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8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance. (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi, Chapter 1)

The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon. The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C., and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians. (Book of Mormon, Introduction)

Drifting wrote:So why didn't God inform Nephi that the land had in fact been inhabited before and hadn't been kept from all other nations as a Land of Promise pending Nephi's groups arrival?

Tobin wrote:

Drifting wrote:So why didn't God inform Nephi that the land had in fact been inhabited before and hadn't been kept from all other nations as a Land of Promise pending Nephi's groups arrival?

And what nations are you claiming settled and conquered the New World in Nephi's day or at any time prior to Columbus? The New World was virtually unknown to any other nation, other than the people living here, until Columbus discovered it.

Drifting wrote:I think you are missing the point.
Nephi was told it had been kept from all other nations so that he and his group would have a land of promise. Yet we find out from the Book of Mormon itself that this is not true. The America's were supposedly settled by the Jaredites before Nephi arrived. Ergo, it's a contradiction.

Tobin wrote:

Drifting wrote:I think you are missing the point.
Nephi was told it had been kept from all other nations so that he and his group would have a land of promise. Yet we find out from the Book of Mormon itself that this is not true. The America's were supposedly settled by the Jaredites before Nephi arrived. Ergo, it's a contradiction.

You are under the misconception that the only people the Lord lead here were just the Nephites and Jaredites. That is not true.

Drifting wrote:I am saying that, according to the information contained solely within the Book of Mormon itself, when God informed Nephi that He had kept the America's from the knowledge of all other nations, He was being less than totally honest.

2 Nephi 1:7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
2 Nephi 1:8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

Tobin wrote:

Drifting wrote:I am saying that, according to the information contained solely within the Book of Mormon itself, when God informed Nephi that He had kept the America's from the knowledge of all other nations, He was being less than totally honest.

Really? You didn't bother to read 2 Nephi 1:7 now did you? It will give you some context for 2 Nephi 1:8 and your BIG problem will disappear.

2 Nephi 1:7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.
2 Nephi 1:8 And behold, it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations; for behold, many nations would overrun the land, that there would be no place for an inheritance.

I suppose you could just delete the thread now.

Drifting wrote:Your reference is moot as it is saying the land is to be kept hidden until God decides to bring some people there.
This doesn't explain why God told Nephi his was the first group to inhabit the land when clearly it was not.