Smithsonian Book of Mormon Usage
The Museum Never Uses Mormon Texts for Archealogical Research
A faith promoting rumor surfaces from time to time that the Smithsonian Institution sometimes uses the Book of Mormon as a guide to archaeological research in the Americas. Many faith promoting rumors are stories that are not verifiable, but the rumor about Smithsonian use of the Book of Mormon contains some element of truth. The organization did issue a statement about how it uses the Book of Mormon in legitimate research.
Faithful Mormons may find the content of the letter disappointing, but the Book of Mormon has never been used by the Smithsonian as a research tool and the statement addresses the most common questions the institution receives. The Mormon Times recently ran a story stating that Egyptologists were using the Pearl of Great Price as a research tool.
Disappointing Elements of the Letter
Light Planet, a web site run by faithful Mormons, contains the full text of the Smithsonian letter which can be found here. The statement of the Smithsonian was issued in response to inquiries by many people on the topic and contains a request for information about anyone misusing the agency's name.
Anyone with an interest in the historical and scientific issues that the Mormons currently face will not find the statement surprising. It addresses the anachronisms, the non-Semitic origin of the Native Americans, the animals mentioned in the book that did not come to the Americans until after European settlement, although the final point of the Smithsonian statement on the Book of Mormon does confirm one point of this faith promoting rumor. The library of the Museum of Natural History does have a copy of the Book of Mormon in the Museum of Natural History's Library.
The Smithsonian Does Not Use the Book of Mormon
The statement carefully states that it does not consider this Mormon scripture or other uniquely Mormon scriptures as a valid tool for scientific research, but understands that it has value as a religious text. Faith promoting rumors are an interesting element of folklore that occur in nearly all religions, but a little skepticism should be exercised when an incredible claim is heard.
Interestingly enough, the second largest Restorationist Group, the Community of Christ, does not require its members to believe the Book of Mormon is literally true. Many have never even read it. It can be assumed that a Mormon started this faith promoting rumor about the Smithsonian using their scriptures and it quickly spread to the point that the institution had to issue a statement on how they do not use the Book of Mormon.
Resources:
Mark Brown – The Community of Christ and the Latter-day Saints
