Plants in the Book of Mormon

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Are plants mentioned in the Book of Mormon that are not found in the New World?

Questions

Some claim that plants mentioned in the Book of Mormon are not found in the New World, and are thus evidence that Joseph fabricated the text based upon his own cultural background.

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]

Plants alleged to be anachronistic in the Book of Mormon

Summary: Some plants mentioned in the Book of Mormon are not known to exist in the New World. It this evidence that Joseph fabricated the text based upon his own cultural background?

Answer

None of the Book of Mormon's plant species causes a problem — Spanish conquerors described pre-Columbian products in exactly the terms used by the Book of Mormon. Barley, silkworms, and grapes were known. One of the terms unknown to Joseph's day (the Akkadian sheum) is impressive evidence for the Book of Mormon's antiquity.

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.]

However, this is simply false. Pre-Columbian New World barley was first reported in the scientific literature in 1983.

Linen

(i.e. flax)

[The Spaniards] encountered and referred to what they considered "linen" or linen-like cloth made from plants other than flax.

• Bernal Diaz, who served with Cortez in the initial wave of conquest, described native Mexican garments made of "henequen which is like linen." The fiber of the maguey plant, from which henequen was manufactured, closely resembles the flax fiber used to make European linen
• yucca plant fibers makes linen-like cloth
• ixtle (agave) plant fiber makes linen-like cloth
• fig tree bark can be stripped, soaked, and pounded for a cloth with "some of the characteristics of linen."

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.

For a discussion on this name between believers and non-believers, see here.

Silk

(i.e. mulberry leaves and silkworms)

The production of Old World "silk" requires both silkworms and the mulberry trees upon whose leaves they feed, which critics have charged is impossible.

However, there are several examples of silk or silk-like fabric in pre-Columbian America:

• wild silkworms do exist, and some commentators insisted that the Amerindians spun and wove it from their cocoons
• hair from rabbit bellies was also spun into a cloth dubbed "silk" by the Spanish conquerors
• floss from the ceiba (silk-cotton) tree was made into a "soft delicate cloth," kapok.
• fibers from the wild pineapple were also prized for their ability to be woven into a fine, durable fabric
• cotton cloth in Mexico from A.D. 400 is "even, very fine, and gossamer-thin."

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.

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.'

Video

Part(s) of this issue are addressed in a FairMormon video segment. Click here to see video clips on other topics.

Notes