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Difference between revisions of "Book of Mormon/Demographics"
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===Relative Size of Nephites vs. Lamanites=== | ===Relative Size of Nephites vs. Lamanites=== | ||
| + | Despite the majority of the immigrants going with Nephi, the Lamanites are consistently mentioned as being much more numerous (at least double) than the Nephites. This includes the period before Mosiah I's exodus [See [http://scriptures.lds.org/jarom/1/6#6 Jarom 1:6] and afterward despite the introduction of Zarahemla's people (the so-called 'Mulekites') [See [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/25/3#3 Mosiah 25:3], [http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/43/51#51 Alma 43:51], [http://scriptures.lds.org/hel/4/25#25 Helaman 4:25].] | ||
| + | There is one intriguing passage in which Mormon explains the numeric disparity as it applies to Captain Moroni's wars: | ||
| + | <blockquote>...thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah. 14 Now ''those descendants'' were as numerous, ''nearly,'' as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed. [italics added] [http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/43/13#14 Alma 43:13-14].</blockquote> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mormon here lists a variety of peoples under the rubric 'Lamanites,' and then indicates that ''these descendants'' almost match the Nephites in numbers. Yet, clearly, the 'Lamanites' (in a broader sense) always have a massive manpower advantage, as we are told just a few verses later in [http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/43/51#51 Alma 43:51]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The phrase "those descendants" cannot apply merely to the "descendants of the priests of Noah," since this is a tiny group of only 24 Lamanite women and their former-priest husbands. (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/20/5#5 Mosiah 20:5], [http://scriptures.lds.org/mosiah/23/31#39 Mosiah 23:31-39].) These "Amulonites" had been decimated by angry Lamanites only a few years earlier, and were everafter ''persona non grata'' on both sides of the conflict. (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/25/3#9 Alma 25:3-9].) Their numerical contribution to the Lamanite hordes can only have been negligible. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Mormon's point is clear--''all'' the 'Nephites': original Lehi/Nephi descendants, Zarahemla descendants, and any 'others' or client peoples are nearly numerically matched simply by the descendants of Laman, Lemuel, Ishmael and a variety of Nephite descendants. To this must be added the manpower "sink" which the Lamanites possess in the form of the 'others' which ''they'' control politically. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is what makes the Lamanite attack so dangerous, since as defenders the Nephites require fewer men to hold off an attacking army [See [http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/59/9#9 Alma 59:9]. But, the vast numerical superiority is repeatedly emphasized: . Moroni struggles to provide his troops with reinforcements and adequate garrisons (see x), while the Lamanites can continually field large new armies (see y). The Lamanites even seek to exploit their numerical advantage by opening a two front war (See z). This strategy splits their forces, which would be very unwise if they did not enjoy a marked numerical advantage. This advantage is clear, since their tactics very nearly succeed. | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Revision as of 20:08, 2 October 2005
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
Contents
Criticism
Critics charge that the initial Lehite colony is too small to produce the population sizes indicated.
Source(s) of the Criticism
Response
A superficial reading of the Book of Mormon leads some to conclude that the named members of Lehi's group were the only members of Nephite/Lamanite society.
However, the Book of Mormon contains many mentions of "others" that made up part of both societies; indeed, many Book of Mormon passages make little sense unless we understand this.
Fate of Original Colonists
In 2 Nephi 5, Nephi and his group finally make a break with Laman, Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael:
5 And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me. 6 Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. 7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents. [italics added] (2 Nephi 5:5 - 7)
| "Nephites" | Fate | "Lamanites" | Fate | Other | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nephi & family | flee | Laman [+wife?] | flee | Ishmael | Dies in Old World |
| Sam & family | flee | Lemuel [+wife?] | flee | Ishamel's wife | Unknown (dies?) |
| Jacob [no wife?] | flee | Sons of Ishmael [+wives?] | flee | Lehi | Dies prior to split |
| Joseph [no wife?] | flee | -- | -- | Sariah | Unknown (dies?) |
| Nephi's sisters | flee | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Zoram & family | flee | -- | -- | -- | -- |
The majoriy of the original immigrants leaves with Nephi. And, despite all the members that he mentions, he also says he took "all those who would go with me." There is no one of the original colony unaccounted for; those who went with Nephi (and later made him their teacher and ruler) were likely 'others' who have "believed in the warnings and revelations of God."
Relative Size of Nephites vs. Lamanites
Despite the majority of the immigrants going with Nephi, the Lamanites are consistently mentioned as being much more numerous (at least double) than the Nephites. This includes the period before Mosiah I's exodus [See Jarom 1:6 and afterward despite the introduction of Zarahemla's people (the so-called 'Mulekites') [See Mosiah 25:3, Alma 43:51, Helaman 4:25.]
There is one intriguing passage in which Mormon explains the numeric disparity as it applies to Captain Moroni's wars:
...thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah. 14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed. [italics added] Alma 43:13-14.
Mormon here lists a variety of peoples under the rubric 'Lamanites,' and then indicates that these descendants almost match the Nephites in numbers. Yet, clearly, the 'Lamanites' (in a broader sense) always have a massive manpower advantage, as we are told just a few verses later in Alma 43:51.
The phrase "those descendants" cannot apply merely to the "descendants of the priests of Noah," since this is a tiny group of only 24 Lamanite women and their former-priest husbands. (See Mosiah 20:5, Mosiah 23:31-39.) These "Amulonites" had been decimated by angry Lamanites only a few years earlier, and were everafter persona non grata on both sides of the conflict. (See Alma 25:3-9.) Their numerical contribution to the Lamanite hordes can only have been negligible.
Mormon's point is clear--all the 'Nephites': original Lehi/Nephi descendants, Zarahemla descendants, and any 'others' or client peoples are nearly numerically matched simply by the descendants of Laman, Lemuel, Ishmael and a variety of Nephite descendants. To this must be added the manpower "sink" which the Lamanites possess in the form of the 'others' which they control politically.
This is what makes the Lamanite attack so dangerous, since as defenders the Nephites require fewer men to hold off an attacking army [See Alma 59:9. But, the vast numerical superiority is repeatedly emphasized: . Moroni struggles to provide his troops with reinforcements and adequate garrisons (see x), while the Lamanites can continually field large new armies (see y). The Lamanites even seek to exploit their numerical advantage by opening a two front war (See z). This strategy splits their forces, which would be very unwise if they did not enjoy a marked numerical advantage. This advantage is clear, since their tactics very nearly succeed.
Conclusion
A summary of the argument against the criticism.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
- Links to related articles in the wiki
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide:
External links
- Links to external web pages
Printed material
- Printed resources whose text is not available online