These finds confirm scriptures found in the book of mormon describing the world of the ancient nephites and lamanites. The book of mormon at the bar of demography, in book of mormon authorship revisited, ed. Aztec warriors brandishing maquahuitl, which are made of stone. We are foreigners and came here from very remote parts. I called tzontemoc by the aztecs was the one associated with venus. Swords and cimeters in the book of mormon matthew roper journal of book of mormon studies 81 1999. Book of mormonlamanitesrelationship to amerindiansmaya. As we chatted about her vacation she mentioned something that really intrigued my interest. See more ideas about book of mormon, mayan ruins and lds art. The maya and the olmec have a written languagea requirement for book of mormon peoples, who kept records. For defense they had shields made of split and woven reeds and covered with deer hide. List of books and articles about aztec civilization.
For example, shiblom, shiz, shim, shez, shared, shule, shelem, kish, riplakish and akish. See more ideas about aztec empire, aztec history and book of mormon. Mar, 2018 the book of mormon has many instances of proper names with the sh sound. When hernan cortes learned about the wealthy aztecs during his exploration trip, he set out to find them. He is a great teacher, a brilliant scholar, and gifted with a sense of humor. Held by the aztecs to be a symbol of death and resurrection. Some of the parallels identified are as follows sources. Early argumentsmade at a time when the book of mormon remained virtually unreadwere greatly flawed by insisting on trumpedup slanders that dismissed joseph smith as a lazy liar with a host of even more serious flaws. The following article is courtesy of fair, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing welldocumented answers to criticisms of lds doctrine, belief and practice. Garth norman, bookofmormon geography study on the narrow neck of land region, privately circulated book of mormon geography working paper no. The nephites mined gold and also worked copper and silver. Archaeology and the book of mormon, proposed book of mormon geographical setting, and mormon folklore. Of the many interesting parallels that can be found between the cultures of the mayans and aztecs when compared to those of the nephites and lamanites found in the book of mormon it is the interesting but often overlooked quick convergences like this that i really love.
Quetzalcoatl is the white bearded god or the serpent god from the legend of quetzalcoatl of the ancient aztecs. Thus the name quezalcoatl is understood by mormon scholars to mean the precious twin, the image of the resurrected personage of calvary. Critics of the book of mormon have argued that there are words and phrases in the book that are anachronistic with archaeological findings. Plainly, a great deal remains to be learned about precolumbian america, and several new findings here seem relevant to the book of mormon.
However the inca did not have a written language, they recorded their records in quipus which are theoretically a binary code that was woven rather than written. Lds research has focused on identifying the characteristics of the preclassic mayan culture. This over 2000 year time period, allow them to spread out over the land from at least as far south as peru, traveling by boat along the west coast. Mayan is a fairly broad classification that actually represents several groups. List of books and articles about aztec civilization online. Quetzalcoatl has proved a compelling myth to attach the story to, and suggest this is the native record of the life of jesus. Once claimed in the 1950s to be a representation of lehis dream. Apr 17, 2019 as i read the book of mormon, it seemed to me that it was about my american indian ancestors. The book of mormon writes that jesus appeared on the american continent, in 3 nephi. Supplementing jeff lindsays book of mormon evidences page. Tribes throughout the americas had similar legends, including that this individual performed miracles typical of jesus. Did the inca, aztec or mayan civilizations leave any record. Another testament of jesus christ, it says that the lamanites are among the ancestors of the american indians.
The book of mormon has many instances of proper names with the sh sound. A student of mayan history and a believer of the church must not assume that these parallels represent church doctrine or get defensive when evidence points against writings in the book of mormon. Legends of quetzalcoatl and ties to the book of mormon similarities with christ. Some mormons believe that quetzalcoatl was historically jesus christ, but believe his name and the details of the event were gradually lost over time. The mormon church the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The book of mormon gives the date as ad 385 mormon 6. The book of mormon, the founding document of the latter day saint movement and one of the four books of scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, is an account of three groups of people.
Book of mormon statements with mesoamerica and us heartland. The aztec civilization by absorption of other cultural elements and by conquest the aztec achieved a composite civilization, based on the heritage of toltec and mixtecapuebla. Book of mormon nuggets jeff lindsays site and the shake. On this matter, as with many others, the book of mormon departs from what joseph could have known, but agrees with what is now known about ancient mesoamerica. The book of mormon is a sacred, ancient american document recorded by writers as the events unfolded, starting more than two thousand years ago. A copy of stephens very popular book was sent by a mormon named. Mesoamerica abstract series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of ancient america and their connections to the book of mormon, which is the key to understanding old american studies. Series of articles dealing with archaeological, anthropological, geographical, societal, religious, and historical aspects of ancient america and their connections to the book of mormon, which is the key to understanding old american studies. Either way the incan empire was born in the 1400s which is nearly a millenium after the events of the book of mormon end. Aug 01, 2019 an english translation published today of the aztec prince ixtlilxochitls history of the toltecs is compared to the book of mormon account of the nephitesnahuatls who preceded the toltec empire. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible and is a record of gods dealings with his chosen people in the new world. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, 1996 1985, 184185. They attained a high degree of development in engineering, architecture, art, mathematics, and astronomy. The book of mormon mostly covers events that would have transpired during the mayan preclassic era, but also includes events that would have transpired during olmec times.
Parallels between the book of mormon nephiteslamanites and. An english translation published today of the aztec prince ixtlilxochitls history of the toltecs is compared to the book of mormon account of the nephitesnahuatls who preceded the toltec empire. If the book of mormon isnt true, how come the aztecs knew. In mormon circles, he is often identified with jesus christ. Aug 26, 2012 ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon my sister and her husband just got back from cancun and had a fabulous time. Revisiting the seven lineages of the book of mormon and the. Views on book of mormon geography, privately circulated book of mormon working paper no. Mayan civilization and parallels to the book of mormon.
Why do mormons believe quetzalcoatl and other american. We build enduring faith in jesus christ by making the book of mormon accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to the entire world. As for appearing like someone from the middle east, people should remember that the visit of jesus christ to the americas recorded in the book of mormon was following his resurrection. How a mormon lawyer transformed archaeology in mexicoand.
A panmesoamerica legend tells of a core people descended from seven tribes, which may coincide with the seven lineages mentioned three times in the book of mormon. It is easy, therefore, to see why latterday saints typically associate the nephites or lamanites with the maya. When the spanish conquistadors arrived in mexico, they were shocked to see the natives, especially the rather civilized aztecs of texcoco mexico city offering human beings in sacrifice to their gods. In a nutshell, the book of mormon purports to be a history of israelites that left jerusalem around 600 b. Peruvian setting for the book of mormon mormon matters. Although historians and archaeologists consider the book to be an anachronistic invention of joseph smith, many members of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church and other denominations of the latter day saint movement believe that it. Cortez, the aztecs and judges in the book of mormon. This practice was also commonly used among the aztecs.
The main purpose of the book of mormon is to the convincing of jew and gentile that jesus is the. Archaeological and historical evidence jareditesolmecs. They are the ancestors of the aztecs, maya, inca, and american indians. National geographic discovery of mayan ruins not proof, but very. That sound made its way into later book of mormon languages and survived the centuries until today. Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record of the inhabitants of the ancient americas.
The main purpose of the book of mormon is to the convincing of jew and gentile that jesus is the christ, the eternal god, manifesting himself unto all nations. A captivating guide to aztec history and the triple alliance of tenochtitlan, tetzcoco, and tlacopan mayan civilization, aztecs and incas book 2 captivating history 3. The aztec calendar utilized a 260day year and a 52year time. Ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon my sister and her husband just got back from cancun and had a fabulous time. Dec 03, 2009 here is what my copy of the book of mormon states. They called themselves the mexica, but 19th century historians would later call them the aztec. Since the publication of the book of mormon in 1830, mormon archaeologists have attempted to find archaeological evidence to support it.
Dec 30, 2012 the book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible and is a record of gods dealings with his chosen people in the new world. Old america the aztecs continued book of mormon central. Three groups left the land of jerusalem and crossed the oceans, beginning several centuries before the birth of our savior, and arrived in the promised land, the americas. The nephites made swords of steel, a derivative of iron. Excluding the bible and similar writing, can you prove to an atheist or to someone that is agnostic that god exists. As i read the book of mormon, it seemed to me that it was about my american indian ancestors. This is not assuming that slavery to some degree didnt exist in both the book of mormon and by the aztecs because it more than likely did but to the degree that was practiced with the israelites in egypt or africans driven into slavery in the americas that doesnt seem to be the case. The mexica aztecs came from the north to resettle in. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to about 400 ad. The number seven was significant to the precolumbian communities of mesoamerica, as it was in the book of mormon. Did the inca, aztec or mayan civilizations leave any record that they.
Although it serves primarily as a religious text, it is to be interpreted literally as being an actual, historical record. Mesoamerica is the site of the only literate precolumbian population. It tells the story of a people, a part of which were later described as lamanites, who migrated from jerusalem to a land of promise 1 nephi 2. It is found the the great prophet who led the founding of the empire was most likely the last prophet moroni of the book of mormon narrative. On the title page of the book of mormon i read that it is written to the lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of israel. Before them, the mayans, and before the mayan, the olmec. Created the world in conjunction with his adversary, tezcatlipoca, who lost his foot in the process. But the book of mormon indicates that idolatry was present among ancient book of mormon peoples, and this practice was also abundantly manifest among the aztecs and others. However, the classic period occurs after book of mormon times. Ancient myan ruins support the book of mormon blogger. Mesoamerica and the book of mormon linkedin slideshare.
During the same period, increasingly careful study of the book of mormon by. Lds president john taylor believed quetzalcoatl the winged. The scientific legacy of a quest to prove the book of mormon. The book of mormon is a record of families that the lord led to the americas for specific purposes. The book of mormon claims to be a history of ancient peoples inhabiting central america until 421 a. Quetzalcoatl mormonism, the mormon church, beliefs. The people of the book of mormon had herds of animals that could be described as sheep. Around 1200 ad, a group of people arrived in the valley of mexico from the north. Dec 08, 2014 cortez, the aztecs and judges in the book of mormon aztec marketplace i want to post this interesting little tidbit that i had stumbled across from john sorenson a while back but for one reason or another i havent put anything together for it.
Many mormons believe that this event was the basis for quetzalcoatl and other native american precolombian deities. Mormon archaeological argument that proves the historical accuracy of b of m. The book traces the origins of these people and how they arrived in the americas. Sorenson, an ancient american setting for the book of mormon salt lake city, utah. Book of mormon difficulties, contradictions and explanations. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins. How could so many people have died at the battle of cumorah.
Book of mormon tours which take interested members to see the lands of the book of mormon in mesoamerica. Archaeological evidence indicates that these ancient jaredite people, who according to the book of mormon lived on the western hemisphere from approximately 2500 b. Notes amaranth, and pseudograin, wikipedia, accessed 28 june 2014. The crowning event in the book of mormon is the story of jesus christ himself as a resurrected being visiting the people on the american continent just after his crucifixion.
For almost five decades, dozens of qualified lds researchers, scholars, anthropologists, and archaeologists have studied hundreds of clues in the book of mormon and statements by the prophet joseph smith, and have come to the conclusion that the events, covered in various amounts of detail in the book of mormon, occurred in the new world area of mesoamerica. Cortez, the aztecs and judges in the book of mormon aztec marketplace i want to post this interesting little tidbit that i had stumbled across from john sorenson a while back but for one reason or another i havent put anything together for it. These relate to artifacts, animal, plant, or technology that critics believe did not exist in the americas during the book of mormon time period before 2500 bc to. Lunds love for history and the book of mormon has taken him to mexico, honduras, belize and guatemala more than twenty times. This translated book of scripture also contains the writings and teachings of ancient prophets who lived in the americas. Lds church members are taught that the book of mormon bom is scripture, as well as a true record of the inhabitants of the americas from about 2200 bc to 420 ad. Book of mormonlamanitesrelationship to amerindiansmaya and. A nthropologists at byu note that the appellation twin brother also signifies to the aztecs that the morning and the evening star enishgoondosh are one and the same, just as jesus and quetzalcoatl. Legends of quetzalcoatl and ties to the book of mormon i still remember the excitement i felt in fifth grade when we were shown a documentary film about cortes and aztecs, describing how cortes was greeted as the great white god of legend who had once visited the americas and promised to return.