Expert: Sal - 9/6/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hi Sal,

I've heard that there's a passage in the Book of Mormon which was taken from a Shakespearean play.  Is this true?  If so, can you tell me which passage?

Thanks!

ANSWER: Hello Les:

I'm sorry that I do not know of any passage that was taken from a Shakespearean play. There are several passages that were plagiarized from the KJV of the Bible. We know this because the translational errors of the KJV were copied by Joseph Smith. In other words, God included the translational errors of the KJV when he supposedly insired Joseph Smith to write the Book of Mormon. As you can see this is ridiculous, but that is Mormonism.

If I can be of further help please do not hesitate to ask.

God Be With You,
Sal


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Sal,

Here's some information.  The play Hamlet has been popular ever since written by William Shakespeare. In the Book of Mormon, a paraphrase from Shakespeare is considered by many to be evidence of plagiarism.  Here the Book of Mormon represents Lehi, who supposedly lived about 600 B.C., as saying, "the cold and silent gravefrom whence no traveler can return." (2 Nephi 1:14; 1:28). The Shakespearian play, Hamlet, written during the 16th century after Christ, reads, "...death, the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns" (Act 3, Scene 1).9 The similarity in the two passages is undeniable.

Then there is the the strange event in the Book of Mormon where Nephi is ordered by the "Spirit" to kill his uncle. This is uncannily similar to the scene in "Hamlet" where Hamlet's father's ghost appears to him and orders him to kill his uncle (Act 1, Scene 5)10 The primary difference between the two is that the "ghost" that appeared to Hamlet with these orders becomes the "Spirit" in the Book of Mormon; in fact, none other than the "Holy Spirit" (I Nephi 4:10-12; 1:110-113).

Thanks for your answer,

Les  

Answer
Hi Les:

Thanks for the info on the Book of Mormon. It is indeed difficult to understand how people can be so gullible as to accept Mormonism. It is the devil's doing that those people are so blind. The same could be said of Protestantism, in general.

Thanks again,
Sal
P.S. Great to hear from you again!