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Question

 

Gramps,

Why does the Book of Mormon present the biblical myth of the Tower of Babel as a real historical event?

Raul

 

Answer

 

Dear Raul,

The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because Jared and his brother really lived through it. The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because Jared’s brother wrote it down on a physical record. The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because Ether read this record and wrote about it again on 24 gold plates (Ether 15:33). The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because these tangible plates were found and hefted by Limhi, who took them to Mosiah to be translated (Mosiah 28:11-13).

The Book of Mormon almost did NOT present the myth of the Tower of Babel as history because Alma didn’t want the story published (Alma 37:21-22).

The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because these real plates were passed down to Moroni, who translated them (Ether 1:2) and wrote the translation on some gold plates of his own. The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because a resurrected flesh and bone Moroni told Joseph Smith where his own translation of the story was kept. The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel as history, because Joseph Smith dug up an actual record and translated Moroni’s words by the gift and power of God.

The Book of Mormon presents the myth of the Tower of Babel, because it really happened. If you would doubt this event, you need to call into question the transmitters of the story. Joseph translated it from plates handled by 11 others. Are they lying? Moroni translated it from plates handed down through centuries. Is he lying? Ether recorded a story that was over a millennia old. I suppose if there’s a place for faithful skepticism it would be here. Did Ether just record an old legend passed down to him?

I see in this a fulfillment of one of the purposes of this modern scripture. In a day when many biblical events are called into question – the exodus (1 Nephi 17:23-32, 40-42), the virgin birth (1 Nephi 11:18-20Alma 7:10), and the Tower of Babel – The Book of Mormon sets out to “convinc[e] … the Gentiles”, the Lehites, and the “the Jews … that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true” (1 Nephi 13:39).

I find it unfortunate that we look to scholars to explain God’s dealings with man. How much better it is to trust God’s own word!

Gramps

 

 

 

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