By Jack H. West, 1954.
(Defense by INTERNAL EVIDENCE)
Compare Ezek. 37:15-19 with I Nephi 13:38-41, Mormon 7:8, 9
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CHARGES |
REFERENCES |
ANSWERS |
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Rev. 22:18, 19 |
Deut. 4:2
I Nephi 13:24, 26, 29;
Exo. 24:7; Num. 21:14;
Josh. 10:13; I Chr. 29:29
I Cor. 5:9No Bible when Rev. written. God has never said that He would not add to his words. Bible not complete—parts missing.
- Another Bible not needed.
Ezek. 37:15-19
I Nephi 5:14) Tribe
3 Nephi 10:17) of Joseph
2 Nephi 29:3-14) A Bible!
2 Cor. 13:1
John 10:16; 3 Nephi 15:21;
Other sheep:The more witnesses, the better. Instruction in Old Testament. In the mouths of two or more witnesses shall the truth be established. Example: Baptism 3 Nephi 11:23-26, Matt. 3:16, John 3:23; Acts 8:38; Eph. 4:5
- Contradicts the Bible.
3 Nephi 8:5, 12, 13, 19
3 Nephi 10:9
“In the Morning”
Luke 23:44
Crucifixion ends at
9th Hour (3 P.M.)No contradiction—Book of Mormon and Bible agree on all important points. NW part of South America is 112° W. of Jerusalem- 112° is 7 ½ hrs. equals 7:30 “In the Morning.”
- Fiction story by Joseph Smith. Spaulding manuscript.
Articles of Faith
Page 502.Not by any one man of group of modern men. 180 new proper names. No contradiction. 3000 year history. Not even similar to Spaulding Manuscript (see original at Oberlin College Ohio).
- Makes ridiculous statements.
I Nephi 13:30
Ether 1:42,43
Ether 2: 8, 10, 12Many statements seemed ridiculous in 1830 now proven true. Ex. America “Nation above all nations.” “Choice above all lands.”
- It would be more popular if it were true.
Challenge:
Moroni 10:4More copies of the Book of Mormon (Stick of Joseph) sold than any other religious book except Bible. 55 English editions—33 foreign editions. Very popular with anyone who will read with sincere desire to know whether true or not. Real power to conversion by itself. Ex. Story of Parley P. Pratt.
Charges Will Not Stand Up! Record is TRUE, AUTHENTIC, and DIVINE!
Prologue to Act II
You notice we have a whole group of charges here. (See chart on opposite page) which the prosecution made against the Book of Mormon and those who brought it forth. Had anyone of these charges been sustained by fact, our case would have been greatly weakened, but we found not one of these statement to be true. In many cases just the opposite was true.
First, the Bible was the whole word of God; therefore the heavens were closed. Missionaries who have been in the field have heard that many times.
Second, they charged that another Bible was not needed. The facts did not bear this out.
Third, they charged that the Book of Mormon could not be true because it contradicted the Bible. We found that this statement was not true.
Fourth, they charged that the Book of Mormon was a fiction story, first stating that it was written by Joseph Smith, then by a whole group of modern-day people. We found that that was not true, that it was not a fiction story.
Fifth, (the prosecution was beginning to grab for straws now, going down for the second time–) if the book were true, it would not make so many ridiculous statements. We have to admit that in the year 1830 many statements in the book sounded fantastic beyond belief, but you will see how we answered that charge to the court’s satisfaction.
Sixth, they said that if the book were true, it would be more popular. I began to ask what popularity and truth necessarily had to do with each other. Many times because a thing is true, it is unpopular.
In this second session or second lecture on the “Trial of the Stick of Joseph”, we will go almost completely to the words and pages of the “Stick of Joseph” itself, letting it answer these charges for and of itself. We will find the answers are beautiful; that the answers are very authentic, that the answers are conclusive, and that it will stand on its own feet, and that it is its own best witness, after all.
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