Metal and the Book of Mormon

Many Christians refuse to even consider the Book of Mormon because of what they consider, a lack of archeological evidence to support it's setting and events. This is also what is know as a presumed problem of "historicity." The Book of Mormon's mention of steel, for instance, is considered an example of one of its major flaws. However, I think this minor bit of trivia will prove to be one of the Book of Mormons more fascinating evidences.

Nephi was skilled in metalwork. He the first scenes of the Book of Mormon, Nephi is able to describe Laban's sword with precise detail. It had a hilt of pure gold and the blade was of the "most most precious steel." Now why would Nephi think plain old steel would be precious in comparison to the fine workmanship of the sword's pure gold handle. That's because he was living in 600BC when steel was exceedingly rare (google Vered Jericho Sword). Had it been Joseph Smith writing this account, the gold digger that he was, I imagine that he would have put more emphasis on the ornate solid gold handle and not the blade. Also, the term "most precious steel" suggests a knowledge that there are different grades or qualities of steel. Nephi, who seemed to have a passion for metallurgy, immediately appreciated the true value of Laban's ancient steel sword (1 Ne. 4: 9).

The next reference to steel in the Book of Mormon is in reference to Nephi's bow. Lehi and his family were traveling form the Valley of Lemuel (Wadi Tayyib al-Ism) across the Arabian Peninsula to the Land of Bountiful (Wadi Sayq, Oman). Nephi simply says that he broke his bow and they couldn't hunt food and were starving. Well, there is an important detail about the manner of of his bow's demise which Nephi said was made of "fine steel." While Nephi says his brother's bow's had lost their spring, Nephi says his steel bow simply broke. This is perfect science. While steel is harder than iron, it would be less likely to lose its spring but would have been more brittle and would be more vulnerable to breakage (1 Ne. 16: 18-23) (articles on steel bows of ancient India).

Finally, when he was commanded to build the ship to cross the ocean he immediately asks "where do I find the ore." It seems Nephi was well aware of what to do with the ore and how to make metal tools. I would also point out that Nephi says he obtained metal ore "out of a rock". This is again, perfect science. Iron in particular was obtained by heating/smelting ore (hematite or magnetite) containing rocks. Only very rarely was iron obtained from nickle-iron metorites:

1 Ne. 17: 9-10, 16 9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me? 10 And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools. . . .16 And it came to pass that I did make tools of the ore which I did molten out of the rock.

What is more amazing is that LDS researchers have gone to Wadi Sayq, Oman and the nearby Dhofar mountains; the candidate site for the Land of Bountiful and found rich iron-ore containing deposites which were previously unknown to the government of Oman. But, smelting iron requires temperatures much hotter than a simple wood-buring fire can achieve. Iron smelting requires a blast furnace. That is why Nephi's mention that he made a bellows to "blow the fire" is spot on.

1 Ne. 17: 11 11 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make a bellows wherewith to blow the fire, of the skins of beasts; and after I had made a bellows, that I might have wherewith to blow the fire, I did smite two stones together that I might make fire.

Now the temperatures required to smelt iron from hematite or magnetite exceed that which can be achieved by the simple bellows Nephi describes. However, it turns out the iron mineral native to this region near Salalah, Oman is a kind of iron carbonate called limonite and ferroan dolomite. Researchers have demonstrated that sponge iron can be smelted from this ore at much lower temperatures than is required for smelting hematite or magnitite. Using this particular iron ore, Nephi would have been able to fashion iron tools using a simple bellows to achieve the required smelting temperature.

Upon arriving in the Americas, Nephi separated from Laman and Lemuel and established the city of Nephi. Just as Nephi was taught in all the learning of his father, he taught his children in all his learning. Nephi taught his children to work with metal and wood. Nephi presumably developed his skills as a blacksmith while living in Jerusalem. But Nephi learned about woodworking from God after being shown how to build the ship which brought them to America.

2 Ne. 5: 15 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.

The Book of Mormon: The Most Correct Book

When I ask my devoted and faithful Christian friends to characterize their faith and beliefs in comparison to the beliefs of others, they invariably give 2 answers: (1) I don't believe 100%, everything that my preacher or religion teaches, (2) I believe the Bible 100% while everyone else picks and chooses what they want to believe from the Bible.

Those responses illustrated a very significant weakness of the Bible. Through ages of mis-translation and mis-interpretation, the Bible has become rather ambiguous. Consequently, it can too easily be mis-interpreted to justify just about any belief. That is exactly why the Bible (in its current form), has to be given the responsible for so many denominations and non-denominations who claim to believe in the Bible 100%.

Now, please do not be angry with me for being critical of the Bible. I love the Bible. It is the word of God as far as it has been translated correctly. I have felt the power and beauty in its words and teachings. I will be ever grateful that the Bible has been preserved throughout these many centuries. That said, many would argue that it's the Bible that is perfect, and the people who are imperfect. But those same people who argue for the unambiguity of the Bible are the same ones who think they follow the Bible 100% while everyone else is a picker and chooser. All, I know is I have met hundreds of devoted, faithful Christians of many religions and faiths who are all striving to live 100% of the teachings of the Bible and who all have very different beliefs.

Therefore, the Bible really has failed in it's stated purpose to bring all believers to "a unity of the faith." The ambiguity of the Bible is exactly why the Book of Mormon as well as modern and personal revelation is so important. Joseph Smith considered the Book of Mormon "the most correct book" of any book on Earth. I have pondered for many years about what Joseph Smith meant when he said that for many years. And now I think I have finally realized (in part) what aspect of the Book of Mormon qualifies it as "the most correct."

The Book of Mormon is the most correct because it is doctrinally unambiguous. Many critics criticize the book over its historicity but they miss the boat when it comes to the purpose of the book. The greatness of the Book of Mormon is that is so very difficult to misunderstand and misinterpret. The Book of Mormon itself says that together, the Book of Mormon and Bible: "shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord" (2 Ne. 3: 12, ).

The Bible itself contains the a powerful prophecy of the Book of Mormon recorded in Ezekiel 37:

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these? Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore (Ezek. 37: 16-28).

What is this ambiguous prophecy saying? It is saying that in the Last Days, the 12 tribes of Israel would be restored. The Northern 10 tribes had been conquered and scattered by Assyria while the remaining Southern Kingdom of Judah and its 2 tribes had been conquered and brought into captivity into Babylon. Ezekiel says that at some future date the lost tribe of Ephraim and the tribe of Judah (both leading tribes) would be reunited under one doctrine, one covenant, one temple, and one God.

Is Ezekiel simply talking about the return of the Jews from Babylon and the building of the temple of Zerubbabel and later Herod? No, because the Samaritans (remnant of Ephraim), had their own temple (Mount Gerizim) and religion. And the Herod's temple did not last. It was destroyed by the Romans. Therefore, this prophecy must have to apply to some future date when all the tribes of Israel and God's temple will be restored. That restoration will be accompanied by the coming together of two sacred records called "the stick of Joseph" and "the stick of Judah." The stick of Judah is the Bible and the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon.

The Book of Mormon is the word of God. The Book of Mormon is the stick of Joseph in the hand of Ephraim. God has given us this sacred record as prophesied in the Bible to finally establish peace and bring all true believers to Christ so that, at last, there will be "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Eph. 4: 5). The saying goes, "To be great is to be misunderstood." I disagree. I think its far greater to both understand and to be understood. The Book of Mormon is therefore both the greatest and most correct book God has ever caused to be written.

Racist Ban to Save a Racist World

I, like most other LDS members, have been asked on many occasions to explain why the LDS church denied blacks the priesthood until 1978. During a recent debate between Rev. Sharpton and Christopher Hitchens, Hitchens used this issue as one of many examples where man has acted unjustly in the name of religion. Both this and the recent PBS Documentary entitled "The Moromons" by Helen Whitney which focused a chapter of her documentary on this issue, got me to examine how best to answer this concern when it arises.

As I have come to understand it, the official church doctrine on this issue is something akin to Adam's response in the Book of Moses when an angel asks him why he offers sacrifice unto the Lord. Adam responds, "I know not save the Lord commanded me." I believe that Joseph Smith and later president's of the church are prophets of God and that God revealed his will concerning this issue. But, the reason God chose to deny blacks the priesthood for a time, hasn't been revealed. "Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good;" (D&C 56: 4-6).

Now, some people consider this response a non-answer or an attempt to avoid the question. Others feel the idea that God would command that a certain group would be blessed and another not, based on race, as blasphemy. The Bible clearly teaches that, "God is no respecter of persons:" (Acts 10: 34). However, the denying of certain blessings to a certain group by Christ is not unprecedented. The Woman of Canaan asked Christ to cast a devil out of her daughter to which Christ responded, "It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs" (Matt. 15: 26). Christ did cast out the devil according the woman's faith, but the verse does seem to suggest a preferential attitude towards the Jews. Only after Christ's resurrection, were his Apostles commanded to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," (Matt. 28: 19).

So, If this kind of thing is not unprecedented. So, we are left to speculate on why Christ would institute a temporary policy of racism. Or maybe I am interpreting the "dog" comment inaccurately. In addition, if God is an unchangeable God, why didn't he preach to the gentiles and other nations from the beginning? Or, if you accept that God had his reasons during his ministry to focus on the Jews but that Christ's church was charged to "teach all nations" and therefore the true church of Christ should carry on that commission; how do you explain that? Paul, who had embraced Christ's commission, taught, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3: 28).

Well, first off, we know that Christ and his church were not racist. Evidence for this is his interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well. She was dumbfounded that a Jewish male would speak to her at all (John 4: 7, 9). In addition to portraying Christ's lack of prejudice, this verse illustrates just how racist the Jews were as a whole. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to suggest that certain doctrines existed to make allowance for this.

The policy to exclude blacks from the church was a racist policy by definition. It is an undeniable fact. But, that leads us to then ask, was it necessary? And did God command it? Well, first off, the term "all nations" does not mean the whole world. In this context, "all nations," is meant to refer to the Gentile nations only. The Apostles are recorded to have gone to countries with long-established Jewish populations where they taught in the synagogues and focused on the Jews and Gentiles in those communities.

But what of the Ethiopian man who was taught and baptized by Philip (Acts 8: 27)? Ethiopia is Africa. Well, according to documented ancient Ethiopian history, Jews had been living there since at least 800 BC. The Ethiopian eunuch was not a proselyte, but was a natural born Jew who, according to the verse, came to Jerusalem "to worship" in the Temple. And Gentiles were not allowed to worship in the temple (Acts 21: 26-30).

Now, how does this relate at all the early LDS church? How could the church defend a clearly racist and bigoted policy? The Mormon Church was itself the focus of great injustice, and bigotry that still exists today. The Mormons were against slavery from the beginning and abolitionist beliefs were a major reason the Church was persecuted which ultimately let to Governor Boggs of Missouri signed an extermination order , which was not rescinded until 1976. Hard to believe, but it was technically legal to kill a Mormon in the state of Missouri from 1836 to 1976. Mormon's were greatly persecuted for their views against slavery, which they sacrificed their property, and lives to defend. Mormons never compromised on their abolishionist beliefs.

The Book of Mormon itself teaches equality, "For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile" (2 Ne. 26: 33). So, it the Book of Mormon clearly teaches equality, then why would the LDS Church have a racist policy? While many Evangelical Christian churches are segregated by race, Mormon churches, due to geographical delineation, are some of the most diverse and integrated Christian congregations in the world.

But, all that still doesn't get us to a satisfactory answer. God is not racist and the LDS church had a racist policy for a 150 years; why? Well, I think the story of the Samaritan woman at the well is the key. God gave the LDS church a racist policy because we were and are racist. The whole nation was. Because of man's overwelming natural tendancy toward bigotry, Christ's restored church just narrowly escaped annihilation. Had God's church started preaching to blacks from the start, preaching equality, and having integrated church meetings; the church would have never survived.

Is there a Biblical precedent for God asking someone to lie for God's purposes? Yes! Abraham was commanded to not tell pharoah that Sarah was his wife, but instead say that she was his sister. And, Peter was specifically told that he should deny that he knew Christ 3 times so that he would be able to continue to lead Christ's newly-established church. Peter wept bitterly not because of unfaithfulness, but rather, because he knew he could not prevent the death of the Savior. Had Peter, who had just prior, lifted a sword in defense of Jesus died with Jesus, the keys of the priesthood would have died with him.

There is a story I heard from a past mission president in New Zealand which illustrates another side of this point. One of the early LDS missionaries to New Zealand was a man named Matthew Cowley. He did not have very much success with the Europeans so he started teaching the humble Maori Natives. Well, he was incredibly successful. But now when the missionaries go to teach the Europeans and other non-Maori, they get the reply, "we think the work you are doing with the Maori is great, but we have our church." It's as if the Pakeha (non-Maori) see the LDS church simply as a Maori church and their learned bigotry prevents them from considering the LDS church at all.

So, what does this have to do with the LDS church? Well, had the missionaries gone to Africa, or to convert slaves here in the US, instead of going to Europe for converts, they would have been astonishingly successful. The faithful, spiritual, and humble US slaves, or people of Africa and other 3rd-world nations would have readily considered and received the true church. However, had that been the case, my ancestors, who were racists because they were taught to be racist, may never have considered the LDS church at all.

So, there seems to be a higher wisdom and order in the way the gospel goes forth to all nations first, and then to every kindred, nation, tongue and people later, "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last" (Luke 13: 30, 1 Ne. 13: 42). The reason for this racist commandment that the gospel should be preached to certain groups first and other groups later is not because God is racist or God's kingdom is racist. Rather, it is because the people God is trying to save are racist.

So, it was a racist policy for a very imperfect and racist world which was prophesied by Isaiah who said, "Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me" (Isa. 49: 22-23).

It turns out that both the Bible and Book of Mormon present a very prejudiced, yet humbling picture of how the God's kingdom would be established in the Last Days. The descendants of Abraham and the house of Israel, namely the 12 tribes, are described as God's chosen people who are entitled to eternal blessings in the afterlife through Christ. Unfortunately, because of disobedience, the nation and people of Israel were scattered among all nations of the Earth. Much of the blood of Israel is among the humble people who live in 3rd-world counties. The Bible teaches that before the restoration and gathering of the 12 tribes, that God's kingdom would go to the Gentiles and then after a fullness of the Gentiles is achieved, the Kingdom would go from the Gentiles to the remnant of the Tribes of Israel (the rightful heirs).

And what about those people who fall through the cracks. Well, that’s why the LDS church focuses on genealogy and does vicarious proxy baptism, marriages, and priesthood ordination on behalf of the dead (1 Cor. 15: 29). Therefore, in the end, there will be no crack for anyone to fall through. Death isn't a crack (1 Cor. 15: 55-56), Christ overcame death. Work for the dead is a large part of that. And in the end, through this marvelous work and and wonder, Isaiah promises that there will finally be an end to prejudice, bigotry, racism. Isaiah promises, "The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, . . . Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim" (Isa. 11: 13).

But, all of that explanation still isn't enough because all these evidences are circumstancial at best. Therefore, a better way would be to actually talk to some of the thousands of blacks of have joined the LDS church since 1978. They're the one's who have personally delt with this question first-hand. I'm sure it seems the existence of any black LDS members defies logic. If this policy was so clearly racist, then why would blacks ever consider joining the church at all? According to those LDS blacks I know, they are LDS because they have received the same answers to prayer, and spiritual witness that I have that Joseph Smith was God's prophet and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. Chruch member learn that once you have received your own answers to these big questions, then you can feel confident to go on in the Mormon direction even if all the minor details haven't been worked out yet on every issue. No, Mormon's do not just blindly follow. We follow in faith because of what we already know to be true.

Civilization and Sabbath

Today in Gospel Essentials our class discussed the importance of the fourth commandment in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work" (Ex 20: 8-10).

As our discussion commenced, I was reminded of a PBS documentary on ancient civilizations. The documentary was making the point that hunter-gatherers could barely obtain enough calories to survive. They had to constantly work to find food or risk starvation. What differentiated hunter-gathers from humans who developed advanced ancient civilizations was the existence and cultivation of a quality staple grain. In Ancient America it was corn. In the Middle East, the cradle of civilization, the staff of life was wheat.

Wheat was so easily planted, grown, harvested, and stored and is so excellent in its balance of nutrients, that for the first time, people had--FREE TIME. And with that free time people could stop worrying about the question, “what am I going to eat for lunch?” Instead, they could start asking questions like, “is this all there is?” “What is the purpose of life?” and “is there life after death?”

I am currently in a medical residency program and, of necessity, am forced to work long hours and Sundays. Oft times, I’ve been up for 30 hours at a time and working for 16 days straight without a day off. And, at times I don’t feel much different from a hunter-gatherer. I feel worn down physically, emotionally, and spiritually. During those times, I find it’s more difficult to be patient and in otherwise “put off the natural man.”

Yesterday, I was able to attend church with my family and partake of the sacrament (the bread and water symbolic of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ). I am able to examine my heart and recommit myself to following the Savior. I was born into the church and have never missed going to church for more than a week ever in my life until lately. But, I don’t think I appreciated the spiritual regeneration I feel though church and participation in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as much as I do now that I haven’t been able to attend church as regularly.


I also would also call your attention to the oft-overlooked second part of the 4th commandment, “Six days shalt thou labour.” I think industry and hard work are also an essential characteristic of Christian living just as resting on the Sabbath Day is. As the adage goes, “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” As Christians we should tirelessly devote and consecrate all of our time, talents, and energies to building our families, community, and the Kingdom of God.

Spirituality vs. Futility

I have several outstanding Christian friends who continually say things like, "I wonder what the purpose of life is," and "I wonder where we go after this life," and "It's so great to ponder about the greatness of God." LDS members also ponder these most important "questions of the soul." However, what sets Mormons apart from other Christians is that we feel that we have clear answers to these questions. So, in response to these comments, I would naturally share the answers I feel I have obtained with regard to those very important questions. However, to my initial surprise; to them, my assertion that I had answers to these qustions seemed heretical and almost offensive.

While discussing this with my wife, she made the insightful observation that, maybe these Christian friends do not expect answers to these questions. The evangelical concept of God is incomprehensible and unknowable to the the human mind. To their mind and purely logical understanding of scripture, God and heavenly things are a mystery (1 Cor. 2: 9). Therefore, spirituality to them seems to be more about contemplating the infininte, the unknowable, and incomprehensible and less about getting answers or assurances. To me; this seems more of an exercize in futility. In contrast, the LDS understanding of spirituality is about actually being filled with Christ's spirit and actually being enabled to obtain answers to these spiritual questions and then living a life which reflects this understanding.

Eph. 3: 18

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ . . . And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: . . . That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.