Criticism of Mormonism/Video/The Bible vs Joseph Smith

1. REDIRECTTemplate:Test3

This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.

Overview

(NOTE: This review is incomplete and is still being worked on. If you would like to help please let us know through our "Ask the Apologist" service!)

In 2010 Sourceflix & Living Hope Ministries (LHM) produced a DVD entitled "The Bible vs Joseph Smith". This film compares and contrasts the prophecies found in the Bible with the prophecies found in the Book of Mormon. The format of the film is a dialogue between Joel Kramer of LHM and Greg Gifford, a Latter-day Saint. The film is shot entirely in Israel, and various scholars are interviewed for their opinions. Overall the filming is well done and leaves the sense of a solid case against Joseph Smith, when in reality the arguments are very poor and easily debunked.

How to test a prophet

The film opens with a short conversation about the biblical test for determining whether a prophet is a true prophet or a false prophet as found in Deuteronomy 18꞉20-22:

20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him .

Commenting on this passage, Kramer says,

"A prophet is someone who claims God is speaking through them. So how can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord? The answer is the test of a prophet. Here’s how it works. Since only God knows the future people can test a prophet by how accurately he predicts the future. If even one of his predictions does not take place or come true that prophet fails the test. And if a prophet fails than God commands the people to put him to death and to not be afraid of him."

A few important points should be made about this:

Please see the FAIRwiki article which addresses this issue: The test of a prophet in Deuteronomy 18:21-22

Bible vs The Book of Mormon: "plain and precious parts"

• Nephi's prophecy that many "plain and precious" things would be taken from the scriptures
• No ancient manuscript evidence for the Book of Mormon
• Transmission and reliability of Biblical texts
  • Were "plain and precious" things removed from the Old Testament after Christ?
  • Were "plain and precious" things removed from the New Testament after Christ?
• Did Nephi utter a false prophecy?

Relevant articles: John Gee: The Corruption of Scripture in Early Christianity (http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=42&chapid=206)

Bible vs Book of Mormon: Prophecies of Christ

• Micah vs Alma/Christ's birthplace at Bethlehem or Jerusalem
  • FAIR Wiki article: Alma's description of Christ being born "at Jerusalem"
• Isaiah 16:5 prophecy of Christ
• Psalm 22:16 prophecy of Christ
• Daniel 9:26 prophecy of Christ
• Psalm 16:10 prophecy of Christ
  • Evidence for Christ's resurrection
• No evidence for Book of Mormon prophets/prophecies

The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) vs The Bible

• FAIR Wiki article:The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible
• JST Isaiah 29
• JST John 1:1
• JST Romans 4:16
• JST as a corruption of the Bible

Joseph Smith vs Jesus Christ: Temple Prophecies

• Joseph Smith's prophecy of the Independence, Missouri temple (D&C
  • FAIR Wiki article:Joseph Smith's prophecy of the Independence, Missouri temple
• Jesus' prophecy of the destruction of the Jerusalem temple

Conclusion: Joseph Smith as a false prophet

• Does the evidence so far suggest that Joseph is a false prophet?
• Putting a false prophet to "death"
  • Kramer's ridiculous interpretation of Deut 18:20

Scholars/Individuals appearing in the film

• Joel Kramer
• Greg Gifford
• Dr. Christophe Rico
• Dr. Randall Price
• Dr. Gabriel Barkay
• Dr. William L. Craig
• Todd Bolen
• Dr. Shimon Gibson
• Paul Trask

==

Answer

==

== Notes ==

Analysis of videos and films critical of Mormonism

Jump to Subtopic:

• Response to 8: The Mormon Proposition
• Big Love's episode "Outer Darkness"
• Response to The Bible vs. Joseph Smith
• Response to The Bible vs. The Book of Mormon
• Response to Religulous
• Jesus Christ/Joseph Smith or Search for the Truth DVD
• Response to September Dawn
• Response to the 1982 anti-Mormon film The God Makers
• An analysis of "Why People Leave the LDS Church" (2008)
• A review of claims made in "Understanding Mormon Disbelief" by the Open Stories Foundation
• A review of claims made in Dr. Robert Ritner's three-episode interview with John Dehlin