Kish and Lavan

[Korihor]

By chance, I happened to notice on Google maps there are two Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf than have rather interesting names to the LDS culture. Kish Island and Lavan Island.
Now now now, I have zero evidence that these islands have any connection to the the BoM. But we know there also exists a small city near Madagascar that has a unique name in LDS culture. However, maps available in early 1800's would have identified these small islands.

Side note, for anyone familiar with the Spanish language, the letters 'B' and 'V' are virtually indistinguishable when spoken.

Just saying...

[Corsair]

You assignment is to take a vacation on Kish Island and find out if your testimony is strengthened by having drinks on the beach. Admittedly this may be a challenge because while it is a resort island, it is also controlled by Iran and you may be stuck with non-alcoholic drinks.

[Hagoth]

I can't remember if I saw this on NOM or elsewhere, but it's worth repeating. According to apologists a city named Moroni on an island named Comora, (which figures in the life of Captain Kidd with whom Joseph Smith had a known fascination) is purely coincidental, but the letters NHM on an alter in the Arabian peninsula is proof that the Book of Mormon is true.

[John G.]

I've been trying to teach myself Spanish lately and I recently noticed that the Spanish word for "soul" is "alma."

As a TBM, and even now as a non-believer, I would probably say it is a coincidence, but it wouldn't surprise me if Joseph Smith borrowed from Spanish when he wrote the BOM. After all, he did use French and there is also the 4th of July reference in the BOM.

[Korihor]

I've been trying to teach myself Spanish lately and I recently noticed that the Spanish word for "soul" is "alma."

As a TBM, and even now as a non-believer, I would probably say it is a coincidence, but it wouldn't surprise if Joseph Smith borrowed from Spanish when he wrote the BOM. After all, he did use French and there is also the 4th of July reference in the BOM.

What's the 4th of July reference? I'm not familiar with that one.

"Alma" meaning soul in Spanish seems to me to be a coincidence. I can't remember which podcast I was listening to but they talked about "alma" being a Hebrew word but the gender was all wrong, no man would ever be called alma. The way they explained it seemed much more plausible than a coincidence with a Spanish word. Now I'll have to dig through and find which podcast it was.
Just another example how JS got it all wrong.

[sparky]

Not sure about the origin of Kish, but Laban's name was more likely ripped off from Genesis.

[John G.]

I've been trying to teach myself Spanish lately and I recently noticed that the Spanish word for "soul" is "alma."

As a TBM, and even now as a non-believer, I would probably say it is a coincidence, but it wouldn't surprise if Joseph Smith borrowed from Spanish when he wrote the BOM. After all, he did use French and there is also the 4th of July reference in the BOM.

What's the 4th of July reference? I'm not familiar with that one.

"Alma" meaning soul in Spanish seems to me to be a coincidence. I can't remember which podcast I was listening to but they talked about "alma" being a Hebrew word but the gender was all wrong, no man would ever be called alma. The way they explained it seemed much more plausible than a coincidence with a Spanish word. Now I'll have to dig through and find which podcast it was.
Just another example how JS got it all wrong.

Alma 10:6. ----Independence Day!----

6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

----------------------

If the BOM was a historical record I could easily see the July 4th date being a coincidence. If you pick any date at random there are almost always several important historical events that occurred on it. But, if you assume that Joseph Smith and friends wrote the BOM then you have think that July 4th was used as the date because of its importance in American history. The verse talks about "rebellion" and July 4th is when the colonies rebelled against Britain. Even though the "rebellion" in the heart referenced in the BOM ends on July 4th, in writing the BOM somehow JS associated and used the date the American rebellion began.

Who knows....maybe JS was using symbolism to show that the fourth day of the seventh month was when Amulek declared his independance from wickedness...