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=={{Criticism label}}== | =={{Criticism label}}== | ||
Critics attack the presence of an Israelite temple built by the Nephites. They do so on one or more of the following grounds: | Critics attack the presence of an Israelite temple built by the Nephites. They do so on one or more of the following grounds: | ||
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One critic, who used to be a member of the Church, actually demonstrates his ignorance of the Book of Mormon by stating that the temple that was built was said to be "similar in splendor" to Solomon's Temple, directly contradicting Nephi's description. This is a good example of the critics reading the text in the most naive, most absurd way possible. One should also consider that smaller population would not have needed a massive complex like the temple at Jerusalem anyway. | One critic, who used to be a member of the Church, actually demonstrates his ignorance of the Book of Mormon by stating that the temple that was built was said to be "similar in splendor" to Solomon's Temple, directly contradicting Nephi's description. This is a good example of the critics reading the text in the most naive, most absurd way possible. One should also consider that smaller population would not have needed a massive complex like the temple at Jerusalem anyway. | ||
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====How could Lehi, a non-Levite, perform sacrifices?==== | ====How could Lehi, a non-Levite, perform sacrifices?==== |
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== Critics attack the presence of an Israelite temple built by the Nephites. They do so on one or more of the following grounds:
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here
====
Recent Biblical scholarship has increasingly demonstrated that the portrayal of the Jerusalem temple as the sole legitmate site of worship was a late change made for political and polemical reasons. One non-LDS archaelogist's work is discussed:
Known Jewish temples include:[2]
Site | Approximate time (centuries before Christ) |
---|---|
Mosaic Tabernacle |
13 |
Gilgal | 13 |
Ebal | 13 |
Shechem | 12 |
Shiloh | 12-11 |
Kirjath-jearim | 11 |
Gibeon | 10-11 |
Megiddo | 10 |
Arad | 10 (to 1st century A.D.) |
Lachish | 10-7 |
Dan | 10-8 |
Bethel | 9 |
Beer-Sheba | 8-7 |
Elephantine/Aswan | 6-4 |
Shechem/Mt. Gerizim (Samaritan) | - |
Leontopolis/Tel Yehudia by Onias (near Heliopolis) which replaced/united several other Jewish temples in Egypt | 160 B.C. to A.D. 73 |
This criticism presumes that the Lehite immigrants are the only work-force available, but this is almost certainly not true. (See: Book of Mormon demographics.)
Evem of one presumes that the Lehite colony and the Nephite break-off are the only workforce—a dubious assumption—this only means that the temple would have been smaller—this seems likely in any case, since Nephi only says he built it "after the manner" of Solomon's temple, but not in so grand a style because of local restrictions. Consider Nephi's description:
One critic, who used to be a member of the Church, actually demonstrates his ignorance of the Book of Mormon by stating that the temple that was built was said to be "similar in splendor" to Solomon's Temple, directly contradicting Nephi's description. This is a good example of the critics reading the text in the most naive, most absurd way possible. One should also consider that smaller population would not have needed a massive complex like the temple at Jerusalem anyway.
In the Bible there are instances where men from non-Levite lineage offered sacrifices. One example that comes to mind is that of Gideon, a judge of Israel, who, like Lehi, was from the Josephite tribe of Manasseh. Commanded of God to build an altar, Gideon made an acceptable burnt offering to the Lord, and was in no way condemned for his action (See Judges 6:24-26). The prophet Samuel was from the Josephite tribe of Ephraim, yet he too offered sacrifices (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Samuel 7:9-10; 1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13꞉15). The general consensus among Bible scholars is that the idea that only descendants of Aaron could offer sacrifices was a late (post-exilic) concept in ancient Israel. It led to such anomalies as the later chroniclers assigning Samuel to the tribe of Levi in 1 Chronicles 6:33-38 to justify his having offered sacrifices. It is interesting that the first sacrifice offered for the Israelites after they left Egypt was performed not by a Levite, but by Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, a non-Israelite (Exodus 18:12).[3]
Part(s) of this issue are addressed in a FairMormon video segment. Click here to see video clips on other topics.
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