Fake Book of Mormon Geography -- holes in the script

[Chap]

I am intrigued by this passage in particular:

2 Nephi 5 wrote:

15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.

I have to say that, given that there seem to be no signs in Nephi's education of his having been trained in any of the specialist craft skills referred to here - building, carpentry, blacksmithing, copper smithing, steelmaking, goldsmithing and silversmithing, steelmaking and cutlery, and it appears mining and ore smelting - each of which would have required an apprenticeship of several years to a skilled craftsman to master, his claim to have taught his people these skills is jaw-droppingly implausible.

Oh, wait, maybe the Liahona gave him access to a whole series of divinely produced 'how-to' videos on Youtube? Yes, that must be it.

[Rivendale]

So what happened to those missing pages?

I suppose they could have gone into the fireplace but why? Did someone want to make a do over, a new start?

There is no telling for sure what became of the Lost 116 pages (Wikipedia). It's not outside the realm of possibility, the entire manuscript or a part thereof may surface someday, having been stored up and long forgotten in someone's attic or between old book covers. Wouldn't that be Mormonism's worst nightmare!

There is no question or doubt in my mind that the original manuscript recorded a number for the days of voyage. Absolutely none! I would love to get my hand's on that manuscript. Oh the damage that could be done to Mormonism and it would be so delicious watching Mormons squirm like worms just as they did with the lost papyrus for the Book of Abraham.

See also Lucy Harris (Wikipedia)

Mark Hoffman sure thought resurrecting the 116 pages would be a nightmare.

[Shulem]

10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses.

Beside the religious rites and performances prescribed by Mosaic law, the natural business of love and marriage would also apply. Here are the families and possible combinations:

1. Nephi's family
2. Sam's family
3. Zoram's family
4. Lehi's sons Jacob & Joseph
5. Lehi's daughters
5. Anyone else (from Laman & Lemuel or Ishmael's family)

Mosaic law allows cousins to marry but NOT brother and sister. Therefore, any younger sibling of any family is welcome to take a partner from another family and marry. Bear in mind, the new Nephite civilization seems to be a cousin-love-fest, for sure. Zoram's children would have to pair off with Lehi's grandchildren or anyone having left Laman & Lemuel or Ishmael. These are things that must be taken into consideration. Then, there is the natural order of falling in love and selecting which partner is right, or was marriage assigned by Nephi, their new cult leader? This topic itself along with the religious requirements of the Law of Moses may deserve special attention in and of itself.

And we can talk about sex! (To say nothing of Moses's silly 7 day menstruations laws!)

It's a wonder how the Nephites got anything done!



Welcome to Mormon Discussions! We will take the Book of Mormon and turn it upside down once and for all.

[Shulem]

I have to say that, given that there seem to be no signs in Nephi's education of his having been trained in any of the specialist craft skills referred to here - building, carpentry, blacksmithing, copper smithing, steelmaking, goldsmithing and silversmithing, steelmaking and cutlery, and it appears mining and ore smelting - each of which would have required an apprenticeship of several years to a skilled craftsman to master, his claim to have taught his people these skills is jaw-droppingly implausible.

Oh, wait, maybe the Liahona gave him access to a whole series of divinely produced 'how-to' videos on Youtube? Yes, that must be it.

Indeed, and you are welcome to chime in and say or add whatever you want in this thread. I too, will be touching upon the matters you addressed above. The whole thing is a giant fabrication on Smith's part wherein his story is really just a story and can't be applied to the real world -- in real terms. And don't get me started on the Jaredite barges! I'll take Jonah and the whale any day over that whale of a tale! Jaredite barges, my ass.

[Shulem]

10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses.

The above statement is very comprehensive and it would certainly cover purification rites and rituals of Niddah detailed in the book of Leviticus, an important book of the law, referencing particularly chapter 15, all about menstruation. I see no need to discuss those details or in asking Moses how important that particular aspects of his law was -- seeing he might stone me for just asking. So, we will just have to take Moses at his word, It's the Law. You will obey!

So, we have:

1. Mrs. Nephi
2. Mrs. Sam
3. Mrs. Zoram
4. Nephi's sisters
5. Pubescent daughters
6. Any Lamanite women
7. Any daughters of Ishmael


Now, I think everyone will agree that feminine hygiene while living in the wild and during rugged conditions is very difficult for any woman to maintain. My hat is off to the women! Yeah women!

But seriously, how did they prosper in Nephi's camp and live the law of Moses at the same time? I can think of a lot of problems that would arise in not just maintaining good hygiene but in keeping the rituals prescribed by Moses, the statutes and commandments in all things according that law. So, in order to get some answers, I'd like to invite elder Dallin H. Oaks to speak with us today and to describe the conditions in how this newly organized band of Nephites practiced the feminine purification laws and rites under the Law of Moses. Elder Oaks will now address us:

Well, you see, it starts out with having good feminine hygiene products . . . .

[Shulem]

Well, you see, the women in the camp had to follow the rules and maintain proper discipline. Each sister had to take her turn for 7 days until the purification process was complete and then repeat that all over again -- every month, just like clockwork . . . .

[Shulem]

Well, the sister was unclean for 7 days and had to separate in order to complete the purification ritual. When unclean, the sister would avoid contact with others or they too would become unclean. It was also a period of chastity and sacrifice for the men. So, it seems there was always unclean sisters outside the camp who were abiding the ritual and thus not able to attend to their regular duties of building their new estate. Hence, others had to work double and chip in when the sisters were under that affair.

[Shulem]

Well, you can clearly see, it was a miracle that anything got done under those extraordinary circumstances of having to strictly live the law of Moses. The Nephites managed to build their city and even a temple to glorify the Lord who brought them safely across the ocean, how ever long they sailed it doesn't say, albeit they prospered under Nephi's management. I bear testimony that the Book of Mormon is true in spite of all the things that suggest otherwise.

So there you have it. President Oaks testifies that Nephite women lived the law of purification under the law of Moses. I doubt very much that the Lamanite women did! But the Nephites, they were righteous and their women were kept under wraps to obey Nephi in all things.

That's the story. If you can believe it.

[Shulem]

To suggest that women lived the law of Moses for 7 days of the week with restrictions placed upon them and also at the same time continue as viable and productive members of their community while in SURVIVAL MODE away from all civilization, is totally preposterous.

There is no way that the women of Nephi lived that law. No way! It did not happen. It could not have happened. Thus the overreaching statement made by Smith that these Nephites lived the law of Moses in every respect, went right over Smith's head.

[Shulem]

***ATTENTION READERS***

Please feel free to continue reading about the temple Nephi built but you may want to check out a thread up in the Celestial Forum that covers this in more detail and in a kinder way. Or feel free to read this thread through but do check out the one in the Celestial forum because the exposition on that subject therein is exemplary.

Celestial Link:

“I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon”

16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

Smith's Family Robinson story Book of Mormon now takes a turn for the worst. Here we have Nephi and his followers living in survival mode when their main and only concern should be keeping themselves alive. Food, shelter, clothing, medicine! The idea of building a temple after the manner of Solomon is entirely JOSEPSH SMITH'S fictionalized idea that he invented and incorporated into his story to appear romantic and authentic. Blood, sweat, and tears, into a building made with hands just so one can worship God when their very lives should be spent in building homesteads and producing farms and crops -- here we are concerned with a temple after the manner of Solomon's which was built under the auspices of a vast work force and with the aid and wealth of a nation state. Nothing could be further from a historical truth in claiming a Nephite band living out of the jungles and wilderness built a temple after the manner of Solomon's.

This is going to get much, much worse as we examine the claim to have built such a temple.