Due to its commitment to faithful scholarship, farms has been a focus of some controversy within the mormon community. The earliest text and his printers manuscript volumes, this book is an indispensable resource for studies of the book of mormon that rely on an accurate and original text. This paper is based on a talk and powerpoint presentation given to the book of mormon lands conference, 20 october 2007. He is also associate professor of history at brigham young university, where he teaches american religious history. How long did it take joseph smith to translate the book of. The book of mormon critical text project, royal skousen.
Nonmormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. In fact, several mormon organizations have been founded. Come, follow me recommended study aids book of mormon. It is claimed that a 19th century work by ethan smith, view of the hebrews, provided source material for joseph smiths construction of the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. Please add your farms or fair story or comments in the box below. Anderson, joseph smiths new york reputation reexamined. I was reading about horses in the book of mormon at the farms mormon apologetics group website today. Plainly, farms had gained a reputation for doing apologetics, though it must be. Louis midgley, o man, remember, and perish not mosiah 4. Hebraisms and other ancient peculiarities in the book of mormon, echoes and evidences of the book of mormon, ed. Hebrew names in the book of mormon, a 1994 book of mormon lecture. In december, joseph and emma left palmyra for the relative calm of her familys farm in harmony, pennsylvania.
Internal evidence of widespread literacy in the book of mormon. They throw out a half dozen conflicting theories using phrases like may have been, it is possible, may have applied, and on and on. Most of the book of mormon was translated there by revelation to joseph smith. The book of mormon was not an ordinary translation. A bicentennial conference at the library of congress, ed. One of the most amazing facts about the book of mormon is that it took joseph smith only about sixtyfive working days to translate a book that, in the current edition, is. The journal of book of mormon studies, once published under farms, continues to be published by the willes center.
Pressing forward with the book of mormon combines the updates of the 1990s together with some similar short notes from the journal of book of mormon studies the ultimate goal of this effort is to help all students of the scriptures to press forward, feasting upon the word of christ. Metcalfe, his fellow essayists and their publisher again have run afoul of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. The hebrew term translated as south in the kjv is negeb or negev, and refers to the desert between judah and egypt. The hill cumorah in ontario county ny is the hill where joseph smith found the golden plates and is the same hill where the civilizations of the nephites cumorah and the jaredites ramah fought their last. Much can be known about the coming forth of the english text of the book of mormon through. Farms represents the efforts of sincere and dedicated scholars. The views expressed here and in maxwell institute publications are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the maxwell institute, brigham young university, or the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies wikipedia. Were told that some byu faculty no longer believe the book of mormon is an authentic history. Each of the halfhour episodes covers several chapters from the book of mormon. Farms has since been absorbed into the maxwell institutes laura f. The evaluations are intended to encourage reliable scholarship on the book of mormon.
The mormon organization farms is producing the most widely read and seemingly scholarly defenses of the book of mormon and joseph smith available in mormonism today. The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms was an informal collaboration of academics devoted to latterday saint historical scholarship. The heartland model or heartland theory of book of mormon geography states that the book of mormon events primarily occurred in the heartland of north america. Clark, archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins, in the worlds of joseph smith. The book of mormon strongly implies that the hill cumorah is near the narrow neck of land morm. Farms stands for the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. The book of mormon describes peoples, cultures, history, and lands largely unknown to the 19thcentury world.
The earliest text this book is a fascinating look at the less than 30% of the original manuscript that still remains of the book of mormon as it was translated and dictated by joseph smith under the guidance of the spirit to his scribes. May 15, 2001 skousens decades if painstaking effort have provided a whole new landscape for critical study of the book of mormon. The book of mormon, unlike most books, was better written in its original manuscript form except for misspellings than after editing. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. He graduated summa cum laude from byu and received masters and doctoral degrees in history from the university of wisconsinmadison. The evidence for ancient origins, edited by noel reynolds. Criticisms related to view of the hebrews and the book of mormon. Neal rappleye, tzimins are not really tzimins theyre horses, at studio et quoque fide, june 23, 2015 accessed march 5, 2016. Faculty members from the byu religious education department discuss the writings and teachings of the book of mormon prophets in this 63part series.
Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. The organization focuses primarily on a defense of the book of mormon as a historical document. Royal skousen publications the book of mormon critical text. Non mormon archaeologists speak on book of mormon evidence. Capturing joy with kristen duke march 30, 2012 at 11. Jun 27, 2016 for overviews on the history of book of mormon geography, see john l. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies byuorg. A massive new resource for students of the book of mormon. We will examine some of the more important claims put. Sorenson, an ancient american setting, 34353, an apologist for the critics. Yet the book of mormon curiously describes abinadi as being scourged. Essays on latterday saint history and doctrine in honor of richard lloyd anderson.
The people then say to benjamin that their hearts had been changed. International buyers email me for a shipping quote. Sep 08, 2015 how byu destroyed ancient book of mormon studies september 8, 2015 william hamblin patheos explore the worlds faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality. At least seven scribesincluding emma and her brotherwrote as joseph dictated. The complicated production of the book of mormon, from its original writing by nephi, mormon, moroni, and others to its most recent editings and printings, is a human process that has been well described. The mammals spoken of in the book of ether are cattle, oxen, cows, sheep, swine, goats, horses, asses, elephants, cureloms, and cumoms 9. Farms views the bible and the book of mormon, as well as other scripture such as the book of abraham and the book of moses, as authentic, historical texts. It also produced work which critiqued claims by both mormon enthusiasts, disaffected mormons, and opponents from evangelical christianity. In the book of mormon, for example, we find a single word for a moving body of watera river. Farms was an important center for producing work that analyzed the book of mormon as an ancient text. Two of the most prevalent claims for the book of mormon are, there is much archaeological proof to the book of mormon, and the american indians are descendants of israelites who came to america as described in the book of mormon. Follow our exclusively ebay store peggy went to market on facebook. Publications in ancient book of mormon studies did not contribute to. In 2010, the foundation for ancient research was dissolved.
The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies functions as a research and publication center that focuses on scholarly analysis of the book of mormon, the book of abraham, the old testament, the new testament, early christian history, and ancient temples. Though it may seem strange, there is compelling evidence for a similar practice among the. The story of abinadi suffering death by fire has most often evoked images of the prophet burning at the stake. Farms fair shields mormon apologetics farms and fair and shields apologize for the book of mormon and the book of abraham. Spencer fluhman is the executive director of the neal a. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. A collection of short articles from the farms newsletter in the 1980. Those listed in 1 nephi, which were already present in the promised land when the lehites first arrived, are cow, ox, ass, horse, goat, and wild goat. It has also published substantial freestanding essays that made further contributions to the field of mormon studies. May 22, 2017 see royal skousen, analysis of textual variants of the book of mormon.
Indeed, more cuttingedge books on the book of mormon have being. Work produced under farms s auspices has been critiqued on at least three fronts. Farms visited 151 times, 1 visits today search for. Welch, professor of law at brigham young universitys j. But today we enjoy a relative wealth of information about those times and peoples, providing a background against which the book of mormon s claims of ancient origin can be tested. This was followed in 1992 by reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john welch, and in 1997 by book of mormon authorship revisited.
Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms, 2002. Farms hopes that this information will help interested people to come unto christ and to understand and take more seriously these ancient witnesses of the atonement of jesus christ, the son of god. Its been said that farms was an internet organization before the internet, and theres truth in that. For your consideration is this book of mormon studies farms vol. The hebrew origin of some book of mormon place names. The foundation for ancient research and mormon studies functions as a research and publication center that focuses on scholarly analysis of the book of mormon, the book of abraham, the old testament, the new testament, early christian history, and ancient. In 1997, the group became a formal part of brigham young university byu, which is owned and operated by the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church. Lost civilizations of north america documentary4, deborah bolnick on haplogroup x. Having names and dates for these wars can help read. Charting the book of mormon, 1999 welch, welch, farms alma 4362 there are several major wars or periods of warfare documented in the book of mormon. Horses are mentioned in eight different book of mormon episodes that involve an ancient new world setting. Book of mormon authorship farms reprint paperback january 1, 1982 by noel b. The approximate dates and locations of these wars, along with accompanying scriptural references, are listed in this chart. Critics frequently claim that joseph copied the language of the bible when translating the book of mormon.
The use of harold blooms description of joseph smith as a religious genius in this video may mislead viewers into thinking bloom was referring directly to the book of mormon. Apr 01, 2020 consequently, every active lds youth is being taught to understand the book of mormon in a fictional setting that also teaches them that the prophets are wrong about the new york cumorah. They are as busy as bees with this mission impossible task. Hebraisms in the book of mormon judaicaworld archives.
Speaking often at firesides, welch had seen great need for an organization that could coordinate and distribute research on the book of mormon. Farms is the main distributor of the lds apologetic writings of dr. As students of the bible are aware, isaiah is not always an easy book to understand, and those portions of it that appear in the book of mormon can be equally difficult to interpret. Established in 1979 as a private organization, farms is a group of mormon scholars dedicated to studying and defending the mormon faith. Oral and literate culture in the book of mormon provo, ut. Mulekites land near nauvoo illinois book of mormon evidence. Reuben clark law school and president of the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies farms. John gilberts 1892 account of the 1830 printing of the book of mormon. Matthew roper, limited geography and the book of mormon. Eugene england of byu has said that nibley is the finest scholarly defender of our lds faith in our time. Scholars whose work on these ancient writings and related subjects is supported by farms approach their topics using a number of disciplines ranging from history, linguistics. Proposed book of mormon geographical setting wikipedia. Thats an increasingly common belief, even among active lds.
In reexploring the book of mormon, edited by john w. In some circles they are known as professional branch of mormon apologetics. Jershon, zarahemla the hebrew origin of three book of mormon placenames. A comprehensive annotated book of mormon bibliography. Why did joseph smith attempt to secure the book of mormon. They throw out a half dozen conflicting theories using phrases like may. Translating the book of mormon joseph smith was called of god to translate the golden plates, resulting in the book of mormon.
Rediscovering the book of mormon, edited by john sorenson and melvin thorne, appeared in 1991. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city and provo, ut. For overviews on the history of book of mormon geography, see john l. The very idea that a new york farm boy with limited education might translate an ancient document is so unimaginable that it could only have occurred through, as joseph himself declared, the gift and power of god. Translating the book of mormon religious studies center. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship when ispart changed names. It seems the mi hasnt had its heart in it for years. Give consent that we may collect and use your data. Skousen has been able to restore clarity to many passages by recovering the original languagelanguage lost by copying errors or misguided corrections. Why did mormon give so many details about geography.
Some also postulate a link between ethan smith and oliver cowdery, since both men lived in poultney, vermont while smith served as the pastor of the. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city. Maxwell institute at brigham young university as well as interpreter. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates. Sorenson, when lehis party arrived in the land, did they find others, journal of book of mormon studies, vol. How byu destroyed ancient book of mormon studies william. Part one, 1 nephi 12 nephi 10, the book of mormon critical text project, volume 4 provo, ut. Farms also produces the journal of book of mormon studies.
The general sources for this paper include this article by john tvedtnes together with. The north american setting for the book of mormon permission to collect and use my data submitted in this form. Royal skousen publications the book of mormon critical. In pressing forward with the book of mormon, edited by john w.