Book of Mormon External Evidences::Book Review: Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon

 Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon, edited by Donald W. Parry, Daniel C. Peterson and John W. Welch, Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 2002 FARMS.

This book offers many evidences of the Book of Mormon.  I just want to provide a high lights.  The Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God.  There is no other explanation.  Joseph was provided the Urim and Thummin for this purpose.  Joseph never explained exactly how he translated, other than by the power of God.

Testimony comes by revelation.  Moroni provides his promise at the end of the book, Ask with real intent and the power of the Holy Ghost will manifest the truth of the book.  Millions of people have taken advantage of this promise to gain testimony.  However evidence nurtures faith.

Joseph knew very little if not nothing about the Arabian Penninsula.  Yet the narrative of the Book of Mormon as told by Nephi, and their journey in Arabia fits the geography.  There have been places found which fit the land Bountiful, which much fruit, timber and ore.

To have written the Book of Mormon one would have needed information as well as apocryphal texts which were not available when the book was written.  Also to hve known about Hebraisms and Hebraic poetry.  How could these, such as  chiasmus,  be in the book if it was not a translation of ancient test.  

Study of language points out that the Book of Mormon was not written by Joseph Smith but translated from many authors.  Also other ancient writings which were not available to Joseph Smith prove over and o ver again the Book of Mormon story.  For example that prophets from the old testament times knew the story of Jesus, and even his name.  

Joseph Smith gets too many things right for the book to be anything other than a translation of ancient text.  This includes names that have Hebraic and Egyptian roots, history proven right by later documents discovered, "A place called Nahom" which is where it has to b e for the story.  

This work is not perfect.  It relies heavily on the Meso American model while I see more sense in the North American model.  However if you are looking for evidences of the Book of Mormon, you can find them in this book.