by John L. Sorenson
Changes in our understanding of ancient America and its scriptures.
In recent decades, studies in fields of archeology, geography, culture and language of the American people have provided an enormous amount of information that must be of great interest to those who read and believe in the Book of Mormon, information scientists who devoted themselves to the study of this book may never have imagined existed. At present, the quality and quantity of specialized studies related to the Book of Mormon are so broad and deep that it is impossible for one person is aware of all aspects of this knowledge.
In fact, during the last fifty years, has become obsolete much of what previous generations thought about pre-Columbian American civilizations. The sciences that study ancient civilizations have undergone major changes. In the early decades of this century was still considered that science was the search and discovery of permanent and infallible truths. However, now both scientists and philosophers agree that the nature of their task requires that constantly repeat their theories and data. The view of Karl Popper with respect to science, that is "eternally attempt, has become accepted among many scientists. So while now there maybe a thousand times more information about early American cultures than was available for half a century now, the best scientists are much less insistent categorically describe what happened in the pre-European New World.
There have also been some changes in some concepts that have had the Latter-day Saints about the Book of Mormon. Our faith in the saving principles taught by the prophets from Nephi to Moroni has not changed, and if he did somehow, has been on the rise. But consider these Scriptures as an ancient document, the careful student is now aware that we have much more than we had suspected. Starting with M. Wells Jakeman, Hugh Nibley and Sidney B. Sperry, this growing research community of Latter-day Saints began similar to the 1940 and discover some of these details. An example of this change in perspective, consider new possibilities, it represents the discovery made by John W. Welch only fifteen years ago a literary form in the Middle East, called chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, which went unnoticed by its readers for nearly 140 years since its publication in 1830. In recent years, other researchers have found in the Book of Mormon some unexpected trends and implications in times past were not detected.
Changes in our understanding of ancient America and its scriptures.
In recent decades, studies in fields of archeology, geography, culture and language of the American people have provided an enormous amount of information that must be of great interest to those who read and believe in the Book of Mormon, information scientists who devoted themselves to the study of this book may never have imagined existed. At present, the quality and quantity of specialized studies related to the Book of Mormon are so broad and deep that it is impossible for one person is aware of all aspects of this knowledge.
In fact, during the last fifty years, has become obsolete much of what previous generations thought about pre-Columbian American civilizations. The sciences that study ancient civilizations have undergone major changes. In the early decades of this century was still considered that science was the search and discovery of permanent and infallible truths. However, now both scientists and philosophers agree that the nature of their task requires that constantly repeat their theories and data. The view of Karl Popper with respect to science, that is "eternally attempt, has become accepted among many scientists. So while now there maybe a thousand times more information about early American cultures than was available for half a century now, the best scientists are much less insistent categorically describe what happened in the pre-European New World.
There have also been some changes in some concepts that have had the Latter-day Saints about the Book of Mormon. Our faith in the saving principles taught by the prophets from Nephi to Moroni has not changed, and if he did somehow, has been on the rise. But consider these Scriptures as an ancient document, the careful student is now aware that we have much more than we had suspected. Starting with M. Wells Jakeman, Hugh Nibley and Sidney B. Sperry, this growing research community of Latter-day Saints began similar to the 1940 and discover some of these details. An example of this change in perspective, consider new possibilities, it represents the discovery made by John W. Welch only fifteen years ago a literary form in the Middle East, called chiasmus in the Book of Mormon, which went unnoticed by its readers for nearly 140 years since its publication in 1830. In recent years, other researchers have found in the Book of Mormon some unexpected trends and implications in times past were not detected.
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