-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 1
Expand file tree
/
Copy pathindex.html
More file actions
2567 lines (2283 loc) · 171 KB
/
index.html
File metadata and controls
2567 lines (2283 loc) · 171 KB
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
<!--
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</table>
-->
<html>
<head>
<title>The Book of Mormon and The Late War</title>
<style>
body { font-family: "HelveticaNeue-Light", "Helvetica Neue Light", "Helvetica Neue",
Helvetica, Arial, "Lucida Grande", sans-serif; }
a { color: black; }
table.comparison { border-collapse: collapse; }
table.comparison td b, .red { color: #DE3E39; }
table.comparison td i, .orange { font-weight: bold; color: #DE8E39; }
table.comparison td { border-bottom: 1px solid #999; padding: 0.2em 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em; vertical-align: top; }
table.comparison td b.c1, b.c1 { color: #3E39DE; }
table.comparison td b.c2, b.c2 { color: #3EBE39; }
table.comparison td b.c3, b.c3 { color: #DE3E39; }
table.comparison td b.c4, b.c4 { color: #DE8E39; }
table.comparison td b.c5, b.c5 { color: #BABA39; text-decoration: underline;}
table.comparison td b.c6, b.c6 { color: #399999; }
table.comparison td b.c7, b.c7 { color: #A059D9; }
table.comparison td b.c8, b.c8 { color: #222222; }
table.comparison td b.black, b.black { color: #333; }
div.section { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
h1 { margin-top: 2.5em; }
h2, h3 { margin-top: 1.5em; }
h1, h2, h3 { margin-left: 10%; color: #222; }
div.section h1, div.section h2, div.section h3 { margin-left: 0; }
blockquote:before{ content: "\201C"; font-size: 6em; font-family: Georgia; color: #666; line-height: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 0px -45px; vertical-align: bottom; position: relative; float: left; top: .4em; left: -.15 em; }
blockquote { background-color: #eee; padding: 0.5em 2em 0.5em 3em; border-radius: 4px; display: table; }
.title h1, .title h2, .title h3 { margin-left: 0; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.4em; }
.title h3 { margin: 0.2em; color: #666; }
img.left { float: left; margin: 0.5em 1em 1.5em 0.5em; padding-right: 2.5em;}
img.right { float: right; margin: 0.5em 0.5em 1.5em 1em; padding-left: 2.5em;}
ol ol { list-style-type: lower-roman; }
.blackpill{line-height: 2.5em; white-space: nowrap; padding: 2px 6px 3px 6px; width:150px;height:35px;-webkit-border-radius: 15px;-moz-border-radius: 15px;border-radius: 15px;border:1px solid #555555;background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#555555;}
.blackpill a:link, .blackpill a:visited, .blackpill a:active {text-decoration:none;color:#000000;}
.blackpill a:hover {text-decoration:underline;color:#000000;}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div class="title" align="center">
<h2>A Comparison of</h2>
<h1>The Book of Mormon</h1>
<h2>and</h2>
<h1>The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain</h1>
<h3>first published Jan 11, 2014</h3>
<h3>last edited Mar 9, 2014</h3>
</div>
<h2 id="tldr"><img src="tldr.png" title="Too Long; Didn't Read"></h2>
<div class="section">
Joseph most likely grew up reading a school book called <i>The Late War</i> by Gilbert J. Hunt and it heavily influenced his writing of <i>The Book of Mormon</i>.
</div>
<h2 id="summary">Summary</h2>
<div class="section">
<p>In October 2013, the authors conducted a data analysis comparing The Book of Mormon to over 100,000 books from the pre-1830's era. Out of the top matches, we discovered a book called <a href="https://archive.org/details/latewarbetween_00hunt">The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain</a>, a scriptural style account of the War of 1812 published in New York in 1816. Between 1817 and 1819 it was marketed "for the use of schools throughout the United States" under the title <a href="https://archive.org/details/historicalreader00huntgil">The Historical Reader</a>. </p>
<h3>Interesting Parallels</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th></th><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="15%"></td><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#4thofjuly">4th of July ...</a></span></td>
<td>26:1<br><img src="july_4.jpg" width="75"></td>
<td><b>the fourth day of</b> the <b class="c1">seventh month</b>, <b class="c2">which is</b> the birth day of Columbian Liberty and Independence,</td>
<td><b>the fourth day of</b> this <b class="c1">seventh month</b>, <b class="c2">which is</b> in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.</td>
<td>Alma 10:6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#tecumseh">Teancum ...</a></span></td>
<td>27-28</td>
<td>... near <b class="c1">Moravian Town</b> ... <b class="c2">And it came to pass</b> ... <b class="c3">the army</b> ... were under ... a chief warrior, whom they called <b class="c4">Tecumseh</b> [...] smote their chief warrior [<b class="c4">Tecumseh</b>], <b class="c5">and slew him</b> ... <b class="c7">he</b> fell to <b class="c6">the earth</b>.
</td>
<td>... people of <b class="c1">Morianton</b> ... <b class="c2">And it came to pass</b> ... <b class="c3">the army</b> ... was led by a man whose name was <b class="c4">Teancum</b> [...] they did pursue <b class="c4">Teancum</b>, <b class="c5">and slew him</b> ... <b class="c7">he</b> was dead, and had gone the way of all <b class="c6">the earth</b>.
</td>
<td>Alma 50:33,35, Alma 62:36-37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#stripling-soldiers">Striplings ...</a></span></td>
<td>35:5-6</td>
<td>
<b class="c2">two thousand</b> hardy <b class="c5">men</b>, who ... fought freely for <b class="c6">their country</b> ... Now the men <b class="c3">of war</b> ... were ... <b class="c5">men</b> of <b class="c7">dauntless courage</b>.
</td>
<td>
<b class="c2">two thousand</b> of those young <b class="c5">men</b> ... to defend <b class="c6">their country</b>. ... they took their weapons <b class="c3">of war</b>, ... were all young <b class="c5">men</b>, and they were exceeding <b class="c7">valiant for courage</b>, ...
</td>
<td>Alma 53:18-20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#americas">Americas ...</a></span></td>
<td>20:11-16</td>
<td>... <b class="c7">the land</b> ... most plentiful ... yielding <b>gold and silver</b>, and ... <b class="c1">all manner of</b> creatures <b class="c2">which are used for food</b>, And ... the huge <b class="c3">mammoth</b> that once moved on the borders ... It is <b class="c4">more</b> wonderful than <b class="c5">the elephant</b>;
</td>
<td>... <b class="c7">the land</b>, ... exceeding rich, ... of <b>gold, and of silver</b>, and ... <b class="c1">all manner of</b> ... animals <b class="c2">which were useful for the food</b> of man. And ... <b class="c3">cureloms and cumoms</b>; ... and <b class="c4">more</b> especially <b class="c5">the elephants</b> ...</td>
<td>Ether 9:17-19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#forts">Forts ...</a></span></td>
<td>29:20-23</td>
<td>[men] <b class="c1">were prepared</b> ... and they let loose <b class="c2">their weapons of war</b> ... and <b class="c4">smote</b> ... <b class="c7">with great slaughter</b>. And the deep <b class="c3">ditch</b> that surrounded the fort was strewed with <b class="c5">their slain and their wounded</b>.</td>
<td>[men] <b class="c1">were prepared</b>, with <b class="c2">their swords and their slings</b>, to <b class="c4">smite</b> ... <b class="c7">with an immense slaughter</b> ... <b class="c3">ditches</b> ...filled up in a measure with <b class="c5">their dead and wounded</b>.</td>
</td>
<td>Alma 49:20-25</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#forts">More Forts ...</a></span></td>
<td>51</td>
<td><b class="c7">it came to pass</b> ... <b class="c3">on the tenth day of the</b> <b class="c4">eighth month</b> ... the people began to fortify ... and entrench the <b class="c5">high</b> places <b class="c2">round about the city</b>. <b class="c1">And ... build their strong holds</b> ...</td>
<td><b class="c7">it came to pass</b> ... <b class="c3">on the tenth day of the</b> <b class="c4">month</b> ... the Nephites had dug a ridge of earth ... so <b class="c5">high</b> [...] <b class="c2">round about ... the city</b> ... <b class="c1">And ... built a strong hold</b> ...</td>
<td>Alma 49,52</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#casualties">Casualties ...</a></span></td>
<td>23:24</td>
<td>... <b class="c4">fought</b> ... <b>and there were many slain</b> and wounded <b class="c2">on both sides</b></td>
<td>... <b class="c4">fought</b> ... <b>and there were many slain</b> <b class="c2">on both sides</b></td>
<td>Alma 52:35</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#flocking">Standard ...</a></span></td>
<td>6-7</td>
<td><b class="c2">sent forth a Proclamation</b>, ... abroad ... <b class="c3">And it came to pass, that</b> <b class="c1">a great multitude</b> <b class="c5">flocked to the ... standard</b> of Columbia...they came in battle array <b class="c4">against the</b> ...</td>
<td><b class="c2">sent a proclamation</b> throughout ... the land; ... <b class="c3">And it came to pass that</b> <b class="c1">thousands did</b> <b class="c5">flock unto his standard</b> [of liberty] ... they ... went down with their armies ... <b class="c4">against the</b> ...</td>
<td>Alma 61-62</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#cataclysms">Cataclysms ...</a></span></td>
<td>19:37-44</td>
<td>...<b class="c1">thunders</b>: ... as the mighty <b class="c2">earthquake</b>, which <b class="c3">overturneth cities</b>. <b class="c1">And the whole face of the earth</b> ... overshadowed with <b class="c5">black smoke</b>; <b class="c6">so that, for a time</b>, one man saw not another: ... sharp rocks <b class="c3">had fallen upon them</b>:</td>
<td>...<b class="c1">thunder</b>, ... did <b class="c2">shake the whole earth</b> ... <b class="c3">cities were sunk</b>, <b class="c1">and ... the face of the whole earth</b>... could feel the <b class="c5">vapor of darkness</b> ... <b class="c6">so that ... for the space of three days</b>, that there was no light seen; ... great destruction <b class="c3">had come upon them</b>.</td>
<td>3 Nephi 8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#liahona">Liahona ...</a></span></td>
<td>50:24</td>
<td>made partly of <b class="c1">brass</b> ... with <b class="c3">curious works</b>, like unto a <b class="c4">clock</b>; and as it were a large <b class="c2">ball</b>.</td>
<td>a <b class="c2">round ball</b> of <b class="c3">curious workmanship</b>; and it was of fine <b class="c1">brass</b>. And within the ball were <b class="c4">two spindles</b>
</td>
<td>1 Nephi 16:10</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"><span class="blackpill"><a href="#weapons">Weapons ...</a></span></td>
<td>19:13</td>
<td><b class="c1">And</b> ... <b class="c2">weapons of war</b> were of <b class="c3">curious workmanship</b></td>
<td><b class="c1">And</b> ... <b class="c2">weapons of war</b> ... of exceedingly <b class="c3">curious workmanship</b></td>
<td>Ether 10:27</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>51:3-10</td>
<td>
<b class="c1">it came to pass that</b> the husbandmen ... <b class="c2">gathered together</b>, and <b class="c3">pitched their tents</b>, [and] <b class="c4">assembled together</b> ... <b class="c5">And the people shouted with a loud voice</b>, ...
</td>
<td>
<b class="c1">it came to pass that</b> ... the people <b class="c2">gathered themselves together</b> ... And ... <b class="c3">pitched their tents</b> ... ye should <b class="c4">assemble yourselves together</b> ... <b class="c5">And they all cried with one voice</b>, ...
</td>
<td>Mosiah 2-4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>53:4</td>
<td>... <b class="c1">it came to pass</b>, <b class="c2">that they gathered together</b> <b class="c3">their</b> army ... <b class="c3">their</b> navy ... on <b class="c4">the borders of the ... land of</b> Columbia ...</td>
<td>... <b class="c1">it came to pass</b> <b class="c2">that they gathered together</b> all <b class="c3">their</b> people ... <b class="c3">their</b> flocks ... near <b class="c4">the borders of the ... land of</b> Zarahemla</td>
<td>Alma 27:13-15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>13:20</td>
<td><b class="c3">Now when</b> Carden heard <b>these words, his heart</b> leaped <b class="c2">with joy</b>;</td>
<td><b class="c3">Now when</b> he had said <b>these words, his heart</b> was swollen ... <b class="c2">with joy</b>;</td>
<td>Alma 17:29</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>35:34</td>
<td>
<b class="c3">And</b> the <b class="c1">chief warriors</b> gave up their instruments of destruction, and laid them <span style="white-space:nowrap"><b class="c2">at the feet of</b> Jackson...</span>
</td>
<td>
<b class="c3">And</b> ... their <b class="c1">chief captains</b>, ... threw down their weapons of war <span style="white-space:nowrap"><b class="c2">at the feet of</b> Moroni...</span>
</td>
<td>Alma 52:38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>3:29</td>
<td>... <b class="c1">people to rise up</b> one <b class="c2">against</b> another, and ... <b class="c3">their own children</b>. </td>
<td>... <b class="c1">people to rise up</b> in rebellion <b class="c2">against</b> <b class="c3">their brethren</b>.</td>
<td>Helaman 1:7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>44:21</td>
<td>... <b class="c1">go</b> <b>with all our might against</b> their chief <b class="c7">city</b></td>
<td>... <b class="c1">go</b> forth <b>with all our might against</b> the Lamanites, who were in the <b class="c7">city</b></td>
<td>Alma 58:13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="left" valign="middle"></td>
<td>34:10</td>
<td><b>it came to pass</b>, <b class="c1">in the same year</b>, <b class="c2">that the people of <i>Columbia</i></b> were revenged of the evil:</td>
<td><b>it came to pass</b> that <b class="c1">in the same year</b> <b class="c2">that the people of <i>Nephi</i></b> had peace restored unto them,</td>
<td>Alma 50:37</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p align="center"><b>Note:</b> Some of these parallels were found through manual search, but were deemed interesting enough to highlight here.</p>
</div>
<h3>How rare are the 4gram matches?</h3>
<div class="section">
<p>While the above parallels are interesting, we believe that the more powerful connection between the two texts is the computer-aided discovery of matching, rare 4-grams.</p>
<p>If a 4 word phrase (4-gram) showed up less than once per thousand books, we considered it to be a <i>rare 4-gram</i>. After all biblical matches were removed from the comparison, the computer algorithm found <a href="#rare-phrases">over 100 rare 4-grams</a> shared by both <i>The Book of Mormon</i> and <i>The Late War</i>. To put this into perspective, we found that <i>The Late War</i> contained more rare 4-gram connections to <i>The Book of Mormon</i> than 99.999% of the other books published before 1830. For comparison purposes, we chose an arbitrary book from Joseph Smith's time, <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, and compared it to <i>The Book of Mormon</i>. The comparison showed a very low number of rare 4-gram matches per 1,000 words. <i>The Late War</i>, on the other hand, scored significantly higher:</p>
<img src="rare_4grams_common.png" width="600">
</div>
<h3 id="chiasmus">Chiasmus</h3>
<div class="section">
While chiasmus is a pattern that shows up in many English texts, some consider it to be an important marker that differentiates modern and ancient styles of writing. We don't believe this is the case—<i>The Late War</i> contains several significant chiastic structures. For instance:
<p>
<a href="chiasmus_the_late_war.png">
<img src="chiasmus_the_late_war.png" width="100%">
</a>
</p>
</div>
<h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2>
<div class="section">
<img src="the_late_war_title_page.jpg" class="right" width="300">
<p>
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_1812">War of 1812</a> was to Joseph Smith what 9/11 was to many of us—very real, and very recent in memory. <a href="#why-war">Why</a> does <i>The Book of Mormon</i> include so much war? Could the War of 1812 have played a part in inspiring Joseph's imagination when he wrote The Book of Mormon?</p>
<p>
We believe that like all creative works, The Book of Mormon is a <a href="http://everythingisaremix.info/">remix</a>—it was remixed from ideas and books contemporary to Joseph. One of those books was Gilbert J. Hunt's <a href="https://archive.org/details/latewarbetween_00hunt">The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain</a>, a historical account of the War of 1812 published in New York in 1816. Between 1817 and 1819 it was marketed "for the use of schools throughout the United States" under the title <a href="https://archive.org/details/historicalreader00huntgil">The Historical Reader</a>. It was a historical account of the then-recent War of 1812, written in the "scriptural style". <i>The Book of Mormon</i> is one book of several in this genre. When <i>The Late War</i> was published, Joseph would have been 12 years old.</p>
<p>
Interestingly, an academic in New York named Samuel Mitchill <a href="https://archive.org/stream/historicalreader00huntgil#page/n9/mode/2up">wrote a letter of endorsement</a> for Hunt's work, published in the preface of <i>The Late War</i>. Mitchill was pleased that a historian had used the "scriptural style" as a popular means of encouraging children to turn to the Holy Scriptures. When Joseph sent Martin Harris to seek endorsements for <i>The Book of Mormon</i>, one of the people he visited was the same Samuel Mitchill. Could Joseph have sought Mitchill's endorsement because of his support for <i>The Late War</i>, a book that held similarities to The Book of Mormon?</p>
<p>
Without a strong link between the two books, the similarities would be difficult to explain. There are <a href="#rare-phrases">over 100 rare phrases</a> that bind <i>The Book of Mormon</i> to <i>The Late War</i> (phrases that do not show up in other contemporary books—or if they do, only once or twice per thousand books). In addition, the two books use very similar language while detailing shared events and themes such as <a href="#forts">battles at forts</a> and <a href="#rivers">rivers</a>, <a href="#weapons">weapons of curious workmanship</a>, <a href="#stripling-soldiers">2,000 soldiers (including striplings)</a>, <a href="#robbers">bands of robbers</a>, <a href="#martyrs">martyrs burned</a>, <a href="#righteous-savage-indians">righteous vs. savage natives</a>, <a href="#cataclysms">cataclysmic events</a>, <a href="#columbus">Christopher Columbus</a>, <a href="false-prophets">false prophets</a>, fighting for <a href="#cause-of-liberty">the cause of liberty</a>, <a href="#freemen-kingmen">freemen vs. men of the king</a>, and <a href="#brass-records">silver plates and engravings in brass</a>, among many others (and those <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithpromotingrumor/2013/10/the-book-of-mormon-and-the-late-war-direct-literary-dependence/">further documented</a> by Ryan Thomas).</p>
</div>
<h2 id="toc">Table of Contents</h2>
<div class="section toc">
<ol>
<li><a href="#tldr">TL;DR</a></li>
<li><a href="#summary">Summary</a></li>
<li><a href="#introduction">Introduction</a></li>
<li><a href="#toc">Table of Contents</a></li>
<li><a href="#mitchill">Samuel Latham Mitchill</a></li>
<li><a href="#availability">Availability to New York Students</a></li>
<li><a href="#it-came-to-pass">It Came to Pass</a></li>
<li><a href="#chiasmus">Chiasmus</a></li>
<li><a href="#americas">Description of the Americas</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#mammoths">Cureloms as Mammoths?</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#warfare">Warfare</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#forts">Battles at Forts</a></li>
<li><a href="#rivers">Battles at Rivers</a></li>
<li><a href="#casualties">Battle Casualties</a></li>
<li><a href="#weapons">Weapons of War</a></li>
<li><a href="#stripling-soldiers">2,000 Soldiers, and Striplings</a></li>
<li><a href="#robbers">Band of Robbers</a></li>
<li><a href="#pitching-tents">Pitching Tents</a></li>
<li><a href="#martyrs">Burned Martyrs</a></li>
<li><a href="#mourning">Mourning the Dead</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#native-americans">Native Americans</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#righteous-savage-indians">Righteous vs. Savage Indians</a></li>
<li><a href="#missionary-work">Missionary Work to Natives</a></li>
<li><a href="#anti-nephi-lehis">Anti-Nephi-Lehis?</a></li>
<li><a href="#three-nephites">Three Nephites?</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#travel-by-ship">Travel by Ship</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#barges">Jaredite Barges?</a></li>
<li><a href="#faraway">Faraway Lands</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#cataclysms">Cataclysms</a></li>
<li><a href="#inception">Troubling Inception</a></li>
<li><a href="#liberty">Liberty</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#flocking">Flocking to a Symbol of Liberty</a></li>
<li><a href="#cause-of-liberty">Cause of Liberty</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#entering-hearts">Spiritual Being Entering Hearts</a></li>
<li><a href="#lion">Using "Lion" Figuratively</a></li>
<li><a href="#tecumseh">Teancum / Tecumseh</a></li>
<li><a href="#columbus">Christopher Columbus</a></li>
<li><a href="#4thofjuly">4th of July</a></li>
<li><a href="#fulton">Nephi, Fulton Build a Ship</a></li>
<li><a href="#liahona">Liahona?</a></li>
<li><a href="#brass-records">Silver Plates, Brass Plates</a></li>
<li><a href="#false-prophets">False Prophets</a></li>
<li><a href="#freemen-kingmen">Freemen vs. Kingmen</a></li>
<li><a href="#tender-women">Tender Women</a></li>
<li><a href="#rare-phrases">Rare Phrase Matches</a></li>
<li><a href="#byu-study">BYU Study 2009</a></li>
<li><a href="#">Linguistics</a>
<ol>
<li><a href="#hebraisms">Hebraisms</a></li>
<li><a href="#cognate-accusative">Cognate Accusative</a></li>
<li><a href="#whirlwind">Whirlwind</a></li>
<li><a href="#adverbials">Adverbials</a></li>
<li><a href="#negative-questions">Negative Questions</a></li>
<li><a href="#construct-state">Construct State</a></li>
<li><a href="#compound-prepositions">Compound Prepositions</a></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><a href="#why-war">Why War?</a></li>
<li><a href="#authors">Authors</a></li>
<li><a href="#credits">Credits</a></li>
</ol>
</div>
<h2 id="mitchill">Samuel Latham Mitchill</h2>
<div class="section">
<img class="left" width="320" src="samuel_latham_mitchill.jpg">
Joseph Smith probably directed Martin Harris to visit Samuel L. Mitchill, in addition to Martin's famed visit to Professor Charles Anthon. From the Palmyra Freeman, 1829:
<blockquote>
So blindly enthusiastic was Harris, that he took some of the characters interpreted by Smith, and went in search of some one, besides the interpreter, who was learned enough to English them; but all to whom he applied (among the number was Professor Mitchell, of New York,) happened not to be possessed of sufficient knowledge to give satisfaction! Harris returned, and set Smith to work at interpreting the Bible.
</blockquote>
In the preface to the 2nd and 3rd editions of Gilbert J. Hunt's <i>The Late War Between the United States and Great Britain</i>, Samuel Mitchill endorsed Hunt's book which was "written in the ancient historical style" or "scriptural style" (the description changed between editions). Mitchill wrote:
<blockquote>
It seems to me one of the best attempts to imitate the biblical style; and if the perusal of it can induce young persons to relish and love the sacred books whose language you have imitated, it will be the strongest of all recommendations.
</blockquote>
Hunt explained his own intention as well:
<blockquote>
The author having adopted for the model of his style the phraseology of the best books, remarkable for its simplicity and strength, the young pupil will acquire, with the knowledge of reading, a love for the manner in which the great truths of Divine Revelation are conveyed to his understanding, and this will be an inducement to him to study the Holy Scriptures.
</blockquote>
Samuel Mitchill was a strong proponent of a theory of the origins of Ancient Americans that is largely compatible with the Book of Mormon:
<blockquote>
Professor Samuel L. Mitchill, formerly of Columbia College, had concluded that two main groups of people once dominated the Americas—the Tartars of northern Asia and the Australasians of the Polynesian islands. Furthermore, they fought one another for many years, culminating in great battles of extermination in what later became upstate New York. This New York theory has much in common with the Book of Mormon. While visiting Professor Charles Anthon in New York in 1828, Martin Harris also met with Mitchill, an encounter that lent support to Harris's work on the Book of Mormon. — Abstract from <a href="https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/JBMRS/article/view/20211">A Nation Now Extinct</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The endorsements in <i>The Late War</i> are clearly an effort to give the book legitimacy, hence improving its marketability. Hunt is quite wise in getting the endorsement of Mitchill, who was well-known as a sort of human encyclopedia. The endorsement from Picket (also in the preface to <i>The Late War</i>) would get him into the educational market, as well. Joseph Smith may well have thought that such an endorsement from Mitchill and Anthon would legitimize the book. — <a href="http://mormonitemusings.com/2013/09/22/the-caractors-go-to-new-york/">grindael</a></p>
<p>Ultimately, Mitchill (as well as Charles Anthon), did not endorse The Book of Mormon.</p>
</div>
<h2 id="availability">Availability to New York Students</h2>
<div class="section">
How available was <i>The Late War</i> to students of New York? Hunt intended to sell the book to students, but did it reach his intended audience?
<p>
<blockquote>
<ol>
<li>The number of copies present in libraries today is relatively large, showing that many copies were indeed printed; and</li>
<li>Most copies which I see show considerable wear, suggesting
<ol>
<li>that they were used heavily over the years, and</li>
<li>that most copies were logically read to death and no longer survive at all (which lends more significance—for presumed large numbers printed—to the number which still survive, than if those modern survivals were all in fresh, unread condition).</li>
</ol>
</li> — Rick Grunder
</blockquote>
<div align="center">
<img src="used_late_wars.jpg" width="500">
</div>
</p>
<p>
There are <a href="http://www.worldcat.org/title/late-war-between-the-united-states-and-great-britain-from-june-1812-to-february-1815-written-in-the-ancient-historical-style-containing-also-a-sketch-of-the-late-algerine-war-the-commercial-treaty-with-great-britain-and-the-treaty-concluded-with-the-creek-nation-of-indians/oclc/15571471&referer=brief_results">158 copies</a> of <i>The Late War</i> listed in the world's largest open library system, the OCLC:
</p>
<blockquote>
The OCLC system lists 158 copies of the book, in its various 1816-1819 editions, in libraries worldwide. Plus, there are many smaller libraries which don't participate in the OCLC system, and then there are also individual collectors. A friend of mine has several copies and sold many more, much of these in his personal collection acquired that pre-date Hofmann. — Joe Geisner
</blockquote>
<p>
It seems the book was widely available at the right time and in the right location, but did it reach Joseph Smith in particular? The probabilistic evidence for this is clear from this research; however, there is further reason to believe that Joseph had access to the book: he was closely connected to at least 3 teachers. His father, Joseph Smith Sr. was a teacher during the off season. His wife, Emma Hale Smith, was also a teacher. In addition, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cowdery">Oliver Cowdery</a>'s involvement began when as a traveling teacher he lodged with the Smiths.
</p>
<p>
Another way to look at this question is, given that the War of 1812 was such a prominent historical subject, one that would have been taught and discussed at great length during Joseph Smith's teenage years, what textbook other than <i>The Late War</i> was more likely to have been used to cover this subject matter by teachers he knew?
</p>
</div>
<h2 id="it-came-to-pass">It Came to Pass</h2>
<div class="section">
<div align="center">
<img src="came_to_pass_visual.png">
</div>
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th>The Bible</th><th>The Late War</th><th>Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="33.3%"></td><td width="33.3%"></td><td width="33.3%"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><b class="black">390</b> occurrences of the phrase "it came to pass"</td>
<td><b class="black">76</b> occurrences of the phrase "it came to pass"</td>
<td><b class="black">1322</b> occurrences of the phrase "it came to pass"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b class="black">790,930</b> words total in book</td>
<td><b class="black">59,679</b> words total in book</td>
<td><b class="black">272,004</b> words total in book</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Density: <b class="black">0.049%</b></td>
<td>Density: <b class="black">0.12%</b></td>
<td>Density: <b class="black">0.48%</b></td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="americas">Description of the Americas</h2>
<div class="section">
Both books share a striking similarity in their describing the Americas. The types of things worthy of mention are alike—metals, fruits, and animals. It's noteworthy that The Book of Mormon lists <i>European</i> animals instead of animals native to America (such as the tapir); and, oddly, in the same section that The Book of Mormon mistakenly includes elephants as native to America, <i>The Late War</i> mentions the elephant in comparison to mammoths.
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>20:11-16</td>
<td>Now <b class="c1">the land of Columbia</b> is a most <b class="c2">plentiful</b> land, yielding <b class="c5">gold and silver, and brass and iron abundantly</b>. Likewise, <b class="c7">all manner of creatures which are used for food</b>, and herbs and <b class="c4">fruits of the earth: From the red cherry, and the rosy peach of the north, to the lemon, and the golden orange of the south</b>. And from the small insect, that cheateth the microscopic eye, to <b class="c6">the huge mammoth</b> that once moved on the borders of the river Hudson; on the great river Ohio; and even down to the country of Patagonia in the south. Now the height of a <b class="c6">mammoth</b> is about seven cubits and a half, and the length thereof fourteen cubits; and the bones thereof being weighed were more than thirty thousand shekels; and the length of the tusks is more than six cubits. It is more wonderful than <b class="c3">the elephant</b>; and the history thereof, is it not recorded in the book of Jefferson, the scribe?</td>
<td>the Lord began again to take the curse from off <b class="c1">the land</b>, and ... they became exceeding <b class="c2">rich</b>, having <b class="c4">all manner of fruit</b>, and of grain, and of silks, and of fine linen, and of <b class="c5">gold, and of silver, and of precious things</b>; And also <b class="c7">all manner of cattle, of oxen, and cows, and of sheep, and of swine, and of goats, and also many other kinds of animals which were useful for the food of man</b>. And they also had horses, and asses, and there were <b class="c3">elephants</b> and <b class="c6">cureloms and cumoms</b>; all of which were useful unto man, and more especially <b class="c3">the elephants</b> and <b class="c6">cureloms and cumoms</b>.
<p>
And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of <b class="c5">iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores</b>, which were <b class="c2">in great abundance</b>.</p></td>
<td>Ether 9:17-19, 2 Nephi 5:15</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="section">
<h3 id="mammoths">Cureloms as Mammoths?</h3>
<img src="mammoth.jpg" class="right" width="400">
Orson Pratt said that a "curelom" was a "mammoth":
<blockquote>Now to prepare them against these contingencies, and that they might, have fresh air for the benefit of the <b class="c3">elephants</b>, <b class="c6">cureloms or mammoths</b> and many other animals, that perhaps were in them, as well as the human beings they contained, the Lord told them how to construct them in order to receive air, that when they were on the top of the water, whichever side up their vessels happened to be, it mattered not; they were so constructed that they could ride safely, though bottom upwards and they could open their air holes that happened to be uppermost" (Orson Pratt, JoD 12:340).</blockquote>
<p>See also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curelom_and_cumom">wikipedia</a></p>
</div>
<h2>Warfare</h2>
<div class="section">
<h3 id="forts">Battles at Forts</h3>
The elements of the Croghan/Moroni battles are very similar, sharing phraseology and a basic plot: the protagonist men prepare for battle at their fort, the enemy attacks, the ditches around the fort are filled with the enemy's bodies, the enemy flees into the forest.
<p>
Some may argue that this structure is a scène a faire—that this is a basic structure common to many battles; however, there are distinctive elements to these descriptions that raise the question, how could two battles separated by nearly 2,000 years be described by two different people in so similar a manner? In the context of the strong evidence of a connection between <i>The Late War</i> and <i>The Book of Mormon</i> is it reasonable to conclude that the structure is coincidental rather than imitative?
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>29:20-23</td>
<td>But <b class="c1">the men of Croghan were prepared</b> for them; and they let loose <b class="c2">their weapons of war</b> upon them, and set their destroying engine to work, and smote the men of Britain, hip and thigh, <b class="c7">with great slaughter</b>.
<p>And the deep <b class="c3">ditch</b> that surrounded the <b>fort</b> was <b class="c4">strewed with their slain and their wounded</b>. So the host of Britain were dismayed and overthrown, and <b class="c5">fled in confusion from the fort into the forest</b>; from whence, in the dead of the night, they went into their vessels, and departed from the place. Now <b class="c6">the loss</b> of the men of Britain was about an hundred two score and ten; and of the men of Columbia there was one slain and seven wounded.</p></td>
<td>
Moroni ... had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God; yea, he had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting <b>small forts</b>, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about, to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities, and the borders of their lands;
<p>
Thus <b class="c1">they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men</b>, with <b class="c2">their swords and their slings</b>, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of entrance; and thus were they prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
<p>And it came to pass that the captains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and began to contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold, they were driven back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain <b class="c7">with an immense slaughter</b>. Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their <b class="c3">ditches</b> by pulling down the banks of earth, <b class="c4">they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies</b>. Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain. There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their shields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe. And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief captains were all slain <b class="c5">they fled into the wilderness</b>. And it came to pass that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a Nephite by birth, concerning <b class="c6">their great loss</b>.
</td>
<td>Alma 48:7-8, Alma 49:20-25</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="rivers">Battles at Rivers</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>47:2-5</td>
<td>
And the battle raged with great violence, and the men of Britain strove hard <b class="c8">to pass over</b> <b class="c3">the river</b> called <b class="c5">Saranac</b>; But the men of war of Columbia, who were upon the opposite side of the water, opposed them, and <b class="c1">slew</b> them with great slaughter. And the brave Grosvenor, and Hamilton, and Riley, and the gallant Cronk, <b class="c2">drove them back</b> from crossing the bridges. Likewise, many were slain in <b class="c3">the river</b>, so that <b class="c6">the waters of the <b class="c5">Saranac</b></b> were dyed with the <b class="c7">blood of the servants</b> of <b class="c4">the king</b>.
</td>
<td>
But Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of <b class="c4">the king</b> of the Lamanites, until he <b class="c1">slew</b> and <b class="c2">drove them back</b>; and thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west side of <b class="c3">the river</b> <b class="c5">Sidon</b>, throwing <b class="c7">bodies of the Lamanites</b> which had been slain, into <b class="c6">the waters of <b class="c5">Sidon</b></b>, that thereby his people might have room <b class="c8">to cross</b> and contend with the Lamanites and the Amlicites, on the west side of <b class="c3">the river</b> <b class="c5">Sidon</b>.
</td>
<td>Alma 2:34</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="casualties">Battle Casualties</h3>
<div class="section">
Historical works describing the War of 1812 use quite a bit of variation in describing casualties. For instance:
<blockquote>
leaving the field strewed with the carnage of more than 2000 wounded, dead and dying" — <a href="https://archive.org/stream/historyofuniteds00but#page/364/mode/2up">History of the United States of America, published 1828</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The loss of Guerriere was 15 killed, 64 wounded, and 21 missing — <a href="https://archive.org/stream/cihm_47269#page/n467/mode/2up">The Annals of America, published 1829</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
It's interesting that <i>The Book of Mormon</i> doesn't include "dying" or "missing" in their battle numbers, and that they are reported, typically, as "slain", like <i>The Late War</i>. One interesting difference is that <i>The Book of Mormon</i> does not mention the "maimed", however.</p>
<blockquote>
Frequent reports of the number slain appear throughout the text, rather in the style of the daily reports in the Book of Mormon. And as in the Book of Mormon, near-miraculous differences can occur between casualty numbers of the wicked vs. the righteous. — Rick Grunder, Mormon Parallels
</blockquote>
<p>In both books:</p>
<blockquote>
The righteous protagonists triumph over the more numerous foe, and the enemy army consistently outnumbers the righteous protagonists. — Ryan Thomas, Direct Literary Dependence?
</blockquote>
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>8:18-19</td>
<td>
<b class="c3">Now the slain, the maimed and the captives of the host of Britain that day, were about a thousand fighting men</b>: <b class="c1">And the loss of the men of Columbia was about three hundred slain and wounded.</b>
</td>
<td>
Yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites; and in one day and a night, <b class="c3">we did slay three thousand and forty-three</b>; we did slay them, even until we had driven them out of our land. And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead. And behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, <b class="c1">two hundred and seventy-nine of our brethren were slain</b>.
</td>
<td>Mosiah 9:18-19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>49:18-20</td>
<td>
Nevertheless, they received the reward of their unrighteousness, for much damage was done to their vessels, and <b class="c3">their slain and wounded were two hundred two score and ten</b>.
<p>
<b class="c1">Of the people of Columbia two only were slain and seven maimed ! !</b> And the valiant deeds of Samuel gained him a name amongst the brave men of Columbia.</p>
</td>
<td>
And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, <b class="c1">there was not one soul of them who did perish</b>; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
<p>
And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while <b class="c3">there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain</b>.</p>
</td>
<td>Alma 57:25-26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>49:35-36</td>
<td>
35 And the slaughter on board the ships was dreadful; and <b class="c3">about three hundred of the men of Britain were slain</b>, and the Hermes was blown out of the water into the air with an awful noise. <b class="c1">The loss of the people of Columbia that day, was four slain and five maimed</b>.
</td>
<td>
Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of Nephihah <b class="c1">without the loss of one soul</b>; and <b class="c3">there were many of the Lamanites who were slain</b>.
</td>
<td>Alma 62:26</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>54:24</td>
<td>
<b class="c3">Seven hundred of the servants of the king were slain; and their whole loss that day was two thousand six hundred valiant men</b>, who had fought under Wellington, the champion of England.
</td>
<td>
there was a large number which were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance; wherefore, they went up into the wilderness. And their leader being a strong and mighty man, and a stiffnecked man, wherefore, he caused a contention among them; and <b class="c3">they were all slain, save fifty</b>, in the wilderness, and they returned again to the land of Zarahemla.
</td>
<td>Omni 1:28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>54:27-28</td>
<td>
The <b class="c1">loss of the army of Jackson was only seven slain and seven maimed</b>, a circumstance unparalleled in the annals of history: howbeit, there were about two score slain and wounded upon the other side of the river.Now the whole <b class="c3">loss of the king's army</b>, from the time they came against the country of Louisiana until their departure, <b class="c3">was about five thousand</b>.
</td>
<td>
Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were all slain; yea, and <b class="c3">more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain</b>; while, on the other hand, <b class="c1">there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain.</b>
</td>
<td>Alma 49:23-24</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="weapons">Weapons of War</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>46:6</td>
<td>And they began to <b class="c1">prepare</b> their <b class="c2">battering rams, their bombs and their rockets</b>, and <b class="c3">all kinds</b> of instruments of destruction; and they entrenched themselves round about.</td>
<td>Therefore the people of the Nephites were aware of the intent of the Amlicites, and therefore they did <b class="c1">prepare</b> to meet them; yea, they did arm themselves with <b class="c2">swords, and with cimeters, and with bows, and with arrows, and with stones, and with slings</b>, and with all manner of weapons of war, of <b class="c3">every kind</b>.</td>
<td>Alma 2:12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19:13</td>
<td><b>And their weapons of war</b> were of curious workmanship [footnote: rifles], and they sent forth balls of lead; such as were unknown to Pharaoh when he followed the Children of Israel down into the red sea.</td>
<td>[Moroni and Pahoran] slew many of them, and took their provisions <b>and their weapons of war</b>.</td>
<td>Alma 62:15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>54:7</td>
<td>Their polished <b class="c2">steels</b>, of <b class="c1">fine workmanship</b>, glittered in the sun, and the movement of their squadrons was as the waving of a wheat-field, when the south wind passeth gently over it.</td>
<td>And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in <b class="c1">fine workmanship</b> of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and <b class="c2">steel</b>, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.</td>
<td>Jarom 1:8</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12:12, 13:13, 50:7</td>
<td>
Now these steam-boats were cunningly contrived, and had abundance of <b class="c1">curious workmanship</b> therein, such as surpassed the comprehension of all the wise men of the east, from the beginning to this day.
<p>
However, the people of Columbia were pleased with the noble conduct of Jones, and for his valiant acts they gave him a sword of <b class="c1">curious workmanship</b>.</p>
<p>
And when Carden came on board the ship of the Columbia, he bowed his head, and offered to put his sword, of <b class="c1">curious workmanship</b>, into the hands of Decatur.</p>
</td>
<td>
And it came to pass that they did worship the Lord, and did go forth with me; and we did work timbers of <b class="c1">curious workmanship</b>. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.
<p>
And they did make all manner of weapons of war. And they did work all manner of work of exceedingly <b class="c1">curious workmanship</b>.</p>
</td>
<td>1 Ne 18:1, Ether 10:27</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="stripling-soldiers">2,000 Soldiers, and Striplings</h3>
<div class="section">
<i>The Late War</i> does not include the phrase "stripling soldiers" like the <i>Book of Mormon</i>; however, it does share the same context as the distinctive <i>Book of Mormon</i> story: striplings in battle, including a band of 2,000 courageous soldiers who volunteer in a desperate fight for the freedom of their country against an oppressive king (Amalickiah / King George III).
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>35:5-6</td>
<td>
Immediately Jackson took <b class="c2">two thousand</b> hardy <b class="c5">men</b>, who were called volunteers, because they fought freely for <b class="c6">their country</b> and led them against the savages. Now the men <b class="c3">of war</b> that followed after him were mostly from the state of Tennessee, and <b class="c5">men</b> of <b class="c7">dauntless courage</b>.
</td>
<td>
Now behold, there were <b class="c2">two thousand</b> of those young <b class="c5">men</b> which entered into this covenant, and took their weapons of war to defend <b class="c6">their country</b>. And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage of the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons <b class="c3">of war</b>, and they would that Helaman should be their leader. And they were all young <b class="c5">men</b>, and they were exceeding <b class="c7">valiant for courage</b>, ...
</td>
<td>Alma 53:18-20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>14:22, 6:2</td>
<td>
And the <b class="c4">small band</b> of Columbia <b class="c3">fought desperately</b>, and the slaughter was dreadful ; and the pure snow of heaven was sprinkled and stained with the blood of men !
<p>
And to a certain chief captain called William, whose sir-name was Hull, was given in trust <b class="c4">a band</b> of more than <b class="c2">two thousand</b> chosen men, to go forth to battle in the north.
</p>
</td>
<td>
But behold, my <b class="c4">little band</b> of <b class="c2">two thousand</b> and sixty <b class="c3">fought most desperately</b>; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death unto all those who opposed them.</td>
<td>Alma 57:19</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19:32, 28:2</td>
<td>
About this time, a <b class="c1">stripling</b> from the south, with his weapon of war in his hand, ran up to Zebulon, and spake unto him, saying... (See also 1 Sam. 17:56)
<p>
And the vessels of war of Columbia that were upon the waters of the lake were not yet prepared for battle ; the name of the commander whereof was McDonough, (a <b class="c1">stripling</b>).
</p>
</td>
<td>
... the remainder I took and joined them to my <b class="c1">stripling</b> Ammonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.
<p>
And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his <b class="c2">two thousand</b> <b class="c1">stripling</b> soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
</p>
</td>
<td>Alma 56:57, 53:22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>19:48</td>
<td>
The magic of his words gave joy to their hearts ; for they loved him as they loved their own <b class="c5">father</b>.
</td>
<td>
For as I had ever called them my sons, (for they were all of them very young,) even so they said unto me, <b class="c5">Father</b>, behold, our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we shall fall;</td>
<td>Alma 56:46</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="robbers">Band of Robbers</h2>
<div class="section">
<div align="center">
<img src="jean_lafitte_pirate.jpg"><br/>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lafitte">Jean Lafitte</a> was a "sea-robber"
</div>
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>49:37-38, 1:18</td>
<td>About this time a <b class="c1">band of sea-robbers</b> and pirates, who had established themselves upon the island of Barrataria, were committing great <b class="c2">wickedness</b> and depredations and were ready to assist the men of Britain.
<p>
But a valiant man, called Daniel, sir-named Patterson, went against them with his small fighting vessels, and scattered them abroad, and took their vessels, and <b class="c3">destroyed</b> their petty establishment of sea-robbery.</p>
<p>
Now these things pleased the pirates and the cruisers and all the <b class="c1">sea-robbers</b> of Britain mightily, inasmuch as they could rob with impunity the commerce of Columbia, under the cloak of British honor.</p>
</td>
<td>And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the <b class="c1">band of robbers</b> of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more <b class="c2">wicked</b> part of them, insomuch that this <b class="c1">band of robbers</b> was utterly <b class="c3">destroyed</b> from among the Lamanites.
<p>
And it came to pass that it was expedient that there should be a stop put to this work of <b class="c3">destruction</b>; therefore they sent an army of strong men into the wilderness and upon the mountains to search out this <b class="c1">band of robbers</b>, and to <b class="c3">destroy</b> them.</p>
<p>
And it came to pass in the commencement of the eighty and first year they did go forth again against this <b class="c1">band of robbers</b>, and did <b class="c3">destroy</b> many; and they were also visited with much <b class="c3">destruction</b>.</p>
</td>
<td>Helaman 6:37,Helaman 11:28,30</td>
</tr>
</table>
<div class="section">
There are numerous references to destroying robbers in the Book of Mormon and none in the Bible. While there are no doubt other potential sources (and I wouldn't make the claim that the robbers in the Book of Mormon are solely based on this one passage) it is interesting that both the Late War and the Book of Mormon speak of going against the band of robbers and destroying them. — Hasa
</div>
<h3 id="pitching-tents">Pitching Tents on the Borders</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>11:17</td>
<td>And the army of Columbia went into winter quarters; for the earth was covered with snow, and the <b class="c1">waters of the great lakes</b>, <i>on <b>the borders</b> of which they had <b>pitched</b> their <b>tents</b></i>, were congealed.</td>
<td>... And it came to pass that Teancum and his men did <b>pitch</b> their <b>tents</b> in <b>the borders</b> of the land Bountiful; and Amalickiah <i>did pitch his tents in <b>the borders</b></i> on <b class="c1">the beach by the seashore</b>, and after this manner were they driven.</td>
<td>Alma 51:32</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="martyrs">Burned Martyrs</h2>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>14:39-41</td>
<td>For the savages put the burning brand to the houses, from which they could not flee, <b class="c1">and burnt them alive therein</b>. And the <b>flames</b> and the smoke arose! and their cries and their groans reached the high chancery of heaven, Where they <b class="c2">will stand recorded, until the coming of that Day for which all other days were made</b>.</td>
<td>And when Amulek saw <b class="c1">the pains of the women and children who were consuming</b> in the <b>fire</b>, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the <b>flames</b>. But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent <b class="c2">shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day</b>. ... Now it came to pass that when the bodies of those which had been cast into the fire, were consumed, and also the records which were cast in with them</td>
<td>Alma 14:10-11</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="mourning">Mourning the Dead</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>19:57-60</td>
<td>Oh! earth, how long shall thy inhabitants <b class="c1">delight in warfare</b>? <b class="c2">when shall the old men cease to weep</b> for their children? Behold you lonely widows; they weep for their husbands and their children; <b class="c3">but they shall see their faces no more</b>! The <b class="c4">fair daughters</b> of Columbia sigh for the return of their beloved. Seest thou those little ones? they fly to their disconsolate mother, they leap with joy at the name of the father! but <b class="c5">he shall never return</b>!</td>
<td>And <b class="c2">my soul was rent with anguish</b>, because of the slain of my people, <b class="c2">and I cried</b>: O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss. O ye <b class="c4">fair sons and daughters</b>, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen! But behold, <b class="c3">ye are gone</b>, and my sorrows <b class="c5">cannot bring your return</b>.</td>
<td>Mormon 6:16-20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>And it came to pass that many means were devised to reclaim and restore the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth; but it all was vain, for they <b class="c1">delighted in wars and bloodshed</b>, and they had an eternal hatred against us, their brethren. And they sought by the power of their arms to destroy us continually.
</td>
<td>Jacob 7:24</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="native-americans">Native Americans</h2>
<div class="section">
<h3 id="righteous-savage-indians">Righteous Indians vs. Savage Indians</h3>
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>1:19 (Grunder p. 731)</td>
<td>
Furthermore, have not the servants of the king leagued with <b class="c4">the savages of the wilderness</b>, and given unto them silver and gold, and placed the destroying engines in their hands? Thereby <b class="c3">stirring up the spirit of Satan</b> within them, that they might <b class="c1">spill the blood</b> of the <b class="c2">people of Columbia</b>; even the blood of our old men, our wives, and our little ones!
</td>
<td>
But it came to pass in the fifty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, there were dissenters who went up from the Nephites unto the <b class="c4">Lamanites</b>; and they succeeded with those others in <b class="c3">stirring them up to anger</b> against <b class="c2">the Nephites</b>; and they were all that year <b class="c1">preparing for war</b>.
</td>
<td>Helaman 4:4</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="missionary-work">Missionary Work to Natives</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>26:18-21 (Grunder, p. 731)</td>
<td>
Now there were some amongst the tribes of the <b class="c4">savages</b> who <b class="c7">had been instructed in the ways of God</b>, and taught to walk in the path of righteousness; For the chief governor of the land of Columbia, and the great Sanhedrim of the people, had taken them under their care, And <b class="c6">sent good men amongst them to preach</b> <b class="c1">the gospel</b>, and instruct them in the sublime doctrine of the <b class="c2">Saviour of the world</b>. And <b class="c3">they hearkened unto the preachers</b>, and were convinced, and their natures were softened.
</td>
<td>
<p>
yea, <b class="c7">having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord</b> ...
</p>
Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, <b class="c6">go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach</b> the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the <b class="c1">word of God</b> to their brethren, the <b class="c4">Lamanites</b>--
<p>
and [Ammon] also made known unto them concerning the coming of <b class="c2">Christ</b> ...</p>
<p>
And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king <b class="c3">believed all his words</b>.</p>
</td>
<td>Alma 47:36, Alma 18:1,39,40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>26:21</td>
<td>
And they hearkened unto the preachers, and were convinced, and their <b>natures were softened</b>.
</td>
<td>
And behold, I [the Lamanite king] thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to <b>soften our hearts</b>, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites.
</td>
<td>Alma 24:8</td>
</table>
<h3 id="anti-nephi-lehis">Anti-Nephi-Lehis?</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>26:22-28</td>
<td>
Amongst these tribes [the tribes of the <b class="c4">savages who had been instructed in the ways of God</b>, see above] were those who were called, <b class="c4">the Six nations of New-York Indians</b>: And their eyes were opened, and they saw the evil and the wickedness of Britain. So their chiefs and their counsellors rose up and made war against the province of Canada, and fought against the hired savages of the king of Britain. But in all their acts they suffered not the spirit of barbarians to rule over them. They remembered the good counsel given to them by their aged chief. And when the red savages and the men of Britain fell into their hands, <b class="c5">they raised neither the tomahawk nor the scalping knife</b>. Nay, they treated them kindly; and those who were slain in battle they disturbed not; and their humanity exceeded the humanity of the white men of Britain.
</td>
<td>
Now <b class="c5">there was not one soul</b> among all the people [the Anti-Nephi-Lehis] who had been converted unto the Lord <b class="c5">that would take up arms against their brethren</b>; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.
<p>
And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, <b class="c5">they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.</b></p>
<p>
And thus we see that, when <b class="c4">these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth</b>, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.</p>
</td>
<td>Alma 24:6, 17, 19</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="three-nephites">Three Nephites?</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>35:19</td>
<td>And he marched with his army through the wilderness more than an hundred miles, to a town built upon a place called by the savages the Holy-Ground, where <i>three of the Indian prophets</i> dwelt.</td>
<td>
And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto <i>the three</i>, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father? ... Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me. Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
<p>
Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were <i>the three disciples of Jesus</i> who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites.</p></td>
<td>3 Nephi 28:4-7, 4 Nephi 1:37</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="travel-by-ship">Travel by Ship</h2>
<h3 id="barges">Jaredite Barges?</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>52:4, 28:12, 15:30</td>
<td>
Now they sat their engines to work with dreadful violence; but in about the third part of an hour the <b class="c1">barges</b> of the king's ship were overcome.
<p>
Howsoever, they cut down the <b class="c2">tall trees</b> of the forest, and hewed them, and built many more strong <b class="c3">vessels</b>; although they had no gophar-wood amongst them in these days. And they made stories to them, even to the third story, and they put <b class="c4">windows</b> in them, and they pitched them within and without with pitch; after the fashion of <b class="c5">the ark</b>.</p>
<p>
And the fish of the sea, even the mighty <b class="c6">whales</b>, fled from the noise of the ship.</p></td>
<td>And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did go to work, and also his brethren, and built <b class="c1">barges</b> after the manner which they had built, according to the instructions of the Lord. And they were small, and they were light upon the water; and they were built after a manner that they were exceeding tight; even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was <b class="c2">the length of a tree</b>;
<p>
O Lord, behold I have done even as thou hast commanded me; and I have prepared the <b class="c3">vessels</b> for my people, and behold, there is no light in them. Behold, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that we shall cross this great water in darkness? And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared, What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels? For behold, ye cannot have <b class="c4">windows</b>, for they will be dashed in pieces; neither shall ye take fire with you, for ye shall not go by the light of the fire: for behold, ye shall be as a <b class="c6">whale</b> in the midst of the sea;</p>
<p>And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep, there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto <b class="c5">the ark of Noah</b>;</p>
</td>
<td>Ether 2:17, Ether 2:23, Ether 6:7</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h3 id="faraway">Faraway Lands</h3>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>15:2-3, 6-7</td>
<td><b>It came to pass, that</b> <b class="c2">one of the strong ships</b> of the king had approached the country of the <i>south</i>, which lieth many thousand miles off. And the ship was called Java, after one of the sweet scented islands of the east; where the poppy flourishes, where the heat of the sun is abundant, and where the Bohon Upas emits its deadly poison ... So as he passed along, nigh unto the coast of Brazil, where the sun casteth the shadow of a man to the south at noon day: (A place <b class="c1">unknown</b> to the children of Israel, in the days of Moses)</td>
<td>And <b>it came to pass that</b> <b class="c2">one other ship</b> also did sail forth; and whither she did go, <b class="c1">we know not</b>. And it came to pass that in this year there were many people who went forth into the land <i>northward</i>. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year.</td>
<td>Alma 63:8-9</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="cataclysms">Cataclysms</h2>
<div class="section">
In both books we have references to: thunder, large groups of people falling to the earth, rocks being raised and falling causing deaths, fragments of rocks, the face of the earth, and thick darkness which prevents anyone from seeing each other or anything around them. It is also interesting that there are mentions of sinking and drowning in the Book of Mormon which would make more sense if <i>The Late War</i> had been an influence, since it includes descriptions of water battles. — <a href="http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31734&start=420#p764086">Hasa</a>
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>19:37-44</td>
<td>
But as the young man returned to where the army stayed, behold! the black dust in the hold caught fire, and it rent the air with the noise of <b class="c3">a thousand thunders</b>: And the whole army fell down upon their faces to the earth; and the stones, and the fragments of rocks, were lifted high; and the falling thereof was terrible even unto deaths Yea, it was dreadful as the mighty <b class="c1">earthquake</b>, <b class="c5">which overturneth cities</b>. And <b class="c7">the whole face of the earth</b> round about, and the army of Zebulon, were <b class="c2">overshadowed with black smoke</b>; so that, for a time, one man saw not another: But when the heavy clouds of smoke passed away towards the west, behold the earth was covered with the killed and the wounded. Alas! the sight was shocking to behold; as the deed was ignoble. About two hundred men rose not: the stones had bruised them; the sharp <b class="c4">rocks</b> had fallen <b class="c4">upon</b> them: They were wedged into the earth: their weapons of war were bent down into the ground with them; their feet were turned towards heaven; their limbs were lopped off.
</td>
<td>
... in that day that he shall suffer death the <b class="c2">sun shall be darkened</b> and refuse to give his light unto you; and also the moon and the stars; and there shall be no light upon <b class="c7">the face of this land</b>, even from the time that he shall suffer death, for the space of three days, to the time that he shall rise again from the dead. Yea, at the time that he shall yield up the ghost there shall be <b class="c3">thunderings</b> and lightnings for the space of many hours, and the <b class="c1">earth shall shake and tremble</b>; and the <b class="c4">rocks</b> which are <b class="c4">upon</b> <b class="c7">the face of this earth</b>, which are both above the earth and beneath, which ye know at this time are solid, or the more part of it is one solid mass, shall be broken up;
<p>
And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible <b class="c3">thunder</b>, insomuch that it did <b class="c1">shake the whole earth</b> as if it was about to divide asunder. <b class="c5">And the city of Zarahemla did take fire. And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned. And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain.</b> And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward. But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the <b class="c7">whole face of the land</b> was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the <b class="c3">thunderings</b> and the lightnings, and the <b class="c1">exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth</b>; And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough. And many <b class="c5">great and notable cities were sunk</b>, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate. And behold, the <b class="c4">rocks</b> were rent in twain; they were broken up <b class="c4">upon</b> the <b class="c7">face of the whole earth</b>, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the <b class="c7">face of the land</b>. And it came to pass that when the <b class="c3">thunderings</b>, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the <b class="c1">quakings of the earth</b> did cease—for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours—and then behold, there was darkness upon the <b class="c7">face of the land</b>. And it came to pass that there was <b class="c2">thick darkness</b> upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the <b class="c2">vapor of darkness;</b> And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all; And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the <b class="c2">mists of darkness</b> which were upon the <b class="c7">face of the land</b>.</p>
</td>
<td>Helaman 14:7, 3 Nephi 8:6</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="inception">Troubling Inception</h2>
<div class="section">
Both <i>The Late War</i> and <i>The Book of Mormon</i> share an anecdote of leaders considering a problem which has never been dealt with before. In <i>The Late War</i>, it is a military leader, captain Carden, who is troubled with the capture of a British war ship as he contemplates the geopolitical implications of the act. In <i>The Book of Mormon</i>, it is a spiritual leader, Alma, who contemplates what should be done with dissenters who are causing trouble in the church, in the context of separation of church and state.
</div>
<table width="80%" align="center" class="comparison">
<tr><th colspan="2">The Late War</th><th colspan="2">Book of Mormon</th></tr>
<tr><td width="10%">Location</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="40%">Quotation</td><td width="10%">Location</td></tr>
<tr>
<td>13:17</td>
<td>
And after they had eaten and drank, <i>Carden</i> opened his mouth, for <b><i>he</i> was troubled in his <i>mind</i></b>, and spake unto Decatur, saying: Lo! if <b class="c2">this thing which hath happened</b> be known unto <b class="c1">the king</b>, that one of the vessels of Britain hath struck her flag, and become captive to a vessel of the United States, what shall be done unto the captain thereof? for <b class="c5">such a thing hath not been heard of</b> among the nations of the earth.</td>
<td>
Now <b class="c5">there had not</b> <b class="c2">any such thing happened</b> <b class="c5">before</b>, in the church; therefore <b><i>Alma</i> was troubled in his <i>spirit</i></b>, and he caused that they should be brought before <b class="c1">the king</b>.
</td>
<td>Mosiah 26:10</td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="liberty">Liberty</h2>
<h3 id="flocking">Flocking to a Symbol of Liberty</h3>
<div class="section">