There was an email sent in the Mortdale Stake referencing a pilot program of informed consent. It was dismissed by the stake as a fake email, and their system had been hacked, but the email contained many troubling facts that members struggle with, similar to the CES Letter. This post highlights a point in the email and elaborates on the anachronistic quotes in the Book of Mormon.
I am sure we are all aware now, that the Book of Mormon has a troubling number of anachronisms in it. There are large amounts of text and ideas, from multiple documents, all published between 400 AD and 1830 that have been found in the Book of Mormon and sadly most of them cannot be argued away.
The Book of Mormon also quotes from many New Testament verses (examples below), which of course could not have been found in the Brass plates:
Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake: Pilot Program Informed Consent Email
- 2 Nephi 2:5 quotes Romans 3:20, even though Lehi lived 600 years before Paul.
- Helaman 5:8 refers to the Sermon on the Mount, but it was written 60 years before the Sermon on the Mount occurred.
- Mormon 9:24 quotes from Mark 16:17-18. Mark 16:9-20 was a much later addition to the New Testament (early 2nd century).
- 1 Nephi 22:15 and 2 Nephi 25:13 quote from Malachi 4:1-2, even though Nephi lived 200 years before Malachi.
- Alma 7:24 refers to 1 Corinthians 13:13 and 2 Corinthians 9:8, even though Alma lived 100 years before they were written.
https://wasmormon.org/email-to-sydney-australia-mortdale-stake-pilot-program-informed-consent/
What are these scriptural quotes, and what does it mean that they are anachronistic?
In the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family depart from Jerusalem around 600 BC, specifically to escape the impending destruction of the city. This departure is a central event in the narrative, marking the beginning of their journey to the promised land. The Nephites allegedly did have some records, according to the story, as brass plates which contained the geneology of Lehi’s family, and the writings of Moses. It could be suggested that these writings contained anything in the Old Testament that predated the 600 BC departure of Lehi, thus it could be argued that these prophets had the writings up until Jeremiah.
Several Old Testament books are believed to have been written before 600 BC, including parts of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings (though some parts of these might have been compiled later), as well as the books of Hosea, Amos, Micah, and parts of Isaiah. Additionally, Habakkuk, Nahum, and parts of Jeremiah are also thought to have been written before this date. But we must also remember that the Old Testament wasn’t a book like we have today, or even in Joseph Smith’s day, but these writings were spread across different collections and were later compiled into what we now have as the Old Testament. These Brass Plates are purportedly a collection of some of these records, too.
So we can excuse some of the biblical writings that appear in the Book of Mormon text as at least explained by the story itself. Some of these scriptural writings, however, include passages from the Bible that in no way could have been part of the brass plates. These are the anachronistic biblical quotes. We could also argue against many more bible quotes in the Book of Mormon as very, very unlikely being part of the Brass plates, such as sections of Isaiah, which modern scholars don’t think existed at the time Lehi allegedly left Jerusalem.
2 Nephi 2:5
2nd Nephi quotes and expounds on this verse in Romans 3:20 even though Lehi lived 6 centuries before Paul, so he wouldn’t have had access to Paul’s writings. Joseph Smith had access to them and was very familiar with them.
5 And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified; or, by the law men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever.
2 Nephi 2:5
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:20
Helamen 5:8
Helaman 5:8 refers to the Sermon on the Mount, but it was written 60 years before the Sermon on the Mount occurred. It also includes phrases from other New Testament verses like 1 Peter 1:4.
Counsel to not boast their good works, but lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven.
8 And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.
Helaman 5:8
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise…
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: …
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Matthew 6:1,5,19-20
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Peter 1:4
8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:
2 Corinthians 10:8
16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.
2 Corinthians 11:16
Helaman 5:44
… and they were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory.
Helaman 5:44
… ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Peter 1:8
The Sydney email isn’t the first place to note many biblical phrases in the Book of Mormon, many of which are anachronistic. As others have noted, the verse here in Helaman has multiple exact phrase matches scattered across the New Testament.
These verses in Helaman 8 is first a spiritual lesson delivered by the prophet Helaman to his sons, Nephi and Lehi. Later in the chapter it is a narrative of Nephi and Lehi being imprisoned while preaching to the Lamanites and their miraculous deliverance…
These three Book of Mormon verses demonstrate a high degree of similarity to the following New Testament passages in the KJV bible…
The phrase “somewhat more” seems like such a generic phrase that it would be found multiple times in the bible. Yet it is only found once within the KJV bible, in 2 Corinthians 10:8. Strangely enough, that same verse also contains a reference to boasting, but stranger still is the fact that almost an exact match “that I may boast” is found one chapter later in 2 Corinthians 11:16. The variation “may boast” occurs only once in the KJV bible, in that verse.
A search for “lay up,” “laid up,” and “layeth up” results in only 2 verses that also contain the word “heaven.” These are the exact phrase match in Matthew 6:20 and a somewhat similar match in Colossians 1:5. You might think that this particular similarity is okay because Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount to the Nephites, but verse 8 is supposed to be a quote from Helaman’s lesson given to his sons about 60 years before Jesus arrived in the Americas.
Variation on the phrase “fadeth not away” results in 6 total occurances (“fadeth not away” = 2 results, “fadeth away” = 1 result, “fade not away” = 0 results, “fade away” = 3 results, “faded not away” = 0 results, “faded away” = 0 results, “fading not away” = 0 results, and “fading away” = 0 results). Obviously, the exact phrase “fadeth not away” is the closest result and the only one to use a negative form of the verb. The exact phrase only occurs in two places within the KJV bible, in 1 Peter 1:4 and 1 Peter 5:4. It seems like a phrase that is highly specific to use by the author, Peter, but somehow it is also being used by Helaman…
So are we to believe that both Helaman’s lesson to his sons and also a narrative of events abridged by Mormon within the same chapter contain numerous parallels to the same bible chapter (1 Peter 1), with some of the parallels being completely unique within the KJV bible? What is your explanation for this?
u/auricularisposterior, In Depth Analysis – Helaman 5:8, 11, 44
https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/101s6it/in_depth_analysis_helaman_58_11_44/
Mormon 9:24
Mormon 9:24 quotes from Mark 16:17-18. This is a direct quote in the final chapters of the Mormon claiming to be “About A.D. 401–21.” Mark 16:9-20 was a much later addition to the New Testament (early 2nd century) and certainly not part of the brass plates the Nephites would have had, but Joseph Smith was very familiar with the book of Mark.
24 And these signs shall follow them that believe—in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover;
Mormon 9:24
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Mark 16:17-18
Even the church’s New Testament student manual acknowledges that these verses lifted from Mark into the Book of Mormon aren’t legitimate words of Mark; they were written by scribes.
The most reliable early manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark do not contain Mark 16:9–20, and the style of the Greek language used in these verses differs from the rest of Mark. This suggests that these concluding verses might not have been written by Mark, but rather by scribes who added accounts of the Savior’s appearances after His Resurrection to bring the ending of Mark’s Gospel more in harmony with the writings of Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts. Whatever the reasons for the manuscript variations, the Church accepts all of Mark 16 as inspired scripture. Its value is based not on which human being wrote it, but on its inspired testimony of truth.
LDS New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 14
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/new-testament-student-manual/introduction-to-mark/chapter-14?lang=eng
1 Nephi 22:15 and 2 Nephi 25:13
1 Nephi 22:15 and 2 Nephi 25:13 quote from Malachi 4:1-2, even though Nephi lived 200 years before Malachi.
The proud, all that do wickedly, shall be as stubble, and the day cometh, they shall burn.
15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned.
1 Nephi 22:15
1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Malachi 4:1
Rise from the dead with healing in his wings.
13 Behold, they will crucify him; and after he is laid in a sepulchre for the space of three days he shall rise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have seen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.
2 Nephi 25:13
2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
Malachi 4:2
Alma 7:24
Alma 7:24 refers to 1 Corinthians 13:13 and 2 Corinthians 9:8, even though Alma lived 100 years before they were written. Alma directly borrows phrases to these verses that were familiar to Joseph Smith, but Alma couldn’t have access to.
Faith, hope, charity – always abound in good works.
24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.
Alma 7:24
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:13
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2 Corinthians 9:8
Explanations
One recurring topic among those who study the Book of Mormon closely is the presence of anachronisms—that is, elements in the text that appear out of their proper time. For many, this discovery is not simply academic—it strikes at the heart of their understanding of scripture, revelation, and the role of prophets.
Faithful Perspective: Revelation Can Transcend Time
Within traditional Latter-day Saint belief, the presence of New Testament language in the Book of Mormon is sometimes seen as evidence of divine foreknowledge or a common spiritual source. In this view, the Lord may have revealed the same truths to both ancient and modern prophets, even if they lived centuries apart. It’s not uncommon for some to believe that Book of Mormon prophets had access to biblical language, whether through divine revelation, angelic instruction, or spiritual visions.
Church leaders and scholars have sometimes explained that the brass plates (a scriptural record Nephi and his family carried from Jerusalem) may have contained additional prophetic writings lost to the modern Bible, or that Joseph Smith used familiar biblical language as part of the translation process, inspired by God to do so. In this framework, even if phrases echo Paul or Christ’s words in the New Testament, it’s understood as part of God’s eternal gospel being consistent through time.
Some argue that these quotations are not problematic because the Lord might have inspired similar words in both eras. Or that biblical references in the Book of Mormon simply reflect the timeless nature of Christian virtues like faith, hope, and charity.
Mormon apologists will remind us that all scriptures are revelation from God, and since God does not change (even though Mormon history clearly shows he does), there should be no surprise that the revealed texts are similar and even word-for-word in some instances, but historically speaking, there’s no possible way the Nephite prophets writing in the new world would write the same things as Hebrew leaders in the old world, many times even before the Bible passages would have been written.
A More Likely Explanation: A 19th-Century Production
As we examine these anachronisms more closely, we can’t ignore another possibility: that the Book of Mormon may not be an ancient text at all, but rather a 19th-century work reflecting the religious and cultural environment of Joseph Smith’s time.
It makes much more sense to see these writings as parts of the 19th-century Christianity leaking into the supposed ancient account by the hands of Joseph Smith.
Taken together, these suggest that the Book of Mormon reflects post-biblical Christian teachings, which were not available to Nephite prophets. This leads many to reconsider whether the text was divinely translated from ancient records or whether it was composed in the 1800s using the King James Bible as a model and source.
For those of us who were taught and once believed the Book of Mormon to be the “most correct of any book on earth,” these discoveries are troubling and even disorienting. The idea that New Testament passages show up centuries before they were written doesn’t merely strain credibility—it raises real doubts about the historicity and divine origin of the Book of Mormon itself.
Share Your Experience
At wasmormon.org, many of us have wrestled with these same questions. We’ve learned that the journey of faith deconstruction isn’t about losing values—it’s about seeking truth, integrity, and alignment with reality.
Have you encountered these anachronisms before? Did they spark questions for you? Whether you’re still a believing member grappling with these issues or someone who has stepped away, your story matters. Sharing your experience can help others feel less alone in their doubts and more confident in their journey. We invite you to share your story at wasmormon.org, where we explore these questions together with honesty, curiosity, and compassion.
More reading:
- Email to Sydney Australia Mortdale Stake: Pilot Program – Informed Consent
- Anachronisms Found in the Book of Mormon
- Book of Mormon Anachronisms – Slippery Treasures and Treasure Digging Concepts
- Book of Mormon Horses: Real or Myth? Or Tapirs?
- https://missedinsunday.com/memes/scripture/plagiarism-in-book-of-mormon/
- https://www.reddit.com/r/mormon/comments/101s6it/in_depth_analysis_helaman_58_11_44/