The Mormon's Archaeological Argument
Among all the arguments used by the LDS apologists, none seems quite so strong as their "archaeological argument." The strength of this argument, however, lies not in its truthfulness, but rather in the fact that most people are unacquainted with its subject matter and are therefore in no position to refute it. Taking advantage of this, young Mormon missionaries with numerous alleged facts at their fingers tips, together with pictures of ancient Central America ruins and artifacts, press this argument in a most convincing way. One uninformed in these matters would get the impression that the science of Archaeology has "proven" the book of Mormon.
How Conclusive Is The Evidence?
As many of our LDS readers know, Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, has a special department along with special courses devoted to the study of Archaeology, with special emphasis on the subject as it relates to the confirmation of the Book of Mormon. Working in close connection with this department, The Brigham Young University Archaeological Society has been created which affords membership to the layman and publishes periodic material on the progress of their researches.
In one such publication, Dr. Ross T. Christensen, Archaeologist, and faculty member at BYU, writes:
"In the first place, the statement that the Book of Mormon has already been proven by archaeology is misleading. The truth of the matter is that we are only now beginning to see even the outlines of the archaeological time-periods which could compare with those of the Book of Mormon. How, then, can the matter have been settled once and for all? That such an idea could exist indicates the ignorance of many of our people with regard to what is going on in historical and anthropological sciences.... Latter-day Saints who have had any formal training in archaeology are exceedingly few. In other words, the interest which they have had in this field has been up to the present largely on an amateur rather than professional level.... As for the notion that the Book of Mormon has already been proved by archaeology, I must say with Shakespeare, `Lay not that flattering unction to your soul' (Hamlet III:4)." — The University Archaeological Society Miscellaneous Papers, No. 19, "Some Views On Archaeology And Its Role At Brigham Young University," Dec., 1960, pp. 8 & 9.
The above quotation from one of the Mormons' own scholars should soften the extravagant claims made so frequently by uninformed young missionaries. The claims they make do not tally with the testimony of their own archaeologists. But, listen to some further eye-opening evidence.
Dr. M. Wells Jakeman, one of the first among the Mormons to obtain a Ph. D. in archaeology, also a member of the BYU faculty, wrote the following words:
"It must be confessed that some members of the `Mormon' or Latter-day Saints Church are prone, in their enthusiasm for the Book of Mormon, to make claims for it that cannot be supported. So far as is known to the writer, no non-Mormon archaeologist at the present time is using the Book of Mormon as a guide in archaeological research. Nor does he know any non-Mormon archaeologist who holds that the American Indians are descendants of the Jews, or that Christianity was known in America in the first century of our era...." "U. A. S. Newsletter," No. 57, March 25, 1959, p. 4
In view of the above quotations, what are we to think of the Mormon book of archaeological evidence containing pictures alleging to be the ruins of the Nephite cities? Mr. Dee F. Green, then Editor of the "U. A. S. Newsletter," and LDS archaeologist has some interesting remarks along this line, After pointing out some of the mistaken ideas concerning the Book of Mormon held by non-Mormon scientists, he writes:
....However, we must not overlook the fact that some Mormons have popularized equally mistaken ideas, which they have held, about the Book and have thus helped to retard the development of Book of Mormon archaeology.
"For example, some popular `Mormon' books show pictures of classic Maya, Inca, and Aztec ruins and attribute them to the Nephites. Scholars are aware that these civilizations postdate Book of Mormon times. Other gross errors include the use of outdated or otherwise unreliable source materials and the tendency to make every piece of evidence fit neatly Into the Book of Mormon picture, whether it belongs there or not." — "U. A. S. Newsletter," No. 54, November 19, 1958, p. 2.
Considerable more material is available from Mormon sources to corroborate these statements. The limitations of space prohibit its presentation at this time. But notice, please, that the very ones among the Mormons who, by virtue of their education and experience, are in the best possible position to state the archaeological argument, make it with extreme reservation. They forthrightly refute the glowing claims made by their less-informed contemporaries.
— 2424 N. McCarron, Las Vegas, Nevada