Claims and Criticisms of the
Metal Plates to Horses
Claims and Criticisms of
the
Metal Plates to Horses
An anti-Mormon writer, I.H.N. Jones, says: "From the standpoint of historical precedence and vital importance in this great movement, the revelation of the Book of Mormon ranks first. It is the main pillar which supports the whole superstructure of what is termed Mormonism. Prove that false and all else, so far as authority and distinctiveness are concerned, must tremble like a house of cards before a gale.
Conversely, IF the Book of Mormon is actually what its friends claim it to be, then it is obvious that Joseph Smith is one of the greatest prophets (if not the greatest) the world has ever seen. IF TRUE it follows that the Latter-day restoration is veritably the marvelous work and a wonder visualized by the prophet Isaiah, and a such should be accepted by all Christian men and women in the same spirit of faith as the Bible. If true, then God has spoken and that which followed, such as the organization of the church and the revelations concerning the founding of Zion or the building up of the kingdom of God, was and is true also." (Criticisms of the Book of Mormon Answered, by R. Weldon, p. 20)
What did critics of the Book of Mormon laugh about?
The Book of Mormon tells of Ancient Americans writing their history on metal plates , of horses, elephants, machinery, the wheel and more.
When the Book of Mormon was published, critics claimed that ancients did not record their history on metal plates. In the Near East 62 instances of inscribed metal plates have been found.
Etruscans Wrote on Gold Plates
900 B.C."Three thousand years ago the Etruscans forged Italy's first civilization."
"Golden Clues to the Etruscan language abound in three gold tablets found at Pyrgi, the port of Cervteri, in 1964. The two at the right are inscribed in Etruscan; the other is in Phoenician, the language of Carthage, Etruria's ally and trading partner. Commemorating the rule of Thefarie Velianas, the tablets are not literal equivalents of each other but have helped scholars certify a number of Etruscan words. The longest Etruscan inscription, at middle, reads in part: 'This is the temple and this is the place of the statue which he has dedicated to Uni-Astarte, the lord of the people, Thefarie Velianas.' Scholars have confirmed the verb, to give, and the number three. They have also proved that the Phoenician goddess, Astarte, and the Etruscan Uni were the same." (Nat'l Geo. June 1988 p. 726)
Left is a blowup of a section of the center tablet which is quoted above. The Etruscans lived from about 900 B.C. to 90 B.C. when after centuries of decline they became Roman citizens.
In 1936 a stone box with gold and silver inscribed tablets was found in the ruins at Persepolis, Persia, buried c. 516 B.C. by King Darius. They are on display at the University of Chicago Oriental Institute. (Critics of the Book of Mormon Answered, p. 31; photograph no. 22498 from the University of Chicago)
"No Horses in Ancient America," They Said -- Spaniards brought them to America in 1500 A.D., but They Were Wrong
"Man on horseback carved on ancient Maya structure at Chichen-Itza, Yucatan. Photo by courtesy of Milton R. Hunter who is in the picture." (The Book of Mormon Evidences Joseph Smith A Prophet, p. 16) )
God sent a colony to America from the Tower of Babel about three thousand years ago. They were large men and called Jaredites. They peopled the continent north of where the Mayan civilization was discovered. Wars among themselves brought their destruction shortly before Christ was born. Their last prophet, Ether, wrote a record of their history and destruction. Ether spoke of horses and elephants on this land. He said:". . .they had become exceedingly strong, insomuch that they became exceedingly rich, having all manner of fruit, and of grain, and of silks, and of fine linen, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and also all manner of cattle, of oxen and cows, and of sheep, and of swine, and of goats, and also many other kinds of animals which were useful for the food of man. They also had horses and asses, and there were elephants, and cureloms, and cumoms, all of which were useful to man, and more especially the elephants, and cureloms, and cumoms.
Thus the Lord poured out His blessings upon this land, which was choice above all other lands; and He commanded that those who should possess the land should possess it unto the Lord, or they should be destroyed when they were ripened in iniquity; for upon such, says the Lord, 'I will pour out the fullness of My wrath..' " (Ether 2:19-22)
And He did!
They laughed at the Book of Mormon account
of elephants being used by Ancient Americans
...but couldn't explain how the Ancient Americans moved the 396 ton rock from the quarry 60 mils away.
(Ibid. p. 13)
or the 50 ton head at Jalapa, Mexico. "Tres Zapotes head on exhibit at Jalapa, Mexico. The largest of these heads has been estimated to weigh 50 tons. Clair Weldon in picture." (Criticisms of the Book of Mormon Answered, p. 13)) ) |
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And then they found the evidence of horses, elephants, wheels, metal plates etc., etc., etc., . . .
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Mammoths in America "Mammoth leg bone with spear imbedded, on
exhibit in the Academy of Natural Science's in Philadelphia, Pa. Photo by courtesy of
Museum photographer, Charles F. Sibre." |
No Maya ruins had been discovered until
ten years after the Book of Mormon
was copyrighted in Washington D.C.
