Sunday, July 7, 2019

An intricate reminder of the Book of Mormon's internal consistency involving names, from Helaman 5

When critics try to pass the Book of Mormon text off as "ordinary", I cringe a little.  Though dictated in a single draft by an uneducated 23 year-old farm boy, studying the text in depth reveals numerous examples of internal consistency, beyond the capacity of a single human mind to keep track of, in my opinion.

Here is perhaps the most intricate example of internal consistency regarding names in the Book of Mormon.  If one is not paying close attention, you find beautiful words of comfort and faith in this passage (see Helaman 5:12).  If you stop to consider the details embedded in the text, you also notice the following:

  1. In verse 9, we read words that Mormon engraved on the plates, referencing the words of King Benjamin as quoted by Helaman (Grandson of Alma the Younger) to his sons Nephi and Lehi. That's a lot of detail to keep track of, especially when you consider that these words are found about 95 chapters after King Benjamin spoke them (see Mosiah 4:8).
  2. In verse 6, Helaman tells his sons why he named them Nephi and Lehi. (Keep in mind 1 and 2 Nephi have not been dictated yet, at this point.)  Also note that one reason he gives as a reminder of the meaning of their name is so "ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good." Keep in mind that Nephi as a name likely stems from the Egyptian root nfr meaning "good, fair."
  3. Helaman happens to be the name of one of King Benjamin's sons. It is notable that Alma the Younger names one of his sons Helaman, too.

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