The online Museum of the Book of Mormon (MOBOM.org) already has a lot of material, but more is coming in 2025. Most of the questions people ask me are already answered on mobom.org.
MOBOM focuses on
- the origin and setting of the Book of Mormon (evidence of its divine authenticity)
- the teachings and purpose of the Book of Mormon (convincing the world that Jesus is the Christ)
Here are some examples of the content on MOBOM:
1. Church history issues related to the origin and setting of the Book of Mormon:
https://www.mobom.org/church-history-issues
2. Discussion of Joseph Smith's early years, showing how the Lord prepared him from an early age to become the prophet/translator of the Restoration:
https://www.mobom.org/joseph-smith-early-years
3. Corroboration of Joseph's claim that he translated the plates, such as the Jonathan Edwards connection, including annotations of chapters in the Book of Mormon and sections in the Doctrine and Covenants:
https://www.mobom.org/jonathan-edwards
4. Photos, maps, and other aids, such as these photos from Salalah, Oman:
https://www.mobom.org/salalah-oman
5. Discussion of the teachings of the prophets, such as these references to "this land"
https://www.mobom.org/lehis-promised-land-references
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Some people ask how MOBOM differs from Scripture Central, FAIRLDS, the Interpreter, and their other collaborators.
The main difference is that MOBOM promotes clarity, charity and understanding.
MOBOM recognizes that people have a variety of opinions and interpretations.
MOBOM encourages Latter-day Saints to make informed decisions for themselves without deferring to, relying upon, or simply believing LDS scholars who promote their own agendas (such as SITH and M2C). (SITH = "stone-in-the-hat" theory; M2C=Mesoamerican/two-Cumorahs theory)
The other sites listed above instead promote specific agendas based on the personal beliefs of their principals (Jack Welch, Scott Gordon, and Dan Peterson, respectively) and their followers. These sites eschew comparisons and open, civil dialog.
MOBOM differs from the other sites because its editorial policies include:
- support for and corroboration of the teachings of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, along with their successors, regarding the origin and setting of the Book of Mormon
- links to authentic original sources
- frequent updates and improvements based on user input and additional information
- comparison between and among multiple working hypotheses to promote clarity pursuant to the FAITH model of analysis (Facts, Assumptions, Inferences, Theories, Hypotheses).
- participation and input from anyone interested in contributing
To help readers make comparisons and informed decisions, MOBOM includes links to Scripture Central, FAIRLDS, and the Interpreter.
The FAITH model starts with Facts because everyone can (or should) agree on basic facts (such as the existence and content of a historical document). Once facts are isolated, everyone can see clearly how various assumptions, inferences, and theories lead to the widely divergent worldviews or hypotheses, ranging from faithful to agnostic to antagonistic.
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During 2025, MOBOM will expand to offer more resources pursuant to the objectives and policies outlined above.
