In the June 16, 1866 issue of The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star, Orson Pratt provided an early apologetic concerning the “contradiction” between the three hours of darkness (Luke 23:44) and the three days of darkness in the Book of Mormon (see 3 Nephi 8:19, 23):
The four Evangelists, in the New Testament, have plainly told us, what
time of day it was in Jerusalem, during which the Savior was on the cross: they
all agree that it was "from the sixth to the ninth hour:" their time
was kept according to Jewish reckoning; the sixth hour with them, is the same
as mid-day or noon; and the ninth hour was the third hour after noon, which
corresponds to three o'clock in the afternoon, according to English time. This
was the time of day at Jerusalem when Christ was taken down from the cross. But
the Book of Mormon states, as we have already quoted, that on the western
continent "it was in the morning." To one unlearned, these statements
will appear contradictory; but every well informed person can see, at once,
that the difference of longitude would produce a difference of time. The
north-western part of South America is about one hundred and twelve degrees
west of Jerusalem, which is equivalent to about seven and one-half hours of
time. This subtracted from the time at Jerusalem, will show that the
crucifixion ended, by American time, in the morning, between one and two hours
after sun rise; or according to our reckoning, at about 7h. 30min. in the
morning.
As the Prophet, Joseph Smith, never referred to this, it is evident
that the difference of time, alluded to, resulting from the difference of longitude,
never entered his mind; and that he, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost,
translated the item, “And it was in the morning," without fully
com- prehending, why it should be in the morning rather than in the afternoon,
as recorded in the New Testament. Indeed, it is quite evident that this young
man, unlearned as he was, had never been instructed in regard to longitude, and
the effect it has upon time, and was, therefore, quite incapable of designedly
introducing the correct American time for the sake of deception. When this
important truth is pointed out and clearly explained, it is easy enough for all
people, whether enemies or friends, to perceive; but before attention was
called to the matter, who thought of it? (Orson Pratt, “Divinity
of the Book of Mormon,” The Latter-day Saints’ Millennial Star 28,
no. 24 [June 16, 1866]: 370-71)
