I would probably say that the Book of Mormon is one of the most heavily criticized pieces of literature ever put into circulation. These criticisms go back even before it was published. From the moment Joseph Smith claimed he had access to an ancient record that God needed him to translate, people began theorizing about its origins. They criticized Joseph Smith, questioned his motivations, and doubted his inspirations.
Once the Book of Mormon was published, critics finally had the text itself. Since then, it has been torn apart, analyzed, and debated for nearly 200 years. If you want to dive into these criticisms today, you face an overwhelming mountain of material to sift through. That’s where I want to narrow the focus a bit by recommending one book: Studies of the Book of Mormon by B. H. Roberts. (affiliate link)
I recommend it for three reasons. First, it presents excellent criticisms of the Book of Mormon. Second, the controversy surrounding its content and publication history is fascinating. Third, because of the unique character of author, B. H. Roberts.
Who Was B. H. Roberts?
Brigham Henry Roberts was a member of the Quorum of the Seventy, a church historian, and a master theologian. He independently wrote a six-volume comprehensive history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (affiliate link). He defended the faith, published works on the Book of Mormon, and even served as an editor for church magazines.
Within leadership, Roberts was highly respected. He developed curriculum for quorum meetings of the Seventy, ensuring members of the quorum had a strong grasp of the faith's theology. He was such a strong writer that his books are still on shelves today, despite his death in 1933.
What makes Studies of the Book of Mormon unique is that it wasn’t published in his lifetime. Decades after his death, his family approached the University of Utah with manuscripts and correspondence he had left behind. These documents included his detailed studies of the Book of Mormon, as well as letters exchanged with other church leaders. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the university finally published them, complete with introductions by professors B. H. Madsen and Sterling McMurrin.
Both introductions emphasize that Roberts never wavered in his faith. McMurrin even described him as the church’s “chief defender of the faith.” Yet despite Roberts’s loyalty, his manuscripts reveal how seriously he wrestled with difficult questions about the Book of Mormon.
The Five Questions
The manuscripts trace back to a man named Mr. Couch, who raised five questions about the authenticity of the Book of Mormon:
1. How could the great diversity in primitive Indian languages have occurred in such a short period after about A.D. 400, when the Nephites, whose Hebrew language was so highly developed, disappeared?
2. The Book of Mormon reports that the followers of Lehi, upon their arrival in the New World, found horses, which were not in existence when the first Spanish explorers arrived.
3. Although the Jews had no knowledge of steel in 600 B.C., Nephi was reported to have had a bow of steel after he left Jerusalem.
4. The Book of Mormon speaks of “swords and scimiters,” and yet the word “scimieter” does not appear in early literature before the rise of Mohammedanism, which took place after Lehi departed from Jerusalem.
5. Even though silk was not known in America, the Nephites knew of and used silk.
Roberts produced a 141-page study responding to these questions. His conclusion was sobering: the church had no adequate answers. He sent his findings not only to William Riter (the man in contact with Couch) but also to the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Quorum of the Seventy.
Roberts insisted that church leaders needed to be familiar with these issues, since they would affect the faith of future generations. But his warnings fell flat. During multi-day meetings where he presented his research, many leaders grew disinterested, went off on tangents, or dismissed his concerns.
Roberts was frustrated. In a letter to President Heber J. Grant, he admitted he was “painfully conscious” that the church was ill-prepared to face critics. Leadership, meanwhile, preferred to ignore the issues. To them, the Book of Mormon simply stood on its own.
Roberts Goes Further
Unsatisfied, Roberts began a second study. This time he explored what sources might have influenced Joseph Smith if the Book of Mormon was not ancient. He examined cultural ideas, sermons, and popular writings of the time—especially theories that Native Americans were descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.
He noted Joseph Smith’s talent as a storyteller, his ability to absorb information, and the possibility that he could have created the book without reading much formal literature. He also examined parallels with Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews, producing a comparative study that he summarized in this collection.
Why This Book Matters
Studies of the Book of Mormon contains three parts:
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Book of Mormon Difficulties: Roberts’s 141-page response to Couch’s five questions.
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A Book of Mormon Study: His exploration of sources and influences available to Joseph Smith.
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A View of the Hebrews Comparison: A summary of a larger unpublished study.
So why do I, as someone who no longer believes in the Book of Mormon, recommend this book? Because Roberts was willing to ask the hard questions.
He stood before the entire leadership of the church and said, “We don’t have answers.” He knew it would cause discomfort, but he pressed forward anyway. That example is powerful.
It shows that questioning is not the same as sinning. It’s part of the learning process. Blindly ignoring doubts brings no growth. But asking questions—no matter how hard they are—opens the door to deeper understanding.
If you stay in the church after asking those questions, more power to you. If you leave, more power to you. All that matters is that you are well informed.
Check Your Understanding:
Test how well you understand the history, concerns, and significance of B. H. Roberts’s work.
1. Why does the article recommend *Studies of the Book of Mormon*?
2. Who was B. H. Roberts?
3. What was unusual about the publication history of Roberts’s studies?
4. What did Roberts conclude after responding to Mr. Couch’s five questions?
5. How did many church leaders react when Roberts presented his findings?
6. What did Roberts explore in his second study?
7. Why is Roberts’s work seen as important today?
8. What does the article say is most important when confronting difficult questions about the Church?
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