White reasons that since nephi possessed labans sword of most precious steel, all subsequent swords mentioned in the. The hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and. How could laban have possessed a sword of most precious steel. The book of mormon depicts battles with hundreds and hundreds of thousands fighting battles with steel swords and armor. Oct 10, 2017 book laban mormon shad sketchup sword shadiversity i have wanted to know what the sword of laban from the book of mormon would have truly looked like for most of my life and after much study and research i have figured it out, basing my conclusions on authentic archaeological references. Book of mormonwarfareweaponsswords fair fairmormon.
Israel seems to have been initially dependent on the philistines for metallurgy. More metal swords, cimeters, and breastplates, none of which has ever been found. Roberts 18571933, a general authority of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, which examine the validity of the book of mormon as a translation of an ancient american source. In studying the book of mormon, roper has found references to. The widespread use of iron and steel for utilitarian and military purposes claimed by critics is not attested by the book of mormon. Horses and steel swords were both well known by the time josephs myth came along.
It is imitated by nephi in the first generationalthough we are not sure if. Every commentator on the book of mormon has pointed out the many cultural and historical anachronisms, such as the steel sword of laban in 600 b. Aug 27, 2019 this work is designed to augment the recent works by brant a. I live in nevada, which by virtue of its proximity to utah, affords me the chance to contend with many mormons. Three incidences of steel in the new world are mentioned in the book of mormon, one early amongst the jaredites after their arrival around 2400 bc, one immediately after the lehi partys arrival in the new world discussing nephis knowledge of steel at approximately 580 bc, and one of occurrence amongst the nephites around 400 bc. In 2003, a seventhcentury bc etruscan gold book was discovered in bulgaria. Labans sword fits nicely into the pattern of a highquality middle eastern weapon a sheath, gold hilt, fine workmanship, and a bladeof the most precious steel 1 nephi 4. Are all swords mentioned in the book of mormon made. William hamblins comments in an article on steel in the book of mormon, reprinted in this 2005 meridian magazine article. I am no history expert, but as i understand it, the nas got their butts kicked in the 1500s when the spaniards arrived with horses and steel swords neither of which was known to nas, yet both horses and steel swords are recorded in the bom. Greetings all, and blessings in the name of the lord. And then, 150 years after the book of mormon was published. Jun 09, 2009 labans sword itself remains a popular item for a long time in the book of mormon words of mormon 1.
The book of mormon does indicate that at least some swords were made of metal, specifically, steel. The minimalist and tightest reading of this evidence is that nephi had a steel weapon from the near east. The book of mormon includes mistranslated biblical passages that were later changed in joseph smiths translation of the bible. Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answers. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of. What is the significance of steel in the book of mormon. Smith, then 24 years old, claimed that he had not composed the text of the book, but that he had translated it from a set of golden plates which he had dug out of a nearby hill under the. Is there evidence for book of mormon metallurgy and swords. Swords and cimiters in the book of mormon book of mormon. There are many features described in the book of mormon which are inappropriate for their time period, such as steel swords. Some jaredites are described with steel weapons see ether.
A typical example of the differences between the bom, the kjv, and the jst. Such ancient swords were unknown at the time the book of mormon was published. Evidence supporting the steel sword of laban in the book. Some jaredites are described with steel weapons see ether 7. Aug 27, 2018 steel, journal of book of mormon studies 15, no. The book of mormon frequently mentions steel weapon, such as the blade of labans sword 1 nephi 4.
Horses in america and book of mormon recovery from. If you are looking for the ores mentioned in the book of mormon, they do exist, and they have been found in north america. Yet, not one item mentioned in the book of mormon has ever been discovered in america. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1 nephi 4. The book of mormon mentions the sword 156 times, more than any other weapon. Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon mormon answersldsfaq. Byu religious scholar analyzes book of mormon swords at. The sword of laban from the book of mormon by shadbrooks on. On nephis steel bow by common consent, a mormon blog. Metal weapons and tools book of mormon archaeological forum.
Apparently labans sword was passed down through the centuries to future prophets, kings, and warriors, as it is mentioned many centuries later in the book of mormon. The book of mormon mentions a steel sword owned by a military leader. Among his possessions was a set of brass plates containing the genealogy of lehi, a major character in the early portion of the book of mormon. Contrary to the accounts in the book of mormon, not a single steel sword, helmet, armor, chariot, spear, etc. Nothing is said of the length of the blade, although it proved long enough to cut off a mans head. In alma we read of men running upon swords and dying, a most understandable result of running into a sword like labans. But no metal blades have been found from precolumbian america, roper said. By 1844, further research debunked 4 of them, and 1 was trending towards being disproved, leaving 85 left, which is a lot. Swords in the book of mormon in the light of mesoamerica in 1 nephi we learn that laban, a powerful official in jerusalem around 600 bc, possessed a sword with a blade of the most precious steel 1 nephi 4.
A short sword was unearthed in the ancient philistine city ekron, which was destroyed in 604 bc and lay twentytwo miles south of jerusalem. However, it wont display in the bible window, inasmuch as it has no bible. How could laban have possessed a sword of most precious. The book of mormon claims the existence of steel in or around jerusalem before the invasion and captivity of babylon. Reading those books prior to the present book would provide a helpful background for understanding this one. The sword of laban from the book of mormon by shadbrooks. The jericho sword is three feet long and three inches wide, which is surprisingly long for the ancient near east. You will be treated to witnessing artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations proving the use of gold, copper, silver, lead and even iron and steel, just as claimed by the prophets of the book of mormon. I have wanted to know what the sword of laban from the book of mormon would have truly looked like for most of my life and after much study and research i ha. The earliest reference to steel swords in the book of mormon is in a passage recounting the notable deeds of prince shule. Archaeological evidence of the book of mormon latterday. Steel swords are never again mentioned in the book of mormon after this first generation. And even if somehow we were wrong about that we would find monumental amounts of ancient swords and armor throughout the americas. Swords, spears, armor plates, and other tools do not need to be made of metal to be effective.
Between those years, critics brought up 90 anachronisms. Evidence of steel has been found in the near east during the same time frame that is claimed by the book of mormon. Jan 23, 2020 the first period is between 1830, the year the book of mormon was published, and 1844, the year joseph smith died. Debunking fairmormon letter to a ces director book of mormon. These book of mormon verses should match the inspired jst version instead of the incorrect kjv version that joseph later fixed. Of these, two refer to near eastern weapons of the early sixth century b. However, the sword of ammon, as we shall see, was designed much differently. Although nephi mentions taking the sword of laban and making others like it 2 nephi 5. The book of mormon bom was first published in palmyra, new york, in 1830, its title page giving the name joseph smith, jun.
Some people laughed at the notion of a steel sword in jerusalem in 600 bc. The practical use of metals seems to have been limited to small groups of people and perhaps to certain time periods. Evidence supporting the steel sword of laban in the book of. The lamanites native americans had an innumerable army that was armed with swords and cimeters. Most surviving swords from this time period in the ancient near east were made out of iron or bronze, so this sword, made out of steel, is a close match to the sword of laban described in the book of mormon. Horses in america and book of mormon recovery from mormonism. Apr 14, 2019 steel swords in jerusalem in 600 bce in the book of mormon have thus been vindicated. In the book of first nephi, chapters three and four, laban is described as a notable citizen of jerusalem who commanded great wealth and many servants. And it came to pass that shule was angry with his brother. Brent merrill, swords in the book of mormon, in warfare in the book of mormon, ed.
Steel swords, elephants and horses in the book of mormon. Labans sword had a hilt of pure gold, a blade of the most precious steel, and exhibited exceedingly fine workmanship 1. Just another of the many swords that are mentioned in the book of mormon at a time and place where swords did not exist. No one believes that steel was available to laban or anyone else in 592 b. The book of mormon mentions a steel sword owned by a military leader named laban in jerusalem near 600 b. Steel is mentioned only five times in the book of mormon, once in the book of ether 7. Mesoamerican swords and cimeters in the book of mormon, presented at the 2016 fairmormon conference, august 4, 2016.
Metals, weapons, and the book of mormon lightplanet. Contrary to the accounts in the book of mormon, not a single steel sword. And i beheld his sword, and i drew it forth from the sheath thereof. The book of mormon describes vast battles, with military forces dwarfing those of the roman empire the roman military maxed out around 350,000 soldiers involving the heavy use of metallurgy. I found and downloaded the 1830 bom, which apparently installed successfully. Feb 20, 2006 critics of the book of mormon have long pointed to nephis bow of steel from verse 18 as a clear anachronism, as carbonized steel did not yet exist at that time. William whalen, the latterday saints in the modern world 1964, 48. Aug 12, 2016 in studying the book of mormon, roper has found references to steel swords among the jaredites and nephites up to jacobs grandson, jarom. There is no mention of steel swords after that, roper said. Mesoamerican macuahuitl is references to metal swords and to nephi. Laban had a steel sword long before steel came into use. Recently, another gold book was found in iran dating from around the sixth century bc. Jan 23, 2018 before archaeologists discovered the long steel sword in jericho, the description of the sword of laban in the book of mormon may have seemed too fantastic to be true.
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