The Book of Mormon

What is your opinion of Mormonism?  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ?

When I discuss Mormonism with other Christians one of their first comments will be the finding of the golden plates by Joseph Smith upon which the Book of Mormon is based.  It's a nice story, but these are golden plates that even the Mormon faithful aren't sure were ever seen, except in a vision, by ten of the eleven chosen by Smith.

Ok, and the Ten Commandments?  Where are they now to prove to the faithful of a hand of God?  What of the Ark of the Covenant and contents therein?  The staff of Moses?  The cup of Christ, the holy grail?  Where are the physical proofs of Judaism and Christianity?

Yet, we question the story of Joseph Smith and these golden plates.  Because they don't fit in with our own faith in intangible icons?

I have to ask myself what was going through Smith's mind when he came up with the plan to create hundreds of pages of fiction concerning an unheard of history in the Americas with an underlying agenda of fostering a new Christian sect.  Remember that this was 1823, and Joseph Smith, Jr. was the crippled son of a poor merchant and farmer.  Granted he grew up during the Second Great Awakening, a Protestant revival movement of the early 19th century which greatly increased Baptist and Methodist congregations, but still, here we have a young man that wrote a 500 page "fiction" which I would have to believe was long for most books of the day coming from crippled children of poor farmers.  But we would be led to believe he did this as a con to become the leader of a congregation of his own, and not because he was guided by the hand of God?  Hmmm...

 

We would give Joseph Smith the same credibility we give to the prophet Muhammad (may God's blessings and peace be upon him).  Yet, they base their beliefs in the Old Testament, and the teachings of both Judaism and Christianity.  It is not as though they were professing faith in Scientology, the consciousness of aliens in the lava of some volcano, or use of LSD as a basis for religious belief.

 

I enjoy reading the Book of Mormon.  It provides an intriguing tale that, if one believes,  builds upon the New Testament.  I offer an excerpt from the introduction of  my own copy of the Book of Mormon that piqued my own interest, and then a bit of personal history that explains my own continued interest.

 

"It is a record of God's dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas..." 

 

"The record gives an account of two great civilizations.  One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C...."

 

"The other came earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel."

 

The introduction goes on to discuss the crowning event as the personal ministry to  these early Americans of the Lord Jesus Christ soon after his resurrection.  Not looking to be converted to Mormonism, I non the less found the introduction as enticing as any adventure novel I would consider reading.

 

I offer up a recent bit of my own experience in Mexico which I find quite interesting.  It concerns the Rancho Perla Negra in Manzanillo, Mexico.  I spent about two years on this property and learned some interesting history behind the white cross erected there, overlooking the ocean.

 

As I understand it, old Indians in the area tell the story of a massacre by the Spanish of a village being run as a "healing" center on the property.  The Spanish were exploring their way up the coast when they saw a white "cross" on the hill overlooking the water.  This was totally unexpected by the Christian priests on board.  The ship pulled in to investigate.  They were welcomed and found a village  involving healing ceremonies considered heathen rituals by the priests who ordered everyone put to death. 

 

The old Indians telling the story say the cross was not a cross at all, but rather a representation of the being dressed in white that appeared to the local people from light in the sky that shown down on the hill, imparted the word of God, and explained to them that this was a holy place and everything they needed would be found below where he was standing.

 

The story continues to tell of a lost tunnel beneath the cross that led to a secret "treasure" of this native culture, a tunnel probably buried to protect it from the Spanish conquerors.  Was it a treasure of gold or silver, or perhaps the healing knowledge imparted to them by this mysterious figure?  Remember, the Mormon belief that the Lord Jesus Christ came to these early Americans with his personal ministry soon after his resurrection?  Reminiscent of Christ appearing to the Apostles?  Hmmm...

 

And the is the pottery shard found by the owners of the property.  I was picking through the collection of pottery, shards, and figurines found along the beach properties when I came across an unmistakable pottery cap for an urn or other container.  On the top was etched, with a reed, a Hebrew making of some sort.  Having an interest in archeology, I thought this to be pretty unmistakable.  The Indians sure didn't make it, and heaven knows the Christians didn't bring it to the new world. 

 

So, what does that leave us with?  Remember, again, the Mormon belief quoted above, "One came from Jerusalem in 600B.C...." 

 

I'm not saying there is anything to the Book of Mormon.  What I am saying is, it offers yet more to think about.  If there is a lost tribe of Israel that ended up in the new world, why wouldn't Jesus want to ensure they received the word of God as well?  Archaeologically, wouldn't the knowledge from these lost Israelites possibly help explain some of the architecture of the early culture here?  The stories in the book of Mormon are fascinating to read and may, in fact, offer up much in the way of lost history yet to be validated.  Who knows?

 

I offer the Book as another reference document to consider on your own path, if only for the enjoyment of a good read, it might also make you think.