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In light of the statements above, it is staggering that there is not more attention in the Book of Mormon given to the intricate and infinitely rich religious heritage enjoyed by the Jews over the centuries. If indeed the Nephites were observing the law with all its “outward performances,” Mormon and the other authors did very little to provide evidence of their obedience. Some of the most basic elements of the Jewish faith are nowhere to be found. Below is a list of some Jewish traditions and observances connected with the Law of Moses that receive little or no attention in the Book of Mormon:1 Passover: This word never appears in the text and there is no evidence that the Nephites observed this most important Jewish holiday.
The Sabbath: Three out of the five occurrences appear in one verse that is speaking of the Ten Commandments. Only one of the remaining two examples reports that the people were keeping the Sabbath Day holy. Circumcision: There is no mention of this word or any evidence it was practiced, with the exception of one verse, Moroni 8:8, in which Jesus explains that “circumcision is done away in me,” a phrase also found in the Bible. Temple: While the word is mentioned many times as a place to preach or gather, there is never any mention of temple worship, nor are there any descriptions of temple rites or ceremonies like those given in the Old Testament. Altars: Aside from the Old World example when Lehi built his altar to the Lord and made an offering, no mention is made of Nephites later building altars for the same purpose. Burnt Offerings: Christ tells the Nephites that their “sacrifices and (their) burnt offerings shall be done away” (3 Nephi 9:19), but ironically there is no mention of burnt offerings after they arrive in the Americas. The only exception is found in Mosiah 2:3. Here it is explained that “they also took of the firstlings of their flocks, that they might offer sacrifice and burnt offerings according to the law of Moses.” While certainly an example of obedience, it only shows how errant their obedience was. According to the Law of Moses, firstlings were not to be used for burnt offerings; they were considered to be the property of the Lord and were thus given to the High Priest to be used as peace offerings. Trespass Offerings, Meat Offerings, Drink Offerings, Wave Offerings, Peace Offerings: There is not a single example of any of these in the Book of Mormon. Ceremonial Cleanliness and Unclean Foods: Other than what is found in the portions of the Book of Mormon that quote from Isaiah, there is nothing to suggest that anyone observed the many strict requirements for staying clean and avoiding the unclean. Specifically and most noticeably, there is no mention of Kosher eating. From the examples above, the reader can only conclude that the Nephite record is transparently deficient in attention to Jewish cultural and religious detail. If the reader puts the blame for these egregious omissions on the Nephite authors, it must be said that their neglect was inexplicable. If the reader puts the blame on a young and naive Joseph Smith, the mystery is easily solved. 1Claims can be verified using the scripture word search feature on lds.org; see also Covering Up the Black Hole in the Book of Mormon included in Joseph Smith's Plagiarism of the Bible by Jerald and Sandra Tanner. |
Toward the end of his account, Nephi proclaimed, “And, notwithstanding we
believe in Christ, we keep the
law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ,
until the law shall be fulfilled… And, inasmuch as it shall be expedient, ye
must keep the performances
and ordinances of God until the law shall be fulfilled which was
given unto Moses.” (2 Nephi
25:24, 30) Speaking of the faithful in the time of Ammon, Mormon
adds, “Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient
that they should keep the
law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the
law of Moses, they did look
forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses
was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward
performances until
the time that he should be revealed unto them.” (Alma 25:15)
The
Feasts of: the Passover, Unleavened Bread, the Harvest, Weeks, Tabernacles,
the Ingathering, the Seventh Month, Dedication, the Lord, the Jews:
These phrases never appear in the text of the Book
of Mormon.