1. Joseph Smith is said to have translated the Book of Mormon from ‘Reformed Egyptian’ into English by the “Gift and power of God.” He said it was the ‘Most Correct’ book ever written. Since it was first published in 1830 there have been more than 3,900 changes made to it. Why would the ‘Most Correct’ book ever written need to be modified, particularly if the translation was overseen by God himself? I’m not sure what additional insight I could give into this paradox. This one requires a certain amount of faith in the existence of God. From my own personal standpoint, I don’t think God had anything to do with the establishment of Mormonism. I can only imagine that if “God” was personally involved with the translation process, then the translation would not only be PERFECT (without a need for nearly 4,000 corrections), but all of the spelling, grammar, punctuation, and yes…‘continuity’ would be beyond reproach.
2. Please direct me to archeological evidence of the original ‘Reformed Egyptian’ language from the Book of Mormon. There is not one shred of evidence that ‘Reformed Egyptian’ ever existed. Certain LDS apologists have maintained that the language was extremely rare. Is it possible that a language ‘so rare’ as to be used and passed down for HUNDREDS of years (and preserved for this same amount of time) in the entire North, Central, and South American continents, has ZERO archaeological evidence?
3. Is there any physical evidence of the existence of the golden plates delivered to Joseph Smith? Were there other artifacts with them we can see? Not only is there no physical evidence of the existence of the golden plates, but all archaeological findings discredit Mormonism.
4. For centuries we’ve known that Native Americans traveled across the Bering Strait from Asia to inhabit this continent. DNA evidence verifies this fact. The Book of Mormon and LDS Authorities claim that the Native American people were originally of Middle Eastern descent and not from Asia. How do you explain this conflict? Many Mormons still question the reliability of DNA evidence. This is not a surprise given the fact that a) many religions debate the real value of science, and b) so much of LDS history hinges on the accuracy of DNA vs. The Book of Mormon. Fortunately, the stability of the evidence in this case is overwhelming. DNA evidence is able to pin-point the ancestors of the Native-American culture to a 25 mile diameter area…and it’s nowhere CLOSE to Jerusalem; it’s in Mongolia. There is much debate as to the way Mormons plan to tap-dance around this issue. One of the more interesting justifications is that even though Lehi and his family lived in Jerusalem, they were actually of Asian descent; even though this idea would invalidate every other Mormon assertion from the past. It also does not address the fact that Ishmael and his family (who traveled with Lehi) were also of Asian descent. (BTW…how many Asians do you know who have the name Ishmael?) So, the scramble goes on. At this point they feel that keeping silent is better than speaking up.
5. The Book of Mormon states that in less than 30 years from Lehi arriving in America, the population multiplied so rapidly that they had to be divided into 2 great nations. Even the most rapid human reproduction would only yield a few dozen people in this amount of time, and most of them would still be infants or children, and about 1/3 of them would be elderly. How were these people able to multiply faster than what we know is ‘humanly possible?’ Both #5 and #6 are mathematical impossibilities. Joseph Smith was obviously ‘over his head’ with imagination.
6. According to the Book of Mormon, when Lehi left the ‘old world’ his group consisted of less than 20 people. Yet, nineteen years later the people had so prospered in the land that they built a temple which “manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.” Solomon’s Temple required 30,000 Israelites, 150,000 hewers of stone & carriers, 3,300 supervisors and about 7 yrs. of construction. Can you please explain how they accomplished this seemingly impossible feat? Perhaps the best explanation could be that the term “like unto” was more like comparing a tent to a palace. That doesn’t seem to hold water.
7. Horses are mentioned several times in the Book of Mormon, yet they did not exist on the American continent during the Book of Mormon period. Since they seemed to play a vital role in the book, can you please direct me to an archeological publication which identifies a variety of American locations where horse bones have been found from that era? Some Mormons will downplay the existence of horses in the Book of Mormon, saying they never provided a significant role in the book. Seriously, are we to believe that an animal as important as a horse would not have major ramifications in history? One of the great ironies about horses being mentioned in the Book of Mormon is that it was ‘well known’ during Joseph Smith’s life that horses did not exist in the Americas from about 50,000 BC until their introduction by Columbus in 1492. Some Mormons flaunt the fact that Joseph Smith was ‘unlearned’ as a virtue; this is proof that he should have done a little more homework before including horses in the book. I admit that this is a personal favorite of mine.
8. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon condemn David and Solomon for polygamy. Doctrine and Covenants 132:37-39 contradicts this edict. Which is correct: The Book of Mormon or the Doctrine and Covenants? The average person would side with the Bible: that polygamy is wrong. This question asks the LDS missionary to choose between two strictly Mormon canons to resolve the conflict. Missionaries are skilled in resolving conflicts with the Bible by the 8th Article of Faith: “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly.” This can very easily be interpreted as meaning, ‘We don’t believe a single word of the bible, except the parts which are translated correctly.’ This leaves a large margin for error; the LDS Church makes no such exception for the Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, or the Pearl of Great Price. Thus, it cannot be answered adequately because Mormon scriptures cannot conflict with themselves (though they do).
9. Mormons would have us believe that they repudiate the actions of fundamentalist polygamist groups and seem quite embarrassed of their history regarding polygamy. Isn’t it true that living men are still being sealed to more than one deceased woman each day in every temple around the world, and that these polygamist unions will be valid in heaven? Conversely, I understand that that the Church will not allow women to be sealed to more than one man in the eternities. Is this truly your doctrine? The average missionary might quickly answer ‘yes’ to this question, but would resent the tie to fundamentalist Mormons. The fact of the matter is that Mormons still seal living and/or deceased men to deceased women for eternity. The LDS Church has never repudiated eternal polygamy; just the opposite is true: they believe it is one of the saving graces of their religion. Again, a missionary understands that the correct answer to this is ‘YES’ but has also been taught to feel a certain amount of shame for the idea of polygamy because of it’s tie to fundamentalist Mormon groups.
10. Why are LDS women denied the same right as men to hold the priesthood? The LDS Church believes the Kingdom of God is a completely patriarchal order. Initially there was a ‘hint’ that Joseph Smith might extend the priesthood to women. The LDS Church granted the priesthood to black male members in 1978. Previously they considered their race “inferior.” What kind of confidence does this build in a faithful LDS woman?
11. Mormonism claims it is not possible for a woman to become a God. Why can’t a valiant woman inherit the highest degree of heaven without being married to a man? You must be firm in this (first sentence) statement. There is no provision for a woman to become a God in Mormonism; whether married or not. The LDS Church believes the Kingdom of God is a completely patriarchal order. Women are never allowed to EXCEL…the best they can hope to achieve is equality in their union with a priesthood holder; but this is simply a play on words. How does a Mormon missionary skirt past this with a single woman? They will mention that ‘a way will be provided’ for their exaltation. This ‘WAY’ is that they will be assigned to a harem in the eternities.
12. Both the “Book of Mormon” and the “Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible” make reference to the requirement of baptism prior to the days of John the Baptist; claiming that even Adam was baptized. If this was so essential, can you please explain why baptism is never mentioned in the Old Testament? This is yet another example of how the ‘unlearned’ Joseph proved his inept skills of deception. He simply did not understand that there were NO references whatsoever in the Old Testament to baptism, yet he plowed forward with a very clumsy attempt to explain that it (nonetheless) actually happened.
13. LDS authorities have published numerous works stating that the African American race is inferior to the white man. Can you please provide me with any recent statements by LDS authorities apologizing to the black race and admitting their past racist attitudes were wrong? To prove the racism exhibited by the Mormon Church, please see my book, the “Encyclopedia of Anti-Mormonism” pages 37-51 and 597-600.
14. The papyrus Joseph Smith claimed to translate into what is now known as the “Book of Abraham” is nothing more than the fairly common Egyptian funeral rites of “The Books of Breathing.” Similar varieties of this artifact have been discovered and scholars have accurately translated the language. Dr. W.M. F. Petrie explains: “To any one with knowledge of the large class of [Egyptian] funeral documents to which these belong, the attempts to guess a meaning are too absurd to be noticed. It may be safely said that there is not one single word that is true in these [i.e., Smith’s] explanations.” (Quoted in F.S. Spalding, Joseph Smith, Jr., As A Translator, page 24) How is it possible that Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Abraham can be so (scientifically) incredibly wrong, yet still be accepted by the religion as canonized scripture? The Book of Abraham is the single most embarrassing and easily dismissed fraud in Mormon history (see my book, the “Encyclopedia of Anti-Mormonism” pages 99-113). The purposely fraudulent “Kinderhook Plates” amounted to nothing compared to the gross attempt to translate the Egyptian funeral papyrus which has been given the bastardized title of the “Book of Abraham.” Please read my book about this…it’s unbelievable.
15. Both Brigham Young and Joseph Smith taught that the sun and/or the moon were inhabited by people. Can you please show me evidence these spheres were ever populated? Joseph Smith said the moon was inhabited by men and women the same as this earth, and that they lived to a greater age than we do; that they live generally to near the age of a 1,000 years. He described the men as averaging nearly six feet in height, and dressing quite uniformly in something near the Quaker style. His comments about this have been verified by multiple sources. Brigham Young said: “Who can tell us of the inhabitants of this little planet that shines of an evening called the moon?...when you inquire about the inhabitants of that sphere you find that the most learned are as ignorant in regard to them as the ignorant of their fellows. So it is in regard to the inhabitants of the sun. Do you think it is inhabited? I rather think it is. Do you think there is any life there? No question of it; it was not made in vain.” (JD 13:271) There are yet certain modern apologists who claim: In fairness to Joseph Smith, science has yet to prove men do not inhabit the moon.
16. In order to be considered worthy to enter the temple (and remain in overall good standing) each person is required to contribute 10% of their money to the Church. Why is one’s personal worthiness dependent in any way on money? This might actually be one of the easier questions a Mormon missionary can answer. They will attempt to diffuse the question by explaining that the donating of one’s income is merely a sign of pure dedication. Although this sounds entirely plausible, the fact is, the payment of tithing is perhaps the single most deciding factor in a member receiving a ‘temple recommend’ (or the least demonstrative compared to the greater ills). Holding a current ‘temple recommend’ is akin to absolute dedication within Mormonism. The 10% payment is a commandment in Mormonism.
17. Is it true that Adolf Hitler was posthumously baptized into the Mormon Church in the London LDS Temple on 10 December 1993? This is absolutely true. Beyond this, LDS officials sealed Hitler to Eva Braun in the Jordan River LDS Temple.
18. Upon my first visit to the temple I will be required to consecrate everything I own to the LDS Church. This seems akin to a ‘commune’ or a ‘theocratic’ environment. Is this a likely event for me if I faithfully unite with the religion? You are certainly required to commit to this idea in the temple. Whether or not you are compelled to comply is simply a matter of how far the authorities are willing to force the issue. One would be wise to look at the attempts of compliance commanded in late 2011 by Mormon fundamentalist Warren Jeffs as a sign of what desperation can demand.
19. Upon entering the temple I understand I will be required to wear a special undergarment between my body and my clothing, which will serve both as a reminder of my dedication and a form of magical protection for me. I must wear this day and night. Doesn’t this seem ‘cult-like’ to you, and is there any documented evidence that this garment has protected anyone from harm? The “Garment of the Holy Priesthood” is what is commonly known as ‘magic underwear’ to the rest of us. This very apparent ‘cult-like’ ritual is not widely discussed in detail as it’s considered to be ‘sacred.’ Certain missionaries might feel obligated to offer fantastic stories of magical protection which cannot be substantiated in any way. Beware.
20. Prior to 1990 the LDS Temple ceremony plainly taught (with physical representations) that your life could be taken by throat slitting, chest evisceration, vivisection, or disembowelment by revealing the secrets of the temple. How is it possible that such graphic displays of violence ever had a place in a building which Mormons would have us think of as ‘sacred?’ A brief explanation is required: Those of us who attended the temple prior to 1990 experienced the description of these ‘penalties’ first hand. Post-1990 temple goers would not have ANY IDEA this took place. Why? Discussion of this kind about the temple is limited to talking about it ‘within the walls.’ Any/all changes made today will not be known to the attendee tomorrow, unless it was brought to light in another way. Twenty + years have passed since the church (without much warning) deleted many of the more gruesome aspects of the temple ceremony; and it was even worse prior to the turn of the 20th century!
