My friend texted me this Catholic Answers page about problems with the Book of Mormon and I’m having a hard time refuting it
Hey guys,
My friend texted me a link to this Catholic Answers tract called “Problems with the Book of Mormon.” I thought I’d read it, find the holes in it, and maybe even send him something back. Instead I’m sitting here kinda rattled.
I went through it point by point and tried to find solid answers, but a lot of it is sticking with me and I’m not loving how weak some of my usual go-to responses feel.
The archaeology part is what’s bugging me the most. They talk about how there should be way more evidence of these huge Nephite and Lamanite civilizations, big cities, and especially that last giant battle. I checked FAIR and a few other places, but the explanations just aren’t giving me much peace right now. It feels like we keep saying “we haven’t found it yet” and I’m starting to wonder if that’s enough.
Then there’s the whole thing about the Book of Mormon having the same mistakes that are in the King James Bible. If it was translated by the power of God, why are those errors sitting right there? I’ve heard the “Joseph used language he knew” answer before, but it’s not sitting well with me at the moment.
What’s also throwing me off is how little of what we actually teach today shows up in the Book of Mormon. Stuff like God having a body, eternal progression, or even a clear teaching on the Godhead as three separate beings. Alma 11 seems to say there’s only one God. I’ve always heard the Book of Mormon has the fulness of the gospel, but this made me realize a lot of the distinctive stuff we believe isn’t actually in there.
Even the smaller things they bring up, like Jesus being born at Jerusalem in Alma 7:10 or the honey bees way too early, the answers I’ve seen just feel like they’re stretching it.
I’m not trying to tank my own faith or anything. I’ve had good experiences in the Church. But when I actually sat down and tried to answer this stuff instead of just brushing it off as anti-Mormon, I came up short. And that’s frustrating. I’m annoyed my friend sent it, annoyed at myself for not having better replies, and honestly just confused about why some of these points are so hard to shut down cleanly.
Has anyone else had something like this texted to them and actually worked through it? How did you handle it when the regular answers weren’t cutting it for you?
Appreciate any thoughts. This one’s been sitting heavier than I expected.