Book of Mormon Bibliography
Alphabetical by Title

The Book of Mormon has come under frequent fire from its critics for allegedly quoting portions of the New Testament before the New Testament was written. A classic example of this is the famous phrase from 1 Corinthians 15:55, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” Clear allusions to this passage are made by three Book of Mormon prophets: Abinadi (Mosiah 16:8), Aaron (Alma 22:14), and Mormon (Mormon 7:5).

This article presents the results of a word-by-word comparison of Isaiah passages used in the Book of Mormon. Entire verses and phrases are lost from the book of Isaiah in the Bible, and the biblical Isaiah had lost the concept of the restoration of the entire House of Israel.

“O remember, remember,” Book of Mormon prophets often implored.1 My point is to urge you to find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness.

Abstract: The best explanation for the name “Nephi” is that it derives from the Egyptian word nfr, “good,” “goodly,” “fine,” “fair,” “beautiful.” Nephi’s autobiographical wordplay on his own name in his self-introduction (and elsewhere throughout his writings) revolves around the evident meaning of his name. This has important implications for how the derived gentilic term “Nephites” was understood over time, especially among the Nephites themselves. Nephi’s early ethno-cultural descriptions of his people describe them as “fair” and “beautiful” (vis-à-vis the Lamanites). These early descriptions subsequently become the basis for Nephite ethno-cultural self-perceptions. The Nephites’ supposition that they were the “good” or “fair ones” was all too frequently at odds with reality, especially when Nephite “chosenness” was understood as inherent or innate. In the end the “good” or “fair ones” fell (Mormon 6:17‒20), because they came to “delight in everything save that which is good” (Moroni 9:19). The Book of Mormon thus constitutes a warning against our own contemporary cultural and religious tendency toward exceptionalism. Mormon and Moroni, like Nephi their ancestor through his writings on the small plates, endeavor through their own writing and editorial work to show how the “unbelieving” descendants of the Nephites and Lamanites can again become the “good” and the “fair ones” by choosing to come unto Christ, partaking of his “goodness,” and doing the “good” stipulated by the doctrine of Christ.
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An earlier Insights article noted a possible wordplay in the first verse of the Book of Mormon that provides internal textual evidence that the name Nephi derives from the Egyptian word nfr. While nfr denotes “good, fine, goodly” of quality, it also signifies “beautiful, fair” of appearance. Assuming that at least some senses of the Egyptian word passed into Nephite language and culture, this second sense of nfr may have influenced Nephite self-perception. Several Book of Mormon passages evidence the affiliation.

A letter written to W. W. Phelps from Norton, Medina County, Ohio, Sabbath evening, September 7, 1834. Cowdery writes of his irst meeting with the prophet and his immediate work began as scribe for Joseph Smith for the translation of the Book of Mormon. Then he writes of the manifestation of the angel to give the Aaronic Priesthood.

A letter written to W. W. Phelps from Norton, Medina County, Ohio, Sabbath evening, September 7, 1834. Cowdery writes of his irst meeting with the prophet and his immediate work began as scribe for Joseph Smith for the translation of the Book of Mormon. Then he writes of the manifestation of the angel to give the Aaronic Priesthood.

Recalls his cherished relationship with the prophet Joseph Smith and tells of his gratitude to have been a part of the translation of the Book of Mormon.

“An important element in any military endeavor is the loyalty of the soldiers. Obviously, even the most brilliant military tactics will fail if the troops are unfaithful in fulfilling their duty. Often, to instill this loyalty, an oath of allegiance is administered to recruits. The well-known title-of-liberty episode in Alma 46 of the Book of Mormon includes an interesting example of just such an oath. This paper will examine that oath, drawing upon parallels from the ancient Near East for comparison.” [Author]

Discourse by Elder Wilford Woodruff, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, June 12, 1881. Reported By: John Irvine.

Discourse by President John Taylor, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Evening, December 14, 1884. Reported By: John Irvine.

Remarks by President Brigham Young, at Bountiful, May 17, 1868. Reported By: Edward L. Sloan.

Discourse by President Wilford Woodruff, delivered at the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, July 20, 1883. Reported By: John Irvine.

Defends criticisms that the Book of Mormon contains bad grammar by stating that any errors of the book are the errors of man. Mentions the errors of the Bible.

Cites archaeological evidence that iron was used by ancient American inhabitants, supporting the claim made by the Book of Mormon concerning steel and iron. [A. C.]

This article is an answer to the criticism that certain chapters of Isaiah were written after Lehi’s departure from Jerusalem and thus could not have been included in the Book of Mormon.

Discusses arguments against the Book of Mormon—objections are based on falsehoods, dishonesty, and insincerity.

[R] 1898. Responds to critics of the Book of Mormon. Writes concerning metal plates, manner of translation, poor grammar, rapid population growth, dark color of Lamanites, modern words used in the translation, polygamy, place of Christ’s nativity, Holy Spirit given before Christ came in the flesh, the charge of plagiarism, and the Spaulding theory.

Morton responds to three objections to the Book of Mormon. Mr. Rought Brooks of the Burnley News maintains that the Book of Mormon is weakened because Joseph Smith used a “peek-stone” to search for money, and the Book of Mormon mentions the use of “precious steel,” domesticated horses, cows and oxen, and the compass. Morton counters that the Chinese used magnetic directors in 2634 B.C., ancient iron remains have been dug up in the New World, as have remains of horses. Buffaloes are domesticated cows and oxen gone wild.

Series of articles that offer “plain, simple and reasonable explanations” of difficult passages in the Book of Mormon. Most arguments deal with the events that occurred near the Hill Cumorah in New York state and the other events that transpired in Central America and attempt to explain these events in relation to the great distance between the two locations. Many evidences in the Book of Mormon sustain the fact that the United States was thickly inhabited by the Nephite people who had traveled northward both by land and in ships by sea.

A rebuttal to Dr. Shelton, who had given several anti-Mormon lectures in one of the principal cities in England. Sheldon pointed out blemishes in the Book of Mormon and misquoted it. He ridiculed the book’s ship building, grammatical construction, reference to a compass, similarity to the Bible, foreknowledge of God, and the ministry of Christ before his birth.

There are a total of 42 verses in the Book of Ether which apply to this discussion. Because of the limited information provided there must needs be some speculation. The Jaredites collected seeds, swarms of bees, fowl, and live fish: this article discusses why they might do that. It is determined that these did not travel to the Americas. The fowl that made the ocean journey were likely descendants of the red jungle fowl (chickens). The Jaredites were early travelers on the Silk Road. The brother of Jared cut a hole in the bottom of an ocean-going boat. The hole is necessary to ensure a safe and healthy ocean passage. An MIT experiment demonstrates the viability of the proposed ventilation system for the boats. The psychological effect on the crews is taken into consideration and the conclusion is that the journey was made in two legs.

Duplicated by author. Considers the 360-day “tun” year and other suggestions in attempting to settle beginning and ending points for Nephite chronology.

The latest issue of the Maxwell Institute’s Occasional Papers (number 5 in the series) focuses exclusively on what Joseph Smith called “the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion”—the Book of Mormon. As M. Gerald Bradford, editor of the series and associate executive director of the Maxwell Institute notes, “the papers in this volume show that the Book of Mormon can be studied and understood from a wide variety of scholarly disciplines.”

Gives brief assessment of the Book of Mormon. Says that anthropologists agree on some points with the Book of Mormon.

An examination of the life and work of Thomas Stuart Ferguson, a well known Book of Mormon apologist and founder of the New World Archaeological Foundation. The writer concludes that Ferguson lost faith in the Book of Mormon before he died.

The author looks at the Book of Mormon as a form of fiction and deconstructs many literary forms that are prevalent in American Gothic culture.

An article appeared in the Kansas City Times asserting that according to the Book of Mormon, a race of people wandered across the “Behring’s Strait and down into the Continent of North America, establishing a great civilization” “In response to requests from the Church offices a rather lengthy and corrective news story” was published to correct the error.

Some of the Jaredite nation possibly broke away from the main colony to journey southward to South America to become the Inca and pre-Inca civilization. Lehi’s colony on the other hand did not spread out, but stayed close to their point of origin since the land was fertile.

As is well known, when the words of the Book of Mormon were translated “by the gift and power of God,” there was no punctuation at all in the early manuscripts, and that is the way the translated text was delivered to E. B. Grandin’s print shop. Type-setter John Gilbert reported that when he sat down to prepare the text for publication, “every chapter . . . was one solid paragraph, without a punctuation mark, from beginning to end.”¹ So he added punctuation and paragraphing as he went along. He did a good job, especially for someone reading the book for the first time, but there are a few sentences that could have been punctuated in more than one way, with slightly different results. Since the punctuation of the Book of Mormon does not enjoy the same revealed status as the words themselves, it may be worth considering some of the alternatives.

Declares the Book of Mormon to be a missionary tool of greatest value. Coupled with the Spirit, the Book of Mormon will do more to bring the souls of men to the Lord than anything else. It is the great standard of the Church.

Declares the Book of Mormon to be a missionary tool of greatest value. Coupled with the Spirit, the Book of Mormon will do more to bring the souls of men to the Lord than anything else. It is the great standard of the Church.

Contrary to what some may assume, the plates were most likely made not of pure gold but rather of an alloy termed tumbaga by the Spanish.

Members of the Church help to distribute the Book of Mormon by giving the book as gifts to non-members, through the family-to-family program, by placing them in libraries and at fairs, exhibits, visitor centers, and by putting them in hotels, professional offices, etc., by permission.

Review of Rod L. Meldrum. Rediscovering the Book of Mormon Remnant through DNA.

Abstract: Alma’s conversion experience was both unusual and unusually powerful, and yet he fervently wished that he could provide others with the same experience. So much so, in fact, that he actually feared that he might be sinning in his wish by seeming to oppose the will of God. Increasingly, though, I find myself sharing that wish. My involvement with the Interpreter Foundation can correctly be regarded as one manifestation of that fact. I invite others to join us.

Juanita East felt compelled to keep the Book of Mormon she purchased with a box of books at an auction. Years later she was prompted to read it and was converted.

Review of From Jerusalem to Zarahemla: Literary and Historical Studies of the Book of Mormon (1998), by S. Kent Brown

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of Ancient America and their connections to the Book of Mormon, which is the key to understanding “old American” studies.

Gives a brief synopsis of Jaredite history including their sailing to the American continent from the Tower of Babel. Also cites many ancient American flood myths that relate to the biblical story of the flood at the time of Noah.

The term Lamanite applies to the native inhabitants (the Indians) of the American continent, the Eskimos, the Samoans of the Pacific Islanders, and other groups.

Discusses earthenware manufacture in antiquity. Points out that some bottles and pottery vessels dug up on the American continent resemble elephants. Also mentions that the discovery of elephant bones in the United States tend to prove the truth of the Jaredite record.

Discusses earthenware manufacture in antiquity. Points out that some bottles and pottery vessels dug up on the American continent resemble elephants. Also mentions that the discovery of elephant bones in the United States tend to prove the truth of the Jaredite record.

Discusses earthenware manufacture in antiquity. Points out that some bottles and pottery vessels dug up on the American continent resemble elephants. Also mentions that the discovery of elephant bones in the United States tend to prove the truth of the Jaredite record.

Archaeologist Cyrus H. Gordon discussed the two-way traffic between the Old and New World before the Christian era.

Sidney Rigdon did not work for publisher Patterson who had the Spaulding manuscript nor did he know Joseph Smith until after the Book of Mormon was published. The manuscript has no significant similarities to the Book of Mormon. The testimonies of the Three Witnesses cannot be refuted as they were reaffirmed in the last years of the witnesses’ lives. These final testimonies appear in this article.

Contents:

Rooted and Built Up in Christ / Carlos E. Asay
The Old Testament: An Indispensable Foundation / George A. Horton
Noah, the Ark, the Flood: A Pondered Perspective / James R. Christianson
The Seed of Abraham in the Latter Days / Bruce A. Van Orden
Genesis 22: The Paradigm for True Sacrifice in Latter-day Israel / Andrew C. Skinner
Trust in the Lord: Exodus and Faith / S. Kent Brown
Kibroth-Hattaavah: The Graves of Lust / Jeff O’Driscoll
The Latter-day Significance of Ancient Temples / Richard O. Cowan
Joseph and Joseph: “He Shall Be Like Unto Me” (2 Nephi 3:15) / Ann N. Madsen, Susan Easton Black
“Has Thou Considered My Servant Job?” / John S. Tanner
Prophets: How Shall We Know Them? / Joseph F. McConkie
Jesus’ Commandment to Search the Words of Isaiah / L. LaMar Adams
A Latter-day Saint Reading of Isaiah in the Twentieth Century: The Example of Isaiah 6 / Paul Y. Hoskisson
Micah, the Second Witness with Isaiah / Monte S. Nyman
The Restoration of the Tribes of Israel in the Writings of Jeremiah and Ezekiel / Stephen D. Ricks
The Last Shall Be First and the First Shall Be Last / LaMar E. Garrard
Daniel: Ancient Prophet for the Latter Days / H. Dean Garrett
Your Daughters Shall Prophesy: A Latter-day Prophecy of Joel, Peter, and Moroni Examined / Alan K. Parrish
Malachi and the Latter Days / Rex C. Reeve Jr
Justification, Ancient and Modern / Chauncey C. Riddle
Ancient Hebrew “Psychology”: A Radical Option for Educators in the Latter Days / Neil J. Flinders, Paul Wangemann
The Restoration as Covenant Renewal / David Rolph Seely
Joseph Smith’s Use of the Old Testament / Grant Underwood
The Brass Plates: An Inspired and Expanded Version of the Old Testament / Robert L. Millet
The Old Testament: Voice from the Past and Witness for the Lord Jesus Christ / Robert J. Matthews

This is a continuation of the comprehensive bibliography of LDS writings on the Old Testament published in BYU Studies 37, no. 2 (1997–98), available at byustudies.byu.edu. This bibliography includes publications from 1997 to the end of 2005 as well as a few older publications that were not included in the first bibliography. Since that bibliography, there has been a Sperry Symposium dedicated to the Old Testament; all of those printed proceedings (Covenants, Prophecies, and Hymns of the Old Testament) are included in this bibliography. Published in 2005 is the volume Sperry Symposium Classics, a collection of papers from previous symposia; since many of those articles were revised for the 2005 volume, they are included here. Also relevant to the Old Testament is a volume published by FARMS entitled Glimpses of Lehi’s Jerusalem. Of note but not included in this bibliography because of space considerations are the many Old Testament topics discussed in encyclopedic form in The Book of Mormon Reference Companion, edited by Dennis Largely (Deseret Book, 2003).

Contains many teachings of the Book of Mormon concerning the Old Testament patriarchs and a talk on the Book of Mormon. The author gives his view of what the Book of Mormon is and why Mormon wrote the book.

Using the Book of Mormon as a bridge between the Old Testament and us

In this work the Book of Mormon is seen in a new perspective; we see it in a world setting, not in a mere local one. It takes its place naturally alongside the Bible and other great works of antiquity and becomes one of them.
“In the writer’s opinion, this lesson presents the most convincing evidence yet brought forth forthe authenticity of the Book of Mormon. Very likely the reader will be far from sharing this view, since the force of the evidence is cumulative and is based on extensive comparative studies which cannot be fully presented here. Still the evidence
is so good, and can be so thoroughly tested, that we present it here for the benefit of the reader who wishes to pursue the subject further.“

Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of Christ. Author tells of the importance and significance of the two.

Olive oil in anointing, washings and anointing, baptism, and the tree of life

“Since Cumorah: New Voices from the Dust” looks at the changing attitudes of biblical scholars toward basic questions about scripture allow room for claims made by the Book of Mormon. Discusses external evidences, the primitive church, Lehi, Zenos, the olive tree, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
A comparison of the allegory of the olive tree with Hymn 10 of the Thanksgiving Hymns from Qumran.

This article documents the connection of Oliver Cowdery with the Prophet Joseph Smith and the translation of the Book of Mormon.

An attempt to discredit the testimony of Oliver Cowdery, one of the Three Witnesses to the Book of Mormon.

This article is a recital of Oliver Cowdery’s testimony of the Book of Mormon before a court in Michigan.

This chapter documents Oliver’s position as the main scribe of the Book of Mormon translation in 1829.

Provides “an unbiased history of the life and times of Oliver Cowdery” Chapter 3 discusses Cowdery as a scribe during the translation of the Book of Mormon and chapter 5 relates his experience of viewing the gold plates.

A biographical treatise on the life of Oliver Cowdery. Presents a discussion of Cowdery during the formative years of the LDS church and his involvement as scribe during the translation process of the Book of Mormon.

Gives an in-depth historical account of the life of Oliver Cowdery who was scribe for Joseph Smith as he translated the Book of Mormon, and a witness who never denied his testimony. He died at the age of 43, following years of difficulties, disappointment, and failing health. Contains Elizabeth Cowdery’s testimony that Oliver affirmed his testimony of the divinity of the book.

As a witness of significant events in the rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oliver Cowdery’s importance is superseded only by that of the Prophet Joseph Smith. With the exception of Joseph’s First Vision and the appearances of Moroni, Cowdery participated with the Prophet in the key events of the Restoration. The scope of his experiences include the translation of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the Priesthood, the organization of the Church, the first extensive missionary work of the Church, and divine manifestations in the Kirtland Temple. The youngest of eight children, Oliver Cowdery was born 3 October 1806 in Wells, Rutland County, Vermont. In 1825 he moved to New York, where he worked successively as a clerk in a general store, as a blacksmith, and as a farmer. In 1828 he entered the teaching profession in Manchester, New York, where he first became acquainted with the religious claims of Joseph Smith. His entry into the mainstream of Mormon history occurred in April 1829 when he traveled to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to meet Joseph Smith, who was engaged in the translation of the Book of Mormon. Cowdery assisted Joseph as a scribe during the translation of the major part of that work, and his name appears in the Book of Mormon as one of the witnesses to the reliability of the claims of Joseph Smith regarding its origin and method of translation.

Review of Oliver Cowdery’s life and accomplishments in the years following his excommunication until his death. Deals specifically with his reputation among associates.

Oliver Cowdery’s records border on scripture. His supplementary testimonies are of the same eyewitness quality as the Joseph Smith references that have entered the standard works. Much of Cowdery’s thinking and writing was modified and polished to a scriptural level by Joseph Smith.

A series of brief comments in which the author presents archaeological findings, architectural notes, and myths and legends that deal indirectly with the Book of Mormon. Dibble discusses the wheel, ancient irrigation methods, metals, Mexican and Mayan codices, Quetzalcoatl, ancient buildings, and numerous other related items. The eighth part covers the Olmecs.

An extensive discussion of the book of Omni. Examines the personalities, geography, and plates of Omni, and presents charts and illustrations.

This paper is part of a series of F.A.R.M.S. papers intended to give clear, concise answers to criticisms that have been raised against the Book of Mormon. As can be seen in the footnotes, much is owed to previous researchers who have addressed these criticisms. The foundation wishes to thank Matthew Roper for his help in gathering and summarizing large portions of the raw material for this series of papers. The authors wish to thank Robert Durocher for his help with this paper.

This article illustrates that for Latter-day Saints, the Book of Mormon can function as an interpretive guide to Isaiah’s writings. The analysis explores some ways in which the Book of Mormon can aid in identifying textual meaning in the story of Isaiah’s prophetic commission, especially on the topic of Christ and covenants. Lehi’s call narrative in the Book of Mormon shares much in common with Isaiah 6. Based on analogy with Lehi’s comparable dream, LDS readers can connect the seraph that interacts personally with Isaiah to Jesus Christ—that is, the Being with great luster who descends out of heaven to meet with the Book of Mormon prophet.

Review of ?Of Cities and Swords: The Impossible Task of Mormon Apologetics? (1996), by James White

Abstract: Contrary to the generally accepted view, it seems likely that much of the wording of the Doctrine and Covenants was transmitted to Joseph Smith as part of the revelatory process. Apparent bad grammar and a limited reading of “after the manner of their language” (D&C 1:24) have led to the received view that “the language of the revelations was Joseph Smith’s.”
This judgment, however, is probably inaccurate. Abundant cases of archaic forms and structures, sometimes overlapping with Book of Mormon usage, argue for a different interpretation of “after the manner of their language.” Scholars have chosen, for the most part, to disregard the implications of a large amount of complex, archaic, well-formed language found in both scriptural texts. As for the 1833 Plot of Zion, transmitted words in Doctrine and Covenants revelations, a key statement by Frederick G. Williams, and a small but significant amount of internal archaic usage mean that the layout, dimensions, and even some language of the city plat were specifically revealed as well.

Abstract: In 2012 Joseph Spencer published an analysis of 1st and 2nd Nephi that interprets a phrase in 1 Nephi 19:5 as implying the true break in Nephi’s writings is not between the two scriptural books we now use but rather to be found at the end of 2 Nephi 5 and that the spiritual core (the “more sacred part”) of the small plates is in 2 Nephi chapters 6–30. In this essay I have mobilized several arguments from the canons of literary interpretation and basics of the Hebrew language to demonstrate that this starting point for Spencer’s interpretation of Nephi’s writings is seriously flawed.
[Editor’s Note: This paper repeatedly refers to three passages in which Nephi distinguishes his large and small plates projects. For convenience, the version of those passages from the Critical Text Project are fully provided in Appendix 1.].

Many easily recognizable Hebrew words and names can be found in the Book of Abraham. One name that hasn’t had a concrete meaning attached to it, however, is Elkenah. In this article, Barney addresses whether Elkenah is a person, place, or name; what its possible linguistic structures are; and what it might mean. Most importantly, Barney links Elkenah with the Canaanite god El and the attending cult—a cult that practiced human sacrifice. This has significant ramifications for the Book of Abraham, which has been criticized for its inclusion of human sacrifice. Assuming a northern location for the city Ur and taking Elkenah as the Canaanite El resolve the issue of child sacrifice in the Book of Abraham.

Nahom, a proper name given as the burial place of Ishmael in 1 Nephi 16:34, compellingly correlates archaeologically, geographically, and historically to the site of Nehem on the Arabian peninsula. However, as this article exhibits, some of the linguistic and etymological evidence given to connect the Book of Mormon Nahom to the Arabian Nehem is somewhat problematic.

Review of Ross Anderson. Understanding the Book of Mormon: A Quick Christian Guide to the Mormon Holy Book.

The manner in which individuals prove the Book of Mormon to be true is by applying Moroni’s promise (Moroni 10:3-5)—by praying to God in the name of Jesus, having faith and a sincere heart.

“What I hope to accomplish in a few pages here is relatively simple. My aim is simply to make transparent the stakes of, the argument for, and the motivations behind the best-known claim that Terryl L. Givens makes in his breathtakingly brilliant 2002 book By the Hand of Mormon. I have reference here to the following lines, often quoted: ’Looking at the Book of Mormon in terms of its early uses and reception, it becomes clear that this American scripture has exerted influence within the church and reaction outside the church not primarily by virtue of its substance, but rather by virtue of its manner of appearing, not on the merits of what it says, but what it enacts. Put slightly differently, the history of the Book of Mormon’s place in Mormonism and American religion generally has always been more connected to its status as signifier than signified, or its role as a sacred sign rather than its function as persuasive theology.’ These lines are intrinsically interesting—which I think accounts for them having become the ones for which Givens’s book is best known. But what ultimately motivates my interest in them here is less the particular provocation they contain (although I’ll have much to say about that as I go along!) than the fact that they form part of the core argument of a book that, by all accounts, fashioned a field. By the Hand of Mormon, now twenty years old, more or less singlehanded created the discipline of Book of Mormon studies as we know it today. That’s more than enough reason to return to the promise of its provocations.” [Author]

Suggests that after thirty-two years no further evidence has come to light to prove the theory that the Spaulding manuscript was the basis for the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon peoples had portions of the Bible. The Jesuits who came to the New World burned many books and it is possible they contained portions of the Bible handed down by Native Americans. The Book of Mormon has warnings for the United States—Ether 1:4; 3 Nephi 9:12; Ether 3:13.

Discourse by Elder Orson Pratt, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, September 7, 1879. Reported By: John Irvine.

Abstract: Students of the Book of Mormon who have attempted to establish a rough (internal) date for the composition of Mormon’s two letters in Moroni 8–9 have come to different and inconsistent conclusions. Nonetheless, there seems to be evidence enough from the text to arrive at reasonably certain conclusions as to when the letters are supposed to have originated. At the same time, the fact that the text never bothers to state the exact circumstances under which the letters were produced is theologically suggestive. What might be the interpretive and especially theological implications that follow from the establishment of rough dates for the letters? This essay argues from textual evidence that the reader should understand the two letters to have been written at rather different times: Moroni 8 in the years 345–50, and Moroni 9 in the years 375–80. It then draws interpretive and theological conclusions about the import of these dates: principally that Moroni’s inclusion of the letters forces readers to recognize that Mormon’s history is inventive and theologically motivated.

Some critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have claimed that the church has funded several failed archaeological expeditions in an effort to prove the veracity of the Book of Mormon. As Daniel C. Peterson points out, however, such excursions have not been failures. On the contrary, they have produced significant evidence to support the Book of Mormon, and there is still more to be discovered.

Latter-day Saints should be trained and active because we have “with archaeology and the Book of Mormon the one instance in the history of the world . . . in which it is possible to put a decisive scientiic test to the key foundation stone of a major religious system” Archaeologists ought, moreover, to be interested in the Book of Mormon for what it potentially can tell them.