Vikings, iron, and the book of mormon wherefore, he came to the hill ephraim, and he did molten out of the hill, and made swords of steel for those whom he had drawn away with him. Now, before this becomes a meldrum bashing thread, just move on. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book. This paper also discusses writings on metal plates and the possible composition of the book of mormon plates. The metallurgy is likely from ores from placer deposits. Metallurgy in ancient america was completely unknown in america before 900 a.
They quickly develop a complex metallurgical culture that other civilizations in history required centuries to create. Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after. Book of mormon prophecies of christ specific bible prophecies veiled actually nonexistent unless scripture misquoted or prophecies stretched to have two meanings. Read this weeks knowhy connected with the come follow me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this weeks scripture reading.
Critics of the book of mormon have long cited anachronisms in its narrative to argue that it is not the work of god. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. The mainstay of mesoamerica land of promise models and support, john l. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1 nephi 4. Metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. Although there is one intriguing archaeological discovery of some significant metallurgy in the area of the baja peninsula before european contact, that discovery on its own is not sufficient to prove that metallurgy was practiced in our model areas as described in the book of mormon. There are a number of words and phrases in the book of mormon that are anachronistictheir. Ancient near eastern metallurgy dan levene and beno rothenberg wrote about tin and tinlead alloys in hebrew and jewish aramaic, 1 which may have some indirect relevance to the plates of the book of mormon. Book of mormon matches native american technology included metallurgy and swords, and animals match too. This scenario is one explanation for the lack of advanced metallurgy among the olmec or preclassic maya. The book of mormon mentions a steel sword owned by a military leader named laban in jerusalem near 600 b.
The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. Book of mormon problems lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. This assertion, if true, would discredit the authenticity of the book of mormon. Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book the foundation of the church. Book of mormon christ is completely accepted in bible he is rejected.
Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after ministries. Sorenson, himself an archaeologist and head of the anthropology and archaeology department at byu for many years and author of numerous books and works on the subject, makes it quite clear that. It is ridiculous for the book of mormon to say that metal was used among the. I promised i would report back on the webinar book of mormon metallurgy by rod meldrum. Tribe of manasseh technology and animals by dave mack. Joseph smith did not refer to passages from the book of mormon in his writings or sermons, nor was it cited very often by early church leaders. Recovery this is an interesting story for mormons to read to see how jws react to antijw material and how they treat those who leave the watchtower. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. Metals in the book of mormon book of mormon research. In october 2010, daniel johnson, principal author of an lds guide to mesoamerica, gave this presentation at the book of mormon archaeological forums annual conference. If the book of mormon does describe a culture that had access to advanced metallurgy, then the dilemma remains that no evidence has been found in specified period and time that supports the assertion that at least some ancient mesoamerican cultures practiced advanced metallurgy, despite the fact that other evidence has been found to support the presence of the technology at a later time period. Metal weapons and tools book of mormon archaeological forum.
You will be treated to witnessing artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations proving the use of gold, copper, silver, lead and even iron and steel, just as claimed by the prophets of the book of mormon. The old world that lehi and his family came from was certainly familiar with metal working. Book of mormon metallurgy evidence is there evidence for book of mormon metallurgy and swords. Of course these inconsistencies could readily be explained by understanding the book of mormon as a work of fiction written by a nineteenth century american, but book of mormon scholars often approach the topic with the a priori acceptance of the theory that the book of mormon is. In 1992, farms issued a preliminary paper by john l. 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. Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after ministry. As far as the book of mormon civilizations consisting of many large cities, fortifications, and huge battles, there is nothing in the americas that has been found. That fits the bill of the softer metal, not a functional one. Among the critics list of supposed book of mormon anachronisms are various metals and metallurgy the process of altering ores into useful. Here is an article about a portion of the book of mormon metallurgy. The book of mormon clearly states that the jaredite and nephite civilizations had advanced metallurgical technologies ether 10. Metallurgy was first utilized in the americas in andean peru around 2100 b.
There is an inherent improbability in specific items that are mentioned in the book of mormon as having been brought to the new world by jaredites andor nephites. Yet many nonlds scholars have concluded that metallurgy was unknown. The anachronistic use of advanced metallurgy in the book of mormon, combined with the frequent mention of gold and silver as important items in the nephite world, present one of the greatest challenges to book of mormon scholars. The book of mormon contains several textual references about metallurgy being practiced by the cultures it describes. I dont subscribe to any model, i subscribe to any evidence that supports the book of mormon. None of the foregoing technical demands are met by the archaeology of the region proposed as bookofmormon lands and places. It was such a huge undertaking in my mind that quite frankly, it scared me. The challenge of the book of mormon religious studies center. One of his purposes was to show the current strong evidence for the history of metallurgy and metal artifacts in ancient america, including late classic mayan gold plates with hieroglyphic writing. Book of mormon metallurgy back to mormon quotes index metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. Metals and the book of mormon book of mormon archaeological. Vikings, iron, and the book of mormon book of mormon central. Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answers.
Metal and metallurgy the mines of timna book of mormon. Sorenson journal of book of mormon studies 152 2006. Posted on october 28, 2015 october 28, 2015 by dave mack. Also, we should remember that the book of mormon tells only part of the story of a relatively small group of people in a limited geographical area during a relatively brief period of time. The book of mormon was anciently abridged by a prophet named mormon and was engraved on gold plates, to preserve the sacred writing for. If one is to believe that the book of mormon took place in mesoamerica, it is challenging to explain how iron, copper, brass, steel, gold, silver and. 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. One of his purposes was to show the current strong evidence for the history of metallurgy and metal artifacts in ancient america, including late classic mayan gold.
But none of the witnesses was expert in ancient metallurgy, and, thus, their testimony on this point isnt decisive. First, the terms barley and wheat, as used in the book of mormon, may refer to certain other new world crop plants that were given old world designations. I regard this as a major weakness in the armor of our proponents and friends. Visible angelic involvement in the recovery of the book of mormon far. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1. Neither is it a scientific paper on engineering or metallurgy or agriculture or warfare. Most of the described ores save ironsee below are soft metals. None of the foregoing technical demands are met by the archaeology. For many years mesoamerican scholars contended that metallurgy was unknown in the area until after the end of the classic era around a. Book of mormon metallurgy and wishful thinking mormons and archaeology. Sorenson, metals and metallurgy relating to the book of mormon text, discussing specimens of metal from about forty sites that predate the ad 900 metal curtain claimed by archeologists, as far back as 100 bc. Back to mormon quotes index metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. Some studies have shown that metallurgy did exist in a primitive state in mesoamerica during the preclassicformative and classic periods.
Metallurgy in ancient america was completely unknown before 900 ad. In the book of mormon the strongest textual evidence for metalworking is the presence of gold plates. We should not claim more for the book than what it claims for itself. Let me spend a little time talking about the relationship between iron and corrosion or rust as many of us call it. The book of mormon mentions brass, steel, gold, silver, copper, and other metals. As early as the 1960s, metallurgical technician read h. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. It is ridiculous for the book of mormon to say that metal was used among the nephites and jaredites helaman 6. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim.
But we need not assume that all tools and weapons mentioned in the book of mormon were made of metal or that metallurgy was commonplace among. The book of mormon, on the other hand, indicates that the nephites used iron, copper, brass. In the original book of mormon, however, there was no chapter break. A temperate, dry climate greatly reduces the corrosion rate of. This is the one subject about mormonism that ive put off the longest. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland a visual journey of discovery book project was originally started by tonya meldrum, wife of rod meldrum in an effort to help rod make available the most requested item by fellow heartlanders over the years. For instance, the mormon scriptures contain references to a sevenday week, domesticated horses, cows and sheep, silk, chariots and steel. Learn about the book of mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned book of mormon scholars like john w. The shiny bits of gold tend to catch the eyes of humans. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations.
Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient. Among the critics list of supposed book of mormon anachronisms are various metals and metallurgy the process of altering ores into useful metals. This paper also discusses writings on metal plates and the possible composition of the book of mormon. During the 19th century, critics of the book of mormon claimed that steel was not known in the near east or ancient america during the appropriate book of mormon times. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormon s thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text.