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:The name rather obviously derives from Akkadian (Babylonian) "she'um," barley (Old Assyrian, wheat), "the most popular ancient Mesopotamian cereal name."{{ref|soren4}} | :The name rather obviously derives from Akkadian (Babylonian) "she'um," barley (Old Assyrian, wheat), "the most popular ancient Mesopotamian cereal name."{{ref|soren4}} | ||
− | 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. | + | 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.{{ref|roper1}} |
{{Joseph Smith BoM against expectations}} | {{Joseph Smith BoM against expectations}} | ||
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* floss from the ceiba (silk-cotton) tree was made into a "soft delicate cloth," ''kapok''. | * 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 | * 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" | + | * cotton cloth in Mexico from A.D. 400 is "even, very fine, and gossamer-thin"{{note|soren5}},{{note|soren6}} |
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===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. | + | :[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.{{ref|soren7}} |
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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.' | ||
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# {{note|soren2}} {{Aas1|start=232}}[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779 *] | # {{note|soren2}} {{Aas1|start=232}}[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779 *] | ||
# {{note|soren3}} 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$3.0 *] | # {{note|soren3}} Sorenson, ''Ensign'' (April 1992): 62.[http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0 *] | ||
+ | # {{note|soren4}} Sorenson, "Zaputo," 338; citing Robert F. Smith, "Some 'Neologisms' from the Mormon Canon," Conference on the Language of the Mormons 1973, Brigham Young University Language Research Center, 1973, 66.][http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142] | ||
+ | # {{note|roper1}} Matt Roper, "Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon," FAIR Presentation, 2001. [http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001RopM.html *] | ||
+ | #{{note|soren5}} {{Aas1|start=232}}[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=263779 *] | ||
+ | # {{note|soren6}} Sorenson, ''Ensign'' (April 1992): 62. | ||
+ | #{{note|soren7}} Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336.[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142 *] | ||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
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===FAIR web site=== | ===FAIR web site=== | ||
*FAIR Topical Guide: | *FAIR Topical Guide: | ||
− | * Matthew Roper, "Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon" [http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001RopM.html] | + | * Matthew Roper, "Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon" [http://www.fairlds.org/pubs/conf/2001RopM.html *] |
===External links=== | ===External links=== | ||
− | *John L. Sorenson, “Silk and Linen in the Book of Mormon - Book of Mormon Update,” ''Ensign'' (Apr. 1992): 62. [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0] | + | *John L. Sorenson, “Silk and Linen in the Book of Mormon - Book of Mormon Update,” ''Ensign'' (Apr. 1992): 62. [http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20april%201992%20.htm/research%20and%20perspectives%20book%20of%20mormon%20update.htm?fn=document-frame.htm$f=templates$3.0 *] |
===Printed material=== | ===Printed material=== | ||
− | * John L. Sorenson, "Plants and Animals," in "Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe!" Review of "Does the Shoe Fit? A Critique of the Limited Tehuantepec Geography," by Deanne G. Matheny, ''Review of Books on the Book of Mormon'' 6:1 (1994): 342–48.[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142],[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=288327] | + | * John L. Sorenson, "Plants and Animals," in "Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe!" Review of "Does the Shoe Fit? A Critique of the Limited Tehuantepec Geography," by Deanne G. Matheny, ''Review of Books on the Book of Mormon'' 6:1 (1994): 342–48.[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?table=review&id=142 1],[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=288327 2] |
* John L. Sorenson and Robert F. Smith, "Barley in Ancient America," in ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'', edited by John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 130–2. | * John L. Sorenson and Robert F. Smith, "Barley in Ancient America," in ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'', edited by John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 130–2. | ||
− | *John W. Welch, "Barley in Ancient America," in John W. Welch, ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 130–132. ISBN 0875796001.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=296829] | + | *John W. Welch, "Barley in Ancient America," in John W. Welch, ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 130–132. ISBN 0875796001.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=296829 3] |
− | *John W. Welch, "Possible 'Silk' and 'Linen' in the Book of Mormon," in John W. Welch, ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 162–164. ISBN 0875796001.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=296838] | + | *John W. Welch, "Possible 'Silk' and 'Linen' in the Book of Mormon," in John W. Welch, ''Reexploring the Book of Mormon'' (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 162–164. ISBN 0875796001.[http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=296838 4] |
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.[1]
(i.e. flax)
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.[6]
(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:
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. Barley, silkworms, and grapes were known. One of the terms unknown to Joseph's day (the Akkadian sheum) are persuasive evidence for the Book of Mormon's antiquity.
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