How could Joseph Smith (while dictating) manage to list a lengthy genealogy in Ether 1 and then discuss each person in reverse order throughout the rest of the book?

In the first chapter of the Book of Ether in verses 6-32, we read a list of 30 names. This list is the genealogy of Ether to Jared:

Ether, Coriantor, Moron, Ethem, Ahah, Seth, Shiblom, Com, Coriantum, Amniqaddah, Aaron, Heth, Hearthom, Lib, Kish, Corom, Levi, Kim, Morianton, Riplakish, Shez, Heth, Com, Coriantum, Emer, Omer, Shule, Kib, Orihah, Jared

What is incredible is that the rest of the Book of Ether gives an account of these same 30 people but in the reverse order. Beginning in chapter 6 verse 14 all the way through to chapter 11 verse 23. 

If Joseph Smith dictated the Book of Mormon without referring back to previous content or looking at any notes, how did he manage to do this? Simply reciting a list of 30 names backwards is impressive on its own, but including them into a coherent storyline is quite another. 

How could Joseph Smith hold so much information in his memory? 

See:

• Evidence Central – Book of Mormon Evidence: Ether’s Genealogy

© 2024 Showyourshelf.com

Show Your Shelf is not in any way sponsored or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For official information from the Church please see churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org