Day 7: Book of Mormon, Alma 33-63
Okay, Book of Mormon, we need to talk. Also, I misread you. When you first told me about Hagoth building ships and people sailing north…all I could see was the worth “North.” I was convinced you were telling me that a random tribe of ex-Israelites left North America and became the Vikings. Then I reread the passage. I still wanted it to be vikings. But, no, you said they left from the westernmost sea, which would be the Pacific. My viking dreams were crushed. There was hope, though! Were you telling me they became the indigenous people of Canada? No. The people of Japan? No. RUSSIANS?! No. I did some digging. It turns out there’s a theory the people of Hagoth that survived their journeys became Polynesians and the Maori.
I’m just going to leave that there. The Book of Alma ends with this story after several battles that fall into a familiar pattern. Helaman, son of Alma, is anointed to be the plate-keeper and record writer for the Nephites. We’re told what the purpose of life is. The Lamanites learn the value of having good armor. There’s a pretty high profile scalping. Moroni saves the day many many times. And…the Nephites start flying liberty flags?
You read that right. Moroni develops a flag called “liberty” that is flown throughout the Nephite lands. Their lands shall be lands of liberty, it is declared. Between Moroni and Helaman, we see some pretty great battles in the name of liberty. Then it ends with the non-vikings.
It sounds like I’m being cheeky here. I’m not trying to be. I enjoyed the Book of Alma thoroughly, as long as it was. I enjoyed the several little vignettes that provide a familiar and somewhat comforting pattern. All in all, I have enjoyed, so far, how the Book of Mormon continues to stun me. I’m not dusting off any theology credentials here, but it’s hard to leave that background behind. This book genuinely stuns me.
I realize that for some people that read this and experience their own shock, it can lead to conversion. Mine just leads to more questions. There are bold claims in this book that are read and taught as factual. Within Biblical Studies, there is a general understanding that you can determine what is factual, mythical, and so on. I’m not saying it’s easy, but when you look at the records left behind by rabbis in antiquity, you get a general sense of their own impressions of their stories.
I’m not getting this feeling from the Book of Mormon. Is the story of Haggoth teaching me a lesson or is it factual? What about the 2,000 warriors of Helaman and their faithfulness? And what about Amalickiah, the wicked man that incites the creation of the liberty flag? I guess the biggest question I have is: What does higher criticism of the Book of Mormon look like within Latter-day Saint circles? Is there an effort to determine what is mythic and what is fact? What is for teaching and what is for history? Maybe this is just the outsiders’ perspective, but I feel it’s a valuable one. The Latter-day Saints aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. But a reckoning with this text, if it isn’t already happening, is inevitable.
Things I Noticed in the Text
- Alma 42:4, Purpose of Life. To repent. That’s about it. My question: Why?
- Alma 43:20-21, Don’t Forget Your Armor! The Lamanites showed up to a battle without armor and ran away. Not gonna lie, I laughed.
- Alma 44:14, Scalping. A Lamanite leader named Zarahemnah is ultimately scalped for refusing to lay down weapons. His scalp is used as a sign of the eventual destruction of the Lamanites, which leads to many of them choosing peace. But not Zarahemnah…he tries to keep the battle going with no scalp. He’s readily defeated again and surrenders. Good times.
- Alma 45, This Flag Thing. The liberty flag. Just read it. I’m baffled.
- Alma 63:4,5, Fake Vikings. And dear old Hagoth building his ships to go north. Which ended up being west…and south. I guess it could be north if the Nephites were in South America?
This post is part of a larger series where I read the entirety of Latter-day Saint scripture in 15 days. Take a look at the original post for more info, as well as links to other reflections on this journey.