Illuminati Challenges the Authenticity of the Book of Mormon
The group claims to be the same group that helped Mormon founder, Joseph Smith, write and publish the Book of Mormon in 1830. Members of this group claim that they are introduced in the Book of Mormon narrative as the “Three Nephites.” The Book of Mormon reports that these “Three Nephites” were made immortal and would be alive throughout history. The story states that “they will be among the Gentiles [Americans], and the Gentiles shall know them not. They will also be among the Jews, and the Jews shall know them not. … Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them.”
This group calls their work “a Marvelous Work and a Wonder®” and has registered their name (the Real Illuminati®) and the title of their work, as legal trademarks.
In 2004, the group published The Sealed Portion, the part of the alleged gold plates that was reported to be sealed. Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that the gold plates are the source of the true history of the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. The founder of this religion, Smith, reported that when he received the gold plates from a “messenger sent from the presence of God,” 2/3 of the plates were sealed and could not be translated. Smith was told to only translate and publish the unsealed part.
In 2004, the claimed translator of the sealed part, Christopher Nemelka, who is named by this group as its official Spokesperson, also sent a registered letter to LDS church leaders, offering them possession and control of The Sealed Portion’s publication. Nemelka did not ask for any money for the rights to the book. Church leadership ignored Nemelka and refused to meet with him.
In 2016, Nemelka first announced his involvement with the Real Illuminati®. He began reporting that, although the gold plates were a prop that inspired both him and Joseph Smith to get involved, the entire Book of Mormon story was invented by the Real Illuminati® for a good purpose.
In 2021, the group released a book that it claims will prove firmly and credibly that this group was responsible for writing the 1830 Book of Mormon and the 2004 The Sealed Portion. This book is called A New American Scripture—How and Why the Real Illuminati® Created the Book of Mormon.