![FairMormon Logo](https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2021_fair_logo_primary.png)
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
m (→Conclusion) |
m (→Wine (i.e. grapes)) |
||
Line 64: | Line 64: | ||
===Wine (i.e. grapes)=== | ===Wine (i.e. grapes)=== | ||
− | :[The Spaniards] spoke of "vineyards," not planted in grapevines but in maguey plants, from which pulque, which they termed "wine," was manufactured. Half a dozen different types of "wine" made from fruits other than grapes were identified by the Spanish explorers...[another researcher also] reports the Opata of northern Mexico used a drink made from native grapes.[Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142] | + | :[The Spaniards] spoke of "vineyards," not planted in grapevines but in maguey plants, from which pulque, which they termed "wine," was manufactured. Half a dozen different types of "wine" made from fruits other than grapes were identified by the Spanish explorers...[another researcher also] reports the Opata of northern Mexico used a drink made from native grapes. |
+ | :<small>—[Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142]</small> | ||
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.' | 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.' |
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.'
None of the Book of Mormon's plant species causes a problem—Spanish conquerors described pre-Columbian products in exactly the terms used by the Book of Mormon. Some of the terms (such as the Akkadian sheum) are persuasive evidence for the Book of Mormon's antiquity.
FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
We are a volunteer organization. We invite you to give back.
Donate Now