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:[The Spaniards] encountered and referred to what they considered "linen" or linenlike cloth made from plants other than flax [Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142] | :[The Spaniards] encountered and referred to what they considered "linen" or linenlike cloth made from plants other than flax [Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142] | ||
− | + | *Bernal Diaz, who served with Cortez in the initial wave of conquest, described native Mexican garments made of "henequen which is like linen." The fiber of the maguey plant, from which henequen was manufactured, closely resembles the flax fiber used to make European linen | |
+ | *yucca plant fibres makes linen-like cloth | ||
+ | * ixtle (agave) plant fibre makes linen-like cloth | ||
+ | * fig tree bark can be stripped, soaked, and pounded for a cloth with "some of the characteristics of linen." | ||
+ | |||
+ | <small>''Source'': | ||
+ | * Sorenson, ''Ancient American Setting,'' 232.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779] | ||
+ | * Sorenson, ''Ensign'' (April 1992): 62. [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0] | ||
+ | </small> | ||
===Neas=== | ===Neas=== | ||
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We do not know to which crop this name was applied, but it is certainly not out of place in an ancient context (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/9/9#9 Mosiah 9:9]). Critics must explain how Joseph Smith chose this word, since Akkadian was not translated until 27 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.[http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001RopM.html] | We do not know to which crop this name was applied, but it is certainly not out of place in an ancient context (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/9/9#9 Mosiah 9:9]). Critics must explain how Joseph Smith chose this word, since Akkadian was not translated until 27 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.[http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001RopM.html] | ||
+ | |||
+ | {{Joseph Smith BoM against expectations}} | ||
===Silk=== | ===Silk=== | ||
''(i.e. mulberry leaves and silkworms)'' | ''(i.e. mulberry leaves and silkworms)'' | ||
− | The production of Old World "silk" requires both silkworms | + | The production of Old World "silk" requires both silkworms and the mulberry trees upon whose leaves they feed, which critics have charged is impossible. |
However, there are several examples of silk or silk-like fabric in pre-Columbian America: | However, there are several examples of silk or silk-like fabric in pre-Columbian America: | ||
− | * wild silkworms | + | * wild silkworms do exist, and some commentators insisted that the Amerindians spun and wove it from their coccoons |
* hair from rabbit bellies was also spun into a cloth dubbed "silk" by the Spanish conquerors | * hair from rabbit bellies was also spun into a cloth dubbed "silk" by the Spanish conquerors | ||
+ | * floss from the ceiba (silk-cotton) tree was made into a "soft delicate cloth," ''kapok''. | ||
+ | * fibres from the wild pineable were also prized for their ability to be woven into a fine, durable fabric | ||
+ | * cotton cloth in Mexico from A.D. 400 is "even, very fine, and gossamer-thin" | ||
<small>''Source'': | <small>''Source'': | ||
* Sorenson, ''Ancient American Setting,'' 232.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779] | * Sorenson, ''Ancient American Setting,'' 232.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779] | ||
* Sorenson, ''Ensign'' (April 1992): 62. [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0] | * Sorenson, ''Ensign'' (April 1992): 62. [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0] | ||
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</small> | </small> | ||
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===Wine (i.e. grapes)=== | ===Wine (i.e. grapes)=== |
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
A brief explanation of the criticism.
Barley in the New World was long a source of anti-Mormon amusement, with one author insisting, "barley never grew in the New World before the white man brought it here!" [Scott, 82.]
Unfortunately for Ms. Scott, this is simply false. New World barley has been known since 1983 [Sorenson and Smith].
(i.e. flax)
Source:
This crop is mentioned but once (See Mosiah 9:9). We do not know what it applied to, but this does not count against the Book of Mormon's claims.
One must credit Joseph Smith with a bullseye on this issue:
We do not know to which crop this name was applied, but it is certainly not out of place in an ancient context (See Mosiah 9:9). Critics must explain how Joseph Smith chose this word, since Akkadian was not translated until 27 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.[5]
(i.e. mulberry leaves and silkworms)
The production of Old World "silk" requires both silkworms and the mulberry trees upon whose leaves they feed, which critics have charged is impossible.
However, there are several examples of silk or silk-like fabric in pre-Columbian America:
Source:
So, there were grapes locally, as well as several other plant species which produced alcoholic drinks which the Spanish were quite happy to consider 'wine.'
A summary of the argument against the criticism.
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