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Plants in the Book of Mormon
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Contents
Criticism
A brief explanation of the criticism.
Source(s) of the Criticism
- Latayne Colvett Scott, The Mormon Mirage : a former Mormon tells why she left the church (Grand Rapids : Zondervan Pub. House, 1979), 82–84.
- James White, Letters to a Mormon Elder (Southbridge, MA: Crowne, 1990), 139.
Response
Barley
Barley in the New World was long a source of anti-Mormon amusement, with one author insisting, "barley never grew in the New World before the white man brought it here!" [Scott, 82.]
Unfortunately for Ms. Scott, this is simply false. New World barley has been known since 1983 [Sorenson and Smith].
Linen
(i.e. flax)
- [The Spaniards] encountered and referred to what they considered "linen" or linenlike cloth made from plants other than flax [Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[1]
Neas
This crop is mentioned but once (See Mosiah 9:9). We do not know what it applied to, but this does not count against the Book of Mormon's claims.
Sheum
One must credit Joseph Smith with a bullseye on this issue:
- The name rather obviously derives from Akkadian (Babylonian) "she'um," barley (Old Assyrian, wheat), "the most popular ancient Mesopotamian cereal name."[Sorenson, "Zaputo," 338; citing Robert F. Smith, "Some 'Neologisms' from the Mormon Canon," Conference on the Language of the Mormons 1973, Brigham Young University Language Research Center, 1973, 66.][2]
We do not know to which crop this name was applied, but it is certainly not out of place in an ancient context (See Mosiah 9:9). Critics must explain how Joseph Smith chose this word, since Akkadian was not translated until 27 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon.[3]
Silk
(i.e. mulberry leaves and silkworms)
Wine (i.e. grapes)
- [The Spaniards] spoke of "vineyards," not planted in grapevines but in maguey plants, from which pulque, which they termed "wine," was manufactured. Half a dozen different types of "wine" made from fruits other than grapes were identified by the Spanish explorers...[another researcher also] reports the Opata of northern Mexico used a drink made from native grapes.[Sorenson, "Zaputo," 335-336].[4]
So, there were grapes locally, as well as several other plant species which produced alcoholic drinks which the Spanish were quite happy to consider 'wine.'
Conclusion
A summary of the argument against the criticism.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Plants in the Book of Mormon
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide:
- Matthew Roper, "Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon" [5]
External links
- Links to external web pages
Printed material
- John L. Sorenson, "Plants and Animals," in "Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe!" Review of "Does the Shoe Fit? A Critique of the Limited Tehuantepec Geography," by Deanne G. Matheny, Review of Books on the Book of Mormon 6:1 (1994): 342–48.[6],[7]
- John L. Sorenson and Robert F. Smith, "Barley in Ancient America," in Reexploring the Book of Mormon, edited by John W. Welch (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book and FARMS, 1992), 130–2.