Circle Squared
A Textual Analysis of the Book of Mormon
Chapter 4: "Ditto"
Chapter Summary:
Lehi counsels and blesses his posterity--He dies and is buried--Nephi glories in the goodness of God--Nephi puts his trust in the Lord forever. About 588–570 B.C.
Lehi's marathon of final blessings to his sons (and only his sons) is coming to an end. Nephi confirms my suspicion that Lehi's source for the prophecy of Joseph in Egypt concerning Lehi's family and the coming of the supremely narcissistic Joseph Smith is the brass plates.
Again I ask, if the brass plates are supposed to be a copy of the first half of the bible as described in the Book of Mormon, why does the bible not contain this incredibly specific prophecy calling Joseph by name and comparing him to Moses? If this was the case, then the conversation would focus on whether or not Joseph Smith is the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than our current state of speculating on the bounds of Joseph Smith's arrogance.
Lehi now addresses Laman's children, promising them that if they are faithful to god then they will be prosperous, but if they are wicked they will be cut off from god's presence (whatever that means). This ultimatum, like Lehi's promise to his "last born" son, Joseph, stands in opposition to the main narrative of the Book of Mormon in that Laman's children will not be righteous, yet still will prosper.
As if to smooth things over, Lehi passes the blame for any potential wickedness of Laman's children on to Laman himself for not being a righteous father and not teaching Lehi's grandchildren about god. With such a counter-curse, one might ask why Lehi even mentions the warning in the first place. I wonder why god wasn't equally forgiving of the progeny of Adam and Eve. It would seem that god is in the habit of punishing children for the sins of their fathers. Why do Laman's children get a pass?
The blessing to Laman's children goes for 7 verses--not too long, not too short. Afterwards, Lehi blesses Lemuel's children thusly: "behold I leave unto you the same blessing which I left unto the sons and daughters of Laman; wherefore, thou shalt not utterly be destroyed; but in the end thy seed shall be blessed."
In other words: "ditto". Why not bless them all at once? Is it really necessary to drag this out?
Next, the house of Ishmael gets an honorable mention: "And it came to pass that when my father had made an end of speaking unto them, behold, he spake unto the sons of Ishmael, yea, and even all his household."
Likewise, Sam gets a single verse telling him that his family will be counted and blessed with Nephi's family. Then Lehi waxes old, dies and is buried.
Without flinching, Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael rebel against Nephi and create their own splinter group. This should be a shock to no one, of course, since Nephi basically spells this out several times in the previous chapters. After all, foreshadow is among the more common, and often less subtle, literary tools. This is especially the case in works of fiction, rather than history (hint, hint).
Verses 14-15 contain what appears to be a contradiction. Remember in 1 Nephi 9 when Nephi said that his first book would be a repeat of the book of Lehi and that it would be primarily concerned with spiritual things, and his "other plates" would be more historical? Well, verses 14-15 state the exact opposite: "many of which sayings [of Lehi] are written upon mine other plates; for a more history part are written upon mine other plates. And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass."
So in each of set of plates Nephi calls the other set a more historical record. Am I the only person to notice this contradiction? No. In fact, Mormons will tell you that both books of Nephi are part of the same set of plates (the small plates of Nephi) and that the other set of plates (the large plates of Nephi) are hidden with other records which will one day be revealed.
Honestly, the text doesn't read this way for me. Perhaps a coming verse will clarify the issue, but so far the text itself indicates to me that there is a contradiction and that the apologetic that 1st and 2nd Nephi are part of the same set of plates is just a rationalization to explain away the problem. If this is the case, why separate the two books? Why not just have one book of Nephi? Why even mention the historical record if we can't read it?
Mormons will say that this is proof that the Book of Mormon is authentic. Why refer to another record if that record does not exist? Perhaps, as indicated by Joseph Smith's multiple attempts to translate other ancient documents and artifacts (every one of which was an utter and demonstrable failure) Joseph intended to "discover" and "translate" these additional books. The fact that neither he nor any of this several successors have produced these other records indicates to me that whatever "ancient records" the Mormons might have produced died with Joseph. In much the same way that Jesus' "miracles" died with him. Of course, the current church leadership would never attempt this, as such a record being produced in these modern times would be scrutinized in to oblivion.
The remainder of this chapter (about half of the total text) can aptly be called the lamentation of Nephi. This most-depressing monologue is rife with Christian self-loathing, seemingly creating a need for divine salvation from hell and shoehorning god as the reason to at once feel unworthy and also grateful. It is a strange bit of reasoning to feel so low because of sins and afflictions, and to also feel vindicated, bolstered and ultimately triumphant against evil. To me, this is one of the least attractive qualities of religion.
By inventing an illness (sin, temptation, damnation) religion can offer an equally invented cure (salvation, heaven). This is a classic snake oil sales pitch. An invented ailment with no concrete lasting cure (except after death, conveniently) will keep devotees committed and coming back for more ever-fading placebo. Coincidentally, if gullible fish bite, the coffers will never diminish. Just ask the leaders of any religion founded by a charlatan.