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==Index to claims made in ''Reinventing Lamanite Identity'', by Brent L. Metcalfe== | ==Index to claims made in ''Reinventing Lamanite Identity'', by Brent L. Metcalfe== | ||
This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible. | This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible. | ||
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==Page 20== | ==Page 20== | ||
===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|The author claims that "the Book of Mormon teaches—that 'the Lamanites...are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.'"}} |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*"Introduction," Book of Mormon (1981 edition). | *"Introduction," Book of Mormon (1981 edition). | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|The author claims that LDS scholars have been led to "shrink and dilute" the Book of Mormon's "American Israelite" population as the result of DNA analysis showing that Native Americans have an Asian genetic signature.}} |
====Response==== | ====Response==== | ||
*The author argues that LDS scholars or apologists are "shrinking and diluting" their view on the Book of Mormon because they are being driven back in a rear-guard action by science. But, in fact, some LDS leaders and scholars have argued for a restricted geography and small numeric contribution of Lehites for over one hundred years. These beliefs were not held because of scientific "pressure," but because of their reading of the Book of Mormon text. | *The author argues that LDS scholars or apologists are "shrinking and diluting" their view on the Book of Mormon because they are being driven back in a rear-guard action by science. But, in fact, some LDS leaders and scholars have argued for a restricted geography and small numeric contribution of Lehites for over one hundred years. These beliefs were not held because of scientific "pressure," but because of their reading of the Book of Mormon text. | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|The author states: "As BYU geneticist Michael Whiting stipulates, a hemispheric colonization model for the Book of Mormon 'is indeed incorrect' and 'appears falsified by current genetic evidence.'"}} |
=====Author's sources===== | =====Author's sources===== | ||
*Michael F. Whiting, “DNA and the Book of Mormon: A Phylogenetic Perspective,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 1 (2003): 28, 31. {{link|url=http://mi.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=12&num=1&id=311}} | *Michael F. Whiting, “DNA and the Book of Mormon: A Phylogenetic Perspective,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 12, no. 1 (2003): 28, 31. {{link|url=http://mi.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=12&num=1&id=311}} | ||
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==Page 21== | ==Page 21== | ||
===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|The author notes that others were "prophetically precluded" from inhabiting the land occupied by Lehi's people. He cites |
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
And behold, it is wisdom that ''this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations''; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as ''those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem'' shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and ''they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves'' . . . and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. {{s|2|Nephi|1|8-9}} | And behold, it is wisdom that ''this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations''; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as ''those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem'' shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and ''they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves'' . . . and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. {{s|2|Nephi|1|8-9}} | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|The author quotes 2 Nephi 1:10-11, to note that the Lord would bring others nations to "take away from them the lands of their possessions" and cause them to be "scattered and smitten" when they "dwindled in unbelief."}} |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*{{s|2|Nephi|1|10-11}} | *{{s|2|Nephi|1|10-11}} | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | + | {{Claim|The author states that the "promised land" encompasses all of North America, since it must account for the prophesied arrival of British and European settlers, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the construction of a New Jerusalem.}} | |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*1 Ne. 13:12–42; 3 Ne. 20:13–14, 22; 21:2–7, 22–24; Ether 13:2–11; D&C 10:48–51; 19:27; 84:2–5; | *1 Ne. 13:12–42; 3 Ne. 20:13–14, 22; 21:2–7, 22–24; Ether 13:2–11; D&C 10:48–51; 19:27; 84:2–5; | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | + | {{Claim|Many proudly proclaimed their Israelite lineage. The Book of Mormon reiterates this lineage many times.}} | |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*{{s||Mosiah|25|13}} | *{{s||Mosiah|25|13}} | ||
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==Page 22== | ==Page 22== | ||
===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | + | {{Claim|The author notes that "Book of Mormon readers are not told of a single Nephite or Lamanite who descended from anyone other than an Israelite," and that scholars attempt to mitigate this by claiming that others were adopted into the Abrahamic covenant or that the Nephite record is an ethnocentric "lineage history."}} | |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'' (1985), 50–56; | *Sorenson, ''An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon'' (1985), 50–56; | ||
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===Claim=== | ===Claim=== | ||
− | + | {{Claim|The author states that neither the Jaredites nor the "Amerisraelites" ever mention indigenous "others."}} | |
====Author's sources==== | ====Author's sources==== | ||
*No source provided. | *No source provided. | ||
− | + | ||
− | {{ | + | {{Claim|Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon recounts the origin of Modern Amerindians.}} |
− | | | + | ====Author's sources==== |
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*No source provided. | *No source provided. | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ===Claim=== | |
− | === | + | {{Claim|The author claims that apologists' response to Joseph's statements are that "prophets are fallible" and that Joseph "expressed or authorized divergent opinions aoubt the Book of Mormon setting and peoples."}} |
− | | | + | ====Author's sources==== |
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*No source provided. | *No source provided. | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ===Claim=== | |
− | + | {{Claim|Joseph stated that the Book of Mormon is a record of the forefathers of our western Tribes of Indians and that the Land of America is a promised land.}} | |
− | | | + | ====Author's sources==== |
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*Joseph Smith to N. C. Saxton, 4 January 1833, Joseph Smith Letter Book 1, p. 17 (the r in “tribes of Indians” is dotted like an i), Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, available on Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 2002), DVD 20; see also Dean C. Jessee, comp. and ed., The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), | *Joseph Smith to N. C. Saxton, 4 January 1833, Joseph Smith Letter Book 1, p. 17 (the r in “tribes of Indians” is dotted like an i), Joseph Smith Collection, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, available on Selected Collections from the Archives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Provo: Brigham Young University Press, 2002), DVD 20; see also Dean C. Jessee, comp. and ed., The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 2nd ed. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002), | ||
297. | 297. | ||
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− | + | ===Claim=== | |
− | === | + | {{Claim|The "white Lamanite" named Zelph.}} |
− | | | + | ====Author's sources==== |
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*For surveys of the primary sources on Zelph, see Donald Q. Cannon, | *For surveys of the primary sources on Zelph, see Donald Q. Cannon, | ||
“Zelph Revisited,” Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint History: Illinois, ed. H. Dean | “Zelph Revisited,” Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint History: Illinois, ed. H. Dean | ||
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his recollection of Smith’s language is identical to Woodruff’s (Reuben McBride, | his recollection of Smith’s language is identical to Woodruff’s (Reuben McBride, | ||
Sr., Journal, 3 June 1834, pp. 3–4, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City). | Sr., Journal, 3 June 1834, pp. 3–4, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City). | ||
− | + | ====Response==== | |
− | + | *[[Zelph]] | |
− | === | + | |
− | | | + | ===Claim=== |
− | + | {{Claim|Joseph said that Moroni told him that "the Indians were the literal descendants of Abraham" and that they were "the former inhabitants of this continent."}} | |
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This is an index of claims made in this work with links to corresponding responses within the FAIRwiki. An effort has been made to provide the author's original sources where possible.
If we grant that the global colonization hypothesis is the correct lineage history...the above hypothesis is indeed incorrect. To this point all we have shown is that the global colonization hypothesis appears falsified by current genetic evidence. But is the global colonization hypothesis the only hypothesis emerging from the Book of Mormon? This is the crux of the matter....if the above description of the lineage history in the Book of Mormon is oversimplified, then these genetic results demonstrate only that this oversimplified view does not appear correct. But Book of Mormon scholars have been writing about certain complicating factors for decades, so this conclusion about oversimplification really comes as no surprise. (emphasis added)
And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. Wherefore, I, Lehi, have obtained a promise, that inasmuch as those whom the Lord God shall bring out of the land of Jerusalem shall keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; and they shall be kept from all other nations, that they may possess this land unto themselves . . . and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever. 2 Nephi 1꞉8-9
297.
“Zelph Revisited,” Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint History: Illinois, ed. H. Dean Garrett (Provo: Brigham Young University, Department of Church History and Doctrine, 1995), 97–111; Kenneth W. Godfrey, “The Zelph Story,” Paper GOD-89 (Provo: FARMS, 1989); Godfrey, “The Zelph Story,” Brigham Young University Studies 29, no. 2 (Spring 1989): 31–56; Godfrey, “What Is the Significance of Zelph in the Study of Book of Mormon Geography?” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8, no. 2 (1999), 70–79; Brent Lee Metcalfe, “A Documentary Analysis of the Zelph Episode,” delivered at the 1989 Sunstone Symposium; Metcalfe, “Disinterring Zelph,” forthcoming online at <www.mormonscripturestudies.com>. Wilford Woodruff, Journal, [3 June] 1834, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City; see also Susan Staker, ed., Waiting for World’s End: The Diaries of Wilford Woodruff (Salt Lake City: Signature Books, 1993), 4. Woodruff’s journal was combined with Heber C. Kimball’s to form the 3 June 1834 entry in the History of the Church ([Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1978], 2:79–80). Like Woodruff, Kimball also observed that “Brother Joseph had enquired of the Lord” about Zelph’s identity “and it was made known in a vision” (Heber C. Kimball, “Extracts from H. C. Kimball[’]s Journal,” Times and Seasons 6, no. 2 [1 February 1845]: 788). Woodruff recounted Smith’s Zelph vision several times throughout his life. Ruben McBride penned a similar eyewitness account—so similar that in some instances his recollection of Smith’s language is identical to Woodruff’s (Reuben McBride, Sr., Journal, 3 June 1834, pp. 3–4, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City).
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