Sounds fair. How does God interact with His people in the Bible? Through prophets and scripture. As long as there were righteous people there were prophets to write scripture to guide people through their unique situations. Why did that stop? Some argue that prophets were no longer necessary after Christ. The Bible specifically mentions several prophets after Christ came and went, so that can't be true. Many argue that the different churches scattered abroad on the earth represent the body of Christ, each sect and denomination fulfilling different responsibilities. This is completely contradictory to every inch of the doctrine found in the Bible. Some argue that we don't need them anymore. That's wholly irrational - we are in desperate need of divine guidance more now than ever. Some argue that the scriptures represent all we'll ever need to know about the Gospel. This is also in direct conflict to every word of the Bible. The Bible doesn't even give us a good blueprint for running the tiniest congregation. Some even argue that God cannot speak with us anymore. This is ridiculous. If you'd like to argue another reason why we don't need prophets then let me know, but undeniable fact is this: for over 1700 years nations argued, fought, killed, died and tortured because the word of God was left to the hands of mortal men. The human race actually retrogressed for ages. Thousands of different opinions were spread across the land. Find me one spot in the BIble where this is consistent with how God manages His people. The Bible speaks repeatedly of a falling away and a restoration. Can it be denied that the time I spoke of represents a falling away? Here is the prophecy of a Catholic priest written in 1739. His name was Lutis Grantino, and this article can be found in the Baseal, Switzerland library, where he lived. You'll have to speak German to read it, but I'll translate for you:
"The old, true Gospel and the gifts thereof are lost. False doctrines prevail in all the churches on the face of the earth. All we can do is exhort the people to be just, fear God, shun evil and pray. Prayer and purity may cause an angel to visit a deep and distressed soul, but I tell you that God will have spoken within 100 years. He will restore the old church again, I see a little band of people led by a prophet and a faithful leader. They are persecuted, burned out, and murdered. But in a valley that lies on the shores of a great lake they will build a great city and make a beautiful land. They will have a temple of magnificent splendor and also possess the old priesthood with apostles, prophets, teachers, deacons, etc. From every name shall the believers be gathered by speedy messengers and then will Almighty God speak to the disobedient with thunder, lightning and destruction such as man has never before known."
If you don't recognize the fact that every single point in his prophecy corresponds exactly with the history of this church then you shouldn't be engaged in any way with debate regarding the LDS church.
Joseph Smith was born into a time when men tore God out of the heavens and slathered Him with the stench of the philosophies of men. He only found religions that preached the following: NO prophets, NO revelation and NO scripture. Joseph Smith presented the Gospel in the exact same way that it was done in the Bible: he brought forth prophets, apostles, teachers, deacons, priests. He brought forth authority throught the laying on of hands. He also brought forth scripture (just like every single prophet in the Bible). The Book of Mormon teaches the exact same principles as the Bible and follows the exact same principles. This is objectivity. Can you demonstrate your objectivity by considering these points based on their merit alone, or will you resort to the all-to-common litany of seeking after evidence specifically to denounce these claims?
Just as God can never be reached except as He reveals Himself, the veracity of the Book of Mormon can never be established except by the spirit. I could talk for two years on intricate Chiastic structures that were written in the Book of Mormon before the author even knew Chiasmus existed. I could talk about the existence of towns along the desert route mentioned in the Book of Mormon that exist in modern Arabia. I could talk about all the unfulfilled biblical prophecies that the Book of Mormon fulfills. I could talk about the fact that over a dozen men handled the gold plates and stood by (till their deaths) sworn testimonies that they truly exist despite their own efforts to bring down the church and even kill Joseph Smith. I could talk about recent discoveries in Mesoamerica that now substantiate claims made over 150 years ago. I could talk about DNA evidence that shows that Native Americans are related to indo-europeans and Semitic peoples. I could go on for years, but none of this is going to prove anything. If you want to believe in God, the Bible or the Book of Mormon you have to get down on your knees and pray about it.
