In a recent article appearing in byu studies, 1 wayne larsen, alvin rencher, and tim layton, specialists in statistics at brigham young university, used some highly sophisticated, computerized statistical techniques to examine wordprints of authors in the book of mormon. However, does anyone have additional thoughts on the 1982 byu study. Book of mormon study squares the red headed hostess. Ive read a number of the wordprint studies, so i responded to it. Universities have even experienced a burgeoning interest in mormon studies. Looking at what mormonism teaches about the book of mormonand what the book of mormon itself teaches.
From reading this paragraph, one would think wordprint studies are solidly in favor of mormons. The spalding studies library a compilation of historical statements in the spalding debate. It asks readers to understand that if there be fault in the book of mormon it be the mistake of men. One man took note of every geographic description of cities, rivers, mountains, seas, etc.
The term wordprint was coined by the larsen group to represent patterns. While considering ways of making the precepts of this divine book more readily available to the reader, a distinguishing format was devised to isolate the doctrinal precepts and at the same time render this rather complex volume of. In another post, there was a challenge to explain away a number of evidences of the book of mormon. In a recent article appearing in byu studies, wayne larsen, alvin rencher, and. Can wordprinting show that different sections of the book of mormon were written by different authors. Barney, remains unconvinced of the validity of wordprint analysis. Conflicting results of computer analyses of the book of mormon. However, the comment got buried, so i thought id bring the discussion to its own thread. This book is the 2nd edition of our best selling study guide first published in 2014. At the turn of nineteenthcentury came americas second great awakening.
The last of the plates of mormon was the title page. I still think there is a serious problem of imprinting a particular geographyeven an abstract onebut if the people involved accept the scripture on faith alone, they may never care about the realworld geography, so a mental abstract map is no problem. Book of mormon wordprint studies have been used by both critics and apologists to provide valuable insights into the text of the bom. Jan shipps is the perfect inaugural interview for the mormon studies podcast. The wordprint analysis by wayne larson and alvin rencher questions once again the theory that sidney rigdon or solomon spaulding authored the book of mormon pp.
Certainly any research done in the future will be indebted to larsen, rencher, and layton, who called our attention to an interesting and challenging area of book of mormon study. An introduction to the relevance of and a methodology for a study of the proper names of the book of mormon. If the book of mormon was written by ancient authors, we should be able. Topic tab instant download printable book of mormon. Wordprint studies of the book of mormon fairmormon. The prophet joseph smith declared a person would get nearer to god by abiding by the precepts of the book of mormon than by any other book. This new book has all the same great content as the first study guide but the entire book of mormon is covered in this one book instead of as a two volume series. Out of the ashes of this second awakening arose what would eventually become one of americas largest and somewhat controversial churches, the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Ive seen tbms reference this study, numerous times, to argue that joseph smith couldnt have written the book of mormon. Story and photo by mike foley, originally published to the byuhawaii electronic newsroom, april 17, 2007 elder gale bryce, a volunteer service missionary at the polynesian cultural center, explained in the heavily attended april 17 school of computing inform meeting how two former colleagues used wordprint statistical analyses to authenticate book of mormon authorship. The book of mormon opens in the first year of the reign of zedekiah, ten years before the fall of jerusalem. So read the title page in the june 1829 application, the printers manuscript, and the 1830 edition of the book of mormon. They compared twentyfour book of mormon authors each having at least 1,000 words to each other, and concluded on the basis of three separate statistical tests that these authors were distinct from each other and oliver cowdery, joseph smith, jr.
A primary takeaway seems to be that wordprint analysis is an imprecise tool for determining authorship of the book of mormon. The nonmormon scholars may not agree that the book of mormon is ancient, but their willingness to engage the ideaand the lds scholarship on the topiccertainly suggest that there is or at least can be legitimate study of the book of mormon as ancient, and most of these nonlds scholars were impressed by lds scholarship on the matter. Some of the technologies we use are necessary for critical functions like security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and to make the site work correctly for browsing and transactions. Nevertheless, this isnt the only test that the book of mormon has passed.
See more ideas about book of mormon, scripture study and lds scriptures. Creative book of mormon study resources latter day lane. I created this read the book of mormon in 60 days bookmark that can keep you right on track to finish in a couple months. Does wordprint prove the book of mormon is the real deal. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source roberts served in the. Mormon classics a directory of texts and newspaper articles available on the internet. Such attention, however, is a doublededged sword, forcing the lds church to. Of course, wordprint analysis, while it can measure certain facts objectively, cannot prove the holiness of the book of mormon.
The understanding that the book of mormon has a divine origin is obtainable only by byu studies 30, no. The initial book of mormon wordprint studies were carried out by larsen, rencher, and layton. Notice the date in omni compared to the date in the words of mormon. By wordprint analysis, it is now possible with a high degree of certainty to tell which suspected authors. Robertss work points the way that an intellectually. Book of mormon wordprint studies in 2020 lds church is. This is a fun and effective way to study in any of the following ways. The book of mormon relates the religious history of the nephite nation for a thousand years until widespread apostasy about 400 ad. Roberts studies of the book of mormon this book contains manuscripts of roberts who was a general authority, author, and church historian in which he expresses some serious doubts about the authenticity of the book of mormon and frankly admits that joseph smith had a vivid enough imagination and the source material available to produce the book of mormon. Wordprinting is based on the somewhat surprising fact that every author that has been studied thus far subconsciously uses sixtyfive identifiable patterns.
Book of mormon wordprints reexamined a look at the byu study. What can stylometry tell us about book of mormon authorship. The problem of book of mormon authorship has challenged historians and theologians since the book was published in 1830. The latterday saint movement studies research guide highlights essential resources in the study of all religious groups associated with joseph smith, jr.
Today i found allison kimball who is incredibly creative. Science, ancient history, and the book of mormon these resources explore the book of mormon in relation to archaeology, geography, history, and. The original book of mormon transcript the book of. In every set comparing the book of mormon texts against these three writers, at least seven and often many more rejections were measured. The book of mormon begins about 600 bc with a small group who fled jerusalem, landed in america, and quickly split into two antagonistic nations, the nephites and the lamanites. They compared twentyfour book of mormon authors each. Modern computers have given birth to a new science of analyzing word patterns in documents whose authorship is disputed. These two studies, aka book of mormon difficulties, were written in the 1920s when roberts decided to dive deep into the criticisms of the book of mormon and see if he could address some of the big issues plaguing the book. Opponents of the book have claimed that joseph smith wrote it himself, or that an accomplice such as solomon spaulding or sidney rigdon penned it and somehow transferred it to joseph smith. The book of mormon study guide that got me reading.
The writings of the mormon church, contained in the mormon studies collection 45 vols. She shares many free ldsthemed downloads along with scripture journaling ideas, pocket pages. Bible study by roy the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, commonly called the mormon church, regards the bible as part of the holy scriptures, considers it sacred, and knows that is the word of god as far as it is translated correctly. A dynamic, interactive, webfriendly presentation of the book of mormon. Mormon abridged all but the last three books in the book of mormon, and also put his own book in. For children i recommend living scriptures streaming app and on the website the link goes to my article that shows what they offer and a special coupon. These results yield strong statistical evidence that the wordprints of joseph smith, oliver cowdery, and solomon spaulding are not measurable in the book of mormon. The first was whether the wordprints of authors within the book of mormon. Book of mormon wordprints reexamined a look at the byu. Mormon lived much later, but inserted some of his words here.
Book of mormon wordprint or word pattern studies parent page. Results based on the next generation of wordprint studies may yet provide the encouraging support sought by faithful church members. Diagrams, doodles, and insights this book of mormon study guide will deepen your love for the scriptures. If he copied from someone, we should see that authors writing style likewise. It turns out that the book of mormon is internally consistent from the first page to the last. Does joseph smiths role as translator obfuscate patterns unique to ancient authors. I have always felt that the basis assumptions underlying book of mormon wordprint studies are. Senior missionary explains book of mormon wordprint analysis. If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, we should be able to see his literary style across the entire book. Book of mormon research page full text of view of the hebrews, 1830 book of mormon, and book of commandments. Wordprints and the book of mormon book of mormon central. At least three computer analyses have been completed to date in an effort to determine who wrote the book of mormon, and whether it was a single individual or a group. If joseph smith wrote the book of mormon, we should be able to see his. Studies of the book of mormon is a collection of essays written at the beginning of the 20th century though not published until 1985 by b.
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