They the Lamanites Became Full of Idolatry

Alan C. Miner

According to the chronological footnotes, somewhere between 544 B.C. and 421 B.C. Enos says that the Lamanites were "full of idolatry" (Enos 1:20). According to Brant Gardner, apparently the Lamanites had begun accepting idols into their religious practices much in the same way as Israel in the Old World. Even though the practice was expressly forbidden in Hebrew scripture, for many years Israel had had problems expunging the influence of the foreign gods from their midst. Now in the context of a Mesoamerican setting it was happening again. Multiple gods were being worshipped. During this time period in Mesoamerica, we know that there were multiple gods worshipped, with multiple representations. If the Lamanites were accepting of these modes of native American worship, then the accusation of idolatry is easily understandable and a correct portrayal of Lamanite society. [Brant Gardner, "Book of Mormon Commentary," [http://www.highfiber.com/~nahualli/LDStopics/Enos/] Enos1.htm, p. 16]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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