Kelly Bingham, “The Logical Arguments of the Book of Mormon” Excerpt from moroni10.com
The purpose of this logical analysis is not to convert anyone who doesn’t already believe in the Book of Mormon or the LDS church, only The Holy Ghost can do that. The purpose behind these is to demonstrate to those who do believe just how much of an impact the existence and validity has on religion and the existence of God. It will show how one truth can snowball into many others.
I. The Duplication Argument
1. Anything done by one person can be duplicated by another person.
2. Therefore, if someone can duplicate the Book of Mormon, under the same criteria it was originally produced, then it is feasibly a fake. If it can’t be duplicated, then by default the book is authentic, and subsequently true.
II. The Logical Argument
1. The Book of Mormon contains a detailed history of previously unknown nations and cultures.
2. The Book of Mormon is a long epic volume that contains 522 pages with over 150 words per page and over 300,000 words from start to finish. It contains 239 chapters, and includes 54 chapters dealing with wars, 21 historical chapters, 55 chapters on visions and prophecies, and the visions and prophecies agree meticulously with the Bible. 71 chapters are on doctrine and exhortation, and here too, every statement is consistent with the scriptures. 21 chapters are on the ministry of Jesus Christ, and everything He said and did and every testimony given about Him agrees absolutely with the New Testament.
3. 21 year old farmboys, with minimal education, cannot write detailed books that contain all the above information.
4. Joseph Smith was a 21 year old farmboy.
5. Therefore, Joseph Smith could NOT have written the Book of Mormon.
III. The Excluded Middle Principle Argument
1. Either Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, according to his accounts, or he did not.
2. The Book of Mormon exists, so it had to come from someone.
3. If Joseph did not translate the book, then he must have written it himself.
4. Joseph Smith could not have written the Book of Mormon himself. See II argument.
5. Therefore, Joseph Smith did translate the Book of Mormon, according to his accounts. Because, he couldn’t have written it himself, and the book had to come from someone.
IV. Proof of Miracles
1. Joseph Smith could not translate the Book of Mormon on his own.
2. Divine intervention was necessary to translate the records.
3. Miracles are the effects of Divine intervention.
4. Therefore, because the Book of Mormon is the result of Divine intervention, the Book of Mormon is a miracle.
V. Proof of Divine Intervention
1. Miracles are the effects of Divine intervention.
2. Miracles exist.
3. Therefore, Divine intervention exists.
VI. Proof of God
1. Divine intervention exists.
2. Divine intervention is caused by a superior transcendent being.
3. A superior transcendent being is a God.
4. Therefore, God exists.
*Even if the superior being is evil, the existence of evil infers the existence of goodness, therefore, God still exists.
VII. Book of Mormon Proves the Existence of God
1. The Book of Mormon exists, and is authentic.
2. The Book of Mormon proves that miracles exist.
3. The Book of Mormon proves that divine intervention exists.
4. Therefore, the existence and authenticity of the Book of Mormon proves the existence of God.
If Joseph Smith’s account of the Book of Mormon is authentic, then so is he. Therefore, Joseph Smith is a prophet, God exists, Jesus is the Christ, The Church is true, and all else that goes along with the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.