Book of Mormon: Things that make you go hmmm…
In this essay, I don’t intend to provide any hard
hitting scientific, historical, philosophical, or logical argument against the
Book of Mormon. Instead, I want to take a look at some of the overlooked and
perhaps simpler red flags things found in its pages—things that are often
missed when read with a less critical eye, but upon a closer read, might give
the critical reader pause.
If, for the sake of argument, the Book of Mormon was
not the ancient record it purports to be, but is a construction of Joseph Smith
and his collaborators, one might expect to find items in its pages that offer
clues as to how it was put together. The Church is quite fond of claiming that
the BoM was translated in a matter of 60-90 days.[i]
Things that, when considered, might lead the reader to
wonder if the Book of Mormon was constructed hurriedly, without much time for
editorial revision; constructed in such a manner that some silliness,
absurdities, and implausibilities might have crept in. We might discover that
there are things found in the Book of Mormon that we ought not find if the Book
was the historical compilation it claims itself to be.
When I first thought of putting this list together, I
intended to make a top 10 list. But the more I thought about the items that
needed to be on the list, the more I realized that there was no way on God’s
green Earth that I could limit the list to only 10 items.
As I start to construct this list, there are 25 items
on it, but the number may change as I add or delete—most probably add (!) more
as I go.
Interesting observation: if you try to google any of
these questions related to any of these points, most of the results that you
get are sponsored by the Church. Official Church sites, apologetic sites,
church friendly blogs…The Church is putting a lot of effort (though I’m sure
not spending sacred tithing money) into search engine optimization, ensuring
that people cannot obtain non-LDS approved information about the Book of Mormon
specifically or the Church in general.
In no particular order…
1. “I, Abinadi…”
Book of Mormon
caricature King Noah is ruling during a period of prosperity. As there is
nothing to keep him or his people humble, they have descended into
abominations, wickedness, and whoredoms (Mosiah 11: 20). So, the Lord sends
Abinadi to call them all to repentance, lest they be visited by His anger, and
conquered by their enemies.
As one might imagine,
King Noah does not take kindly to Abinadi’s words of warning:
…Who is Abinadi, that I
and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring
upon my people such great affliction? I command you to bring Abinadi hither,
that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my people
to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore
I will slay him.” (Mosiah 11: 27, 28. Unnecessary repetition in the original,
would likely not be found in a Book being compiled and edited into a “Reader’s
Digest” version by Mormon.)
Fearing for his life,
Abinadi goes into hiding for two years, after which he is ready to cry
repentance to the people once more. But there’s a problem. King Noah still wants
him dead, so if he were to start preaching, he would be instantly arrested.
That is, unless he has a cunning plan.
If he were to put
on a disguise, he’d be able to speak to the people without anybody
realizing that he is in fact Abinadi. Let’s see how that worked out for him…
And it came to pass that
after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that
they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord
commanded me, saying—Abinadi… (Mosiah
12: 1)
Did you catch the
silliness? To avoid arrest, he hides for two years. Then when he’s ready to
preach again, to avoid arrest, he puts on a disguise. Then, while in disguise,
the first words out of his mouth announce his name.
In my head, when I read that, someone shouts out “Hey everybody! It’s Abinadi! Get him!” and Abinadi mumbles “D’oh!”