Please Explain how Joseph Smith could have possibly authored the Book of Mormon.

[Ringer]

Originally Posted by Red Pill

The LDS church is kind of self contained. The high school age kids go to "seminary" -usually taught by a local church member volunteer. The church owns a couple college/ universities where their beliefs are taught. No mainstream Christian seminary that I know of teach the LDS version of Christianity.

Thanks for the reply. I assumed the obvious university would have been BYU and the possibility of a seminary/extension school dedicated to LDS teachings but was not sure if there were others.

[*Paul*]

Originally Posted by Starfish

I am just asking for a reasonable explanation of how he could have written it, and so far it's:
1. "evil/lying spirits".
2. Other people have done it, so it's not impossible.
Both answers have major problems.

What are the major problems with these possible explanations then?

You said to me that the book of Mormon has caused people to do much good to which I replied that the devil was pleased for people to live even religious lives so long as they were blinded to the gospel.

Mestemia gave examples of two other similar accounts which books have also changed lives and have it's adheants spouting out the benefits of their religion even on this site.

Autodidact said it was perfectly possible and convinced no - one and was from a language (reformed egyptian) that has never existed.

What is your response to these? I think it is fuutile as your brethren have warned you to try to do what you are doing.

[*Paul*]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

The Quayyum'l Asma, written by The Bab between 1844 and 1846. He was executed in the Barracks Square in Tabriz, Iran at noon on the 9th of July, 1850.

Regards,
Scott

Here's another one. (just in case it was missed)

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by Popeyesays

That does not mean, however that the documents were lost BEFORE they were copied.

For simple accuracy's sake . . . .

Regards,
Scott

I don't think so, although I'm not an expert. I believe the first scrap of a manuscript, "P51" dates from like 360 C.E. or something like that, and that the experts believe that the first gospels were actually written between 70 and 100 C.E.

[Starfish]

To write off the BoM as a miracle of Satan, or some evil spirit, is ridiculous. Why would anyone evil want a book that moves one towards Christ. Anyone relying on this explanation has not read the book thoroughly.

Others have done it? I still haven't heard of a comparable example. And the challenge to duplicate it is still out there. No one has.

Joseph had help? Those who have researched this possibility have discarded it. He simply did not have the resources. Even today, with our nearly infinite resources, no one has taken the challenge.

Again, if Joseph made the book up--then why? What did he have to gain by making up the BoM? He didn't need it to start a religion. Many religions begin without a new book of scripture. If anything, he could have simply written the Doctrine and Covenants, containing his own revelations. The Book of Mormon would have been an expensive waste of time. Even today, the Church sells copies at cost, never profiting from the sales.

[Fluffy]

Originally Posted by Paul

In my opinion, a lying spirit. The bible does mention them.

Could Paul have seen a lying spirit?

[Starfish]

Originally Posted by Red Pill

If God prefers records, it seems odd Jesus didn't leave one written by his own hand.
If as you say, God took the trouble to have various people write inspired words through out time, doesn't it seems odd he didn't have his only begotten Son leave a self written record?

How do we know he didn't? I'm not saying Christ did write anything, but how do we know?

The pattern of the prophets keeping written records is well established.

[Starfish]

Originally Posted by Fluffy

Could Paul have seen a lying spirit?

That would make just about as much sense.

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by Starfish

To write off the BoM as a miracle of Satan, or some evil spirit, is ridiculous. Why would anyone evil want a book that moves one towards Christ. Anyone relying on this explanation has not read the book thoroughly.

Others have done it? I still haven't heard of a comparable example. And the challenge to duplicate it is still out there. No one has.

Joseph had help? Those who have researched this possibility have discarded it. He simply did not have the resources. Even today, with our nearly infinite resources, no one has taken the challenge.

Again, if Joseph made the book up--then why?

As a religious con. Because he wanted to start a cult, which he did.

What did he have to gain by making up the BoM?

Control over a religious group, power, money, wives, everything he acquired as a result of starting the LDS church.

He didn't need it to start a religion. Many religions begin without a new book of scripture.

Well it worked, didn't it?

If anything, he could have simply written the Doctrine and Covenants, containing his own revelations. The Book of Mormon would have been an expensive waste of time. Even today, the Church sells copies at cost, never profiting from the sales.

Did it cost him much? I admit, it was an original take on how to start a new religion, but an effective one.