|
|
| (341 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{draft}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Criticism of Mormonism/Books/Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church]] |
| ==Index to claims made in ''Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church''==
| |
| This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki.
| |
| | |
| ===Introduction===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiii||The Book of Mormon talks primarily of a small group of Jews who sailed from Jerusalem in 600 B.C.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#What are we looking for?|Book of Mormon and DNA evidence—What are we looking for?]]||
| |
| *No specific verse given. This is an incorrect statement by the author—Lehi was a descendant of ''Manasseh'', and was not a Jew, however, author later makes the correct statement regarding Lehi's ancestry on page 5.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiii||Mormons believe that the dark skinned race constitutes the principal ancestors of the American Indians||[[Search for the Truth DVD:DNA#Claim: "The introduction to the Book of Mormon says after thousands of years all were destroyed except the Lamanites and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians." - Pamela Robertson|Are the Lamanites the principal ancestors of the American Indians?]]||
| |
| *This is based upon a phrase added in the 1981 introduction to the Book of Mormon. The 1830 Book of Mormon contains no such claim.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiv||Joseph Smith claimed that the Book of Mormon was the most correct book on earth.||[[Book of Mormon as the most correct book]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| *The common source for this statement is ''History of The Church'' 4:461
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiv||The Israelites are said to have arrived in a land kept from the knowledge of other nations.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Demographics]]||
| |
| *{{s|2|Nephi|1|8}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiv||There is no mention of any non-Israelite people in the New World.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]||
| |
| *None given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiv||The Book of Mormon describes the farming of Old World domesticated plants.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Plants|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Plants]]||
| |
| *None given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xiv||The Book of Mormon mentions horse, oxen, cattle and goats in the New World.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Animals]]||
| |
| *None given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xv||Little has been discovered to support the civilizations described in the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon archaeology]]||
| |
| *No specific sources.
| |
| *General reference to "anthropologists and archaeologists."
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |xv||The Mesoamerican cultures worshipped multiple gods and performed human sacrifice, which is not consistent with the culture of the Book of Mormon people.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xv||Many LDS scholars criticise mainstream scientific views in their defense of the Book of Mormon.
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |xv||The Church employs academics to professionally defend the Book of Mormon.||[[Apologetics#Does the Church employ or pay LDS apologists?|Does the Church employ or pay LDS apologists?]]||
| |
| *None given.
| |
| *This is an accusation frequently made on anti-Mormon discussion boards.
| |
| |-
| |
| |xv||The weight of evidence has forced LDS scholars to scale back the scope of the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence/Geography issues|Book of Mormon and DNA evidence—Geography issues]]||
| |
| *None given.
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |xvi||LDS leaders ignore LDS scholarship and continue to teach that Native Americans and Polynesians are literal descendants of the Israelites.
| |
| -->
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 1: A Chosen Race in a Promised Land===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|3||Attempts to describe Mormon doctrine are "fraught with peril."||[[Changing doctrine]]||
| |
| *Author's opinion.
| |
| |-
| |
| |3||Reversals of doctrine regarding polygamy and regarding Blacks and the priesthood were "painful and damaging" to the Church.||[[Changing doctrine]]||
| |
| *Author's opinion.
| |
| *No examples of the "pain" and "damage" are provided.
| |
| |-
| |
| |4||The idea that the words of living prophets supersede the words of dead prophets has been "recently" promoted.||[[Changing doctrine]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |4||Mormon doctrine is "fluid and changeable."||[[Changing doctrine]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |7-8||The Nephites raise "herds of cattle, goats and horses."||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Animals]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Nephites raise Old World wheat and barley.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Plants|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Plants]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Nephites construct a temple that is "similar in splendor" to Solomon's.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Temple in New World|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Temple in New World]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| *Common source used is {{s|2|Nephi|5|16}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Nephites are skilled in the use of metals such as iron, copper, brass, gold and silver.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Metals|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Metals]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Nephites use steel to fashion swords, breastplates, and arm and head shields.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Metals#Swords|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Metals—Swords]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Nephites built defensive mounds around their cities.||[[Book of Mormon and warfare#Fortifications|Book of Mormon and warfare—Fortifications]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |8||The Lamanites vastly outnumber the Nephites.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Demographics]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |8||The "skin of blackness" is occasionally removed from the Lamanites when they are righteous, and returns to the Lamanites when they become unrighteous.
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |8||The Book of Mormon links the color of a person's skin to morality.||[[Blacks and the priesthood/LDS scriptures|Blacks and the priesthood—LDS scriptures]]||
| |
| *{{s|2|Nephi|5|21}}
| |
| *''Latter Day Saints' Messenger and Advocate'', March 1835
| |
| |-
| |
| |9||The Book of Mormon promotes the view that the "white race" is superior.||[[Blacks and the priesthood/LDS scriptures|Blacks and the priesthood—LDS scriptures]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |10||In 1966 the Book of Abraham papryi were discovered.||[[Book of Abraham papyri]]||
| |
| *Larson, ''By His Own Hand upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri'', 1992
| |
| |-
| |
| |10||The translation of the papryi does not resemble the Book of Abraham.||[[Book of Abraham/Book of the Dead|Book of Abraham—Book of the Dead]]||
| |
| *Larson, ''By His Own Hand upon Papyrus: A New Look at the Joseph Smith Papyri'', 1992
| |
| |-
| |
| |10||The denial of the priesthood to the Blacks was based upon the Book of Abraham.||[[Blacks and the priesthood/Origin of the priesthood ban|Blacks and the priesthood—Origin of the priesthood ban]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |10-11||The Church publicly taught racist principles in the 1950's.||[[Racist statements by Church leaders]]||
| |
| *Mark E. Petersen, "Race Problems—As They Affect the Church," Talk given at Brigham Young University on Aug. 27, 1954
| |
| |-
| |
| |11||The 1978 revelation allowing all men to hold the priesthood came in response to "public pressure."||[[Blacks and the priesthood/Social pressure|Blacks and the priesthood—Social pressure]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |12||Many General Authorities believed that the priesthood prohibition would remain in place until Christ's return.||[[Blacks and the priesthood]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |12||Passages in the Book of Mormon were rewritten to "tone down references to skin color."||[[Book of Mormon textual changes/"white" changed to "pure"|Book of Mormon textual changes—"white" changed to "pure"]]||
| |
| *{{s|2|Nephi|30|6}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |12||LDS scripture states that those with lighter skin color "are favored because of what they did as spirits in a pre-earth life."||[[Blacks and the priesthood/Pre-existence|Blacks and the priesthood—Pre-existence]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 2: Race Relations in Colonial America===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|17||A similarity exists between the degraded Lamanites and the Native Americans of the 19th Century.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]||
| |
| *Brodie, ''No Man Knows My History'', 1971.
| |
| |-
| |
| |22||The Book of Mormon portrays the Lamanites as naked, head shaven, tent dwelling, arrow wielding and idle, similar to stereotypical perceptions of the Native Americans at the time.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |22||Joseph Smith may have woven "frontier prejudices" into the Book of Mormon.
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |27||Joseph Smith "fell under the spell of the mounds and could not resist the lure of buried riches."||[[Book of Mormon and the Mound Builders]]||
| |
| *Silverberg, ''The Mound Builders'', 1968.
| |
| *Vogel, 1986, 1994.
| |
| *Brodie, ''No Man Knows My History'', 1971.
| |
| |-
| |
| |27||Joseph Smith used a "seer stone" or "peep stone" to search for buried treasure.||[[Joseph Smith and seer stones]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |27||Joseph Smith was charged with being "disorderly" for his money digging activities in 1826.||[[Joseph Smith's 1826 glasslooking trial]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |28||Scholars have "concluded" that Joseph Smith was inspired by ''View of the Hebrews''.||[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]]||
| |
| *Persuitte, 2000.
| |
| |-
| |
| |28||The New World history in ''View of the Hebrews'' "shares close parallels with the plot of the Book of Mormon."||[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]]||
| |
| *Ethan Smith, ''View of the Hebrews'', 1825.
| |
| |-
| |
| |29||Joseph Smith was inspired by the myths surrounding the Moundbuilders in writing the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon and the Mound Builders]]||
| |
| *Brodie, ''No Man Knows My History'', 1971.
| |
| |-
| |
| |30||Joseph "likely" added the story of the Jaredites to account for the speculation about the diversity of Indian cultures and languages.|| ||
| |
| *{{s||Ether|2|1-3}}
| |
| *No additional source is given by the author for this claim. However, the same exact claim is made by Brodie, ''No Man Knows My History'', pp. 70–72.
| |
| |-
| |
| |30||Joseph "likely" added the story of the Jaredites to account for how animals arrived in the New World after the Flood.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]||
| |
| *{{s||Ether|2|1-3}}
| |
| *No additional source is given by the author for this claim. However, the same exact claim is made by Brodie, ''No Man Knows My History'', pp. 70–72.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 3: Lamanites in the Latter Days===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |37||Mormonism does not assign value to native cultures, their histories or mythologies.||[[Mormonism and native cultural traditions]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |-
| |
| |37||The Lamanite "family" has expanded to include Native Americans and Polynesians.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *''Gospel Principles'', 1997, p. 268.
| |
| |-
| |
| |38||The patriarchal blessings of Native Americans and Polynesians often state that they are of the tribe of Manasseh (through Lehi).||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *{{s||Alma|10|3}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |38-39||Modern day prophets repeatedly declare Native Americans and Polynesians to be descendents of Lehi.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *Gordon B. Hinckley, ''Church News'', Mar. 13, 1999. (Colonia Juarez Chihuahua Temple dedication)
| |
| *James E. Faust, ''Church News'', Mar. 18, 2000. (Tuxtla Gutierrez Mexico Temple dedication)
| |
| *Thomas S. Monson, ''Church News'', May 27, 2000. (Villahermosa Mexico Temple dedication)
| |
| *Gordon B. Hinckley, ''Church News'', Aug. 7, 1999. (Guayaquil Ecuador Temple dedication)
| |
| *Gordon B. Hinckley, ''Church News'', May 13, 2000. (Cochabamba Bolivia Temple dedication)
| |
| |-
| |
| |40||The Church believed that Lamanites who accepted the Gospel would become light-skinned.||[[Lamanite curse]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *{{s|3|Nephi|2|14-16}}
| |
| *Kimball, 1960.
| |
| |-
| |
| |41||A general authority claimed that the writings of Ixtlilxochitl corroborated the Book of Mormon.|| ||
| |
| *Milton R. Hunter, sometime in the 1960's.
| |
| |-
| |
| |42||Most Mormons are unaware that the New World has been continuously inhabited for 14,000 years.|| ||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |42||The New World shows no sign of having experience a universal flood.||[[Global or local Flood]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |42||The Church employs apologists to defend the "myths" surrounding the Book of Mormon.||[[Apologetics]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |43||Members are encouraged not to try and determine where the Book of Mormon occurred.||[[Book of Mormon geography]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |45||Church leaders "seem reluctant or powerless to curtail" the belief among Mesoamerican and South American saints that they are descendents of the Lamanites.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *Author's opinion.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 4: The Lamanites of Polynesia===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |47||The assumption that Polynesians are descendents of Lehi is the "most precarious" belief taken from the Book of Mormon.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |47||"Mormon folklore" suggests that Hagoth colonized the Pacific.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *{{s||Alma|63|5}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |48||George Q. Cannon taught the Polynesians that they were descendents of the Israelites.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *Kenny, 1997.
| |
| |-
| |
| |49||Brigham Young stated in 1958 that the Polynesians were descendents of Abraham.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *Douglas, 1974.
| |
| |-
| |
| |49||The "curse was redefined" to apply only to people of African descent.||[[Blacks and the priesthood]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |52||Words spoken in General Conference are considered to be "akin" to scripture.||[[General authorities' statements as scripture]]||
| |
| *No source given.
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |53||Research has confirmed that there are strong links between Polynesia and the Orient.
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |54||Spencer W. Kimball and Heber J. Grant believed that the islanders were descendents of Lehi.||[[Polynesians as Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *Kimball, 1975
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |54||The Church invested "vast sums of money" to build church schools in Polynesia, Mexico and Central and South America, but "denied" these benefits to Micronesia and Melanesia.
| |
| |-
| |
| |55||Mormons have not attempted to replace Polynesian culture like they did with Native American culture.
| |
| -->
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 6: Science and the First Americans===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|83||LDS Scholars frequently associate the Olmec and Maya with the Jaredite and Nephite civilizations.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 9: The Outcasts of Israel===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|120||We should expect the common culture, history and ancestry to be revealed in the genes of the lost tribes and those of the kingdom of Judah if they are actually related.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |128-129||The Lemba can be genetically tied to the line of Aaron.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#Lemba and Cohen modal haplotype|Lemba and Cohen modal haplotype]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |129||In Mesoamerica, there is no genetic support for European lineages.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 10: The Lord's University===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|135||Mormons believe that if there is a conflict between science and religion, that the science is incorrect.||[[Mormonism and science]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 1979. No page number given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |135-136||Mormonism reserves the right to identify scientific truth.||[[Mormonism and science]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *No sources provided.
| |
| |-
| |
| |136||Mormonism declares that it "corners the market" on religious truth.||[[Salvation of non-members]]||
| |
| *JS-History 1:19
| |
| |-
| |
| |136||Joseph Smith declared that all other religions were false.||[[MormonFAQ/Myths and Questions#"But Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?"|"Joseph Smith said that all churches were wrong, and that they were an 'abomination' in God's sight. Doesn't that sound bigoted?"]]||
| |
| *JS-History 1:19
| |
| |-
| |
| |136||LDS think that all other religions are the "whore of the earth" and "church of the devil"||[[Whore of the earth]]||
| |
| *1 Nephi 14:10
| |
| |-
| |
| |136||The current generation of Mormons is taught a selective view of Church history||[[Censorship and revision of LDS history]]||
| |
| *Packer, 1981
| |
| |-
| |
| |137||Many church members are "blissfully unaware" of Brigham Young's practice of polygamy||[[Brigham Young and polygamy]]||
| |
| *''Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young'', 1997
| |
| |-
| |
| |137||Senior church leaders prefer that members not question changes in temple ordinances.||[[Temple endowment changes]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |138||LDS ecclesiastical leaders expect "unquestioning obedience" of church members.||[[Authoritarianism and Church leaders]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |139||The Church "unofficially" discourages prayer to "Mother in Heaven"||[[Heavenly Mother]]||
| |
| *AAUP, 1998
| |
| |-
| |
| |140||Church leaders are "loath" to make unequivocal statements of doctrine.||[[Changing doctrine]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |140||BYU's emphasis is on conformity rather than personal freedom.||[[Authoritarianism and Church leaders]]||
| |
| *Student Honor Code, Brigham Young University
| |
| |-
| |
| |141||CES insists that gospel learning takes precedence over secular learning.||[[Gospel learning versus secular learning]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *The only sources referred to are "parents."
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |142||CES instructs students not to attempt to locate Book of Mormon geographical locations
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |142||Limited geography theories advanced by FARMS are "much too controversial" for CES students||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |142||Spencer W. Kimball believed in a hemispheric Book of Mormon geography||[[Amerindians as Lamanites#Talking past each other?]]||
| |
| *A talk by President Kimball given in 1977
| |
| |-
| |
| |142||Church members are shocked at the "limited archaeological evidence" for the Book of Mormon||[[Book of Mormon archeology]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143||LDS apologists continue to tell members how "scientists continue to get it wrong."||[[Apologetics]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143||Most members follow their leaders without question.||[[Authoritarianism and Church leaders]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143||LDS theology supports a literal interpretation of the creation of man.||[[Creation of Man]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143||LDS theology supports a literal interpretation of the tower of Babel.||[[Tower of Babel]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143||LDS theology supports a literal interpretation of the Flood||[[Global or local Flood]]||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |143-144||The perception is that the Church has officially denounced evolution||[[Evolution]]||
| |
| *McConkie, ''Mormon Doctrine'', 1979.
| |
| *Packer, a talk given in General Conference in 1992.
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |144||Henry Eyring (father of Henry B. Eyring) indicated that he could accept evolution.|| ||
| |
| *Eyring, ''Reflections of a Scientist'', 1998.
| |
| |-
| |
| |145||Eyring "avoided singling out senior leaders of the church for the bad press that evolution has received in LDS circles."|| ||
| |
| *Eyring, ''Reflections of a Scientist'', 1998.
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |146||The Garden of Eden was in Jackson County, Missouri||[[Garden of Eden in Missouri?]]||
| |
| *D&C 116
| |
| *D&C 117:8, 11
| |
| |-
| |
| |146||Mormons believe that the continents separated only after a global flood.||[[Global or local Flood]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *D&C 133:23-24
| |
| |-
| |
| |146||Mormons are "compelled" to believe in a global flood as symbolizing the "baptism of the earth"||[[Global or local Flood]]||
| |
| *''Ensign'' article, 1998.
| |
| |-
| |
| |148||FARMS reviews of books by General Authorities or FARMS staff are always given favorable reviews.||[[Apologetics]] {{nw}} ||
| |
| *No sources given.
| |
| |-
| |
| |148||FARMS' goal is to deter members from reading any book that challenges their faith||[[Does the Church discourage reading critical material?]]||
| |
| *The author states that this is an "obvious" conclusion.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 11: Plausible Geography===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|153||B.H. Roberts' manuscripts "Book of Mormon Difficulties" and "A Book of Mormon Study" were "clearly intended for publication."
| |
| |-
| |
| |153||Roberts' concluded that a 19th-century origin for the Book of Mormon was "entirely plausible"||[[Book of Mormon and View of the Hebrews]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |154||LDS scholars have made a "steady retraction" of claims regarding the scale of the Nephite/Lamanite presence since the 1920's.||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |156||All Church presidents and General Authorities have believed in a hemispheric Book of Mormon geography||[[Book of Mormon geography/Statements]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |156||The Book of Mormon states that the Lamanites are "the principal ancestors of the American Indians"||[[Search for the Truth DVD:DNA#Claim: "The introduction to the Book of Mormon says after thousands of years all were destroyed except the Lamanites and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians." - Pamela Robertson|Are the Lamanites the principal ancestors of the American Indians?]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |156||A hemispheric geography most closely aligns with an "uncontrived" reading of the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Hemispheric Geography Theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |159||Moroni makes no mention of traveling from Central America to New York in the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory/Plates to New York]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |160||There is no indication that the Book of Mormon people came in contact with others in the land.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Demographics]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |163||The shrinking of Book of Mormon geographical models corresponds with the growing research showing that ancient Americans came from Asia.||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |164||A limited Book of Mormon setting is at odds with "a straightforward reading" of the Book of Mormon.||[[Book of Mormon geography/New World/Limited Geography Theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |164||The limited Book of Mormon setting contradicts D&C 54:8||[[Book of Mormon geography/Borders of the Lamanites]] {{nw}}||
| |
| *D&C 54:8
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 12: Faith Promoting Science===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|168||LDS scholars believe that Mayan cities are prime candidates for where Lehi's people lived.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |168||The Jaredites are usually identified as the Olmec||[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Olmec]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |168||The history of Book of Mormon archaeology is "littered with apostacy"||[[Book of Mormon archaeology/Apostacy]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| <!--
| |
| |170||Thomas Ferguson was one of the better known early "Mormon archaeologists"||[[Book of Mormon archaeology]] (add info on Thomas Stuart Ferguson)
| |
| |-
| |
| -->
| |
| |172||There is no evidence of iron or steel smelting in the ancient New World||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Metals#Iron]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |172||There were no wheeled vehicles in ancient America||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Wheels]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |172||There were no draft animals to pull wheeled vehicles||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals#Horse|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Animals—Horse]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |172||There are no archaeological remains of wheat or barley in Mesoamerica. The barley found in Arizona doesn't count because it was only in a limited region.||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Plants#Barley|Book of Mormon anachronisms—Plants—Barley]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |173||Deer or tapir were never ridden by Native Americans, therefore they could not be the "horses" referred to in the Book of Mormon||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |173||Dee Green said in 1973 that Book of Mormon archaeology does not exist||[[Book of Mormon archaeology]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |175||"Book of Mormon archaeology" has yielded little credible evidence||[[Book of Mormon archaeology]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |176||The Smithsonian issues a statement that discredits the Book of Mormon||[[Smithsonian statement on Book of Mormon archaeology]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |177||LDS apologists claim that the simplification of the Smithsonian statement indicates that the original statement is now inconsistent with the current knowledge of Mesoamerican archaeology||[[Smithsonian statement on Book of Mormon archaeology]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |177||There is little evidence of a cultural link between Polynesia and the Americas. The presence of a South American variety of sweet potato in Polynesia is not yet explained.
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 13: LDS Molecular Apologetics===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|180||Most Mormons have had their ancestors posthumously "baptized into the Mormon faith."||[[Baptism for the dead]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |181||FARMS has downplayed the potential of James Sorenson's "global molecular geneaology project."
| |
| |-
| |
| |181||The Molecular Genealogy Foundation may reveal disconcerting "surprises" in LDS family trees that trace back to "well known polygamists" in the early church.||[[Joseph Smith and polygamy/Children of polygamous marriages]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |184||The Indian Student Placement Program was an attempt to turn them "white and delightsome."
| |
| |-
| |
| |184||"Mormon folklore" claims that Native Americans and Polynesians carry a curse based upon "misdeeds on the part of their ancestors."
| |
| |-
| |
| |185||LDS scholars experienced in DNA research have spoken only to Mormon audiences.
| |
| |-
| |
| |185-186||In response to the DNA issue, the Church linked to an article written by Jeff Lindsey, "a chemical engineer with no professional training in DNA research."||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |186||LDS scientists have responded to DNA findings by claiming that it would be improbable to find evidence of an Israelite presence in the Americas.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |186||LDS writers claim that the presence of other people in the Americas actually supports "careful readings of the Book of Mormon."||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |186||LDS scholars "have come to the conclusion" that Book of Mormon populations comprised a very small part of a much larger group of people on the continent.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |187||LDS suggest that it would impossible to use DNA technology to identify a small local colony of individuals.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |188||It is not likely that "founders effect" or "genetic drift" would "completely frustrate the identification of Israelite DNA in the Americas."||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |188||The Lehite/Mulekite groups were both descended from Jewish ancestors||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#General genetics issues]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |189||The ancestry of Israelites living today will all "meet at the Caucasian branch of the human family tree."
| |
| |-
| |
| |190||The Lemba prove that it is possible to detect Middle Eastern genes in a foreign environment||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence#Lemba and Cohen modal haplotype|Lemba and Cohen modal haplotype]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |190||Church leaders have consistently associated Lamanites with Central America
| |
| |-
| |
| |191||The Mayan Empire is considered by Mormons to the closest to the people of the Book of Mormon.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites/Maya]]{{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |191||There is too much genetic variation in the X lineage to account for Book of Mormon people to have arrived as recently as 2600 years ago.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence/Geography issues/Haplotype X2a]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |192||The X lineage occurs in North America and is not found in Central America.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence/Geography issues/Haplotype X2a]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |192||LDS writers have overlooked the fact that Mitochondrial DNA research shows that 99.6% of Native Americans migrated to the American continent thousands of years before the Israelites came into existence, and none of these are candidates for Israelite origin.||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |192||The remaining 0.4% is likely the result of genetic mixture with people who came to the New World after Columbus||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |193||LDS scholars claim that the impact of Book of Mormon immigrants to the New World made an impact "so small that they barely mattered."||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |193||A great number of Native Americans are now assumed to have been absorbed into New World Israelite civilizations.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |193||"Other people" in the Book of Mormon have "remained invisible" to most readers.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |194||"Gentiles who inhabited the Americas before, during and after the Book of Mormon period are potential Lamanites."||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |195||The children of Lehi were to be "kept from all other nations, the they may possess this land unto themselves."||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |195||There are no explicit references to non-Israelites living near the Lehites or Jaredites.||[[Amerindians as Lamanites]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |195||Five hundred years after their arrival, groups were still identified as having descended from Laman, Lemuel, Ishmael, etc.
| |
| |-
| |
| |196||Familial terms used in the Book of Mormon imply a genetic link.
| |
| |-
| |
| |197||Joseph Smith and other leaders taught that the Book of Mormon described the origins of the Indians in the western hemisphere.
| |
| |-
| |
| |197||Mormons "tend to be hazy" regarding what past Church leaders have said regarding geography.||[[Book of Mormon geography:Statements|Statements by Church leaders regarding Book of Mormon geography]]
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ===Chapter 14: Moving the Spirit===
| |
| {| valign="top" border="1" style="width:100%; font-size:85%"
| |
| !width="5%"|Page
| |
| !width="40%"|Claim
| |
| !width="30%"|Response
| |
| !width="25%"|[[Use of sources]]
| |
| |-
| |
| | style="width:5%"|199||No Semitic languages have been found in the New World||[[Hebrew and Native American languages]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |199||No wheeled chariots or horses to pull them have been found in the New World||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Animals#Horse|Horses in the Book of Mormon]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |199||No swords or steel have been found in the New World||[[Book of Mormon anachronisms/Metals#Steel|Steel in the Book of Mormon]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |200||The Israelites of the Book of Mormon made no noticable contribution to the native gene pool in the New World or in Polynesia||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |200||Many LDS are disquieted by "how far the Book of Mormon is from reality"||[[Book of Mormon historicity]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |200||Many LDS are disquieted by "how far the apologists have strayed from traditional Mormon beliefs"||[[Apologetics]]{{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |201||A supposition that the Church has a history of ancient America may some day be de-emphasized||[[Book of Mormon historicity]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |202||A limited Book of Mormon setting has "not been granted the church's official blessing in any way"||[[Book of Mormon geography:Statements|Statements by Church leaders regarding Book of Mormon geography]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |202||The general membership would not believe a limited Book of Mormon geography||[[Book of Mormon geography:New World:LGT|Book of Mormon limited geography theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |202||Millions of Mormons believe that Lehi stands at the head of their own family pedigrees
| |
| |-
| |
| |202||The work of LDS apologists is not discussed in any public forum sponsored by the Church.||[[Apologetics]]{{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |202-203||The genetic support for an Israelite presence in the New World is "slim to none"||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||Apologists are unable to find an Israelite genetic signature in the islands of the Pacific||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||Apologists are unable to find an Israelite genetic signature in Central America||[[Book of Mormon and DNA evidence]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||Apologists have chosen to reinterpret the statements of modern prophets regarding Book of Mormon geography||[[Book of Mormon geography:New World:LGT|Book of Mormon limited geography theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||Most Mormons believe that Adam and Eve were placed on the Earth 6000 years ago
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||Most Mormons believe that the Earth was re-colonized after the Flood||[[Global or local Flood]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||LDS apologists need to explain how people have lived in Australia and the New World separately for tens of thousands of years without evidence of a global flood having disturbed them||[[Global or local Flood]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |203||BYU professors have been "compelled to shrink the scale of the assumed Israelite incursion into the Americas"||[[Book of Mormon geography:New World:LGT|Book of Mormon limited geography theory]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |204||In 1938 Joseph Fielding Smith opposed a limited geography for the Book of Mormon
| |
| |-
| |
| |204||The youth of the Church have been assured that the Smithsonian uses the Book of Mormon to guide their research||[[Smithsonian statement on Book of Mormon archaeology]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |204||The Book of Mormon depicts the settlement of an area of the world that was previously unpopulated.||[[Book of Mormon/Land kept from the knowledge of others]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |205||General Authorities tell members in certain areas of the world that they are the offspring of Lehi
| |
| |-
| |
| |205||The Church disregards people's own cultural history and local mythologies.||[[Mormonism and native cultural traditions]] {{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |205||The Church does not officially endorse apologetic scholarship||[[Apologetics]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |205||The Church officially tells members not to attempt to link the Book of Mormon to any geographical location||[[Book of Mormon geography:New World#Is there an "official" or revealed geography?|Is there an "official" or revealed geography?]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |206||There is no evidence of a Hebrew influence in Mesoamerica.
| |
| |-
| |
| |206||LDS apologists believe that the "miniscule Lehite colony" had no lasting impact on the Americas.
| |
| |-
| |
| |206||LDS apologists are cut off from the larger church community because of differences in their beliefs.||[[Apologetics]]{{nw}}
| |
| |-
| |
| |206||Millions of members feel a "familial bond" with Lehi that played a central role in their conversion to the church
| |
| |-
| |
| |206-207||The General Authorities have not found a way to detach or reinterpret the Book of Mormon from real history||[[Book of Mormon historicity]]
| |
| |-
| |
| |207||The Church takes a "dim view" of scientists and intellectuals.||[[Intellectuals in the Church]] {{nw}}
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ==Further reading==
| |
| {{SpecificAuthorsAndWorks}}
| |
