William J. Hamblin and A. Brent Merrill discuss swords in the Book of Mormon; concludes that the "sword" used by the Book of Mormon peoples in the New World was the Mesoamerican macuahuitl.
- Type
- Book
- Hearsay
- Direct
- Reference
William J. Hamblin and A. Brent Merrill, “Swords in the Book of Mormon,” in Warfare in the Book of Mormon, ed. Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin (Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1990), 329-51
- Scribe/Publisher
- Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, Deseret Book
- Audience
- Reading Public
PDF- Transcription
. . .
Although there are some difficulties and obscure points not yet fully understood, none of the Book of Mormon descriptions of swords would exclude the Mesoamerican macuahuitl from consideration. Although additional archaeological evidence many eventually show metal blades in use among the Book of Mormon peoples, with our present state of knowledge, it seems likely that the early Mesoamerican obsidian-edged macuahuitl was generally the “sword” referred to in the Book of Mormon, with the possible rare use of metal in place of the usual obsidian for special weapons.
- Citations in Mormonr Qnas
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