The book of Mormon, curiosity

[Chris_in_BC]

I have never believed in the Mormon faith, I am a proud and devout Catholic however I have always been intrigued by the book of Mormon written by Joseph Smith and have been actually considering reading it but the reason I haven’t is becaus I’m afraid it would be considered blaspehemy since it goes against what I believe in because the book of mormon states that Christ came a 2nd time. I was wondering if it would be ok to read the book of Mormon soley for the purpose of feeling my curiosity?

 

[FightingFat]

I think that reading can never be a bad thing to be honest.

The BoM is online here scriptures.lds.org/en/bm/contents

If you can read it all, I’ll be impressed!

I’m particularly fascinated by LDS, I guess part of that fascination comes from not having many here in Blighty. They stopped coming round (I suppose for obvious reasons) I have made a couple of friends over there in Utah and it has served to increase my fascination.

They really, honestly believe in that stuff and it just seems so far fetched to me. I think they are so nice and so devout, it’s so impressive. The zeal they go about their evangelism with is extraordinary and wonderful. One friend in particular is really, really convinced he is right. He is like a master of evasion when we discuss stuff and avoids talking to me at all about religious matters-- despite that, despite my obvious love of Catholicism, despite my more than superficial knowledge of my faith and, indeed, his faith, he is convinced-- I mean really convinced-- that God is calling me to be Mormon.

I only love him for it, he’s great and, let’s face it, it’s great to be wanted!

I have to say I just think it is bonkers though! The appologetics just seem like arguing that black is actually white-- or like the creationists who claim the earth is 6,000 years old.

Still, you have to look at it and learn don’t you? Some Christ is better than no Christ!

 

[Dirk_Skene]

Just remember it is a fake holy book, like the koran, and you’re ok. l’ve read both of them. In my opinion it falls under “know your enemy.”

 

[Ray_Scheel]

My one bit of advise would be to locate and brush up on the critiques of the veracity of the Book of Mormon before beginning, and also look at the history the Mormons claim for those books and how they came to be recorded. I have read a great portion of it. One thing I noticed was that the writing styles of the various sub-books and the transitions of styles from one section to the next did not match up with the number of alleged original writers and which works were attributed to them. It seemed much more like Joseph Smith and his two initial cohorts took turns writing.

 

[Daniel_Marsh]

The book of Mormon is a good sleeping pill.

And, which edition of the BoM are you going to read?

 

[Ray_Scheel]

And, which edition of the BoM are you going to read?

I got the most enjoyment out of requesting a free copy of whatever the current version was through LDS, which I knew would come with a bonus of having two Mormon missionaries attached. They brought along a real elder on their third visit, at the conclusion of which they were instructed, in front of me, to not visit me by themselves in the future. They did drop stuff by a few times after that, but I’d have to leave the house if I saw tehm circling the block on thier bikes so they could come to the door and drop it off. It was a little spooky that they knew what my car looked like, but still, a lot of fun.

 

[dulcissima]

I looked through it once when I was satying at a hotel where one had been left alongside the Gideon’s Bible. It seemed kind of far-fetched to me. I kind of doubt most Catholics would be in danger from reading it if they were well grounded in their faith. If anything, I found it to be an affirmation of my own faith.

 

[Sandi]

Mark Twain’s famous comment on it: “Choloroform in print.” I think that sums it up nicely. Keep it on your nightstand for nights when you’re troubled with insimnia; you’ll be asleep is no time.

 

[BeeSweet]

From Mark Twain’s “Roughing It”:

“The book seems to be merely a prosy detail of imaginary history, with the Old Testament for a model; followed by a tedious plagiarism of the New Testament. The author 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. Whenever he found his speech growing too modern — which was about every sentence or two — he ladled in a few such Scriptural phrases as “exceeding sore,” “and it came to pass,” etc., and made things satisfactory again. “And it came to pass” was his pet. If he had left that out, his Bible would have been only a pamphlet.”

I have read through portions of it, and I don’t think you should have any worry about blasphemy by reading it out of curiosity. Especially if you have children or plan to have children, since Mormons are vehement proselytizers.