How the Book of Mormon was Created

Creation of the Book of Mormon

A Summary

Despite being called the keystone to "the restoration of the gospel," the Book of Mormon was a compilation of ideas already in print before it was published in 1830, and is populated with fiction plagiarized from many parallel biblical stories, but with answers to religious questions circulating in the New England region in the early 1800's.

Mormon theology was sourced from Philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg, Josiah Priest, Professor John Smith of Dartmouth College, and Restoration Movement ministers Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott.

The Book of Mormon storyline was inspired from the combined works of Solomon Spalding and Ethan Smith, both students of Professor John Smith.

This new "book of scripture" and how it arrived was intended to hook new converts by seeming to clear up ambiguous and inconsistent doctrine in the New Testament, and by proclaiming that Jesus will return to the Earth very soon to reward only His church followers, the Mormonites.

Like the prophet Muhammad uniting the Arabs, Joseph Smith and the group that helped him intended to unite all of the Christian faiths with this book. Joseph studied and was a fan of Muhammad with his successful launch of Islam, his continual revelation, his many wives, and his overthhrow of Mecca with 10,000 men.

More Considerations

Some things to understand ...

Education was important in Joseph Smith's Family- Despite church claims that Joseph was uneducated, his father (briefly), older brother, and sisters all taught school. Hyrum was even sent to an Academy. The Smith family was reasonably educated.
Joseph Smith had an amazing imagination- Joseph's family reported that he would often make up stories about the early settlers of America and tell them around the dinner table, as early as 1823. Indian ruins where all around, and Joseph had access to many books listed below that speculated on the history of these people. Many of his ideas came from these early books that were written about the early inhabitants of the Americas. For a list of those books click here.
Joseph Smith had help from Sidney Rigdon- Sidney Rigdon, a minister after the order of Alexander Campbell, is thought to have began meeting secretly with Joseph Smith several years before the Book of Mormon was published. Rigdon was reported as being seen at the Smith Family home by various neighbors several years before the Book of Mormon was published. In addition, Rigdon started telling his parish a religious book was going to come forth in the near future and clear up all of the inconsistencies among the Christian sects. Many Campbellite doctrines taught by Ridgon before the book was published are found in the Book of Mormon (such as the sin of infant baptism, baptism by immersion, anti-polygamy doctrine in Jacob 2, separation of church and state, rejection of Masonic-like secret combinations), and, more interestingly, specific doctrines preached by Rigdon that were against Campbellite doctrines are also found in the Book of Morrmon (such as the endorsement of communal living, spiritual gifts existing today, continuing revelation). Sidney Rigdon's word patterns match some parts of the Book of Mormon. Rigdon at first pretended not to know Joseph Smith, and made a public display of rejecting the Book of Mormon and then shortly thereafter accepting it, converting his entire parish, and being accepted as equal to Joseph Smith within the new Mormonite church. He spent his entire tenure with the church as Joseph Smiths #1 man. He left Mormonism after Joseph was killed after a brief power struggle with Brigham Young. It's interesting to note Ridgon was never a participant in polygamy even though Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and many of the other original church leaders were.
Joseph Smith had and his team had years to work on this project- Despite the church saying the majority of the translation process took only 90 days, Sidney Rigdon, who likely started the project, had 14 years to work on it. before the publication of the Book of Mormon in early 1830.
Sidney Ridgon wrote the Lectures on Faith. According to BYU research, three independent studies concluded that Sidney Rigdon wrote the Lectures on Faith. (2005)
Joseph Smith didn't refer to the book much at all- Oddly enough, once the book was complete Joseph Smith did not teach from it much at all, nor did any of the early church leaders. In fact, as the church progressed, it developed contrary doctrines (Polygamy, Masonry, Kingship). Several witnesses recalled the dismissive attitude Joseph had towards the book by repeating what he said as he placed the original manuscript in the cornerstone of the Nauvoo House, "I have had trouble enough with this thing." (Ernest H. Taves, "Trouble Enough: Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon" 1984, p160)
We now know how the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible was created. Joseph Smith (or Sidney Rigdon) used Adam Clark's 1831 Bible Commentary to create the JST, according to recent BYU Research (March 2017).
The Book of Abraham was a fictitious work. The Maxwell Institute at BYU now admints Joseph's translation of the Book of Abraham is incorrect, and fictitious. (January 2019) The church awkwardly tries to explain this here. Jeffrey R. Holland awkwardly tries to explain this to a BBC reporter here.

**Much of Mormon Theology comes from Emanuel Swedenborg's book Heaven and Hell, which was written 72 years before the Book of Mormon**

Emanual Swedenborg's book contains these points of Mormon Doctrine, except it was written in 1758 which was 72 years before the Book of Mormon was published.

1. There are three heavens, and three levels in the third heaven.
2. Robes of the priesthood
3. Celestial marriage is necessary by the priesthood
4. One must be married celestially to inheret the highest kingdom of heaven
5. Spirit world is a prepartion for Heaven or perdition
6. Angels take messages between levels of heaven
7. Celestial, Spiritual (Terrestrial), and Natural (Telestial) kingdoms compared to Sun, Moon, and Stars
8. The church Christ established was taken from the Earth in a great Apostacy
9. Christ church will be restored on the Earth again
10. Children who die go straight to Heaven
11. Man is not saved by faith alone, but most show works from a changed heart
12. Those who know thruth and deny it are sons of perdition
13. Celestial beings live the law of consecration

Signey Rigden, a minister after the order of Alexander Campbell, brought Campbellite teachings into Mormonism

Alexander Campbell (1788-1866) taught some of Swedenborg's ideas, and added these theologic concepts:

1. Alexander Campbell started the restoration movement, attempting to recreate Christ's church based on the New Testament
2. Taught about the gathering of Israel
3. Taught that Christ would return and reign for 1000 years
4. Practiced partaking of sacrament including sacrament prayer
5. Elders were set apart by the laying on of hands
6. Spoke as if authorized by God
7. Taught by the Holy Spirit
8. Belived the new church sould have Christ's name
9. Rejected infant baptism
10. Taught baptism by immersion for the remission of sin
11. Taught that missionaries of the church should support themselves
12. Sidney Rigdon preached about a book of scripture coming forth in a few years that would unit all Christian sects
13. After the Book of Mormon was published, Signey Rigdon left the Campbellites and became a Mormonite
14. After it's release, Joseph Campbell wrote a scathing critique about the Book of Mormon

Professor John Smith of Dartmouth College, and his students Ethan Smith and Solomon Spalding

Professor John Smith (1777-1809) was the first professor at Dartmouth College, and also the local minister. He had two students who created books that inspired the storyline of the Book of Mormon.

Professor John Smith's ideas:

1. There was a pre-existense before Earth life
2. The nature of God
3. The Holy Ghost whitnesses truth
4. Our souls are immortal
5. Melchizedek Priesthood is Gods eternal authority
6. Atonement is necessary because man has fallen
7. The prosperity gospel (cycle of prosperity)
8. Ancient Americans arrived from Africa
9. Started School of the Prophets among the Indians
10. There are millions of peopled worlds
11. Comets and Sun have atmospheres and may even have people living on them
12. Heavenly bodies described similar to Peral of Great Price

Concepts from Ethan Smith's book View of the Hebrews:

1. Ancient Americans arrived from Middle East around 600 B.C.
2. Destruction of Jerusalem
3. Breastplate and Urum and Thummem mentioned
4. Isaiah is quoted for 24 chapters
5. Christ appears in the Western hemisphere
6. Indians had prophets among them

Concepts from Solomon Spalding's manuscript:

1. Ancient records found buried in a stone box, needing translation
2. Record of mound-building ancient Native Americans
3. Ancient people came from across the sea
4. Ancient people refiend iron, kept records, were governed by Kings

**A Massive Amount of Material in the Book of Mormon appears in The Late War, an 1817 Schoolhouse Reader.**

Chris and Duane Johnson have created a thorough page showing the similarities within both books. Please click here to see them. This is a very important link.

Here is a list of similarities listing elements from the Late War found in the Book of Mormon. There are more:

1. Forth of July
2. 2000 Stripling Warriors
3. A land most plentiful, containing gold & silver & elephants
4. Moundbuilding for defense
5. Proclamation, a Standard of Liberty
6. Earthquakes, cities overturned, black smoke/vapor of darkness, no light seen
7. Brass ball with curious works like a clock/spindles: (ie: Liahona)
8. Lots of battles at forts, & along borders of the land & rivers
9. Bands of robbers
10. Pitching tents along borders
11. Burned Martyrs
12. Mourning the Dead
13. Righteous vs. Savage Indians
14. Travel across water via Barges
15. Ships sailing off to faraway lands
16. Rallying for the Cause of Liberty
17. Christopher Columbus
18. Engravings on Silver and Brass Plates
19. False Prophets
20. Freemen vs. Kingmen

The Golden Pot, another gradeschool reader published three years before the Book of Mormon contains many parallals to Joseph Smith's account of receiving the plates from Moroni

1. Young protagonist seeking to be God's minister
2. Meditation on shortcomings when he has a vision
3. Encounters a great brightness like the sun before seeing a heavenly messanger
4. Receives a shock and evil encounter before seeing the messenger
5. Doesn't fully comprehend the vision at first, but does later
6. Has three visions in same evening and a morning vision
7. Called "crazy" among fellow religious associates
8. Called by angel to translate documents
9. Promised a seeing device
10. Told to wait one year to prove devotion

In addition these books were available to Joseph before 1830.

See the list of books that most likely influenced the Book of Mormon
For a list of books in print before 1830 that contained similar elements to what is found in the Book of Mormon, click here.

The Story of Lehi's family walking through the desert for 8 years came from the Old Testament Story of Moses wandering in the desert with the Israelites for 40 years.

Moses:

• Moses writes Egyptian, is wealthy, and must leave it all behind and flee for his life. Ex. 2:5-10, 15
• Moses kills an Egyptian man, and later becomes a prophet. Ex 2:11-12
• Receives divine warning to escape into the wilderness. Ex 3:2,8
• God promises to lead them to promised land. Ex 3:8-10
• They camp by the Red Sea. Ex 13:18
• Given divine direction via pillar of a cloud. Ex 13:21-22.
• At the Red Sea people lose faith and murmur. Ex 14:11-12
• While at Red Sea God arranges to have Pharaoh's horseman slain so that God's people will not perish Ex 14:27-30
• After traveling for a few days along the Red Sea, they call their camp Shur. Ex 15:22
• They move several times, finally locating an area with many "wells of water" and "palm trees." Ex 15:22-25, 27;16:1
• The Israelites murmur about their hardships & hunger. Ex 16:2-3
• Directions from the cloud provide needed food. Ex 16:9-15
• People murmur against the leaders for bringing them into the wilderness and want to return home. Ex 17:1-3,7
• Miriam (sister to Moses) dies, complaints increase. Ex 17:1-7; Num 20:1-13
• Dathan and Abiram accuse Moses of wanting to be "a prince over us." Num 16:33
• Leaders lives are in danger because of strife. Ex 17:4
• God speaks to his people and starvation is avoided. Ex 17:5-7
• People fail to remain repentant, despite many miraculous interventions. Ex 2-33; 16:9-35; 17:1-7
• Because of their transgressions, the people continue to wander in the wilderness for many years. Num 32:13; Ex 16:35
• Moses ascends "the mount" to receive the "laws" and comes down and oversees building of the tabernacle. Ex 19:1-5, 20, 19-40
• While on the mountain, Moses's people rebel by dancing and singing, and begin to forget the Lord. Ex 32:6-7, 17-19
• God is displeased and threatens the people with destruction. However, the people repent and eventually reach their destination. Josh 1

Nephi:

• Nephi writes Egyptian, family is wealthy, must leave it all behind and flee for his life. 1 Nephi 1:2; 2:1,4; 3:24-25
• Nephi kills Laban before becoming a prophet. 1 Nephi 4:10-11,18
• Receives divine warning to escape into the wilderness. 1 Nephi 4-6, 13
• God promises to lead them to promised land. 1 Nephi 2:19-20
• They camp by the Red Sea 1 Nephi 2:2-6
• Given divine direction via Liahona. 1 Nephi 16:10,16; Alma 37:33
• At the Red Sea, people lose faith and murmur. 1 Nephi 2:11-12
• While at Red Sea God arranges to have Laban slain so that God's people will not perish. 1 Nephi 4:2-3, 11-12, 18
• After traveling for a few days along the Red Sea, they call their camp Shazar. 1 Nephi 16:6, 11-13.
• They move several times, finally locating an area with "fertile parts." 1 Nephi 16:14-17.
• The party murmurs about hunger when Nephi breaks his bow. 1 Nephi 16:18-20.
• Directions from the Liahona provide needed food. 1 Nephi 16:25-31
• People murmur against the leaders for bringing them into the wilderness and want to return home. 1 Nephi 16:33-36
Ishmael dies, complaints increase. 1 Nephi 16:33-36
• Laman and Lemuel accuse Nephi of wanting to be "a king and a ruler over us." 1 Nephi 16:38
• Leaders lives are in danger because of strife. 1 Nephi 16:37.
• God speaks to his people and starvation is avoided. 1 Nephi 16:35,39
• People fail to remain repentant, despite many miraculous interventions. 1 Nephi 1-18.
• Because of their transgressions, the people continue to wander in the wilderness for many years. Alma 37:41-42; 1 Nephi 17:4
• Nephi ascends "the mount" to learn "great things" and comes down and oversees the building of a ship to go to the promised land. 1 Nephi 17:5-8; 18:1-3
• While on the ship, Nephi's people rebel by dancing and singing, and begin to forget the Lord. 1 Nephi 18:9
• God is displeased and threatens the people with destruction. However, the people repent and eventually reach their destination. 1 Nephi 18:10-23

The conversion of Alma the Younger was patterned after the New Testament conversion of Saul to Paul.

Paul's conversion:

• Was wicked before the conversion. 1 Tim 1:12-13
• Sought to destroy the church. 1 Cor 15:9; Acts 22:4

• Was persecuting the church when shown a heavenly vision. Acts 26:11-13

• Had a companion who fell to the earth and was unable to understand a voice that was heard. Acts 22:9; 26:14

• Was asked in a vision why they are persecuting the church. Acts 9:4; 22:7

• Was struck dumb and blind, became helpless, and were assisted by their companions. Acts 9:8-9, 18

• Went without food before converting. Acts 9:8-9, 18

• Started preaching the gospel and performed miracles. Acts 9:20; 14:10
• Supported them self while preaching with their own labor. 1 Cor 4:12

• Were put in prison. After praying, an earthquake resulted in their hands being loosed. Acts 16:23, 25-26

• When preaching, used phrases like:

The Holy Ghost saith ... To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation ... So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest,. Take heed brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief ... But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened.

Alma the Younger's conversion:

• Was wicked before the conversion. Mosiah 27:8
• Sought to destroy the church. Alma 36:6
• Was persecuting the church when shown a heavenly vision. Mosiah 27:10-11
• Had a companion who fell to the earth and was unable to understand a voice that was heard. Mosiah 27:12
• Was asked in a vision why they are persecuting the church. Mosiah 27:13
• Was struck dumb and blind, became helpless, and were assisted by their companions. Mosiah 27:12
• Went without food before converting. Mosiah 27:12
• Started preaching the gospel and performed miracles. Mosiah 27:32; Alma 15:11
• Supported them self while preaching with their own labor. Alma 30:32
• Were put in prison. After praying, an earthquake resulted in their hands being loosed. Alma 14:22, 26-28
• When preaching, used phrases like:
But God did call on men, ... saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, ... behold, I swear in my wrath that ye shall not enter into my rest. And now, my brethren, ... if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation.

The account of Lehi's dream was taken from a dream Joseph's father had.

Joseph Smith's Fathers 1811 Dream:

I was traveling in an open, desolate field ... My guide ... said, "this is the desolate world" ... I came to a narrow path ... I beheld a beautiful stream of water ... I could see a rope, running along the bank of it ... [I saw] a tree such as I had never seen before. It was exceedingly handsome ... Its beautiful branches ... bore a kind of fruit ... as white as snow ... I drew near and began to eat of it, and I found it delicious beyond description ... [and thought that] I must bring my wife and children, that that may partake with me. accordingly, I brought my family ... [and] we all commenced eating, ... We were exceedingly happy, insomuch that our joy cold not easily be expressed. While thus engaged, I beheld a spacious building ... [that] appeared to reach to the very heavens. It was full of ... people, who were very finely dressed ... [T]hey pointed the finger of scorn at us ... but their contumely [arrogance] we utterly disregarded ... [in preference to] the fruit that was so delicious. He [the guide] told me it was the pure love of God, shed abroad in the hearts of all those who love him... "[Look] yonder [he said], you have two more [children], ad you must bring them also". ... I asked my guide what was the meaning of the spacious building which I saw. He replied, "It is Babylon, it is Babylon, and it must fall."

Nephi's Fathers Dream in the Book of Mormon:

[A] man ... bade me follow him ... I had traveled for the space of many hours ... I beheld a large and spacious field ... I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy ... I did go forth and partake of the fruit ... [which] was most sweet, above all that I ever tasted. Yea, I beheld that the fruit thereof was white ... [I]t filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family would partake of it also ... I beheld a river of water ... [and] that [his family] did come unto me and partake of the fruit also. And ... I saw them [sons Laman and Lemuel], but they would not come unto me and partake of the fruit ... i beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river ... I also beheld a straight and narrow path ... [and] a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world ... [I saw] a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people ... and their manner of dress was exceeding fine ... they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not. 1 Nephi 8:5-6, 9-13, 16-20, 26-27, 33

King Benjamin's Speech account was fashioned after early Methodist Tent Gatherings.

Early Methodist Tent Gatherings:

Methodists in Joseph Smith's time would occasionally hold tent-camp meetings. One such event happened one mile from Palmyra, NY on June 7, 1826. Preparations included leasing and consecrating the ground, which was then considered sacred and chapel-like. This ground was called the "house of God," or their "temple." This particular tent meeting attracted over 10,000 people. Families came from all parts of the 100 mile district and pitched their tents facing the raised "stand" where the preachers were seated. One of them, interesting enough, was named Benjamin G. Paddock. The main preacher who spoke was Bishop M'Kendree, who was retiring. This was his final public speech and he spoke about personal salvation. The talk was well received and there was reported to be tremendous unity in the crowd and "nearly every unconverted person present" committed themselves to Christ.

Book of Mormon:

A prominent event in the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 2:1,5-7,28-30, details how King Benjamin held a special tent meeting with his people in Zarahemla. The setting was described as:

The people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the [last] words which [their beloved] king Benjamin should speak unto them ... [T]hey pitched their tents round about, every man according to this family ... every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple ... the multitude being so great that king Benjamin ... caused a tower to be erected ... [And he said from the platform,] I am about to go down to my grave ... I can no longer be your teacher ... For even at this time my whole frame doth tremble exceedingly while attempting to speak unto you.

Faith as a Seed was taken from the New Testament,
which was not yet written.

New Testament:

Matthew 13: 3-8
[A] sower went forth to sow ['The seed is the word of God," Luke 8:11] ... [S]ome seeds fell by the wayside ... [Some] sprung up ... [But] when the sun was up [, some] ... were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away ... [But some] brought forth fruit ....

Book of Mormon:

Alma 32:28-43
Now, we will compare the word unto a seed ... [I]f ye do not cast it out by your unbelief .. [it] sprouteth ... up ... [But] when the heat of the sun cometh[, it] ... scorcheth it, because it hath no root[, and] it withers away ... [But some seeds] bring forth fruit ...

Many Passages "written by Moroni" were taken from The New Testament, which was not yet written.

John 1:11-12; 14:11; Rev 22:13

I am in the Father, and the Father in me ... He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of god, even to them that believe on his name ... I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be dammed.

Luke 7, John 11, Mark 10

[She] stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash is feet with tears ... and kissed his feet ... When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, ... he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And ... Jesus wept ... And he took them [children] up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

3 Neph 9:15-18:

I am the Father, and the Father in me ... I came unto my own, and my own received me not ... And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name ... I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

3 Nephi 11

And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved ... And who so believeth not in me ... shall be dammed.

3 Nephi 17

[They did] bow down at hes feet and did worship him; and as many as could come for the multitude did kiss his feet, insomuch that they did bathe his feed with their tears .. Jesus groaned within himself, and said ... I am troubled ... [H]e wept ... and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them.

Moroni 7:45

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

The Conversions of Zeezrum, King Lamoni, King Lamoni's Father, and Alma the Younger all follow a traditional early 1800's Methodist revival formula.

Methodist Formula:

In the early 1800's the Methodist preachers followed a conversion pattern during revivals. Preachers such as George Lane, Lorenzo Dow, Eleazer Sherman wrote about this pattern. It is:

1. Revival Gathering
2. Guilt-ridden Falling-down on the ground exercise
3. Petition for Spiritual Emancipation
4. Absolution and Emotional Ecstasy

In the Book of Mormon, this early 1800's Methodist pattern recurs over and over...

.

King Benjamin's address:
1. People of Zarahemla gather at the temple site (dedicated land) in tents. Mosiah 2:1
2. When King Benjamin had made an end to speaking, he cast his eyes on the multitude and behold they had fallen to the earth...and had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. Mosiah 4:1-2
3. And they all cried aloud with one voice saying: O have mercy and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified... Mosiah 4:2
4. After they had spoke these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins... Mosiah 4:3
Alma the Younger's conversion:
1. An angel spoke unto us, as it were the voice of thunder. Alma 36:7,9
2. I fell to the earth, and it was for the space of three days ... I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins ... I was tormented with the pains of hell. Alma 36:10,12-13
3. I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am circled about by the everlasting chains of death Alma 36:18
4. [When I arose] I could remember my pains no more, yea I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. An oh, what marvelous light I did behold ...
Zeezrum conversion:
1. Zeezrum hears Alma and Amulek preach
2. Zeezrum begins to tremble ... [His] soul began to be harrowed up under a consciousness of his own guilt; yea, he began to be encircled about by the pains of hell ... [And he] lay sick at Sidon, with a burning fever, which was cause by the great tribulations ... on account of his wickedness.
3. [Confessing belief] in the power of Christ, Zeezrum sought redemption ... [and] Alma cried unto the Lord, saying O Lord our God, have mercy on this man. Alma 15:6-10.
4. And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrum leaped upon his feet ... And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord and he began from that time forth ot preach unto the people. Alma 11-12
King Lamoni conversion:
1. [T]he king believed all his [Ammon's] words. Alma 18:36
2. [And] he fell to the earth, as if he were dead... [Soon the queen and court] had all fallen to the earth. Alma 18:42; 19:19
3. [Prior to this, Lamoni] began to cry unto the Lord saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy ... upon me, and my people Alma 18:41
4. [Two days later the queen] arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people. When the king arose, he said: Blessed by the name of God ... I have seen my Redeemer ... and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. ... [The entire court declared] that their hearts had been changed; that they had no more desire to do evil. Alma 19:12-13, 33-34, 29-30
King Lamoni's Father's conversion:
1. Aaron preached to Lamoni's father with the same result. Alma 22:1-15
2. [Lamoni's father asks, W]hat shall I do that I may be born of god, having the wicked spirit rooted out of my breast ... that I may not be cast off at the last day? ... And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. Alma 22: 15,18
3. [Prior to this,] the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees ... and cried mightily, saying ... God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins. Alma 22: 17-18
3. And the king stood forth, [forgiven of his sins,] to minister unto them, inasmuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord. Alma 22:23.

The beautiful prose in the Book of Mormon describing the Savior is patterned after the 1822 Edition of the Koran.

Al Koran - Chap LVI

And whether he be of those who shall approach near unto god, his reward shall be rest, and mercy, and a garden of delights: or whether he be of the companions of the right hand, he shall be saluted with the salutation, Peace be unto thee! by the companions of the right hand his brethren: or whether he be of those who have rejected the true faith, and gone astray, his entertainment shall consist of boiling water, and the burning of hell fire. Verily this is certain truth. Wherefore praise the name of they Lord, the great God.

Book of Mormon:

The Book of Mormon is filled with nice, colorful prose speaking praises to God for His tender mercies.

The 1822 Koran was available to Joseph Smith, providing hundreds of pages of source content for inspiration.

Mounds, ditches, and mound-building ruins were all around the North-Eastern United States. Joseph Smith grew up around them.

Mounds were built by three groups of ancient American Indians: The Adena, the Hopewells, and the Mississippians.

Their mounds were built throughout Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan, and elsewhere. Some still exists today and are state historic sites.

Famous mound-building sites:

• Cahokia Mounds in Illinois
• Indian Mound Builders of Mississippi

The Book of Mormon is full of mound-building accounts. The people would build these for protection against their enemies.

The Book of Mormon contains 26 full chapters, mostly Isaiah, from a 1769 edition of the King James Bible.

Thesis by Minister Wesly P. Walters shows 26 full chapters from the 1769 edition of the King James Bible, in addition to quotations from other verses.

Read the BYU rebuttal here.

Chiasmus appear in many forms of writing from many parts of the world. Although present in the Book of Mormon, and ancient Hebrew, they are also found elsewhere, including an description of the concept in a mid-1920's Bible commentary written by Adam Clarke, and a 21 level Chiasmus is found in The Late War, a book published before the Book of Mormon.

Chiasmus Elsewhere:

• John F. Kennedy-
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"
"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind."

• Winston Churchill-
"Let us preach what we practise, let us practise what we preach."

• Ronald Reagan-
"We don't mistrust each other because we're armed, we're armed because we mistrust each other."

• Matthew 19:30-
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first."

• Matthew 23:12-
"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

• Crosby Stills, & Nash-
"And if you can't be with the one you love, honey, love the one your with."

• Shakespeare, Richard II-
"I wasted time, and now time doth waste me."

Book of Mormon Chiasmus:

• Helaman 6:7-13

• 2 Nephi 11:6-7

• Alma 36

Biblical Chiasmus:

Matthew 13:13-18.

King Lamoni being Raised from the Dead is copied from the story of Lazarus.

Lazarus is raised from the Dead:

...sent unto him ... [Jesus saith,] This sickness is not unto death, ... [for] Lazarus sleepeth ... [Then] Jesus saith unto her, They brother shall rise again ... Jesus said unto her ... Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord I believe ... [but] by this time he stinketh ... [Jesus spoke a]nd he that was dead came forth... John 11;3-4, 11, 23, 26-27, 39, 44

King Lamoni is raised from the Dead:

...sent and dressed that he [Ammon] should come .. and some say ... he stinketh ... He is not dead, [Ammon said,] but sleepeth ... [and] he shall rise again ... Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him ... I believe ... [And] he arose ... Alma 19:2,5,8-9,12

Alma Preaching and Amulek "Exhorting" is a Methodist preaching pattern.

Methodists are encouraged to preach the truth "plain" and "pointed."

As Methodist ministers traveled to various towns, one would preach while the other "exhorted." The primary preacher would introduce a biblical topic, while the second "exhorting" speaker would follow with encouraging supportive words and pleadings to the congregation to take the primary preacher seriously.

Book of Mormon authors often mention the "plain" and "precious" truths.

In Alma 33-34 describes Alma preaching while Amulek exhorts.

In Conclusion

There really isn't much that's unique inside the Book of Mormon, except fillers for wars and travel.

Most of this research came from Grant Palmer's book "An Insider's View of Mormon Origins" and the work of Chris Johnson and his computers.