Ministry Newsletter - January/February 2003

- Page 2 -

Mormon scholar

p r e d i c t s  h i s  e x p u l s i o n

"American Apocrypha"

Excerpts of an article by Patty Henetz
The Associated Press

Seattle Times: Saturday, November 30, 2002,

SA LT LAKE CITY — An Edmonds Community College instructor with Mormon family roots says he will probably be excommunicated next week for articles he has written questioning the validity of the Book of Mormon. Thomas W. Murphy, 35, published an article in the May Signature Books anthology " which uses genetic data to discredit the Book of Mormon claim that American Indians are heathen descendants of ancient Israel. The conclusion also is the thesis of his doctoral dissertation at the University of Washington.

"We're told to tell the truth, but not if the truth contradicts church doctrine. I would prefer to tell the truth," Murphy said. Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, will face a church disciplinary council Dec. 8. There, he will be allowed to make a statement, and council members may try to change his mind about the Book of Mormon.

Church spokesman Dale Bills declined to comment specifically on Murphy's case. "Matters of church discipline are handled on a confidential basis between church members and their local leaders. Local church leaders determine what, if any, disciplinary action is appropriate," Bills said. Mormons believe the Book of Mormon is a history of the Americas beginning in 600 B.C. Scripture teaches that a group of Lamanites who decided to forgo violence and war became Christians — and white. "That's racist," Murphy said. He also objects to teachings that dark skin is a curse from God. Murphy said he also questioned the lack of minority representation in church leadership, the church's political campaigns against women's and gay rights and "excommunicating scholars who honestly confront problems with church history and doctrines."

The Tip of the Iceberg

The cover article, “Mormon Scholar Predicts His Expulsion” and many like it across the nation represent the tip of a very large iceberg.

Tom Murphy has done a service to both Mormon and non-Mormon alike. He has revealed simple truth, documented with scientific evidence. He has done it from a position of authority, with credentials to back it up. Now the vilifying of Tom Murphy has begun, his character maligned. He is publicly accused of being in the pay of Anti-Mormons and those who would destroyGod ’s work. His scholarship is insulted and, of course, they say he really “never was a good Mormon”, sounds like what they said about me twenty- five years ago.

We pray for him and his family, as they stand strong against the onslaught of vicious attacks. The Saints Alive gang (Jason, Michelle , Rich and I) recently participated in a local University of Washington special lecture by Dr. Murphy.

It was like old times after the release of the God makers during the question and answer session! The Academic community and science now presents irrefutable DNA evidence that the Book of Mormon is a novel at best. We will keep you up to date as things progress. You can get a copy of his report and follow the controversy at Tom’s Web Site at http://faculty.edcc.edu/~tmurphy/

It Was No Surprise To
National Geographic!

(We're sorry about the quality of the letter above. However, the most telling statement in it is this :
"The Society does not know of anything found so far that has substantiated the Book of Mormon.")

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