Posted by:
mikemitchell
(
)
Date: September 09, 2019 02:36PM
Mormon apologists use volcanic eruptions to try to give an explanation for the three days of darkness.
3 Nephi 8:
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.
There is another plausible explanation when one considers the possibility that the Book of Mormon was an early 19th century fabrication. See Collections, Historical and Miscellaneous and Monthly Literary Journal, Edited by J. Farmer and J. B. Moore, Vol. III, Concord: Published by J. B. Moore, 1824, page 197
https://books.google.com/books?id=JncUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA197&dqg#v=onepage&q&f=false"The Dark Day. - May 19th, 1780, was distinguished by an uncommon darkness, which prevailed in every part of New-England. The degree to which it arose was different in different parts. In most places it was so great, that people were unable to read, to dine, or manage their domestic business, without the light of candles. - The extent of this darkness was very remarkable. To the Eastward, it reached many leagues beyond the sea coast. To the Southward, it covered all the south shores of New-England. To the Westward, it extended beyond the bounds of Connecticut, Albany, and Vermont. Towards the North, it covered the Province of Maine, New-Hampshire, Vermont, and was observed all along the river St. Lawrence. And in most places, its duration was from 12 to 15 hours. - The appearance was extremely gloomy. Every thing seemed to be tinged with a yellowish color. Candles were lighted up in the houses; birds became silent; domestic fowls retired to roost; and the cocks crowed around as at day break. - Every body was astonished at this uncommon appearance, and many were alarmed to an high degree: And there was no end to the conjectures, fears and fancies, that prevailed at that time."
"It was found from many observations, that the atmosphere was charged in a high degree with an uncommon quantity of smoke and vapor, occasioned by large and extensive fires, for several weeks before. For some days before, the atmosphere had been so loaded with the smoke and vapor, as to darken the sun and moon, and to render all distant objects of a dull and hazy appearance. With a gentle rain these vapors were found to be slowly descending, in amazing quantities; mingled with the rain in their descent, they weakened and absorbed the rays of light, and involved every object in apparent obscurity and darkness."
3 Nephi 8:20-23 reads like an embellishment and exaggeration of that 1824 writing, which is what should be expected in a work of fiction. Mormons prop up their faith with a Joe vs the volcano (how could he have known) but what was in New England writings at the time makes much more sense.