According to Michael Griffith, anti-Mormons assert that the Book of Mormon contains almost no Mormonism" (Decker and Hunt 114). By this the critics mean to claim that none or almost none of the more unique doctrines of Mormonism can be found in the Nephite record (Decker and Hunt 114; J.L. Smith 23-30). Griffith refutes this claim. Among the many proofs put forward he states the following:
One of the most sublime and uplifting doctrines of the Restoration is that we have the potential to become like our Heavenly Father, i.e., to attain godhood. This teaching is abundantly evidenced in the Bible and in numerous early Christian writings (Stephen Robinson, Are Mormons Christians?, 1991:60-70; Darrick Evenson, A Converted Anti-Mormon Responds To Critics of the LDS Church, 1989:49-60; Turner; Keith Norman, "Divinization: The Forgotten Teaching of Early Christianity," in Sunstone, Winter 1975:1-19; Phillip Barlow, "Unorthodox Orthodoxy: The Idea of Deification in Christian History," in Sunstone, Sept./Oct. 1983:13-18; Michael Griffith, Signs of the True Church of Christ, 1989:48-51).
We also find this doctrine in the Book of Mormon. Moroni is rather explicit, saying that when the righteous will see Christ they "shall be like him" and can look forward to being "purified even as he is pure (Moroni 7:48). A little later on in his epistle, Moroni speaks of coming unto Christ and being "perfected in him" (Moroni 10:32). According to Moroni, if we do our part we can become "holy, without spot" (Moroni 10:33).
The Savior was equally explicit. He told the Three Nephites that "your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fullness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am . . . " (3 Nephi 28:10). This doctrine can also be evidenced in Alma 5:24; 3 Nephi 12:48; 3 Nephi 27:27. [Michael T. Griffith, Refuting the Critics, p. 134]