Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-02
ROCK OF MORMON NAMES,


clipping from a publication calleu
The Geographic Review has been re-
ceived at this office, 1t is paper
ON "Mormonlsm, and 1t Is signed py
@. B. Hancock.
The author endeavors to prove that
the Prophet Joseph was an impostor
and that the Book Of Mormon IS d
fraud-an undertaking, which, by the
,yav has very often been attempted
but always without success,
Mr.. Hancoc resents what at hfst
appears to he formidable argument
but upon investigation it is found to De
as harmless as a wooden gun lie
gives in parallel columns list OF
names from the Book Of Mormon, ana
another Of names of men and places
as recorded in Central American In
scrIptions. and the dissmllarity Is
pointed to as evidence of fraud on the
part of the Prophet Joseph.
This argument is by no means new
In 1887 preacher by the name OF
Lamb advanced It in Utah. He gave
lectures throughout the state, often III
Mormon" meeting houses. He was
listened 10 by thousands of Nor
mons" and at times Church officials
presided at his gatherings. But II Is
not known that his strong reasons
appeared convincing to anybody Mr.
Hancock simply copies from MI
Lambs book. without even giving cred
IT, We leave the reader to say
whether that is evidence OF literary
fraud or honesty. His argument when
dIssected, IL found to run thus
Proper names are not translataole'
They are only transferable Blole
names are found in Bible lands to TINS
day. But Book Of Mormon names are
not found in the Americas There
fore that book is fiction. That Is the
argument. every single step OF when
bears misstatement of facts.
The first statement need not detaln US
long Mr.. Hancock asserts that 'the
names Of men. cities. towns, countries
and rivers are not transla'able'' but
that the same sound is given to them
as near az possible, in each language
Proper names, however, are translate
HE Nathaniel means "the gift OF
Cod" Baruk, blessed Hagar
"Aight," Ramah, high place. Joshua
God is salvation" and so on, Modern
names. too, have their meaning. ana
are. consequently translatable william
or Wilhelm. means a golden helmet
Rothschlld, red shield" Bountiful,
Battle Creek, Salt Lake, are proper
names with well understood meanings
In the ancient Maya language names
such as Cob. Moo Aac, Mayach, etc"
a re all translatable, In fact. all proper
names have originally been translat-
able. although the meaning Of many Is
now lost. Even the alphabet is, II Mr..
Plongoons theory Is correct, translate
BILE. This is sufficient proof OF how much
reliability the critic Of the Book of
Mormon names can have placed TO his
credit at the outset.
His second statement is hardly less
unreasonable. zone can take the BIZ
bic" Mr.. Hancock says. 'and go into
Bible lands, there TO find the names Of
men. countries. cities and rivers. Just
as given IN that book from the remotest
antiquity" The author OF that broad
assertion would confer favor upon the
world by going into Bible lands and
pointing out such places as Capernaum.
Golgotha. zoar and scores Of other
places about the location OF which
scholars can now only venture o guess
The fact is that some Bible names
have been retained In Bible lands,
while many have been entirely lost, and
Others have been changed beyond recog-
milton.
The latter fact deserves special no.
tice, The Bible has never been entire
Is lost. II has been a force in human
in all ages It has been read. |
studied with sacred reverence and cir
culated 10y thousands. nay millions. of
copies. And yet many Of It's most i'm
portant proper names are al
most eliminated from the vernaoular OF
Palestine today Jerusalem Is no long
er, In the language OF the people there,
Jerusalem but FL Kuds; Hebron is El
chaiii; Jericho. Err Riha: Bethanla. FL