Angola (Book of Mormon)

Angola (/ænˈɡoʊ.lə/[1]) is a city mentioned in the Book of Mormon. It was located near or in the north countries and was the site of a portion of the long and final battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites.

The city is identified in only one verse, Mormon 2:4. The Nephites retreated towards the north countries and came to Angola and fortified the city during the period of A.C. 327–328, but were unable to withstand the Lamanites' attacks and were driven from the city.[2] Mormon 2:5 might be interpreted in such a way as to suggest that Angola was located somewhere in the land of David.[3]

It has been argued that Joseph Smith named the Book of Mormon city after Angola, New York.[4] Mormon apologists have pointed out that while the Book of Mormon was first published in 1830, the New York settlement did not adopt the name "Angola" until 1855.[5]

References

  1. ↑ LDS.org: "Book of Mormon Pronunciation Guide" (retrieved 2012-02-25), IPA-ified from «ăn-gō´la»
  2. ↑ George Reynolds (1891). A Dictionary of the Book of Mormon. Jos. Hyrum Parry. p. 80.
  3. ↑ Joseph Smith, Orson Pratt (1913). The Book of Mormon. Forgotten Books. p. 613. ISBN 1-60506-817-9.
  4. ↑ Phil Hart (2008). The Book of Imaginary Indians: Ancient Traditions and Modern Caricatures in the White Man's Quest for Meaning (Lincoln, NE: iUniverse) pp. 8–12.
  5. ↑ "Book of Mormon/Plagiarism accusations/Place names from North America", Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, fairwiki.org.