Bottom Line
No, “Reformed Egyptian” isn’t listed in modern language textbooks. But it was never supposed to be. It was described as a sacred, evolving script unique to a small religious elite. Its absence in today’s linguistic record doesn’t disprove it — it aligns with exactly what the Book of Mormon claimed.
| Podcast | YouTube Alyssa Grenfell |
|---|---|
| Episode | “Evidence the Book of Mormon Is False” |
| Title | “Reformed Egyptian is a made-up language” |
| Category | Linguistics & Translation |
| Quote | “He said the Book of Mormon was written in Reformed Egyptian, and that’s a made-up language.” — 00:03:23 |
| Core Claim | The Book of Mormon claims to be written in “Reformed Egyptian,” which critics argue is not a real language and was invented by Joseph Smith. |
| Conclusion | Claim is Partial Truth / Misleading Framing |
| Logical Questions |
|
🔍 Core Finding
The Book of Mormon never claims “Reformed Egyptian” was a widespread, institutionalized language. Instead, it explicitly states that this script was modified over time by the Nephite record keepers and may not have been readable by other cultures. That’s not the same as “made up.”
“We have written this record in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian… but the Lord knoweth the things which we have written.”
— Mormon 9:32
📚 Ancient Parallels
Many small ancient cultures used hybrid or localized scripts for record keeping and ritual purposes:
- Demotic evolved from Egyptian hieratic, which itself evolved from hieroglyphics.
- Ugaritic cuneiform was unknown until the 20th century.
- Minoan Linear A remains undeciphered despite decades of research.
“The concept of a modified Egyptian script adapted by a specific population is entirely consistent with ancient scribal practices.”
— John Gee, Egyptologist, Interpreter, 2014
🧠 A Misleading Standard
Critics demand that “Reformed Egyptian” show up in modern archaeology. But the Book of Mormon itself says no other people knew the language:
“…none other people know our language.” — Mormon 9:34
Expecting modern corroboration of a script the book claims was lost is circular reasoning. Ancient languages are often rediscovered centuries later — or never at all.
🪪 What Did Joseph Smith Mean?
There is no record of Joseph Smith claiming that “Reformed Egyptian” was recognized by scholars. He never promoted it outside the Book of Mormon text. He admitted he could not read the characters and translated by the gift of God.
📚 Sources
- Book of Mormon, Mormon 9:32–34; 1 Nephi 1:2
- John Gee, “The ‘Breathing Permit of Hôr’ among the Joseph Smith Papyri,” Interpreter, Vol. 1, 2012
- Royal Skousen, The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text (Yale, 2009)
- Paul Hoskisson, “Reformed Egyptian,” Book of Mormon Reference Companion, 2003
- Mormoner.org – Reformed Egyptian Overview