Question: Was the Book of Mormon description of the Liahona derived from Gilbert Hunt's ''The Late War''?

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Question: Was the Book of Mormon description of the Liahona derived from Gilbert Hunt's The Late War?

Critics' comparison: Both books are said to describe a ball shaped object made of brass of "curious" workmanship[1]

Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, ""A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/
  • Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 16:10: a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles
  • The Late War 50:24: made partly of brass ... with curious works, like unto a clock; and as it were a large ball.

One critic has interpreted this to mean that both books describe "Objects made 'partly of brass and partly of iron, and were cunningly contrived with curious works, like unto a clock; and as it were a large ball.'"[2]

1 Nephi 16:10 talks of a "round ball of curious workmanship made of fine brass" while The Late War 50:27 talks of "mighty evil things" called "torpedoes" like a "large ball" made "partly of brass" with "curious works" used for blowing up ships

1 Nephi 16:10

10 And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness.

The Late War Chapter 50 (p. 195) off-site

27 Yea, these are mighty evil things, and they are called torpedoes, which may be said to signify sleeping devils; which come, as a thief in the night, to destroy the servants of the king; and were contrived by that arch fiend, whose name was Fulton.

28 Now these wonderful torpedoes were made partly of brass and partly of iron, and were cunningly contrived with curious works, like unto a clock; and as it were a large ball.

29 And, after they were prepared, and a great quantity of the black dust put therein, they were let down into the water, night unto the strong ships, with intent to destroy them;

Gilbert Hunt's The Late War page 195


Notes

  1. Chris Johnson, Duane Johnson, "A Comparison of The Book of Mormon and The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain," http://wordtreefoundation.github.io/thelatewar/
  2. Jeremy Runnells, "Letter to a CES Director" (October 2014 revision)