More Comments from Readers – Part IX

Here are more comments that we have received from readers of this website blog:
Comment #1: “Mormon uses the term ‘resort’ and defines it as a small fort. What is the different between the regular Nephi fortresses, such as Kuelap, and a resort?” Carline K.
Response: Mormon’s exact wordage is, “and erecting small forts, or places of resort” (Alma 48:8). Obviously, then, there is a difference between a fortress—forts for security (Alma 49:13), “fortifications” (Alma 48:9)—and a resort. In the military, one learns there is little value in a small fort in terms of defense; they usually serve as a temporary place for refitting and resupply, a secret hideaway where a short respite could be obtained, and a last-ditch defensive position, albeit short-lived.

Resorts = Small, lookout forts meant to spot the enemy and overlook passes and paths, trails, or roads where enemy troops move 

Most small forts, on the other hand, are used for out-of-the-way hidden lookout posts where initial warnings could be given of an advancing army or enemy force approaching. In a land like Andean Peru, such lookout areas, lightly fortified and used simply to overlook distant canyons, gorges, rivers, valleys, etc., resorts or small lookout forts would be ideally located
Comment #2: “Why don’t your angels have wings?” Wilma G.
Response: First of all, the wings associated with angels in the Biblical passages, such as found in Revelations, was a Hebrew idiom referring to “power,” although you will find some who think it meant “truth.” In Psalms 17:8; 57:1; 63:7, it refers to God’s wings. i.e., “in the shadow of your wings”; and in Psalms 91:1,4, it is explained as “the shadow of the Almighty” and “under his wings you may seek refuge.” In all of this the “power” of God is being manifest to “cast shadows of protection,” and provide refuge, or security, etc. Thus, the wings given to angels by early painters demonstrated their power in acting or representing God (as an example, how else would you draw or paint an angel unless you showed them with wings—but it is strictly an artistic use).
   Thus, ancient artist and painters needed a sure-fire way to depict the difference.
   They were never meant to be physical parts of bodies (HC 3:392), especially since angels are often human messengers, as an example, a person who is a divine messenger is called an angel, thus Moroni, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, and Elias all ministered as angels (D&C 132:16-18), after departing this Earth.

An angel is a man made perfect or a translated man

Angels are also messengers of the Lord and are spoken of in the espistle to the Hebrews as “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14), of which there are two types: 1) those who are spirits who either have not yet obtained a body of flesh and bone (unembodied) or who have once had a mortal body and have died and are awaiting the Resurrection (disembodied); and 2) those who have bodies of flesh and bone who have been either resurrected from the dead (reembodied), or else translated, as were Enoch, Elijah, etc. (D&C 129). In the Church, the term archangel, as used in the Bible (1 Thessolonians 4:16; Jude 1:9), is in reference to Michael, designates an angel with great power, or a chief angel, holding a position of priesthood authority in the heavenly hierarchy, and the only one precisely so designated.
Comment #3 “In a Sunday School class the “Three Act Play” paradigm was used to explain that being members of the church and Americans we obviously were more valiant in the pre-mortal life. However, Abraham 3 says that, “God saw these souls that they were good,” but it doesn’t say what made them good. As Mormons, we like to think they were good because they worked hard and made good choices, but the scripture doesn’t say that. In Genesis God says everything created is good, so is the moon good because it was super obedient, or because God made it that way? I’m a middle class white male American, which grants me a lot of privileges, and it is harder to have compassion and easier to have contempt for people who don’t have those privileges when I think I earned my blessings in this life by being more righteous in the pre-mortal period. I think if we get away from this paradigm we’ll be more compassionate to others” Danny O.
Response: It seems likely that something was involved in our placement in this world, for those who did not keep their first estate and chose to follow Satan did not earn the right to enjoy this second estate of earth-life. As for good, the meaning of the scripture is that God did not create anything that was evil, but only good. All people were first created in a positive or good state, as is the case with all living things. At the same time, we know that our performance and actions have something to do with our advancement conditions from estate to estate. Having said all that, there is certainly agreement that we should not, at any time, feel superior or better than anyone else. Everyone has their good points and bad points (the latter being the result of our choices and behavior), and without the grace of God, we can do nothing and achieve nothing. We should also have compassion for those who have less than we do, for they need more encouragement and more assistance, not scorn nor discouragement.
Comment #4. “I suggest you look to the OED archaic English rather than to an 1828 Dictionary for Book of Mormon word definitions. Royal Skousen (author of The Book of Mormon, The Earliest Text) has pretty clearly established that the Book of Mormon is written in Early Modern English, similar to the KJV Bible, and definitely not Joseph Smith 1820's English.” Kevin K.

The American Dictionary of the English Language preceded the OED by 55 years, and concentrates on the language taught and spoken in New England in the early 1800s

Response: We have spent several articles earlier regarding Sousen’s approach to making adjustments and changes to the spiritual record of the Book of Mormon. For some reason, Sousen feels he knows more than the original writers, Mormon’s abridgement, Joseph Smith’s translation, and the Spirit who assisted in that translation, with his constant changes, most of which we have found to be inaccurate or nonclonclusive.
    As for the dictionary, the Oxford English Dictionary, was not published until 1884, 55 years after Joseph Smith published the Book of Mormon. As soon as the OED in the original ten volumes of the New English Dictionary, Craigie and Onions, the two editors still involved with the project, began updating it. In 1933, a single-volume Supplement to the Dictionary was published. Also at this time the original Dictionary was reprinted in twelve volumes and the work was formally given its current title, the Oxford English Dictionary. 
    In 1984, as the Editor of the Dictionary Robert Burchfield’s work on the Supplement came within sight of the completion, Oxford University Press debated how to bring this monumental dictionary into the modern age. It soon became clear that the traditional methods of compiling entries would have to be updated. Naturally, the English dictionary had an English slant on the interpretation of words, many of which were quite different from those of the American usage. Thus, one can only wonder how many words were “updated” in the late 1880s in their original version that might have altered the usage and meaning of words from Joseph Smith‘s time; England prided itself on being “pure English,” and ridiculed the Americans for their usage of the language.

Difference in some words between the OED and Webster dictionaries

British English is different in the usage of such things as collective nouns, auxiliary verbs, past tense verbs, modality, spelling, and meaning. The OED defiantly has a British slant on its words, and in many cases, actually have different meanings—as an example: pants like “Levis/trousers mean underpants in England; divided highway means dual carriageway; bird means female; braces mean suspenders; pitcher means jug; stove mean hob;  trolley means shopping cart; chips mean French fries; coach means a bus; dummy means a baby’s pacifier; period means full stop; flashlight means torch; biscuit means cookie; lift means an elevator; buck (money) means quid; fourth grade means third year junior; 7^th grade means Second form; 11^th grade means Lower Sixth; fanny pack means bum bag; holiday season means vacation; and hamper means a picnic basket. This list is not complete as many words have different meanings in England than they do in America.
    Obviously, when recommending the OED one misunderstands that this dictionary was not in use during Joseph Smith’s time, compiled by British subjects, and definitely has a British slant to its words. On the other hand, Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary was developed in New England, where Joseph Smith grew up and lived; it was developed by an American who spent many years compiling American meanings of the English language as it was used in New England; and was developed the year before Joseph Smith began translation of the Book of Mormon. It is alo known that Joseph had a copy of this dictionary as he recommended it be the dictionary for the School of the Prophets.