JohnFrum

...And thanks to the rest of you too! I had no idea there would be so many helpful responses!

Thanks Isaac. I couldn't agree more--I need to study up. Thanks for the suggestions!

Thanks for some very good answers. Ztodd, I agree with your statement about spiritual truth, which is the truth that matters. Having said that, however, I'm starting to have some problems with the "historical truth" and things related to it. The people I have been discussing all this with (let's just say--extended family members) have thrown some observations/questions at me that I am very ill-equipped to deal with. (I've been a member for a while now, but alas, I am a convert). Perhaps growing up in the church, some of you have always known about kolob. I found out about it this afternoon... from my NON-mormon friends. Is this for real? I looked it up on Wikipedia. It sounds like something out of Scientology, but apparently it is mentioned in the POGP. What is the DEAL? They also bring up some compelling points (I guess) from anthropologists and how there is no evidence whatsoever that any jewish clan came to the new world. There are some other things they claimed that I don't care much about, but I might as well note them: * Smith was trained in magic and mesmerism * The temple ritual is based on a Masonic ritual * Smith took a bride as young as 14...when he was in his late 30s? * It would do me well to study "Hermeticism"--whatever that is. * It would also do me well to study up on Christian Rosencreutz. Who the heck is that? (I looked the name up on Google. It looks like he's a Catholic bishop from a long time ago, but beyond that I lost interest.)

My question/conundrum is pretty simple, and it has hit me like a sack of bricks. Subject matter aside, the BOM is written in the same post-middle English vernacular as the King James version of the Bible. The implications for me are profoundly disturbing. The BOM was translated in the fall of 1827 directly from the ancient plates, which were circa 600 B.C., right? The diction of the BOM translation should resemble the written discourse of that period, but it doesn't--especially not the brand of American English used in upstate New York. Have I missed something? I've been challenged recently by some informal investigators, and to be honest, I'm stumped. Any enlightenment would be appreciated!