“Their Swords and Their Spears”

Brant Gardner

Mormon mentions the weapons they took with them, but makes certain to note that they are for provisions. An ancient mind might not have needed to know this specifically, because the bow and the sling were more hunting weapons than weapons of war, though they do find their way into Mesoamerican warfare. The sword is more obviously a military weapon, and Mormon feels constrained to indicate their peaceful status by stating directly what their intents were for the weaponry they carried.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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