Why does the Book of Mormon mention horses and steel?
Short answer
The Book of Mormon mentions horses and steel because its writers described real objects and materials known in their societies, while the text does not require that horses were used exactly as modern readers assume. Horses appear alongside cattle and other animals, sometimes in contexts that may involve food or limited transport (1 Nephi 18:25; Enos 1:21; 3 Nephi 4:4; 3 Nephi 6:1). Notably, Book of Mormon travel, communication, and warfare are generally portrayed as dependent on foot travel and human logistics, not cavalry or horse-drawn transportation (Alma 6:7; Alma 7:3-6).
Steel need not mean modern industrial stainless steel. In ancient usage, the word could refer to hardened or high-quality iron. The Book of Mormon describes weapons made from steel and records substantial knowledge of metals, including iron, copper, brass, gold, and silver (1 Nephi 16:18; 2 Nephi 5:15; Jarom 1:8; Ether 10:23). Ancient metallurgy and ancient writing on metal plates are historically attested, so these references are not automatically impossible or anachronistic.
The honest conclusion is that the text gives limited information about the exact species, uses, and metallurgical processes involved. Some archaeological questions remain debated, but the mere presence of the words horses and steel does not disprove the Book of Mormon; the surrounding narrative often suggests restricted, local, or non-modern uses rather than the assumptions critics sometimes impose.
And it came to pass that we did find upon the land of promise, as we journeyed in the wilderness, that there were beasts in the forests of every kind, both the cow and the ox, and the ass and the horse, and the goat and the wild goat, and all manner of wild animals, which were for the use of men. And we did find all manner of ore, both of gold, and of silver, and of copper.
Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years, in the which time they did hope to destroy the robbers from off the face of the land; and thus the eighteenth year did pass away.
And now it came to pass that when Alma had made these regulations he departed from them, yea, from the church which was in the city of Zarahemla, and went over upon the east of the river Sidon, into the valley of Gideon, there having been a city built, which was called the city of Gideon, which was in the valley that was called Gideon, being called after the man who was slain by the hand of Nehor with the sword.
But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.
And they did work in all manner of ore, and they did make gold, and silver, and iron, and brass, and all manner of metals; and they did dig it out of the earth; wherefore, they did cast up mighty heaps of earth to get ore, of gold, and of silver, and of iron, and of copper. And they did work all manner of fine work.
3. And behold, I have come having great hopes and much desire that I should find that ye had humbled yourselves before God, and that ye had continued in the supplicating of his grace, that I should find that ye were blameless before him, that I should find that ye were not in the awful dilemma that our brethren were in at Zarahemla. 4. But blessed be the name of God, that he hath given me to know, yea, hath given unto me the exceedingly great joy of knowing that they are established again in the way of his righteousness. 5. And I trust, according to the Spirit of God which is in me, that I shall also have joy over you; nevertheless I do not desire that my joy over you should come by the cause of so much afflictions and sorrow which I have had for the brethren at Zarahemla, for behold, my joy cometh over them after wading through much affliction and sorrow. 6. But behold, I trust that ye are not in a state of so much unbelief as were your brethren; I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world; yea, I trust that you do not worship idols, but that ye do worship the true and the living God, and that ye look forward for the remission of your sins, with an everlasting faith, which is to come.
Despite these types of described war details in the numerous battles, “no animal is ever mentioned as being used for military purposes … animals did not play a significant role in Book of Mormon warfare, either in battle or for transportation of war supplies.” Horsemeat: Another possible benefit of horses involves horsemeat. “Horses almost certainly were first domesticated for use as food animals, like cattle or pigs,” writes Sandra Olsen. Historically, many civilizations have included horsemeat in their diets, but not in recent millennia. In temperate Eurasia … horsemeat was highly regarded and these tastes can be traced back a very long way. During the last great Ice Age horsemeat was a staple in the diet of Homo sapiens; it has now become clear how widespread and how longlasting was this dependence on horsemeat. Four verses in the Book of Mormon place horses with animals that might be used for food (1 Nephi 18:25, Enos 1:21, 3 Nephi 4:4; 6:1). . . . Bibliography Brian C. Hales, "Unavailable Genetic Evidence, Multiple Simultaneous Promised Lands, and Lamanites by Location? Possible Ramifications of the Book of Mormon Limited Geography Theory," Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 56 (2023), 75-84, 122-23
“Today we have hundreds of examples of ancient writings on metal plates. Ancient metal engraved plates have been found in gold, silver, and bronze (“brass” in the Book of Mormon). One bronze plate has been dated to the sixth century BC Some ancient Old World metal plates have been buried in stone boxes and some early American traditions included records being kept on metal plates and of ancestors who kept hieroglyphic records on thin gold plates.” – Michael Ash, “Book of Mormon Anachronisms Part 4: Metals and Metallurgy,” 2003, Fair Latter-day Saints (emphasis added).71
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