Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing who pretend to care about the Book of Mormon but really have agendas. Anti-Mormons are:
- Against Mormon Church Founder Joseph Smith
- Against Mormon Church Prophets and Apostles
- Against Mormon Church Canon
- Against Mormon Church published History
- Against Mormon Church First Presidency Statements
- Against Mormon Church Instructions to Bishops
- Against Book of Mormon Witnesses
- Against Book of Mormon Prophecies
Mormon Church Founder
Joseph Smith identified the hill in Palmyra as “Cumorah,” place of the final Nephite battle (see Canon & History next).
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict what Mormon Church founder Joseph Smith said.
Mormon Church Canon
And again, what do we hear? Glad tidings from Cumorah! Moroni, an angel from heaven, declaring the fulfilment of the prophets—the book to be revealed. (D&C 128:20, Joseph Smith)
Note Joseph is recalling his encounter with Moroni at the hill Cumorah. This is where Moroni taught Joseph about the book’s contents “to be revealed.” That is future tense. Joe knew the hill was “Cumorah” before it came forth. An anti-Mormon will deny that he did.
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict Mormon Church Canon.
Official Mormon Church History
The following communication was designed to have been published in the last No. of the Star; but owing to a press of other matter it was laid over for this No. of the Messenger and Advocate. Since it was written, upon further reflection, we have thought that A FULL HISTORY OF THE RISE OF THE CHURCH OF THE LATTER DAY SAINTS, and the most interesting parts of its progress, to the present time, would be worthy the perusal of the Saints.
THAT OUR NARRATIVE MAY BE CORRECT, and particularly the introduction, it is proper to inform our patrons, that our brother J. SMITH JR. HAS OFFERED TO ASSIST US. (LATTER DAY SAINTS’ MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE, Volume I. No. 1. KIRTLAND, OHIO, OCTOBER, 1834 p. 12)
Joseph proceeded to identify the hill in Palmyra as “Cumorah,” location of the final Nephite battle:
You are acquainted with the mail road from PALMYRA…you pass a LARGE HILL…By turning to the 529th and 530th pages of the book of Mormon you will read Mormon’s account of the LAST GREAT STRUGGLE of his people, as they were encamped round THIS HILL CUMORAH. (LATTER DAY SAINTS’ MESSENGER AND ADVOCATE, Volume I. No. 10, KIRTLAND, OHIO, OCTOBER, 1834, p. 157-158)
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict Mormon Church History.
Mormon Prophets & Apostles
The following Mormon prophets & apostles are on record saying the final Nephite battle was at the Hill Cumorah in Palmyra: George Albert Smith, James E. Talmage, Anthony W. Ivins, Mark E. Peterson, Joseph Fielding Smith, John A. Widstoe, Gordon B. Hinckley, and Bruce R. McConkie.
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict Mormon prophets and apostles.
Mormon Church First Presidency Statements
A member of the church (Ronnie Sparks) inquired of the First Presidency back in 1990, where the location of Cumorah and the final Nephite battle was. Brother Sparks received a reply on official letterhead that identified the hill in Palmyra as “Cumorah,” location of the final Nephite battle. It said:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Office of the First Presidency Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
October 16, 1990
Bishop Darrel L. Brooks
Moore Ward
Oklahoma City Oklahoma South Stake
1000 Windemere Moore, OK 73160
Dear Bishop Brooks:
I have been asked to forward to you for acknowledgment and handling the enclosed copy of a letter to President Gordon B. Hinckley from Ronnie Sparks of your ward. Brother Sparks inquired about the location of the Hill Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon, where the last battle between the Nephites and Lamanites took place.
The Church has long maintained, as attested to by references in the writings of General Authorities, that the Hill Cumorah in western New York state is the same as referenced in the Book of Mormon.
The Brethren appreciate your assistance in responding to this inquiry, and asked that you convey to Brother Sparks their commendation for his gospel study.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
F. Michael Watson
Secretary to the First Presidency
[Original copy here: Watson Letter]
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict official statements by the First Presidency of the Mormon Church.
Mormon Church Instructions to Bishops
Mormon bishops are to protect their sheep. The following directive warned Bishops of an emerging theory that was contrary to the official position of the Mormon founder, prophets, and apostles:
The Messenger, July 1960, No. 51.
Bishops
“Attention Called To ‘Book of Mormon’ Maps”
Our attention has been brought in the past few weeks to certain “Book of Mormon Lands” maps which are being offered to Church leaders and auxiliary workers by a California organization. They are apparently being distributed free of charge.
We wish to refer bishops to the printed matter at the bottom of the map, which contains an inference that there are two, rather than one, Hills Cumorah — one in Mexico as well as the one in New York.
The Church has never accepted this contention.
Bishops are requested to make cognizant of this discrepancy those in their wards who might be sending for these maps or using them for instructional purposes. This concept of two Cumorahs should not be taught as official Church doctrine.
[Source: http://emp.byui.edu/marrottr/Cumorah-JFeS-DofS3.htm retrieved 020710]
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict official Mormon Church policies.
Book of Mormon Witnesses
A Nephite angel told special Book of Mormon witness David Whitmer, in the presence of Joseph and Oliver, that Cumorah was in Palmyra:
When I was returning to Fayette, with Joseph and Oliver, all of us riding in the wagon, Oliver and I on an old-fashioned, wooden, spring seat and Joseph behind us; while traveling along in a clear open place, a very pleasant, nice-looking old man suddenly appeared by the side of our wagon and saluted us with, “Good morning, it is very warm,” at the same time wiping his face or forehead with his hand. We returned the salutation, and, by a sign from Joseph, I invited him to ride if he was going our way. But he said very pleasantly, “No, I am going to Cumorah.” This name was something new to me, I did not know what Cumorah meant. We all gazed at him and at each other, and as I looked around inquiringly of Joseph, the old man instantly disappeared, so that I did not see him again.
J. F. S. Did you notice his appearance?
D. I should think I did. He was, I should think, about 5 feet 8 or 9 inches tall and heavy set, about such a man as James Vancleave there, but heavier; his face was as large, he was dressed in a suit of brown woolen clothes, his hair and beard were white, like Brother Pratt’s, but his beard was not so heavy. I also remember that he had on his back a sort of knapsack with something in, shaped like a book. It was the messenger who had the plates, who had taken them from Joseph just prior to our starting from Harmony. (“Report of Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith,” Millennial Star 40 (9 Dec 1878):771-7 )
Special Book of Mormon witness Oliver Cowdery testified that the hill in Palmyra was Cumorah, place of the final Nephite battle.
This Book, which contained these things, was hid in the earth by Moroni, in a hill called by him, Cumorah, which hill is now in the State of New York, near the village of Palmyra, in Ontario County.
Thus ended our first Indian Mission, in which we had preached the gospel in its fulness, and distributed the record of their forefathers among three tribes, viz: the Catteraugus Indians, near Buffalo, N. Y., the Wyandots of Ohio, and the Delawares west of Missouri (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt).
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict statements by Book of Mormon witnesses.
Book of Mormon Prophecies
There are numerous Book of Mormon prophecies that place Book of Mormon lands:
- White Gentiles would come “by the multitudes” to ancient Book of Mormon lands
- They would “obtain” or buy the lands
- A Gentile would find the record on Book of Mormon land
- The record would come forth on Book of Mormon lands
- The Gentiles would be blessed upon Book of Mormon lands
- The mother countries of those Gentiles would come to battle against those Gentiles on Book of Mormon lands
- Those Gentiles upon Book of Mormon lands would create a government called “New Jerusalem”
- That new nation, upon Book of Mormon lands, would rise to greatness “above all other nations”
- That new nation upon Book of Mormon lands would not have a king/queen
- That new nation upon Book of Mormon lands would be a blessing to Israel and the whole world
- That new nation upon Book of Mormon lands would be protected “from all other nations,” i.e., distinct boundaries
*An anti-Mormon will ignore or contradict Book of Mormon prophecy and where they were fulfilled.