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Difference between revisions of "Temples in the Book of Mormon"
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* It is claimed that the temple built was "similar in splendor" to Solomon's temple. | * It is claimed that the temple built was "similar in splendor" to Solomon's temple. | ||
* It is claimed that the sacrifices and rituals as presented are not consistent with Jewish ritual | * It is claimed that the sacrifices and rituals as presented are not consistent with Jewish ritual | ||
| + | * One critical website claims that "it should be fairly easy to locate a temple 'like unto the temple of Solomon'" <ref>MormonThink.com page "Book of Mormon Problems" <nowiki>http://mormonthink.com/book-of-mormon-problems.htm</nowiki> | ||
<noinclude>{{CriticalSources}}</noinclude> | <noinclude>{{CriticalSources}}</noinclude> | ||
Revision as of 21:19, 11 June 2014
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Contents
Temple in New World
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Questions
Some criticize the presence of an Israelite temple built by the Nephites in the New World. They do so on one or more of the following grounds:
- It is claimed that Israelites considered the Jerusalem temple the sole legitimate site of worship, and so would not have reproduced it.
- It is claimed that the Nephite population would have been too small to match the work required to built a temple "like unto Solomon's temple" (2 Nephi 5꞉16).
- It is claimed that the temple built was "similar in splendor" to Solomon's temple.
- It is claimed that the sacrifices and rituals as presented are not consistent with Jewish ritual
- One critical website claims that "it should be fairly easy to locate a temple 'like unto the temple of Solomon'" Cite error: Closing
</ref>missing for<ref>tag
Known Jewish temples include: [1]
| Site | Approximate time (centuries before Christ) |
|---|---|
| Mosaic Tabernacle |
13 |
| Gilgal | 13 |
| Ebal | 13 |
| Shechem | 12 |
| Shiloh | 12-11 |
| Kirjath-jearim | 11 |
| Gibeon | 10-11 |
| Megiddo | 10 |
| Arad | 10 (to 1st century A.D.) |
| Lachish | 10-7 |
| Dan | 10-8 |
| Bethel | 9 |
| Beer-Sheba | 8-7 |
| Elephantine/Aswan | 6-4 |
| Shechem/Mt. Gerizim (Samaritan) | - |
| Leontopolis/Tel Yehudia by Onias (near Heliopolis) which replaced/united several other Jewish temples in Egypt | 160 B.C. to A.D. 73 |
Not enough people?
This criticism presumes that the Lehite immigrants are the only work-force available, but this is almost certainly not true. (See: Book of Mormon demographics.)
Even if one presumes that the Lehite colony and the Nephite break-off are the only workforce—a dubious assumption—this only means that the temple would have been smaller—this seems likely in any case, since Nephi only says he built it "after the manner" of Solomon's temple, but not in so grand a style because of local restrictions. Consider Nephi's description:
- And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (2 Nephi 5꞉16). (emphasis added)
One critic, who used to be a member of the Church, actually demonstrates his ignorance of the Book of Mormon by stating that the temple that was built was said to be "similar in splendor" to Solomon's Temple, directly contradicting Nephi's description. This is a good example of the critics reading the text in the most naive, most absurd way possible. One should also consider that smaller population would not have needed a massive complex like the temple at Jerusalem anyway.
How could Lehi, a non-Levite, perform sacrifices?
In the Bible there are instances where men from non-Levite lineage offered sacrifices. One example that comes to mind is that of Gideon, a judge of Israel, who, like Lehi, was from the Josephite tribe of Manasseh. Commanded of God to build an altar, Gideon made an acceptable burnt offering to the Lord, and was in no way condemned for his action (See Judges 6:24-26). The prophet Samuel was from the Josephite tribe of Ephraim, yet he too offered sacrifices (1 Samuel 1:1; 1 Samuel 7:9-10; 1 Samuel 10:8; 1 Samuel 13꞉15). The general consensus among Bible scholars is that the idea that only descendants of Aaron could offer sacrifices was a late (post-exilic) concept in ancient Israel. It led to such anomalies as the later chroniclers assigning Samuel to the tribe of Levi in 1 Chronicles 6:33-38 to justify his having offered sacrifices. It is interesting that the first sacrifice offered for the Israelites after they left Egypt was performed not by a Levite, but by Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, a non-Israelite (Exodus 18:12). [2]
Video
Part(s) of this issue are addressed in a FairMormon video segment. Click here to see video clips on other topics.
No temple outside of Jerusalem
Summary: It is claimed that Israelites would not have constructed a temple outside of Jerusalem, since this was forbidden by Jewish law and practice. A related claim insists that Lehi and his family, being Israelites, would not have offered sacrifices "according to the Law of Moses" because only Levites were authorized to perform sacrificial rites in Israel.Notes
- ↑ Dr. William Hamblin, "Tract Made Without Evidence". Hamblin respond's to James White's (of Alpha & Omega Ministry) e-tract, "Temples Made Without Hands" (22 September 1999). off-site
- ↑ This answer is based on a FAQ from the FARMS/Maxwell Institute website (accessed 19 December 2007); it may have been altered by FAIR wiki editors. off-site