Were There Other People in the Land of Promise? – Part II

Continued from the previous post regarding the speculative historicity of other pre-Columbian occupants of the Land of Promise before, during and after Lehi landed.
    As stated in the last post, according to several theorist claims, “Modern anthropological research tells us that the New World was already extensively populated when the Jaredites, Lehites, and Mulekites arrived. This may lead readers to wonder why other societies are never mentioned in the Book of Mormon?
    In addition, according to modern theorists on this matter, the first thing to consider is that there are actually quite a few clues in the text which suggest that “others” were living in the regions where these colonies settled, which are summarized from John L. Sorenson, “When Lehi’s Party Arrived in the Land, Did They Find others There?” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies vol.1, no. 1, 1992, p1–34). These so-called “clues” are:
1. The reported size of early Nephite populations, the accounts of their warfare, and their unsanctioned polygamous marriages all indicate that they had an unbelievably high population growth rate.
Mesoamericanists: They claim that this all suggests that outsiders mixed with and added to their population from the beginning.

The number of offspring one couple produces in size over six to seven generations, or about 200 years, would be considerable; the 12 couples of the Jaredites and the 6 to 8 couples of Nephites would have both produced large numbers in the first 200 years, down to the time of Jarom (Lehi’s great grandson (Jarom 1:5)

 

Response: However, Mesoamericanists and Sorenson in particular, reject the normal birth and growth rate of people. Take, as an example, in 1960, the non-developed countries of Afghanistan, Yemen and Angola had 7.5 births per women, while the more advanced countries like Australia, Denmark and Germany had 2.5 births per woman. Greece, Hungary and Sweden had close to 2.0 births, while Kenya, Madagascar, and Rwanda had nearly 8.0 births. Japan had 2.0 and the United States had 3.6 births, while Honduras and Algeria had 7.5. The birth rate in India is increasing yearly to the point that it is figured it will have more people than China by 2030 AD. Right now, Israel has a birthrate more than two times that of the rest of the developed world.
2. In the book of Jarom, readers learn that the hunter-gatherer Lamanites had become “exceedingly more numerous” than the Nephites who cultivated the land (Jarom 1:6).
Mesoamericanists. This situation goes against the historical trend of higher population growth among agricultural societies. It seems that outsiders would have been necessary to swell the Lamanite population so disproportionately.
Response: Using standard tables of today to determine the actions of the past are not always worthwhile. Consider the Jaredites upon first arrival—they had 24 families and the Brother of Jared had 22 children (Ether 6:20), and Jared had 12 children, making an average of 17 children for each family. While we do not know how many children the rest of the original families had, if we use 17 as an average, that would be 408 children (if we use 12 that would be 288 children). At the same time, we do not know how many children made up the grandchildren of Lehi and Ishmael, but with 8 children for Lehi outlined, and at least 7 for Ishmael, and likely at least two more for Lehi, we are looking at 8 children each couple. Again, not knowing how many children each couple had, but recognizing the high number of children ancient Israeli couples had, it is possible that around the time of the split between Nephi and his brothers, there might have been as many as 50 to 65 children. If there were other families involved in this original group, such as servants and their families, we are looking at over 100 children. Thus, large numbers would be the norm for Lehi’s posterity.
3. Some researchers have felt that Jacob’s statements about Sherem, who “sought much opportunity” to speak with Jacob and who “had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people,” (Jacob 7:3-4).

Sherem may have been from another settlement or city around the city of Nephi, but he was certainly a Nephite, well versed in Nephi life and the Nephite religion

Mesoamericanists: This suggest that Sherem was an outsider to Nephite society, since it makes little sense to emphasize that a community insider had a good grasp of their language or that he would have to seek out an encounter with Jacob.
Response: In Enos’ time, the people became so numerous and many so unrighteous that Jacob could only write a small portion of their works (Jacob 3:13). In addition, Enos, Jacob’s son, describes a vast land, with forest (Enos 1:3), a large wilderness beyond the city (Enos 1:20), and an occupied land, full of many prophets who went among the people (Enos 1:22). This area had large vineyards (Jacob 5:24), agricultural croplands and fields for their flocks and herds (Enos 1:21); it was so large, and occupied such a large populated area that the Lord needed “exceeding many prophets” (Enos 1:22) to preach to the people. It was not long before the Nephites “were scattered upon much of the face of the land, and the Lamanites also” (Jarom 1:6).
    Now, in this vast land, no doubt with other Nephite villages or settlements scattered about, a man named Sherem “came among the people of Nephi” (Jacob 7:1)—meaning he did not come among the Lamanites, but among the Nephites. In addition, he “sought much opportunity” to speak with Jacob and “had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people,” (Jacob 7:3-4). He sought much opportunity that he might come unto me” meaning that he wanted an audience with the king. “He was learned” meaning well-educated and able to use the language masterfully to debate with people; also he “had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people” and through that talent, and his masterful use of words “he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil” (Jacob 7:4).
    Contrary to the speculation of these theorists, there is nothing hidden, no special clues, in this event to suggest anything other than what is shown. A Nephite named Sherem (or a Lamanite named Sherem) came among the Nephites in the city of Nephi where Jacob ruled as king, seeking “to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ” (Jacob 7:2). This does not suggest in any way an outlier person from another culture or people, who came to contend with the king. What on earth would a person from another civilization have in mind to do that unless there was a back story to this event—which there is not and none is even suggested or hinted.
4. For several reasons, the Nephites’ quick ability to grow corn (maize) and raise flocks and herds.
Mesoamericanists. This seems unlikely unless they had obtained this knowledge from local natives.

There were several varieties of Maize (also called Indian Corn)

Response: The Nephites did not have corn as far as we know until after they reached the city of Zarahemla and came across the Mulekites, who had arrived from Jerusalem within the party that brought Mulek to the Land of Promise. The first mention of corn is found when Zeniff traveled back from Zarahemla to the city of Nephi (Lehi-Nephi) to resettle or reclaim the land of their inheritance (121 BC). After Zeniff’s son, Limhi, was made king, the Lamanites put them in bondage and demanded half of their “corn and barley, and even all our grain of every kind” (Mosiah 7:22). However, about 80 years before that, Zennif records in his record that when he and those who went with him reached the city of Nephi and the land of Shilom, they “began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits” (Mosiah 9:9).
    Thus, when the Nephites, coming from Zarahemla after a generation or more of living among the people of Zarahemla, returned to the city of Nephi they had seeds of corn with them, including seeds of neas and sheum. Where or how they got them is unstated, however, it seems more reasonable they obtained them from the people of Zarahemla who had been in the last for some 400 years and probably had taken the seeds form wild grass called teosinte and developed them into the corn grain as it is claimed the ancients did in Mexico.
(See the next post, “Were There Other People in the Land of Promise? – Part II,” regarding the speculative historicity of other pre-Columbian occupants of the Land of Promise before, during and after Lehi landed)