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< Book of Mormon | Geography | Statements | Nineteenth century | Joseph Smith's lifetime 1829-1840 | Joseph Smith
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Joseph Smith reportedly found the bones of an individual named "Zelph," during the Zion's camp march. Does this have implications for [[Book of Mormon geography]]? | Joseph Smith reportedly found the bones of an individual named "Zelph," during the Zion's camp march. Does this have implications for [[Book of Mormon geography]]? | ||
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{{CriticalSources}} | {{CriticalSources}} | ||
− | ==Answer== | + | =={{Answer label}}== |
{{SeeAlso|Book of Mormon geography/Disdaining the statements of Joseph Smith|Book of Mormon geography/Statements|l1=Disdaining the statements of Joseph Smith|l2=Book of Mormon geographical statements by Church leaders}} | {{SeeAlso|Book of Mormon geography/Disdaining the statements of Joseph Smith|Book of Mormon geography/Statements|l1=Disdaining the statements of Joseph Smith|l2=Book of Mormon geographical statements by Church leaders}} | ||
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Joseph Smith would also make later remarks that included Central America and its inhabitants as also being relevant to Book of Mormon geography and peoples. (See [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements/Joseph_Smith#16_November_1841:_Joseph_dictates_the_Bernhisel_letter|Bernhisel letter]] and [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements/Joseph_Smith#15_July_1842:_Joseph_Smith_discusses_high_civilization_in_the_Americas.2C_uses_mound-builders_and_Guatemalan_ruins_as_an_example|July 1842 ''Times and Seasons'']] Wilford Woodruff, who wrote one of the Zelph accounts, also regarded a book on Central American ruins to be evidence for the Book of Mormon account (See [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#13_Sept_1841:_Wilford_Woodruff_cites_the_city_of_Copan_as_.22proof_of_the_Book_of_Mormon.22|City of Copan]]). Parley P. Pratt ([[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#March_1842:_Parley_P._Pratt|March 1842]] and Orson Pratt ([[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#27_August_1843:_Orson_Pratt_believes_that_the_Book_of_Mormon_names_Central_American_cities|August 1843]]) were of a similar view. | Joseph Smith would also make later remarks that included Central America and its inhabitants as also being relevant to Book of Mormon geography and peoples. (See [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements/Joseph_Smith#16_November_1841:_Joseph_dictates_the_Bernhisel_letter|Bernhisel letter]] and [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements/Joseph_Smith#15_July_1842:_Joseph_Smith_discusses_high_civilization_in_the_Americas.2C_uses_mound-builders_and_Guatemalan_ruins_as_an_example|July 1842 ''Times and Seasons'']] Wilford Woodruff, who wrote one of the Zelph accounts, also regarded a book on Central American ruins to be evidence for the Book of Mormon account (See [[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#13_Sept_1841:_Wilford_Woodruff_cites_the_city_of_Copan_as_.22proof_of_the_Book_of_Mormon.22|City of Copan]]). Parley P. Pratt ([[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#March_1842:_Parley_P._Pratt|March 1842]] and Orson Pratt ([[Book_of_Mormon/Geography/Statements#27_August_1843:_Orson_Pratt_believes_that_the_Book_of_Mormon_names_Central_American_cities|August 1843]]) were of a similar view. | ||
− | ==Conclusion== | + | =={{Conclusion label}}== |
LDS scholars have differed about the reliability of the accounts, and their relevance for Book of Mormon geography.{{ref|procon1}} As Kenneth Godfrey observed: | LDS scholars have differed about the reliability of the accounts, and their relevance for Book of Mormon geography.{{ref|procon1}} As Kenneth Godfrey observed: | ||
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As always, the Book of Mormon text itself must remain our primary guide for what it says. Joseph Smith does not seem to have later regarded his knowledge about Zelph as excluding other peoples or locations as being related to the Book of Mormon, or to have discouraged other Church leaders from similar theories. | As always, the Book of Mormon text itself must remain our primary guide for what it says. Joseph Smith does not seem to have later regarded his knowledge about Zelph as excluding other peoples or locations as being related to the Book of Mormon, or to have discouraged other Church leaders from similar theories. | ||
− | ==Endnotes== | + | =={{Endnotes label}}== |
#{{note|hc1}} {{HoC|vol=2|start=79|end=80}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=201635}} | #{{note|hc1}} {{HoC|vol=2|start=79|end=80}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=201635}} | ||
#{{note|godfrey1}}{{BYUS|author=Kenneth W. Godfrey|article=The Zelph Story|vol=29|num=2|date=1989|start=31|end=56}}{{link|url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/Products/MoreInfoPage/MoreInfo.aspx?Type=7&ProdID=576}} {{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=282887}} | #{{note|godfrey1}}{{BYUS|author=Kenneth W. Godfrey|article=The Zelph Story|vol=29|num=2|date=1989|start=31|end=56}}{{link|url=http://byustudies.byu.edu/Products/MoreInfoPage/MoreInfo.aspx?Type=7&ProdID=576}} {{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?doc_id=282887}} | ||
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#{{note|godfreyjbms2}}{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!--Godfrey--> | #{{note|godfreyjbms2}}{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!--Godfrey--> | ||
− | ==Further reading== | + | =={{Further reading label}}== |
− | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | + | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}=== |
{{BoMGeographyWiki}} | {{BoMGeographyWiki}} | ||
− | ===FAIR web site=== | + | ==={{FAIR web site label}}=== |
*{{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai266.html|topic=Zelph}} | *{{tg|url=http://www.fairlds.org/apol/ai266.html|topic=Zelph}} | ||
− | ===External links=== | + | ==={{External links label}}=== |
* Michael R. Ash, "Zelph, the 'White'Lamanite, and Book of Mormon Geography," ''mormonfortress.com'' {{link|url=http://www.mormonfortress.com/zelph.htm}} | * Michael R. Ash, "Zelph, the 'White'Lamanite, and Book of Mormon Geography," ''mormonfortress.com'' {{link|url=http://www.mormonfortress.com/zelph.htm}} | ||
*{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!--Godfrey--> | *{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!--Godfrey--> | ||
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* {{HoC|vol=2|start=79|end=80}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=201635}} | * {{HoC|vol=2|start=79|end=80}}{{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=201635}} | ||
− | ===Printed material=== | + | ==={{Printed material label}}=== |
*{{RegionalStudiesIllinois|author=Donald Q. Cannon|article=Zelph Revisited|start=57|end=109}} {{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=273574}} | *{{RegionalStudiesIllinois|author=Donald Q. Cannon|article=Zelph Revisited|start=57|end=109}} {{GL1|url=http://gospelink.com/library/doc?book_doc_id=273574}} | ||
[[fr:Book of Mormon/Geography/Statements/Nineteenth century/Joseph Smith's lifetime/Joseph Smith/Zelph]] | [[fr:Book of Mormon/Geography/Statements/Nineteenth century/Joseph Smith's lifetime/Joseph Smith/Zelph]] |
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This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
====
Joseph Smith reportedly found the bones of an individual named "Zelph," during the Zion's camp march. Does this have implications for Book of Mormon geography?
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
The most common version of this story is found in the History of the Church.[1] It should be noted, however, that the History of the Church version was created by amalgamating the journal entries of several people:
The accounts were published after the death of Joseph Smith, and the text has a convoluted history:
A comparison of the various accounts is instructive:[4]
Aspect | WW | HCK | GAS | LH | MM | RM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | May-June 1834 | JS on 3 June 1834 | Group on 2 June 1834 | -- | -- | JS on 3 June 1834 |
Place | Illinois River | Illinois River | -- | Illinois River | Pike County | -- |
Description | -300 ft above river -Flung up by ancients |
-Several 100 feet above -3 altars on mound |
300 ft above river | Big mound | -many mounds -fortifications |
-- |
Artifacts | Body, arrow | Human bones, a skeleton, arrow | Human bones | Human bones, arrow | Human bones, arrow | Skeleton of man, arrow |
Person? | Zalph, large thick-set man, warrior, killed in battle |
Zalph, warrior, killed in battle | -- | Zalph, warrior, white Lamanite | Mighty prophet, killed in battle | Zalph, warrior, white Lamanite, man of God, killed in battle |
Nephite/ Lamanite? |
Nephite and Lamanite | Lamanite | -- | Lamanite | -- | Lamanite |
JS Vision? | Vision: Onandangus, great prophet Known Atlantic to Rockies |
-- | -- | Onandangus | -- | Onandangus, Known Atlantic to Rockies |
William Hamblin described some of the difficulties in identifying the roots of this story:
Joseph Smith would also make later remarks that included Central America and its inhabitants as also being relevant to Book of Mormon geography and peoples. (See Bernhisel letter and July 1842 Times and Seasons Wilford Woodruff, who wrote one of the Zelph accounts, also regarded a book on Central American ruins to be evidence for the Book of Mormon account (See City of Copan). Parley P. Pratt (March 1842 and Orson Pratt (August 1843) were of a similar view.
====
LDS scholars have differed about the reliability of the accounts, and their relevance for Book of Mormon geography.[6] As Kenneth Godfrey observed:
Thus, it is unclear exactly what Joseph said. Many of the accounts date from many years after the event, and may have been shaded by later ideas in the writers. Joseph never had a chance to correct that which was published about the event, since he was killed before it was made public. The "Lamanites" may refer to native Amerindians generally, or Book of Mormon peoples specifically. If the latter are referred to, the events may well apply to post-Book of Mormon events, in which case it can tell us little about the geographic scope of the Book of Mormon text.
As always, the Book of Mormon text itself must remain our primary guide for what it says. Joseph Smith does not seem to have later regarded his knowledge about Zelph as excluding other peoples or locations as being related to the Book of Mormon, or to have discouraged other Church leaders from similar theories.
== Notes ==
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