[1]. See I. Kings xix.
[2]. The Prophet's Journal, November 28, 1841.
[3]. Luke x: 21.
[4]. James iv: 6. Peter v: 5.
PART IV.
Objections to the Book of Mormon
CHAPTER XLIV.
COUNTER THEORIES OF ORIGIN.
"No sane man dreams of maintaining that a religion is true because of the difficulties which it involves; the utmost that can reasonably be maintained is that it may be true in spite of them."[[1]]
The necessity for a counter theory of the origin of the Book of Mormon was early recognized. Sectarian Christendom felt that Joseph Smith's story of the book's origin must be overthrown, else what would come of this new revelation, this new dispensation of God's word? Joseph Smith's account of the origin of the book was a direct challenge to the teachings of modern Christendom that revelation had ceased; that the awful voice of prophecy would no more be heard; that the volume of scripture was completed and forever closed; and that the Bible was the only volume of scripture. Hence Christendom must find some other origin for this book than that given by Joseph Smith. The first objection then to be considered is the objection to the book's origin by examining the counter theories.