Book of Mormon Null Hypothesis 2022-07

Usually whenever non member is investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the investigator will be given the Book of Mormon to read.  The reader is encouraged to follow Moroni’s promise in 10:3-5 on the truthfulness of the  Book of Mormon.  I have always wondered why Moroni 10:4 states "if these things are not true" instead of "if these things are true".  Many people have stated in testimonies, etc. that they have prayed " if the Book of Mormon is true", but that is the opposite to the Moroni 10:4 statement.

One must remember that the title page of the Book of Mormon states “Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile.”  Moroni saw the people who the Book of Mormon was written for.  Moroni last frame of reference is the state of unbelief of the Laminates and Nephites in Moroni chapters 8,9.  These people were in a fallen, degenerate state and willing to kill without feeling.  

Moroni knew that non believing people’s baseline belief would be that the Book of Mormon is NOT true.  There would be a wide spectrum of non believers approaches to the Book of Mormon.  Some will be prejudiced by being blinded by the craftiness of men.  Some, without even opening it, will directly attack and mock believers of the Book of Mormon. Generally, many will just show no interest at all.  Even so, there will be some with an open mind that will pursue to actually read the  Book of Mormon. 

Moroni knew the reader's thoughts and asked the question that a non-believer would think. Unless the Book of Mormon is proven true beyond any shadow of doubt, there is no reason the non believer would do anything but ignore the book for naught.  

Moroni’s  statement is very similar to how a statistician would state a null hypothesis/alternative hypothesis statement.

From a non-believer reader’s perspective, 

The null hypothesis would be

H0:   The Book of Mormon is not True

The alternative hypothesis would be

Ha:   The Book of Mormon is True

From a statistical standpoint, a null hypothesis is accepted as true until enough evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, can be obtained to refute the null hypothesis and prove the alternative hypothesis as true (at some confidence level). The null hypothesis cannot be proven true, only the alternative. Therefore, Moroni was correct, from a statistical standpoint, of posing the null hypothesis (the Book of Mormon is not true) as a beginning and then allowing the reader to gain enough evidence for himself to refute that position and prove the alternative, that the Book of Mormon is true.  (written by Andrew Allen, Brigham City

If the non believer continues on and does as Moroni states “if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” The non believer will have proof that the Book of Mormon is true.  Interesting that the definition of the word “manifest is 1) to make clear or evident to the eye or the understanding; show plainly:  or 2) to prove; put beyond doubt or question follows closely to the wording of a alternative hypothesis proof. 

Hopefully, this Book of Mormon Null Hypothesis approach will help to better understand  "if these things are not true" statement (at least by a statistician)