“For the Space of Four Years”

Brant Gardner

Redaction: The Jaredites spent four years preparing for this final battle. The Nephites’ preparation time, though not given explicitly, can be calculated as also four years. (See commentary accompanying Mormon 6:5). This detail is more than a coincidence, especially given the sacred status of the number four in Mesoamerica, and I attribute it to Moroni’s parallel structuring of the Jaredite story to resemble that of the Nephites.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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