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Comments on Ted Dee Stoddards Thick Darkness

Jerry D. Grover, PE, PG

Since a review of my recent book Geology of the Book of Mormon (2015) was posted
to the BMAF website more or less concurrently with Ted Dee Stoddards piece
entitled Thick Darkness: Volcanoes and the Historicity of the Book of Mormon, I
have received requests wondering what my thoughts are on his article.
First, as a geologist and engineer, I made it clear in the Geology of the Book of
Mormon that I was making no inquiry as to what Joseph Smith may or may not have
known or read. My primary inquiry was a laying out of the geology of the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec, a comparison and analysis of geologic events as described in the text
of the Book of Mormon, and a comparison of the Sorenson model to the underlying
Mesoamerican geology and meteorology.
Stoddards approach seems principally aimed at the historicity of the 3 rd Nephi
catastrophic events, and whether Joseph Smith could have reasonably written them.
I think the article does an excellent job of laying out that argument. It appears that
Stoddard did not have access to the Geology of the Book of Mormon which was
commercially available in January 2015 when his research was conducted, as there
are no citations to it. As a result, there are a few technical corrections that could be
made, both of them based on reliance on the article from Dr. Bart Kowallis in 1997
(In the Thirty and Fourth Year: A Geologists View of the Great Destruction in 3
Nephi, BYU Studies 37, no. 3 (199798)).
Volcanic Earthquake Intensity
I spent a significant number of pages (50) in my book showing and identifying the
overwhelming historic and modern geological research that has been done,
demonstrating that volcanic earthquakes are not of sufficient intensity or power to
cause the collapse or damage of structures much beyond a few kilometers from a
volcano, the conclusion being that there was also a regional earthquake on an
established fault system that occurred in conjunction with the volcanic eruption to
explain the hazard assessment described in the Book of Mormon. My book
identifies the Veracruz fault and the San Martin volcano, located in the land
northward under the Sorenson model as being the most likely candidates. Based on
attenuation analysis, the Veracruz fault system is really the only possible primary
fault system that is consistent with Book of Mormon events. Since the phenomenon
of volcanic eruptions concurrent with regional fault systems were probably unknown
at the time of Joseph Smith, this correction to Stoddards article would only seem to
reinforce Stoddards premise.
Time Length of the 3rd Nephi Destruction
Stoddard relies on the following premise by Kowallis that:
The duration of the thunderings, lightnings, storm, tempest, and quakings of
the earth was about three hours in length (3 Nephi 8:19). That length of time

is very reasonable in connection with massive volcanic eruptions. Bart


Kowallis notes that the approximate three-hour time period was too long a
time period for the shock from a single large earthquake and too short for the
period during which aftershocks following a major earthquake usually takes
place. However, it is a very reasonable amount of time for the initial stages of
a volcanic eruption. We might call this the throat-clearing stage of the
eruption, which occurs as the mounting pressure cleans the volcanos vent of
the rock and debris that have plugged it up. During this time, frequent
explosions and earthquakes occur. Once the vent is cleared, the volcano may
continue to erupt for several hours or days without additional significant
earthquakes.
I also spent some significant space in my book with regards to carefully mapping
out the time durations and sequence of events of the disaster based on the text of
the Book of Mormon.
First of all, the inhabitants at the time of the Book of Mormon were not making
distinctions and a geologic analysis of the events, they were just trying to describe
what they perceived as a single event from their knowledge and point of view. They
just witnessed a volcanic eruption which was accompanied by a large regional
earthquake event and saw the collapse of cities etc. they did not know the geologic
causes. Just like today, with the extensive number of volcanoes in Mesoamerica,
they no doubt had knowledge of volcanic eruptions. Also, because much of
Mesoamerica is seismically active, they had no doubt experienced significant
earthquakes from time to time, in fact there are other earthquake events referenced
in the Book of Mormon (ie, Ammonihah, which I also evaluated in my book). What
they had never experienced was a simultaneous volcanic eruption and a large
regional earthquake. It is no wonder that they recorded that it was such a one as
never had been known in all the land (3 Nephi 8:5-6).
Second, Kowallis indicates that three hours was too long for a shock from a single
large earthquake and too short for the period during which earthquake aftershocks
usually take place. However the Book of Mormon text does not presuppose a single
earthquake shock lasting continuously for three hours, the text said quakings
which implies that it was not a continuous shaking, but occurred periodically over
the three hours, which probably consisted of a combination of some of the smaller
volcanic earthquakes and the regional earthquake activity. Further Kowallis (and
Stoddard, relying on Kowallis) fail to recognize the other scripture critical to
establishing the timeline of the 3rd Nephi event, which is 3 Nephi 10:9:
And it came to pass that thus did the three days pass away. And it was in the
morning, and the darkness dispersed from off the face of the land, and the
earth did cease to tremble, and the rocks did cease to rend, and the dreadful
groanings did cease, and all the tumultuous noises did pass away.
As is clear, there were natural events continuing through the three days that are
consistent with earthquake aftershocks and a volcano continuing to erupt. This
verse actually reinforces what is observed with known volcanic and earthquake
events, and also makes the three days of volcanic ash emission coincide with the

ongoing volcanic eruption. Again, this fact would only tend to strengthen
Stoddards premise as to Joseph Smith and his potential knowledge of typical
volcanic and earthquake activity.
I think the article by Stoddard was well done, and accurate to the extent of reliance
on the geologic information available to him.

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