I assume that if you are reading this you already have an opinion on the Book of Mormon. Either you feel that it is the life-changing word of God or a complete and total fabrication. Let me give a brief introduction, however, in case anyone ever reads this that isn’t familiar with it. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make the claim that the Book of Mormon is the history of ancient people who once lived in the Americas. They believe that this record was written on golden plates by prophets and others, the last of whom buried the records. After having been buried for thousands of years, the plates were given to Joseph Smith who translated them so that they could be printed and distributed as another witness of Jesus Christ and companion to the Bible. While Mormons believe this book is scripture, critics of the church claim that Joseph Smith made it up.
Volumes can, have, and will be written defending both positions. I certainly not an archaeologist, geneticist, linguist, or any of the other “ists” who present their arguments with authority. In fact, I only want to look at one almost trivial point of argument and my own personal thoughts on it. Let me introduce this by explaining that critics of the Book of Mormon contend that it can’t be historical because there is no archaeological proof. Again there are strong arguments for and against this that I don’t want to address now. Instead let’s just focus briefly on swords.
While the Book of Mormon isn’t primarily a book about weapons or warfare, the word “sword” does appear 156 times in the book. In some cases the word is used metaphorically, such as “sword of justice” but in others there are clearly large-scale battles fought with swords. Opponents of Mormonism argue that since the widespread use of swords is recounted in the Book of Mormon, archaeologists should be able to find them. Since metal swords have not been discovered the book must be a fake.
LDS apologists (yes that really is the name they call themselves) have many counter arguments. One of these is that for various reasons, swords or weapons of any kind are seldom found during any archaeological digs in either the New or Old Worlds. Another idea to consider is that while there are a couple of instances in which the swords in the Book of Mormon were clearly metal, in the majority of the references the swords could have been wooden. I know that at first the idea might seem silly. In the past when I have read about Book of Mormon wars, what I pictured in my mind were the European swords of the knights. But what modern people imagine—or paint for that matter—may have little to do with reality.
Consider the macuahuitl, possibly the most common weapon among the Aztec and Mayan people. While there appear to have been many varieties and styles, most were made of wood, shaped similarly to a sword, and edged with obsidian or flint that could be razor sharp. The early Spaniards frequently referred to the macuahuitls as swords and recorded an instance of one being used to decapitate a horse with one blow.
Just days after learning about the macuahuitls of the ancient Americas, I was reading in the book of Alma. I was already well acquainted with the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies who had been a ferocious and bloodthirsty people before becoming converted to the gospel of Christ. They made a covenant with God never to shed blood again, buried their swords, and were willing to die rather than fight. I don’t know if their swords were wooden, but read Alma 24:12-16, assuming that they are. I have added emphasis.
12 Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren.
13 Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins.
14 And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.
15 Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby.
16 And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved.
If the swords are metal then the blood could be washed off, but if the swords are wooden the blood would have soaked into the wood and completely cleaning them again would be miraculous. It is interesting these people were so concerned about the brightness of their swords that they would be willing to bury them, and leave not only themselves, but also their children, defenseless. It seems clear that they see a direct correlation between their clean swords and the redemptive power of Christ’s atonement. I don’t know what their swords were made of and have no proof for the “miracle of the swords,” but I like believing that God gave them this sign in a way that would make sense to them and help them to know that they were truly loved and completely forgiven.
We can debate the historical nature of the Book of Mormon based on whether we can dig up the weapons recorded there, but it’s not meant to be a book about weapons and warfare. The Book of Mormon is intended to be another witness of Jesus Christ, through whom all mankind can be saved. I love that trying to understand something as insignificant as the swords in the Book of Mormon has led me to better appreciate the total forgiveness that is available through the power of the redemption.
