so-called "Kinderhook plates" have been something of an enigma within the Mormon community since they first appeared. While there are faithful LDS who take a number of different positions on the topic of these artifacts, most have concluded that they were fakes. This article summarizes some key information that critics often exclude from their discussion of the Kinderhook plates, and the extent of Joseph Smith's involvement.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What are the Kinderhook Plates?
• Question: Why does History of the Church say that Joseph Smith said "I have translated a portion of them..."?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith attempt to translate the Kinderhook Plates?
• Question: Did Joseph attempt to translate the Kinderhook Plates using the "gift and power of God?"
• Question: What does Joseph's attempt to translate the Kinderhook Plates tell us about his "gift of translation?"
• Question: Why is the statement of William Clayton regarding the Kinderhook Plates in History of the Church written as if Joseph Smith himself said it?
• "‘President Joseph Has Translated a Portion’: Solving the Mystery of the Kinderhook Plates"

• See: Daniel C. Peterson, On the New World Archaeological Foundation (Review of Behind the Mask of Mormonism by John Ankerberg, John Weldon)

The potential relationship between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Do Latter-day Saints believe that Quetzalcoatl was actually Jesus Christ?
• Question: Have Mormon apologists ignored aspects of Quetzalcoatl which are inconsistent with Jesus Christ?
• Question: What are the problems of trying to associate Quetzalcoatl with Jesus Christ?
• Diane E. Wirth, "Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ"

Question: Does the Smithsonian Institution send out a letter regarding the use of the Book of Mormon as a guide for archaeological research?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does the Smithsonian Institution send out a letter regarding the use of the Book of Mormon as a guide for archaeological research?

"Zelph" and Book of Mormon geography

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the story of Zelph?
• Question: Does the story of Zelph have implications for Book of Mormon geography?
• Question: How reliable are the accounts of the discovery of Zelph?
• Kenneth W. Godfrey, "What Is the Significance of Zelph in the Study of Book of Mormon Geography?"

The Flood

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Does the Church teach that the flood was a global event?
• What is genre?
• What is "concordism"?
• What is the genre of the flood story?
• What else can ancient near eastern culture teach us about the flood story?
• Does the New Testament tell us anything that can help?
• Question: Doesn't the Bible say that the continents were divided immediately after the Flood?

Notes