BOOK OF MORMON


Mosiah - Chapter 8 Critique

 

Setting: King Limhi finishes his speech and shows Ammon the Jaredite golden plates.

 

Verse 1: AND it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an end of speaking to his people, for he spake many things unto them and only a few of them have I written in this book, he told his people all the things concerning their brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla.

Note: How could king Limhi talk about the Zarahemla brethren when he didn't know?

Mosiah 7:14 And now, it came to pass that after Limhi had heard the words of Ammon, he was exceedingly glad, and said: Now, I know of a surety that my brethren who were in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive. And now, I will rejoice; and on the morrow I will cause that my people shall rejoice also.

 

Verse 2: And he caused that Ammon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearse unto them all that had happened unto their brethren from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until the time that he himself came up out of the land.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:1 Praise the LORD! I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.

 

Verses 3-4: And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had taught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he spake. And it came to pass that after he had done all this, that king Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that they should return every one unto his own house.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:2 The works of the LORD are great, studied by all who have pleasure in them.

 

Verse 5: And it came to pass that he caused that the plates which contained the record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he might read them.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:3 His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever.

 

Verse 6: Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.

Note: Sidney Rigdon did not know the meaning of words when writing his BOM.

Read defined: to interpret the meaning or significance of. Webster's Dictionary.

 

Verse 7: And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

 

Verses 8-9: And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among many waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel. And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty-four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold.

Note: BYU university proclaims that there were numerous buildings before 1000 BCE.

Now the lands of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom, the territory where Limhi's people dwelt, were presumably in Central America. FARMS Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 6 vols. Provo, Utah: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), 1992.

Note: Scholarship refutes the Mormon ideas of American civilization development.

Olmec Indians, pronounced OHL mehk, developed what may have been the earliest civilization in the Americas. The Olmec civilization flourished between about 1200 and 400 B.C. The most important centers of Olmec culture were on the Mexican Gulf Coast, in what are now the southern Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. By 400 B.C., the Olmec's sophisticated artistic style had spread over much of Middle America, from central Mexico to El Salvador. Some scholars have also recognized Olmec influences in the artwork and religious practices of many later Middle American cultures, including those of the Maya and the Aztec. The Olmec lived near rivers in small thatched houses. 2002 World Book Encyclopedia.

 

Verses 10-11: And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound. And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate?

Note: American Indians never had breastplates and swords as weapons.

The bow and arrow was probably the most common Indian weapon throughout North and South America. Some South American tribes put poison on their arrowheads. Many Indians fought with spears and war clubs. The Indians of eastern North America developed a special type of club known as the tomahawk. A weapon of the Aztec consisted of pieces of obsidian (volcanic glass) stuck into a wooden club. South American Indians used blowguns and slings. 2002 World Book Encyclopedia.

 

Verse 12: And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know the cause of their destruction.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

 

Verse 13: Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.

 

Verses 14-15: And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God. And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure.

 

Verse 16: And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness.

 

Verse 17: But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 111:9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.

 

Verse 18: Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

Verses 19: And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men.

Note: Ancient peoples used scrolls of papyrus for written documentation.

The Egyptians began using scrolls of papyrus during the 2000's B.C. Beginning in the 1000's B.C., the Hebrews used treated animal skins for their sacred writings because these outlasted papyrus. 2002 World Book Encyclopedia.

 

Verse 20: O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!

Note: People may have wisdom but God is the ruler.

2 Chronicles 20:5-6 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: "O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You?"

 

Verse 21: Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.

Note: The BOM is man centered while the Holy Bible is God centered.

Psalm 23:1-4 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

MAIN INDEX

BIBLE INDEX

HINDU INDEX

MUSLIM INDEX

MORMON INDEX

BUDDHISM INDEX

WORD FAITH INDEX

WATCHTOWER INDEX

MISCELLANEOUS INDEX

CATHOLIC CHURCH INDEX