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Matt,
On the issue of the night of brightness, my recent book Calendars and Chronology of the Book of Mormon provides a scientific explanation for the phenomenon, and at the same time satisfies all of the elements for the signs and wonders as well (Coronal Mass Ejection or CME). See Chapter 3, pages 17-77.
https://www.bmslr.org/books/Calendars%20and%20Chronology%20of%20the%20Book%20of%20Mormon.pdf
So you can update the classification on that event to confirmed.
Hello! Thank you for the great article! I just wanted to share a spiritual experience I had having to do with the night with no darkness. I’d been praying about evidence for The Book of Mormon when I’d gotten the spiritual impression to look up a scientific for the night with no darkness. I was shocked at how literally immediately upon doing so I learned of the concept of “bright nights” in ancient times.
Here’s some sources I’ve been blessed with finding on the subject.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jun/28/bright-nights-scientists-explain
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/science/bright-nights-nocturnal-sun-zonal-waves.html
I have received spiritual confirmation this was an answer to my prayer that Heavenly Father gave me.
Given this is a valid scientific explanation of the miracle in 3 Nephi, I strongly feel that we may want to switch the anachronism of the night with no darkness from “partially confirmed” to “confirmed”.
Just felt like I should share this. I hope it was helpful!
Thank you for the Godly work you do! God bless!
Thank your for these timely essays. A pair of scriptures on the topic of how the Lord’s prophets are vindicated over time comes to my mind. (That is, these are lesser known Biblical keys for discerning prophets, notable for requiring far more patience than the best known test, on fulfillment of prophesy, which happens to also be the one most qualified by precept and example and the most abused in practice, even within the Bible.
Isa. 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Jer. 20:11
The LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
Note: Because prophets can suffer reverses including death, this promise is demonstrated over time.
Paul subsequently discussed the situation in his own lifetime.
2 Tim. 4:15-17
Of whom thou be aware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
At my first answer, no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding, the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known