Purpose & Approach

• The introduction sets the stage for a comprehensive study of alleged anachronisms in the Book of Mormon—claims that the text mentions things out of place for its supposed ancient American context.
• Roper acknowledges that faith is always required for scripture, but evidence can and does emerge to counter criticisms, even if it never completely removes the need for faith.
• The study aims to be a report card for how well the Book of Mormon has fared over time with respect to these claims.

Background

• Since its publication in 1830, critics have often pointed out "anachronisms"—items, animals, technologies, or cultural features they believed could not have existed in ancient America.
• Early and modern critics have argued these anachronisms disprove the Book of Mormon's authenticity as an ancient record.

Methodology

• The study reviews over 1,000 critical publications from 1830 to 2024, identifying 226 features of the Book of Mormon that have been labeled as anachronistic.
• These features are grouped into eight categories:
  1. Animals
  2. Warfare
  3. Metals & Metallurgy
  4. Ancient Culture
  5. Book of Mormon Names
  6. Old World Journeys
  7. Records, Writing & Language
  8. Events in 3rd Nephi
• Items are labeled as confirmed, partially confirmed, or unconfirmed based on whether new evidence supports the Book of Mormon's claim, not whether the criticism itself was justified.

Key Points

• The study does not promote a particular geography for the Book of Mormon (e.g., hemispheric vs. limited geography); it assesses claims based on whatever assumptions critics themselves use.
• The project acknowledges that knowledge changes—what was once considered anachronistic may not be today, and new issues may arise.
• The labels “confirmed,” “partially confirmed,” and “unconfirmed” refer only to the Book of Mormon’s features, not the criticisms.

Conclusion

• The introduction frames the work as a dynamic, ongoing evaluation of how the Book of Mormon stands up to claims of anachronism over time.
• The goal is to inform both present understanding and future expectations about what can be reasonably claimed as evidence for or against the Book of Mormon’s ancient authenticity.

In summary: