Mormons have set up an unrealistic expectation when they insist that Joseph couldn't have written it so who else could have unless it is real.

It can be determined to be a hoax without needing to identify the author/s.

It isn't necessary to identify who forged the Newark Decalogue Stone. It can be determined to be a hoax.
http://apps.ohiohistory.org/ohioarchaeology/newark-holy-stone-is-featured-on-america-unearthed/

Same for the Los Lunas Decalogue Stone
http://books.google.com/books?id=xmDnhPNLwYwC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159&dq=false#v=onepage&q&f=false

and the Bat creek Stone
http://www.ramtops.co.uk/bat2.html

and the Grave Creek Stone
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/science/2008/11/11/sci_lepper11.ART_ART_11-11-08_B7_2TBQ22C.html

and any number of other hoax artifacts such as the elephant effigy pipes, the Michigan relics, the Davenport tablets or the Kinderhook plates.

The Book of Mormon represents the ideas of the time of the forgery.

http://archive.org/stream/archaeologyohio00readrich#page/104/mode/2up
"such forgeries will always in some way represent the ideas of the time of the forgery." "the greatest forgery of this century is the book of Mormon. A careful reading of it will disclose to any competent critic very nearly the date of the forgery. It was written during, or very soon after, the controversy between Masonry and Anti-Masonry, and is decidedly Anti-Masonic. It was written during the theologicla controversy over popery pedo-baptism; the salvation of infants; a paid priesthood, election and free-will, all of which questions it attempts to settle; when the "fallings power," as it was called, was regarded as the work of the Spirit, which it describes and approves; while the act of divination by looking into a crystal was believed in by some; while it was believed that the native races here were Israelites; and before contact with Europeans, worshipers of the Great Spirit, and while it was popularly believed that the linguistic peuliarities of our bible were wholly characteristic of languages in which it was originally written, and not of the state of the English language at the time of its translation. These internal evidences fix the date of its composition as about fifty years ago."

The scriptural ancient historical style of the Book of Mormon is the same as other 19th century sources, which also helps to fix the date when it was written:

The Late War between the United States and Great Britain, 1816, Hunt
https://archive.org/details/latewarbetween_00hunt

The First Book of Napolean, the Tyrant of the Earth, 1809, Gruau
http://archive.org/details/firstbooknapole00gruagoog

The American Revolution written in scriptural, or, ancient historical style, 1802, Snowden
https://archive.org/details/americanrevoluti00snow

There is enough evidence to reasonably conclude it is a fraud without even needing to identify the authorship.

The only answer that matters about who wrote the BoM is "not Moroni, Mormon, or Nephi, who are all fictional characters"

Like much of Mormonism, the BoM is not what it claims to be. Figuring out who wrote the fiction may be an interesting hobby, but it is not important to debunking the claim to being an account of ancient Americans.

Thanks Brother of Jerry. Mormons put too much emphasis on the question "could any man have written this book?" It doesn't matter.

michaelm (not logged in) Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks Brother of Jerry. Mormons put too much
> emphasis on the question "could any man have
> written this book?" It doesn't matter.

If that's the question then how did the ancient ignorant Indians (Nephites) originally write the book?

The better question is: How can ignorant mormons base their blind obediance on a book of fiction they think is true due to a confirmation bias?

LOL

Who cares....I've never read it...or wanted too...

Ron Burr

Interesting references to other hoaxes....

Does that mean the Koran and the Urantia Book are true too?

If your standard for truth is anything that apparently surpasses the capability of its author to create it, you're going to end up believing a lot of crazy !@#$. JS was apparently smart enough to organize a church and get thousands to follow him; I'll credit him with enough brains to create the BoM.

You're wrong, Jesus organized the church through JS and the spirit converted the thousands that followed him! JS had 3rd grade level brains, that's what made everything possible. lol

Apparently, the Mormons claim Joseph Smith wasn't wily enough to create the BoM. He couldn't possibly create a city run by a conspiratorial star chamber either.