We have heard a lot about Oliver Cowdery’s Letter VII that Jonathan Neville has written a book about. It verifies as a FACT, [according to Oliver] that the Hill Cumorah is the place that Joseph received the gold plates and the same hill is where the final battles of the Nephites happened, unlike the Mesoamericanists believe.
[Note: President Cowdery wrote essays as letters to W.W. Phelps, who was living in Missouri at the time. Below Oliver is referring to what is now State Route 21, the road that runs directly in front of the Hill Cumorah Visitors Center today]
Oliver says, “…Here, between these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites were destroyed. By turning to the 529th and 530th pages of the Book of Mormon, you will read Mormon’s account of the last great struggle of his people, as they were encamped round this hill Cumorah. In this valley fell the remaining strength and pride of a once powerful people, the Nephites—once so highly favored of the Lord, but at that time in darkness, doomed to suffer extermination by the hand of their barbarous and uncivilized brethren. From the top of this hill, Mormon, with a few others, after the battle, gazed with horror upon the mangled remains of those who, the day before, were filled with anxiety, hope, or doubt.” Oliver Cowdery’s Letter VII Joseph Smith Papers “Letter VII,” LDS Messenger and Advocate, July 1835, 1:155–159 .
Oliver wrote 8 letters HERE at Joseph Smith’s request, to WW Phelps to tell the world on paper what the beliefs of the Church were. The anti-Mormon book Mormonism Unvailed came out in 1834 and Joseph wanted a correct explanation of church doctrine and what had really happened. WW Phelps wrote many letters back to Oliver. By writing letters they would not have to go through the expense of printing the words, as it was much less money to send letters back and forth through the postal service.
Letter XII
W.W. Phelps, in Letter XII of writing to Oliver Cowdery, said about the Hill Cumorah, “I want to drop an idea or two about Cumorah. Yes, Cumorah which must become as famous among the Latter-day Saints as Sinai was among the former saints… the history of the first settlers of America; even the book of Mormon, preparatory gathering from Cumorah: Glorious spot… Cumorah, the artificial hill of North America is well calculated to stand in this generation as a monument of marvelous works and wonder. Around that mount died millions of the Jaredites; yea, there ended one of the greatest nations of this earth. In that day, her inhabitants spread from sea to sea, and enjoyed national greatness and glory, nearly fifteen hundred years . . . An angel came down from the regions of glory and told that a record was hid in Cumorah.” Latter Day Saint’s Messenger and Advocate, July 1836, p. 341. See my blog about the artificial hill of North America here.
The rest of this blog will tell you what WW Phelps wrote to Oliver in WW Phelps’s Letter II.
This blog is dedicated to my White Lamanite brother Mike “Painted Pony” LaFontaine (Chippewa) and my White Lamanite Sister Betty “Red Ant” LaFontaine (Navajo)
PS: They weren’t supposed to marry outside of their tribe according to their parents, [BUT] that was between them and the Lord. I’ll bet many of you Gentiles married outside of your tribe as well, right? Great things happen as long as you follow the Lord.
LETTER NO. II. From WW Phelps Liberty, Mo. Nov. 6, 1834.
DEAR BROTHER:
I am one, but the world has many, and the many so various and extensive that every mind and body may have its portion, and satisfaction, even of truth: wherefore I continue the sketches of the western wilds. And let me begin with that section of land which lies between the Missouri river, and the north western counties of this State. This fine tract of territory embraces land enough for two or three counties, and contrary to the observation which I wrote you last August about it, there will be a further effort for annexation to this State, as soon as matters can move.
The appearance of this tract, as far as I know, is much the same, of the other contiguous country, as described in my last: Extensive prairies, fringed with timber upon the streams. The streams have generally a small assortment of fish, such as large cat, carp, buffalo—shad, hickory—shad, gars, and a few other small pan fish. About three or four miles west of the boundary line, there is a beautiful creek of living water, pebble bottom, running northwardly and empties into the Little Plat.. It is called “Tod’s Creek,” and is sufficient for light mills. Passing some dry branches, in dry times, the Little Platt comes next, and a fine looking river it is, too, about eight or ten rods wide, with a grand fall for mills, of say six or seven feet, at the ford and ferry. Like other western waters, however, it sometimes rises very high, (fifty or sixty feet,) on short notice; and to use it for mill privileges and purposes, would require a stamina and capital equal to what brought the grand canal, by an aqueduct across the Genesee at Rochester, New York.
On the great garrison road, near five miles westerly of the Platt, is a precious rivulet, called “Clear Creek,” along which the Indians camp, in hunting seasons, by scores.—This route to the garrison, from the Platt west, is timber land, and has fine appearance: in fact, from what I can learn, some of this section looks as rich and fertile as Jackson. At the distance of sixty or eighty rods from Clear Creek, as you come down upon the Missouri bottom, is a Jordan—like, deep sluggish stream, bridged, named “Bee Creek,” from the great quantities of bees that have been found in its woods. The Missouri bottom from this creek to the garrison, about three miles, is covered with an unparalleled phalanx of rushes, four or five feet high, presenting one of the stiffest pastures I ever beheld. The cattle live and fatten upon these rushes, year in and year out, without any other fodder. One Mr. Martin, who has a permit from the garrison, has the benefit of all this spontaneous feed, together with a farm and ferry at the Platt, a farm and ferry at the Missouri, opposite the garrison, and a boarding house in the garrison, or cantonment, more properly, an account of which will be given hereafter. This permission with the facilities, without money or price, gives him a chance to amass a fortune with little trouble, little competition, and in a little time.
Thirteen United States, may emphatically be called the Heart of North America.
Phelp’s continues, “But to my subject. The last Congress, if I am not mistaken, extended the limits, jurisdiction and laws, of the territory of Michigan, to all “the district of country north of the State of Missouri, and west of the Mississippi,” so that the “far west,” or western world of territory, laid down on some of the maps, as the Missouri Territory, is now bounded, south by the Arkansas Territory; and Mexican States; west by the Rocky Mountains: north by the British line, as it shall be established according to the treaty of Ghent, cornering on the north—east, at the Lake of the Woods: and east by Michigan Territory, and the State of Missouri: comprising more land than did the old “Thirteen United States,” and may emphatically be called the heart of North America. It is about nine hundred miles long and eight hundred miles broad, containing, at estimates, four hundred and sixty millions, and eight hundred thousand acres, spread over thirteen degrees of north latitude, and embracing all the beauty and variety of season and climate, that may be found from the south line of Virginia, to the gulf of St. Lawrence! It is a great place, and every thing about it is GREAT. The Missouri, than which a large or more dreadful river, (with its muddy face always scowling,) is not on earth, rushes rapidly from near the 49th to about the 39th degree of north latitude, hurrying along with it, its numerous relatives, and tributaries, from the vast prairies, that lay spread out like an empire, and passes into the State of Missouri, as the President of rivers.
Notwithstanding, this great country may be ranked as a part of the realm of the United States, yet, the title to the land, is held by the Indians that hunt upon it; or, at least, the most of it, is theirs; and as the general government, has already commenced gathering and settling the various tribes upon the south eastern limits of this grand region, I shall be justified on that point, and because we have the word of the Lord, that these Indians are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, I certainly shall write truth, on another point, when I call it THE LAND OF ISRAEL. Time will tell whether the United States will be so humane as to gather all the wandering tribes of the forest, and extinguish their title to such lands as they do not want. If the government should succeed in its philanthropic operation to ameliorate the condition of the Indians, and honorably purchase much of their land: if the Lord should permit timber to grow upon the prairies, like corn stalks upon the cultivated fields, so that towns and cities might speckle the west as they now do the east, still, when “Jacob takes root,” according to the prediction of Isaiah, “and blossoms and buds and fills the face of the world with fruit,” this country will then be The Land of Israel. page 34
I should do injustice to the subject, were I to omit a notice of the Indians that inhabit the territory, of which I am writing. When I was at the garrison, I saw a noble looking, portly Indian, dressed and harnessed in fine style for hunting, and for the life of me, I could not help composing the following lines for
THE RED MAN.
O stop and tell me, Red Man, “And long they’ve liv’d by hunting,
Who are ye? why you roam? “Instead of work and arts,
And how you get your living? “And so our race has dwindled
Have you no God;—no home? “To idle Indian hearts.
With stature straight and portly, “Yet hope within us lingers,
And decked in native pride, “As if the Spirit spoke:—
With feathers, paints, and broaches, “He’ll come for your redemption,
He willingly replied:—— “And break your Gentile yoke:
“I once was pleasant Ephraim, “And all your captive brothers,
“When Jacob for me pray’d; “From every clime shall come,
“But oh! how blessings vanish, “And quit their savage customs,
“When man from God has stray’d; “To live with God at home.
“Before your nation knew us, “Then joy will fill our bosoms,
“Some thousand moons ago, “And blessings crown our days,
“Our fathers fell in darkness, “To live in pure religion,
“And wander’d to and fro. “And sing our Maker’s praise.”
Phelps continues, “Now, to my story again. Besides the Delawares, Shawnees, Kickapoos, Wyandots, Pottowattomies, Senecas, Osages, Choctaws, Cherokees, Kaskaskias, Kansas, &c. &c. which our nation and the missionaries are domesticating as they are gathered, upon the southern limits of the land of Israel, the Pawnees, the Sioux, the Rickarees, the Mandans, the Nespersees, the Blackfeet, the Sacs, the Foxes, and many other tribes, rove and hunt from prairie to prairie, from river to river, from hill to hill, and from mountain to mountain, and live, and are blessed before the face of heaven daily as well as their contemporary whites; and, perhaps 
I may add, are as justifiable before God, as any people on the globe, called heathens. No church bell from its elevated steeple, rings “Go to meeting; it is Sunday,” while a dozen lesser ones, for stages and Steam boats, peal a ding dong “for parties of pleasure, as a holiday,” among these rude sons of the west.—And it is a difficult matter to make one soul of them believe the Great Spirit ever said, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” while they know, that the majority of the white nation, use it for a holiday. No politicians boast of freedom and equal rights, while thousands are imprisoned for debt, or are in bondage: No; when the tribes are at peace, the Indian is free; his land is free; his game is free; his time is free, and all is free.
But the glory of the whole matter is yet to be told; and that is, that the hour is near, when the Lord will gather his elect, even Israel; that the righteous may come flocking to the standard of God like doves to the windows. This is the glory of the children of the promise. This is the expectation of the faithful. This is they joy of the saints, that they may be gathered and live and reign a thousand years on earth with Christ. And who would not be full of hope, faith, and charity, at such a grand prospect. Or in other words, Is there an heir of the celestial kingdom, that would take this world as a mite towards the glory and blessings, after much tribulation, that he can receive in the one to come? No!
The generations generally, except the saints, as they have passed by, from the beginning, have had their measure, of glory, fame and power, because they have eagerly sought for it—but where are the mightiest of them? Numbered with the dead! The Nephites who once had the Lord personally among them, where are they? Numbered with the dead! And the present generation, with the knowledge of six thousand years in advance, after a little, where will all its chiefest be? Numbered with the dead! O grave! grave! how many mysteries thou hidest!—but the hour of revelation is nigh, and who is prepared to hear it? And the time to renew the earth is not far off, and who will then possess it? And the time is soon at hand, when the Lord can be seen, and who shall see him? Yea, who can enjoy all these sublime privileges? The pure in heart.
No wonder the Saints endured martyrdom! No wonder the Son of God suffered upon the cross, it was for the sake of eternal life in a world of perfection, where the order and the power, and the realm, are unchangeable, and the enjoyment unutterable, (in this world.) Away with crowns and kingdoms; away with grandeur and gold; away with fame and fassions [fashions]—all are vanity: seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and when the Lord comes, the riches of eternity will be given to the saints; and the curse will be taken off of the earth, and the land will yield its increase, and the whole world will become the garden of God and his people. The land of the north, the land of the east, the land of the south, and the land of the “West,” will be the land of Israel, the home of the blessed, and the seat of the beloved city: and though oceans shall roll back, and mountains sink down; though worlds may be created, and disappear, and ages come and go, yet, amidst my littleness, and nothingness, compared with the vastness of God’s works, I hope to enjoy an inheritance in that city.
As ever, W. W. PHELPS.
To OLIVER COWDERY, Esq.
Read the Annotated Book of Mormon. It includes dozens of stories about the Native American Indians and their rightful inheritance of the Land of Joseph which is the United States of America. As the scripture below says the Lamanites are a remnant of the Jew.
D&C 19:26-27: “And again, I command thee that thou shalt not covet thine own property, but impart it freely to the printing of the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and works of God.
Which is my word to the Gentile, that soon it may go to the Jew, of whom the Lamanites are a remnant that they may believe the gospel, and look not for a Messiah to come who has already come.”
“Temporarily, we call it America. But it began with the single, primeval continent of Genesis, and the miracle of millennial healing will bring that unity again.”
1. Earth Defiled
TWO LANDS OF PROMISE Page 508 Annotated Book of Mormon
Of note, Lucy Mack Smith said, “That of which I spoke, which 
Then he went on to tell the length and width and thickness of the plates, and said he, “they appear to be gold.” But he seemed to think more of the glasses or the urim and thummim than he did of the plates, for, says he, “
During translation I propose Joseph used a farmer’s hat that he probably wore daily to work on the farm. (picture right). A young boy would most likely only use a stove pipe hat for a dance or for proper attire, but his working hat would be with him almost constantly you would think. This hat I believe was not used with a stone in it, but as a tool or prop to hide the two stones in a bow or the spectacles from the view of the scribe, as you see in the picture left. The hat is nothing more than a prop to block out Emma’s vision.
Compare John 1:42 KJV which says, “And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.”
During the debates over whether or not to ratify the Constitution, authors on both sides of the debate wrote a series of anonymous “letters to the editor[s]” of newspapers under various pen names. There were advantages to writing these articles anonymously, of course, when one wished to say controversial things in these debates that could offend one’s friends if they were known publicly. Among these authors were many who had actually named their alter egos after people in Roman history, whose accomplishments they thus wished to invoke in their arguments. The Constitution’s opponents, for example, included “Brutus” (possibly Melancton Smith or Robert Yates or even John Williams), and “Cato” (possibly New York governor George Clinton). These were both names of people who had opposed the Roman monarchy (or at least, a particular manifestation of that monarchy). Thus, this would imply that they were opposed to a repeat of such monarchy in America…
In more than one way, the pseudonym of “Publius” was a much better-chosen pen name than the unpopular “Caesar.” The authors of the Federalist Papers named their alternate persona after a famous Roman statesman named Publius Valerius Poplicola (the last name is also spelled Publicola). Publius was someone who (along with three other great Roman aristocrats of that time) had helped to overthrow the Roman monarchy. Choosing this man’s name for this purpose was probably meant to suggest an opposition to monarchy, that was as strong as any found among the Constitution’s detractors. This would certainly have been important for an audience that had just fought a protracted war against King George III of Britain. This audience would have hated monarchy almost as much as any of the Romans of these prior times did.
“Mica cutouts were produced by the Hopewell culture (100 BC-AD 400) which thrived in the American Midwest and southern Ohio more than two thousand years ago.
Such a work was needed badly. Thompson took on the project with apologies for his personal limitations, hoping to benefit “the young Elders and Priests who are just commencing in their ministry,” as well as new converts and an uninformed public (Preface, p. [3]). Among the “young” missionaries was Thompson himself, 
Remnants of Ancient Civilizations are all Around Us. How Much can we Uncover? By Matt Crossman
After an hour, Burks — director of archaeological geophysics at Ohio Valley Archaeology Inc. and president of Heartland Earthworks Conservancy — climbs out of the vehicle and downloads the magnetometers’ data. On his laptop, we look at a map of the ground we drove over, with dark blotches representing differences in the magnetic field. Blotches forming an obvious shape could mean a discovery, as when 
“Festivals at Cahokia were mostly centered around group meals where people feasted on barbeques of deer, bison, squirrels, and even swans. Centuries later, archaeologists found huge party trash pits full of fire-cracked bones and broken dishes.” Annalee Newitz, in the 2021 book Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age Farms separated neighborhoods (which is true today, too, at the outer reaches of the suburbs), and mounds became gathering places. Tim Pauketat, an archaeologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, believes Cahokia was a spiritual center. Cahokians loved a party, according to the 2021 book, 
The Prophet Moroni saw our day and promises us “greater things,” if we will repent. In “The Book of Mormon”, he writes “I know your doing.” He tells us of some of the stumbling blocks keeping us from getting the “greater things”: pride, envy, fine apparel, strive, malice, all manner of iniquities, hypocrisy, love of money, ignoring the needy, the sick and afflicted, lack of faith, pollutions, and “why have ye polluted the holy church of God?” (Mormon 8:35-41).
1. Earth Defiled
I do not believe how the Witness Movie done by The Interpreter Foundation headed by Daniel Peterson, makes any sense at all about Joseph’s method of translation, and I am confused at why it seems to have so much support in the church we love? The simple answer is; the editors are the Historians, Intellectuals, and people who either make mistakes or purposely make their opinion seem smart, as to impress the Brethren or their peers. [That is my Opinion] And as Jonathan Neville says, “They were written by a committee, published anonymously, and are subject to revision at any time without notice, and omit/edit original sources.
In my opinion 
“I urge you to 
Then he spoke of other leaders serving with him in the Nephite army, all of whom had fallen with the forces under their command. 
At the time Mormon recorded the details of this dreadful tragedy, he said that only twenty-four remained alive of all the men, women, and children of the Nephites. These surviving few were themselves killed the next day—with one exception, Moroni, whom the Lord spared to close up the written record.
Elder Petersen continues, “In closing his record, and knowing that it would come to us, Moroni pleaded with us, the modern inhabitants of this land, to escape the kind of tragic end which had obliterated his people. He said:
I had a little of "Hiawatha" in high school. About all I could remember of it was their God Gitche Manito, Nokomis and the shores of Gitche Gumee, Hiawatha's birch bark canoe and Minnehaha. I had never read all of the poem but I liked what I read so well that I could not forget it. Many years later, after I had become a member of the Reorgnized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and had become familiar with the Book of Mormon, thoughts of Hiawatha came back to me and I inquired about it at the library. I took home a book of Longfellow's poems with "The Song of Hiawatha" in it.
"Then upon the ground the warriors threw their cloaks and shirts of deer-skin, threw their weapons and their war-gear, leaped into the rushing river, washed the war-paint from their faces. Clear above them flowed the water, clear and limpid from the footprints of the Master of Life descending; dark below them flowed the water, soiled and stained with streaks of crimson, as if blood were mingled with it!" If we could see the water after our baptism, as God sees it, maybe it would look that way, too.
