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. 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. 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. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. Jan 29, 2018 donors interested in supporting this work can do so through book of mormon central. Curelom and cumom flora and fauna book of mormon evidence. And they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms. Book of mormon, 1837, page 586 the joseph smith papers. Sep 28, 2016 cureloms and cumoms moroni briefly mentions beasts called cureloms and cumoms in ether 9. Therefore, behold, it came to pass that because of the a secret combinations of akish and his friends, behold.
The book of mormons equivalent to winnie the poohs heffalumps and woozles pictured below. Joseph smith was probably referring to mammoths in the one and only verse of the book of mormon that references cureloms and cumons. Because it says mammoths in the original source document that he was stealing this idea. 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. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. 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. An ancient american book salt lake city and provo, ut.
More especially the elephants and cureloms and cumoms. Anachronisms, or out of place items, have long been a subject of contro. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading science and the book of mormon. It is just so with the cureloms and cumoms of ether 9. 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. Gardner earned a masters degree in anthropology and mesoamerican ethnohistory from the state university of new york at albany. What are cureloms and cumoms spoken of in the book of mormon. Apparently cureloms and cumoms were not animals known to joseph smith as well. Youre invited to read the four page abstract overview, but just skim or skip the rest due to length questions or comments are encouraged. The cureloms and cumoms could be tapirs and guinea pigs.
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. 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. New evidence for horses in america book of mormon central. Cureloms and cumoms in the book of mormon jump to subtopic. And thus the lord did pour out his blessings opon this land, which was choice above all other lands. 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. This site can be used as a study guide to help understand the book of mormon. There is no indication that the people of lehi were acquainted with these animals.
Is the mention of cureloms and cumons a book of mormon anachronism. Cureloms and cumoms are hapax legomenonwhich is a transliteration of greek meaning appears only once. He has presented papers at fairmormon conferences and published in the farms. Verses 1535 show a pattern that is repeated many times throughout the book of mormon. Cureloms and cumoms are animals who appear nowhere outside of. Cureloms and cumoms and they also had horses, and asses, and there were elephants and cureloms and cumoms. 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. A scientists look at book of mormon anachronisms third hour. Sep 25, 2018 people have been criticizing the book of mormon for more than a century. Cumoms are mentioned in a list of animals with which the lord blessed the people of jared during the reign of emer see also. Aug 02, 2019 aaaaah, the beloved cureloms and cummons.
For example, chris heimerdinger, a popular lds novelist, chose. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. When studying the etymology of jaredite words, the book of ether makes things complicated. These animals could be similar to the cureloms and cumoms. An account written by the hand of mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of. It brings to mind issues of elephants and cureloms and cumoms in the book of mormon. We have seen pictures of elephants, horses and asses and so when we read the word, we form a picture in our minds. 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. 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.
Of all the animals named in the book of mormon, cureloms and cumoms have to be the most peculiar and mysterious. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from. 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. Although they are implied to be beasts of burden in the book of mormon, very little is known about them. 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.
Archaeological and historical evidence elephants, horses. Clark, archaeological trends and the book of mormon. Faith defending the faith a scientists look at book of mormon anachronisms. Feb 01, 2010 evidently the animals that are referred to in ether 9. 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. These names come to us through five channels of transmission. Anachronisms, or out of place items, have long been a subject of controversy with the book of mormon. 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. There are no subsequent references to these animals in the text, which could point to their extinction not long afterward.
Cumoms is a term used in the book of mormon, referring to an animal. 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. 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. Cureloms and cumoms general discussions mormon dialogue. The following information is from the annotated book of mormon by david. In fact, the first articles criticizing the book of mormon appeared before it was even published. Evidently the animals that are referred to in ether 9. A scholarly look at animals in the book of mormon animals offer a unique perspective in the lives of the people around them. 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. Furthermore, cureloms and cumoms were thought to be more useful to man than horses ether 9. No one knows what the cumom and curelom look like, so draw. If possible, make copies of the pages for each family member or take turns coloring the animals. What are the leading theories on what the cureloms and cummoms. 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.
Anachronisms in the book of mormon religious studies center. 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. The only references to elephants, cureloms, and cumoms in the book of mormon occur at an early point in jaredite history ether 9. How we use and view animalsas well as what kinds there aretell a story about the humans around them. 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. For addition precolumbian dated horse bones, see miller and roper, animals in the book of mormon, 164. What are the leading theories on what the cureloms and. A complete description of the book of mormon geography bomgeography, including an internal map model, external map model i.
The people prospered exceedingly during the righteous reigns of emer and coriantum see verses 1525. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormons thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this. Joseph smith was a prophet and archeology and science have given more. Many other extinct pleistocene megafauna fit the description of jaredite animals mentioned in the book of mormon. The book of mormon s equivalent to winnie the poohs heffalumps and woozles pictured below. Donors interested in supporting this work can do so through book of mormon central. 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. American setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. 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. Analytical and contextual commentary on the book of mormon and the gift and power. Sorenson explains that those animals are unidentifiable today, unless one of them be the. Mormons paperback books in english for sale in stock ebay.
While all the other animals seem familiar to us, these two definitely are not. Includes every geographical place mentioned in the book of mormon. Cureloms also serve as minor antagonists in chris heimerdingers novel the feathered serpent, part two. 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. Indeed, horses may have been used primarily for food. Book of mormonanimalscureloms and cumoms fairmormon. 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. Cureloms also serve as minor antagonists in chris heimerdingers novel the feathered serpent, part two of the tennis. 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. Cureloms and cumoms moroni briefly mentions beasts called cureloms and cumoms in ether 9. The curelom and the cumom are useful animals mentioned in the book of mormon. Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormons thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. Joseph smith was a prophet and archeology and science have given more support, unbeknownst to them, to the things contained in that book.
Thoughtful insights from 32 top scholars continue the journey into the book of mormon s thousandyear span, aiding understanding of this sacred text. Maxwell institute for religious scholarship, 20, 309321. Paleo indians were known to interact with and eat animals such as giant sloths. Cureloms and cumoms are perhaps the most intriguing beasts mentioned in the book of mormon because they are unfamiliar names. Then, once converted, the dna of that group changed back. 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. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at. 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. People have been criticizing the book of mormon for more than a century. Animals in the book of mormon mormon lds reformation. For the previous report of precolumbian horse dates ranging from 6000 bcad 1400 but none directly within book of mormon timeframes, see wade e.
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