1 Nephi 5:14-16; “And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found
upon the plates of brass a genealogy of his fathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of Joseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of Jacob, who was sold into Egypt, and who was preserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine. 15 And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them. 16 And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.”
Titus 1:9-11; “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. 10 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.”
It’s highly unlikely a Jew from BC 600 wouldn’t know who his forefathers were until he read about them, nor is it believable he could send his kids off to fetch the records from an unsecured area. Let’s examine what this says and compare it with God’s word!
1.Jewish scripture was written on papyri, not plates of brass.
2.The scriptures were kept in the temple which was secured by guards 24/7.
3.Each guard had their own shifts to work. Some would walk the perimeter of the temple, as well as those who would through each hallway in the temple and keep guard.
No one was given access to the temple unless you were a priest.
4.Going a little back in the Book of Mormon narrative to 1 Nephi 4:18, it talks of how Lehi came into possession of these so-called plates of brass. The likelihood of Lehi’s kids chopping off Laban’s head with a steel sword to get the plates is unreasonable. You can read about the steel industry in our article Book of Mormon artifacts here to find out steel wasn’t used in this manner by the Israelites.
Additionally, even more evidence this is a false prophecy by Smith is found in how the steel industry took flight in early American history. In 1818 the first cast steel was produced in Valley Forge, PA. It had only been 3 short years since the introduction of the cupola in America. You can be assured everyone in the nation had heard of the new invention, including the Smith family in upstate New York.
More noteworthy is that several signers of the Declaration of Independence were actually foundrymen. You can be certain in this time of American history, everyone knew who signed the Declaration of Independence, what families they came from, and what they did for a living.
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