The Key to the Keystone

How Apocryphal Texts Unlock the Book of Mormon's Brass Plates

By: Jonah R. Barnes

Narrated by: Jonah R. Barnes

Over 2,000 years ago, a band of desert travelers huddled against the sandy blasts of the Arabian peninsula. They clutched in their arms a metallic book and absconded away to preserve it against the impending doom of the Babylonian invasion. This treasured text would become the source material for the Book of Mormon, one of the most influential books in American history. Though critics have tried (and spectacularly failed) to explain its origins, the Book of Mormon owes everything to this mysterious stolen text. Yet that ancient brass book wasn't the only treasure to emerge from the sands of the Near East. Years after the publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830, a cascade of newly discovered apocryphal texts would appear like voices from the dust. Using these miraculous new sources, independent researcher Jonah Barnes has used paleography and philology to reconstruct the content of Lehi's brass plates. His research will answer questions such as: Which books were on the brass plates stolen by Lehi in 597 BC? Can we read them? Who corrupted the Old Testament canon? And how badly? Who was Lucifer, and why does the Bible say so little about him? Who was Eve, and why are the Christian creeds so hard on women? Who was the prophet Abinadi? Where did he come from? How did the prophet Isaiah die? Who killed him and why? Who murdered the prophet Jeremiah? And what for? Why does the Book of Mormon sound too Messianic and not more Mosaic? Do the apocrypha support the authority of the Bible? Or do they support the Book of Mormon? Do anti-Mormons think Joseph Smith was a time-traveler? Do they think Elvis is still alive? Filled with unique parallels and scriptural insights with recently discovered apocryphal works, the The Key to the Keystone will unlock the Book of Mormon and change your view of the mission of Jesus Christ. And it might make you chuckle along the way.

©2024 Jonah R. Barnes (P)2024 Jonah R. Barnes

The book that pieces everything together

Through my years and years of studying the Book of Mormon and gaining a deep testimony of it's truth, it's caused me to notice many problems that exist in the Old Testament. There are glaring differences from the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and what is taught in the Bible. All I had to go on was that many plain an precious truths were lost from the Bible. Things were lost in translation.
Jonah's work here is so very helpful. I no longer have confusion. The critics of the Book of Mormon now have no leg to stand on, and the crazy things found in the Bible make full sense. Reading this fills me with excitement because all the things I've guessed at or speculated about are now validated. Very fun!

So excited to read Jonah's next book.

Excellent performance. Truly engaging. Never gets boring or slow.

This is one of the best commentaries on the Book of Mormon I’ve ever read. I rarely ever listen to (or read) a book twice, but I absolutely plan to do this one again. Soooooo good!

Scholarship

Great information. WOW the gospel is alive in the Old Testament if read through the lens of the Book of Mormon

excellent information and interesting presentation.

I loved this book. it was informative and engaging. But the narration could have benefitted from better editing.

Wow!

What a great book with so much information that I had no idea was out there! I loved how Barnes weaves the books together. I also appreciated his since of humor throughout the book.