King Benjamin explained that the natural man is an enemy to God (Mosiah 3:19). Since all things with God are spiritual, a man who knows nothing of the Spirit cannot correctly judge the things of God. The things of God knoweth no man, but [by] the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:11). Many scientists and scholars have examined the Book of Mormon, criticizing this or that, looking for supposed anachronisms, and trying to explain how Joseph Smith created such a work. The Book of Mormon holds up well to such scrutiny. The irony is that the Book of Mormon should not be judged by the natural man. It is a spiritual work and should be judged by the Spirit. How ridiculous it is to give credence to the scientist who analyzes the Book of Mormon by the wisdom of man! His expertise is in completely the wrong field to make an accurate judgment. Rather, we should find the person most familiar with the workings of God and the things of the Spirit and request their opinion. Better yet, we should find out for ourselves.
Remember, the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The common attitude of “the world” regarding religion is that it is just that-“foolishness,” the “opium of the masses,” etc. Such is the judgment of the natural man.