By ERIN MARTIN
Some religious scholars who have read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, argue that the version of the Sermon on the Mount found in the book is a plagiarized version from the Bible’s version.
At a symposium Saturday, BYU law professor John Welch supported the Book of Mormon version of the sermon, by saying it can not be viewed as random plagiarism.
Welch is the author of a newly revised book, “Illuminating the Sermon at the Temple and Sermon on the Mount,” published by the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies.
“The Book of Mormon gives a sacred setting for the sermon,” Welch said.
He said looking at the text in the setting of the temple in the Book of Mormon version, the text relates to temple worship.
John S. Tanner, professor of English, said the central argument in the book seems to be the examination of the elements in and surrounding the sermon relating to temple worship.
Tanner, one of five scholars on a panel during the symposium, questioned whether it is possible to go from the sermon to a ritual, or temple, ceremony.
He said although he had questions, he found Welch’s book very interesting and would recommend it to anybody.
Some students broadened their perspective of the Sermon on the Mount through Welch’s research.
“I now look at the Sermon on the Mount as multi-leveled. It is deeper than just the Beatitudes,” said Briton Barker, 24, senior from Farmington, majoring in computer engineering.
Gerald Bradford, director of research at FARMS, said the symposium gave Latter-day Saints a new perspective of the two sermons.
“It was an opportunity to help people rethink and understand better both the Sermon on the Mount and the Sermon at the Temple,” Bradford said.
Audience members appreciated the opportunity to hear Welch’s and other scholars’ insights to the two sermons.
“I appreciated this experience because it has given me insight about what I can do to prepare to go to the temple,” said Amber Anderson, 22, a BYU alumnus from Dallas.
