1769 Edition of the
King James Bible
While no witnesses stated that Joseph Smith used the Bible during the translation process of the golden plates, evidence suggests that Joseph Smith did, in fact, use an 1769 Edition of the King James Bible. What is this evidence? How else did Joseph Smith rely on the Bible to write and structure the Book of Mormon?
Comparing Lamoni to Lazarus
Did you know that there is a remarkable resemblance to the story of the story of Lazarus in the book of John in the New Testament and the story of Lamoni in the Book of Mormon?
The phrase “he stinketh” appears only once in the Bible and once in the Book of Mormon.
The seven word phrase “Believest thou this? She saith unto him” appears only in John and Alma.
Joseph Smith's reliance on the Bible is evidence in stories like this one.
Lazarus
John 11:3
"Therefore his sisters sent unto him"
Lamoni
Alma 19:2
"Now the queen ...sent and desired that he [Ammon] should come"
Lazarus
John 11:39
"Martha saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days"
Lamoni
Alma 19:5
"he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say... that he stinketh"
Lazarus
John 11:23
"Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again"
Lamoni
Alma 19:8
"he shall rise again"
Lazarus
John 11:4, 11
"[Jesus saith] This sickness is not unto death... [for] Lazarus sleepeth"
Lamoni
Alma 19:8
"And he [Ammon] said unto the queen: He is not dead, but e sleepeth in God"
Lazarus
John 11:25-26
"Jesus said unto her... Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe."
Lamoni
Alma 19:9
"And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him... I believe."
Lazarus
John 11:44
"And he that was dead came forth"
Lamoni
Alma 19:12
"And it came to pass that he arose"