Destruction in the Land of Promise at the Time of the Crucifixion – Part II

Continuing with the 9 points of Mesoamerican Theorists to limit the destruction in the Land of Promise during the crucifixion:

Point 2: “Mesoamerican Theorists claim that basic geographical reference points, such as the narrow neck and pass, Hill Cumorah/Ramah, and the river Sidon continued unchanged.” However, it should be kept in mind that Mormon's abridgment of these events were seen by him about 300 years after this great destruction. Whatever changes to the land that took place, would have been well understood and accepted through three full centuries. Throughout the record both Mormon and Moroni continually try to tie in places and events when they feel the reader might not make the correct connection on his own. As a result, what the narrow neck of land, the hill Cumorah, and the narrow pass, all looked like before and after the destruction is not stated. Only that each was still there, though each could have been drastically altered. As an example, prior to the destruction, the term "narrow neck" is used, after the destruction, the term "narrow pass" is used. But whatever the changes were, all were identifiable to Mormon in the 4th century A.D. -- more than that we know little concerning them. As an example, the hill Cumorah could have been taller, shorter, larger or smaller before and after—all we know is that it existed in both time frames. The same can be said for the narrow pass, the narrow neck of land, and other points.

Point 3: “Mesoamerican Theorists claim that it was the intensity of nature's rampage that impressed the Nephite recorder, not the novelty of the phenomena (3 Nephi 8:5, 7).” However, this is a conclusion unsupportable by the record. That is, storms would obviously have been known as well as thundering and lightning—these are common, necessary meteorological events in weather. However, why should a storm be labeled "such an one as never had been known in all the land" (3 Nephi 8:5) unless the entire event was unusual. In this vein, it must always be kept in mind that ancient prophets and scribes were limited in their vocabulary when describing unknown events, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel trying to describe the futuristic weapons of war during the battle of Armageddon. Mormon tries to describe such things as tornadoes, hurricanes, underground earth movements, sinkholes, water geysers, fumaroles, and other earth actions that were obviously unnamed in his day. And just as obviously, when entire cities sink into the earth and are buried under mountains with water filling sinkholes, there has to be unusual, unexplained earth movements that were both cataclysmic and foreign. Mormon, and the original writers of the events, simply had a limited vocabulary to express what happened.

Point 4: “Mesoamerican Theorists claim that all of these kinds of destruction had happened before in the land, but never with such terrifying effect”. However, when the writer states “sharp lightenings such as never had been known in all the land" seems like an odd statement to describe something that was common except in its severity. Normally, one would write "more severe than had been seen before" to denote a typical event, not "such an one as never had been known in all the land." What might have been labeled as lightning by these ancient writers? Flashes in the sky, meteors, hydrogen flares, fireballs? What kind of lightning-like phenomena would be "such as never had been known in all the land?" If it was normal lightning, what caused it to be so different? Lightning is, after all, lightning and though it can be quite fearful, it is still just lightning. Something had to be considerably different to warrant a comment that it had never been known in all the land.

Point 4: Mesoamerican Theorists claim that not surprisingly, the sorts of natural forces unleashed in that fateful three hours are familiar on the Mesoamerican scene. However, earthquakes generally last less than a minute, two at most. Other meteorological phenomena are usually only a few minutes. Whatever drove the events in the land of promise, they were unique and with such unparalleled force and magnitude that they lasted for 3 hours. It is difficult to consider these events and unbelievable devastation as being from natural events typically known to Book of Mormon inhabitants. Or to anyone else, for that matter. Southern California lives in dread of a 5-minute 8.0 earthquake that would flatten the land for several square miles. Consider what a 10.0 earthquake lasting 3 hours might do. It cannot be said that such a catastrophe would be familiar on the Mesoamerican scene, or anywhere else for that matter. No doubt, this is why the statement "as never have been seen before" was used by the ancient prophets.

(Points 6 thru 9 and the conclusion will appear in the next post - Destruction in the Land of Promise at the Time of the Crucifixion – Part III)