Book of Mormon Intro - "Principal Ancestors" wording changed

[_karl61]

Sorry to burst your little bubble, but that is what principal ancestor always meant. That among their pedigrees , Lehi was there, and because Lehi carried the covenant promise of Abraham to these people, he was the "principal ancestor" among the millions of their ancestors.

That has always been the meaning. But becasue people are so ignorant about genealogy, they changed it to make it more understandable to the less educated (in matters of genealogy) masses.

What an idiot.

The only thing Lehi carried with him was the murder weapon that killed Laban, he is an accomplice. His son was a fugitive. See the Book of Mormon: the Seer Stones, for futher information.

[_cksalmon]

Sorry to burst your little bubble, but that is what principal ancestor always meant. That among their pedigrees , Lehi was there, and because Lehi carried the covenant promise of Abraham to these people, he was the "principal ancestor" among the millions of their ancestors.

That has always been the meaning. But becasue people are so ignorant about genealogy, they changed it to make it more understandable to the less educated (in matters of genealogy) masses.

Now, wait just a minute, Charity. This issue has come up on FAIR/MADB and the apologetic answer was that "principal" means "most important"--not numerically largest.

But this change completely obliterates that apologetic line of reasoning. "Among the ancestors" doesn't mean, in any sense, "the most important ancestors."

You argue that "principal ancestor" has always meant merely "among the ancestors." And then you go to argue the same apologetic line referenced above. The problem is that "principal ancestor" has completely disappeared from the DoubleDay publication. It's not there, if Scott Lloyd is to be believed. So, the proposal in the DoubleDay edition is much more modest and much less falsifiable than the proposal in the official LDS edition.

It truly boggles the mind that you can seriously suggest that "among the ancestors" represents a dumbing down of the concept of "principal ancestors."

That doesn't even make any sense. It's a less controversial claim, pure and simple. Not an accurate gloss of a difficult concept.

CKS

[_Runtu]

Now, wait just a minute, Charity. This issue has come up on FAIR/MADB and the apologetic answer was that "principal" means "most important"--not numerically largest.

But this change completely obliterates that apologetic line of reasoning. "Among the ancestors" doesn't mean, in any sense, "the most important ancestors."

You argue that "principal ancestor" has always meant merely "among the ancestors." And then you go to argue the same apologetic line referenced above. The problem is that "principal ancestor" has completely disappeared from the DoubleDay publication. It's not there, if Scott Lloyd is to be believed. So, the proposal in the DoubleDay edition is much more modest and much less falsifiable than the proposal in the official LDS edition.

It truly boggles the mind that you can seriously suggest that "among the ancestors" represents a dumbing down of the concept of "principal ancestors."

That doesn't even make any sense. It's a less controversial claim, pure and simple. Not an accurate gloss of a difficult concept.

CKS

Wow, I head to the DMV and miss this whole thread. When did this change happen? And Chris, you're absolutely right. Charity's explanation makes no sense.

[_Blixa]

Ah, MormonDiscussions. Come for the debate, stay for the comedy...

[_Sethbag]

Actually guys, if the Lamanites were only "among" the ancestors of the Indians, that doesn't even mean that they are a part of the ancestry at all. It could just mean that they lived down the street or something. I mean, Chinese people could live "among" a group of Norwegians for fifty years or so and that wouldn't imply that any of them interbred or anything, right?

I vote that the change to "among" is a prelude to denying that the American Indians have any Lamanate ancestry at all.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Sorry to burst your little bubble, but that is what principal ancestor always meant. That among their pedigrees , Lehi was there, and because Lehi carried the covenant promise of Abraham to these people, he was the "principal ancestor" among the millions of their ancestors.

That has always been the meaning. But becasue people are so ignorant about genealogy, they changed it to make it more understandable to the less educated (in matters of genealogy) masses.

Chariddittity strikes again!

"people are so ignorant about genealogy" and mo'pologists are ignorant about archeology.

Edit to add: The lords Modem-piece still has the old intro page:
http://scriptures.LDS.org/en/bm/introduction

and they are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Sorry to burst your little bubble, but that is what principal ancestor always meant. That among their pedigrees , Lehi was there, and because Lehi carried the covenant promise of Abraham to these people, he was the "principal ancestor" among the millions of their ancestors.

That has always been the meaning. But becasue people are so ignorant about genealogy, they changed it to make it more understandable to the less educated (in matters of genealogy) masses.

What an idiot.

Merc said it first and best.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Hmmph, where oh where is charity?

All we hear from her is internet crickets...

[_MishMagnet]

I've got it. When it said they were ancestors it didn't mean DNA-like ancestors but rather spiritual ancestors. Kind of like Jesus is my older brother, but we aren't related even a little bit. Kind of like we were all brothers and sisters at church but we weren't related. Just in spirit.

Man, I have been raised by TBM idiots that had no idea what they were talking about at all. Hill Cumorah was in New York, we were going to be polygamous Gods in the hereafter and Native Americans were Lamanites. No wonder I've become an evil apostate.

[_Mercury]

Sorry to burst your little bubble, but that is what principal ancestor always meant. That among their pedigrees , Lehi was there, and because Lehi carried the covenant promise of Abraham to these people, he was the "principal ancestor" among the millions of their ancestors.

That has always been the meaning. But becasue people are so ignorant about genealogy, they changed it to make it more understandable to the less educated (in matters of genealogy) masses.

Straight out of animal farm.