FairMormon Answers Wiki Table of Contents
Anachronisms claimed to exist in the Book of Mormon
Summary: "Anachronism" = out of time; something which is not in its proper historical context. It is claimed that a number of items or concepts in the Book of Mormon are not consistent with what is known about ancient American geography, history, or anthropology. These "errors" used as evidence that the Book of Mormon is a 19th century work rather than an ancient record.
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: Translated documents (which the Book of Mormon claims to be) have many potential sources of anachronism. When trying to decide if something is a true anachronism, and when making judgments about the Book of Mormon's truth based on an assessment of anachronisms, we must take all these factors into account. Critics rarely do so.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: Among the supposed Book of Mormon anachronisms is the mention of “bees” (Ether 2:3)...It should be noted firstly that the Book of Mormon's use of the term "bees" occurs in an Old World (Jaredite) setting, it is never used in connection with the New World.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: Elephants are only present in Jaredite times in the Book of Mormon. Both mammoths and gomphotheres are elephant-like creatures that are plausible candidates which may have lived up until Jaredite times.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: Some have claimed that certain doctrinal concepts are too foreign to the worldview of the Book of Mormon's claimed host population that they may be anachronistic. These articles examine these claims from an apologetic perspective.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: The geographical setting of the Book of Mormon has been the subject of serious study and casual speculation since before the book was first published. The Church has been
neutral when it comes to issues relating to Book of Mormon geography, as is FairMormon. The articles linked below will describe the various theories and examine the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Summary: Some plants or fibers mentioned in the Book of Mormon are not known to exist in the New World. Is this evidence that Joseph fabricated the text based upon his own cultural background? Not at all: None of the Book of Mormon's plant species causes a problem — Spanish conquerors described pre-Columbian products in exactly the terms used by the Book of Mormon. Barley, silkworms, and grapes were known. One of the terms unknown to Joseph's day (the Akkadian
sheum) is impressive evidence for the Book of Mormon's antiquity.
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Jump to Subtopic:
Notes