The Cultural Context of Nephite Apostasy | Wright and Gardner

This academic article by Mark Alan Wright and Brant A. Gardner examines Nephite apostasy through the lens of ancient Mesoamerican culture. The authors argue that dissenting groups in the Book of Mormon did not simply abandon their faith, but rather syncretized their beliefs with the surrounding indigenous religious and political systems. By adopting a Mesoamerican worldview, these apostates replaced the expectation of a future, heavenly Messiah with the immediate presence of a divine earthly king. The text highlights how specific cultural traits, such as social stratification, costly apparel, and ritual bloodletting, served as points of convergence between these two disparate traditions. Ultimately, the source suggests that understanding this cultural context provides a clearer explanation for the recurring patterns of rebellion and religious shifts described in the Nephite record.

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