Thought of the Day about Mormonism; Alma and George Washington

16 April

George Washington's QuestionYou probably saw this title and thought “Wait a minute – what?!?”

That’s what I thought as I was reading some of George Washington’s writings while leading this country to its independence in the Revolutionary War.

I confess, I’m obsessed with the history of wars.  My true love of war history is my obsession with all things that have to do with WW2 and Hitler, but the Civil and Revolutionary Wars hold a close second.

All that to say I came across a most unusual phrase while reading highlights from a book written in 1789 by Dave Ramsay called History of the American Revolution. He was an eloquent author who also happened to be friends with George Washington. In his book (pg 277) he included one of Washington’s letters to the citizens of Canada.  Here is what the General said;

To the Inhabitants of Canada

 The Writings of George Washington, vol. III (1775-1776);

“Come then, my brethren, unite with us in an indissoluble union, let us run together to the same goal. We have taken up arms in defence of our liberty, our property, our wives, and our children; we are determined to preserve them, or die. We look forward with pleasure to that day, not far remote, we hope, when the inhabitants of America shall have one sentiment, and the full enjoyment of the blessings of a free government.” – General George Washington, 1775

Now if you know enough about the Book of Mormon you’ll immediately hone in on the phrase I highlighted above. As I’ve said before, Joe Smith was not a discriminatory procurer of those he plagiarized. Any author seemed to do as long as it suited his needs at the time. He “borrowed” from the Bible, Solomon Spaulding (Manuscript Story), Ethan Smith (View of the Hebrews), Emmanuel Swedenborg of Swedenborgianism, Shakespeare, et al.

Anyone with just a little knowledge about the American Revolution will notice the Book of Mormon carries the unmistakable tone of fighting for religious liberties through the eyes and experiences of the Colonial era.  As you read about the non-descript wars mentioned throughout its text you’ll see phrases about defense of your country, fighting for liberty, religion, war, taking up arms, etc. The quote from Washington mentioned above can be found in Alma 48:10, 13;

“And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians. 13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.”

Here’s a small list of verses where you can find the same theme:

2 Nephi 1:7

2 Nephi 2:27

2 Nephi 10:11

Mosiah 29:32, 39

Alma 21:22

Alma 43:9, 26, 30

Alma 44:5

Alma 46:10, 12-14,

17, 28,35-36

Alma 48:10-13

Alma 50:32

Alma 51:7, 20

Alma 53:17

Alma 56:17

Alma 58:12

Alma 59:13

Alma 61:6, 9

Alma 62:2, 4-5

Helaman 1:8

3 Nephi 2:12

3 Nephi 3:2

3 Nephi 6:30

 You know I have to ask why.

Is it reasonable that Alma who supposedly wrote the above passage in 72 BC would say the same thing George Washington would say in 1775?

Were George Washington’s words inspired of God?  If not then why would Alma’s words be inspired?

If this story in the Book of Mormon was true couldn’t they come up with their own experiences of what was going on in America at that time?

What were the names of the wildernesses, rivers, swamps, hills or mountain passes, this Amalickiah (ruler of the kingdom) wanted to control?

While it says that Moroni went around building forts and banks of the earth around their cities and strengthened the minds of the people by telling them to be faithful to God, you’ll want to take notice that no descriptive information is provided with him either. What comforting words did He say or where were they?

In Alma 49:1, 12 it said they were approaching the lands of Ammonihah and Noah – where are these cities?

Our list of questions could go on and on, but you just have to remember one.

Is this inspired of God?

If not, then we know it’s not from the Lord.

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18

Tags: , , , , , ,

2 Responses to “Thought of the Day about Mormonism; Alma and George Washington”

  1. Mark Hansen July 7, 2015 at 10:25 pm #

    I clicked on the two links in your article, “To the Inhabitants of Canada”, and “The Writings of George Washington, vol III. (1775-1776), and both bring up the text of Washington’s letter from which you quote. (There is a very similar quote in the same book in a letter from Washington to Lieutenant-General Gage.) However, the publication date is 1889, not 1789, and the book is by Worthington Chauncey Ford, not David Ramsay. So I did a search for the book “The History of the American Revolution” by David Ramsay, and I found volumes 1 and 2 online at http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1870. I did a search of both volumes, and nowhere was there any reference to Washington’s letters or to the text you quoted. Did you just get mixed up between the two books, the 1789 one and the 1889 one? If the Washington quote is not in the 1789 book, that blows your theory that Joseph Smith plagiarized Washington.
    Additionally, how could you possibly believe that the American Revolution was the first war in history that was fought to protect liberty, land, property, wives, and children?

  2. Mark Hansen July 7, 2015 at 10:26 pm #

    I clicked on the two links in your article, “To the Inhabitants of Canada”, and “The Writings of George Washington, vol III. (1775-1776), and both bring up the text of Washington’s letter from which you quote. (There is a very similar quote in the same book in a letter from Washington to Lieutenant-General Gage.) However, the publication date is 1889, not 1789, and the book is by Worthington Chauncey Ford, not David Ramsay. So I did a search for the book “The History of the American Revolution” by David Ramsay, and I found volumes 1 and 2 online at http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/1870. I did a search of both volumes, and nowhere was there any reference to Washington’s letter or to the text you quoted. Did you just get mixed up between the two books, the 1789 one and the 1889 one? If the Washington quote is not in the 1789 book, that blows your theory that Joseph Smith plagiarized Washington.
    Additionally, how could you possibly believe that the American Revolution was the first war in history that was fought to protect liberty, land, property, wives, and children?

Leave a Reply