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The Dead Sea Scrolls Help Authenticate the Book of Mormon

Research by Kerry A. Shirts

The Dead Sea Scrolls are some of the most important writings ever found concerning ancient Judaism and Christianity. There has been many scholars discussing various aspects of the Christian parts and Jewish parts, all of whom are offended or embarrassed by the abundant riches of documents coming out. We Mormons feel this is not by accident.

Mormonism thrives on the idea of continuous revelation from a God who is concerned with our destinies. This is exactly the attitude of the scroll people. James L. Price notes that "The speaker in the Hodayoth affirms confidently that God has manifested his marvellous mysteries to him, taught him the 'council of his truth', and given him 'understanding of his wonderful works.'" (:Qumran and Johannine Theology,"

in James H. Charlesworth [ed.], "John and the Dead Sea Scrolls," Crossroad Publishing, 1991, p. 12). In other words, the Teacher of Righteousness was a prophet who received direct revelation from God for himself and his community in exactly the same way that occurs within Mormonism.

Another idea is the so-called "Church" in the Dead Sea Scrolls. Charles F. Pfeiffer notes that "the term "Yahad" conveys something of the idea of the Greek "koinonia" which occurs frequently in the New Testament in the sense of communion or fellowship." ("The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible", Baker Bookhouse, 1985, p. 49) Sherman E. Johnson noted that "the Jerusalem church, as we see it in Acts, is in several ways reminiscent of the Qumran Sect."

("The Jerusalem Church in Acts," in Krister Stendahl, ed., "The Scrolls and the New Testament," Crossroad Publishing, 2nd ed., 1992, p. 130.) The idea of a preChristian church was a rather startling one to the scholars, but it is also found in the Book of Mormon. So the Book of Mormon is not so out of line with this idea of a pre-Christian church in ancient Judaism and Early Christianity.

Aspects of Mormonism, such as continuous revelation, hiding sacred writings from the profane eyes of the world to come forth for later generations, fleeing to the wilderness under God's direction through dreams and visions to escape the impending destruction of society, etc., all have been amply confirmed now with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Their significance is hardly understood, yet the tie in with the Book of Mormon are incredibly complex and very interesting. It shows that the Book of Mormon is an authentic genre of ancient scripture alongside the Bible, Dead Sea Scrolls, Gnostic writings and apocryphal information. Joseph Smith wasn't kidding when he said God was restoring the ancient Gospel. We have found many ideas which at one time were quite offensive to Christians, in both the Book of Mormon (for which Joseph Smith was murdered for keeping his dying testimony of its truthfulness) and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which has swarmed in an army of controversy. The Dead Sea Scrolls may yet be the best testimony for the Book of Mormon.