1	Reasonable Doubt When Things Don’t Add Up
2	Modest Claims?
3	Modest Claims?
4	Another Historical Testament? We will be introduced to the historical and cultural claims of Joseph Smith, Jr.(1805-1844). Joseph Smith was the 19^th Century founder of the American, faith-based organization: The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints (LDS). He is the author and proprietor of the Book of Mormon. Although Joseph Smith’s work is a spiritual book on morals and lessons to his recent & separate church, we will test his claims concerning historical and cultural accuracy.
5	Explaining the Ancient Americans First published in 1830, the American religious leader Joseph Smith claimed that his Book of Mormon: is historically accurate: Primarily describes a Jewish family who sailed to the New World from the Middle East. They discovered, migrated, and populated all throughout the Americas (c. 600 BC). describes Pre-Columbian cultures: Traceable to the ancestors of today’s Native Americans before European contact. A cohesive world-view descended from the Near and / or Middle East (like Israel, Egypt, …) would be reflected all throughout the cultures of the indigenous people of the Americas (then & now).
6	Desert People Who Sailed to the Americas The Lehites (1 Nephi 18) The Jaredites (Ether 6:12) The Mulekites (Helaman 6:10; 8:21), sometimes referred to as the people of Zarahemla (Omni 1:14–16; Alma 22:30). Note: We are invited to see if his book is true (cf. Moroni 10:4, 29).
7	Agenda Anthropology Anachronisms Absences
8	Topic One: Intro to Anthropology Anthropology helps scientifically describe cultures. By “scientific” we mean repeatable observations. The past is partially revealed via relics, remains, and other cultural materials: Art, imprints, bones, scrolls, … Other disciplines within science aid in anthropological research: Physics, geology, microbiology, zoology, art, agriculture, meteorology, . . . . . Anthropology helps define a group, a people, a culture, . . .
9	Archaeology Note: The book claims that descendants from the Near or Middle East are ancestors traceable to today’s American Indians. Fact: The results of thousands of digs (or sites) are independently peer-reviewed and critiqued. Fact: Physical remains found & the conclusions published are not immune to repeatable observations and fair scrutiny. Even the sciences have checks & balances. Fact: These excavations throughout the Americas (North, Central, South), as well as their respective surrounding islands, have yielded the following:
10	Biological Anthropology Note: The book claims that descendants from the Middle East are ancestors traceable to today’s Native First Nations. Fact: Research of nucleic DNA and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) point out that the hundreds of distinct tribes throughout the Americas are not attributed to any Middle Eastern-derived, populations. Fact: Comparing the skeletal remains of humans in various regions throughout the continents does not attribute any links from the Semitic populations.
11	Linguistic Anthropology Note: The book claims that descendants from Israel are ancestors traceable to today’s Native Americans. (Mormon 9:32f) Fact: Syntax patterns, phonemes, and other phonetic patterns of the Native Americans do not correlate to any Semitic, Near or Middle Eastern dialects. Fact: The petro-glyphs in the Northern America as well as the glyphs in Central and South Americas show no similarity to any Semitic languages: Arabian, Egyptian, Hebrew, Aramaic, . . . Fact: Various First Nations of North America did not require a written language.
12	Socio-Cultural Anthropology Note: The book claims that descendants from the Semitic peoples are ancestors traceable to today’s Native First Nations. Fact: The hundred of various tribes throughout the New World are very distinct from Semitic, Middle Eastern cultural behaviors and group practices. Fact: Concerning Practices: a) The Kosher dietary laws of the Jewish people are very foreign to the myriad of Native First Nations. b) Calendars differ greatly c) Art differs too Fact: Passed-down Traditions nor Relics of the Native American Nations have not pointed to any faith-based, Semitic, Middle Eastern, religious world-view.
13	Topic Two: Anachronisms Anachronisms are items mentioned but are out of time and place. The Book of Mormon mentions the People of the First Nations historically: Agriculturally harvested: Grapes (3 Nephi 14:16), Wheat and Barley (Mosiah 9:9). Raised and domesticated: Cows (Ether 9:18), Horses (Enos1:21), Swine (Ether 9:18), Elephants (Ether 9:19) Manufactured and processed: Swords (Moroni 9:2), Chariots (3 Nephi 9:2), Cimeters (Enos1:20); including textiles like: Silk (Ether 10:24), Linen (Alma 1:29) Other achievements also included: Wine (Mosiah11:15; 18:15), Steel (Jarom 1:8), Iron (Jarom1:8), Compass (Alma 37:38), Coins (Alma 11), French (Jacob 7:27).
14	Topic Three: Absences People Geography
15	A People Absent The unique characters who carved a legacy in, through, and from the American continents in Joseph Smith’s work have yet to be corroborated with any historical names in any Native American traditions. Examples given:
16	"Amaleki (Mosiah 7:6)," Amaleki (Mosiah 7:6), Amalickiah (Alma 46:3) , Amaron (Omni 1:3) , Amgid (Ether 10:32) , Aminadab (Helaman 5:35) , Aminadi (Alma 10:23) , Amlici (Alma 2:1) , Ammah (Alma 20:2) , Ammaron (4 Nephi 1:47) , Ammon (Mosiah 7:3) , Amnigaddah (Ether 1:14) , Amulek (Almah 8:20) , Amulon (Mosiah 23:32) , Antiomno (Alma 20:4) , Antiona (Alma 12:20) , Archeantus (Moroni 9:2) , Cezoram (Helaman 5:1) , Cohor (Ether 1:26) , Com (Ether 1:26) , Coriantor (Ether 1:6) , Corintum (Ether 1:13) , Coriantumr (Ether 8:5, Omni 1:21) , Corihor (Ether 7:3) , Cumenihah (Mormon 6:14) , Emer (Ether 1:28) , Emron ((Moroni 9:2) , Esrom (Ether 8:4) , Ezias (Helaman 8:20) , Giddonah (Alma 30:21) , Giddianhi (3 Nephi 3:9) , Gigiddonah (Mormon 6:13) , Gidgiddoni (3 Nephi 3:18) , Gilead (Ether 14:3) , Hagoth (Alma 63:5) , Helaman (Mosiah 7:6) , Helem (Mosiah 7:6) , Hem (Mosiah7:6) , Heth (Ether 1:16) , Himni (Mosiah 27:8) , Isabel (Alma 39:3) , Jarom (Jarom 1:1) , Jeneam (Mormon 6:14) , Kib (Ether 1:31) , Kim (Ether 1:21) , Kimnor (Ether 8:10) , Kish (Ether 1:18) , Kishkumea (Helaman 1:9) , Korihor (Alma 30:6) , Kumen (3 Nephi 19:4) , Kumenohi (3 Nephi 19:4) , Laban (1 Nephi 3:3) , Lachoneus (3 Nephi 1:1) , Lamah (Mormon 6:14) , Laman (Mormon 6:14) , Lamoni (Alma 17:21) , Levi (Ether 1:20) , Lib (Ether 1:17) , Luram (Moroni 9:2) , Mahah (Ether 6:14) , Manti (Alma 2:22) , Malek (Alma 8:13) , Moriaiton (Ether 1:22) , Moron (Ether 1:7) , Moroni (Moroni 10:34) , Moronihah (Helaman 1:25) , Mosiah (Omni 1:12) , Mulek (Mosiah 25:2) , Muloki (Alma 20:2) , Neum (1 Nephi 19:10) , Nimrah (Ether 9:8) , Omner (Mosiah 27:8) , Omni (Jarom 1:15) , Omer (Ether 1:29) , Paanchi (Helaman 1:3) , Pachus (Alma 62:6) , Pacumeni (Helaman1:3) , Pagag (Ether 6:25) , Pahora (Alma 50:39) , Riplakish (Ether 1:23) , Seantum (Helaman 9:6) , Seezoram (Helaman 8:27) , Shared (Ether 13:23) , Shemnon (3 Nephi 19:4) , Sherem (Jacob 7:1) , Sherizah (Moroni 9:7) , Shez (Ether 1:24) , Shiblom (Ether 1:11) , Shiz (Ether 14:17) , Shule (Ether 30) , Teomner (Alma 58:16) , Tubaloth (Helaman 1:16) , Zemnariaha (3 Nephi 4:16) , Zenephi (Moroni 9:16) , Zerahemhah (Alma 4:35).
17	A Geography Absent None of the geographic settings uniquely mentioned in Joseph Smith’s epic work have not been identified, located, nor corroborated. Examples given:
18	"Valley of Alma (Mosiah..." Valley of Alma (Mosiah 24:20, Land of Helam (Mosiah 23:3), Ciy of Amnonihah (Almah 8:6), Village of Ani-Anti (Alma 21:11), Land of Amulon (Moshiah 23:31), Mount Anipas (Alma 47:7) , Land of Antum (Mormon 1:3), City of Boaz (Moron 4:20), Hill of Comnor (Ether 14:28), Valley of Corihor (Ether 14:27), City of Cumeni (Alma 56:13), Land of Cumorah (Mormon 6:2), Hill of Ephraim (Ether 7:9), City of Gadiani (3 Nephi 9:8) , City of Gadiomnah (3 Nephi 9:8) , City of Gid (Alma 51:26) , City of Gideon (Alma 6:7) , City of Gilgal (Nephi 9:6) , City of Gimgimno (3 Nephi 9:6) , City of Helam (Mosiah 23:20) , Wilderness of Hermounts (Alma 2:37) , Plains of Heshlon (Ether 13:28) , Sea of Irreantum (1 Nephi 17:5) , City of Jashon (Mormon 2:16) , Land of Jershon (Alma 27:22) , City of Jordan (Mormon 5:3) , City of Josh (3 Nephi 9:10) , Land of Joshua (Mormon 2:6) , City of Laman (3 Nephi 9:10) , River Laman ((1Nephi 2:6) , City of Manti (Alma 56:13) , Land of Middoni (Alma 20:2) , Land of Midian (Alma 14:5) , Land of Minon (Alma 2:24) , Land of Moriancumer (Ether 2:13) , City of Morianton (Alma 5:25) , Area of Moriantum (Moroni 9:9) , Land of Moron (Ether 7:5) , City of Moroni (Alma 50:13) , City of Moroni (3 Nephi 8:10) , City of Mulek (Alma 51:25) , Nahom (1 Nephi 16:34) , City of Nehor (Ether 7:9) , City of Nephihah (Alma 50:14) , Plains of Nephiha (Alma 62:18) , Valley of Nimrod (Ether2:1) , City of Noah (Alma 49:12) , Place of Ogath (Ether 15:19) , City of Omner (Alma 51:26) , Place of Onihah (3 Nephi 9:7) , City of Onihah (3 Nephi 9:7) , Hill Ramah (Ether 15:11) , Hill Riplah (Alma 43:31) , Water of Ripliancum (Ether 15:8) , Waters of Sebus (Alma 17:26) , City of Shem (Mormon 2:20) , City of Silom (Mossiah 7:7) , Hill Shim (Mormon 1:3) , City of Shimnilom (Alma 23:8) , Valley of Shurr (Ether 14:8), Land of Sidom (Alma 15:1), River Sidon (Alma 2:15), Land of Sinim (1 Nephi 2:12; 14:28) , Land of Siron (Alma 39:3) , City of Teancum (Mormon 4:3) , City of Zarahemla (Alma 2:26); City Zeezrom (Alma56:13) , and Mount Zerin (Alma 54:23).
19	So it may be said that… Joseph Smith’s “Book of Mormon” : is not history. The people, the characters, have not been found nor corroborated. The places mentioned have not been verified. The cultures described have yet to be substantiated. These unique events never happened. Still to this day, Joseph Smith’s 1830 epic-novel “The Book of Mormon” has yet to be supported or established by any body of evidence. The sciences have not confirm the historicity of Joseph Smith’s work.
20	So it may be said that… Joseph Smith’s “Book of Mormon” : is not history. Discerning is healthy to the faithful skeptic, especially to belief-systems which clash against verifiable science and one’s well-established & historical Faith. Be wary of claims that seem too sensational. cf. St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 1:7-9 in the New Testament.
21	For Further Reading & Discerning Brian Fagan (editor). The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. Spencer Wells. The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2002. Benjamin S. Orlove (editor). Current Anthropology. MesoAmerica (Volume 43, Number 3, June 2002). Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 2002. Alvin M. Josephy. 500 Nations: An Illustrated History of North American Indians. New York, New York: Random House, 2002. Brian M. Fagan. Ancient North America: The Archaeology of a Continent. (Third edition.) London, United Kingdom: Thames & Hudson, Ltd., 2000. Colin Renfrew and Paul Bahn. Archaeology: Theories, Methods, and Practices. Second Edition. New York, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1996. Carol Patterson. Rudolph Petroglyphs & Pueblo Myths of the Rio Grande. Albuquerque, New Mexico: Avanyu Publishing Inc., 1993. Margaret Wilson Oliphant. The Atlas of the Ancient World: Charting the Great Civilizations of the Past. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992. Thomas H. Flaherty (ed.), et al. The First Americans. (From the series: The American Indians.) Alexandria, Virginia: Time-Life Books, 1992. Chris Scarre. Past Worlds: The Times Atlas of Archaeology. Maplewood, New Jersey: Hammond, Inc., 1988. Avery Cardinal Dulles. “The Orthodox Imperative.” First Things. August/September 2006. (Number 165). (ISSN #1047-5141) (The Institute on Religion and Public Life: Mount Morris, Illinois; See: < http://www.firstthings.com > )
22	For Further Reading & Discerning Brian M. Fagan [ University of California (Santa Barbara) ]. The Great Journey: The Peopling of Ancient America. New York, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1987. Robert H. Lister and Florence C. Lister. Those Who Came Before. Tuscon, Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1983. John A. Graham [University of California (Berkeley)]. (ed.) Ancient Mesoamerica. Selected Readings. Second Edition. Palo Alto, California: Peek Publications, 1981. Gordon R. Willey [Harvard University] and Jeremy A. Sabloff [University of New Mexico] (introductions). Pre-Columbian Archaeology. (Readings from Scientific American.) San Francisco, California: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1980. E. Adamson Hoebel [University of Minnesota] . Anthropology: The Study of Man. St. Louis, Missouri: McGraw-Hill Co., 1972. Cecie Starr (ed.), Tom Suzuki (director of design), Richard L. Roe (publisher), et al. Anthropology Today. Del Mar, California: CRM Books, 1971. Robert Wauchope. Lost Tribes & Sunken Continents: Myth and Method in the Study of American Indians. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press, 1962. Elizabeth Chesley Baity. Americans Before Columbus. New York, New York: Viking Press, 1961. Donald P. Ryan. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Lost Civilizations. New York, New York: Alpha Books, 1999. Claudia Louise Bushman and Richard Lyman Bushman. Building the Kingdom: A History of Mormons in America. New York, New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
23	For Careful Noting and Comparing: Joseph Smith. Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, 1994. Joseph Smith (“Author and Proprietor”). Book of Mormon. (a facsimile of the first edition: Palmyra, New York: E. B. Grandin, 1830). Independence, Missouri, Herald Pub. House, 1973. Joseph Smith’s first edition of the Book of Mormon can be viewed online at: http://www.irr.org/mit/BOM/1830bom-books.html. (Note: It has been said that there have been about 3,913 Changes in the Book of Mormon.) Gordon B. Hinckley. Truth Restored: A Short History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1969. Bruce R. McConkie. Mormon Doctrine. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Books, 1958.
24	So it may be said that, Joseph Smith’s “Book of Mormon” : is not history.
25	Any Questions? Joseph Smith’s “Book of Mormon” : is not history.
26	( An Appendix )
27	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament, Recent Reviews from the 19^th Century,
28	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament,
29	St. Paul the Evangelist
30	St. Jude
31	St. Paul the Apostle
32	2 Peter
33	Acts
34	St. Jude
35	Recent Reviews from the 19^th Century
36	“The book professes to be written at intervals and by different persons during the long period of 1020 years. And yet for uniformity of style, there never was a book more evidently written by one set of fingers, nor more certainly conceived in one cranium since the first book appeared in human language, than this same book. If I could swear to any man's voice, face or person, assuming different names, I could swear that this book was written by one man. And as Joseph Smith . . . is called the author on the title page, I cannot doubt for a single moment that he is the sole author and proprietor of it.”
37	"Joseph Smith" Joseph Smith “labored to give his words and phrases the quaint, old-fashioned sound and structure of our King James's translation of the Scriptures; and the result is a mongrel--half modern glibness, and half ancient simplicity and gravity. The latter is awkward and constrained; the former natural, but grotesque by the contrast.”
38	. . . and some Sound Advice from miscellaneous writers and critics , etc.,
39	. . . and some Sound Advice from miscellaneous writers and critics , etc., “For faith, as well intentioned as it may be, must be built on facts, not fiction . . . ” (Thomas Alva Edison) “Repeating a lie doesn't make that lie true.” Even some of the Church’s worse critics dared not to establish their own supposedly divine-institution: It is said that one of Voltaire's disciples once asked him, “I'd like to found a new religion. How should I go about it?” To which Voltaire replied, “It's very simple. Just get yourself crucified and then rise from the dead.” “A wicked book cannot repent.”
40	"Anthropology" Anthropology Anachronisms Absences
41	Post Script: Anthropology Anachronisms Absences
42	Another Appendix:
43	Another Appendix: Correct Teaching from the Historically Ancient New Testament Church “The Orthodox Imperative” An article by Avery Cardinal Dulles
44	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament
45	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament St. Paul, who received the grace of apostleship after the Ascension of Jesus, was able to tell the Thessalonians,“We also thank God constantly for this, that when you receive the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thess. 2:13). For Paul, his oral teaching and his written letters stand on the same level of authority: “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thess. 2:15). Since the gospel first came to certain chosen witnesses by way of revelation, it must be accepted on their testimony.
46	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament In the New Testament, we see Paul passing on the the doctrines of the Eucharist and of the Resurrection that he had received from the earliest Christian community (1 Cor. 11:23 and 15:3). He expects the members of the community, instructed in the apostolic faith, to “be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10) and to avoid schisms. The Book of Acts shows the apostles reporting on their experiences and settling their differences at meetings such as the Council of Jerusalem. [Acts 15]. The preservation of orthodoxy has always required vigorous oversight.
47	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament Paul warned the elders of Ephesus against perverse teachers, whom he compared to ravenous wolves (Acts 20:2-30). Writing to the Galatians, he anathematized those who would teach “a different gospel” than the he had proclaimed (Gal. 1:4-18). In his pastoral letters, Paul instructs Titus to appoint in each town of Crete elders who could teach with authority, confuting those who contract the faith (Titus 1:5,9). He admonishes Timothy in Ephesus: “Guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit” (2 Tim. 113:14). He exhorts Timothy to protect the flock against godless heretics, who have “swerved from the truth” (2 Tim. 2:18).
48	Ancient Wisdom from the New Testament Concern for orthodoxy is not peculiar to Paul. Peter in his second letter predicts that false teachers will arise and “secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Pet. 2:1). The Second Letter of John admonishes the community to abide in the holy doctrine Christ and not even to greet those who fail to adhere to it (2 John 9-11). The Book of Revelation warns against the false teaching of the the Nicolaitans, which was infecting some of the Christians at Pergamon (Rev. 2:15).