The LDS organization claims that their prophet Joseph Smith “translated” those golden plates he received from Moroni. However, not only does the original title page of the 1830 printing of the Book of Mormon say that Joseph Smith was the “Author and Proprietor,” (this of course was just one of the 3,913 documented changes to the Book of Mormon since its first publication), but even the LDS published Times & Seasons volume 5 page 715 printed in 1884 said, “On page one hundred and fifty, of said Doctrine and Covenants, it is said to Joseph Smith by the Lord, ‘Behold, thou wast called and chosen to write the Book of Mormon . . . .'”
I firmly believe in giving credit where credit is due. We always knew Joseph Smith made up the Book of Mormon and it’s about time he’s given credit for it. He should be ranked accordingly on the list of top ten most influential fiction writers of America.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Copyright law in 1830 in New York, where the Book of Mormon was first published, provided for the granting of copyrights to “authors and proprietors” but did not offer the same to translators. In order to secure the copyright, Joseph had to apply as the “author and proprietor.”
Also, if you read the verse from the Doctrine and Covenants in context, you’ll see it is not implying that Joseph Smith “made up” the Book of Mormon. “And thou shalt continue in calling upon God in my name, and writing the things which shall be given thee by the Comforter.” “Writing…given by the Comforter (God)” is very different than writing fiction from one’s own imagination. The inspired translation of the Book of Mormon could easily be considered that kind of “writing.”
If you chose not to believe in the Book of Mormon, that is fine, but please don’t misrepresent history.
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I have two observations based on your defense of the B of M:
First, Joseph Smith lied to obtain copyright.
Second, why was he so concerned with copyrighting? If this was truly God’s word, who was he to copyright it? Technically, Moroni wrote it (according to your belief) so what business does Joseph Smith have “translating” someone else’s writing and then claiming it’s his own?
And in regards to history, the Book of Mormon falls flat on its face. The animals, the materials, the people, the battles, the cities etc. of the B of M can not, have not and never will be supported by history, geography, archeology and DNA. It’s been proven to be a fraud time and time again. The only thing it does prove is that in order to believe in it one must have a PROFOUND amount of faith because nothing supports its claim.
This post was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to problems with the B of M (errors, mistakes, false prophecies, racism, etc.).
So many areas to examine it’s hard to choose where to start. Perhaps I’ll start with how the B of M (supposedly written before and shortly after Christ walked the earth) was written in 17th century King James English. Just another oversight on Joseph Smith’s part.
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The book of mormon is a heap of godless garbage.
Is that clear enough to understand?
God bless.
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It’s amazing, somehow this work by a young farm-boy from upstate New York has inspired your scorn and abuse. Where’s your criticism on the mystics or Nostradamus or such? It’s the success of the message Joseph was called to deliver that seems to inspire your vitriol, so I would expect the intent of your message would be to dissuade mormons from their faith. But your criticisms are self-serving and loathsome, not inspired by charity or love. You acidic attitude to the beliefs of another clearly identify the source of your so-called faith, and you should realize who your master really is. Get thee hence…
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Thank you for your comments Renegade. However, you fail to realize one thing. My so called “criticism,” “scorn,” and “abuse” is actually a defense of the true Christian faith delivered unto the Saints long before the treasure seeking, story-telling, Masonic, peepstone-gazing, scam artist, farmboy concocted the B of M (plagerizing much of it).
And regarding your little Satan inneuendo, have you forgotten whose symbol is adorning your buildings? The Satanic inverted pentagram isn’t on Christian buildings, it’s on Momron buildings, including your SLC Temple:
http://reformationnation.wordpress.com/2007/09/27/mormonism-the-absence-of-the-cross-but-the-overwhelming-presence-of-satanic-inverted-pentagrams/
If you recall, from your OWN organization’s history, your “church” attacked Christianity with acidic vitriol long before Christians were even really aware of this “farm boy.” Allow me to direct you to what your own organization has said about Christians:
http://reformationnation.wordpress.com/2007/10/31/what-do-mormons-really-believe-about-christians-2/
Furthermore, your “prophet” Joseph Smith actually revealed who his source for the B of M was:
http://reformationnation.wordpress.com/2007/10/20/who-is-the-angel-of-light-and-what-contribution-did-he-make-to-mormonism/
So whether it was devised in his head or came from the Angel of Light, either way, it’s not of God, it’s a counterfeit and it’s damning millions of souls to an eternal hell. So yes, if I can get even one Momron to put down the smoke and mirrors and consider researching the truth for himself, (or keep some unsuspecting soul from falling prey to the false doctrine of LDS) then I will gladly take your scorn and ridicule, and count it as a blessing.
– The Pilgrim
P.S. And just out of curiosity, since when did stating the facts about your organization (which they/you fervently try to conceal) become self-serving and loathsome?
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P.S. And just out of curiosity, since when did stating the facts about your organization (which they/you fervently try to conceal) become self-serving and loathsome?
About the same time the Mormon church wanted to be associated with all the churches whose “creeds were an abomination, etc.”
Keep speakin’ the truth, Pilgrim! You know you’ve struck a nerve when a Mormon starts talking like that.
Renegade–Why did Joseph get in such a tither when Martin Harris lost the first 116 pages Joseph gave him? Why couldn’t he just “retranslate” from the plates? Or, for that matter, why wasn’t he supposed to show anybody the plates? And why were they always buried or in a box when he was “translating”? Did he use the Urim and Thummim, or a seer stone? Questions, questions.
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You don’t believe that Hebrews drifted across the Indian and South Pacific
Oceans back when the world was flat to become Lamanites and Nephites???
Shame! Shame! Shame! How else could the Incas, Aztecs and Eskimos get here.
Besides, it was all recorded in “Reformed Egyptian” on gold plates. Even Jesus
stopped by for awhile. Of course he smelled bad having begun to decay after being
dead for awhile. Too bad Mr. Maroni brought the evidence back to heaven. Else we’d
all be 10%ing, wearing magic skivies and Maxwell House and Coca Cola would
be out of business.
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