Draft:Birds in the Book of Mormon

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  • Comment: This article appears to be WP:SYNTH in its design. Only one source is nearly about the topic defined by the article, namely, "Animals in the Book of Mormon: Challenges and Perspectives" -- but of course, that is on the broader topic of animals rather than just birds. A non-SYNTH article should use sources that explicitly address the overarching topic of birds in the Book of Mormon. It may also be possible to cover some of this material in a broader article on symbols in the Book of Mormon, if such exists. ~ L 🌸 (talk) 19:42, 22 June 2025 (UTC)

Birds appear multiple times in the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement, often as metaphors for parental care and the accumulation of wealth, or as sacrificial animals. These references are discussed in the culture of the Latter Day Saint movement and are utilized by Mormon theologians and apologists.

Symbolic uses of birds

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Birds appear in the Book of Mormon in various contexts, often as metaphors or in comparisons.[1]

Hen metaphor

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According to 3 Nephi 10:4–6,[2][3] Jesus Christ compared his desire to gather his people to a hen gathering her chicks.[4][5][6]

This metaphor has been interpreted as reflecting God's intent to protect and care for his people.[6] Scholars suggest that Christ used it to renew faith and trust among the Nephites, reminding them of the covenant-based relationship with God. The metaphor also attributes to Christ qualities associated with femininity or motherhood.[7] John W. Welch describes Christ as embodying virtues of redemption and protection.[8] The symbolic role of wings in this imagery has also been examined, representing a protective covering, similar to a hen's feathers shielding chicks from predators.[6]

Other sources highlight the literary and doctrinal role of this comparison, particularly in the context of atonement.[9] The metaphor is also analyzed within the structure of Christ's discourses in 3 Nephi.[10] It is further connected to other scriptures in the Mormon canon, including Matthew 23:37, Doctrine and Covenants 29:1–2, and Doctrine and Covenants 10:65.[2][6][11][12]

The metaphor of the hens was also commented on by members of the church's leadership. Elder Marvin J. Ashton, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, linked it to the missionary efforts by active and practicing saints in the last days, suggesting that such work should especially focus on people who are lost or straying from the covenant path, reflecting Christ's protective desires.[13]

Other symbolic uses

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Isaiah, quoted in 2 Nephi 20:14 preserved on the brass plates, describes the Assyrian king's boast of seizing wealth like eggs from an abandoned nest.[14] Isaiah also mentions owls, describing desolate, uninhabited places.[15] 1 Nephi 11:27 describes the Holy Spirit descending on Christ in the form of a dove after his baptism,[16] consistent with the Gospel accounts.[17] The Jaredites' barges, mentioned in Ether 2:16, floated on water like birds.[18]

Birds in other contexts

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Birds are also referenced literally in the Book of Mormon. They are mentioned as sacrificial animals in Alma 34:10.[19] They are noted as God's creations in 2 Nephi 2:15. The text states that God feeds the birds, as per 3 Nephi 13:26. The Jaredites hunted birds, as recorded in Ether 2:2, and transported them during their journeys, as mentioned in Ether 6:4.[20] Abinadi warned that King Noah's people would be destroyed, with vultures consuming their remains.[21] Similarly, Alma 2:38 notes that vultures consumed the bodies of many Lamanites and Amlicites killed in battle against Alma.[22][23]

In Mormon theology and Book of Mormon studies

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Birds in the Book of Mormon are referenced as a foundation for theological discussions. Joseph Smith, the first president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commented on the passage in 1 Nephi, where the Holy Spirit descends on the baptized Christ in the form of a dove, stating, "John had the privilege of beholding the Holy Spirit descend in the form of a dove, or rather in the sign of a dove, as a witness of that ordinance".[24][25][26][27] According to Smith, this sign was established before the creation of the world,[26][28][29][30] and served solely to testify of Jesus' baptism.[26] In Mormon belief, the Holy Spirit is a personage,[31] appearing only as such,[25][26][32][33][34] rather than as a dove.[33][35][36]

Speculation has addressed which animals the Jaredites might have brought to or found in the Americas, noting the complexity due to textual discrepancies regarding birds.[37] Some theological discussions suggest that the Americas may have lacked native bird species before the Jaredites' migration.[38] However, such speculations are contextualized within Mormonism's materialist framework.[39] Joseph Smith taught that spirit is a form of matter, and Mormon leader Orson Pratt argued that theology ignoring materialism is flawed.[40] This perspective of materialism, coupled with the belief in the Book of Mormon's historicity, leads Latter-day Saints to incorporate scientific disciplines into theological studies.[41]

The role of birds during the journey of Lehi's family from Jerusalem has been explored. Most land birds stay near freshwater sources, suggesting that Lehi's caravan could have used birds to locate water. The relationship between bird species in the regions traversed and the Torah was also considered, as the Book of Deuteronomy permits Jews to consume only "clean" birds slaughtered ritually. Lehi, as a holder of the Melchizedek priesthood, could perform such rituals.[42]

Studies historically contextualizing Book of Mormon cultures reference birds. Connections between the Jaredites and Sumerians note Sumerian hunters using nets to catch birds, as referenced in Ether 2:2. Bird depictions have also been found at an Olmec archaeological site.[43] Regarding the hen metaphor, scholars have debated whether the Nephites knew of chickens, noting that the metaphor could be understood without specific knowledge of the bird. Mormon apologetics cite studies suggesting chickens may have been present in pre-Columbian America, possibly introduced from East Asia.[44]

Various bird species potentially present in the Book of Mormon's setting have been listed. Field expeditions in 2000 and 2004 aimed at identifying them.[42] Over a century ago, early studies of the Book of Mormon addressed birds. Elder George Reynolds in his 1891 work, A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, Comprising Its Biographical, Geographical and Other Proper Names,[45] and Alvin Knisley of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in his 1909 Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, included brief entries on birds.[46]

In Mormon culture

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Certain bird species mentioned in the Book of Mormon have appeared in church educational materials for children, including the August 2008 issue of the Friend magazine.[47]

References

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  1. ^ Largey (2003, p. 1197)
  2. ^ a b Dibb, Roger Allen (2015). Book of Mormon Scriptural Phrases. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 72–73, 813. ISBN 978-1-62972-107-1.
  3. ^ "Hen". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
  4. ^ Księga Mormona. Przewodnik do samodzielnego studiowania dla uczniów seminarium [The Book of Mormon: A Guide for Independent Study for Seminary Students] (in Polish). Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2012. p. 255.
  5. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 1197–1198)
  6. ^ a b c d McConkie, Joseph Fielding; Parry, Donald W. (1990). "Scriptural Symbols". A Guide to Scriptural Symbols. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. pp. 160–162, 705. ISBN 0-88494-726-2.
  7. ^ De Groote, Michael (11 October 2008). "Christ's Beautiful Metaphor of the Hen". Deseret News. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  8. ^ Welch, John W. (2020). John W. Welch Notes – Come Follow Me. Springville, Utah: Book of Mormon Central. p. 920.
  9. ^ Strathearn, Gaye; Swift, Charles, eds. (2007). Living the Book of Mormon: Abiding by Its Precepts. Salt Lake City, Provo: Deseret Book, Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University. pp. 78–79. ISBN 978-1-59038-799-3.
  10. ^ Reynolds, Noel B. (2019). ""Come unto Me" as a Technical Gospel Term" (PDF). Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture. 31. The Interpreter Foundation: 20–22. ISSN 2372-126X.
  11. ^ "Chickens". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
  12. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, p. 2536)
  13. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, p. 2538)
  14. ^ Largey (2003, p. 1198)
  15. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 1198–1199)
  16. ^ "Dove". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
  17. ^ Largey (2003, p. 3349)
  18. ^ Largey (2003, p. 1199)
  19. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 1199–1200)
  20. ^ Petersen, Mark E. (1984). "The Voyage Begins". The Jaredites. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 145–146. ISBN 0-87747-998-4.
  21. ^ Largey (2003, p. 1200)
  22. ^ Largey (2003, p. 1201)
  23. ^ "Vultures". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021.
  24. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, pp. 2614–2615)
  25. ^ a b Smith, Joseph, Jr.; Dahl, Larry E.; Cannon, Donald Q. (1997). "Dove". Encyclopedia of Joseph Smith's Teachings. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, Bookcraft. pp. 1420–1421. ISBN 978-1-57008-672-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b c d Bateman, Eric (1999). "29 January 1843". The Prophets Have Spoken. Volume 1. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 280–282. ISBN 978-1-57345-500-8.
  27. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 3349–3350)
  28. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, pp. 2613–2614)
  29. ^ McConkie, Joseph Fielding (1985). "Glossary of Symbols". Gospel Symbolism. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft. p. 1603. ISBN 0-88494-568-5.
  30. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 3349–3350)
  31. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, p. 2611)
  32. ^ Brewster Jr. (2012, p. 2614)
  33. ^ a b Olson, Camille Fronk; Top, Brent L.; Skinner, Andrew C.; Millet, Robert L. (2011). "Sign of the Dove". LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. pp. 4084–4085. ISBN 978-1-60908-059-4.
  34. ^ Largey (2003, pp. 3350–3351)
  35. ^ Largey (2003, p. 3351)
  36. ^ Avant, Gerry (14 January 1995). "Sign of the Dove: A Divine Witness". Church News. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  37. ^ Miller, Wade E.; Roper, Matthew (2017). "Animals in the Book of Mormon: Challenges and Perspectives". Brigham Young University Studies Quarterly. 56 (4). Brigham Young University: 149–150. ISSN 2167-8472.
  38. ^ Hyde, Paul Nolan (2015). A Comprehensive Commentary of the Book of Ether. Orem: Parrish Press. p. 26.
  39. ^ Nolan, Max (1989). "Materialism and the Mormon Faith" (PDF). Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought. 22 (4). Dialogue Foundation: 62–75. doi:10.2307/45228262. ISSN 1554-9399. JSTOR 45228262.
  40. ^ Peters, John Durham (1993). "Reflections on Mormon Materialism" (PDF). Sunstone. 16. Sunstone Education Foundation: 47. ISSN 0363-1370.
  41. ^ "Book of Mormon and DNA Studies". Gospel Topics. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  42. ^ a b Carr, Stephen L. (2006). "Birds Along Lehi's Trail". Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. 15 (2). Brigham Young University: 85, 89–93. ISSN 2168-3158.
  43. ^ Miner, Alan C. "Ether 2". Step-by-Step Through the Book of Mormon. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015.
  44. ^ Roper, Matthew (1992). "Jerald Tanner and Sandra Tanner, Mormonism: Shadow or Reality?". Review of Books on the Book of Mormon. 4 (1). Brigham Young University: 206–207. ISSN 2168-3719.
  45. ^ Reynolds, George (1891). A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon, Comprising Its Biographical, Geographical and Other Proper Names. Salt Lake City: Joseph Hyrum Perry. p. 89.
  46. ^ "B". Book of Mormon Dictionary. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  47. ^ "Book of Mormon Animals". Friend. August 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2025.

Bibliography

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  • Largey, Dennis L., ed. (2003). The Book of Mormon Reference Companion. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. ISBN 978-1-60908-763-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
  • Brewster Jr., Hoyt W. (2012). Doctrine & Covenants Encyclopedia Revised Edition. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company. ISBN 978-1-60907-141-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: ref duplicates default (link)
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