morgan.deane Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 Hey everybody. I'm doing some research and can't seem to find something I thought I read not too long ago. I'm trying to remember this from memory, but I'm looking for something that described the elites in the BoM. I looked for this for quite awhile and it is driving me crazy. In several places the BoM described the "voice of the people"( Mosiah 29:2; Alma 2:4; 4:16. ), and I thought I read about a Mesoamerican custom of elites hanging out in houses, (or bathhouses?), temples?, where they would discuss the issues and settle matters among themselves. Does anybody know to what I'm referring? Can you point me in the direction of people, websites, or sources that discuss this issue? Thank you in advance.
prismsplay Posted August 25, 2013 Posted August 25, 2013 The best way to know what is taught or described in the Book of Mormon is to read it for one's self.
morgan.deane Posted August 26, 2013 Author Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) The best way to know what is taught or described in the Book of Mormon is to read it for one's self.To be clear, I stopped keeping track after I read the BoM a dozen times. I agree that one should examine the text as closely as possible. In fact, one of my frequent complaints about critics is that they fail to understand the text properly and that most criticisms of the text result from a shallow reading of it. So thanks. I'm having trouble finding a specific piece of research I thought I read. It has something to do with elites, the voice of the people, and a specific locations or structures that Mesoamerican elites had these discussions. I only read about this recently, in passing, and I wasn't expecting to use this information in my research. But after a great deal of fruitless time searching I couldn't find it. So I know I'm imposing on the time of people here but I appreciate any help anybody can offer. Edited August 26, 2013 by morgan.deane 1
David T Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 I know Brant Gardner's commentary has an essay/excursis on 'the voice of the people'. Not sure if it was also published standalone like seeing of the other essays in there. Very helpful on this subject.
cdowis Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 If anyone is interested in my opinion: The voice of the people was decided by a gathering in a physical location. Over several days, if you wanted to vote yes or no for a proposal, you gathered to a specific location. After the deadline, the number of people in each of those locations were counted to determine the winner.
Popular Post Calm Posted August 26, 2013 Popular Post Posted August 26, 2013 “Voice of the people” and the Popol Nah (council house) In general, one of the things that people will say about the Book of Mormon is that it’s got to be modern because it talks about voting. The voice of the people has to be a vote. Anybody who has said that has not examined the text on the voice of the people. Anybody who thinks that the Book of Mormon is a democracy and that the Book of Mormon promotes democracy has not studied it. It does not. It is a very complicated system. I am sure that somewhere in the world there is another system that’s just like that but the only one I happen to know of is in the Maya world where down at the bottom here in the Popol Nah, or the community house, where the elders gather together to hear the cases and discuss them. The voice of the people being, literally and if you read one of the sections in the Book of Mormon where it is talking about it, you can actually see in your mind’s eye these people just talking; and somewhere in talking it out, changing their minds and coming to whatever the consensus opinion is. It has nothing to do with votes. http://www.fairlds.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2006-Brant-Gardner.pdf 6
morgan.deane Posted August 26, 2013 Author Posted August 26, 2013 http://www.fairlds.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2006-Brant-Gardner.pdfYes! I'm not sure this is where I originally read it, but its the point I remember. 10 billion rep points for you!
David T Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) I believe Cal's link features the point expanded upon for the essay in Gardner's commentary I was referring to. Thanks for the link! Edited August 26, 2013 by David T
morgan.deane Posted August 26, 2013 Author Posted August 26, 2013 I believe Cal's link features the point expanded upon for the essay in Gardner's commentary I was referring to. Thanks for the link!Yeah, I remember the good old days when you could find Gardner's commentary online for free. I still don't have the money to work through his six volume set.
Calm Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 Try this: http://web.archive.org/web/20070613055537/http://frontpage2000.nmia.com/~nahualli/
Robert F. Smith Posted August 26, 2013 Posted August 26, 2013 re Mosiah 27:4, http://bookofmormononline.net/#/zarahemla/persecution-for-the-church .re Alma 10:18-19, Mosiah 29:27,, http://bookofmormononline.net/#/reign-of-judges/ammonihah/continued-preaching .This site quotes Gardner in each case (see the box at each place).
morgan.deane Posted August 27, 2013 Author Posted August 27, 2013 Thanks for your comments everybody. The article in which this appears is nearing its final stages. It is about the spiritual and martial legacy of Gideon and if anybody wishes to offer feedback I'd be happy to send it to them.
Calm Posted August 27, 2013 Posted August 27, 2013 Sounds interesting, will look forward to it. Where will we see it?
morgan.deane Posted August 28, 2013 Author Posted August 28, 2013 Not sure yet haha. I want to polish it more, but I haven't tried the Journal of BoM Studies in awhile so I think I'll send it there first. I may just hang onto it for my second book. But since my first has been in publication limbo for a year now, I'm not sure I want to wait that long. 1
Brant Gardner Posted August 28, 2013 Posted August 28, 2013 Not sure yet haha. I want to polish it more, but I haven't tried the Journal of BoM Studies in awhile so I think I'll send it there first. I may just hang onto it for my second book. But since my first has been in publication limbo for a year now, I'm not sure I want to wait that long. Don't forget Interpreter. 1
boulder257 Posted August 28, 2013 Posted August 28, 2013 The best way to know what is taught or described in the Book of Mormon is to read it for one's self. I love answers like these. They offer absolutely nothing to the conversation and come off as condescending to the person asking the question. He said in the OP that he read it before but couldn't find it. He is looking for a reference. If you can't help him than just move along!
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