FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Book of Mormon/Names
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Criticism
Critics claim some Book of Mormon names are used improperly or in an inappropriate context. Examples include:
- using "Alma" as a man's name, rather than a woman's name
Source(s) of the Criticism
- "That Man Alma," Utah Evangel 33:3 (April 1986): 2.
- Walter Martin, The Maze of Mormonism (Santa Ana, California: Vision House, 1978), 327.
- Robert McKay, "A Mormon Name," Utah Evangel 31:8 (August 1984): 4.
- John L. Smith, editorial comment on Robert McKay, "A Mormon Name," Utah Evangel 31:8 (August 1984): 4.
Response
Alma
Despite claims into the 1980s by anti-Mormon critics, the name "Alma" has been known since the 1960s as a male Hebrew name. It occurs in contexts from 2200 B.C. to the second century B.C.[1]
Conclusion
A summary of the argument against the criticism.
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Book of Mormon/Names
FAIR web site
- FAIR Topical Guide:
External links
- General treatments
- John A. Tvedtnes, "What's in a Name? A Look at the Book of Mormon Onomasticon (Review of I Know Thee by Name: Hebrew Roots of Lehi-ite Non-Biblical Names in the Book of Mormon)," FARMS Review of Books 8/2 (1996): 34–42. off-site
- Gordon C. Thomasson, "'What's in a Name? Book of Mormon Language, Names, and [Metonymic] Naming'," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 3/1 (1994). [1–27] link
- Stephen D. Ricks and John A. Tvedtnes, "The Hebrew Origin of Some Book of Mormon Place Names," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 6/2 (1997). [255–259] link
- Paul Y. Hoskisson, "What's in a Name?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 7/1 (1998). [78–] link
- Alma
- Terrence L. Szink, "New Light: Further Evidence of a Semitic Alma," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/1 (1999). [70–70] link
- "John A. Tvedtnes, John Gee, Matthew Roper", "Book of Mormon Names Attested in Ancient Hebrew Inscriptions," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [40–51] link
- Aha
- Anonymous, "'Out of the Dust: Did the 'Last Jaredite,' Coriantumr, Leave Descendants?'," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 8/2 (1999). link
- Lehi and Sariah
- John Gee, "A Note on the Name Nephi," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 1/1 (1992). [189–191] link
- Anonymous, "Seeking Agreement on the Meaning of Book of Mormon Names," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [28–29] link
- Paul Y. Hoskisson, "Lehi and Sariah," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [30–31] link
- Jeffrey R. Chadwick, "The Names Lehi and Sariah—Language and Meaning," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [32–34] link
- Dana M. Pike, "Response to Paul Hoskisson's 'Lehi and Sariah'," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [35–36] link
- John A. Tvedtnes, "Lehi and Sariah Comments," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [37–37] link
- Paul Y. Hoskisson, "Response to the Comments," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/1 (2000). [38–39] link
- Nephi
- John Gee, "A Note on the Name Nephi," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 1/1 (1992). [189–191] link
- Paul Y. Hoskisson, "What's in a Name?," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/2 (2000). [70–71] link
Printed material
- Printed resources whose text is not available online
Matthew Roper, "Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon" FAIR link