Dismantling Brian Hales’ Book of Mormon Defense: Mormonism LIVE: 141
Aug 17, 2023
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The hosts analyze Brian Hales' defense of the Book of Mormon's authenticity, discussing the literary style, presence of chiasmus and Greek names, complexity and authorship, New Testament scriptures, Joseph Smith's origins, discrepancies in Hales' defense, changes in the Book of Mormon, unique words, and priesthood office origins. They also explore speaking in tongues, xenoglossia, and conclude with future plans for creating videos on the Book of Mormon and apologetic devices.
The word count of the Book of Mormon can be condensed to a reasonable length, making it achievable within the dictated time frame.
The extensive list of characters in the Book of Mormon lacks significant character development and includes duplicates and derivatives, suggesting the creation of names on the spot by Joseph Smith.
The pattern of names in the Book of Mormon indicates that many were invented by Joseph Smith, undermining the claim of ancient origins for the names.
Connections between the Book of Mormon and the New Testament scriptures raise questions about the translation process and Joseph Smith's familiarity with the Bible.
Deep dives
The Size of the Book of Mormon
When considering the Book of Mormon's page count, it becomes clear that its word count is less overwhelming. With the first edition being 588 pages and the current edition being 531 pages, both similar in size, the book can be relatable in terms of length. However, when comparing it to the average book size today, the word count becomes even more manageable at around 166 pages, excluding biblical quotes. This demonstrates that the Book of Mormon can be condensed to a reasonable length, making it achievable within the dictated time frame.
The Characters in the Book of Mormon
The assertion of over 100 primary protagonists in the Book of Mormon is misleading. Most of the named characters are mere names without significant character development, and many are mentioned only once. While the term 'characters' implies complexity, the reality is that most of them are two-dimensional figures, serving as either heroes or villains. Furthermore, the list of names includes duplicates and derivatives, which suggests that Joseph Smith may have been inventing names on the spot, possibly drawing inspiration from the New Testament.
The Contrivance of Names
By analyzing the patterns and structure of names in the Book of Mormon, it becomes evident that many were invented by Joseph Smith through the addition of prefixes, suffixes, and infixes. The ease with which these names could be created suggests a deliberate effort by Smith rather than an ancient origin. The inclusion of Greek names further supports this notion. These observations undermine the notion that the Book of Mormon names are evidence of authenticity and instead indicate a more creative process in their creation.
Connection to New Testament Scriptures
Several instances in the Book of Mormon demonstrate connections to New Testament scriptures, such as parallels between Mormon and Mark, Paul and Moroni, and Jacob and Romans. These striking similarities raise questions as to how such connections could exist in a Book of Mormon claimed to be an ancient text. These instances highlight the need for critical analysis regarding the translation process and the influence of Joseph Smith's knowledge and familiarity with the New Testament.
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So in conclusion, Brian Hales's arguments against Dan Vogel's portrayal of Joseph Smith and his followers in the book "Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet" are unsubstantiated and based on misunderstandings. Hales misrepresents Vogel's portrayal and fails to address the historical evidence that supports Vogel's analysis. He cherry-picks certain aspects of the book and misinterprets them to fit his own narrative. Overall, Hales's critique lacks credibility and does not effectively challenge Vogel's arguments.
The Evolution of Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church
The podcast episode explores the evolution of Joseph Smith and the early Mormon church. It discusses the foundational document DNC 20 and its aim to prevent priestcraft and promote unity and equality. The episode highlights how Smith's portrayal by Vogel in his book is seen as a caricature and inadequate, and that caution is advised when embracing the version of Smith and his followers portrayed in Christianism.
The Adamic Language and Speaking in Tongues
The podcast touches on the concept of the Adamic language and its development within Mormon theology. It mentions the fascination with Adamic language and the belief that it was a closer approximation to the original language. The episode also introduces the idea of speaking in tongues, discussing its practice within the early Mormon church, the conflict it caused with the Huett branch in Missouri, and Joseph Smith's later disapproval of excessive spiritual phenomena like speaking in tongues.
Dismantling Brian Hales’ Book of Mormon Defense: ML: 141 In this episode, hosts RFM and Bill Reel team up with LDS scholar Dan Vogel to critically examine the arguments put forth by LDS apologist Brian Hales in defense of the Book of Mormon’s authenticity. They discuss Hales’ reasons and defenses of why the BOM can’t… Read More »Dismantling Brian Hales’ Book of Mormon Defense: Mormonism LIVE: 141
