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Difference between revisions of "Book of Mormon/Money"
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:2. A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.{{ref|webster.1828}} | :2. A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.{{ref|webster.1828}} | ||
| − | Clearly, either definition could apply to standard weights of precious metal used in exchange | + | Clearly, either definition could apply to standard weights of precious metal used in exchange. For example, writing in the early 1900s, B.H. Roberts said of the California gold rush: |
| + | |||
| + | :Hudson picked out '''one piece of gold''' worth six dollars.{{ref|roberts.1}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Here we have a "piece of gold" (not "a gold piece") and a value given to it—but this is simply raw gold, found and valued without any human coining or refining: it is simply the weight of raw metal. | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
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#{{note|sorenson1}} {{Book:Sorenson:Ancient American Setting|pages=232–233}} | #{{note|sorenson1}} {{Book:Sorenson:Ancient American Setting|pages=232–233}} | ||
#{{note|webster.1828}} {{Book:Webster:Dictionary:1828|word=piece}} | #{{note|webster.1828}} {{Book:Webster:Dictionary:1828|word=piece}} | ||
| + | #{{note|roberts.1}} {{Book:Roberts:Comprehensive History of the Church|pages=365–366|vol=3}} | ||
=={{Further reading label}}== | =={{Further reading label}}== | ||
==Video== | ==Video== | ||
Revision as of 14:33, 15 November 2011
- REDIRECTTemplate:Test3
Contents
Questions
== Critics claim that Book of Mormon references to Nephite coins is an anachronism, as coins were not used either in ancient America or Israel during Lehi's day.
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
==Detailed Analysis
== The actual text of the 1830 Book of Mormon does not mention coins. The word "coins" was added in the 1920 edition to the chapter heading for Alma 11. In the 1948 edition of the Book of Mormon, we see the following chapter heading:
Judges and their compensation—Nephite coins and measures—Zeezrom counfounded by Amulek
The chapter headings have been subject to change over the years. Note the absence of the word "coins" from the chapter heading for Alma 11 found in the current edition of the Book of Mormon on the official Church website "lds.org":
The Nephite monetary system is set forth—Amulek contends with Zeezrom—Christ will not save people in their sins—Only those who inherit the kingdom of heaven are saved—All men will rise in immortality—There is no death after the Resurrection. About 82 B.C.
The pieces of gold and silver described in Alma 11꞉1-20 are not coins, but a surprisingly sophisticated[1] system of weights and measures that is consistent with Mesoamerican proto-monetary practices.[2] BYU Professor Daniel C. Peterson notes,
It is, alas, quite true that there is no evidence whatsoever for the existence of Book of Mormon coins. Not even in the Book of Mormon itself. The text of the Book of Mormon never mentions the word 'coin' or any variant of it. The reference to 'Nephite coinage' in the chapter heading to Alma 11 is not part of the original text, and is mistaken. Alma 11 is almost certainly talking about standardized weights of metal—a historical step toward coinage, but not yet the real thing" [3]
The mention of "Nephite coinage" in the chapter heading of Alma 11 is in error. The chapter headings are not part of the inspired text. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who composed the chapter headings for the heavily revised 1981 edition of the LDS scriptures, said:
[As for the] Joseph Smith Translation items, the chapter headings, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, footnotes, the Gazetteer, and the maps. None of these are perfect; they do not of themselves determine doctrine; there have been and undoubtedly now are mistakes in them. Cross-references, for instance, do not establish and never were intended to prove that parallel passages so much as pertain to the same subject. They are aids and helps only.[4]
Some critics have attempted to argue that the text's reference to "different pieces of their gold, and of their silver, according to their value," means that these were, in fact, coins. In short, they read this as a reference to "gold and silver pieces [i.e., coins]."
Such critics ignore that "pieces of gold and silver" is not the same as "gold pieces" or "silver pieces." They have not paid close attention to the text.
Sorenson noted in 1985:
- Most recently a burial containing 12,000 pieces of metal "money" (though not coins as such) was found in Ecuador, for the first time confirming that some ancient South Americans had the idea of accumulating a fortune in more or less standard units of metal wealth. Such a startling find in Mesoamerica could change our present limited ideas.[5]
Here we see that "pieces of metal" can act as a unit of exchange without being "coins."
Likewise, Webster's 1828 dictionary mentions coins as a possible use of the word in definition 3c. But, earlier definitions do not require the application to coinage:
- 1. A fragment or part of anything separated from the whole, in any manner, as by cutting, splitting, breaking, or tearing; a part; a portion; as, a piece of sugar; to break in pieces....
- 2. A definite portion or quantity, as of goods or work; as, a piece of broadcloth; a piece of wall paper.[6]
Clearly, either definition could apply to standard weights of precious metal used in exchange. For example, writing in the early 1900s, B.H. Roberts said of the California gold rush:
- Hudson picked out one piece of gold worth six dollars.[7]
Here we have a "piece of gold" (not "a gold piece") and a value given to it—but this is simply raw gold, found and valued without any human coining or refining: it is simply the weight of raw metal.
Conclusion
Seeing "coins" in the Book of Mormon occurs when readers apply their modern expectations and an inadequately close reading of the text. There are units of exchange (weight-based and tied to grain) in the Book of Mormon, but no coins.
== Notes ==
- [note] See "The Numerical Elegance of the Nephite System": Table 1 and Table 2, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999); John W. Welch, "Did the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica use a system of weights and scales in measuring goods & their values?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999). link; John W. Welch, "Weighing & Measuring in the Worlds of the Book of Mormon," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999). [36–46] link
- [note] Marion Popenoe de Hatch, Kaminaljuyú/San Jorge: Evidencia Arqueológica de la Actividad Económica en el Valle de Guatemala, 300 a.C. a 300 d.C (Guatemala: Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, 1997), 100.
- [note] Daniel C. Peterson, "Chattanooga Cheapshot, or The Gall of Bitterness (Review of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mormonism by John Ankerberg and John Weldon)," FARMS Review of Books 5/1 (1993): 1–86. off-site, see especially p. 55.
- [note] Mark McConkie (editor), Doctrines of the Restoration: Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie (Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1989),289–290. ISBN 978-0884946441. GL direct link
- [note] John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1996 [1985]), 232–233.
- [note] Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (New York: S. Converse, 1828), s.v. "piece."
- [note] Brigham H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1965), 3:365–366. GospeLink
Further reading
Video
Part(s) of this issue are addressed in a FairMormon video segment. Click here to see video clips on other topics.
FairMormon Answers articles
Book of Mormon/Money
FairMormon web site
- FairMormon Topical Guide: Book of Mormon Anachronisms FairMormon link
- Michael Ash, "Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 6: Compass, Coins, and Other Miscellaneous" PDF link
Videos
- Coins and The Book of Mormon, FAIR Video
External links
- Michael Ash, "Coins in the Book of Mormon" (MormonFortress.com) off-site
- Jeff Lindsay, "Why Are 'Coins' Mentioned in the Book of Mormon Before The Invention of Coins?" (LightPlanet.com) off-site
- Daniel C. Peterson, "Chattanooga Cheapshot, or The Gall of Bitterness (Review of Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Mormonism by John Ankerberg and John Weldon)," FARMS Review of Books 5/1 (1993): 1–86. off-site, see especially p. 55.
- John W. Welch, "Did the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica use a system of weights and scales in measuring goods & their values?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999). link
- John W. Welch, "Weighing & Measuring in the Worlds of the Book of Mormon," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999). [36–46] link
- "The Numerical Elegance of the Nephite System": Table 1 and Table 2, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999).