ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Criticism of the Book of Mormon

Okay, kiddo, so you know how sometimes people disagree on things, like what's the best color or favorite ice cream flavor? That's kind of like what's going on with the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is a religious book that tells the story of ancient people who lived in the Americas, and how they followed God's teachings. Some people believe it's a true book that was translated by a man named Joseph Smith, who had visions of an angel who showed him where to find the book. Other people don't believe it's true and have different reasons why.

One reason some people criticize the Book of Mormon is because they think it's not a historical book, meaning that the places, people, and events in the book didn't really happen. They say that there's no evidence to support the claims made in the book, like the existence of entire civilizations with advanced technologies.

Others criticize the way the book presents things, like its portrayal of Native American cultures as being influenced by Jews from the Old Testament or the way it talks about race and skin color. They say that these things are offensive or disrespectful to real people and their beliefs.

Still others point out changes and inconsistencies in the different versions and editions of the book over time. They argue that these changes suggest that the book isn't really a divine, unchanging scripture like it claims to be.

It's important to remember that people are allowed to have different beliefs and opinions, even if we don't always agree. The Book of Mormon is just one example of something that people have different views on, and it's up to each of us to decide what we believe.