Jaredite Boats in the Book of Mormon -- Really?

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I thought this article about Jaredite boats in the Book of Mormon was more proof of the fairy tale aspects of the Book of Mormon:

packham.n4m.org/ships.htm

And we’re supposed to believe the Book of Mormon is a literal history of real people?
 
One quick look around this guy’s website will show everyone he is a converted atheist. While he may be right about the Mormons, beware elsewhere.
 
I would like to see what some of our Mormon friends have to say.
 
6 And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did abuild bbarges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.

Would not one go to forrest, near water to build boats?

13 And now I proceed with my record; for behold, it came to pass that the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And as they came to the sea they pitched their tents; and they called the name of the place aMoriancumer; and they dwelt in btents, and dwelt in tents upon the seashore for the space of four years.

Did they move the boats? that would be a lot of extra work.

16 And the Lord said: Go to work and build, after the manner of abarges which ye have hitherto built. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built barges after the manner which they had built, according to the binstructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water, even like unto the lightness of a fowl upon the water.
17 And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly atight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.

How long is a tree?

18 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.
19 And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.
20 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood.
21 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did so, according as the Lord had commanded.
22 And he cried again unto the Lord saying: O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the vessels for my people, and behold there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness?
23 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have awindows, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.

Man that is a stupid God.

24 For behold, ye shall be as a awhale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the bwinds have gone forth cout of my mouth, and also the drains and the floods have I sent forth.
25 And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?
scriptures.lds.org/ether/2

chatpter 3

1 And it came to pass that the brother of Jared, (now the number of the vessels which had been prepared was eight) went forth unto the amount, which they called the mount bShelem, because of its exceeding height, and did cmolten out of a rock sixteen small stones; and they were white and clear, even as transparent dglass; and he did carry them in his hands upon the top of the mount, and cried again unto the Lord, saying:
2 O Lord, thou hast said that we must be encompassed about by the floods. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be aangry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are bunworthy before thee; because of the cfall our dnatures have become evil continually; nevertheless, O Lord, thou hast given us a commandment that we must call upon thee, that from thee we may receive according to our desires.
3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been amerciful unto us. O Lord, look upon me in pity, and turn away thine anger from this thy people, and suffer not that they shall go forth across this raging deep in darkness; but behold these bthings which I have molten out of the rock.
4 And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all apower, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy bfinger, and prepare them that they may shine forth in darkness; and they shall shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have clight while we shall cross the sea.

If one has light, no windows, no sonar, no compass, is underwater, no rudder, how does one steer? or know where they are going?
 
23 And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? **For behold, ye cannot have awindows, for they will be dashed in pieces; **neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of fire.
They had windows back then??
 
The only kind of boat that in any way matches this description would be a kayak. Watertight, light, able to float when surrounded by high waves, with a hole in top, drawn tight, in which each passenger sits. Very water-tight, with water-tight clothing. Definitely not around in 600BC, and still has little resemblance to the description in the BOM, which was probably derived from and misunderstood from Indian legends.
 
The only kind of boat that in any way matches this description would be a kayak. Watertight, light, able to float when surrounded by high waves, with a hole in top, drawn tight, in which each passenger sits. Very water-tight, with water-tight clothing. Definitely not around in 600BC, and still has little resemblance to the description in the BOM, which was probably derived from and misunderstood from Indian legends.
From what I remember from my RLDS friends, the story of Jared happened much earlier than 600 BC…it happened during or right after the Tower of Babel.
 
The only kind of boat that in any way matches this description would be a kayak. Watertight, light, able to float when surrounded by high waves, with a hole in top, drawn tight, in which each passenger sits. Very water-tight, with water-tight clothing. Definitely not around in 600BC, and still has little resemblance to the description in the BOM, which was probably derived from and misunderstood from Indian legends.
Smith lived along the Erie Canal. He was familiar with the shipping barges of his day.

 
WOW, Rebecca, thank you!! That is a good one. :bounce:
The canal systems are a fascinating history. 🙂

Here’s another pic with a barge from 1824 that looks like a “Jaredite” barge with windows that would shatter…so God said not to use them.

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)
 
I thought this article about Jaredite boats in the Book of Mormon was more proof of the fairy tale aspects of the Book of Mormon:

packham.n4m.org/ships.htm

And we’re supposed to believe the Book of Mormon is a literal history of real people?
It is quite easy to invent criticisms about anything as is evident from many threads in this sub forum that I have read. It is easier to tear down than it is to build. In this link I see a series of “how comes” with self interested answers offered from a mind that is devoid of a faith or knowledge in God our Father. I would expect no other type of answers from this mindset

In these types of epic stories I’m sure we are not told every aspect of what happened, only the broad strokes. Is it hard for us to imagine how these people managed this trip? Sure it is. Does that mean it could not have happen? No it doesn’t. After all we believe the story of Noah, don’t we? From his writings it may be assumed that this gentleman does not believe this voyage happened either, and could come up with as many insightful comments to support his reasoning, as he has in the above topic.

Paul
 
It is quite easy to invent criticisms about anything as is evident from many threads in this sub forum that I have read. It is easier to tear down than it is to build. In this link I see a series of “how comes” with self interested answers offered from a mind that is devoid of a faith or knowledge in God our Father. I would expect no other type of answers from this mindset

In these types of epic stories I’m sure we are not told every aspect of what happened, only the broad strokes. Is it hard for us to imagine how these people managed this trip? Sure it is. Does that mean it could not have happen? No it doesn’t. After all we believe the story of Noah, don’t we? From his writings it may be assumed that this gentleman does not believe this voyage happened either, and could come up with as many insightful comments to support his reasoning, as he has in the above topic.

Paul
I have plenty of faith in Heavenly Father. Have you ever heard of the New Testament? How about Guadalupe, Lourdes or Fatima? But really, the Book of Mormon story about the Jaredite barges really is a whopper of a stretch. If there were any real evidence for the Book of Mormon maybe I could take it seriously, but only as inspired myth received by the Nephites from the Jaredites. I don’t believe it is possible it could have ever have really physically happened.
 
It is quite easy to invent criticisms about anything as is evident from many threads in this sub forum that I have read. It is easier to tear down than it is to build. In this link I see a series of “how comes” with self interested answers offered from a mind that is devoid of a faith or knowledge in God our Father. I would expect no other type of answers from this mindset

In these types of epic stories I’m sure we are not told every aspect of what happened, only the broad strokes. Is it hard for us to imagine how these people managed this trip? Sure it is. Does that mean it could not have happen? No it doesn’t. After all we believe the story of Noah, don’t we? From his writings it may be assumed that this gentleman does not believe this voyage happened either, and could come up with as many insightful comments to support his reasoning, as he has in the above topic.

Paul
Is it safe to say, based on your quote, that I can take the BoM as a figurative tale and not actual history of a group of people? Can it be said that it is a story but not always a true one? That there may be merit in it and things that we can learn, but the facts are immaterial?
 
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