![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 (→Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information) |
m |
||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
==LDS Lesson Manual== | ==LDS Lesson Manual== | ||
Lesson 2: All Things According to His Will {{link|url=http://lds.org/manual/book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-2-all-things-according-to-his-will?lang=eng}} | Lesson 2: All Things According to His Will {{link|url=http://lds.org/manual/book-of-mormon-gospel-doctrine-teachers-manual/lesson-2-all-things-according-to-his-will?lang=eng}} | ||
− | ==1. Lehi Leaves Jerusalem (1 Nephi 1-2)== | + | ==1. Lehi Leaves Jerusalem ({{s|1|Nephi|1-2|}})== |
===Helpful Insights=== | ===Helpful Insights=== | ||
*Nephi as Scribe: Since Nephi was the younger (youngest, before Jacob and Joseph are born) son of a wealthy family, he was not likely to inherit the family business, but would have been in training for another high status profession. Nephi’s skill in writing and other traits Nephi displays suggest he may have been in training to become a scribe. (See {{MSR-23-1-4}}) | *Nephi as Scribe: Since Nephi was the younger (youngest, before Jacob and Joseph are born) son of a wealthy family, he was not likely to inherit the family business, but would have been in training for another high status profession. Nephi’s skill in writing and other traits Nephi displays suggest he may have been in training to become a scribe. (See {{MSR-23-1-4}}) | ||
Line 59: | Line 59: | ||
*Arabic Poetry: 1 Nephi 2:9-10 is a perfect example of Arabic poetry. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=59&chapid=558 Hugh Nibley] | *Arabic Poetry: 1 Nephi 2:9-10 is a perfect example of Arabic poetry. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=59&chapid=558 Hugh Nibley] | ||
− | ==2. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass (1 Nephi 3-4)== | + | ==2. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass ({{s|1|Nephi|3-4|}})== |
===Helpful Insights=== | ===Helpful Insights=== | ||
*Rod Symbolism: Nephi’s brothers start beating him with a “rod.” The rod, or staff, was a symbol of power in the ancient Near East, thus Nephi’s brothers, by using a rod to beat Nephi with, were asserting their authority over him as the younger brother. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=59&chapid=557 Hugh Nibley, Lehi in the Desert, 80]; {{Book:Bokovoy Tvedtnes:Testaments|pages=43}} | *Rod Symbolism: Nephi’s brothers start beating him with a “rod.” The rod, or staff, was a symbol of power in the ancient Near East, thus Nephi’s brothers, by using a rod to beat Nephi with, were asserting their authority over him as the younger brother. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=59&chapid=557 Hugh Nibley, Lehi in the Desert, 80]; {{Book:Bokovoy Tvedtnes:Testaments|pages=43}} | ||
Line 115: | Line 115: | ||
*Contents of the Brass Plates: Among the contents of the brass plates are the writings of various prophets, including mention of the five books of Moses. The earliest attested fragment of any portion of the Bible is a passage from one of the books of Moses (Numbers) found engraved on small plates of metal (silver) and dating to 600 BC. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=98&chapid=1039] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=98&chapid=1040] | *Contents of the Brass Plates: Among the contents of the brass plates are the writings of various prophets, including mention of the five books of Moses. The earliest attested fragment of any portion of the Bible is a passage from one of the books of Moses (Numbers) found engraved on small plates of metal (silver) and dating to 600 BC. [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=98&chapid=1039] [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=98&chapid=1040] | ||
− | ==4. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem for Ishmael and his family (1 Nephi 7)== | + | ==4. Nephi and his brothers return to Jerusalem for Ishmael and his family ({{s|1|Nephi|7|}})== |
===Helpful Insights=== | ===Helpful Insights=== | ||
*Why not get Ishmael’s family while they were there for the brass plates? Brant Gardner suggests that “Acquiring the brass plates confirmed through their experiences that Yahweh was leading them. Thus, these experiences not only strengthened their resolve but perhaps also provided arguments that would convince Ishmael and his family to accompany them.” [{{Book:Gardner:Second Witness|pages=141|vol=1}}] | *Why not get Ishmael’s family while they were there for the brass plates? Brant Gardner suggests that “Acquiring the brass plates confirmed through their experiences that Yahweh was leading them. Thus, these experiences not only strengthened their resolve but perhaps also provided arguments that would convince Ishmael and his family to accompany them.” [{{Book:Gardner:Second Witness|pages=141|vol=1}}] | ||
Line 123: | Line 123: | ||
===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ===Potential Criticisms and Faithful Information=== | ||
===Faith Affirmations=== | ===Faith Affirmations=== | ||
− | ==Additional Information Related to 1 Nephi 1-7== | + | ==Additional Information Related to {{s|1|Nephi|1-7|}}== |
In 1 Nephi 6, Nephi tells his readers that he is writing with a deliberate purpose. A number of scholars have looked closely at 1 Nephi in an effort to more fully understand his purposes in writing his small plates record. | In 1 Nephi 6, Nephi tells his readers that he is writing with a deliberate purpose. A number of scholars have looked closely at 1 Nephi in an effort to more fully understand his purposes in writing his small plates record. | ||
*{{Book:Reynolds:Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited|author=Noel B. Reynolds|article=[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=110&chapid=1277 Nephi’s Political Testament]}} | *{{Book:Reynolds:Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited|author=Noel B. Reynolds|article=[http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=110&chapid=1277 Nephi’s Political Testament]}} | ||
Line 131: | Line 131: | ||
*{{BYUS|article=[https://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=5791 1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole]|author=Fredrick W. Axelgard|vol=26|num-4|date=1987}} | *{{BYUS|article=[https://byustudies.byu.edu/showTitle.aspx?title=5791 1 and 2 Nephi: An Inspiring Whole]|author=Fredrick W. Axelgard|vol=26|num-4|date=1987}} | ||
− | ==Chiasms and Other Poetic Parallelisms in 1 Nephi 1-7== | + | ==Chiasms and Other Poetic Parallelisms in {{s|1|Nephi|1-7|}}== |
The Book of Mormon contains a number of literary structures called poetic parallelisms, [[Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms/Chiasmus|chiasmus]] being the best known. While these are frequently used as evidence for the Book of Mormon’s authenticity, their real value is in helping shed light on the meaning and message in the text. The following passages contain examples of these structures from chapters being covered in this lesson. If you are planning on using any of these passages in your lesson, it may be worthwhile to check these structures to see if they help emphasize or focus attention on the message you hope to convey, or if they provide an alternative perspective you had not considered before which may enhance your lesson. For the sake of space, the references can only be listed here. To look at these structures, see [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=132&chapid=1564 Donald W. Perry, Poetic Parallelisms: The Complete Text Reformatted], which is graciously provided online for no charge (you have to go to the PDF file) by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute. | The Book of Mormon contains a number of literary structures called poetic parallelisms, [[Book_of_Mormon/Evidences/Hebraisms/Chiasmus|chiasmus]] being the best known. While these are frequently used as evidence for the Book of Mormon’s authenticity, their real value is in helping shed light on the meaning and message in the text. The following passages contain examples of these structures from chapters being covered in this lesson. If you are planning on using any of these passages in your lesson, it may be worthwhile to check these structures to see if they help emphasize or focus attention on the message you hope to convey, or if they provide an alternative perspective you had not considered before which may enhance your lesson. For the sake of space, the references can only be listed here. To look at these structures, see [http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/books/?bookid=132&chapid=1564 Donald W. Perry, Poetic Parallelisms: The Complete Text Reformatted], which is graciously provided online for no charge (you have to go to the PDF file) by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute. | ||
Line 138: | Line 138: | ||
==Resources== | ==Resources== | ||
− | |||
− | |||
{{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} | {{Articles Footer 1}} {{Articles Footer 2}} {{Articles Footer 3}} {{Articles Footer 4}} {{Articles Footer 5}} {{Articles Footer 6}} {{Articles Footer 7}} {{Articles Footer 8}} {{Articles Footer 9}} {{Articles Footer 10}} |
Lesson One | A FAIR Analysis of:
Book of Mormon: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual |
Lesson Three |
Lesson 2: All Things According to His Will off-site
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Language: Critics have long attacked the Book of Mormon for having a Jew writing in Egyptian. The phenomenon of Jews using Egyptian script is now well attested through various archeological finds.
Response
The phenomenon of Jews using Egyptian script is now well attested through various archeological finds.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Altar of Stones: Some critics claim that a good Jew would never offer sacrifices away from Jerusalem.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Authority: Some say Lehi could not have offered sacrifices because he did not have the Levitical Priesthood.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Steel: Nephi says that Laban’s sword was made of the “most precious steel.” Many critics have insisted that this is anachronistic.
Response
There are a number of linguistic issues that should be considered when it comes to the word “steel” in translation of any ancient document. Nonetheless, “steel” (carbuized iron) has attested in the Old World during the Book of Mormon time period, and so Laban’s “steel” sword is not an anachronism.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Slaying of Laban: A number of objections have been raised about the Slaying of Laban, from legal to ethical concerns.
Response
In many cases, the issue stems from the reader projecting their modern Western cultural views onto the text. In any event, these issues have been addressed by LDS scholars.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Church: Nephi mentions “brethren of the church,” which some critics say is an anachronism because there was no “church” in ancient Israel.
Response
The original meaning of “church” was simply “congregation” or “assembly,” a concept that would have been well known to ancient Israel.
For more information
Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Lehi’s Cave: Sometimes well-intentioned members provide exaggerated claims for evidence in favor of the Book of Mormon.
Response
When our faith is supported by faulty claims of evidence, we become susceptible to criticisms. One example of this has been the so-called “Lehi’s cave.” The location is not likely to have anything to do with the Book of Mormon.
For more information
In 1 Nephi 6, Nephi tells his readers that he is writing with a deliberate purpose. A number of scholars have looked closely at 1 Nephi in an effort to more fully understand his purposes in writing his small plates record.
The Book of Mormon contains a number of literary structures called poetic parallelisms, chiasmus being the best known. While these are frequently used as evidence for the Book of Mormon’s authenticity, their real value is in helping shed light on the meaning and message in the text. The following passages contain examples of these structures from chapters being covered in this lesson. If you are planning on using any of these passages in your lesson, it may be worthwhile to check these structures to see if they help emphasize or focus attention on the message you hope to convey, or if they provide an alternative perspective you had not considered before which may enhance your lesson. For the sake of space, the references can only be listed here. To look at these structures, see Donald W. Perry, Poetic Parallelisms: The Complete Text Reformatted, which is graciously provided online for no charge (you have to go to the PDF file) by the Neal A. Maxwell Institute.
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