Author: Bill McKeever
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Did Mahonri Moriancumr Discover America?
By Bill McKeever Who was first to reach the New World? Many historians believe it was the Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus, who, on August 3, 1492, set sail across the Atlantic and, three months later, landed on an island in the Bahamas he called San Salvador. Others contend that explorers from the north country, the…
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Smithsonian Institution Statement Regarding the Book of Mormon
Some Latter-day Saints, in their zeal to give tangible authenticity to the Book of Mormon, have told prospective converts that the Smithsonian Institution has used the Book of Mormon to verify sites in the New World. In response to numerous requests on this subject, the Smithsonian has issued the following paper detailing their position on…
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Headless People Don’t Do Push-Ups – the Story of Coriantumr and Shiz
By Bill McKeever Can a decapitated body lift itself up and gasp for breath? A story in the Book of Mormon seems to say so. The story is found in the Book of Ether and recounts a sword fight between a Jaredite king named Coriantumr (Ether 12:1) and Shiz, the brother of Lib (Ether 14:17).
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Was Jesus Born “at Jerusalem”?
In the early 1990s we wrote two articles and an unpublished manuscript about the mistake that we believe Joseph Smith made in the Book of Mormon regarding the origin of Jesus’ birth. We received immediate feedback from the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), an organization based at Brigham Young University in Provo,…
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A Seer Stone and a Hat – "Translating" the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon via a seer stone is debated. Eyewitness accounts describe his use of a hat to block light during the process, raising questions about its credibility.
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Praying About the Book of Mormon – Is it Biblical?
By Bill McKeever “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…
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Does Revelation 22:18 Condemn the Book of Mormon?
By Bill McKeever
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Test Your Knowledge of the Book of Mormon
In 1841 Joseph Smith declared that the Book of Mormon was "the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than by any other book" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 194). In light of such a fantastic claim, it behooves an individual to take…
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How Heavy Were Those Gold Plates?
Paramount in the story of the Latter-day Saints is the account given by Joseph Smith of a visitation he received from the angel Moroni on September 21, 1823. He stated that after he retired to bed, his room became filled with light. At his bedside stood an angel who called Smith by name and told…
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Can a Myth be Scripture?
One of the primary reasons millions of Christians believe the Bible is the Word of God is its historicity. The Bible speaks of real people and real events. Even though not every place named in the Bible has actually been located, enough sites have been discovered to give the Bible a considerable amount of trust.On…
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NHM – A Place Name from the Book of Mormon?
At the Worlds of Joseph Smith Conference held in Washington, D.C. in May 2005, BYU professor John Welch spoke about circumstantial pieces of evidence that he believes substantiates Joseph Smith’s claim as a prophet. Among the list of “evidence” Welch supplied was an inscription on a stone from the country of Yemen, which is located…
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Who Are the “Other Sheep” in John 10:16?
By Bill McKeever
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Does Scholarship Support Article Eight of the Articles of Faith?
By Bill McKeever The LDS Church has had a history of being very critical regarding the accuracy of the Bible. In fact, it is the only book among the LDS standard works accepted with qualification. Article eight of the LDS Articles of Faith reads, “We believe the Bible as far as it is translated correctly…
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Large Families No Longer Necessary – Small Families No Longer a Sin
By Bill McKeever
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Should a Christian Date a Mormon?
The Christian and LDS faiths are fundamentally incompatible. Unequally yoked relationships lead to spiritual and relational turmoil.
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Eternal Increase: The LDS Doctrine of Celestial Procreation
By Bill McKeever Closely associated with the LDS doctrine of temple marriage is the doctrine of eternal increase. LDS leaders have defined this teaching as the ability for Mormon couples who have achieved celestial exaltation to procreate throughout eternity.
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Are Families Forever?
By Bill McKeever Mormons often find comfort in the idea that one day they will be able to live together as a family throughout all eternity. However, with all the details LDS leaders have given to this teaching, the logical possibility breaks down.
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The Polygamy Dilemma – Is Plural Marriage a Dead Issue in Mormonism?
By Bill McKeever
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Is the Temple Ceremony Sacred or Secret?
By Bill McKeever Listen
