What jumps out at you in the verse below? I'll clue you in to what I'm thinking and highlight the word. Ask yourself, is that word appropriate in the Book of Mormon considering Alma is a descendant of the Jews who is long removed from navies and ships of the old world? Nephi never referred to the ship that he built and sailed in that fashion. Ship gender was not expressed during Lehi's voyage. But we seem to have a slip on ole Joe's part as he incorporates modern thinking into fictitious nautical storytelling of the Book of Mormon.
Alma 63:8 wrote:And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither SHE did go we know not.
Please allow me to impress you further and reveal more about the hidden innards of the Book of Mormon that secretly reveals Joseph Smith was the true author. Do I have your attention? The truth is that the character Mormon didn't know anymore about the sea than Joseph Smith. How so? Well, the character of Mormon in the Book of Mormon was Joseph Smith playing that part and pretending to fill that role. Mormon was Joseph Smith!
Joseph Smith strikes again!! Now that’s sailor talk, mind you:
Mormon 5:18 wrote:But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer HER; and even as SHE is, so are they.
I don't know that this is appropriate language of a people descended from the Jews and being far removed from them for hundreds of years. Now, let's look at Late War and see what it says:
- "Sailed towards the island of Britain, and went nigh unto it, and captured numbers of the vessels of the people of Britain, in their own waters ; after which she returned in safety to the land of Columbia."
- "The shadow of hope passed over her as a dream; and most reluctantly was she compelled to strike the Eon's red cross to the Eagle of Columbia:"
- "After this Isaac caused a burning coal to be placed in the Guerriere, that she might be consumed, and the flames thereof mounted towards the heavens."
- "And in process of time, she fell upon one of the ships of Britain, called the Alert, and made spoil thereof to the people of Columbia."
- "Now the ship of Britain was mightier than the ship of Columbia j and she was called the Frolic, and the captain's name was Whinyeates."
- "And she was commanded by a valiant captain, whose name was Carden, and the name of the ship was the Macedonian."
- "And on the same day she met one of the strong ships of Columbia, the name of the captain whereof was Decatur, and the vessel was called the United States."
Etc, you get my point. What do you think Doc? Should Joe have been calling a ship a "she" in his Book of Mormon or was that a Freudian slip on his part?
Can anyone comment on this?
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote: ↑Fri Jan 28, 2022 10:32 pmMan, Shulem. You’re like a bloodhound zeroing in on the trail. Great job. That’s another HUGE tell.
- Doc
Philo Sofee wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 1:55 pmThat is remarkable! All those times through the Book of Mormon and I NEVER saw this "She" for a ship! Duuuuuude. Your eye for detail is seriously impressive! Thanks for sharing!
Seriously though, I posited that the feminine gender for ships in ancient Israel is not appropriate to the text. I could be wrong and am willing to be corrected. I know that in ancient times ships sometimes had gender assigned to them via a goddess to provide protection but Israel is a different situation because of monotheism coupled with a patriarchal society.