The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Repeatedly Claims The Book of Mormon Is Not A Historical Record:
The following post made on X, displays this fact, as stated by a LDS Apologist:
My Answer To The LDS Apologist:
Your Claim Is Demonstrably False According to the Book of Mormon Itself
The Book of Mormon repeatedly identifies itself as a literal historical record, not merely a spiritual allegory. Its authors claim to be: Real ancient prophets, writing literal history, on real metal plates, of real ancient peoples, in real geographic locations
This is not symbolic language. It is presented as historic narrative.
Joseph Smith said this the Book of Mormon was “a literal translation” of ancient plates
“An abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites…Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation.…which is a record of a fallen people, and a remnant of the house of Israel.” (The Title Page of the Book of Mormon)
This is an explicit historical claim about real people (Nephi, Lamanites), real ancestry (house of Israel), real records (“abridgment,” “record,” “plates”)
Therefore, the Book of Mormon itself claims it is a historical document.
1 Nephi 1:1–3 — Nephi claims to be writing a real family history
“I, Nephi… make a record of my proceedings in my days…I make it with mine own hand.” 1 Nephi 1:1–3
This is not presented as spiritual allegory. It is autobiographical history.
1 Nephi 19:1–2 — Nephi describes making metal plates
“I did make plates of ore… which is called the record of the Nephites.” 1 Nephi 19:1–2
Spiritual metaphors are not engraved on metal plates.
Omni 1:14–21 — Zarahemla, Coriantumr, and real migrations
These passages discuss real migrations, kings, cities, and battles.
This is written as literal history.
Mormon’s own preface — He claims to be an actual ancient historian
“I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard.” Mormon 1:1
He presents himself as a historical figure writing an ancient record.
Moroni’s closing words — He claims to finish a literal record
“I make an end of writing upon these plates.” Moroni 10:2
Again: literal plates, literal writing, literal history.
Yes, Mormon, Moroni, and Nephi say the purpose of the record is to bring people to Christ. But that purpose rests on the truthfulness of its historical claims.
The argument “the purpose is spiritual” does not erase the clear historical framework the book asserts. This is like saying the Gospels are not historical because their purpose is spiritual—yet they clearly claim to be real history.
LDS theologians—including Joseph Smith—have always insisted the Book of Mormon is history.
Joseph Smith Explicitly Claimed the Book of Mormon Is Literal History
“I obtained them [the plates] and translated them into the Book of Mormon, which is a record of the people who inhabited this continent.” Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. 1, p. 19
“The Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians.” (Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, p. 707)
This is not allegory. It is presented as archaeological history.
The LDS Church Also Teaches the Book of Mormon Is Literal History
The official LDS website states:
“The Book of Mormon is a volume of sacred scripture, a record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Official Website
This is a historical claim.
Why LDS Apologists Attempt to Retreat From Historical Claims
Modern scholarship has overwhelmingly demonstrated: No Nephite or Lamanite cities, No evidence for a Reformed Egyptian script, No evidence of pre-Columbian Hebrew migrations, No pre-Columbian horses, steel, wheat, or chariots, DNA evidence disproves the Lamanite identity.
Because the historical claims have been disproven, some LDS apologists retreat to: “It’s just a spiritual record.” But this is not what Joseph Smith claimed, not what the text claims, and not what the LDS Church teaches.
The Book of Mormon repeatedly identifies itself as a literal historical record.
So, you are wrong…
The Following Is A Visual Exhibit Showing The True Historical Nature For The Book of Mormon, and How Modern LDS Apologists Seek to Spiritualize These Texts Rather Than Admit They Were Written As Historical Records
Nature of the Record
| Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith Claims | Modern LDS Apologist Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| “An abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi… and also of the Lamanites” — Title Page (said by Joseph Smith to be a literal translation from the plates) | “It never claims to be a historical record—only a spiritual one.” |
| “I, Nephi… make a record of my proceedings in my days… with mine own hand.” — 1 Nephi 1:1–3 | “The language is metaphorical; not intended as literal history.” |
| “I did make plates of ore… the record of my father.” — 1 Nephi 19:1–2 | Argues that “plates” may be symbolic literary devices. |
| Joseph Smith: “I obtained the plates and translated them… a record of the former inhabitants of this continent.” — History of the Church 1:19 | Reinterpretation: “The Book of Mormon does not specify North or South America; Smith was guessing.” |
| LDS Church Today: “A record of God’s dealings with ancient inhabitants of the Americas.” — Official Church Website | “It isn’t meant to be historical in the scientific sense; it’s a faith document.” |
Geography and Civilizations
| Book of Mormon Historical Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Named cities: Zarahemla, Bountiful, Cumorah, Nephi, Sidon River, etc. | “These cities may be symbolic literary constructs.” |
| Millions slain in battles (Mormon 6:11–15; Ether 15:2–3) | “Large numbers are exaggerations or metaphorical.” |
| Geographical details (north, south, narrow neck of land, sea east, sea west) | “The geography is not meant to correlate with real Earth geography.” |
| Cumorah as the final battle site in New York — Confirmed by Joseph Smith (Times and Seasons 3:707) | Apologists now: “The Hill Cumorah in New York is not the original Cumorah—Joseph Smith was mistaken.” |
Peoples and Ancestry
| Book of Mormon Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Lamanites = ancestors of Native Americans — Title Page | “Lamanites may represent a small group absorbed into larger populations.” |
| Descendants of Israel brought to the Americas by God — 1 Nephi 1–18 | “Not necessarily literal Israelites; could be spiritual Israelites.” |
| Jaredites = pre-Israelite civilization in the Americas (Ether 1–15) | “Jaredites may be mythical, similar to biblical archetypes.” |
| Promises to Lamanites as literal descendants — 2 Nephi 30:6; Enos 1:20 | “Modern DNA doesn’t matter; lineage is theological, not genetic.” |
Languages
| Historical Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Written in “Reformed Egyptian” — Mormon 9:32–34 | “Reformed Egyptian need not be an actual historical language.” |
| Nephites spoke Hebrew — Mormon 9:33 | “Not literal Hebrew; could be symbolic or ‘Hebraic thought.’” |
| Claims of literacy, scribal culture, written records | “The Book of Mormon is not making linguistic claims; it’s describing spiritual truths.” |
Technology and Material Culture
| Book of Mormon Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Steel swords (2 Nephi 5:14) | “Steel may refer to hardened copper or wood.” |
| Horses (Enos 1:21; Alma 18:9–10) | “Horses may actually be tapirs.” |
| Chariots (Alma 18:12) | “Chariots may refer to litters or metaphorical vehicles.” |
| Grains: wheat, barley — Before European contact | “Not literal wheat; maybe local plants interpreted through Joseph Smith’s vocabulary.” |
| Large-scale warfare with armor (Alma 49:6; Alma 43:19) | “Descriptions could be metaphorical or overstatements.” |
The Plates and Translation
| Book of Mormon / Joseph Smith | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Smith claims to translate plates by the “gift and power of God.” | Apologists: “He didn’t need to see the plates; translation was revelatory, not linguistic.” |
| Witnesses allowed to “see and handle” plates | “They saw them spiritually, not physically.” |
| Plates described as metal with binding rings — Testimony of Eight Witnesses | “Physical descriptions may be visionary or symbolic.” |
| Smith insisted the plates were literal ancient artifacts | “The antiquity is theological, not archaeological.” |
Historicity of Events
| Book of Mormon Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Jesus appeared physically in ancient America — 3 Nephi 11 | “May be a visionary experience, not literal physical appearance.” |
| Earthquakes, darkness, cities destroyed at Christ’s death — 3 Nephi 8–10 | “May represent spiritual upheaval, not geological events.” |
| Literal migration from Jerusalem in 600 BC | “Narratively symbolic; parallels Israel’s Exodus.” |
| A literal population of millions | “Numbers represent spiritual significance, not census data.” |
The Stated Purpose of the Book
| Book of Mormon Claims | Modern Redefinitions |
|---|---|
| Purpose: To convince Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ using the historical record of ancient peoples — Title Page | “Its purpose is spiritual only; historicity is irrelevant.” |
| Moroni, Nephi, and Mormon testify their writings are based on real events | “Their testimonies may be literary personas.” |
| Historical narrative used as the apologetic foundation | “Faith does not require historical truth.” |
The modern apologetic position flatly contradicts the Book of Mormon’s own claims, Joseph Smith’s teachings, LDS Church doctrine, and the testimonies of the witnesses.
These Reclassifications Exist Because:
Every measurable category of evidence contradicts the Book of Mormon’s historical claims: archaeology, linguistics, DNA, anthropology, metallurgy, and ancient Near Eastern history. Because of this, apologists now attempt to redefine the Book of Mormon in non-historical terms to preserve belief while avoiding empirical falsification.
Categories: Robert Clifton Robinson
Robert Clifton Robinson 
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