BOOK OF MORMON
Critique of Alma Chapter 35
Setting: Alma returns to the land of Zarahemla via Jershon and war breaks out in 74 BCE.
Verses 1-2: NOW it came to pass that after Amulek had made an end of these words, they withdrew themselves from the multitude and came over into the land of Jershon. Yea, and the rest of the brethren, after they had preached the word unto the Zoramites, also came over into the land of Jershon.
Note: BOM author plagiarized the Holy Bible.
Mark 3:7-8 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, and from Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how many things He was doing, came to Him.
Verses 3-4: And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words. And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken.
Note: The word "popular" is a modern word.
Webster's Dictionary: Popular, from the French populaire, from the Latin popularis.
Verses 5-7: Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires; therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people. And it came to pass that after they had found out the minds of all the people, those who were in favor of the words which had been spoken by Alma and his brethren were cast out of the land; and they were many; and they came over also into the land of Jershon. And it came to pass that Alma and his brethren did minister unto them.
Note: There have never been great population centers in the interior of Brazil.
The forests, rivers, and mountains of Brazil have long hindered travel inland, and the country's vast interior remains little developed. About 80 percent of all Brazilians live within 200 miles (320 kilometers) of the Atlantic coast. Nearly all of Brazil's big cities and towns are on or near the coast. World Book Encyclopedia.
Verses 8-9: Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land. And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants.
Note: The Book of Mormon did not reflect the reality of tropical Indian life.
The Tropical Forest people wore only breechcloths and short, apronlike skirts. But they covered themselves with painted designs and wore jewelry. Their housing was simple, consisting of a pole framework and thatch roof. The sides were left open, and hammocks were often the only furniture. Some tribes built a single large house for the whole village. In other communities, each family had its own house. World Book Encyclopedia
Verses 10-11: Now this did stir up the Zoramites to anger against the people of Ammon, and they began to mix with the Lamanites and to stir them up also to anger against them. And thus the Zoramites and the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of Ammon, and also against the Nephites.
Note: There is no mention of cannibalism in the Book of Mormon
Carib Indians, pronounced KAR ihb, were a warlike group of South American tribes who lived mainly in the Amazon River Valley and the Guiana lowlands. These fierce Indians ate their war captives. Our word cannibal comes from the Spanish name for these Indians. World Book Encyclopedia.
Verses 12-13: And thus ended the seventeenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And the people of Ammon departed out of the land of Jershon, and came over into the land of Melek, and gave place in the land of Jershon for the armies of the Nephites, that they might contend with the armies of the Lamanites and the armies of the Zoramites; and thus commenced a war betwixt the Lamanites and the Nephites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges; and an account shall be given of their wars hereafter.
Note: A judge was never a form of American Indian leader.
Forms of tribal leadership varied. Tribes might have one or more leaders, often referred to as chiefs. In some tribes, one chief might be in charge of the tribe during peacetime. Another would lead the tribe in war. In some tribes, a person had to belong to a certain family, band, or clan to become a chief. World Book Encyclopedia.
Verses 14-15: And Alma, and Ammon, and their brethren, and also the two sons of Alma returned to the land of Zarahemla, after having been instruments in the hands of God of bringing many of the Zoramites to repentance; and as many as were brought to repentance were driven out of their land; but they have lands for their inheritance in the land of Jershon, and they have taken up arms to defend themselves, and their wives, and children, and their lands. Now Alma, being grieved for the iniquity of his people, yea for the wars, and the bloodsheds, and the contentions which were among them; and having been to declare the word, or sent to declare the word, among all the people in every city; and seeing that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
Note: Topical South American Indians generally did not fight each other.
Wars occurred from time to time among the tribes of the Americas. But not all tribes took part in warfare. Many tribes opposed fighting, and others were so small that they did not have enough warriors to fight a war. World Book Encyclopedia.
Verse 16: Therefore, he caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness. And we have an account of his commandments, which he gave unto them according to his own record.
Note: Alma's powwow is inconsistent with actual American Indian history.
When faced with a problem, such as a shortage of food, the members of a band would gather around a fire to discuss it. They might offer prayers to their gods. In some areas, such a meeting was called a powwow. Some bands had permanent leaders, but others chose different leaders for different problems. World Book Encyclopedia.
Note: American Indians were polytheistic in their view of deity.