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. Visible angelic involvement in the recovery of the book of mormon far. It was such a huge undertaking in my mind that quite frankly, it scared me. 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. Metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. 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. Book of mormon prophecies of christ specific bible prophecies veiled actually nonexistent unless scripture misquoted or prophecies stretched to have two meanings. I dont subscribe to any model, i subscribe to any evidence that supports the book of mormon. This scenario is one explanation for the lack of advanced metallurgy among the olmec or preclassic maya. Metal weapons and tools book of mormon archaeological forum. The challenge of the book of mormon religious studies center. Lots of answers here with an incredible amount of evidence. 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.
Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after ministries. Most of the described ores save ironsee below are soft metals. The book of mormon contains several textual references about metallurgy being practiced by the cultures it describes. Vikings, iron, and the book of mormon book of mormon central. Book of mormon christ is completely accepted in bible he is rejected. 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.
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. Our changing understanding of ancient america and its scripture. 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. 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. Tribe of manasseh technology and animals by dave mack. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. Exploring the book of mormon in americas heartland book. The book of mormon mentions brass, steel, gold, silver, copper, and other metals. Book of mormon metallurgy back to mormon quotes index metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. Here is an article about a portion of the book of mormon metallurgy. It is ridiculous for the book of mormon to say that metal was used among the nephites and jaredites helaman 6.
In the original book of mormon, however, there was no chapter break. For instance, the mormon scriptures contain references to a sevenday week, domesticated horses, cows and sheep, silk, chariots and steel. 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. 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. In 1992, farms issued a preliminary paper by john l. 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. The mainstay of mesoamerica land of promise models and support, john l. There are a number of words and phrases in the book of mormon that are anachronistictheir.
Read this weeks knowhy connected with the come follow me curriculum, and watch a video elucidating an insight in this weeks scripture reading. The shiny bits of gold tend to catch the eyes of humans. Metallurgy was first utilized in the americas in andean peru around 2100 b. Critics of the book of mormon have long cited anachronisms in its narrative to argue that it is not the work of god. None of the foregoing technical demands are met by the archaeology of the region proposed as bookofmormon lands and places. Among the critics list of supposed book of mormon anachronisms are various metals and metallurgy the process of altering ores into useful. But none of the witnesses was expert in ancient metallurgy, and, thus, their testimony on this point isnt decisive. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1 nephi 4. It seems after reading these posts that the only possible answer is that the book of mormon happened just like joseph and others claim. Metallurgy in ancient america was completely unknown in america before 900 a. I regard this as a major weakness in the armor of our proponents and friends. Neither is it a scientific paper on engineering or metallurgy or agriculture or warfare.
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. For many years mesoamerican scholars contended that metallurgy was unknown in the area until after the end of the classic era around a. Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answers. 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. Back to mormon quotes index metallurgy does not appear in the region under discussion until about the 9th century a. Metals in the book of mormon book of mormon research. We should not claim more for the book than what it claims for itself. This paper also discusses writings on metal plates and the possible composition of the book of mormon plates. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormon s thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. 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. They quickly develop a complex metallurgical culture that other civilizations in history required centuries to create. The book of mormon mentions a steel sword owned by a military leader named laban in jerusalem near 600 b. Sorenson journal of book of mormon studies 152 2006. The book of mormon clearly states that the jaredite and nephite civilizations had advanced metallurgical technologies ether 10.
Grant hardy1 despite the effort that went into the translation, joseph smith did not make the book the foundation of the church. 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. Supporting evidences of the book of mormon are broadly identifiable. 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. 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. Learn about the book of mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned book of mormon scholars like john w. Metal and metallurgy the mines of timna book of mormon.
This is the one subject about mormonism that ive put off the longest. That fits the bill of the softer metal, not a functional one. As early as the 1960s, metallurgical technician read h. It is ridiculous for the book of mormon to say that metal was used among the. 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. Book of mormon metallurgy and wishful thinking mormons and archaeology. Posted on october 28, 2015 october 28, 2015 by dave mack.
I promised i would report back on the webinar book of mormon metallurgy by rod meldrum. Among the critics list of supposed book of mormon anachronisms are various metals and metallurgy the process of altering ores into useful metals. Now, before this becomes a meldrum bashing thread, just move on. Lets say that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. This paper also discusses writings on metal plates and the possible composition of the book of mormon. None of the foregoing technical demands are met by the archaeology. Book of mormon metallurgy evidence is there evidence for book of mormon metallurgy and swords. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1. 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. 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.
Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after ministry. Book of mormon matches native american technology included metallurgy and swords, and animals match too. Book of mormon artifacts and metallurgy life after. In the book of mormon the strongest textual evidence for metalworking is the presence of gold plates. A temperate, dry climate greatly reduces the corrosion rate of.
The metallurgy is likely from ores from placer deposits. Metallurgy in ancient america was completely unknown before 900 ad. 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. 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. 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. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. The book of mormon, on the other hand, indicates that the nephites used iron, copper, brass. The book of mormon was anciently abridged by a prophet named mormon and was engraved on gold plates, to preserve the sacred writing for. The volume has long invited scrutiny from all branches of science. Metals and the book of mormon book of mormon archaeological. Some studies have shown that metallurgy did exist in a primitive state in mesoamerica during the preclassicformative and classic periods. 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.