The thing that matters to me is sorting out which elements of LDS faith are core doctrine and which are the traditions of men. Face it folks, like green jello and funeral potatoes, there are a lot of things that LDS folks do that have very little to do with coming to Christ.

I believe it is far more important that prayer becomes a sincere and frequent part of our lives than what specific words we use.

There may or may not be equivalents to thee, thy, thine in all the multitude of other languages, but those prayers are just as important.

We are taught that the gospel must go forward to EVERY language – to me that includes Ebonics and street slang. It’s the intent behind the words that matter.

And since the Liahona *did* exist in the society of Lehi’s family and descendants, that society was capable of using words to describe it.

>Itbufag (sic), I’ll continue typing Olde English (sic), ’till (sic) you see the irony of it as it pertains to this thread.

If you misusing a term out of simple ignorance is ironic, then enjoy yourself.

So now Joseph has options in how and what he translated?

Getting a description of what Joseph was doing is a bit like nailing Jello-O to a wall, no?

I believe that “Liahona”, “irreantum”, “neas”, “sheum”, “curelom”, “cumom”, etc. were transliterations and for one reason or another he chose to keep them as they were rather than translating (rather like names are usually left untranslated). It certainly would make no sense for JS to just make them up if he wanted the Book of Mormon to be taken seriously. Of course, if you are determined to not take it seriously or believe its claims nothing can stop you.

FWIW, I’m partial to the notion that the first 4 of those words came from languages other than Hebrew or Egyptian, which would explain why Nephi felt like he needed to explain what “Liahona” and “Irreantum” meant. (Let’s not forget that “curelom” and “cumom” are most likely from whatever language the Jaredites spoke and it’s most probable that Moroni didn’t know what they meant himself.)

Re: #56:
Hoo boy, that’s a classic. I’ll bring that up next time someone mentions red peppers.

Itbufag, I’ll continue typing Olde English, ’till you see the irony of it as it pertains to this thread.

As well, if an object does not exist in a given society, society has no ability to name it. For in the naming ther would be no point of referential meaning. Whether you realize it or not the mind either envisions the object or the letters to which the word refers. Without mental reference there is no meaning to words.

Thats all kinda’ beside of the point. How about this,can someone come up with any proof of an object that showed directions that existed at the time of the plates engraving.

Also, just how revered are these plates, by LDS and church doctrine?

John seems to think that since compasses hadn’t been invented yet, Lehi’s brain would have been utterly unable to come up with any word or combination of words meaning “gadget that gives directions.”

:P