Critics who claim that references to "sheep" in the Book of Mormon are anachronisms ignore important contradictory evidences.
- It is likely that the Jaredites brought sheep with them to American, although they are not mentioned by name specifically (see Ether 6:4). They may have been among the “flocks” mentioned in Ether 9:18.
- The apparent recovery of sheep wool from a pre-Columbian burial site near Puebla (southeast of Mexico City) indicates that sheep existed in that period.
- Petroglyphs from Mexico and the southwestern United States depict many prehistoric drawings of sheep. These strongly support that the association of sheep and man occurred in America before this animal was brought over beginning in 1493 with Columbus’ second voyage.
- Research indicates that sheep originally crossed to North America over the Bering land bridge from Siberia where at one point the population in North America peaked in the millions.
- It is impossible to prove that sheep did not exist for several reasons. The exact creature being referred to is unknown due to the differences in languages. Also, excavations have uncovered only a small fraction of the information needed to identify the precise animals that lived anciently.
Additional Resources:
Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 1: Fauna (Animals) (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 2: Flora (Plants) and Textiles (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 3: Warfare (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 4: Metals and Metallurgy (PDF) by Michael Ash
Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 6: Compass, Coins, and Other Miscellaneous (PDF) by Michael Ash
Horses in the Book of Mormon by Michael Ash
Steel in the Book of Mormon by William Hamblin
Armor in the Book of Mormon by William J. Hamblin
Metals of the Book of Mormon – by Wm. Revell Phillips
Out of the Dust: Steel in Early Metallurgy – by John L. Sorenson
Possible “Silk” and “Linen” in the Book of Mormon byJohn L. Sorenson
Prophets, Kings, and Swords: The Sword of Laban and Its Possible Pre-Laban Origin – by Daniel N. Rolph
Swords and “Cimeters” in the Book of Mormon – byMatthew Roper
Swords in the Book of Mormon by William J. Hamblin, A. Brent Merrill
The Bow and Arrow in the Book of Mormon by William J. Hamblin
A Scientist Looks at Book of Mormon Anachronisms,Neal Rappleye
Right on Target: Boomerang Hits and the Book of Mormon (2001 FAIR Conference) by Matthew Roper
Science and the Book of Mormon (2009 FAIR Conference) by Wade E. Miller
A Social History of the Early Nephites (2001 FAIR Conference) by Brant Gardner
FAIR Issues 42: Dismissing Book of Mormon Geography Inaccuracies, Michael R. Ash, 0:07:22
FAIR Issues 55: Do Nephite Names find a “Home” in Middle East, Michael R. Ash, 0:07:54
Faith and Reason 11: Book of Mormon Politics Unlike Joseph Smith’s, Michael R. Ash, 0:08:52
Faith and Reason 19: Deseret and Bees, Michael R. Ash, 0:05:09
Faith and Reason 20: “Without a Cause”, Michael R. Ash, 0:04:35
Mormon FAIR-Cast 109: Response to criticisms of the Book of Mormon, Martin Tanner, 0:19:50
Ammon and the Mesoamerican Custom of Smiting off Arms
Barley and Wheat in the Ancient New World
Battles and The Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon 2 Why Anachronisms
Book of Mormon 3 Pre Columbian Horses
Book of Mormon 4 Elephants in America
Book of Mormon 7 Brass Iron and Steel
Book of Mormon 9 No Pre Columbian Wheels
Don’t Experts Say There is No Evidence of Silk or Linen in Ancient America
Horses, chariots, and elephants in the Book of Mormon
Iron Ore – Book of Mormon Evidence
Metal and Metallurgy – The Mines of Timna – Book of Mormon Evidence
Metals and Golden Plates in Mesoamerica, Daniel Johnsons 2010 BMAF lecture
New Evidence for Pre-Columbian Horses
pt 15, silk and archaeology in The Book of Mormon, credits
pt 2 Coins, (full-length) rebuttal of an anti-Mormon
pt 3, Metals (full-length) rebuttal of an anti-Mormon
pt 4 Grains, (full-length) rebuttal of an anti-Mormon