WASHINGTON– When it’s time to relax, some senators play golf. Others pour themselves a drink.
But Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, isn’t inclined toward the greens and his faith preaches against alcohol.
Instead, he’s spent time on and off for the last seven years building a defense of the Book of Mormon, one of the key tomes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The three-term senator whose job puts him at the center of political power has now delved into a different debate: whether the book Mormons believe was revealed by an angel to their founder Joseph Smith in the 1820s is authentic.
“I live in a world where sometimes you have to respond to conflicting opinions,” said Bennett in an interview. A former missionary and bishop and the grandson of a past president of the church, the senator turns 76 this month (Sept.).
Bennett says “Leap of Faith: Confronting the Origins of the Book of Mormon,” was sparked by the “shallow treatment of a serious subject” by media who covered the church and its scripture around the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Scholars outside the Mormon faith also have strong doubts about the Book of Mormon’s historical accuracy because they find scant evidence of the large groups of people it says roamed the earth centuries ago.
“Thus, for anyone truly interested in the Church and its claims, a thorough examination of the Book of Mormon as a possible forgery is a requirement,” Bennett wrote.
In his book, published this month (September) by the Mormon publisher Deseret Book, the senator delves into the complex stories and basic doctrines of the Book of Mormon. In a conversational tone, he recounts and analyzes its stories of the migration of the groups and the appearance of Christ before them.
Beyond his family history and personal interest in the faith, Bennett cites another reason for his ability to delve into the debate.
As an executive for two companies owned by billionaire Howard Hughes, Bennett worked to prove that an autobiography of his boss was a forgery.
“I was the one who talked to the newspapers and talked to the press and had the Life magazine reporter in my office, trying to convince him this whole autobiography was nonsense,” recalled Bennett, who was the public relations director for Hughes’ Summa Corporation.
Now, the senator is arguing that the Book of Mormon is not a forgery, saying its intricacy and door-stopping verbosity — 584 pages in its original edition — help prove it is real.
Beyond the “spiritual tug” believers feel when they read it, he said, “The greatest single evidence of the Book of Mormon is its length and its complexity.”
But Bennett acknowledges the arguments of skeptics who simply can’t get past the supernatural role of the angel Moroni, who Mormons believe revealed buried gold plates to Smith so he could translate the histories detailed on them.
Neither does he shy away from the argument that there is little solid evidence of the people the book describes.
“If you have a civilization that has populations in the millions, that civilization ought to leave behind an archaeological footprint that somebody could find,” said Bennett.
“There are Mormon archaeologists who say we have found sites but they’ve been unable to convince any of their colleagues that are not of the Mormon faith.”
Bennett acknowledged he had trouble finding a non-Mormon publisher to release his research. He said several were initially interested when he sought a publisher during the presidential campaign, but that interest waned when Mormon candidate Mitt Romney dropped out of the race.
“The Book of Mormon has never been examined seriously by scholars outside the faith,” said Terryl Givens, a Mormon and independent scholar at the University of Richmond whose “The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction” was published in August by Oxford University Press.
“The story of its coming forth is too fantastical for non-Mormons to overcome.”
Jan Shipps, a non-Mormon scholar who has studied Latter-day Saints for half a century, said she hasn’t assessed the veracity of the Book of Mormon but said it certainly has its critics.
“They say it was either a copy of something or that it was a forgery of some kind, that a man without any kind of education could not have written this book,” said Shipps, former professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
The senator made a point of separating his work from both church and state.
Bennett left his senatorial title off the book cover and he noted
inside: “This is entirely my own work, neither commissioned nor sanctioned by the Church.”
Church spokeswoman Kim Farah said church officials don’t comment on books about Latter-day Saints topics — by Mormons or non-Mormons “except to say that such publications represent the personal opinions and expressions of the respective authors.”
Bennett said some church members have expressed qualms about his work but he considers his approach to be an honest one.
“I’ve had some members of the church say to me, `We like the fact that you’re being evenhanded here, but we’re really disturbed that you’re raising some problems,”‘ he said. “I came to realize that you need a leap of faith if you’re going to believe it. You also need a leap of faith if you’re going to reject it.”
By ADELLE M. BANKS c. 2009 Religion News Service
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
Beliefnet
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posted September 8, 2009 at 7:47 pm
The Mormons are at a disadvantage to most religions in that they are so new their fantastical claims can more easily be checked.
But in fact they have the same degree of substantiation as Christianity or Islam or Judiasm, for instance. None.
So for all you religious inclined to hold your nose at Mormonism, stop ignoring the stinks of your own houses.
posted September 8, 2009 at 7:58 pm
I checked on Wikipedia, and read about how the engraved metal plates were found. If they dug up the Cumorah Hill in Manchester, NY and actually found the box with the plates would everything disappear if all the commandments hadn’t been observed yet?
I don’t smell anything, nnmns. 
posted September 8, 2009 at 8:20 pm
The book of Mormon is has as much fiction as other holy books, I suspect.
posted September 8, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Although the basis of any religion relies on faith in the religions dogma, there is a philosophy hidden in the myths of the texts. The poster that states there is no archaeological evidence of other scriptures is just under educated. I would suggest a reading of some of Martin Noth’s works, or John Bright, Childs, Clements, Eichrodt, Gottwald, Eduard Nielsen or G. Ernest Wright. I myself, have spent many years in Palestine and also studing various Codex. The evidence that presents the possibilities of aspects of scriptual agreement, abound. We even have texts today from Mesopotamia.
The fact that nothing exists from the Mormon text is not surprising. The fact that soil tested in areas that the Book of Mormon claims that great battles ensued is significant. There were no battles there. The real method of interest is to read from The First Book of Nephi and compare it to the early life of Joseph Smith, who wrote it. There are too many similar points to believe it is not a fabrication. He simply took his own life and changed it to sound like biblical writing. The Mormons historians play “Cutesy” with the whole Joseph Smith was uneducated. The fact is he had been running scams for many, many years before the Book of Mormon was released. He also had many years between his “First Vision” and being given the plates by Moroni to dream up his story.
Thomas Jefferson believed in God and yet he felt that the stories of religion were a dream. If the world of God exists in the consciousness of man, that does not exclude Joseph Smith from being a Prophet, even if he did “Dream up” The Book of Mormon. The real problem is his further work the “Doctrine and Covenants”, this is opportunistic scripture at its worse, one has to study what was happening at the time these works were created, to understand what Smith was doing. Like the Qur’an (Koran), it serves the creator of the texts more than the collective humanity.
posted September 8, 2009 at 10:29 pm
From Jason’s comments regarding the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants it is pretty clear he has not read them. Just another poser. I have read both, many times. I also have read many other books, and I believe what Joseph Smith said, that one can get closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon than by reading any other book. It is not boring. It is not anything other than what it purports to be, a religious history of an ancient people inhabiting the Americas.
posted September 9, 2009 at 1:41 am
nnmns you really should smell your own house of atheism and stop smelling around so much.
posted September 9, 2009 at 4:26 am
MAY I ADDRESS YOU RESPECTFULLY AS BROTHER BENNETT. YOU ARE A HERO AND A LOYAL MEMBER OF THE SAID CHURCH. THE CHURCH NEEDS DEDICATED AND COMMITTED MEMBERS LIKE YOU WHO STAND UP AND AGAINST THE ONSLAUGHT OF THE LONG TIME INJUSTICE DONE AGAINST THIS PEACEFUL AND LOVING CHURCH.
THE SCRIPTURES MENTION THE TEST OF TRUTH- YE SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS. WHO DECIDES WHAT IS TRUE IF THE LORDS METHOD OF RECOGNIZING AND IDENTIFYING THE TRUTH IS IGNORED? FIRST, EDUCATION BY THE HOLY SPIRIT RESULTS IN HAVING FAITH.FAITH LEADS THE HUMBLE AND THE UNLEARNED TO ACCEPT THE LORD’S MESSAGE-BELIEVING EVEN WITHOUT SEEING OR TOUCHING. SECOND, EDUCATION BY THE PHILOSOPHY OF MEN, THE WORLD, RESULTS IN THE UTTER AND THE OUTRIGHT REJECTION OF SPIRITUAL MATTERS BECAUSE MAN WANTS TO PROVE THINGS SCIENTIFICALLY, PHILOSOPHICALLY AND SO FORTH. SO, BRO. BENNET, JUST IGNORE THOSE WHO FAIL THE TEST OF FAITH AND CONTINUE ON YOUR MISSION. YOU WILL SAVE AT LEAST ONE SOUL. YOUR BROTHER IN CHRIST WHO BELIEVES IN THE VALIDITY AND AUTHENTICITY OF THE BOOK OF MORMON. AMA.
posted September 9, 2009 at 5:18 am
There you go, cknuck. Faith leads to the Book of Mormon. Your seem to have been mislead.
posted September 9, 2009 at 7:15 am
It would have been impossible for any (scholar or non scholar) author in 1829 to write such book, dear Jason. One of the reasons is the presence of CHIASMUS (strange and unknown Hebrew poetic figure) in the texts. Other reason is its geographical coherence, of which Joseph Smith himself was not aware. Other reason is the Hebrew end Egyptian non-biblical names. Other reason is the Arabic discursive figures and expressions. Other reason is the complex flashbacks of the Book of Mosiah. Other is the apparently absurd profecies (the “inmediate” coming of Christ, for example, in 580 B.C.) that a mere creator or forger, ready to lie, wouldn´t have ever written.
posted September 9, 2009 at 9:41 am
A Protest minister says the Book of Mormon is consistent with Protestant theology.
http://www.centerplace.org/library/bofm/baptistversionofbofm.htm
posted September 9, 2009 at 10:38 am
No doubt there are some good people in the Mormon Church, misguided, but good. The funny thing about this book is that it is put out not long before an election in Utah where polls showed “Brother Bennett” down if not out. With this the Mormon’s in Utah will be sure to vote for such a strong religious man. How sad that he is exploiting the Church for his own gain.
posted September 9, 2009 at 11:28 am
Good article. I agree with the doubters, too. Joseph Smith did not write The Book of Mormon….. Joseph Smith only read aloud what was written on the ancient record contained in the gold plates (thin sheet metal with writing enscribed – longer lasting than paper) He had someone else take the dictation …..so technically Joseph Smith did not physically do the writing! However, the record is true and is the word of God.
As far as archeologic evidence, you see what you want to see. The murals in Mexico show two peoples. Dark skinned and Light skinned. Read The Book of Mormon for an explanation of who these two peoples are.
If there is a Heaven – and life after death – Obviously, angels can come and visit the earth.
posted September 9, 2009 at 11:59 am
quote re Book of Mormon: “The story of its coming forth is too fantastical for non-Mormons to overcome.”
The New Testament is full of angels coming and going – most Christians believe the New Testament … what is so different about the angel visiting Joseph Smith, other than the time frame?
posted September 9, 2009 at 12:16 pm
What I find more interesting about the Book of Mormon is how the scholars of this book have determined that by looking at the original writings from Joseph to his scribes.. before sending it to the printer or making any changes to the text.. they have determined that the English written down was not the typical English of the 1800′s.. but the 1500′s. The article states:
“”"”"”The vocabulary of the Book of Mormon text appears to derive from the 1500s and the 1600s, not from the 1800s.
This last finding is quite remarkable. Lexical evidence suggests that the original text contained a number of expressions and words with meanings that were lost from the English language by 1700, including the following (with the date of their last citation in the Oxford English Dictionary given in parentheses):
to require ‘to request’ (1665)
Enos 1:18 reads “thy fathers have also required of me this thing”
[Ezra 8:22: “for I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way”]
sermon ‘talk, discourse, speech’ (1594) [conjectural emendation]
Mosiah 19:24 should read “after they had ended the sermon”
(not the current reading “after they had ended the ceremony”)
to cast arrows ‘to shoot arrows’ (1609)
Alma 49:4 reads “the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them”
[Proverbs 26:18: “as a mad man who casteth firebrands arrows and death”]
to counsel ‘to counsel with’ (1547)
Alma 37:37 originally read “counsel the Lord in all thy doings”
[similarly in Alma 39:10]
but if ‘unless’ (1596)
Mosiah 3:19 originally read “for the natural man is an enemy to God …
and will be forever and ever but if he yieldeth to the enticings of the Holy Spirit”
to depart ‘to part’ (1677)
Helaman 8:11 originally read “to smite upon the waters of the Red Sea
and they departed hither and thither”
extinct: in reference to an individual’s death (1675)
Alma 44:7 reads “and inflect the wounds of death in your bodies
that ye may become extinct” [similarly in several other places]
the pleading bar of God (not in the Oxford English Dictionary, but three early 1600 citations have been found, including one in a legal context) [conjectural emendation]
Jacob 6:13 should read “until I shall meet you before the pleading bar of God”, not “the pleasing bar of God” [similarly in Moroni 10:34]
As noted, only two of these instances of archaic vocabulary (dating from Early Modern English) are found in the 1611 King James Bible.”"”"”"
posted September 9, 2009 at 12:32 pm
The entire Mormon religion is based on lies and fallacies. Joseph Smth was a deluded fanatic and Brigham Young was a violent zealot who should’ve been executed for the murders he sanctioned.
posted September 9, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Oh Plaaaaeeeeseeeeee Richard!! Is that all you can say without backing it up? Statements like that are a dime a dozen.
posted September 9, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Richard Clark yeah right, then back it up intellectually and reasonably.
posted September 9, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Richard Clark is correct. Besides, any religion that changes doctrine so much as mainstream Mormonism has in the past century couldn’t possibly know what it is doing. RE: its policies on polygamy and race relations. It is simply trying to market itself better to the world by becoming of the world.
posted September 9, 2009 at 2:57 pm
@Your Name…changing doctrines…I see.
Like the eternal priesthood of the Old Testament?
The unchangeable covenant given in the Old Testament?
The laws of sacrifice, etc.
Gospel to the Jews — not to the Gentiles?
All done away with in the New Testament?
Pretty much ALL of the Old Testament changed, altered, done away with?
Kind of like that?
Gotcha
posted September 9, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@Richard Clark…
There is no proof of anything you claim. The MMM has been a hotly contested issue from both sides for years. The evidence actually tends to clear BY from knowledge of the horrible event prior to it being carried out.
If you have something new to add to the debate, let’s have it.
Otherwise, quit making ugly accusations without proof.
posted September 9, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Those who assert the Mormon faith has ‘changed’ their doctrine on polygamy and ‘race relations’ due to social pressures have not (in my experience) honestly researched the history of either. I say “honestly” because a cursory review of literature (especially antagonistic sources) will always be easy, but lacking. Even surface level assessments will sometimes overlook circular logic and use of sources (i.e. X will write a book with a faulty/biased/incomplete premise or source, but then later be quoted by Y, who will be quoted by Z, etc.).
While God will always be the same (Hebrews 13:8), He modifies the requirements/expectations placed upon His children (i.e., Mosaic Law vs. Sermon on the Mount). As it relates to ‘race relations’ (i.e., the Priesthood), the Bible itself shows that God changed who could possess it…from sons of Aaron, to the tribe of Levi, and finally other tribes of Israel and converts (Twelve Apostles, with Luke being the supposed non-Israelite). In a similar vein, Christ directed the Gospel be preached first to Jews and others of the House of Israel, then to the Gentiles (see Matt. ch. 10 & 15, among others). All of God’s children are equal; however, His thoughts and ways for doing things often elude man.
In case you wondered, yes, I am a Mormon, but only after numerous years (and continued) critical analysis and LOTS of questions (including to the One with all the answers (see James 1:5-6)).
posted September 9, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Believing in truth takes faith and prayers. Im thankful to Senator Bennett for His hard work and research about the Book of Mormon.
posted September 9, 2009 at 9:19 pm
All religions have an affection for their “holy books”. Why should the LDS church be any different when it comes to their Book of Mormon? IMO all holy books are questionable when it comes to facts and accuracy.
posted September 10, 2009 at 1:26 am
It is a real book. I have about 100 other real books sitting on my shelves at the moment. Some are even over 600 pages! And some have very intricate plots and ideas in them. The power of the human imagination is amazing. It doesn’t mean that any of them were divinely inspired or that an angel visited the authors at any point in their conception. JS was a brilliant man who scammed many, and I have no doubt of his mortal ability to write a book over 500 pages long and filled with a complicated plot and characters. Stephen King is still a better writer though.
posted September 10, 2009 at 3:38 am
As an LDS member and as a Christian, I applaud any serious discussions on the Book of Mormon, which is open for investigation and has had little honest discussions about the Book, or the name MorMON…which JS stated was an egyptian word, meaning MORE GOOD.
I challenge anyone who reads the Book to use the same test for inspiration used for the Bible or any other work that encourages the reader to experiment on the WORD…pray to the God you serve and Ask if God is There; then if Jesus Christ is the Son of God and if the Scriptures contain the words of the Living CHRIST…and then pick up the Book and study a page or chapter in each book and study the references…I promise that the Spirit will testify to any honest seeker that the Work and Words of Christ are on every page of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.
posted September 10, 2009 at 2:07 pm
@ Suki:
As an author myself, I can tell you that no one with only the equivalent of a 5th grade formal education could write such a book in the 60 days that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I have been working on one of my own books for over 2 years. When it is finished it will be around 500 pages, but it will in no way match the complexity of the Book of Mormon, regardless of the time I have taken to interweave multiple storylines and arcs.
To say that anyone could write such a story the way you have only reveals your own ignorance. If you think its so easy, I suggest YOU try it!
posted September 10, 2009 at 10:24 pm
“mnms”?
“pagansister”?
You are in waaaaaaaaaaaaay over your pointy heads in this discussion.
Why must you?
posted September 11, 2009 at 11:42 am
“You are in way over your pointy heads in this discussion” GC
Gotta a problem with others opinions, GC?
Why must you? GC
Why not?
posted September 11, 2009 at 7:01 pm
As a scientist who has studied the Book of Mormon for more than 10 years, I agree with Bennett’s final assessment: that one cannot accept or reject the book’s divine claims without a leap of faith.
However, the same exact thing can be said about EVERY major religion on earth (i.e. Catholic and Protestant Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.). Therefore, I suggest that all parties interested in reaching a conclusion about the Book of Mormon refer to the book’s concluding promise in order to make that determination:
Moroni 10:3-4
3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
posted September 12, 2009 at 9:53 pm
The quotes you posted read just like or very simular to the Holy Bible of the non-LDS Christians, Johanan.
I agree with you that all religions everywhere require a leap of faith to believe what their holy books tell them.
posted September 13, 2009 at 4:30 am
wow pagansister, is it possible that when the Lord speaks to one person that it might sound a lot like when He speaks with another, or were you expecting the words and phrases to be entirely foreign to each other. Of course, if the words had been all together different in their nature and tone, you would have taken issue with them for being different. I do not know much about you, but I am sure that you are a nice person, and I am happy to know that you have formed an opinion concerning the scripture that you know of. So many people do not even take time to care. Never stop studying the Lords word. (:
posted September 13, 2009 at 10:49 am
“Who really wrote the book of mormon” is the title of a serious study on the forgery issue. Available at bookstores.
The claim that nobody can write a book like the BoM is amply refuted in a book written by Larry Jonas, if I reember the title… “Mormon Claims examined”.
Armando Ortega
posted September 13, 2009 at 5:47 pm
“”…Never stop studying the Lords word…”"
To what end? Further discrediting the faith of faithful people?
Yes. Read the pagans writings to know this to be true.
posted September 13, 2009 at 6:31 pm
“Further discrediting the faith of faithful people?”
Which ones? Catholics, Methodists, Baptists, Jews, Sunnis, Shias, Hindus, …? With, I think, very few exceptions they doubt the religion of others faithful people in that list. But I understand those exceptions are getting larger in number and as I recall some religious leaders complained about that, saying as I recall those accepting people weren’t “mature in their faith”.
posted September 13, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Some have lost the point.
There is one God, His truth alone stands eternal, incorruptible.
Nothing said without acknowledgment of truth, without the basis of truth, makes any difference whatsoever.
Rhetoric is all that is left, the final resource of the lost. They use sheer flim-flam to twist and distort the truth. Once so distorted, it can be attacked, sometimes to the duplicitous ones advantage, as is the case with the current president.
But, in the end, they lose.
The Audacity of False Hope.
…you’ll be leaving now…
posted September 13, 2009 at 10:48 pm
You write but you communicate nothing. I think I will be leaving. Or I may check back and see what other nonsense you’ve excreted here. Wonder which.
posted September 21, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Before I joined the church 30+ years ago I was a catholic, then atheist, then agnostic, then I met the missionaries and heard “The story of its coming forth is too fantastical for non-Mormons to overcome.”
This fantastical story was so easy for me to believe. Perhaps because I had shrugged off pre-conceived notions of religion. If there is a God then why can’t this story be true? Why can’t what happened in ancient times happen today? Perhaps the statement in the article would be more accurate if worded: “The story of its coming forth is too fantastical for close minded people to overcome.”
Before joining I investigated as much as I could. I chased down other religions and listened to other sides before making
such a serious commitment. I even found the Spaulding manuscript in the university library (CSUN) and compared it to the
Book of Mormon (there is no comparison).
Presently I am re-investigating the Book of Mormon and am quite surprised by the amount of vitriol that exists (much more than 30+ years ago). What I find most amusing is the Spaulding manuscript claim has now evolved into comparing the Book of Mormon to a manuscript by Spaulding that does not exist. Do you see the irony?
A previous post echos one of my sentiments which is a forger of any age or of any intelligence, especially if he had help from
Cowdery or Rigdon or Spaulding, would not have made so many “mistakes”. There is no doubt in my mind that these “mistakes” aren’t mistakes but are perceived as such because of our one’s limited experience, knowledge, and prejudices.
I have also heard many say that Mormon’s believe the Book of Mormon because the Holy Ghost gives them a warm feeling in their heart.
That is not true. Read D&C 6 regarding the Spirit of Revelation. That the Lord will cause one’s mind and heart to understand
the truth and if it is wrong one will receive a stupor of thought.
Mormon’s are not “stupid” people led by their hearts. We have our testimonies by the Spirit of Revelation as a result of studying it out in our mind and when one has that then issues such as horses in America becomes real trivia.
posted September 22, 2009 at 11:46 am
Whatever floats your boat, MacLouie.
posted September 23, 2009 at 10:02 pm
awwwww, shuckins! Lil “pagan’s” back! Ain’t she jis too much? She’s so hifalootin’ she gots ta bend over twicet just ta tie her shoes!
You are no match for Mormons – or anyone with faith.