The book of mormon claims the existence of steel in or around jerusalem before the invasion and captivity of babylon. Critics frequently claim that joseph copied the language of the bible when translating the book of mormon. The book of mormon claims that the nephites had swords of steel 2 nephi 5. It successfully rebuts the notion that steel is an anachronism in the book of mormon. The only steel sword, for instance, in the book of mormon is that of labans from the old world. The metal is apparently called steel in the kjv because bronze is steeled strengthened copper through alloying it with tin or through some other process. Introduction to the book of mormon the church of jesus christ of. In the book of mormon, for example, we find a single word for a moving body of water a river. This chart lists the types of metal that the nephites, lamanites, andor jaredites knew from their scriptures or found in the americas. The book of mormon mentions brass, steel, gold, silver, copper, and other metals. As said in the title page of the 1908 rlds book of mormon, the text contained in this android app is faithful copy from the original translation by joseph smith jr.
Recently, a commenter recommended that article, steel in the book of mormon by william hamblin as a good source of information about this favorite area for critics to poke at. Critics point out that there is little evidence of steel production in central and southern america, and would have been difficult to produce in those locales, while apologists point to evidence in north americacitation needed. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand ended up losing his faith. Grove grappen, mooie muziek en een eigen moraal over religie. Well, the book of mormon is a migration story, similar to the idea of the book of exodus in the old testament, except there are three migrations involved in this. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which, according to adherents, contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Such an epitaph, taken from the title page of the book of mormon, captures the enduring bond between the man and the book, and also the controversy which coalesced around both with the books publication and the organization of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in 1830. Every commentator on the book of mormon has pointed out the many cultural and historical anachronisms, such as the steel sword of laban in 600 b. Update on horses in the book of mormon a mormon blog. The book of mormon also spoke of sprawling ancient cities, none of which had been identified in the united states. Here is an article about a portion of the book of mormon metallurgy. Steel is only mentioned at the very beginning of the book.
Matt roper and paul fields did a study on book of mormon wordprint patterns, ie computer statistical analysis of word pattern to determine authorship and other attributes of the book. Three incidences of steel in the new world are mentioned in the book of mormon, one early amongst the jaredites after their arrival around 2400 bc, one immediately after the lehi partys arrival in the new world discussing nephis knowledge of steel at approximately 580 bc, and one of occurrence amongst the nephites around 400 bc. Bad book of mormon apologetics lds church is true blog. Because it was a revelation from god to joseph smith. Evidence supporting the steel sword of laban in the book. Since there has been a lot of criticism by some antimormons about the steel using nephites, it might be useful to see what the book of mormon actually says about iron and steel. Grof, satirisch, atheistisch, absurd en aanstootgevend.
Doc steel in the book of mormon ed aguiar academia. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. The list of archeological and historical claims of the book of mormon compared to nonapologetic evidence. How could laban have possessed a sword of most precious. That true steel existed in israel this early was not known until recently. They come to a place that they call bountiful, because of its much fruit and also wild honey. The book of mormon frequently mentions steel weapon, such as the blade of labans sword 1 nephi 4.
Mormon apologists have proposed multiple theories to explain apparent inconsistencies with the archaeological, genetic, linguistic and other records. The book of mormon is een bijtende satire over geloof en veel. Het eerste wat opvalt aan the book of mormon, is het waanzinnige tempo waarin wordt gespeeld en het verbluffend hoge niveau van alle. Over the years, critics have stated that the use of the word steel in the book of mormon demonstrates that it is a fraud. The book of mormon says that a jaredite rebel forged steel weapons from ore in a nearby hill and armed an entire army with it.
Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, vol. Book of mormon steel in an introduction to the book of. The theory that the book of mormon is an ancient american history is not accepted as scientifically verifiable by the mainstream academic community. Since there has been a lot of criticism by some antimormons about the steelusing nephites, it might be useful to see what the book of mormon actually says. Steel is mentioned only five times in the book of mormon, once in the book of ether 7. This tree was far more glorious than any earthly tree could ever be. This is the book of mormon, an account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. The fruit of the tree was also unlike any earthly fruit. The book of mormon mentions a steel sword owned by a military leader named laban in jerusalem near 600 b. The historicity of the book of mormon religious studies. And then it came to pass that nephi broke his steel bow. On nephis steel bow by common consent, a mormon blog.
Sjodahl note that weapons of steel were even found in ancient tombs in egypt. The overall question of the use of metals by book of mormon cultures is an important topic that deserves detailed attention see john sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon 1985, 27788. The book of mormon states that metals including iron and steel an iron alloy were produced and used among the book of mormon peoples. Roberts was struggling and searching for ways to justify the inconsistencies found in the book of mormon. Bekroond met tony en grammy awards, staat hitmusical the book of mormon nu in theater carre. Of these, two refer to near eastern weapons of the early sixth century b. The book of mormon is a musical comedy with music, lyrics and book by trey parker, robert lopez, and matt stone. This site provides you with an overview of what the book of mormon claims from an archeological or historic viewpoint, and compares it to nonapologetic apologetic meaning speak to defend scientific and historical resources. I explain in my story that metallurgy in the book of mormon was one of the reasons i no longer believe the book of mormon to be a story of real people. Mormon apologists claim that this book was written so the brethren would know the weaknesses of the book of mormon. Of course steel didnt exist at the time, wouldnt work well for a bow anyway, and would be hard to break. The book of mormon is een ware verademing het parool. Writing on metal plates, unknown in the early 1800s, has been found all over the middle east, in the americas, and even in. Introductory pages of the book of mormon podcast book of mormon witnesses structure of the book of mormon podcast teaching correct principles the supremacy of the book of mormon a brief explanation of the book of mormon timeline of the book of mormon translation early christianity and 1continue reading.
Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1 nephi 4. Long after the book of mormon was published, they found that various combinations of iron and steel existed near jerusalem as early as 600 b. The king james version of the bible often uses the word steel to refer to what we know today as bronze. Inow fully understand why some anachronisms exist in the book of mormon, like the word steel, which is so commonly used by the critics of joseph smith jr. Another way of explaining the strength of the positive position on the historicity of the book of mormon is to point out that we who are its proponents are content with a standoff on this question. Book of mormon lessons 15 archives teaching children. In the book of mormon, part of the official canon of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, a prophet named lehi had a remarkable vision from the lord. There are five explicit references to metal weapons and armor in the book of mormon. These references are grouped according to the use of the metal in each case. There are two major fallacies in discussions on this topic. Sjodahl addressed this issue in his publication, an introduction to the study of the book of mormon. Steel is an alloy that was not known to the ancients. I think its a valuable article that helps us better understand the richness and complexity of the text, and the danger of making simple 21st century assumptions about an ancient text.
Evidence of steel has been found in the near east during the same time frame that is claimed by the book of mormon. Steel making this is complex all by itself mixing iron. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand. And i think we can certainly agree that nephis steel bow must be understood in the same light as the kjv bow of steel that appears in three passages of the old testament. Because god flashed it onto joseph smiths magic8ball rockinahat the same way that god flashed the kjv deuteroisaiah onto smiths magic rock. Among the critics list of supposed book of mormon anachronisms are various metals and metallurgy the process of altering ores into useful metals. The opponents of the historicity of the book of mormon must prove that the people whose religious life it records did not live anywhere in the americas. This paper also discusses writings on metal plates and the possible composition of the book of mormon plates.
Posted in book of mormon lessons 15, scriptures, scriptures. Laban had a steel sword long before steel came into use. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Book of mormon central have done various blog posts and videos that promoted what they saw as very impressive results of this study.
The book of mormon, with its saga of righteous, white nephites and wicked, darkskinned lamanites, echoed these ideas. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. A steel sword dating back to 600 bc has been found and is on display in jerusalems museum of israel. This broader meaning of steel is also shared with other european languages. The vision centered around a tree, known as the tree of life. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. The nephites keep the law of moses, look forward to the coming of christ, and prosper in the landmany prophets labor to keep the people in the way of truth.
Full text of radio digest janoct 1926 internet archive. If you read the book you can clearly see that this is not the case. Before archaeologists discovered the long steel sword in jericho, the description of the sword of laban in the book of mormon may have seemed too fantastic to be true. The book of mormon also mentions the nephites becoming exceedingly rich in steel production over 200 years after nephis arrival. Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answers. A bow made of fine steel one article explained the use of steel by book of mormon cultures. Lessons tagged book of mormon, family home evening, lehis vision, primary, teaching children, tree of life comments dec 23 2015 lesson 2 lehi and his family leave jerusalem. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world.