History: I hypothesize that this temple would follow the general pattern of Mesoamerican temples, particularly since the people would be consciously following the model of their newly adopted (idolatrous) religion. In this context, Mormon’s statement that “his workmen should work all manner of fine work within the walls of the temple, of fine wood, and of copper, and of brass” merits particular scrutiny. Although modern readers might initially envision walls “of fine wood,” this grammatical ambiguity can be clarified by seeing the prepositional phrase as exactly parallel to the references to copper and brass. “Fine wood,” copper, and brass were ornamental, not structural materials, an interpretation corroborated by archaeological evidence that elaborate wooden carvings are part of the temple’s ornamentation.