Smithsonian institution letter statement regarding the book of mormon 1996. I found something which was refreshing to read from an lds member, dr. This is the text of a form letter distributed by the smithsonian institution since. In 1998, the smithsonian began issuing a shorter letter without the detailed response found in the first letter, and limited its comment to briefly deny any use of. Response to the smithsonian institute statement on the book of. The smithsonian institution sends a form letter to those who inquire about their use of the book of mormon for archaeological purposes. Of course, this method of translation is as occultic as it gets. Present evidence indicates that the first people to reach this continent from the east were the norsemen who briefly visited the northeastern part of north america around a.
Questioning the book of mormon watchman fellowship. The following is an open letter from the smithsonian institution regarding mormon archaeology claims. Home book of mormon science, ancient history, and the book of mormon national geographic society statement on the book of mormon. This letter from the smithsonian s department of anthropology is in response to your inquiry regarding the book of mormon. Smithsonian disavows use of book of mormon for archaeological guide and sees no connection between new world and book of mormon. The smithsonian institutions letter statement regarding the book of mormon footnotestatement regarding the book of mormon the smithsonian institutionfootnote pg. Book of mormonarchaeologysmithsonian statement fairmormon. Gosh gee my favorite mormon book is the boa, pls don. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon. Smithsonian institute response to inquirycover letter. The book of mormon is a religious document and not a scientific guide. Because the smithsonian institution receives many inquiries regarding the book of mormon, we have prepared a statement regarding the book of mormon, a copy of which is enclosed for your information. In that letter they say, the book of mormon is a religious document and not a scientific guide. Here is the text of the letter as referenced from this site.
Because the smithsonian institution receives many inquiries regarding the book of mormon, we have prepared a statement regarding the book of mormon. The smithsonian institution and the book of mormon mormon coffee. The smithsonian institution includes a statement about the scientific inaccuracies of the book of mormon in their statement regarding the book of mormon, which is included with the letter. The smithsonian institute has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide.
The story of the first vision was not printed in the 1830s. Smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon. Your recent inquiry concerning the smithsonian institutions alleged use of the book of mormon as a scientific guide has been received in the smithsonian s department of anthropology. Your recent inquiry concerning the book of mormon has been received in the smithsonian s department of anthropology. Response to the smithsonian institute statement on the. Smithsonian institutions stance on the book of mormon.
Archaeology and the book of mormon wikipedia republished. None of that applies to the book of mormon as no non mormon source verifies the book as historically accurate or useful in any way. Even before the book of mormon was published, mormonism was linked to the moundbuilder civilizations of north america. This article was originally published on mormon coffee on march 22, 2012. Smithsonian disavows use of book of mormon for archaeological guide and sees no connection. We still stand by our former statement on the book of mormon. Mormon history association mounds and mormons letter vii. Response to the smithsonian institute statement on the book. There is nothing to show that they reached mexico or central america. Starlings response is undated, but content elsewhere in his letter indicates that it was written. Indeed, no respectable nonmormon institution including the national geographic and smithsonian institutions or scholar that has considered. Smithsonian statement book of mormon archaeological forum.
The book of mormon is a r eligious document and not a scientific guide. Mormons, since even the smithsonian issued a statement about. Although this does not lead to 100% proof, it should at least raise concerns on the historicity of the book of mormon. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon mormons.
Prepared by the department of anthropology statement regarding the book of mormon the smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Statements in this letter the content having changed several times over the years are used by some opponents of the mormon church to support the idea that the. The smithsonian on the bible and the book of mormon on the book of mormon. National museum of natural history smithsonian institution. This article nicely demonstrates how spot on the smithsonian letter was before mormon apologists and politicians intimidated them into not mailing it out to gullible mormons anymore. Reading time t he smithsonian institute wrote this diplomatic letter which says, in the most discrete and gentle terms, that the claims that mormons make about the historical and scientific validity of the book of mormon, are a bunch of hooey.
Thomas stuart ferguson lay in his hammock, certain that he had found. The smithsonian institution has never used it in archeological research and has found no archaeological evidence to support its claims. Your recent inquiry concerning the smithsonian institutions alleged use of the book of mormon as a scientific guide has been received in the smithsonians department of anthropology. The smithsonian institution has never used it in archaeological research and has found no archaeological evidence to support. Thus the book of mormon was translated by the gift and power of god and not by man david whitmer, an address to all believers in christ concord, ca.
Smithsonian archaeologists see no direct connection between the archaeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. The book contains long sections on items important to missionaries of the 1830s, such as fulfillment of prophecy, the book of mormon, the resurrection, and the nature of revelation, but again, nothing on the first vision. However, in the stories found in the book of genesis, chapter 112, such as the flood story, the record is quite different. Smithsonian institution statement on the book of mormon mormons in transition. Information from the national museum of natural history smithsonian institution washington, d. Any help you could provide me with would be greatly. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of. Letter to the editor of the ancient american unpublished. Smithsonian archaeologists see no connection between the archaeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. A form letter i received from the smithsonian institution on april 7, 2009 stated. The smithsonians department of anthropology has written a form letter to respond to the many claims that its researchers have used the book of mormon. July 26 1983 there is no evidence of any migration from israel to america and no evidence that precolumbian indians had any knowledge of christianity or the bible. So since even the smithsonian issued a statement about the claims of the book of mormon, why still believe when there is no evidence from any source but joesph smith.
The factual bases of the stories are hidden from our view archaeologically. What did the national geographic and the smithsonian inst. Jun 14, 2008 the smithsonian institution has never used it in archeological research and any information that you have received to the contrary is incorrect. The authors of the statement are not displaying high levels of scholarship. While archaeology could be useful in determining where the events of the book of mormon took place, the book of mormon does not contain the sort of historical detail that would make it useful for nonmormon archaeologists. Jan 18, 2018 how a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Louis aka, mound city, famous mounds in lds history, including enon and zelphs mound, and. It was a decision of the smithsonians central office of. The smithsonian, the book of mormon, and an urban legend lds. Smithsonian institution letter statement regarding the book. The national geographic societys letter statement on the book of mormon. The book of mormon department of christian defense. Smithsonian and the book of mormon mormonism research ministry. Sorenson of farms, and perhaps others, disputed the smithsonian institutions points as being out of date.
And a paleontologist refuting the smithsonian issues, while employed by byu and not the smithsonian. This statement includes answers to questions most commonly asked about the book of mormon. Refuting the existence of glass has no bearing on the book of mormon. The smithsonian institue considers the book of mormon a. National geographic society statement on the book of mormon. Jun 10, 2008 smithsonian letter regarding book of mormon i think it is important for everyone to read the smithsonian letter about the book of mormon. Letter national geographic society, washington, dc 20036. Lds apologist john sorensons response to the smithsonian. An evaluation of the smithsonian institution statement regarding the book of mormon by john l.
The 1996 smithsonian statement regarding the book of mormon. The smithsonian archaeologists see no direct connection between archeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. Dec 28, 2009 here is a letter written by the smithsonian institution in regards to the book of mormon and its relation to archeology and the new world. Mormon scholars speculated that this was because the earlier version of the letter contradicts some. In 1998, the smithsonian revised the form letter and stated that book of mormon had not been used by the smithsonian in any form of archaeological research. I was convinced beyond a doubt that south american ruins validated the book of mormon. Updated 122395 includes the smithsonian letter on the book of mormon. Criticism of mormonismonline documentsfor my wife and. I even helped perpetuate the rumor that the smithsonian institute used the book of mormon as a scientific. The national geographic society has a similar letter.
Smithsonian letter regarding book of mormon i think it is important for everyone to read the smithsonian letter about the book of mormon. The smithsonian institution does not use it in archeological research. Smithsonian archeologists see no direct connection between the archeology of the new world and the subject matter of the book. Smithsonian institute statement on the book of mormon. Smithsonian statement on book of mormon noncatholic. While archaeology could be useful in determining where the events of the book of mormon took place, the book of mormon does not contain the sort of historical detail that would make it useful for non mormon archaeologists.
In 1850, acting partly in response to lobbying from a lawyer named thomas l. Your recent inquiry concerning the book of mormon has been received in the smithsonians department of anthropology. An evaluation of the smithsonian statement regarding the book. Smithsonian institution letter cult education institute. Smithsonian statement about the book of mormon summary. Smithsonian and the book of mormon mormonism research. An evaluation of the smithsonian institution lightplanet. It was a decision of the smithsonians central office of public affairs to simplify the statement to respond to general questions regarding the smithsonians use of the book of mormon. The smithsonian statement has been around for years and lds writers have responded to this easily resolved point, yet the embarrassing refutation of glass still survives in this 1996 version. Mormon scholars speculated that this was because the earlier version of the letter contradicts some aspects of research published by smithsonian staff members.
Questioning the book of mormon watchman fellowship, georgia. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of mormon. This letter from the smithsonians department of anthropology is in response to your inquiry regarding the book of mormon. It seems to have been in response to a rumor that the smithsonian had used the book of mormon as an archaeological guide book. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Jun 09, 2017 mormonism sprang from the mounds, wrote roger kennedy, former director of the smithsonian national museum of american history. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. The smithsonian on the bible and the book of mormon. The staff archaeologist informs me that neither the society of any other institution has ever used the book of mormon in locating archaeological sites.
Here is a letter written by the smithsonian institution in regards to the book of mormon and its relation to archeology and the new world. The smithsonian institution has never used the book of mormon in any way as a scientific guide. Generally speaking, the smithsonian institution does not express specific views or take specific positions on matters related to religion. Kane, a nonmormon who had advised mormon leaders in previous ordeals, fillmore named brigham young governor of the new. The smithsonian considers the book of mormon a religious document and not a scientific guide. Sep 12, 20 an earlier version of the letter listed points on which the smithsonian institutions staff claimed the scientific record differed from the book of mormon narrative.
An earlier version of the letter listed points on which the smithsonian institutions staff claimed the scientific record differed from the book of mormon narrative. Mormons, since even the smithsonian issued a statement. In 1998, the smithsonian revised the form letter and stated that book of mormon had not been used by the smithsonian in. Ive also been shown letters from you to other people that there is no such evidence of the mormon church. We are not aware of any recent official statement about the book of mormon made by the smithsonian institution. For many years the smithsonian institution in washington has received inquiries concerning the book of mormon, its role in the instituttons scientific activities, and a number of specific informational questions about ancient american archaeology. The smithsonian institution has never used it in archaeological research and ha. Feb 22, 2018 in a few places where discrepancies seem to be present between archaeological finds and biblical accounts, misinterpretation of the bible seems to be at least partly to blame.