Members of the LDS faith believe that the Book of Mormon is a true history of an ancient people (the Nephites) that lived on the American continent from around 592 B.C. to 425 A.D. The Book of Mormon contains hundreds (if not thousands) of references to the Old and New Testaments, which include names, doctrines, symbols, idiomatic expressions, and direct quotes. In some instances, the Book of Mormon contains words, phrases, or doctrines that appear exclusively in the New Testament. This is problematic because the Book of Mormon quotes several New Testament phrases hundreds of years before Christ was born. Critics argue that these anachronisms prove that the Book of Mormon is a 19^th century work of fiction. While each example of New Testament quotes appearing in the Book of Mormon is different and can be afforded its own explanation, here are some general reasons for why New Testament phrases may be found in the Book of Mormon.

1. The Brass Plates contained writings not found in today’s Old Testament. These could have provided source material for the Apostle’s writings in the New Testament

Nephi and his brothers obtained brass plates from Laban that contained the five books of Moses, writings of the prophets up until Jeremiah, and Lehi’s genealogy (1 Nephi 5:11-14). The brass plates contained writings from at least three other prophets that are not found in the Old or New Testaments. These prophets were Zenos, Zenock, and Neum, each of whom specifically prophesied concerning the Son of God (1 Nephi 19:10-17/Jacob 5/Alma 33:3-16). They also contained revelations from Jacob of the Old Testament (Alma 46:24) and Joseph his son (2 Nephi 3:6-22). In addition, an angel of the Lord tells Nephi that the brass plates contain more writings than are found in today’s Old Testament (1 Nephi 13:23). It should also be noted that the Nephites received additional scripture from the records of the Jaredites (Omni 1:20-22/Mosiah 28:11-17) and potentially from writings on the temple wall interpreted by Aminadab (Alma 10:2). It is therefore possible that phrases found in the New Testament have their origin in other scriptures found in the brass plates but not in today’s Old Testament. One example is found in Romans 11:16-25 in the New Testament and Jacob 5 (written by Zenos) in the Book of Mormon. Both authors compare the house of Israel to an olive tree and refer to Gentiles being grafted into the house of Israel. Since the prophet Zenos is believed to have lived centuries before Paul, some argue that Paul was basing his writings on the allegory of the olive tree found in the brass plates.

2. The Nephites received more revelations than did the Jews in Jerusalem because of their righteousness. These revelations and teachings could have been the same teachings given to the Apostles by angels and the Holy Spirit

Lehi and his family were led by the Lord out of Jerusalem because of their righteousness (1 Nephi 2:1-2). The Nephites, therefore, received more revelation than the Jews in Jerusalem (Jacob 4:12-14/Alma 9:19-23). Here are some examples of prophets in the Book of Mormon having New Testament principles revealed to them by visions, angels, and the Spirit of the Lord:

• Lehi sees a vision of the 12 apostles and receives a book of revelation (1 Nephi 1:10)
• Lehi predicts the date in which Christ will be born (1 Nephi 10:4)
• Lehi sees a vision of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus Christ (1 Nephi 10:7-10)
• Lehi prophesies that the house of Israel will be compared to an Olive Tree (1 Nephi 10:12)
• Nephi sees a vision of Christ’s birth (1 Nephi 11:18-20)
• Nephi sees a vision of today’s Bible. Many doctrines contained therein have been lost (1 Nephi 13:19-27)
• Nephi sees John the Revelator and much of what he saw (1 Nephi 14:20-27)
• Jacob learns the name of Christ (2 Nephi 10:3)
• The Book of Mormon is a second witness of God and the Bible, to prove that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (2 Nephi 29:6-9)
• Nephi receives a commandment from God that all should be baptized (2 Nephi 31:4-15)
• Jacob has angels minister to him regularly (Jacob 7:5)
• King Benjamin sees an angel who tells him of Christ’s birth and purpose (Mosiah 3:2-11)
• Abinadi is commanded of the Lord to prophesy of Christ’s coming (Mosiah 12:1/Mosiah 15)
• Alma is given authority from the Holy Spirit to baptize (Mosiah 18:13)
• King Lamoni and the queen see the Savior and minister to their people (Alma 19:12-13, 29-31)
• Alma says that it is just as easy for the Lord to send an angel to declare future events as it is for him to send an angel during or after the event (Alma 39:15-19)
• Alma predicts the year that the Nephites will begin to be destroyed (Alma 45:10)
• Samuel the Lamanite predicts signs of the birth and death of Christ (Helaman 14)
• The Lord tells Nephi the day he will be born (3 Nephi 1:11-14)
• Christ appears in the Americas and teaches them (3 Nephi 11)
• Christ gives the Nephites scriptures they did not have previously (3 Nephi 23:6/3 Nephi 24-25)
• The Brother of Jared sees Christ and sees unspeakable visions (Ether 3)
• Moroni remembers the word of the Lord as found in the New Testament (Ether 12:32-37)
• Ether sees the New Jerusalem (Ether 13:3-6)
• Mormon receives the words of the Savior by the Holy Ghost (Moroni 8:7-9)

While unlikely to satisfy critics, the Book of Mormon provides many plausible explanations as to why it shares so much in common with the New Testament.