The origin of the word "Mormon"
Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 4:47 am
According to Joseph Smith, the word "Mormon" comes from the English "More" and the Egyptian "mon" which means "good". Mor-mon means "More Good". Now...
The English language did not exist in its present form until the 15th century. The Nephites were utterly destroyed in the 5th century, and apparently had no contact with the English. In the 5th century, the peoples of Britain did not speak "English" but various Celtic languages, and also the Angles and Saxons were invading and settling parts of England. The word "More" meaning "More" as far as I can tell, is not in any language spoken at the the time Mormon or Moroni would have written on the gold plates.
Also, in the ancient Egyptian language, "mon" did not mean "good". "Mon" is close to the French word for "good" which is "bon" (pronounced "bow'n' with the 'n' a mere nasal sound). In the 5th century, the French would have said bono as did the Latins, for the word "good". It is unlikely that Mormon or Moroni would have had contact with the French.
Joseph Smith's explanation of the origin of the word "Mormon" is simply NOT POSSIBLE!
More likely, the origin of the name Mormon comes from the names of the Anti-Masonick Martyrs of upper New York State in the 1820s: William MORgan and Timothy MONroe. The Book of Mormon was nicknamed "The Anti-Masonick Bible". Oliver Cowdery, was a scribe for William Morgan before he was allegidly kidnapped and killed by Masons upset with his anti-Masonic book. Timothy Monroe was later found drowned, and the Anti-Masonic Party in the area attributed his death also to the Masons.
According to computer Word-Print studies, about 22 per cent of The Book of Mormon was written by Olivery Cowdery. Even more by Sidney Rigdon. A little by Solomon Spaulding. "0" by Joseph Smith. There are unknown parts not yet identified. If I had to guess, I would guess Ethan Smith: author of "A View of the Hebrews" which quotes the same chapters of Isaiah as does Nephi in The Book of Mormon. Ethan Smith was in Palmyra in the years and months that "Moroni" visited Joseph Smith.
The English language did not exist in its present form until the 15th century. The Nephites were utterly destroyed in the 5th century, and apparently had no contact with the English. In the 5th century, the peoples of Britain did not speak "English" but various Celtic languages, and also the Angles and Saxons were invading and settling parts of England. The word "More" meaning "More" as far as I can tell, is not in any language spoken at the the time Mormon or Moroni would have written on the gold plates.
Also, in the ancient Egyptian language, "mon" did not mean "good". "Mon" is close to the French word for "good" which is "bon" (pronounced "bow'n' with the 'n' a mere nasal sound). In the 5th century, the French would have said bono as did the Latins, for the word "good". It is unlikely that Mormon or Moroni would have had contact with the French.
Joseph Smith's explanation of the origin of the word "Mormon" is simply NOT POSSIBLE!
More likely, the origin of the name Mormon comes from the names of the Anti-Masonick Martyrs of upper New York State in the 1820s: William MORgan and Timothy MONroe. The Book of Mormon was nicknamed "The Anti-Masonick Bible". Oliver Cowdery, was a scribe for William Morgan before he was allegidly kidnapped and killed by Masons upset with his anti-Masonic book. Timothy Monroe was later found drowned, and the Anti-Masonic Party in the area attributed his death also to the Masons.
According to computer Word-Print studies, about 22 per cent of The Book of Mormon was written by Olivery Cowdery. Even more by Sidney Rigdon. A little by Solomon Spaulding. "0" by Joseph Smith. There are unknown parts not yet identified. If I had to guess, I would guess Ethan Smith: author of "A View of the Hebrews" which quotes the same chapters of Isaiah as does Nephi in The Book of Mormon. Ethan Smith was in Palmyra in the years and months that "Moroni" visited Joseph Smith.