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Book of Mormon/Chariots
Criticism
Critics claim that the Book of Mormon mentions "chariots" which they claim must be a "wheeled vehicle." They also claim that no draft animals existed to pull such chariots.
Source(s) of the Criticism
- Simon Southerton, Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA, and the Mormon Church (Salt Lake City, UT: Signature Books, 2004) 172. ( Index of claims )
Response
It should be remembered that chariots do not play a major role in the Book of Mormon. They are mentioned in the following contexts:
Quotations from Old World scriptures
- 2 Nephi 12꞉7 - citation from Isaiah
- 2 Nephi 15꞉28 - citation from Isaiah
Apocalyptic teachings in Old World style
- 3 Nephi 21꞉14 - Jesus speaks of "horses and chariots" in a symbolic and apocalyptic address
Used in conjunction with horses
- Alma 18꞉9 - Ammon feeds the Lamanite king's horses, which are associated with his "chariots."
- Alma 20꞉6 - Lamanite king uses horses and chariot for visit to neighboring kingdom
- 3 Nephi 3꞉22 - Nephites "had taken their horses, and their chariots" to a central fortified area for protection against robbers
(It should be noted that we are not told if these chariots served a purpose in riding, or if they were for transport of goods, or if they had a ceremonial function. One assumes some sort of practicality, since they brought chariots to the siege.)
Conspicuously absent is any role of the chariot in the many journeys recorded in the Book of Mormon. Nor do horses or chariots play any role in the many Nephite wars; this is in stark contrast to the Biblical account, in which the chariots of Egypt, Babylon, and the Philistines are feared super-weapons upon the plains of Israel.
Wrote Mesoamerican expert Brant Gardner:
Endnotes
None
Further reading
FAIR wiki articles
Book of Mormon/Chariots
FAIR web site
- FairMormon Topical Guide: Animals in Book of Mormon FairMormon link
- FairMormon Topical Guide: Horses in the Book of Mormon FairMormon link
External links
- FARMS: animals and plants research off-site
- FARMS: horses in the Book of Mormon [off-site
- William J. Hamblin, "Basic Methodological Problems with the Anti-Mormon Approach to the Geography and Archaeology of the Book of Mormon," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 2/1. (1993). [161–197] link
- John L. Sorenson, "Viva Zapato! Hurray for the Shoe! (Review of "Does the Shoe Fit? A Critique of the Limited Tehuantepec Geography" by Deanne G. Matheny)," FARMS Review of Books 6/1 (1994): 297–361. off-site
Printed material
- John L. Sorenson, An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1996 [1985]),288–299.
- John L. Sorenson, "Animals in the Book of Mormon: An Annotated Bibliography" (Provo, Utah: FARMS, 1992).
- John L. Sorenson, "Once More: The Horse," in John W. Welch, Reexploring the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City, Utah : Deseret Book Co. ; Provo, Utah : Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1992), 98–100. ISBN 0875796001.[1]