Friday, March 8, 2024

Kirtland temple and the Book of Mormon

With all the attention on the Kirtland temple, there will probably be lots of visitors there this summer. 

Some of us think Kirtland is a solid candidate for "the temple which was in the land Bountiful." (3 Nephi 11:1) This is the last temple mentioned in the Book of Mormon.

Except for what the Lord told people at that site: "Thus said the Father unto Malachi—Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts." (3 Nephi 24:1)

D&C 109 is the dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland temple.

D&C 110 is the fulfillment of the Lord suddenly coming to the temple, followed by the messengers of the covenants. Verse 14 even says, "Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi." (Doctrine and Covenants 110:14)

That would be the topic of a much longer post, but to summarize, Ohio is within the land Bountiful in the Heartland model, and Kirtland fits as a site for the temple in 3 Nephi.

We can see from D&C 110:14 that the Kirtland temple was the fulfillment of Malachi's prophecy. It makes sense that the Lord would teach that prophecy to the Nephites at the very location where it would be fulfilled.

Just something to think about, regardless of what you think about the various possible settings of the Book of Mormon.
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If you or anyone you know is planning a trip, take some time to visit Indian Point Park which is just 14 miles northeast.


(click to enlarge)

From the parking lot, you walk west along the path to the end of the point you can see in this topographical map. Or, you can park down below on the west side and walk up the stairs to the top. If the rivers are high, you can access the upper parking lot from the east on Seeley Road.

(click to enlarge)

The historical marker explains that the walls were built around 140 BC, squarely within Book of Mormon time frames.


(click to enlarge)

I've visited similar fortifications at the convergence of rivers throughout the Midwest. Another excellent example is near Cincinnati, Ohio called Shawnee Lookout. The golf course there has a museum of excellent artifacts dating to Book of Mormon time frames. 

I've also visited numerous Book of Mormon era archaeological sites in and around Cleveland. I had thought about offering a tour during the Mormon History Association meetings in Cleveland this year, but I couldn't fit it into my schedule.

Maybe one of these days I'll put together a virtual tour. The sites are quite impressive, and they're consistent with the Moroni's America framework for the setting of the Book of Mormon.

Plus, people have told me about artifacts and other things they've found in the area that they haven't reported to officials or archaeologists because the government will seize them, maybe take their property, etc.

That's a common problem, another unintended consequence of the NAGPRA Act.

A topic for another post someday...

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Original Hopewell site at Chillicothe, Ohio

 

Mid-1800's survey of the original Hopewell Site at Chillicothe, Ohio. It was an incredible set of earthworks and mounds covering nearly 130 acres. The outer walls ran for over 2 miles and 29 burial mounds were at the site. It was likely constructed around AD 200-500. From: Squier & Davis, 1858.
Image

Friday, February 23, 2024

Two sets of plates: "the book of which I have spoken"

This post discusses another aspect of the "two-sets-of-plates" scenario, looking at what Nephi said about the future Book of Mormon.

On this blog we've discussed the idea that Moroni put the abridged plates in the stone box on Cumorah, as indicated by the Title Page (the last leaf of the plates) and other extrinsic and historical evidence. 

Joseph and Oliver completed the translation of those plates in Harmony, PA. Then Joseph gave those abridged plates to a messenger who took them to Cumorah. From the repository in Cumorah, the messenger picked up the plates of Nephi and took them to Fayette where Joseph translated them as 1 Nephi-Words of Mormon 1-11.

(see chart here: https://www.lettervii.com/p/the-two-sets-of-plates-schematic.html)

To review, the Lord told Oliver that when he finished helping Joseph translate "this record" (meaning the abridged plates), there would be "other records" that he would assist to translate.

1 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto him.

2 And then, behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to translate.

(Doctrine and Covenants 9:1–2)

In the next section, the Lord explained what these "other records" were; i.e., the plates of Nephi.

38 And now, verily I say unto you, that an account of those things that you have written, which have gone out of your hands, is engraven upon the plates of Nephi;
 39 Yea, and you remember it was said in those writings that a more particular account was given of these things upon the plates of Nephi.
40 And now, because the account which is engraven upon the plates of Nephi is more particular concerning the things which, in my wisdom, I would bring to the knowledge of the people in this account—
 41 Therefore, you shall translate the engravings which are on the plates of Nephi, down even till you come to the reign of king Benjamin, or until you come to that which you have translated, which you have retained;
42 And behold, you shall publish it as the record of Nephi; and thus I will confound those who have altered my words.
(Doctrine and Covenants 10:38–42)

IOW, Joseph didn't have the plates of Nephi in Harmony. He wouldn't get them until the messenger brought them to Fayette. 

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Aside from the extrinsic and historical evidence that Joseph Smith translated two separate sets of plates, we have a comment by Nephi that corroborates the two sets of plates scenario.

Nephi wrote, "And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed." (2 Nephi 30:3)

Notice that Nephi did not write "this book" when he prophesied about the future Book of Mormon. The "book of which I have spoken" was obviously not the book he was writing at the time.

Nephi explained that the book would be the words of "his seed," meaning his descendants, presumably as abridged by Mormon.

2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
(2 Nephi 29:2)

Had Nephi's original plates been included in the original Book of Mormon, the verses should have read something like this:

"And now, I would prophesy somewhat more concerning the Jews and the Gentiles. For after the book of which I have spoken shall come forth, which book shall include these words I am writing now, and be written unto the Gentiles, and sealed up again unto the Lord, there shall be many which shall believe the words which are written; and they shall carry them forth unto the remnant of our seed." (2 Nephi 30:3)

2 And also, that I may remember the promises which I have made unto thee, Nephi, and also unto thy father, that I would remember your seed; and that your words and the words of your seed should proceed forth out of my mouth unto your seed; and my words shall hiss forth unto the ends of the earth, for a standard unto my people, which are of the house of Israel;
(2 Nephi 29:2)

Naturally, other interpretations are possible, but this is an interpretation that corroborates the extrinsic and historical evidence that Joseph translated two separate sets of plates, and that the Lord had Joseph translate the plates of Nephi to replace the lost 116 pages from the "original" Book of Mormon.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Hank Smith podcast: overview of Lehi's promised land

Lots of interesting comments on the significance of North America:

https://youtu.be/iBIXTdBLQME?t=356



Excerpts:


so my point is let's

8:50

not get offended that God has said America is a choice land let's recognize that there are things for ordained by God for everyone but that there is something special here and let's not skip it because there are valuable things about recognizing this so verse seven this land is consecrated unto whom whom he shall bring I just read that and

A land consecrated

9:08

if it so be that they shall serve him now this is the condition according to the Commandments which he hath given it shall be a land of liberty unto them that's so important having a land of liberty is something special and it's a beacon to the world and can bless all kinds of Worlds as we know many countries have copied the Constitution of the United States or use that as a foundation for some of their own governance wherefore they shall never be brought into captivity now that's a really huge promise given the state of the world today and in other times where Liberty has been at risk if so it shall be because of iniquities this is a principle with a promise but we have to live the principle we have to worship the god of the land who is Jesus Christ right for if iniquity shall abound curse shall be the land for their sakes and for their sakes. 

9:57

we're going to talk about that later with the the boundaries idea but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever can I just emphasize that last line unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever that is an incredible promise no matter what happens politically or governmentally or socially or whatever unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever that is a beautiful statement of comfort.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Ensign magazine: Possible Routes Suggested for Mulek’s Voyage

In 1973, it was still cool to discuss evidence of the Book of Mormon in Church magazines. Maybe that's why those of us who were living back then think it's still cool.

:)

No need for contention about any of this, of course. People can believe whatever we want. So long as we pursue clarity, charity and understanding, we'll see "no more contention" (Mosiah 1:1). Instead, we'll all be better education and make informed decisions.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1973/09/discovery/possible-routes-suggested-for-muleks-voyage?lang=eng

Possible Routes Suggested for Mulek’s Voyage


Two possible routes of the voyage of Mulek and his followers to the New World “promised land” of the Book of Mormon have been proposed by Dr. and Sister Ross T. Christensen of Brigham Young University. Dr. Christensen is a professor of archaeology and anthropology; his wife is a graduate student in archaeology.

The Book of Mormon does not specify whether the Mulekites made their voyage to the Americas in the sixth century B.C. westward across the Atlantic Ocean or eastward across the Pacific. But since that history clearly indicates that they landed on the east coast of the “land northward,” the Christensens suggest that the Mulekites may have followed the Atlantic route.

A study of Atlantic Ocean currents together with other substantive information supports the feasibility of two possible routes that these early voyagers might have taken, according to the Christensens. One is a Mediterranean and North Atlantic route; the other is around Africa, then across the South Atlantic.

The sixth century before Christ was a time of extraordinary activity in exploration, trade, and colonization in the Mediterranean world and beyond. And the destruction of Jerusalem and the flight of Mulek and his people and others who were oppressed only accelerated a disposition to emigrate. Israelite colonies are believed to have existed at Cyprus, Crete, Libya, Jerba, and Carthage at the time of Jerusalem’s fall, some of them having been established, according to tradition, during the reigns of David and Solomon. Also dating from the period of David and Solomon was a tradition of Israelite commerce with the Phoenicians.

One hypothesis suggests that at least part of the colony that settled in America with Mulek was Phoenician, because the river Sidon, mentioned in the Book of Mormon, bears the name of the principal city of ancient Phoenicia, Sidon. Aided by Phoenician mariners and Hebrew colonists across the Mediterranean, Mulek’s group could have reached the Atlantic Ocean by traveling the length of the Mediterranean Sea. Once out on the Atlantic, Mulek would have entered into a powerful ocean current that sweeps southwestward from Spain and Portugal along the west coast of Africa, then veers westward across the Atlantic, continuing in an arc through the West Indies.

While the Christensens believe Mulek traveled this more direct route across the Atlantic, they have also considered the route around Africa and across the South Atlantic as another possibility.

Mulek’s Various Routes

A powerful ocean stream originates in the Indian Ocean in the vicinity of Madagascar, sweeps southward around the Cape of Good Hope, veers westward across the South Atlantic to a point on the north of the eastern tip of Brazil, and continues northward off the coast of South America until it merges with the current flowing across the North Atlantic. Thus, if a vessel were to embark on the Red Sea and hold course close to the eastern shore of Africa until it reached the vicinity of Madagascar, it could follow the currents to the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico.

Although twice as far as the Mediterranean route, this second possibility warrants consideration. It has been discovered that under orders of the Egyptian monarch Neccho II, Phoenician sailors in about 600 B.C. voyaged around the entire continent of Africa, and this was 2100 years before the same feat was accomplished by Vasco de Gama in 1498.

Another accomplishment about the time of the Mulekite voyage was an actual crossing of the Atlantic to America by Phoenician mariners who set sail in the Red Sea, taking the route around the Cape of Good Hope and across the South Atlantic to what is now Brazil. An ancient Phoenician inscription found at Paraiba, Brazil, sets the crossing between 534 and 531 B.C.

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Hopewell in Illinois

If you're not following Greg Little on Twitter (X), you're missing lots of interesting posts. Here's another one:


The Gramercy Park Mounds in East Dubuque, IL, AKA "Dunleith Mounds." There were 26 Hopewell Culture mounds in this 3-acre park. The 5th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology (1887) devoted several pages to their excavation. A skeleton over 7' in height was found along with other oddities.



Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Thruston tablet

The Thruston Tablet, found in Tennessee, is subject to a variety of interpretations.

Illustration of the Thruston Tablet. It is a (paraphrasing) "19 inch long, 15 inch wide, 1 inch thick slab of stone" found at Rocky Creek in Sumner County, Tennessee around 1878. From: Holmes 1891.

(click to enlarge)


Little is known about the dating of this piece, but here is one discussion of the various issues.

https://dnaconsultants.com/the-invention-of-the-cherokee-people/