We have seen pictures of elephants, horses and asses and so when we read the word, we form a picture in our minds. Cumoms is a term used in the book of mormon, referring to an animal. American setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, 20, 309321. Cureloms and cumoms are animals who appear nowhere outside of. Some criticize the book of mormon for mentioning elephants and horses as well as two unknown species of animals referred to as cureloms and cumoms. Sep 28, 2016 cureloms and cumoms moroni briefly mentions beasts called cureloms and cumoms in ether 9. Cureloms are an unidentified species of animals mentioned in the book of mormon, and serve as the subject of many debates among latterday saint scientists and theologists. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormons thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this. Although they are implied to be beasts of burden in the book of mormon, very little is known about them. There are no subsequent references to these animals in the text, which could point to their extinction not long afterward.
The only references to elephants, cureloms, and cumoms in the book of mormon occur at an early point in jaredite history ether 9. The curelom and the cumom are useful animals mentioned in the book of mormon. What are the leading theories on what the cureloms and. Cureloms and cumoms in the book of mormon jump to subtopic. Aug 02, 2009 thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormon s thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. It is interesting to look at criticisms people made of the book of mormon in the past and see how modern research has shown that those criticisms are not valid. At the time, critics says that the mention of elephants and horses in the book of mormon was absolute proof that the book of mormon was a fabrication by joseph smith because the elephant and the horse have. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormons thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon.
At the time, critics says that the mention of elephants and horses in the book of mormon was absolute proof that the book of mormon was a fabrication by joseph smith because the elephant and the horse have never been found anywhere on the american. While all the other animals seem familiar to us, these two definitely are not. Youre invited to read the four page abstract overview, but just skim or skip the rest due to length questions or comments are encouraged. This suggests that a beast of burden in the book of mormon time period most likely would not have been a mammoth, although many latterday saints still persist in displaying cureloms as mammoths in literature and media. And thus the lord did pour out his blessings opon this land, which was choice above all other lands. The following information is from the annotated book of mormon by david. There is no indication that the people of lehi were acquainted with these animals. Some protest that the book of mormon is the most correct book, translated by the gift and power of god, and hence should not manifest such incorrect labeling.
Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormon s thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. Concerning the identification of these animals, hugh nibley in his book, lehi in the desert and the world of the jaredites gives the following explanation. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut. Joseph smith said that the book of mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to god by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book history of the church, vol.
For the previous report of precolumbian horse dates ranging from 6000 bcad 1400 but none directly within book of mormon timeframes, see wade e. Yet this approach presents difficulties, for we also have the very specific book of mormon terms, cureloms and cumoms, representing animals which along with elephants were the most useful in the jaredite culture same verse, ether 9. If possible, make copies of the pages for each family member or take turns coloring the animals. Whatever cureloms and cumons were supposed to be, the book of mormon seems to say that elephants, horses, and asses were widely domesticated by the jaredites. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of. The kingdom passes from one to another by descent, intrigue, and murderemer saw the son of righteousnessmany prophets cry repentancea famine and poisonous serpents plague the people. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. Sep 25, 2018 people have been criticizing the book of mormon for more than a century. To the inside front cover are affixed four clippings of descriptions of different versions of first edition copies of the book of mormon and of an 1854 edition of the doctrine and covenants, along with a clipping describing the origin of the text of the book of mormon and a bookplate of the shepard book company of salt lake city, utah.
When studying the etymology of jaredite words, the book of ether makes things complicated. Curelom and cumom flora and fauna book of mormon evidence. Apparently cureloms and cumoms were not animals known to joseph smith as well. Anachronisms, or out of place items, have long been a subject of controversy with the book of mormon. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. How we use and view animalsas well as what kinds there aretell a story about the humans around them. Anachronisms, or out of place items, have long been a subject of contro.
New evidence for horses in america book of mormon central. Gardner earned a masters degree in anthropology and mesoamerican ethnohistory from the state university of new york at albany. Clark, archaeological trends and the book of mormon. For addition precolumbian dated horse bones, see miller and roper, animals in the book of mormon, 164. Jan 29, 2018 donors interested in supporting this work can do so through book of mormon central. Cureloms also serve as minor antagonists in chris heimerdingers novel the feathered serpent, part two of the tennis. Joseph smith was probably referring to mammoths in the one and only verse of the book of mormon that references cureloms and cumons. A scientists look at book of mormon anachronisms third hour.
Because it says mammoths in the original source document that he was stealing this idea. Cureloms and cumoms and they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms. Asterisk denotes a featured version, which includes an introduction and annotation book of mormon, 1830 book of mormon, 1837 book of mormon, 1840 book of mormon, 1841. Cureloms and cumoms are perhaps the most intriguing beasts mentioned in the book of mormon because they are unfamiliar names. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i. What are the leading theories on what the cureloms and cummoms. These animals could be similar to the cureloms and cumoms. Book of mormon, 1837, page 586 the joseph smith papers. What are cureloms and cumoms spoken of in the book of mormon. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading science and the book of mormon.
Oct 14, 2019 the article is entirely quoted from the letter, and describes a decidedly nonmammoth which was supposedly known among native americans until recent times. These names come to us through five channels of transmission. The book of mormon makes clear that both jaredites and nephites who lived in ancient times on this continent had domestic animals of various kinds. The curelom and cumom have appeared in mormon literature. Ever since the coming forth of the book of mormon, readers have wondered about the strange reference to elephants and especially to its companions the. The book of mormon s equivalent to winnie the poohs heffalumps and woozles pictured below. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. Cureloms and cumoms are hapax legomenonwhich is a transliteration of greek meaning appears only once. That would be as true for the book of mormon as it is for any other text if the book of mormon claimed to be an ancient text, but it does not. Faith defending the faith a scientists look at book of mormon anachronisms. Many other extinct pleistocene megafauna fit the description of jaredite animals mentioned in the book of mormon.
The book of mormons equivalent to winnie the poohs heffalumps and woozles pictured below. Apr 11, 2016 for the previous report of precolumbian horse dates ranging from 6000 bcad 1400 but none directly within book of mormon timeframes, see wade e. It is just so with the cureloms and cumoms of ether 9. He has presented papers at fairmormon conferences and published in the farms. Mormons paperback books in english for sale in stock ebay. Then, once converted, the dna of that group changed back. Cureloms and cumoms general discussions mormon dialogue. Verses 1535 show a pattern that is repeated many times throughout the book of mormon. Cureloms also serve as minor antagonists in chris heimerdingers novel the feathered serpent, part two. More especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms. And they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms. Feb 10, 2009 some criticize the book of mormon for mentioning elephants and horses as well as two unknown species of animals referred to as cureloms and cumoms. A scholarly look at animals in the book of mormon animals offer a unique perspective in the lives of the people around them. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon.
Evidently the animals that are referred to in ether 9. Apr 11, 2020 joseph smith was probably referring to mammoths in the one and only verse of the book of mormon that references cureloms and cumons. People have been criticizing the book of mormon for more than a century. Furthermore, cureloms and cumoms were thought to be more useful to man than horses ether 9. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. While they only make a brief appearance in the book of mormon, these unknown beasts might as well be mythical creatures to most scholars, who have little to no evidence of which beasts cureloms and cumoms. Indeed, horses may have been used primarily for food. More especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms an extensive treatise on the surprising and deep evidence associated with this book of mormon passage greetings.
Aug 02, 2019 aaaaah, the beloved cureloms and cummons. These verses in the book of mormon certainly make it sound like god changed the dna of a complete group of people when they sinned against him. Joseph smith was a prophet and archeology and science have given more support, unbeknownst to them, to the things contained in that book. Therefore, behold, it came to pass that because of the a secret combinations of akish and his friends, behold. Cureloms and cumoms moroni briefly mentions beasts called cureloms and cumoms in ether 9. No one knows what the cumom and curelom look like, so draw. The book of mormon is a sacred text of the latter day saint movement, which adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the american continent from approximately 2200 bc to ad 421. Clark explains, the most frequently mentioned deficiencies of the book conce rn the lack of hard evidence in the new world for the right time periods of precious metals, old world animals and plants, and book of mormon place names and personal namesjohn e. Of all the animals named in the book of mormon, cureloms and cumoms have to be the most peculiar and mysterious. Paleo indians were known to interact with and eat animals such as giant sloths.
For example, chris heimerdinger, a popular lds novelist, chose. Many have assumed that anachronisms in the book of mormon should similarly prove that it must be false, and it is a modern text only posing as an ancient one. Feb 01, 2010 evidently the animals that are referred to in ether 9. The cureloms and cumoms could be tapirs and guinea pigs. This is the time period wherein jaredites would have lived, but the geography and climate are far from matching the lands proposed by book of mormon scholars and apologists. Joseph smith was a prophet and archeology and science have given more. Is the mention of cureloms and cumons a book of mormon anachronism. Sorenson explains that those animals are unidentifiable today, unless one of them be the. The people prospered exceedingly during the righteous reigns of emer and coriantum see verses 1525. In fact, the first articles criticizing the book of mormon appeared before it was even published. It brings to mind issues of elephants and cureloms and cumoms in the book of mormon. Anachronisms in the book of mormon religious studies center. Archaeological and historical evidence elephants, horses.
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