Expert: Sal - 5/2/2005

Question
What are Catholics main arguments against the book of Mormon.

Answer
Dear Lori:

There are many problems with the Book of Mormon (BOM). However, the major problem is that the BOM is a work of fiction being passed off by Mormons as truth. There is no archaeological evidence to support the BOM. Places mentioned in the BOM such as Manti, Nephi, and Zarahemla were never heard of prior to the writing of the BOM in 1830. No evidence has ever been found to substantiate their existences. The main people mentioned in the BOM, the Lamanities & the Nephites, have never been heard of outside the BOM. No evidence has ever been uncovered to prove their existence.

The BOM mentions things that we know did not exist in North America at the time the events of the BOM supposedly took place. Some of these anachronisms are wheat (Mosiah 9:9), horses (I Nephi 18:25), chariots (Alma 18:9-11, 20:6; III Nephi 3:22), cows (Enos 21), elephants (Ether 9:19), silk (Alma 1:29, 4:6; I Nephi 13:7-8; Ether 9:17, 10:24), linen (II Nephi 13:23; Mosiah 10:5; Helaman 6:13; Ether 10:24), gold & silver money (Alma 11:3-20; Helaman 6:31), steel (II Nephi 5:15; Jaron 1:8; Ether 7:9), synagogues (Alma 16:13), bellows (I Nephi 17:11), brass (II Nephi 5:15), barley (Alma 11:7), the seven day week (Mosiah 13:18).

The above evidence, I believe, proves the BOM to be an uninspired work of fiction. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to ask.

God Bless You,
Sal