Scimitar—Simitar—Cimeter

Several times the Book of Mormon tells us its people had and used cimeters. (Alma 2:12; 87 B.C.; 43:18, 20, 37, 74 B.C.; Hel. 1:14, 51 BC). The dictionary defines this weapon as:

“A semi-civilized weapon; a curved single edged sword, originating in the orient, and well known there.”

Is there a reasonable explanation for the Book of Mormon people allegedly having had scimitars—cimeters that originated in the orient, when they allegedly had no contact with the orient?

Silk

Encyclopedias tell us that silk is the product of a fairly advanced affluent people, and is several times mentioned in the Book of Mormon. (Alma 1:29; 4:6; Ether 9:17; 10:24). The dictionary defines silk as:

“The soft lustrous fibre obtained as a filament form the cocoon of silk worms.”

Of course its production and manufacture involves culture of words, gathering, processing, spinning and weaving. Also it is of oriental discovery and manufacture, which is a complicated process. Again the encyclopedia tells us:

“The sericulture (silk worm culture) and the weaving of silk has been practiced in China for 4000 years (since earlier than 2000 B.C.) and *the Chinese kept it a secret* for 3000 years, (down to 1000 A.D., 1400 years after the people of Lehi came to America).”

A secret for 1400 years after Lehi allegedly arrived in America. How could the Book of Mormon people, or the Jaredites, have produced silk? Where is the evidence or vindication that they did so> But please remember that they could easily have been accomplished in a fairy tale.