Mormons have expended a great deal of effort trying to find archaeological and textual evidence which would support the ancient origins of the Book of Mormon, but with little success. The fact that this sacred text is also supposed to be secular history is a real problem for Mormon apologetics. The Bible can be largely fictional without that being an issue for liberal Jews and Christians, but the same cannot be said for the Book of Mormon.
Early on, the Book may have had enhanced appeal because it was able to offer explanations for the mysterious Indian mounds and the recently discovered cities in Mesoamerica, but today the historical claims have become a liability:
- “...if a sacred text presents itself as provable, it is by definition disprovable as well. As we have seen, the tendency to treat the work as an empty signifier, to give pride of place to the circumstances rather than the content of the Book of Mormon has long been characteristic of Book of Mormon believers.”
Mormon apologetics is thus a dangerous game for Mormons to play. If they look too hard, it is likely that they will fail to find the evidence expected, and this in turn could completely undermine their faith. If they do not look too hard, they will be acting in a manner which does not match the professional expectations of their field (research, archaeology, etc.).
The final option seems to be that taken by Givens - weak arguments which can do no more than make it plausible that the origin of the Book of Mormon is something other than what the critics charge. This is a purely reactionary position, reacting to what others say and do rather than establishing an independent case. In the end, it won’t accomplish anything but perhaps make devout Mormons feel that their faith isn’t irrational after all.
Influence alone ensures that the Book of Mormon has a place in history as one of the most important books to ever come out of the United States. Both critics and supporters must focus not so much on content but on the origins. The prophetic authority of Joseph Smith and the whole subsequent Latter Day Saints institutional structure are based upon the authentic origins attributed to the book Smith published. The Book is itself an exercise of faith, so understanding the role it has played is the key to understanding the Mormon church.
Givens’ book can help the average reader better understand how the Book of Mormon has been perceived and received. It would probably help to have some knowledge of Mormonism and Mormon history before reading this book - a person without any such background knowledge may end up losing interest or getting lost. If, however, you would like to learn more about Mormonism, this is a good book to include on your shelf.
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