User:InProgress/Lamanite identity

D&C Sec. 28 found on page 51-53. (Compare this document with the Book of Commandments and the Ohio Star Nov. 29, 1831, "Ezra Booth letter")

In the revelation that became D&C 28, the location of the city of Zion is stated to be "among the Lamanites." When this revelation was published in the Book of Commandments 30, Sidney Rigdon modified the text to read "among the Lamanites," which was changed by Sidney Rigdon to "on the borders by the Lamanites". Critics claim that this indicates that the Lamanites were in this area in the 1830s and that therefore a hemispheric view of the Book of Mormon must be maintained. This then allows critics to promote the DNA argument against the Book of Mormon, which is only valid against the hemispheric model.

the FARMS DNA argument is that there was MUCH admixing, and that the dominant native DNA swamped the Lehite DNA so that the descendants of Lehi appear identical to the larger native group. If Lehi has ANY living descendants among today’s American Indians, they likely all have him as an ancestor. Therefore, the Joseph Smith usage of Lamanites (and, more importantly, GOD’s usage of Lamanites) is perfectly legitimate regardless of whether it is actually pinpointing a Lamanite community or just a generic name for American Indians. (Likely the latter case in the Book of Commandments usage below.)

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Ezra Booth's letter:

A REVELATION UNTO OLIVER, GIVEN SEPTEMBER, 1830. Behold, I say unto you Oliver, that it shall be given thee, that thou shalt be heard by the Church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given. But verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in the Church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses, and thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the Church. And if thou art led at any time by the comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the Church, thou may'st do it; but shalt not write by the way of commandment, but by wisdom: and thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the Church; for I have given him the keys of the mysteries of the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto him another in his stead. -- And now behold I say unto you, that thou shalt go unto the Lamanites, and preach my Gospel unto them, and cause my Church to be established among them; and thou shalt have revelations, but write them not by way of commandment. And now I say unto you, that it is not revealed, and no man knoweth where the City shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. Behold, I say unto you, that it shall be among the Lamanites. Thou shalt not leave this place until after the Conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule the Conference, by the voice of it: and what he saith unto thee that thou shalt tell. And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that Satan hath deceived him, for these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall any thing be appointed to any in this Church, contrary to the Church Covenant, for all things must be done in order, and by commandment, by the prayer of faith, and thou shalt settle all, these things, before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites; and it shall be given from to time, to thee, that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do; and thou must open thy mouth at all times, declaring my Gospel with the sound of rejoicing. -- Amen.

A Book of Commandments, 30

Chapter XXX. 1. A Revelation to Oliver, given in Fayette, New-York, September, 1830. Behold I say unto you, Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee, that thou shalt be heard by the church, in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the Comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given. 2. But behold, verily, verily I say unto you, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church, excepting my servant Joseph, for he receiveth them even as Moses: 3. And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church. 4. And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it. 5. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom: 6. And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church, for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead. 7. And now, behold I say unto you, that you shall go unto the Lamanites and preach my gospel unto them, and cause my church to be established among them. And thou shalt have revelations but write them not by way of commandment. 8. And now behold I say unto you, that it is not revealed, and no man knoweth where the city shall be built, but it shall be given hereafter. 9. Behold I say unto you, that it shall be on the borders by the Lamanites. 10. Thou shalt not leave this place until after the conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to rule the conference by the voice of it, and what he saith to thee, that thou shalt tell. 11. And again, thou shalt take thy brother Hiram between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that satan deceiveth him: 12. For behold these things have not been appointed unto him: 13. Neither shall any thing be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants, for all things must be done in order and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith. 14. And thou shalt settle all these things according to the covenants of the church before thou shalt take thy journey among the Lamanites. 15. And it shall be given thee from the time that thou shalt go, until the time that thou shalt return, what thou shalt do. 16. And thou must open thy mouth at all times declaring my gospel with the sound of rejoicing.-- Amen.