Possible sources for the Book of Mormon names
Another item on (a page which has since disappeared) in addition to those remarks dealt with here involves Book of Mormon names. Hugh Nibley (among other LDS Apologists) has spent his life digging for any scrap of ancient evidence that remotely resembles something mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and then he uses the few forced scraps that he thinks by twisting can coincidentally match to come to the conclusion that “Yes indeed, the Book of Mormon must be of ancient origin” while he completely ignores the wealth of information that indicates that it can’t possibly be of ancient origin.
(As a side note: the very interesting thing about apologists, whether they be Creation, Christian, or Mormon Apologist seems to make no difference, is they already have their conclusions formed BEFORE they look at the evidence. It seems to me that it should be the other way around. One should form conclusions after weighing the evidence rather than ignoring most of the evidence and searching until you can find some small piece of evidence to support your already drawn conclusions. Here is a relevant quote on this subject: “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.” (Sherlock Holmes, in A Scandal in Bohemia))
Anyway, one of the apologists’ favorites deals with Book of Mormon names which they claim Joseph Smith couldn’t have possibly dreamed up on his own.
What they seem to forget is that if one writes a book and uses names (or variations of names) that are pulled out of ancient texts–those names don’t make the book of ancient origin. If one uses writing styles found in ancient books that one has read over and over again (like the KJV of the Bible), that doesn’t make the book of ancient origin either.
I’ve heard several “faith promoting” stories of how someone who was familiar with Jewish history read the Book of Mormon and thought that it must be of ancient origin because some of the names are old Jewish names or the writing style is similar to that of old Jewish writings. This should only be “faith promoting” if Joseph Smith had never come in contact with the KJV of the Bible before writing the Book of Mormon. It means nothing if the KJV of the Bible was one of his primary sources.
The copy of the KJV of the Bible that Joseph Smith owned in the 1820s was a bit different than the one most LDS use today. It contained the Apocrypha (which includes Maccabbes, Esdras, etc.) and an alphabetical table of all the names in the Old and New Testaments with their significations.
The places (Africa and Indian place names) referred to below can be seen on historical maps dating back to the early 1800s.
The following is a list of the names found in the Book of Mormon, where they are found, and a possible source that Joseph Smith had access to for taking or creating (by joining two or more words together in some cases) the name. Obviously, if this type of list was the only evidence against the Book of Mormon being what it claims to be (which it isn’t), it wouldn’t be a very effective argument against the Book of Mormon’s authenticity. The list is merely a possible answer to the question LDS come up with when they say, “If the Book of Mormon isn’t of ancient origin, where did Joseph Smith come up with all of those names?”
Nephi I Nephi 1:1 Nephi (II Maccabbes 1:36)Also see Webster's 1828 dictionary definition for Nephrite. Could the idea for the names for the major groups found in the Book of Mormon (Nephites and Jaredites) come from this contemporary dictionary entry? Joseph Smith was fascinated by stones (as were his characters in the Book of Mormon).Note that Joseph Smith later referred to himself as Gazelem which sounds a bit like yet some additional stone words in the 1828 dictionary.Lehi I Nephi 1:4 Lehi (Judges 15:9)Sariah I Nephi 2:5 Sarai (Genesis 11:29)Laman I Nephi 2:5 Laban (Genesis 24:29) Lamen View of the Hebrews pg 90Lemuel I Nephi 2:5 Lemuel (Proverbs 31:1) (Lemuel Durfee, Sr. was the
owner of the Smith farm where they lived as tenant farmers after 1825. See Inside the Mind
of Joseph Smith for more on why this "coincidence" may be important.)Sam I Nephi 2:5 Samuel (I Samuel 1:20) (See pages 51-2 of Inside the Mind
of Joseph Smith for more on Nephi/Joseph Smith Jr.'s families.)Laban I Nephi 3:3 Laban (Genesis 24:29) (Lebanon was the
town where Joseph Smith had his three surgeries as a child. See Inside the Mind
of Joseph Smith for more on why this "coincidence" may be important.)Zoram I Nephi 4:35 Zorah (Joshua 19:41)Ishmael I Nephi 7:2 Ishmael (Genesis 16:11)Nahom (Site) I Nephi 16:34 Nahum (Nahum 1:1)Irreantum I Nephi 17:5 Israel & Miletum (2 Timothy 4:20) (both sites)(Site)Jacob I Nephi 18:7 Jacob (Genesis 25:26)Joseph I Nephi 18:7 Joseph (Genesis 30:24)Zenock I Nephi 19:10 Zadok (II Samuel 8:17)Neum I Nephi 19:10 Nahum (Nahum 1:1)Zenos I Nephi 19:10 Zenas (Titus 3:13)Sherem Jacob 7:1 Sheresh (I Chronicles 7:16)Jarom Jarom 1:1 Joram (II Samuel 8:10)Another possible stone derivative?Omni Jarom 1:15 Omri (IKings 16:16)Amaron Omni 1:3 Amariah (I Chronicles 6:7)Chemish Omni 1:8 Chemosh (Numbers 21:29) Chemim View of the Hebrews pg 90Abinadom Omni 1:10 Abinadab (I Samuel 7:1)Amaleki Omni 1:12 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Mosiah Omni 1:12 Moses (Exodus 2:10) and Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1)Zarahemla Omni 1:12 Zara (Matthew 1:3) and Imla (II(site) Chronicles 18:7)Coriantumr Omni 1:21 Coriander (Exodus 16:31)Benjamin Omni 1:23 Benjamin (Genesis 35:18) (Rev. Benjamin Stockton was the
Presbyterian minister during the 1824-5 Palmyra revival. He had personal dealings with the
Smith family including offending Joseph Smith Sr. at Alvin Smith's funeral. It is thought
that his sermons were like that of the Book of Mormon's Benjamin. See Inside the Mind
of Joseph Smith for more on this "coincidence".)Mormon Words of Mormon Moriah (Genesis 22:2) and Solomon (II 1:1 Samuel 5:14)Moroni Words of Mormon Capital of Comoros (Camorah) 1:1 (See Cumorah below for more info)Helorum Mosiah 1:2 Helon (Numbers 1:9) and Harum (I Chronicles 4:8)(via email I received this tip: An alternative would be the "Helorum" in Livy's "History of Rome", the source of many, many Solomon Spalding borrowings)Helaman Mosiah 1:2 Helam (II Samuel 10:16)Shilom (site) Mosiah 7:5 Shiloh (Genesis 49:10) also View of the Hebrews pg 90Helem Mosiah 7:6 Helam (II Samuel 10:16)Hem Mosiah 7:6 Ham (Genesis 5:32)Limhi Mosiah 7:9 Lemhi Indians of IdahoNoah Mosiah 7:9 Noah (Genesis 5:29)Zeniff Mosiah 7:9 Zenan (Joshua 15:37) and Ziph (Joshua 15:24)Neas (food) Mosiah 9:9 Neah (Joshua 19:13)Sheum (food) Mosiah 9:9 Shem (Genesis 5:32)Shemlon (site) Mosiah 10:7 Shem (Genesis 5:32)Ziff (metal) Mosiah 11:3 Ziph (Joshua 15:24)Abinadi Mosiah 11:20 Abinadab (I Samuel 7:1)Alma Mosiah 17:2 Almon (Joshua 21:18) (also a town in Quebec)Gideon Mosiah 19:4 Gideon (Judges 6:11)Amulon Mosiah 23:31 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)(site/name)Mulek Mosiah 25:2 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Ammon(ite) Mosiah 27:34 Ammon (Genesis 19:38)Also see Nephi and Jared and the Ammonite entry in the same dictionary.Aaron Mosiah 27:34 Aaron (Exodus 4:14)Omner Mosiah 27:34 Omer (Exodus 16:16)Himni Mosiah 27:34 Shimhi (I Chronicles 8:21)Nehor Alma 1:15 Nahor (Genesis 11:22)Manti (site) Alma 1:15 Amlici Alma 2:1 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Amnihu (site) Alma 2:15 Amnon (II Samuel 3:2) and Jehu (I Kings 16:1)Sidon (site) Alma 2:15 Sidon (Genesis 10:15)Zeram Alma 2:22 Zerah (Genesis 36:13)Amnor Alma 2:22 Amnon (II Samuel 3:2)Limher Alma 2:22 Limhi (Mosiah 7:9)Minon (site) Alma 2:24 Pinon (Genesis 36:41)Nephihah Alma 4:17 Nephi (II Maccabbes 1:36)Melek (site) Alma 8:3 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Ammonihah Alma 8:6 Ammon (Genesis 19:38)(site)Amulek Alma 8:21 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Giddonah Alma 10:2 Megiddon (Zechariah 12:11)Aminadi Alma 10:2 Aminadab (Matthew 1:4)Zeezrom Alma 10:31 Zeeb (Psalms 83:11) & Ezrom (Alma 11:6)Senine (coin) Alma 11:3 Senir (Ezekiel 27:5)Senum (coin) Alma 11:3 Senuah (Nehemiah 11:9)Seon (coin) Alma 11:5 Sion (Deuteronomy 4:48)Shum (coin) Alma 11:5 Shem (Genesis 5:32)Limnah (coin) Alma 11:5 Limhi (Mosiah 7:9)Ezrom (coin) Alma 11:6 Esrom (Matthew 1:3)Onti (coin) Alma 11:6 Shiblon (coin) Alma 11:15 Shibboleth (Judges 12:6)Shiblum (coin) Alma 11:16 Shiblon (Alma 11:15)Leah (coin) Alma 11:17 Leah (Genesis 29:16)Antion (coin) Alma 11:19 Antioch (Acts 6:5)Antionah Alma 12:20 Antion (Alma 11:19)Sidom (site) Alma 15:1 Sidon (Genesis 10:15)Lamoni Alma 17:21 Laman (I Nephi 2:5)Sebus (site) Alma 17:26 Seba (Genesis 10:7)Rabbanah Alma 18:13 Rabboni (John 20:16)(title)Abish Alma 19:16 Abishai (I Samuel 26:6)Middoni Alma 20:2 Midian (Genesis 25:2)Muloki Alma 20:2 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Ammah Alma 20:2 Ammah (II Samuel 2:24)Antiomno Alma 20:4 Antioch (Acts 6:5) and Omni (Jarom 1:15)Ani-Anti Alma 21:11 Antiomno (Alma 20:4)Shimnilom Alma 23:12 Shimon (I Chronicles 4:20)(site)Jershon (site) Alma 27:22 Gershon (Genesis 46:11)Korihor Alma 30:12 Korah (Numbers 16:1) also View of the Hebrews pg 90Antionum Alma 31:3 Antiomno (Alma 20:4)(site)Corianton Alma 31:7 Coriantumr (Omni 1:21)Rameumptom Alma 31:21 Ramiah (Ezra 10:25), Reumah (Genesis 22:24), (site) Miletum (2 Timoty 4:20)Onidah (site) Alma 32:4 Oneida Indians of Ontario (name means "people of the stone")Gazelem Alma 37:23 Gazzam (Ezra 2:48) (Also see the above)Liahona Alma 37:38 Liani/Lihene View of the Hebrews pg 90Siron (site) Alma 39:3 Sidon (Genesis 10:15)Isabel Alma 39:3 Jezebel (I Kings 16:31)Zerahemnah Alma 43:5 Zarahemla (Omni 1:12)Riplah (site) Alma 43:31 Riblah (Numbers 34:11, II Kings 25:6, II Kings 23:33, Jeremiah 39:5, Jeremiah 52:9)Amalickiah Alma 46:3 Amalek (Genesis 36:12)Antipas (site) Alma 47:7 Antipas (Revelation 2:13)Lehonti Alma 47:10 Lehi (Judges 15:9) and Onti (Alma 11:6)Morianton Alma 50:25 Moriah (Genesis 22:2)(site)Pahoran Alma 50:40 Paran (Genesis 21:21)Judea (site) Alma 56:9 Judea (Ezra 5:8)Antipus Alma 56:9 Antipas (Revelation 2:13)Cumeni (site) Alma 56:14 Cummin (Isaiah 28:25)Antiparah Alma 56:14 Antipas (Revelation 2:13) and Parah(site) (Joshua 18:23)Teomner Alma 58:16 Tamar (Genesis 38:6)Pachus Alma 62:6Moronihah Alma 62:43 Moroni (Words of Mormon 1:1)Hagoth Alma 63:5 Haggith (II Samuel 3:4)Paanchi Helaman 1:3Pacumeni Helaman 1:3 Pachus (Alma 62:6) and Cumeni (Alma 56:14)Kishkumen Helaman 1:9 Kish (I Samuel 9:1) and Cumeni (Alma 56:14)Tubaloth Helaman 1:16 Tubal (Genesis 10:2)Gadianton Helaman 2:4 Gideon (Judges 6:11)Cezoram Helaman 5:1 Zoram (I Nephi 4:35)Aminadab Helaman 5:39 Aminadab (Matthew 1:4)Ezias Helaman 8:20 Esaias (John 1:23)Seezoram Helaman 9:23 Cezoram (Helaman 5:1)Seantum Helaman 9:26Samuel Helaman 13:2 Samuel (I Samuel 1:20)Lachoneus III Nephi 1:1 Lacunus (I Esdras 9:31) Greek or Latin name that shouldn't be in a Hebrew or 'Reformed Egyptian' book.Giddianhi III Nephi 3:9 Gideon (Judges 6:11)Gidgiddoni III Nephi 3:18 Giddianhi (III Nephi 3:9)Zemnarihah III Nephi 4:17 Zemaraim (Joshua 18:22)Gilgal (site) III Nephi 9:6 Gilgal (Deuteronomy 11:30)Onihah (site) III Nephi 9:7 Onidah (Alma 32:4)Mocum (site) III Nephi 9:7Gadiandi III Nephi 9:8 Gadianton (Helaman 2:4)(site)Gadiomnah III Nephi 9:8 Gadianton (Helaman 2:4)(site)Gimgimno III Nephi 9:8 Gimzo (II Chronicles 28:18)(site)Jacobugath III Nephi 9:9 Jacob (Genesis 25:26) and Gath (I Samuel(site) 17:23)Josh III Nephi 9:10 Joshua (Exodus 17:9)Gad III Nephi 9:10 Gad (Genesis 30:11)Timothy III Nephi 19:4 Timothy (II Corinthians 1:1) - Another Greek name that shouldn't be in the Book of MormonJonas III Nephi 19:4 Jonas (Matthew 12:39)Mathoni III Nephi 19:4 Matthew (Matthew 9:9) and Lamoni (Alma 17:21)Mathonihah III Nephi 19:4 Mathoni (III Nephi 19:4)Kumen III Nephi 19:4 Cumeni (Alma 56:14)Kumenonhi III Nephi 19:4 Kumen (III Nephi 19:4)Shemnon III Nephi 19:4 Shem (Genesis 5:32) and Amnon (II Samuel 3:2)Ammaron IV Nephi 1:47 Amariah (I Chronicles 6:7)Antum (site) Mormon 1:3Shim (site) Mormon 1:3 Shem (Genesis 5:32)Angola (site) Mormon 2:4 African State (Spelt Angelah in 1830 version)Joshua (site) Mormon 2:6 Joshua (Exodus 17:9)Jashon (site) Mormon 2:16 Jashen (II Samuel 23:32)Shem (site) Mormon 2:20 Shem (Genesis 5:32)Boaz (site) Mormon 4:20 Boaz (Ruth 2:1)Cumorah (site) Mormon 6:2 Comoros (Capital City is Moroni) - Island chain East of Mozambique, Africa (note: See this site for more info)Gidgiddonah Mormon 6:13 Gadiomnah (III Nephi 9:8)(site)Lamah (site) Mormon 6:14 Laman (I Nephi 2:5)Limhah (site) Mormon 6:14 Limhi (Mosiah 7:9)Jeneum (site) Mormon 6:14Cumenihah Mormon 6:14 Cumeni (Alma 56:14)(site)Shiblom (site) Mormon 6:14 Shiblon (Alma 11:15)Ether Ether 1:2 Ether (Joshua 15:42)Coriantor Ether 1:6 Coriantumr (Omni 1:21)Moron Ether 1:7 Moroni (Words of Mormon 1:1)Ethem Ether 1:8 Ether (Joshua 15:42)Ahah Ether 1:9 Ahab (I Kings 16:28)Seth Ether 1:10 Seth (Genesis 4:25)Com Ether 1:12Coriantum Ether 1:13 Coriantumr (Omni 1:21)Amnigaddah Ether 1:14 Amnon (II Samuel 3:2) and Gadiandi (III Nephi 9:8)Heth Ether 1:16 Heth (Genesis 10:15)Hearthom Ether 1:16Lib Ether 1:17 Libya (Ezekiel 30:5) also African stateKish Ether 1:18 Kish (I Samuel 9:1) also View of the Hebrews pg 90Corom Ether 1:19 Coriantum (Ether 1:13)Levi Ether 1:20 Levi (Genesis 29:34)Kim Ether 1:21Riplakish Ether 1:23 Riplah (Alma 43:31) and Kish (Ether 1:18)Shez Ether 1:24Emer Ether 1:28 Omer (Exodus 16:16)Omer Ether 1:29 Omer (Exodus 16:16)Shule Ether 1:30 Shual (I Samuel 13:17)Kib Ether 1:31Orihah Ether 1:32 Orion (Job 9:9)Jared Ether 1:32 Jared (Genesis 5:15) See also Nephi and Ammon. Jade or jadery slightly changed to Jared?Deseret Ether 2:3(insect)Moriancumer Ether 2:13 Moriah (Genesis 22:2) and Cumeni (Alma(site) 56:14)Shelem (site) Ether 3:1 Shelemiah (I Chronicles 26:14)Jacom Ether 6:14 Jacob (Genesis 25:26)Gilgah Ether 6:14 Gilgal (Joshua 4:19)Mahah Ether 6:14 Mahath (I Chronicles 6:35)Pagag Ether 6:25 Agag (I Samuel 15:8)Corihor Ether 7:3 Korihor (Alma 30:12)Cohor Ether 7:15 Corihor (Ether 7:3)Esrom Ether 8:4 Esrom (Matthew 1:3)Akish Ether 8:10 Kish (I Samuel 9:1)Kimnor Ether 8:10Ablom Ether 9:3 Absalom (II Samuel 3:3)Nimrah Ether 9:8 Nimrah (Numbers 32:3)Curelom Ether 9:19(animal)Cumom (animal) Ether 9:19 Amgid Ether 10:32Zerin (site) Ether 12:30 Zeri (I Chronicles 25:3)Shared Ether 13:23 Jared (Genesis 5:15)Heshlon (site) Ether 13:28 Heshmon (Joshua 15:27)Gilead Ether 14:8 Gilead (Genesis 31:21)Agosh (site) Ether 14:15 Goshen (Genesis 45:10)Shiz Ether 14:17 Shez (Ether 1:24)Shurr (site) Ether 14:28 Shur (Genesis 16:7)Comnor Ether 14:28Ripliancum Ether 15:8 Riplah (Alma 43:31)(site)Ogath Ether 15:10 Gath (I Samuel 17:23)Ramah Ether 15:11 Ramah (Joshua 18:25)Archeantus Moroni 9:2 Archelaus (Matthew 2:22)Luram Moroni 9:2 Ludim (Genesis 10:13) and Ramah (Joshua 18:25)Emron Moroni 9:2 Esrom (Matthew 1:3)Amoron Moroni 9:7 Amorite (Joshua 9:1)Sherrizah Moroni 9:7 Sherezer (Zechariah 7:2)Moriantum Moroni 9:9 Moriancumer (Ether 2:13)Zenephi Moroni 9:16 Zeniff (Mosiah 7:9) and Nephi (Nephi 1:1)
Although not all of these have a tight correlation–most do. I think one can easily see from this list that with a list of the names in the King James Version of the Bible, an early 19th century map, and a dictionary, it wouldn’t take much of an imagination to come up with all the names that appear in the Book of Mormon.
The following are portions of emails received in May of 2000 regarding the above:
I was looking at your list of names again and have a couple of ideas. A long time ago I wrote you a note saying that I’m glad I’m not the only person in the world who figured out the geographic origins of Cumorah/Moroni. That was simple!
RE: Alma
I’ll bet you’re on to something by associating it with “Almon”. Joseph Smith wouldn’t even have had to look in the Bible to find “Almon”. I’ve done quite a bit of genealogy and noticed that during the early 1800s, “Almon” was found as a man’s first name every so often. It wasn’t common, but it wasn’t rare either. So, it’s in the Bible, but Almon might also have been the boy down the road, named for somebody in the Bible.RE: Zarahemla
That one bothers me, because it looks like an Arabic name – BACKWARDS. Many Arabic names begin with “Al”, and the rest of the letters left over after “Al” is subtracted look mighty Arabic to me, perhaps with a couple of letters transposed. Have you ever seen a map of the Arab world from the early 1800s? Or — what were people reading in the early 1800s that dealt with the Arab world? The “Arabian Nights” didn’t come out in English until the 1840s, BUT there were earlier references in English to some of the stories, as early as 1712. A couple of names in the “Nights”” Shahriar, Alnashar.Jadeite and nephrite – Jaredite, Nephite — very interesting…
Too bad we don’t know what books were in that library 5 miles from Joseph Smith’s house.
How ’bout this: Nephi and Ammon = Naphtha and Ammoniac
I’m not being facetious. Both these words were in common use in the early 1800s. Since “Jared” is in the Bible, I’d suspect that’s the source of Joseph Smith’s “Jaredites”. The simplest answer is often the right one.Another idea for Lehi, apart from the fact that it’s in the Bible, is that a common variety of hard coal used in the early 1800s was Lehigh Coal. Probably from Lehigh, Pa. (I found this in The House Servant’s Directory by R. Roberts, 1827. This book has all sorts of household items listed in recipes for cleaning and polishing compounds.) The coal grate in the fireplace was even called the Lehigh grate.
Since Joseph Smith was interested in stones, he easily could have looked at books about rocks and minerals. “Amianthus”, not a Book of Mormon name, is an old name for a form of asbestos. Since that name SOUNDS so Book of Mormon, it might be fun to check a very old “rock book” for common words used pre-1850. I don’t have anything with any more old names.
Coriantumr looks like it’s from “coriander”, and probably is, but there are some similar Book of Mormon words, which make me wonder if he couldn’t have gotten the idea from “corundum”, which might have been in his “rock book”.
I wonder about the words beginning with HEL. Could relate to English words from Greek prefix for “sun”: Helios —— or (back to the rock book) variations on HAL – prefix for salt — as in “halides”.
Back to the rock and mineral book: “Antionum” looks a bit like “antimony” doesn’t it?
“Hearthom”? It looks a bit like “hartshorn”, an old word for Ammonia, common usage in the 1820s according to the House Servant’s Directory.
I wonder if a list of items on the shelves of the local apothecary might bear some similarity to some of these mysterious Book of Mormon names. Wouldn’t be surprised.
Hope these ideas can stimulate more!
My response:
While interesting to speculate about the above, I fear that this type of thinking stears us down too many Hugh Nibleyish-type roads. There is a little more too it than, say, the Bible Codes, but that isn’t saying much. Again, the above page is merely a possible answer or response to the claims of the apologists–not necessarily the answer or a proven theory by any means.
The following is an email received in October of 2002 regarding the above:
I thought of some more possibilities while discussing the list with my father. These are the ones you left blank on the list. If you think any are worth updating the list, feel free to do so. I just figured there might as well be a possibility for the blank ones as well, especially since many have decent parallels.
Manti (site) Alma 1:15
anti? mantis (insect)? Manna?Onti (coin) Alma 11:6
anti? onto? Pontius?
This word is so short it could really have come from just about anywhere.Pachus Alma 62:6
Paulus (Acts 13:7)? Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17)? Pontus (Acts 2:9)?Seantum Helaman 9:26
Sea + Coriantum (Ether 1:13)? or just S+CoriantumMocum (site) III Nephi 9:7
Mocha (city on Red Sea)? Makom (Yiddish for ‘city’)? (mokum is a Jewish nickname for Amsterdam, although I can’t figure out when it became one).Antum (site) Mormon 1:3
Coriantum (Ether 1:13)?Jeneum (site) Mormon 6:14
Je (from any of many names in the O.T)+ Neum (1 Nephi 19:10)Com Ether 1:12
Too short to matter: Cain? come? comb?Hearthom Ether 1:16
Heart+home? Hearth+om? heart+Hinnom (Josh. 15:8)?Shez Ether 1:24
Shiza (Chron. 11:42)Kib Ether 1:31
Too short: Kibrothhattaavah (Deut 9:22)? Kibzaim (Josh. 21:22)?Deseret Ether 2:3 (insect)
Desert? Dessert?Curelom Ether 9:19 (animal)
cure+llama?Cumom (animal) Ether 9:19
commune? common? cumin (plant of the carrot family)?
Or, just a change to curelom? (switch the rel for an m)Amgid Ether 10:32
Aminadab (Matthew 1:4) + Gideon (Judges 6:11)?
There are many Am names, and many Gid names…it would have been trivial to combine them. These are just two possibilities.Comnor Ether 14:28
Cumnor (Cumnor Place, Cumnor Hall. Julius Mickle wrote ‘The Ballad of Cumnor Hall’ in 1770 about Amy Robsart, who married the son of a Duke and lived in Cumnor place. Sir Walter Scott read Mickle’s poem and wrote a book called Kenilworth about Amy and Cumnor Hall in 1820. Kenilworth was a best seller (see http://www.walterscott.lib.ed.ac.uk/works/novels/kenilw.html) and publicized Cumnor Place, which was torn down in 1810).
My response:
I seriously doubt the llama one. Llamas weren’t reintroduced to North America until the very late 1800s and early 1900s. Joseph Smith had probably never heard of them. If he had, they’d certainly be in the Book of Mormon. In fact, their absense (and the inclusion of animals that didn’t exist in the Americas during 600BC to 400AD like horses, pigs, etc.) is strong evidence, in my opinion, against Joseph Smith’s claims.
For the source of the names in the Book of Abraham see this page.