Alma 19 | |
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2 1 This verse is strikingly similar to parts of a verse from KJV 1 Kings. Compare this verse with "the queen" and "having heard of the fame of Ammon" to 1 Kings 10:1 with "the queen" and "heard of the fame of Solomon". Note that there are only 3 instances of "heard of the fame" in the KJV bible, the verse in 1 Kings, the nearly identical 2 Chronicles 9:1, and Matthew 14:1. | |
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5 Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink. | 5 |
6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness--yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God-- | 6 |
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Epistemology 91 Notice that this faith is about the belief the queen has in what Ammon has said. This has nothing to do with belief or trust in Christ. Ammon hasn’t even taught her about Christ yet. This kind of faith is just as likely to lead someone to believe they have found “The Truth” as taught by the JWs, Scientologists, the Moonies, Islam, etc. The teachings of these religions contradict one another, so they can’t all be true. This kind of faith is also just as likely to be used by con men and other perpetrators to take advantage of the credulous. This kind of faith (credulity in the arm of flesh) is a faulty and harmful epistemology. | |
10 1 It is strange that this chapter's verses 10,26 are both sharing strong similarities to the KJV Matthew 8. Compare verse 10 with "there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites" to Matthew 8:10 with "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel". Note there are only 2 instances of "great faith" in the KJV bible, the verse in Matthew 8 and Luke 7:9, which is a different version of the same story. Next compare verse 26 with "had been sent from the Nephites to torment them" to Matthew 8:29 with "come hither to torment us before the time?" Note that the phrase "to torment" is unique within the KJV bible. Odd indeed that both of these unrelated parallels from Matthew 8 are also found so closely to each other within the Book of Mormon text. 1 Alma 19:9-10
Notice that this faith is about the belief the queen has in what Ammon has said. This has nothing to do with belief or trust in Christ. Ammon hasn’t even taught her about Christ yet. This kind of faith is just as likely to lead someone to believe they have found “The Truth” as taught by the JWs, Scientologists, the Moonies, Islam, etc. The teachings of these religions contradict one another, so they can’t all be true. This kind of faith is also just as likely to be used by con men and other perpetrators to take advantage of the credulous. This kind of faith (credulity in the arm of flesh) is a faulty and harmful epistemology. | |
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13 For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name. Now, when he had said these words, his heart was swollen within him, and he sunk again with joy; and the queen also sunk down, being overpowered by the Spirit. | 13 |
14 Now Ammon seeing the Spirit of the Lord poured out according to his prayers upon the Lamanites, his brethren, who had been the cause of so much mourning among the Nephites, or among all the people of God because of their iniquities and their traditions, he fell upon his knees, and began to pour out his soul in prayer and thanksgiving to God for what he had done for his brethren; and he was also overpowered with joy; and thus they all three had sunk to the earth. | 14 |
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BoMWomen 162 There are only three Book of Mormon women named: Sariah, Abish, and Isabel-the Harlot.
(Biblical women named in the Book of Mormon: Eve, Mary, and Sarah, Abraham’s wife) | |
17 Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people. | Falling in astonishment 171 King Lamoni, his queen, Ammon, and all the servants of the king present fell down at being moved upon by the Spirit. |
18 And they began to assemble themselves together unto the house of the king. And there came a multitude, and to their astonishment they beheld the king, and the queen, and their servants prostrate upon the earth, and they all lay there as though they were dead; and they also saw Ammon, and behold, he was a Nephite. | 18 |
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Anachronism 221 The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword. However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the transition between the Early and the Late Post-Classic, probably developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón, “The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, article from a research journal). The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest. Also, to defend God regarding the problem of evil, apologists often explain that because of moral agency, God may not or does not intercede to protect the innocent. This verse is one of many examples rendering this defense indefensible. | |
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24 And it came to pass that when the multitude beheld that the man had fallen dead, who lifted the sword to slay Ammon, fear came upon them all, and they durst not put forth their hands to touch him or any of those who had fallen; and they began to marvel again among themselves what could be the cause of this great power, or what all these things could mean. | 24 1 Alma 19:22,24
The only pre-Columbian weapon I can find that was similar to a sword was the macuahuitl which was made with a plank of wood similar in shape to a cricket bat with obsidian blades mounted on the edges. It is similar enough to a sword that it is often referred to as the Aztec sword.
However, the macuahuitl does not seem to fit the Book of Mormon time frame. “Some groups of Central Mexico, principally in the transition between the **Early and the Late Post-Classic**, probably developed this weapon” (emphasis added, Dr. Marco Antonio Cervera Obregón, “The macuahuitl: an innovative weapon of the Late Post-Classic in Mesoamerica”, Arms & Armour, Vol.3, Nov. 2, 2006, p. 146, [article from a research journal](http://www.woosterglobalhistory.org/LAcolonial/archive/files/23395812%5F33c717a7fb.pdf)). The Post-Classic period is between 900 CE and the Spanish conquest.
Also, to defend God regarding the problem of evil, apologists often explain that because of moral agency, God may not or does not intercede to protect the innocent. This verse is one of many examples rendering this defense indefensible. |
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26 1 It is strange that this chapter's verses 10,26 are both sharing strong similarities to the KJV Matthew 8. Compare verse 10 with "there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites" to Matthew 8:10 with "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel". Note there are only 2 instances of "[great faith](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?q=%22great+faith%22)" in the KJV bible, the verse in Matthew 8 and Luke 7:9, which is a different version of the same story.
Next compare verse 26 with "had been sent from the Nephites to torment them" to Matthew 8:29 with "come hither to torment us before the time?" Note that the phrase "[to torment](https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/search.php?q=%22to+torment%22)" is unique within the KJV bible. Odd indeed that both of these unrelated parallels from Matthew 8 are also found so closely to each other within the Book of Mormon text. | |
27 And there were some who said that Ammon was sent by the Great Spirit to afflict them because of their iniquities; and that it was the Great Spirit that had always attended the Nephites, who had ever delivered them out of their hands; and they said that it was this Great Spirit who had destroyed so many of their brethren, the Lamanites. | 27 |
28 1 This verse contains strong parallels to 2 separate KJV New Testament verses. Compare this verse with "And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them" to Acts 15:39 with "And the contention was so sharp between them". Note that there are only 15 instances of "contention" or "contentions" in the KJV bible, but only one of these verses also contains any variation of "sharp". Also compare this verse with "she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears" to Matthew 26:38 with "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death". Note that of the 3 instances of "exceeding sorrowful" only one contains the ", even unto" supplemental phrase. | |
29 And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people! | 29 |
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