Book of Mormon calendar

[blackstrap]

I was doing a bit of research into the origin of the seven day week and began to think about the calendar as used by the Nephites. Indications are that the family of Lehi would have followed the 7 day week prior to the departure from the Jerusalem area so they probably followed it in the new world. Mosiah repeats the commandment to work 6 days and rest the seventh and while it is quite possible to run on 2 different calendar styles at the same time it might get confusing. The text of the BoM shows calendar references to months not weeks ,the highest month mentioned being the eleventh.The highest day of the month mentioned is the twelfth I think.

Does anyone here know of any resources where this issue is addressed ?

[ebeddoulos]

Interesting. I found the following which indicates that the Sabbath was observed on a weekly basis:

[blackstrap]

The way Alma 31:12 is written it seems like the one day that the Zoramites choose to worship may not have been the sabbath.

[mapman]

Although it doesn't talk about the sabbath, this article is important in understanding the Nephite calendar.

[Kevin Christensen]

Spackman's article on the Nephite calendars (plural) is important as well. One version is here:

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/jbms/?vol=7&num=1&id=170

Kevin Christensen

Bethel Park, PA

[USU78]

Jews in the US and Europe have no trouble at all keeping track of their Sabbaths and Sabbatical Years while most folks keep following the modified Julian Calendar.

Saw a piece yesterday about Iranians having to keep track of 3 calendars: their own, the Muslim one, and the modified Julian one.

[J Green]

Spackman's article on the Nephite calendars (plural) is important as well. One version is here:

I prefer Sorenson's discussion on Nephite Calendars in "Seasonality of Warfare in the Book of Mormon and in Mesoamerica" (link above) to Spackman's analysis. Most evidence points to first temple calendars that were solar and seasonal, with luni-solar and lunar-based calendars being adopted during the exile or just before it under Josiah's reforms.