Criticism of Mormonism/Books/An Insider's View of Mormon Origins/Chapter 4

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Claims made in "Chapter 3: The Bible in the Book of Mormon"
A FAIR Analysis of:
Criticism of Mormonism/Books
A work by author: Grant Palmer
 Claims made in "Chapter 5: Moroni and 'The Golden Pot'"

Claims made in "Chapter 4: Evangelical Protestantism in the Book of Mormon"

I assert that the Holy Ghost does exist, that it does speak to human beings.
This Spirit of love gives peace, comfort, prompts, and enhances belief in God,
but abundant evidence also demonstrates that it is an unreliable means of proving truth.
—An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins, p. 133

∗       ∗       ∗

95-96, n1-2

Claim
  • The author claims that elements from Joseph Smith's own life form the basis for a portion of the Book of Mormon.

Author's source(s)
  • Alexander Campbell, Delusions: An Analysis of the Book of Mormon, 19.
  • Jason Whitman, "The Book of Mormon," The Unitarian, 1 Jan. 1834,44,47-49.
Response

96

Claim
  • The author believes that one would not expect to find "camp meeting" elements among ancient Americans.

Author's source(s)
  • Author’s opinion.
Response

97, n6

Claim
  • King Benjamin's farewell speech parallels that of Methodist leader Bishop M'Kendree.

Author's source(s)
  • Rev. Z. Paddock, Memoir of Rev. Benjamin G. Paddock ,177-81
  • "Genesee Conference," Methodist Magazine 9 (Aug. 1826): 313
  • George Peck, Early Methodism within the Bounds of the Old Genesee Conference from 1788 to 1828, 509.
  • Mosiah 2꞉1
  • Mosiah 5-7
  • Mosiah 28-30
Response

99-100, n7

Claim
  • The story of King Benjamin’s sermon is similar to a Methodist camp meeting.

Author's source(s)
  • Mark D. Thomas, "Revival Language in the Book of Mormon," Sunstone 8 (May-June 1983): 20.
Response

100-106, n8-12

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon is claimed to show the Methodist form of conversion.

Author's source(s)
  • Brent Lee Metcalfe, unpublished response to Blake T. Ostler, 1987, photocopy of typescript in possession of the author.
  • Blake T. Ostler, "The Book of Mormon as a Modern Expansion of an Ancient Source," Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 20 (Spring 1987): 66-123.
  • George Lane, "Letter from Rev. George Lane," 25 Jan. 1825, Methodist Magazine 8 (Apr. 1825): 159.
  • James Porter, An Essay on Camp-Meetings, 37.
  • Lorenzo Dow, The Dealings of God, Man and the Devil, As Exemplified in the Life, Experience, and Travels of Lorenzo Dow, 14-16.
  • Eleazer Sherman, The Narrative of Eleazer Sherman, 1:11-21.
Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

106, n13

Claim
  • Alma's conversion parallels that of Darius Williams and Abel Thornton.

Author's source(s)
  • George Peck, The Life and Times of Rev. George Peck, D.D., 108-9.
Response

107, n15-17

Claim
  • Alma's missions are similar to those of traveling preachers.

Author's source(s)
Response

110

Claim
  • Joseph Smith was an “exhorter” at evening meetings.

Author's source(s)
  • Previously referenced in the chapter.
Response
 FAIR WIKI EDITORS: Check sources

114, n32

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon includes hundreds of popular phrases from frontier preaching.

Author's source(s)
  • The author provides the following equivalents: Alma 5:15=1 Cor. 15:53; 5:24=Matt. 8:11; 5:42=Rom. 6:23; 5:48= John 1:14,29; 5:50=Matt. 3:2; 5:52=Matt. 3:10; 5:54=Matt. 3:8; 5:57=2 Cor. 6:17.
Response

116, n37

Claim
  • There are "recognizable evangelical phrases" contained in Amulek's and Alma's preaching.

Author's source(s)
  • Alma 11:37=Eph. 5:5; 12:3 = Acts 5:4; 12:7=Heb. 4:12; 12:8=Acts 24:15; 12:14=Rev. 6:16; 12:27=Heb. 9:27; 13:8=2 Tim. 1:9; 13: 12=Rom. 15:16; 13:15=Heb. 7:1-2; 13:20=2 Pet. 3:16; 14:28=1 Cor. 10:13; 34:13=Matt. 5:18; 34:23=Acts 13:10; 34:29=Matt. 5:13; 34:31=2 Cor. 6:2; 34:37=Phillip. 2:12; 34:38=John 4:24.
Response

118, n42

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon is claimed to be simply "revival literature" cast in a different setting.
  •  Author's quote: The biblical and revival elements also help us understand how Joseph could dictate the Book of Mormon in such a short period of time.

Author's source(s)
  • John W Welch, "How Long Did It Take Joseph Smith to Translate the Book of Mormon?" Ensign 18 (Jan. 1988): 46-47.
Response

120

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon teaches that all men are evil as a result of the Fall.

Author's source(s)
Response

121-122, n48

Claim
  • Joseph is claimed to have evolved his view of the Godhead over time.

Author's source(s)
  • 2 Nephi 31꞉21
  • Wilford C. Wood, Joseph Smith Begins His Work: Book of Mormon 1830 First Edition, 1:25-26,32; d. 1 Ne. 11:16, 18,21,32; 13:40, 1981 ed.
Response

122, n49

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon "vividly" portrays the Father and Son as the same God.

Author's source(s)
  • Mosiah 7꞉27
  • Mosiah 13꞉34
  • Mosiah 15꞉1-4
  • Boyd Kirkland, "An Evolving God," Dialogue 28 (Spring 1995): v-vi.
  • Melodie Moench Charles, "Book of Mormon Christology," in New Approaches to the Book of Mormon: Explorations in Critical Methodology, ed. Brent Lee Metcalfe ,81-114.
  • Dan Vogel, "The Earliest Mormon Concept of God," in Line upon Line: Essays on Mormon Doctrine, ed. Gary James Bergera, 17-33.
Response

124

Claim
  • The Book of Mormon contains no information about temple ordinances, exaltation or baptism for the dead.

Author's source(s)
  • No source provided.
Response

124, n53

Claim
  • Brigham Young said, “"If the Book of Mormon were now to be re-written, in many instances it would materially differ from the present translation." The author presumes that “Young may have had in mind the book's uncomplimentary view of man” since Brigham had recently said that men "naturally love and admire righteousness, justice and truth more than they do evil. ... The natural man is of God."

Author's source(s)
Response
  • The author misinterprets the source. Brigham says in JoD 9:311:

When God speaks to the people, he does it in a manner to suit their circumstances and capacities. He spoke to the children of Jacob through Moses, as a blind, stiff-necked people, and when Jesus and his Apostles came they talked with the Jews as a benighted, wicked, selfish people. They would not receive the Gospel, though presented to them by the Son of God in all its righteousness, beauty and glory. Should the Lord Almighty send an angel to re-write the Bible, it would in many places be very different from what it now is. And I will even venture to say that if the Book of Mormon were now to be re-written, in many instances it would materially differ from the present translation. According as people are willing to receive the things of God, so the heavens send forth their blessings. If the people are stiff-necked, the Lord can tell them but little.

  • Brigham Young talked about how the scriptures were written based upon people's readiness to receive and accept them, and he includes the Bible in his statement. The author implies with his statement that Brigham disagreed with the way the Book of Mormon was written with regard to what he calls "the book's uncomplimentary view of man." The author's conclusion is not supported by the quote, and he has to bring in a second quote from a different discourse in order to shore up his assumption.
  • Use of sources: Brigham would rewrite the Book of Mormon?


129-130, n64-66

Claim
  • B.H. Roberts concluded that Joseph Smith created the anti-Christs Sherem, Nehor and Korihor.

Author's source(s)
Response

131

Claim
  • The author claims that many people believe in the truthfulness of their own religion because of similar confirming experiences, and that edifying feelings are not sufficient to determine truth.

Author's source(s)
  • No source provided.
Response

132, n68-69

Claim
  • It is possible to feel "the sprit" even when listening to a hoax.

Author's source(s)
  • Frank H. Jonas, "The Story of a Political Hoax," in Institute of Government, vol. 8 (Salt Lake City: University of Utah, 1966): 1-97.
  • "Arizona Paper Alleges Many Stories Were Exaggerated," Deseret News, 16 Feb. 1991, 5; and "Elder Dunn Offers Apology for Errors, Admits Censure," ibid., 27 Oct. 1991, 1.
Response

132-133, n71

Claim
  • It is claimed that the LDS church claims exclusive receipt of the Holy Ghost as a gift.

Author's source(s)
  • George Gallop Jr., "Forty-Three Percent of Americans Admit to Spiritual Experiences," Salt Lake Tribune, 15 May 1985,1-2.
Response

133

Claim
  •  Author's quote: I assert that the Holy Ghost does exist, that it does speak to human beings. This Spirit of love gives peace, comfort, prompts, and enhances belief in God, but abundant evidence also demonstrates that it is an unreliable means of proving truth.

Author's source(s)
  • Author’s opinion.
Response

133

Claim
  •  Author's quote: Nor does the Spirit, which testifies of the Book of Mormon, confirm the historical reality of the book.

Author's source(s)
  • Author’s opinion
Response

Further reading

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{{To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition}} To learn more box:responses to: 8: The Mormon Proposition edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: Ed Decker}} To learn more about responses to: Ed Decker edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: George D Smith}} To learn more about responses to: George D Smith edit
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{{To learn more box:responses to: John Dehlin}} To learn more about responses to: John Dehlin edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Jonathan Neville}} To learn more about responses to: Jonathan Neville edit
{{To learn more box:responses to: Kurt Van Gorden}} To learn more about responses to: Kurt Van Gorden edit
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