I believe the Mississippi river is the greatest river in the world. It has been called the “Father of Waters” by Native Americans, Sidon by Nephites and possibly Pishon or Gihon in the Old Testament. (I explain below)

The River Sidon is the most important river in the Book of Mormon. It is important for its food, water, defense, travel, and importance to develop cities close by. In comparison, that is the value today of the Mississippi River. We believe they are one in the same river.

The River Sidon isn’t mentioned until 87 BC in Alma Chapter 2. That makes sense. We believe Lehi landed near Tallahassee Florida in c.589 BC, Nephi probably escaped into the mountains using the Chattahoochee River and settled near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mosiah then joined the Mulekites near Nauvoo, Illinois on the Mississippi River. c. 130 BC. See complete Book of Mormon Timeline here:

From the Topical Guide- Sidon, River—most prominent river in Nephite territory

• hill Amnihu is on east of Sidon, Alma 2:15.
• Lamanites camp on west of Sidon, Alma 2:34.
• many are baptized in waters of Sidon, Alma 4:4.
• wilderness at Sidon, Alma 22:29.

• See also River

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/triple-index/sidon-river?lang=eng

Name Sidon came from Mulekites

“In The Lost City of Zarahemla, I discussed the origin of the name and its relevance to Book of Mormon geography. I concluded that the Nephites inherited the name from the Mulekites, who in turn were influenced by the Phoenicians who presumably brought them to America. The name Sidon recognizes the river for its properties as a source of food, and also for its utility as a border, the same way the ancient city of Sidon was used to mark a border in the Old Testament. I proposed that references to the river Sidon in the Book of Mormon amount to references to the river border, particularly in connection with the narrow strip of wilderness.

I also pointed out that the phrase “head of Sidon” cannot mean the source, but instead means the confluence of rivers. [Map below] illustrates where the Mississippi joins the Missouri and Ohio Rivers. The Illinois River joins just north of the Missouri River. Somewhere in that area, or perhaps the entire section from the Missouri to the Ohio River, is the head of Sidon.” Moroni’s America Chapter 24. For a discussion on the direction the River Sidon flowed, and why we feel the Mississippi is indeed the River Sidon, see my blog here:https://www.bofm.blog/the-mississippi-is-the-river-sidon/

Etymology (Sidon)

Since the Book of Mormon river SIDON passed through ZARAHEMLA, a city that was first settled by Mulekites, it is likely that this GN is of Mulekite origin. If it does derive from the biblical name for the Phoenician city SIDON (Hebrew ṣidon^[1] Phoenician ṣdn, EGYPTIAN ddwn3, ASSYRIAN ṣiduna), as most commentaries suggest, this may denote the presence of Phoenician influence among the Mulekites. HALOT notes that the “etymology [of the Phoenician GN Sidon] is not absolutely certain.”^[2] DNWSI gives “unknown meaning” for ṣdn, and “uncert[ain] meaning” for ṣd, and has no entry for ṣwd. It is possible that it may come from HEBREW ṣwd, to catch, hunt, and if it does, –ôn may be the fairly common nominalizing ending. Source.

Excerpted from: Abarim Publications’ Biblical Dictionary צוד

The verb צוד (sud) means to hunt or fish, or more general: to get meat rather than veggies, and by working for it in the wild rather than purchasing it at a store. This verb obviously has a very strong cognitive connotation in the Bible, which would concern an active pursuit of problems and their solutions, rather than learning from whatever happens (veggies) or absorbing other people’s theories at some school (food store)

Noun ציד (sayid) means a hunting or game. Noun ציד (sayyad) means hunter. Noun מצד (mesad) means fastness or stronghold (a typically defensive structure). Noun מצוד (masod) may mean siege works or hunting implement (like a net). Likewise, the nouns מצודה (mesoda) and מצודה (mesuda) mean net, fastness or stronghold.

Both nouns ציד (sayid) and צידה (seda) mean provisions or food. The denominative verb ציד (sid) means to supply oneself with food.

Sidon Definition

by Joshua J. Mark
published on 02 September 2009

Sidon is the Greek name (meaning ‘fishery’) for the ancient Phoenician port city of Sidonia (also known as Saida) in what is, today, Lebannon (located about 25 miles south of Beirut). Along with the city of Tyre, Sidon was the most powerful city-state of ancient Phoenicia and first manufactured the purple dye which made Tyre famous and was so rare and expensive that the color purple became synonymous with royalty. The area of Sidon was inhabited as early as 4,000 BCE and Homer, in the 8th century, notes the skill of the Sidonians in producing glass. Glass production made Sidon both rich and famous and the city was known for being very cosmopolitan and ‘progressive’. The Princess Jezebel, who later would become Queen of Israel (as related in the biblical Books of I and II Kings) was the daughter of the King of Sidon, Ethbaal in the 9th century BCE, and married King Ahab of Israel to cement ties between the two kingdoms. The city is mentioned a number of times throughout the Bible and both Jesus and St. Paul are reported to have made visits there. Sidon is considered the ‘seat’ of the Phoenician Civilization in that most of the ships which would ply the seas and spread Phoenician culture were launched from this city’s port. Sidon was overthrown during the conquest of Phoenicia by Alexander the Great in 332 BCE and, like the rest of the fractured Phoenician civilization, was eventually absorbed by Rome and, finally, taken by the Arab Muslims. Source

Mississippi 3- River Divisions

The importance of the Mississippi river in the history of the Native Americans goes without saying. It could be called three different rivers as explained below and it could be the four rivers described in Genesis flowing out of Eden. (More below)

The Mississippi River can be divided into three sections: the Upper Mississippi, the river from its headwaters to the confluence with the Missouri River; the Middle Mississippi, which is downriver from the Missouri to the Ohio River; and the Lower Mississippi, which flows from the Ohio to the Gulf of Mexico. Source

Named by Algonkian-speaking Indians, Mississippi can be translated as “Father of Waters.” The river, the largest in North America, drains 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces, and runs 2,350 miles from its source to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River is truly one of the great forces that has shaped the United States into the country it is today. Although its role has changed over the past few centuries, the Mississippi has always been important to those who lived along its banks. Indigenous peoples fished its waters and depended on the waterway for transportation. Explorers and traders traveled the river in hopes of conquering more land and obtaining wealth for their countries. Settlers moved close to take advantage of the rich farmland the river provided. All of these pursuits resulted in a trade industry that brought about a social and economic transformation, when news and goods made their way downriver and livelihoods were provided. In fact, the Mississippi River’s economic and strategic value was so important that when Ulysses S. Grant won the siege of Vicksburg and control of the river during the Civil War, the Confederacy was dealt a serious blow. Today, although still used to transport goods, the river has taken on yet another identity: that of entertainer. Literature, pleasure boats, and floating casinos all showcase a new dimension of this magnificent river. https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9780738507453

THE NAMING OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER BY MURIEL H. WRIGHT

Chronicles of Oklahoma Volume 6, No. 4 December, 1928 Page 529-530

While it is generally accepted that “Mississippi” is an Indian word meaning “the Father of Waters,” yet one seldom hears a discussion with reference to its real meaning nor to which Indian language it belongs, there being more than two hundred and fifty tribes or bands of Indians living in the United States, each having its own language or dialect.

There is a story among the Choctaws, who lived in the Lower Mississippi country before the tribe came to Oklahoma, that they and their kinsmen, the Chickasaws, migrated from a far western country long, long ago. When their leaders, the wise prophets of the two tribes, reached the great river, in the van of the people, they contemplated its broad waters and exclaimed, “Misha sipokni!” Misha in Choctaw means “beyond,” with the idea of far beyond; and sipokni means “age,” conveying the idea of something ancient. Therefore the words of the Choctaw and the Chickasaw prophets meant in substance, “Here is a river that is beyond all age,” or “We have come to the most ancient of rivers.”1

Editors Note: In the Bible what are the most ancient rivers called? In the Topical guide we read under RIVER:

“river running out of Eden waters garden, parts into four heads—Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel, Euphrates, Moses 3:10–14 (Abr. 5:10).”

When I type in a google search for, Where is the Garden of Eden? This is the first option:

Mesopotamia

The Garden of Eden is considered to be mythological by many scholars. [Wow this is how some of the same scholars feel about the Book of Mormon]. Among those who consider it to have been real, there have been various suggestions for its location: at the head of the Persian Gulf, in southern Mesopotamia (now Iraq) where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers run into the sea; and in Armenia.

Most Bible commentaries state that the site of the Garden of Eden was in the Middle East, situated somewhere near where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are today. This is based on the description given in Genesis 2:8–14: The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden. . . . Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon . . . . The name of the second river is Gihon. . . . The name of the third river is Hiddekel [Tigris].  ;. . . The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Give these four rivers some thought as the great rivers spoken of in Genesis where the Garden of Eden happened in North America. It would make sense that the 4 Ancient Rivers would be located in North America. Could the Great Mississippi River of today be the same river called Pishon of the Old Testament and the River Sidon in the Book of Mormon? That is some food for thought don’t you think? The Map below seems logical as these ancient rivers going out of Eden.. See blog here

Chronicles of Oklahoma continued. “In the earliest French records, the name was written “Malabouchi,”’ as given by the Gulf Coast Indians. Du Pratz, one of the early French writers in this country, attempted to explain the Indian name, Mechasipi, as a contraction of the words, Meact Chassipi, meaning “the ancient father of waters.”2

The great river was called “Mississippi,” by the Indians of the Northwest when that region was first visited by La Salle and Marquette in the seventeenth century, the source of the river being found in the country of the Algonquian stock, of which the Chippewa is the most important tribe. Mississippi, in the language of the Chippewa, is derived from the two words missi meaning “large,” and sippi meaning ‘flowing water,” which taken together literally mean “large river.”3

It is interesting to note that missi is the same as micco of the Creeks, meaning “great” as an adjective and “chief” as a noun. Michi of Michigan is the same word, and, also, the massa of Massachusetts is of like derivation.

The name would be more accurately spelled “Missisippi” in French, or “Misisipi” in Spanish, both being pronounced Meeseeseepee which is near the sound of the Indian words. The Spaniards of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries knew of the river as the “Rio del Espiritu Santo,” or the River of the Holy Ghost. They also called it the “Rio Grande del Florida,” or more simply the “Rio Grande.”

By the early French, it was given the name of “La Palisade,” on account of the large cottonwood trees that grew in abundance on the lower passes of the river. These trees were used by both the Indians and the French trappers for pirogues or dug-out canoes in this region, since the Lower Mississippi and its branches were dangerous for lighter craft on account of huge logs and snags that were washed down-stream during high water and lodged in the channels of the rivers. Then, too, birch trees did not grow in southern latitudes, so that birch bark canoes were left for use in the lakes and clear waters of the country in the North.

After the exploring expedition of La Salle, down the Mississippi, the French sometimes called the river, “the Colbert,” in honor of the minister and the favorite of Louis XIV. Jean Baptiste Colbert’s name was uppermost in the minds of the French people, for it was his genius that organized the finances of their country at that time, though his most lasting achievement was the establishment of the French marine. In connection with this latter work, James Thomson Shotwell, Professor of History in Columbia University, New York City, said in a biographical sketch of Colbert:

“Letters exist written by Colbert to the judges requiring them to sentence to the oar as many criminals as possible, including all those who had been condemned to death; and the convict once chained to the bench, the expiration of his sentence was seldom allowed to bring him release. Mendicants also, against whom no crime had been proved, contraband dealers, those who had been engaged in insurrections, and others immeasurably superior to the criminal class, nay innocent men—Turkish, Russian and negro slaves, and poor Iroquois Indians, whom the Canadians were ordered to entrap—were pressed into that terrible service. By these means the benches of the galleys were filled, and Colbert took no thought of the long unrelieved agony borne by those who filled them.”

After 1699, when D’Iberville was locating the first French colonies in the Lower Mississippi region, the river was called “Saint Louis,” in honor of the French King. Nevertheless, all its European names were forgotten at last, and the Indian name, “Mississippi,” given the great river in the dim ages of the past, remained for us today.

1 “A History of the Choctaw, Chickasaw and Natchez Indians,” by H. B. Cushman, pp. 62-4.

2 Much of the material in this article was kindly submitted by Dr. Dunbar Rowland, Director, Department of Archives and History of the State of Mississippi, Jackson, Miss.

3 Information obtained through J. N. B. Hewitt, Smithsonian Institution, Bureau of American Ethnology, Washington, D. C.

US State Names meaning in Native American. The People: Native American Legacy

Alabama: From the Alibamu, tribe of Indians, members of the Creek Confederacy. The name may have come from words in the Choctaw language, “Alba ayamute” meaning “I clear the thicket.”

Alaska: From the Aleut word “Alakshak”, meaning “peninsula”; used by the aleuts in referring to the part of the mainland that is now known as the Alaskan peninsula.

Arizona: Not yet really proved, but possibly from Papago Indian words for “small springs,” which the Spanish fitted to their own pronunciation.

Arkansas: From local Indians, The Quapaws, meaning “downstream people”. Called arkansa by the French.

Connecticut: From the Indian expression “quinnitukg-ut”, meaning “at the long tidal river.”

Hawaii: Possibly from “Havaiki” or “Hawaiki,” which according to legend was the name of the original homeland of the Polynesians.

Idaho: The New Book of Knowledge 1983 states: “According to the Idaho Blue Book, a settler corned the name and proposed it for the U.S. Territory created in 1861; it was rejected in favor of “Colorado” for that territory, but it became popular and was given to the territory (Idaho) created in 1863.”

In the book, “How we Name our States” Pauline Arnold, 1965, says that the word might be derived from the following:

Comanche “Idahi”
Shoshone “ee-dah-how” which means something like
“Good Morning”
Salmon River Tribe of Indians “Ida” means salmon and “ho” means tribe so we might be saying “Salmon eaters”.
Illinois: From the Indian word “ilhiniwek” or “illiniwek”. “Illini” meant “man” and the ending made the word plural. The French changed the word to illinois.

Indiana: From the word “Indian” plus the “a” ending used in many geographical names.

Iowa: From a Dakota Indian word: the name had many different spellings until it became “Ioway” and the “Iowa”.

Kansas: From “Kansa”, the name of a tribe of Indians who once lived in the area; first applied to the river, then to the state.

Kentucky: Probably related to the Iroquois Indian word “Kenta” — “level” or “Meadow-land” referring to the level land in the south central part of the state.

Massachusetts: From Massachuset Indians, who lived around the Blue hills near Boston, meaning “about the big hill”.

Michigan: Chippewa – “Michigama” meaning “Large lake” or “big water”.

Minnesota: Dakota – “Minisota” meaning “White water”.

Mississippi: Indian word meaning “big river”. (Choctaw meaning “Great water” or “Father of Waters”.)

Missouri: Indian mis meaning “big”. “Owners of big canoes”.

Nebraska: Oto Indians “Nebrathka” meaning flat water.

New Mexico: Named after an Aztec god named “Mertili”.

Ohio: Iroquois – “Oheo” meaning “beautiful”.

Oklahoma: Chocraw – “Oklahummaa” or “Oklahomma” meaning “red people”.

South & North Dakota: “Dahkota” meaning allies or friends — tribes who joined together in friendship.

Tennessee: Cherokee village “Tanasi” meaning “unknown”.

Texas: Caddo Indians – “Techas” meaning allies or friends.

Utah: Ute Indians called themselves “Yuta” meaning people who live high in the mountains”

Wisconsin: “Wishkonsing” — place of the beaver.

Wyoming: From Indian words meaning “On the Great Plain.”

Source: Department of Cultural Affairs- Nevada State Library and Archives

http://lewisandclarktrail.com/statefacts.htm

About the Smithsonian

“The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, with 19 museums and the National Zoo—shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge, and sharing our resources with the world.

The Institution was founded in 1846 with funds from the Englishman James Smithson (1765–1829) according to his wishes “under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” We continue to honor this mission and invite you to join us in our quest.” Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian began with good intentions, first publishing the “Ancient Monuments book. They later decided that many of the findings in this book was opposite of the opinion of the majority of intellects. The intellects believed the ancient natives of this land were simply savages and couldn’t have built these these amazing and intelligent monuments. Even today the Smithsonian has thousands of artifacts they refuse to show us if the don’t support their particular ideology.

“Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (full title Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley: Comprising the Results of Extensive Original Surveys and Explorations) (1848) by the Americans Ephraim George Squier and Edwin Hamilton Davis is a landmark in American scientific research, the study of the prehistoric indigenous mound builders of North America, and the early development of archaeology as a scientific discipline. Published in 1848, it was the Smithsonian Institution’s first publication and the first volume in its Contributions to Knowledge series. The book had 306 pages, 48 lithographed maps and plates, and 207 wood engravings.” Source

“Shortly after Squier and Davis had turned over their report, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley, to the Smithsonian in 1847, they were already beginning to realize the political implications and ramifications that this report would have on race policy, a Manifest Destiny agenda, and on religious claims being made at the time. So instead of being overly combative with regard to some of their conclusions in their first report, which had already experienced a distribution worldwide, the Smithsonian, under the direction of Joseph Henry, would look to rehire Squier, without the assistance of Dr. Davis, to take another look at the mounds and artifacts being found in the State of New York.

Squier, who seemed to always be short of money and looking for his next job, accepted the Smithsonian’s offer to undertake a new report just looking at the mound and earthwork structures in the State of New York, which would attempt to clarify and address some of the more highly contested assessments of their 1848 report. In this effort, Squier would vary from a common view that the Mound Builders were of cultures from a distant place, or a race of Indians who were influenced by outside cultures from other parts of the world. Much of this was an attempt to provide a more politically acceptable assessment that the Indians were not as advanced as some of the Squier and Davis artifacts and early findings showed. This new report would be titled Aboriginal Monuments of the State of New York, published by the Smithsonian Institution on October 20th 1849. The title even gives reference to this new direction being taken, in the use of the word aboriginal, which suggests that the Mound Builders were always here, aboriginal to this continent.” Steven E. Smoot Lost American Antiquities: A Hidden History CHAPTER 13

Origins, Mound Builders and Mormonism

“The major metatheoretical issue in the pre-professional anthropology of Squier’s day was whether humankind had a single origin (monogenism, with Native Americans often assumed to be the ‘Lost Tribes of Israel’ or other people mentioned in the Bible) or whether the races had multiple origins (polygenism, with various kinds of non-whites viewed as being created separately and comprising inferior species).”¹²² The question being raised was: Who were the people who built such amazing earthwork structures and mounds? “The result was that mound construction was widely and popularly attributed to a race of [Mound Builders], who no longer existed or at least no longer existed where and as they had earlier.”¹²³

In the 1998 republication of the Squier and Davis report, David J. Meltzer states, “All this was riding on a book devoted to the questions of the origin, antiquity, and identity of the [Mound Builders].”¹²⁴ Questions had surfaced after the Revolutionary War, as emigrant trains began streaming over the Appalachian and Allegheny Mountains into the lowlands of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, where the settlers were finding a vast number of abandoned mound sites, fortifications and earthworks structures.

With the publication of Squier and Davis’s “Ancient Monuments”, many questions were being raised, as many considered the Indians too savage and primitive to have built such monumental structures. Others believed that some of the tribes of the Indians that existed in North America could be the descendants of the Mound Builders, a remnant of the Lost Tribes of Israel; and that the Mound Builders could be their progenitors, who through war and disease had experienced monumental reduction of their populations, changing the way they had once lived, causing the remaining populations, to revert to a more primitive way of existence, as “Hunter Gathers” relying on hunting and the gathering of fruits and nuts for their very existences. Meltzer states; “There was considerable speculation, among antiquarians no less than others, about who the Mound Builders were, where they had come from and when and where they had disappeared to…Nor was it clear how the [Mound Builders] related to living Native Americans: Were they linked as ancestors and descendants?”¹²⁵

The speculation about the people who had built these earthworks and mound structures had escalated as a number of early colonists and religious leaders were praising the virtues of the Indians and sending out missionaries to them. The early Jesuits viewed the Indians in a different light than most, for they were seekers of the Lost Ten Tribes. Other religious leaders of the day held the view that Native Americans might be of Jewish descent and needed to be familiarized with their heritage. “Reverend John Eliot, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, in a spirited effort to convert the Algonquian tribe of Indians, made a translation of many parts of the bible into the Algonquian language. He and Roger Williams were of the branch of Puritans still cleaving to the view that Indians were people worthy of salvation.” William Penn disposed toward conversion rather than extinction of the Indians reported; “that the Indians of Pennsylvania resembled the Jews of London.”¹²⁶

Provided by Ancient American Magazine

Not only did the Algonquians have a written language so that Eliot was able to make a translation of parts of the Bible, but they used similar Biblical words and had traditions and customs in keeping with Israelite culture. In this missionary effort, researchers using their written language have tied many of these tribes to common ancestors.

In 1491 New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, Charles C. Mann indicates that researchers have developed various linguistic testing techniques, among them was glottochronology, which attempts to estimate how long ago two languages separated from a common ancestor by evaluating their degree of divergence on a list of key words. “In the 1970s and 1980s linguists applied glottochronological techniques to the Algonquian (American Indian language family) dictionaries compiled by early colonists. However tentatively, the results indicated that the various Algonquin languages in New England all date back to a common ancestor that appeared in the Northeast a few centuries before Christ.”¹²⁷ Their findings showed that:

The ancestral language may derive from what is known as the Hopewell culture. Around two thousand years ago, Hopewell jumped into prominence from its bases in the Midwest, establishing a trade network that covered most of North America. (See Map Below) The Hopewell culture introduced monumental earthworks and, possibly, agriculture to the rest of the cold North. Hopewell villages, unlike their more egalitarian neighbors, were stratified, with powerful rulers commanding a mass of commoners…Hopewell religion, with its intoxicatingly elaborate funeral rites…would mark an era of spiritual ferment and heady conversion, much like when Islam rose and spread Arabic throughout the Middle East…Hopewell itself declined around 400 A.D. (Book of Mormon ended in 385 AD) But its trade network remained intact. Shell heads from Florida, obsidian from the Rocky Mountains, and mica from Tennessee found their way to the Northeast.¹²⁸

By the 1820’s there was among reformist Protestants a settled body of opinion holding that Indians should be handled more gingerly than mere imperial convenience might dictate. This thinking was grounded in the opinion that they were not, so to speak, Indians at all. While others were calling for extermination of bloodthirsty savages, the reformers asked some consideration at least for impoverished descendants of Lost Tribes, who might be as capable of redemption as New Testament Jews. This strain of Puritanism bore fruit again in 1823, when Ethan Smith published his View of the Hebrews; or the Lost Tribes of Israel in America; this Smith [was] no kin to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of [Jesus] Christ of the Latter Day Saints.¹²⁹

Joseph Smith had published the Book of Mormon in 1830 in Palmyra, New York. It tells of migrations of people to America before Columbus. “Smith became the founder of the only world religion to be based in American archeology. Because the American Indians have never sought to evangelize Europeans or Africans, Mormonism is also the only world religion to place American Indian experience at the center of its creed.”¹³⁰ “It is true to this day that the Mormon church, the largest denomination to accept the Lost Tribes view of Indian origins, has been consistently interested in evangelistic—that is respectful—relations with Native Americans.”¹³¹

Upon the publication of the Book of Mormon in Palmyra New York, Joseph Smith began to reach out in a missionary effort to the Indians of America’s heartland. He directed missionaries to the Cattaraugus Indians near Buffalo, New York, the Wyandot’s of Ohio, and the Delawares of Missouri, along with the Fox, Sac and other Algonquian tribes; declaring to them that they were of a remnant of the House of Israel. This idea, that the Indians were of Mid-Eastern origin, was a concept that was contrary to the political doctrine of Manifest Destiny and to the social engineering efforts that were being advanced in the 1800s. The primary political and social agenda of the late 1700s and 1800s was centered on questions as to who would control the lands of America. The desired outcome would require the removal of the Indians from their ancestral lands and the placing of them on reservations as settlers moved westward. If the Indians were to be viewed as of Hebrew or European descent, then a case could be made that the Indians were more than mere savages with rights that should be granted under a constitutional law.

The right to remove the Indians rested on some of the assertions regarding their origin, with claims relating to their origin stemming from plentiful artifacts being recovered from the mounds of the Hopewell and Adena cultures. The artifacts coming out of the mounds were giving signs of a people who had an understanding of the cosmos, advanced engineering and higher mathematics, along with a working knowledge of the smelting of iron, copper, and other metals. All of this raised questions about whether they were of a higher level of civilization then as first thought.

The Mormon efforts to befriend the Indians and Joseph Smith’s assertions that they were of Hebrew descent causing no small stir and would contribute to increased political and religious tensions in the area. Joseph Smith’s proselyting message to the Indian populations would go contrary to government efforts and European settlers’ desires to take control of the lands as part of a Manifest Destiny agenda.

Depiction of Joseph Smith Preaching to the Indians

Though American expansionism and Manifest Destiny was a major focus in the 1800s and early 1900s, since the middle 1900s, the U.S. government anthropological and ethnological community has elevated their efforts to help society come to know and appreciate the aboriginal Indian populations. They have taken progressive steps to classify the Indian tribes in such a manner as to make it possible to assemble them in harmonious groups, based on relationship of blood, language, customs, beliefs, and grades of culture. It was found that within the area of the United States there are spoken some 500 Indian languages, as distinct from one another as French is from English, and that these languages are grouped in more than 50 linguistic families.¹³²

Along with a large number of diverse linguistic families from hundreds of tribes that existed in North America, tribes have been found to have differing traditions, DNA and oral histories. Such findings have made it increasingly difficult for some of the mainstream ethnologist and anthropologists to hold to the traditional view that the majority of the North American Indians came across the Bering Strait as espoused by Lewis Henry Morgan. He believed, at one time like Columbus that they came from tribes found in India. Even with modern acknowledgements of this implausible hypothesis by Morgan, we still find scholars and government-related anthropologists and ethnologists that strive to hold to traditional established theories that virtually all the Indian ancestors migrated over the Bering Strait more than 40,000 years ago, and that they existed here in isolation for many millennia, with little or no outside interaction or influences from foreign cultures.” Steven E. Smoot Lost American Antiquities: A Hidden History CHAPTER 14

Ancient Monuments of The Mississippi Valley

Set of 48 original plates in 1848 (Book)This spiral bound oversized book contains a complete set of 48 of the plates from the book, Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley by the Smithsonian’s E.G. Squier and E.H. Davis from their original surveys. These reproductions have been enlarged 120% from the original size for greater detail.  They include such works as those of Newark, Chillicothe and Marietta, Ohio, the Great Circle & Octagon, Fort Ancient, Fort Hill, Serpent Mound, and “the Cross.”

Notes

¹²² Barnhart, xv

¹²³ Squier and Davis 1848, (Meltzer, 1998, replication)

¹²⁴ Squier and Davis, 1.

¹²⁵ Ibid. 2.

¹²⁶ Kennedy, Hidden Cities, 227.

¹²⁷ Charles C. Mann, 1491 New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf 2005) 38.

¹²⁸ Ibid.

¹²⁹ Kennedy, Hidden Cities, 227.

¹³⁰ Ibid., 230.

¹³¹ Ibid., 228.

¹³² See: Smithsonian Department of Ethnology Report IV.

See blog about DNA similarities between the Great Lake Indians and those in Israel here:
https://www.bofm.blog/ancient-dna-from-the-nephites-2006-2013-2020/
and here: https://www.bofm.blog/dna-lamanites-are-a-remnant-of-the-jew/

Burrows Cave is near Salem, Illinois

The story of the Burrows Cave like many other unexplained artifacts has been called a hoax by the scientists and historians. I believe that it is far more likely to be a true story. More and more I see the truth being called a hoax and hoaxes being called truths. When I hear about something that is not popular with the intellectuals, I have more of a tendency to believe the opposite of these so called intellectuals. I believe the hardworking, faith in God, every day person, far more that the intellectual, prideful, agenda seeking progressive.

I have spoken in depth with Wayne May who has been looking into this cave for over 35 years and Wayne is getting closer to discovering some additional support for this amazing discovery. Stay tuned!

Below is the Wikipedia negative opinion

“Burrows Cave is the name given to an alleged cave site in a disputed location in Southern Illinois discovered in 1982 by Russell E. Burrows. Burrows says it contained a number of artifacts. Through the many inconsistencies that revolve around Russell E. Burrows’ story of discovery and its findings, the cave and its contents are considered a hoax by mainstream archaeologists and some fringe archaeologists. During the time of the discovery, it was thought that the alleged cave must have been located in Richland County somewhere near the town Olney, Illinois where Burrows resided at the time. Burrows claimed that he did not want to give away the location of the cave because he believed that the cave would be robbed of its ancient treasures.

Discovery

Burrows says he discovered the cave while hiking along the hillside miles away from the Ohio River, where he later claimed that he was searching for buckles from the Civil War era and pioneer horseshoes with his metal detector. Burrows says that he came across a hole into which he fell that led him into the mysterious cave full of priceless ancient artifacts. The cave was said to have contained numerous archaeological artifacts, including carvings, coins, and other items. Many of the purported artifacts are said to have inscriptions in various ancient languages such as Phoenician and Iberian, but the inscriptions are generally meaningless.

Cave as “tomb”

Burrows claims that the cave is a tomb holding the artifacts and remains of 13 crypts. To date, nobody outside Burrow’s immediate circle has claimed to have been inside the cave, and many of the so-called artifacts have been revealed as forgeries. The cave and its artifacts are widely considered to be a hoax or fraud, even among proponents of other pseudo archaeological theories such as Barry Fell. The idea has gained some traction within proponents of Mormon archaeology and hyper-diffusionism advocates such as Frank Collin (writing as Frank Joseph).

Media

Burrows and the cave were one of the subjects of the second season “Grand Canyon Treasure” episode of America Unearthed and the show Holy Grail in America, both produced by the History Channel.

Thomas Emerson, the Illinois state archaeologist and former head of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency warned that the claims being made by Burrows cave proponents were sensational, and not backed by solid evidence.

With no evidence of the cave and its existence, many archaeologists quickly dismissed Burrows and the alleged cave.

Phoenician ship scenario

Until about 1993, the predominant Burrows Cave scenario involved Phoenician and Libyan (North African) colonists. Part of the evidence for this involved a stone tablet supposedly depicting a Phoenician vessel. Frank Joseph, one of the key figures involved with the cave, reproduced this in his book The Lost Treasure of King Juba: The Evidence of Africans in America before Columbus alongside an image of an actual Phoenician vessel that had been used by an associate of Burrows who had originally identified it as Phoenician. In doing so he cropped the image from the Burrows stone making the paddle end of a steering oar unidentifiable but leaving the steering oars that are shown on what he calls (and the artist depicts) as the prow of the boat.

The anthropologist and geographer George F. Carter, a supporter of the concept of trans-cultural diffusion, commented on the image saying,

“The ‘author’ did not recognize the paired oars, and hung an ‘impossible’ oar over the bow. All others equally botched up. Fanciful stern pieces…Oar over bow – crude fakery by an ignoramus in the world of ships.”

Dating

The image used to identify the ship as Phoenician actually is dated to around 700 BCE, but Joseph described it as dated 170 BCE, possibly because around this time Burrows Cave was being portrayed as the destination of Mauritanians, including “exiled Romans, Africans, Celts, Christians and Jews” fleeing the Romans taking with them an supposed treasure belonging to King Juba II.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrows_Cave

Join Utahna Jessop, while she presents exciting, on-going research revealing little-known facts and eye-opening correlations from a lost chapter of American history. Red-haired, light-skinned, highly intelligent “giants” 7-10 ft. tall, once roamed this land. Their skeletons have been discovered all across the nation, including several right here in Utah. Who were they? What part did they play in the Bronze Age? Do records of these people exist? Why have we not known about them all along? These are just a few of the compelling questions addressed in this astounding lecture on the “Amazing Giants, Jaredites, Ancient Records, and the Brewer Cave Saga.”

Utahna’s video above is also included when you purchase access to over 600 videos with our streaming service.

Just $45 for 3-Months access.

CHRIST IN NORTH AMERICA? – Part Two

By Wayne May

Enter Burrows Cave

In 1982, a discovery apparently unrelated to the Michigan tablets was alleged to have been made by Mr. Russell Burrows of Olney, Illinois. He claims to have found a cave in the southern part of his state loaded with the treasures of foreign visitors who crossed the seas from the Near East, Europe and Africa about 2,000 years ago.

He claims the site is also a rich repository of stone records belonging to some unknown people who possessed a high level of culture. I have known Mr. Burrows since 1993, and compiled a photographic library of some of his items, which number over 2,000 such stones. I personally examined about half of them, and have concluded they are authentic artifacts. Although he refuses to divulge the location of his cave, the sheer number and sometimes fine workmanship of the artifacts he allegedly took from the site tend to support their identification as genuine artifacts.

Even so, many of my fellow diffusionists have condemned the Burrows Cave finds as part of a hoax. Admittedly, the tangle of frustrating obstacles, legal and otherwise, preventing any kind of access to the location’s whereabouts have disenchanted very many investigators. But the full story of Burrows Cave, while yet to be told, is gradually unfolding with the gradual release of objects never before seen, and someday we may learn everything there is to know about this site. There may be a parallel here with the Dead Sea scrolls, discovered in 1948. Even now, a complete accounting of this find has still not been disclosed to the public.

Mr. Burrows telephoned me two years ago to say that he had purposely withheld some inscribed stones from sale because of the imagery they featured; namely, identifiably Christian scenes, mostly Old Testament. He was uncomfortable with these items, because he feared critics would use such obvious themes to further debunk his discovery. Mr. Burrows knew some Indians had knowledge of Old World traditions and Old Testament stories. But what concerned him was, as he put it, “the Jesus stones.”

At my request, he sent me photographs of them, and I was able to compare their images of evidently Old Testament themes with similar representations found on the Michigan tablets. I was astonished to notice that both sets not only featured scenes of Jesus Christ, but also the same “Mystic Symbol.” The same symbol appears in southern Illinois 62 years after the last published information concerning the Michigan mound builders using this identical mark. Approximately 20,000 to 30,000 Michigan artifacts were excavated from 1848 to the 1920’s, compared with the 6,000 to 7,000 Burrows Cave stones of southern Illinois removed between 1982 and 1986. These fundamental facts render any possibility for either collection being a hoax extremely remote, if not impossible.

The predominant glyph found on the Burrows Cave objects is the so-called “Helios symbol,” coined by epigrapher, Paul Shaffranke. Even this important character is found in conjunction with the Michigan symbol to suggest some type of interaction between these two otherwise distinct groups. Maybe these glyphs have the same meaning. There appear to have been vital differences between these two groups of ancient Americans: non-Christian imagery dominates the Burrows Cave stones.

Still, there are legitimate doubts among our own diffusionist supporters concerning these “Christ stones,” due largely to some relatively minor variations in the placement of glyphs, together with the anomalous appearance of a particular symbol on the Michigan objects. Clearly, much work still needs to be done in any comparisons of these two diverse collections. But the evidence of the Michigan Tablets and Burrows Cave stones suggests that some fundamentally important culture-bearer visited our Western Hemisphere in pre-Columbian times. Was it actually the Christ? Or one of his disciples? Whatever his true identity, the arrival of this person left a deep impact on the tribal memories of Native Americans. Their “Yod-hey-vah” is remarkably similar to the biblical Je-ho-vah who seems to be portrayed throughout the Michigan plates.Was the East Star Man and Peace-Maker known to so many indigenous North American tribes really Jesus Christ? Perhaps the imminent translation of the Illinois and Michigan artifacts will answer that question. Following is a partial listing of the oral traditions of the Dawn God, Peacemaker, East Star Man, the Pale One, etc., from He Walked the Americas, by L. Taylor Hansen, Legend Press, Amherst, Wisconsin. 

“Tribes of Oklahoma territory:

Today the name of Oklahoma, translated from the native language, means the Land of the Red Man. Here was a large and powerful city, whose crests showed an interesting history, and to this metropolis came the Healer. Here He once more changed the temples, chose from the priesthood His twelve disciples, and lectured to all the people…He told them that He was born across the ocean, in a land where all men were bearded. In this land He was born of a virgin on a night when a bright star came out of the heavens and stood over His city. Here, too, the heavens opened and down came winged beings singing chants of exquisite beauty… To them he was known as Chee-Zoos, the Dawn God, ..for well they know He watches over them, and that when their Journey here is over He will meet them in the land of Shadows, for such was His sacred promise.

From the Mississippi Tribes:

For the region of the Mississippi during the golden days of the Healer named Decooda, plants us a fairly clear picture. Those we now call the Great Mound Builders, were tribes speaking the word-family and branches of the Algonquin language. These were the Ancients of the country. In the days of the Great Mound Builders, these mounds marked the sites of the cities. The mounds were a sort of writing, a manner of recording passing history, a royal marriage, a dynasty ended. They were to be read from the inside outward, and about them swirled the cities. One had an even longer history than the modern town of London. The mounds were probably faced with lumber and then painted in brilliant colour, perhaps to resemble those of the Mayans with whom they seemed to have some commerce. In fact that commerce may have been extensive since there was much mining in Michigan. To this happy and peaceful land came the Great White Robed Master with His sea-grey eyes and His golden sandals. Here too, we find the only relics probably touched by his hands or possibly fashioned under his personal direction.

In the Spiro Mound in Oklahoma, opened carefully in the practiced manner of all university excavations, was found the symbol of the hand with the great T-Cross through its center. There has also been recovered much pottery with winged beings not unlike the angels singing. In the Indian mound of Pittsfield was found three pages of parchment now held in old Harvard, upon which were quotations from the Old Testament, written in Archaic Hebrew. About eight miles southeast of Newark, the father of Bancroft, Indian recorder of untold legends, speaks of finding the only engraved stone pictograph of the white-robed teacher. About His head, in Ancient Hebrew were the words of the Ten commandments. His hair and beard are well pictured as well as His flowing robe…”

[Editor’s Note: “The Jewish people use the Hebrew word “Hamesh” as an equivalent for “Hamsa.” Hamesh means “five” in Hebrew. Jewish people refer to the five-fingered hand symbol as the “Hamesh” hand. It has been present in Judaism dating all the way back to Biblical times, where it is referenced in Deuteronomy 5:15, stated in the Ten Commandments as the “strong hand” of God who led the Jews out of Egypt.* The eye within the hand represents the all-searching Eye of God. Shown below are artifacts dated to Hopewell time-frames on display at the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near East St. Louis, Illinois.” *Source: Annotated Book of Mormon by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum page 193 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamsa]

Wayne May continues, “How many other mounds have been plowed and leveled, and their contents scattered which the Red Men held as holy, planting trees of the sacred cedar upon them to keep them safe through two millennia? True the invasion of the Serpents from perhaps 700AD. onward, coming up the Mississippi in their long snake-painted dugouts, carrying their sacred fire, brought an end to peaceful living, and brought with them war and pillage and the priesthood of the Sacrificers. Yet they turned away from the hills of cedar, seeing the symbols of the Healer.

Eastern Tribes speak:

The Algonkin of the Eastern Seaboard, when asked how they got their name for the Dawn Light, say that it was the name of the Pale One. They would not give Him their own name, as He had asked them, for to Him names meant nothing and He allowed each tribe to name Him. They asked instead His name in childhood when He lived across the ocean. The name He gave them was a strange one, hard to say in their liquid language, so today they try hard to say it: Chee-Zoos, God of the Dawn Light. (Pronounce JESUS as Chee-Zoos)

The Algonkin of the Great Lakes remember well the pale Great Master. The Chippewa say He gave them many medicine lodges whose signs and symbols are secret, fashioned from those across the ocean, and even today they hold this secret know1edge.
Even the proud Dacotah, they of the Turtle Totem, leading north the line of Serpents, often their age-old migration, recall in long-lost adoration the sacred name of the pale-faced Healer.

“It was long ago that we knew Him. He gave to us our rite of baptism, many of our lodges, and our rites of purification. When He came to us the days were warmer; the sun cast down shorter shadows. Well do we remember how He foretold the coming of the white man, and other predictions; We have backslid from His teachings, but to Him we dance the Sun Dance. We remember Great Wakona well.”

Tribes of the Great Lakes:

Besides the shores of Mishee-gahme-gahme (Lake Superior) is the forest still called Sacred, in the state called Michigan….let us speak of the Prophet.

“He was bearded, and pale of feature-without doubt a White Man. His eyes were as grey-green as still green water, and just as changeable in their colour. He came to us one day at dawning and the light touched His hair with the sheen of red-gold- until it shone like newly-mined copper. Yet He was not as the men of your people. This one was a god, with high soul-stature. If He touched a man who was wounded, that one became healed.

His robe was long and white down to the hemline which almost hid His golden sandals. Everyone wished to make Him white robes, for then He would leave behind the old ones, and all that He touched was enchanted with His god-like power of healing.”

“…He came alone. He organized the churches, changed the temples, taught the priesthood. Some say He taught them a secret language with certain signs of greeting. I know not.”

“…He came to us when we had cities more than a thousand winters before the days of the Black Robes and the Long Knives…

“… The ruins have been scattered by White Men.”

“…The city which we call sacred is not far from here. Its history is longer than that of England’s London…”

“…Once we had books and priests to read them, but those were times long distant in the past. Books are of stuff which can be swept to oblivion. Since then we have placed our stories in the chants of our people, but now even these are being forgotten…..”

“Coming North from our Capitol, City, where the Mississippi meets the Missouri, in the long-boats of the traders, the Prophet made His journey toward the City we called Sacred. This was an ancient metropolis. Before we built its Mound of Extinction. after the Great Civil War of the Turtles, ninety-six dynasties of rulers had lived their long and eventful history. Like the Capitol, it too…had buildings built upon great crests… This city was called Sacred because it was in the center of the Cross of Waters from whence ran the rivers to the Four Oceans. East to the Sunrise ran the waters, and Northward to the Sea of Dancing Lights; to the West beyond the Great Divide the waters ran to the Sea of the Sunset, while the Missouri and Mississippi ran to the Southern Sea, the Sea of the Karibs… to this, the City of the Great Cross of Waters, up the river called Father of Waters, one golden morning came the Healer… The streets were covered with flowers strewn in homage on the path before Him as He walked toward the Temple. Greatly beloved now was the Pale God, known as the Lord of Wind and Water. His every move bespoke His kindness; His very touch revealed His divinity; and before Him all the people bowed down. Through the rows of worshippers He moved to the Temple, in quiet solemnity, holding up His hand in blessing-that hand with the strange palm-marking, for through it was engraved the True Cross which He had taken as His Symbol. There at the Temple He abode among us, though He often rode away with the merchants, or more often walked to distant villages, holding in His hand His great staff and stopping to speak with all the people, from the aged to the children.”

Even non-religious scholars recognize Jesus of Nazareth as an historical figure. But did he actually arrive in the Americas? The evidence for at least his followers establishing an important, even populous outpost in the North American Midwest, however, is rich with artifacts from both Michigan and Illinois. Moreover, the same recurring theme may be traced to the pre-Columbian peoples of North, Central and South America, implying that the culture bearer they memorialized was a real person. In rejecting such evidence, arbitrarily dismissing both the Michigan Tablets and Burrows Cave stones as “fakes,” persistent questions about the Christ-like visitor grow even more difficult to understand.

In the New Testament, Christ refers to other people and places he must go when He says:

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and there shall be one fold. and one shepherd.” – King James version, John 10:16.

When did He go and visit these other people? If one concludes that there is something to the legends and stories of the inhabitants of Native America, then their visitor begins to bear a certain resemblance to Jesus as He is depicted in the New Testament.

In Fair Gods and Feathered Serpents, author T. J. O’Brien writes:

“One might argue, if Christ did not come here, how does one explain the religious use by New World natives of vestments, the cross, chants, rituals, incense, ceremonial objects. infant baptism, and great works of religious art: statues and paintings, also identified with Christianity? “

References:

Annals of the Cakchiquels. Title of the Lords of Totonicapan, published by University of Oklahoma Press. Norman. OK. 1953, Translated by Della Goetz

Book of Mormon, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1987

Christ in North America, published by Resource Communications Inc., Tigard, OR, 1963, Delbert W. Curtis

Fair Gods and Feathered Serpents, published by Horizon Publishers, Bountiful, UT, 1997, Professor Terry O’Brien

Gospel of the Great Spirit, published by Morning Star Pub, Zion. USA. 1990. Joshua M. Bennett

He Walked the Americas, published by Legend Press, Amherst, WI, 1963. L. Taylor Hansen

History of the Ojibwa People, published by Minnesota Historical Society Press, St.Paul, MN. 1984, William W. Warren

Holy Bible, King James Version, Old and New Testament, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1987

Ancient American Volume l, Issue #5, Stone, Clay, Copper, Archives of the Past, March/April 1994, The Mystic Symbol Demystified, David A. Deal

Ancient American Volume 2, Issue #9, Inca Stone, March/April 1995, The Mystic Symbol Demystified, Kenneth Moore.

References:

Annals of the Cakchiquels. Title of the Lords of Totonicapan, published by University of Oklahoma Press. Norman. OK. 1953, Translated by Della Goetz

Book of Mormon, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1987

Christ in North America, published by Resource Communications Inc., Tigard, OR, 1963, Delbert W. Curtis

Fair Gods and Feathered Serpents, published by Horizon Publishers, Bountiful, UT, 1997, Professor Terry O’Brien

Gospel of the Great Spirit, published by Morning Star Pub, Zion. USA. 1990. Joshua M. Bennett

He Walked the Americas, published by Legend Press, Amherst, WI, 1963. L. Taylor Hansen

History of the Ojibwa People, published by Minnesota Historical Society Press, St.Paul, MN. 1984, William W. Warren

Holy Bible, King James Version, Old and New Testament, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1987

Ancient American Volume l, Issue #5, Stone, Clay, Copper, Archives of the Past, March/April 1994, The Mystic Symbol Demystified, David A. Deal

Ancient American Volume 2, Issue #9, Inca Stone, March/April 1995, The Mystic Symbol Demystified, Kenneth Moore.

Courtesy: Ancient American Magazine

See Youtube video of more Burrows Cave Artifacts Here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uprUsA7Z1ng&app=desktop

Mummies in North America

A CATACOMB OF MUMMIES FOUND IN KENTUCKY

Lexington, in Kentucky, stands nearly on the site of an ancient town, which was of great extent and magnificence, as is amply evinced by the wide range of its circumvalliatory works, and the quantity of ground it once occupied.

There was connected with the antiquities of this place, a catacomb, formed in the bowels of the limestone rock, about fifteen feet below the surface of the earth, adjacent to the town of Lexington. This grand object, so novel and extraordinary in this country, was discovered in 1775, by some of the first settlers, whose curiosity was excited by something remarkable in the character of the stones which covered the entrance to the cavern within. They removed these stones, and came to others of singular appearance for stones in a natural state; the removal of which laid open the mouth a cave, deep, gloomy, and terrific, as they supposed.

With augmented numbers, and provided with light, they descended and entered, without obstruction, a spacious apartment; the sides and extreme ends were formed into niches and compartments, and occupied by figures representing men. When alarm subsided, and the sentiment of dismay and surprise permitted further research and inquiry, the figures were found to be mummies, preserved by the art of embalming, to as great a state of perfection as was known among the ancient Egyptians, eighteen hundred years before the Christian era; which was about the time that the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt, when this art was in its perfection. * * * * * On this subject Mr. Ash has the following reflections: “How these bodies were embalmed, how long preserved, by what nations, and from what people descended, no opinion made, but what must result from speculative fancy and wild conjecture. For my part, I am lost in the deepest ignorance. My reading affords me no knowledge, my travels no light. I have neither read nor known of any of the North American Indians who formed catacombs for their dead, or who were acquainted with the art of preservation by embalming.

Had Mr. Ash in his researches consulted the Book of Mormon his problem would have been solved, and he would have found no difficulty in accounting for the mummies being found in the above mentioned case. The Book of Mormon gives an account of a number of the descendants of Israel coming to this continent; and it is well known that the art of embalming was known among the Hebrews, as well as among the Egyptians, although perhaps not so generally among the former, as among the latter people; and their method of embalming also might be different from that of the Egyptians.

Jacob and Joseph were no doubt, embalmed in the manner of the Egyptians, as they died in that country, Gen. 1, 2, 3, 26. When our Saviour [Savior] was crucified his hasty burial obliged them only to wrap his body in linen with a hundred pounds of myrrh, aloes, and similar spices, (part of the ingredients of embalming.) given by Nicodemus for that purpose: but Mary and other holy women had prepared ointment and spices for embalming it, Matt. xxviii. 59: Luke xxiii. 56: John xxx. 39-40.

This art was no doubt transmitted from Jerusalem to this continent, by the before mentioned emigrants, which accounts for the finding of the mummies, and at the same time is another strong evidence of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon.-[ED.
Source: Times and Seasons “Truth will prevail” Vol. III. No. 13] . CITY OF NAUVOO, ILL,. MAY 2, 1842 [Whole No. 49 Joseph Smith Editorializing from Ancient Antiquities Page 110-112 2 May 1842: Times and Seasons— Evidence from Kentucky

To see my complete blog on Joseph Smith’s Mummies here. https://www.bofm.blog/mummies-of-north-america/

“He” is our Normal

Too many people are asking for a “New normal”. There as not been any change in this lifetime that requires this “New Normal” that everyone is calling for. The New Normal is what it has always been, Christ!

Let’s stick with the one consistence Normal we have had forever in life, “The Lord Jesus Christ.” He is our Normal. From the beginning of creation until today, Christ has said, “Come Follow Me”. This is the normal we should all be seeking. How did our world get so off course?

It’s easy to see: It is either Faith or Rebellion!
Enoch Translated
Noah’s Flood
Tower of Babel
Destruction at Ramah
Destruction at Cumorah
Wars, pestilence, and world wide trauma

It all comes down to “DISOBEDIENCE OF THE LORD” If we don’t return to our normal in Him, it’s over. I don’t mean this life is over, I mean our Spiritual Death is here. Death is not the worst thing in life, Spiritual Death is! If we repent daily and find others to join us we can be Normal again, in Him!

By and By

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, COVID and cancer, doubt and dismay, financial trouble and family trials — when will these burdens be lifted? The answer is “by and by.” He also said, “While we work and wait together for the answers to some of our prayers, I offer you my apostolic promise that they are heard and they are answered, though perhaps not at the time or in the way we wanted.” Oct 2020 Conference.

President Russell M. Nelson said,

“We live in a glorious age, foreseen by prophets for centuries. This is the dispensation when no spiritual blessing will be withheld from the righteous.¹ Despite the world’s commotion,² the Lord would have us look forward to the future “with joyful anticipation.”³ Let us not spin our wheels in the memories of yesterday. The gathering of Israel moves forward. The Lord Jesus Christ directs the affairs of His Church, and it will achieve its divine objectives.

The challenge for you and me is to make certain that each of us will achieve his or her divine potential. Today we often hear about “a new normal.” If you really want to embrace a new normal, I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Let that be your new normal.

Embrace your new normal by repenting daily. Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed. Minister to others. Keep an eternal perspective. Magnify your callings. And whatever your challenges, my dear brothers and sisters, live each day so that you are more prepared to meet your Maker.⁴” A New Normal By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

God is at the helm

“While serving as a General Authority Seventy, I had one of those unexpected teaching moments that life presents to us. This was when the financial crash was in full swing and our country was experiencing the most drastic drop in the economy since the Great Depression. Every day there were new announcements. The stock market crash. The collapse of the housing market. Major banks, mortgage companies, retirement funds, and investment houses were failing. There was talk of massive government bailouts. Unemployment was skyrocketing. A dark cloud had settled over the country and was spreading to other nations. In the fall of 2007, my assignment as a General Authority Seventy was in Salt Lake City, working in the Church Office Building.

One day I went down to a small cafeteria in the basement of the Church Administration Building that is reserved for General Authorities. After getting my food, I saw that four of my colleagues in the Seventy were seated at a table for six, just starting to eat. They invited me to join them. We spoke briefly about our various assignments, but soon the talk turned to the current financial crisis. It didn’t take long for our conversation to become quite bleak in tone. One of the brethren had a grandchild who had recently graduated with an MBA but was having no luck in finding employment. Another reported that a grandchild was unsure about wanting to get married and bring children into the world. About that time, as this cloud of gloom settled over our lunch table, Russell M. Nelson, then Elder Nelson of the Twelve, came into the lunchroom with a tray of food. Seeing that we had a vacant spot at our table, he joined us. He ate quietly for a time as our conversation went right on in that same sense of discouragement. Finally, one of the brethren said, “They’re talking about the possibility of the whole government of the United States failing. Then what shall we do?” Elder Nelson, who hadn’t said much since sitting down, laid down his fork and looked at us directly. His expression was very sober as he spoke quietly, saying something like this: “Brethren, the Lord chose the United States of America as the place for the Restoration of the gospel in our dispensation. He did that so we would have a base of religious freedom that would sustain the work of the Restoration. Also, the financial affluence and the political stability of the United States makes it possible for our Church to take the gospel to the world. That is a task that is not yet finished. Brethren, the Lord is at the helm. He will not let this work fail.” That was more than ten years ago, but I still vividly remember two things. First, how sheepish we felt for letting ourselves become so negative. And the second was the lesson taught: God is in control. Why then do we fear? It was a profound teaching moment, and I have reminded myself of that day often when I have found myself growing discouraged and pessimistic. God is at the helm! From Gerald Lund’s new book. “The Second Coming of the Lord” Shared with me from Jonathan Neville.

Book Description

Do we recognize the signs of the Savior’s Second Coming that are happening today?

Originally published in 1971, The Coming of the Lord, by Gerald N. Lund, became an instant bestseller and has remained continuously in print for nearly fifty years. Now this trusted resource has been fully updated and rewritten to reflect the latest prophetic teachings and a grow­ing sense of urgency as the Lord hastens His work.

As Elder Lund explains, “God has spoken, is speaking, and will continue to speak to us through the Spirit and through His servants the prophets. This is a gift of inestimable worth to those who live in the last days. Though the title this book carries is The Second Coming of the Lord, it is much more than a book that focuses only on the actual return of Jesus Christ. It is an examination of the prophecies about the Second Coming and the events leading up to it.”

Four Seasons in the Promised Land

“…at some seasons of the year…” (Alma 46:40). As the Book of Mormon states there were some seasons of the year, that doesn’t fit the climate in Mesoamerica which has tropic and subtropic climates. The Heartland of the United States has Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, which is the type of climate most indicative of what is said in the Book of Mormon. Alma 40:46 “And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate.” So some seasons of the year had more fevers than others, and certain herbs were found during different climates in the land, which I feel is the Heartland of the United States and not in Mesoamerica.

Migrating Animals

“The Waters of Mormon, were in the borders of the and of Shilom, which was prone to “having been infested, by times or at seasons, by wild beasts” (Mosiah 18:4). A seasonal infestation of wild beasts could indicate migratory patterns caused by changing seasons that affect the abundance or scarcity of available food throughout the year in temperate climates. There are no migratory land animals in climates that do not have distinctive seasons, such as near the equator.” Page 171 Annotated Book of Mormon by David Hocking and Rod Meldrum

“WOLVES in SHEEP’S CLOTHING” is an hour and half video of Amberli Nelson taking a closer look at the animals in the Book of Mormon and what they reveal about its location. Purchase Here!

Migratory animals live in locales that are difficult to survive in year-round. Instead of hibernating (the survival choice of many land animals) when food and water become scarce, these animals choose to migrate in search of more hospitable habitats and terrain. Most land animals practice seasonal migration — a type of migration that corresponds with the change in seasons, while others migrate in search of mates. 

American Bison

Domesticated Animals in Mesoamerica

“Dogs, turkeys, and the Muscovy duck were the only domesticated animals in ancient Mesoamerica. All were used for food, but they made only a minor contribution to the Aztec diet. The Aztecs also fished and hunted wild game, but again these food sources were limited…Archaeologists do find the bones of fish, deer, rabbit, iguana, dog, turkey, and other animals in Aztec domestic trash deposits, but rarely in dense concentrations. Meat from large animals was a minor part of the Aztec diet. Early Spanish observers noted the widespread use of insects among the Aztecs, including ants, grasshoppers, manuey worms, and jumil bugs. Insects are high in protein, tasty, and could often be harvested in large numbers. The Aztecs also gathered great amounts of blue-green spirulina algae…from the surface of the lakes. This algae, known as tecuitlatl, is extremely high in protein, grows rapidly, and abundantly, and is easy to gather with fine nets…The Spanish soldiers and priests had a low opinion of the palatability of this algae, but it was much prized by the Aztecs.” —The Aztecs, Smith (p. 67) http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodmaya.html

Turkeys Were Domesticated Not For Meat, But For Ancient Mesoamerican Ceremonies

A staple for many a Thanksgiving and Christmas lunch, the turkey is now synonymous with the holiday season and roast dinners.

But this wasn’t always the case. Now archaeologists have uncovered the earliest origins of the all-American domestic turkey in Mexico, finding that these early birds were not prized for their tasty meat, but rather traded for their cultural significance in rituals and sacrifice.

“The archaeological evidence suggests that meat from deer and rabbit was a more popular meal choice for people in pre-Columbian societies; turkeys are likely to have also been kept for their increasingly important symbolic and cultural role,” explained Dr Aurélie Manin, who led the study published in Royal Society Open Science.

The team of researchers studied the bones of 55 turkeys collected from Mesoamerica – which spans an area from central Mexico to northern Costa Rica – that dated to between 300 BCE and 1500 CE.  https://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/turkeys-were-domesticated-not-for-meat-but-for-ancient-mesoamerican-ceremonies/

Law of Moses

Mesoamerica did not have lambs, sheep, rams, bullocks, doves, wheat, barley or wine during the time of the Book of Mormon. These were all necessary animals and plants to practice the Law of Moses.

Not only this, but the proper seasons were required to practice the Law of Moses. In Mesoamerica there is very little change in seasons.

Beginning in the Spring (the Jewish month of the Abib* or “Aviv” [Nisan], which was a critical stage of barley maturation as discussed on p. 160 Annotated Book of Mormon), and continuing through the year, seasonal changes are necessary for observing all of the holy convocations of the Law of Moses (see Appendix, p. 532 Annotated Book of Mormon). See blog on Barley here: 

“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the LORD thy God. For in the month of Abib [Early Spring] the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the Passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place His name there” – Deuteronomy 16:1-2.

“And thou shalt observe the Feast of Weeks, of the Firstfruits of Wheat Harvest, [late Spring] and the Feast of Ingathering [Tabernacles] at the year’s end [early Fall]” – Exodus 34:22.

“Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year. Thou shalt keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Spring]: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib, for in it thou camest out from Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty:) And the Feast of Harvest [Pentecost] [early Summer], the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field. And the Feast of Ingathering, which is in the end of the year [Fall], when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field” – Exodus 23:14-17.

*Abib: The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, corresponding nearly to the Gregorian April. After the Babylonian captivity this month was called Nisan (see the Jewish calendar on p. 308 of the Annotated Book of Mormon) (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Abib)

THE LAW OF MOSES AND SEASONAL FEASTS
Four Seasons in the Promised Land

3 Nephi 1:24-26 “And there were no contentions save it were a few that began to preach, endeavoring to prove by the scriptures, that it was no more expedient to observe the Law of Moses. Now in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.  But it came to pass that they soon became converted and were convinced of the error which they were in, for
it was made known unto them that the Law was not yet fulfilled, and that it must be fulfilled in every whit; yea, the word came unto them that it must be fulfilled; yea, that one jot or tittle should not pass away till it should all be fulfilled; therefore in this same year were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did confess their faults. And thus the ninety and second year did pass away, bringing glad tidings unto the people because of the signs which did come to pass according to the words of the prophecy of all the holy prophets.”

It was no more expedient to observe the Law of Moses: The Nephites were observing the Law of Moses as contained in the Plates of Brass for over 600 years since they left Jerusalem. They were commanded to observe it until Jesus Christ’s Atonement fulfilled the Law. (The Hebrew word jot is the smallest letter of the square Hebrew alphabet. A tittle refers to a small stroke or point in writing or printing. It is now most commonly used as the name for the dot over the letter i. ) Page 380 Annotated Book of Mormon

Lambs

Remember the most important symbolic animal in the Israelite culture is the Lamb, as in “the Lamb of God.” I have heard the Lamb is known as the only animal that will not resist its own death. That surely describes the Savior of the World.

“…they had a lamb-skin about their loins…” (3 Nephi 4:7).

The Nephites observed the Law of Moses by sacrificing lambs during
Passover. The Lamanites possibly mocked the Nephites and their
religion by wearing a lambskin about their loins “dyed with blood” (3
Nephi 4:7). The Lamanites might have killed Nephite lambs, then wore
and displayed the lamb-skin as an act of defiance and sacrilege to the
Law of Moses during battles with the Nephites. (Research by Amberli Nelson) Page 385 Annotated Book of Mormon

(Above) “Kee-o-kúk, The Watchful Fox, Chief of the Tribe” by George Catlin,1835, oil on canvas; Smithsonian American Art Museum. (Note the red-dyed loin cloth. “…and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins… ” (Alma 43:20). (Left) Joseph Smith met with Chief Kee-O-Kuk on Aug. 12, 1841; see p. 117 Annotated Book of Mormon) 

During the Book of Mormon timeline, Mesoamerica did not have sheep or goats or bullocks or rams to practice the Law of Moses. North America did as Hugh Nibley states below.

“If my insistent harping on central Asia annoys you, let me remind you again that the book of Ether gives us no choice. It never lets us forget that what the Jaredite kings did was a conscious imitation and unbroken continuation of the ways of “the ancients,” of “them of old” on the other side of the water. This, incidentally, is another indication that we are not to regard the Jaredite migration as taking place immediately after the flood, for the fall of the tower saw the destruction of an ancient and established order. The Jaredites left their homeland driving great herds of cattle before them in the immemorial Asiatic manner, and even if they had never been nomads before, they certainly lived the life of the steppes during those many years before they set sail (Ether 3:3), and when they embarked, they crammed all they could of their beasts into their small boats, “flocks and herds” and other beasts (Ether 6:4), and upon reaching the New World continued to cultivate “all manner of cattle, of oxen, and cows, and of sheep” just as their ancestors had in the old country (Ether 9:18). Now you know, how the Nephites could have had sheep in North America brought to this land by the Jaredites. The Nephites could continue practicing the Law of Moses in the land of The New Jerusalem.” (2 Nephi 25:24 Mosiah 2:3) Hugh Nibley from Lehi in the Desert; The Great Open Spaces

Why are Baby Farm Animals Typically Born in the Spring?

IOWA AG LITERACY …Some of my friends even celebrate events like ‘La
mbaggedon’. So many baby lambs can be born on a single weekend that family and friends have to come from miles away to help out. They make the event fun with a little contest. Guess the number of lambs to be born between Friday morning and Monday noon. Closest guess gets the privilege of naming one of the lambs.

But why are so many babies born in the spring?

In a lot of ways spring is the perfect time for babies to be born. Mother mammals usually need better, richer food to produce quality milk for their babies to nurse. For grazing animals like cattle, sheep, and horses, the fresh green grass and other plants on pasture in spring and early summer are rich in nutrients. These plants can have a higher percentage of protein and ‘total digestible nutrients’. This can lead to better milk production for the babies. Most calves are born between January and May because of this reason. Read more about early calving here.

Spring is also a good time for babies to be born because the days become longer and temperatures rise. With the warmer weather it is easier for the baby to survive. There is less chance of harsh weather. Just like humans, animals need to be protected from severe weather. Cows often like to wander away from the herd to give birth in solitude. This can put the mother and calf at risk. If the cow has any problems during the birthing process, a farmer might not be available to assist and help pull the calf. Away from the herd, especially in cold weather, the calf might be less likely to survive. Away from the herd, the baby might be in danger from predators like foxes, coyotes, or even large birds of prey like eagles. In many, contemporary farming operations calving and farrowing happens in a barn or ‘under roof’. This protects the mother and baby from many of those dangers.

Because spring is such a good time of year for babies, many animals evolved to accommodate these natural cycles.

Many Iowans are familiar with the deer rut that happens in October, November, and December. Male deer are at peak testosterone, get more aggressive, and start fighting for mates. They wander out of their natural habitats which leads to increased motor vehicle accidents when they cross roads. This is in large part because the female deer come into estrus in the fall. As the days shorten, their hormones trigger the estrus cycles. A deer’s gestation will take 201 days. So if the female gets pregnant on October 1, you can expect a fawn around April 20th. Why are Baby Farm Animals Typically Born in the Spring?

Warfare only in the Tropics?

According to those who believe a Mesoamerican setting for the Book of Mormon, the only place the Nephites could have fought is in tropics like Mexico where a narrow neck of land is located. From Book of Mormon Central who claims to be a neutral site about geography in the Book of Mormon, we read this:

“When we carefully examine the accounts of wars in the middle portion of the Nephite record, we find that military action did not take place at random throughout the calendar year but at particular times. Whatever realistic scene we assume for the Nephite lands, we would expect to find a similar seasonal pattern in that area’s secular historical sources. I consider Mesoamerica (central and southern Mexico and northern Central America) to have been the scene of the Nephite conflicts, but whatever plausible location one chooses will lie in the tropics because, among other reasons, only in those areas are there feasible isthmuses located that could correspond to the “narrow neck of land” of the Nephites. Everywhere in those latitudes, war was normally carried on by the pre-Columbian inhabitants during a limited annual period. This paper investigates the evidence for seasonality of warfare in the Book of Mormon account and compares it with what is currently known about the timing of warfare in Mesoamerica.” https://archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/content/seasonality-warfare-book-mormon-and-mesoamerica

Cold Climate

(Below) “On a cold March 16, 1621, in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the English settlers were startled to see a Native American Indian approach them and with great enthusiasm speak the famous words, ‘Welcome, Englishmen.’ His name was Samoset (c. 1590–1653) and he towered over them. He stood before them ‘a tall straight man…’ What impressed them the most was that he was ‘stark naked,’ with just a fringe strap of leather around his waist When a cold gust of wind kicked up, one of the Pilgrims was moved to throw his coat over the Indian’s shoulders” – Nathaniel Philbrick, Mayflower, A Story of Courage, Community and War, Viking, Penguin Group (USA) Inc., NY, NY [2006], 93.

This encounter (below) shows that native Indian tribes could acclimate to the cold months even though non-natives, not accustomed to the cold, needed to be fully clothed for protection from the “cold gust of wind.”

See my Blog titled: Snow & Climate in the Book of Mormon

Abortions worldwide this year:

Definition: An abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the uterus, resulting in or caused by its death. An abortion can occur spontaneously due to complications during pregnancy or can be induced. (definition from Wikipedia)

Abortion as a term most commonly – and in the statistics presented here – refers to the induced abortion of a human pregnancy, while spontaneous abortions are usually termed miscarriages.

“This year” refers to the period from Jan 1 at 00:00 up to now.

The data on abortions displayed on the Worldometer’s counter is based on the latest statistics on worldwide abortions published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to WHO, every year in the world there are an estimated 40-50 million abortions. This corresponds to approximately 125,000 abortions per day.

In the USA, where nearly half of pregnancies are unintended and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion, there are over 3,000 abortions per day. Twenty-two percent of all pregnancies in the USA (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.

References and useful links:

• Abortion (Wikipedia)
• World Health Organization (WHO) – Statistics by the World Health Organization
• [1] Finer LB and Henshaw SK, Disparities in rates of unintended pregnancy in the United States, 1994 and 2001, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2006, 38(2):90–96.
• [2] Jones RK et al., Abortion in the United States: incidence and access to services, 2005, Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2008, 40(1):6–16
  
  Unintended pregnancy and abortion are experiences shared by people around the world. These reproductive health outcomes occur irrespective of country income level, region or the legal status of abortion.
  
  Roughly 121 million unintended pregnancies occurred each year between 2015 and 2019.^*
  
  Of these unintended pregnancies, 61% ended in abortion. This translates to 73 million abortions per year. https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/induced-abortion-worldwide

“Around 56 million abortions are performed each year in the world, with about 45% done unsafely. Abortion rates changed little between 2003 and 2008, before which they decreased for at least two decades as access to family planning and birth control increased. As of 2018, 37% of the world’s women had access to legal abortions without limits as to reason. Countries that permit abortions have different limits on how late in pregnancy abortion is allowed.” Wikipedia

With how I read it above, there are 120 million deaths world wide and 56 million of those are due to abortion! That is remarkably sad. Even many Democrats are against abortion as you read below.

Democrats for Life urge DNC to change party platform on abortion

BY GABBY BIRENBAUM – 08/14/20 09:00 AM “The Hill”

© Stefani Reynolds

More than 100 Democrats affiliated with the anti-abortion group Democrats for Life have signed a letter urging the party to change its abortion stance in this year’s platform.

Signatories include Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.) and Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.), who lost his March primary to a progressive. Fifty-six state legislators also signed the letter addressed to the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee.

The letter urges the Democratic Party to adopt the abortion language from its 2000 platform, which recognized differences of opinion on abortion as a “source of strength” and welcomed Americans of all abortion stances.https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

The letter argues that the party’s embrace of abortion rights will alienate voters, particularly in battleground states.

“We should not cede large swathes of the United States to the Republican Party,” the letter reads. “In the US, pro-life Democrats have been a critical part of the coalition to expand voting rights, improve health care, and pass criminal justice reform. These accomplishments would not have been possible if the Democratic Party had in place a litmus test on abortion.”

The 2020 Democratic platform, which was released last month and will be voted on and formally approved by Democratic National Committee (DNC) members at next week’s virtual convention, unequivocally supports abortion rights.

“Like the majority of Americans, Democrats believe that every woman should be able to access high-quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion,” the draft platform reads.

In the draft, Democrats also commit to restoring federal funding for Planned Parenthood, opposing state laws that limit abortion rights, repealing the Hyde Amendment, which bars the use of federal funds to pay for abortion services, and codifying the Roe v. Wade court case that provides a legal defense of abortion. https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html

Friday’s letter, however, calls for the party to abandon language supporting the repeal of the Hyde Amendment and codification of Roe v. Wade.

“As Democrats, we are anti-Trump and enthusiastic supporters of Black Lives Matter,” Kristen Day, executive director of Democrats for Life of America, said in a statement Friday. “Why is dismembering preborn children the hill we want to die on when so much is at stake? We took this issue for granted in 2016, and Hillary Clinton lost. We cannot make this mistake again.”

The letter is unlikely to affect the party’s platform. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden last year said he supports repealing the Hyde Amendment, which prevents Medicaid coverage of abortion. Biden had previously supported Hyde for several decades.

His running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), has been a staunch defender of abortion rights. She has a 100 percent voting record according to NARAL Pro-Choice America, which scores members of Congress based on their votes on abortion rights issues.

A 2019 Pew Research study found that 70 percent of those who identify as or lean Democrat support the party’s position on abortion.

The Truth About Abortion

Reverence for Life

By Russell M. Nelson Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

“As sons and daughters of God, we cherish life as a gift from him.

A heavy toll on life is included among the evils of war. Data from all nations are appalling. For the United States of America, one hundred thousand were killed in World War I; over four hundred thousand died in World War II. In the first two hundred years as a nation, the lives of over one million Americans were lost due to war.

Regrettable as is the loss of loved ones from war, these figures are dwarfed by the toll of a new war that annually claims more casualties than the total number of fatalities from all the wars of this nation.

It is a war on the defenseless—and the voiceless. It is a war on the unborn.

This war, labeled “abortion,” is of epidemic proportion and is waged globally. Over fifty-five million abortions were reported worldwide in the year 1974 alone.¹ Sixty-four percent of the world’s population now live in countries that legally sanction this practice.² In the United States of America, over 1.5 million abortions are performed annually.³ About 25–30 percent of all pregnancies now end in abortion.⁴ In some metropolitan areas, there are more abortions performed than live births.⁵ Comparable data also come from other nations.

What sense of inconsistency can allow people to grieve for their dead, yet be calloused to this baleful war being waged on life at the time of its silent development? What logic would encourage efforts to preserve the life of a critically ill twelve-week-old infant, but countenance the termination of another life twelve weeks after inception? More attention is seemingly focused on the fate of a life at some penitentiary’s death row than on the millions totally deprived of life’s opportunity through such odious carnage before birth…

The Lord has repeatedly declared this divine imperative: “Thou shalt not kill.”6 Recently he added, “Nor do anything like unto it.” (D&C 59:6.) Even before the fulness of the gospel was restored, the enlightened understood the sanctity of life. John Calvin, the sixteenth-century reformer, wrote: “If it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field, because a man’s house is his place of most secure refuge, it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light.”7

But what impropriety could now legalize that which has been forbidden by the laws of God from the dawn of time? What twisted reasoning has transformed mythical concepts into contorted slogans assenting to a practice which is consummately wrong?

These slogans begin with proper concern for the health of the mother. Infrequently, instances may occur in which the continuation of pregnancy could be life-threatening to the mother. When deemed by competent medical authorities that the life of one must be terminated in order to save the life of the other, many agree that it is better to spare the mother. But these circumstances are rare, particularly where modern medical care is available.

Another sympathetic concern applies to pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The tragedy of this despoilment is compounded because, in such relationships, freedom of choice is denied the woman who is innocently involved.

But less than 3 percent of all abortions are performed for these two reasons. The other 97 percent are performed for what may be termed “reasons of convenience.”

Some argue for abortion because a malformed child may result. The harmful effects of certain infectious or toxic agents in the first trimester of pregnancy are real…

The woman’s choice for her own body does not validate choice for the body of another. The expression “terminate the pregnancy” applies literally only to the woman. The consequence of terminating the fetus therein involves the body and very life of another. These two individuals have separate brains, separate hearts, and separate circulatory systems. To pretend that there is no child and no life there is to deny reality.

It is not a question of when “meaningful life” begins or when the spirit “quickens” the body. In the biological sciences, it is known that life begins when two germ cells unite to become one cell, bringing together twenty-three chromosomes from both the father and from the mother. These chromosomes contain thousands of genes. In a marvelous process involving a combination of genetic coding by which all the basic human characteristics of the unborn person are established, a new DNA complex is formed. A continuum of growth results in a new human being. The onset of life is not a debatable issue, but a fact of science…

Approximately twenty-two days after the two cells have united, a little heart begins to beat. At twenty-six days the circulation of blood begins.9

Scripture declares that the “life of the flesh is in the blood.” (Lev. 17:11.) Abortion sheds that innocent blood.

Now, as a servant of the Lord, I dutifully warn those who advocate and practice abortion that they incur the wrath of Almighty God, who declared, “If men … hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, … he shall be surely punished.” (Ex. 21:22.)

Of those who shed innocent blood, a prophet declared: “The judgments which [God] shall exercise … in his wrath [shall] be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.” (Alma 14:11.)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has consistently opposed the practice of abortion. One hundred years ago the First Presidency wrote: “And we again take this opportunity of warning the Latter-day Saints against those … practices of foeticide and infanticide…

Now, is there hope for those who have so sinned without full understanding, who now suffer heartbreak? Yes. So far as is known, the Lord does not regard this transgression as murder. And “as far as has been revealed, a person may repent and be forgiven for the sin of abortion.”13 Gratefully, we know the Lord will help all who are truly repentant… Russell M Nelson April 1985 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1985/04/reverence-for-life?lang=eng

May the world and especially the United Stated of America repent of this evil called abortion and may we respect all life. How can anyone who claims to be of the Lords side, be for taking the life of another. Scoffers may say about Biden, “Yea but he believes in other good things”, or “I can’t justify voting for Trump”, or “But Trump is a liar”, etc. If you vote for Biden it is my personal opinion that you are voting that abortion, even late-term abortion is ok by you. It is reprehensible.

Our great friend David Allan has nailed it as usual. I wish more intellectual people like David would understand. For David to have such beliefs he is a humble servant of the Lord and we love him. Humility and a strong faith in God are necessary to filter thorough all the “smart-talk” out there.

The Ezra Taft Benson talk from 25 Oct 1966 at a BYU Devotional is a sobering reminder of evil people in the church with an agenda (revising church history by quoting the intellectuals and apostates and ignoring the prophets). Ezra Taft Benson said to avoid being deceived, look to the Prophet. Listen to his entire talk at https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/immediate-responsibility/

At the 32:07-33:02 mark, just before the above quote, President Ezra Taft Benson states the following.

“We all have stewardships for which we must account to the Lord. Unfortunately, some men who do not honor their stewardships may have an adverse effect on many people. Often the greater the man’s responsibility, the more good or evil he can accomplish. The Lord usually gives a man a long enough rope and sufficient time to determine whether that man wants to pull himself into the presence of God or drop off somewhere below. There are some regrettable things being said and done by some people in the church today. As President Clark so well warned, the ravening wolves are amongst us. From our own membership and they more than any others are clothed in sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. We should be careful of them.”

Faith Crisis?

Do you have a loved one who is struggling with faith crisis? Do you want to know why? Discover empowering history and faith crisis through a safe book for understanding controversial issues without compromise! This book explores issues including Leonard Arrington and the founding of New Mormon History, Mark Hofmann’s forgeries, the progressive Latter-day Saint group “The Swearing Elders,” the New Mormon History attack on President Brigham Young and more. This book is amazing. The evolutioinist and progressive are trying to revisit and change our Church History.

Organic Evolution – Social Evolution – Political Evolution – The Internet by David W. Allan

We are all grateful for the Internet and the amazing communication connection it provides.  I believe that the best thing I can do is to share the message of gladness that the gospel of Jesus Christ provides, and I am grateful that the Internet is helping me do that in a major way.  However, like any tool, it can be used for good or evil.

More than a century before the Internet was invented into the amazing tool that it is, Darwin brought forth the theory of “organic evolution”, and the world applauded his genius. Based on Darwin’s work, John Wesley Powell, et. al. introduced “social evolution”, which brought about the doctrine of “manifest destiny,” and which caused the native American Indians to be treated as savages and their way of life destroyed.

Then, as history marched on, based on Powell’s and Lewis Henry Morgan’s ideas, Marx and Engels gave the world “political evolution”  the forerunner of communism and socialism.

Now, with the Internet, the prevalence of these three evolutionary theories continues to grow across the world.  We are seeing the world’s masses acceptance of the same.  Have we been globally deceived?  If so, the implications are enormous.

Our education systems and textbooks are full of these three theories, and we have seen an ever-increasing number of atheists who believe these theories, as they are increasingly propagated across the Internet.

The Truth Regarding These 3 Theories

As have I shared in a recent blog article, Americas Future At The Crossroads.  Scientists know that you cannot prove a theory true!  But, you can prove a theory false, if you have reliable falsification data!  Knowing something is false helps us avoid the deceit therein.  Only God knows everything, and the only way we can know something is true is if He tells us, because He cannot lie.  Since we don’t know everything, a theory believed true by the masses, may, in fact, be false when more information is made available. Being humble and open to new truth is one of the great blessings of the faithful, as we learn from our Creator.

Knowing something is false and avoiding the deceit therein helps us on our path of internalizing the truths of God. He has promised, “…whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived…” (JS-Matthew 37).  And, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)  These are extremely valuable and sure promises in our path of TRUTH.  Furthermore, the Lord provides both a necessary and sufficient condition to know if the fruit is good or not, for “every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matt. 7:17-18)

Using reliable data and the works of some of the brightest minds on the planet regarding organic evolution, I prove in Chapter 6 of my book,  It’s About Time, that the theory of organic evolution put forth by Darwin is false.   As mentioned, this has enormous implications. The following two above theories are also false because they are based on the false premise in organic evolution.  Atheism is the fruit of these three corrupt theories: Organic, Social, and Political evolution, and the Internet increasingly propagates them with devastating effects.  Because of these false theories, the Internet and our education systems are causing the philosophy of atheism to continue to grow.

Type and Shadow

In a type and shadow fashion, I was recently impressed as I read Chapter 7 of the Book of Jacob from the Book of Mormon. How well the story of Sherem prophetically reminds me of how organic evolution, social evolution, political evolution, and the internet are being used by Satan to take us from Christ.  As Jacob profoundly said to Sherem, the anti-Christ, “If there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.” The Prophet Jacob lived more than 500 years before Christ and knew our Savior.

Sherem’s anti-Christ story in Chapter 7 of Jacob is reflective of exactly what is going on in the world today.  As Satan knows, it is his last hour to promote his atheistic agenda using these three false theories and any other deceitful way he can devise with the Internet as the propagation tool.  Without God, the world is trying to solve the world’s problems using science and technology, and most scientists believe the Bible to be a myth.

As we see the prideful elite trying to destroy our liberty, the battle seems to be their desire to make the state sovereign (political evolution) versus God’s plan for individual sovereignty and leading to eternal life.  The writers of our inspired Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution had this individual sovereignty in their hearts and minds. Also, because the book that influenced them more than any other for their inspiration for these documents was the Bible.

Pivotal Point

As we approach this most pivotal election in US history, let us do our best to help elect wise and righteous men and women of God, who appreciate God’s plan for individual sovereignty.  So that following the fifty-five thousand who died at Gettysburg, as President Lincoln prophetically reached out to us saying, “that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”  The battle at Gettysburg was the “high-water mark” of the Civil War – which finally helped bring about the end of slavery and a nation where all its people could be free and giving liberty to all, as defined in America’s inspired foundation documents.

In Contrast

In contrast to Sherem and the atheists, who believe that we cannot know the future, which belief brings emptiness and fear into many hearts, we gratefully know much of the past, present, and future, because of God’s word – upon which this nation was founded.  Our faith in God gives us great hope and purpose to our lives.  As we are now seeing conspiring forces trying to destroy our liberty and encroach worldly values on all Christians.  As the prophecies tell us, we know that the pit they dig to destroy us will be the pit in which they will eventually fall.  And on the last day, they will confess with Sherem, that they were deceived by Satan, and will bow the knee in deep gratitude for the infinite atonement.

Let us continue in mighty prayer on behalf of as many as will come to know our loving Lord.  In the midst of all our imperfections, we have His Perfect Plan of Happiness.  And, now we are privileged to live in that day when we have, as He has promised, “nothing shall be withheld,…”  “He shall reveal all things…” (D&C 121:28; 101:32-34)

Both the Prophet Nephi and Joseph in Egypt prophesied that the Book of Mormon would come forth, and in that day when the Bible would be disbelieved, and the Book of Mormon and “other books” would come forth validating the Bible. (1 Ne. 13:39-41; 2 Ne. 3:11)  There is now information known so that those who desire can come to know God, which is eternal life (John 17:3) and the greatest gift from God (D&C 14:7).

I thank Steve Smoot for the above important historical perspectives regarding these three evolutionary theories.  His book and DVD “Lost Civilizations of North America” can now be purchased which describes how Powell followed Darwin, and his book by the same title has many more details.  His historic research gives a profound historic perspective. 

In addition to Chapter 6 of my book proving the theory of organic evolution to be false, I have articles on my website: Evolution and Faith; Not All Scientists Agree With Darwin; Am I A Monkey’s Uncle?; The Greatest Love Story Ever; The Resurrection Disproves the Theory of Organic Evolution; and How to Increase Your Faith in God.

David W Allan

“Who, then, are the Jews, and what part shall they yet play in the gathering of Israel and the return of their King? There is a maze of fuzzy thinking and shoddy scholarship, both in the world and in the Church, that seeks to identify the Jews, both ancient and modern, and to expound upon what they have believed and do believe. It is not strange that the divines of the day-not knowing that the kingdom is to be restored to Israel at that glorious day; not having the Book of Mormon and latter-day revelation to guide them-it is not strange that they come up with false and twisted views about the mission and destiny of the Jews. It is a little sad that church members sometimes partake of these false views and of this secular spirit so as to misread the signs of the times

The term Jew is a contraction of the name Judah, but the Jews are not the members of the tribe of Judah as such. After the reign of Solomon, the Lord’s people divided into the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah. Nearly ten tribes served Jeroboam in Israel and two and a half tribes served Rehoboam in Judah. The Levites were scattered among all the tribes. Judah, Simeon, and part of Benjamin comprised the kingdom of Judah. In actual fact, and considering blood lineage only, both kingdoms had in them people from all of the tribes. Lehi, who lived in Judah and was a Jew, was of the tribe of Manasseh. The Jews were nationals of the kingdom of Judah without reference to tribal ancestry. Thus the descendants of Lehi, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, were Jews because they came out from Jerusalem and from the kingdom of Judah. (2 Ne. 33:8.)

The Jews today are also those whose origins stem back to the kingdom of their fathers. Clearly the dominant tribe-dominant, however, only in the sense of political power and rulership-was Judah. As to the bloodlines, who knows whether there are more of Judah or of Simeon or of Benjamin or of some other tribe among the Jews as we know them? Paul, a Jew, was of the tribe of Benjamin. The name Judea, now used as a noun, is actually an adjective meaning Jewish and is the Greek and Roman designation for the land of Judah.

Since the Ten Tribes were taken into Assyria and lost from the knowledge of their fellows more than a century before the Jews went into Babylonian captivity, the prophets began to speak of Jews and Gentiles and to consider as a Gentile everyone who was not a Jew. This classifies Ephraim and the rest of scattered Israel as Gentiles. Everyone, in this sense, who is not a Jew is a Gentile, a concept that will enable us, in due course, to set forth what is meant by the fulness of the Gentiles.” (Bruce R. McConkie The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, p.221-222)

We need to look no further than the scriptures to know the Lamanites ARE DESCENDANTS of the JEWS.

“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 the word 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.” D&C 29:26-27

“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.” D&C 19:27   “And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews.” 2 Nephi 30:4

“I would say to the Lamanites, if I could speak to them understandingly, that you are also a branch of the house of Israel, and chiefly of the house of Joseph, and your forefathers have fallen through the same examples of unbelief and sins, as have the Jews, and you, as their posterity, have wandered in sin and darkness for many generations; and you, like the Jews, have been driven and trampled under the foot of the Gentiles, and put to death through your wars with each other, and with the white man, until you are almost destroyed. But there is still a redemption and salvation for a remnant of you in the latter days. It is time for you to cease shedding each other’s blood or making war upon your fellow-man. Cease to destroy one another, learn to cultivate the earth, and raise your food therefrom; call upon the Great Spirit to protect you and deliver you from bondage and darkness, and the Great Spirit will hear you and deliver you, and a remnant of you will again become a delightsome people as your forefathers were when they kept the commandments of God.” Wilford Woodruff History of His Life and Labors AS RECORDED IN HIS DAILY JOURNALS  PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION BY MATTHIAS F. COWLEY Salt Lake City, Utah 1909

Jewish Immigration to America: Three Waves

Sephardic, German, and Eastern European immigrants each contributed to he formation of American Jewry.

https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-immigration-to-america-three-waves/ BY JOELLYN ZOLLMAN

Today, America’s Jewish community is largely Ashkenazi, meaning it is made up of Jews who trace their ancestry to Germany and Eastern Europe. However, the first Jews to arrive in what would become the United States were Sephardic — tracing their ancestry to Spain and Portugal. The following article looks at the three major waves of Sephardic and Ashkenazic immigration to America.

Historians have traditionally divided American Jewish immigration into three periods: Sephardic, German, and Eastern European. While the case can be made that during each period, immigrants were not solely of any one origin (Some Germans came during the “Sephardic” period and some Eastern Europeans arrived during the “German” era, for example), the fact remains that the dominant immigrant group at the time influenced the character of the American Jewish community.

Sephardic Jews

The first group of Sephardic settlers arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654 from Brazil. For several decades afterward, adventurous Sephardic and Ashkenazic merchants established homes in American colonial ports, including Newport, R.I., New Amsterdam (later New York), Philadelphia, Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga.

While the Ashkenazi Jews outnumbered the Sephardic ones by 1730, the character of the American Jewish community remained Sephardic through the American Revolution. Colonial American synagogues adhered to Sephardic ritual customs and administered all aspects of Jewish religious life. The synagogue did not, however, attempt to govern the economic activities of its (mostly mercantile) members. This was a departure from the Old World, where synagogues in places like Amsterdam, London, and Recife, taxed commercial transactions, regulated Jewish publications, and punished members for lapses in individual or commercial morality. In this manner, colonial synagogues set a precedent of compartmentalization — a division between Jewish and worldly domains — in American Jewish life.

Colonial American Sephardic synagogues also sought to combine modern notions of aesthetics with traditional Judaism, creating congregations that were rational and refined. Synagogues established rules of order so that services and meetings proceeded with the proper amount of deference and decorum. For example, colonial synagogues assigned seats for male and female members so that everyone knew their place in the congregation. This not only eliminated shuffling and bickering over seating each week, but also established a sort of congregational hierarchy in which the best seats went to the most prestigious congregational families (who, in turn, paid the highest dues). (In Europe, so few women attended services that there was no need to designate seats; American women, in contrast, regularly attended religious services.)

This theme — the reconciliation of modern manners with Jewish tradition — would also occupy subsequent waves of Jewish immigrants as Germans and Eastern Europeans struggled to build the Reform and Conservative movements in America.

The Germans

German Jews began to come to America in significant numbers in the 1840s. Jews left Germany because of persecution, restrictive laws, economic hardship, and the failure of movements — widely supported by German Jews — advocating revolution and reform there. They looked to America as an antidote to these ills — a place of economic and social opportunity.

Some 250,000 German-speaking Jews came to America by the outbreak of World War I. This sizable immigrant community expanded American Jewish geography by establishing themselves in smaller cities and towns in the Midwest, West, and the South. German Jewish immigrants often started out as peddlers and settled in one of the towns on their route, starting a small store there. This dispersion helped to establish American Judaism as a national faith.

If German Jews had one city of their own invention, it was Cincinnati. German immigrants flocked to this area, which was considered a gateway to trade in the Midwest and West. Cincinnati became the seat of American Reform Judaism, home to the movement’s first American leader, Isaac Mayer Wise (an immigrant from Bohemia), and its newspaper and seminary.

In addition to promoting Reform Judaism in America, German Jewish immigrants created institutions as significant and longstanding as B’nai B’rith, the American Jewish Committee, and the National Council of Jewish Women.

The Eastern Europeans

A 19th-century Jewish school on the Lower East Side. (Wikimedia Commons)

Eastern European Jews began to immigrate to the United States in large numbers after 1880. Pushed out of Europe by overpopulation, oppressive legislation and poverty, they were pulled toward America by the prospect of financial and social advancement. Between 1880 and the onset of restrictive immigration quotas in 1924, over 2 million Jews from Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Romania came to America. Once again, the character of American Jewry was transformed, as the Eastern Europeans became the majority.

Jewish Immigrants in the Garment Industry

The immigrants tended to settle in the poorer neighborhoods of major cities. New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Chicago, for example, all featured Jewish sections by the turn of the 20th century. Living conditions in these neighborhoods were often cramped and squalid. The immigrants found work in factories, especially in the garment industry, but also in cigar manufacturing, food production, and construction. Jewish workers supported the labor movement’s struggle for better working conditions. Yiddish culture, in the form of drama, journalism, and prose, flourished in American Jewish immigrant neighborhoods, and the plight of the immigrant worker was a common cultural theme.

Jewish Immigrants and Trade Unions

The Eastern European Jews also brought with them certain ideological principles that would influence American Jewry. Many of the workers supported socialism or communism as a means of securing economic and social equality. In this manner, the Eastern Europeans established a strong link between American Jews and liberal politics.

Yiddish Theater in New York

In addition, Eastern Europeans brought with them unprecedented support for Jewish nationalism. They educated the American Jewish community on this topic, even if they did not appear among its early leaders. (Henrietta Szold, the founder of the women’s group Hadassah, credited her immigrant night school students for her introduction to the fundamentals of Zionism.)

Finally, Eastern European Jews ensured a more religiously diverse American Jewish population. The Eastern Europeans did not, for the most part, feel comfortable with Reform Judaism. Their insistence on maintaining tradition, albeit in a modern context, contributed to the establishment of Conservative Judaism and infused Orthodox Judaism with new energy and purpose.

Large-scale Jewish immigration to the United States ended in 1924. Still, the contemporary American Jewish community remains very much a product of these founding groups.

Blogs about DNA connection with Israel and Native Americans

https://www.bofm.blog/dna-lamanites-are-a-remnant-of-the-jew/

https://www.bofm.blog/dna-scientists-claim-that-cherokees-are-from-the-middle-east/

Why is it that so much of our history is distorted or downright incorrect? There is a constant battle between who is right and who is wrong. That is why this world is truly Satan’s until the Lord comes and establishes His perfect government. Like the Bible says, men today are, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Tim. 3:7

“I have come to believe that it is the tendency for many members of the Church who spend a great deal of time in academic research to begin to judge the Church, its doctrine, organization, and leadership, present and past, by the principles of their own profession. Ofttimes this is done unwittingly, and some of it, perhaps, is not harmful.” The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect Elder Boyd K. Packer

“This problem has affected some of those who have taught and have written about the history of the Church. These professors say of themselves that religious faith has little influence on Mormon scholars. They say this because, obviously, they are not simply Latter-day Saints but are also intellectuals trained, for the most part, in secular institutions. They would that some historians who are Latter-day Saints write history as they were taught in graduate school, rather than as Mormons.” The Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect Elder Boyd K. Packer

Neptunism or Plutonism

Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749–1817), a German geologist and is the founder of neptunism.

Neptunism is a superseded scientific theory of geology proposed by Abraham Gottlob Werner (1749–1817) in the late 18th century, proposing that rocks formed from the crystallization of minerals in the early Earth’s oceans.

The theory took its name from Neptune, the ancient Roman god of the sea. There was considerable debate between its proponents (neptunists) and those favouring a rival theory known as plutonism which gave a significant role to volcanic origins, and which in modified form replaced neptunism in the early 19th century as the principle of uniformitarianism was shown to fit better with the geological facts as they became better known.” Source

“Although James Hutton was not the first to propose plutonism, he was the scientist responsible for expounding this theory to the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the general scientific community. Although plutonism would not come into favor until after Hutton’s death, he laid the foundation for the theory’s success. Charles Lyell would eventually synthesize the theories of plutonium and uniformitarianism into his textbook, Principles of Geology (published in 1830), allowing for its success in the 19^th century.” Source

See my blog here called: New Books of 1830 Good and Evil

If you are a Universal Model proponent (UMer), which I am, you follow the fascinating new discoveries of Dean Sessions, Russ Barlow, and Rod Meldrum. If you are a Plutonist you favor the current theory of 90% of the scientists today, including the majority of BYU Professors who also believe Einstein’s Theory is factual. UMers believe Einstein’s theory is just that, a theory and not factual.

There is also a theory out there that this earth is billions of years old which is believed by most modern scientists today. UMer’s believe this earth was organized from material that is billions of years old, but the creation of the earth itself took thousands of years and Adam was placed on the earth in about 4,000 BC. Dinosaurs also lived with Adam on this earth and were wiped out with Noah’s world wide flood.

Each time I think about this new incredible UM science or the Heartland Model, or young creationism, I think of the following scripture. “How long can rolling waters remain impure? What power shall stay the heavens? As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course, or to turn it up stream, as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.” D&C 121:33.

I have met some amazing people in the past 10 years that truly are being used as instruments of God to shed new light to use here on earth. Men and women like Rod Meldrum, Wayne May, James Stoddard, Hannah Stoddard, Tim Ballard, Glenn Beck, David Barton, Alex Boye, Amberli Nelson, Jonathan Neville, Dean Sessions, Ken Krogue, and many others.

Did you know that in the world of science there have been no new laws established in the world in over 100 years? All we get is new pet theories that people make up in order to get money and the praise of the world. Don’t believe me, read the Universal Model, pray about it and you may learn the truth. Purchase Left.

Modern geology acknowledges many different forms of rock formation, and explains the formation of sedimentary rock through processes very similar to those described by Neptunism. Wikepedia

Understanding the three-fifths compromise

What is the theory and what is the fact of the 3/5th Compromise?

“The U.S. Constitution is a document that evolves with the times. Constitutional inadequacies and societal injustices are challenged, and social progress is the result. Instead of reverence for this brilliant document that ensures our rights, it is attacked by some as a severely flawed and even a racist contract.

One of the most widely used means to defame the Constitution is to manipulate perception of the three-fifths compromise. Agenda-driven academicians and committed ideologues routinely state the U.S. Constitution only recognizes blacks as three-fifths of a person. No context is given. This often-repeated falsehood foments disrespect of the Constitution and contempt for the founders who authored it.

The U.S. Constitution does not relegate blacks to “three-fifths of a person” status. Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution states: “Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.” The “other Persons” were slaves.

The 1787 Constitutional Convention addressed the apportionment in the House of Representatives and the number of electoral votes each state would have in presidential elections based on a state’s population. The Southern states wanted to count the entire slave population. This would increase their number of members of Congress. The Northern delegates and others opposed to slavery wanted to count only free persons, including free blacks in the North and South.

Using the logic of the promoters of the “three-fifths of a person” interpretation, think of the constitutional ramification had the position of the Northern states and abolitionists prevailed. The three-fifths clause would have been omitted and possibly replaced with wording that stated “other Persons” would not be counted for apportionment. The Constitution, then, would be proclaiming slaves were not human at all (zero-fifths). This is an illogical conclusion and was certainly not the position of Northern delegates and abolitionists.

Counting the whole number of slaves benefited the Southern states and reinforced the institution of slavery. Minimizing the percentage of the slave population counted for apportionment reduced the political power of slaveholding states.

Denigration of the Constitution is not restricted to committed demagogues.

San Antonio’s U.S. District Judge Fred Biery addressed the Austin Bar Association on Law Day 2012. His speech focused on various social injustices in America’s past and how attorneys righted these wrongs. Biery used the example of then-recent Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. The judge asserted that in 1787 when the Constitution was ratified, Griffin’s “ancestors … were counted only as three-fifths of a human being.” Biery is alarmingly ignorant. Or worse, he is consumed with the need to promote and further a personal creed.

There are other troubling aspects of the lifetime judge’s declaration. Biery’s speech was published in San Antonio Lawyer after he addressed the bar association. Didn’t any of the attorneys at the meeting who actually understood the meaning of that portion of the Constitution advise Biery of his misrepresentation?

David Gans is the director of the Human Rights, Civil Rights and Citizenship Program at the Constitutional Accountability Center, a think tank and law firm. The Express-News published a column by him on constitutional requirements in the past year (“Count all people, as Constitution requires, March 10) in which he stated that “someone who was enslaved would be counted as three-fifths of a person” for the purpose of determining representation in Congress.

The magnitude of this constitutional illiteracy is not restricted to those on the political left. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice routinely stated in her speeches, “In the original U.S. Constitution, I was only three-fifths of a person.”

In 1787, the founders were attempting to form a union and preserve the nascent United States. This imperfect compromise allowed for preservation of the republic while also confronting the moral and systemic evils of slavery. Erroneous and distorted interpretations of the Constitution only intensify the societal divide in America.” Constitutional Accountability Center

Three-Fifths Compromise

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached among state delegates during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention. Delegates disputed whether and how slaves would be counted when determining a state’s total population, as this population number would determine a state’s number of seats in the House of Representatives and how much it would pay in taxes. The compromise counted three out of every five slaves as people, giving the Southern states a third more seats in Congress and a third more electoral votes than if slaves had been ignored, but fewer than if slaves and free people had been counted equally. The compromise was proposed by delegate James Wilson and seconded by Charles Pinckney on June 11, 1787.

Impact before the Civil War

By including three-fifths of slaves (who had no voting rights) in the legislative apportionment, the Three-Fifths Compromise provided additional representation in the House of Representatives of slave states compared to the free states. In 1793, for example, Southern slave states had 47 of the 105 seats but would have had 33 had seats been assigned based on free populations. In 1812, slave states had 76 seats out of 143 instead of the 59 they would have had; in 1833, 98 seats out of 240 instead of 73. As a result, Southern states had additional influence on the presidency, the speakership of the House, and the Supreme Court until the American Civil War.[17] In addition, the Southern states’ insistence on equal numbers of slave and free states, which was maintained until 1850, safeguarded the Southern bloc in the Senate as well as Electoral College votes.

Historian Garry Wills has speculated that without the additional slave state votes, Jefferson would have lost the presidential election of 1800. Also, “slavery would have been excluded from Missouri … Jackson’s Indian removal policy would have failed … the Wilmot Proviso would have banned slavery in territories won from Mexico … the Kansas-Nebraska bill would have failed.” While the Three-Fifths Compromise could be seen to favor Southern states because of their large slave populations, for example, the Connecticut Compromise tended to favor the Northern states (which were generally smaller). Support for the new Constitution rested on the balance of these sectional interests.[18]

After the Civil War

Section 2 of the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) later superseded Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 and explicitly repealed the compromise. It provides that “representatives shall be apportioned … counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.” A later provision of the same clause reduced the Congressional representation of states who denied the right to vote to adult male citizens, but this provision was never effectively enforced. (The Thirteenth Amendment, passed in 1865, had already eliminated almost all persons from the original clause’s jurisdiction by banning slavery; the only remaining persons subject to it were those sentenced for a crime to penal servitude, which the amendment excluded from the ban.)

After the Reconstruction Era came to an end in 1877, however, the former slave states subverted the objective of these changes by using various strategies to disenfranchise their black citizens, while obtaining the benefit of apportionment of representatives on the basis of the total populations. These measures effectively gave white Southerners even greater voting power than they had in the antebellum era, inflating the number of Southern Democrats in the House of Representatives as well as the number of votes they could exercise in the Electoral College in the election of the president.

The disenfranchisement of black citizens eventually attracted the attention of Congress, and in 1900 some members proposed stripping the South of seats, related to the number of people who were barred from voting.[20] In the end, Congress did not act to change apportionment, largely because of the power of the Southern bloc. The Southern bloc comprised Southern Democrats voted into office by white voters and constituted a powerful voting bloc in Congress until the 1960s. Their representatives, re-elected repeatedly by one-party states, controlled numerous chairmanships of important committees in both houses on the basis of seniority, giving them control over rules, budgets and important patronage projects, among other issues. Their power allowed them to defeat federal legislation against racial violence and abuses in the South,[21] until overcome by the civil rights movement. Wikipedia

Three-Fifths Clause

The records of the Constitutional Convention make clear that the three-fifths clause was actually an antislavery provision. As Professor Walter Williams explains:

“It was slavery’s opponents who succeeded in restricting the political power of the South by allowing them to count only three-fifths of their slave population in determining the number of congressional representatives. The three-fifths of a vote provision applied only to slaves, not to free blacks in either the North or South.” (emphasis added)

 “It is a downright disability laid upon the slaveholding States; one which deprives those States of two-fifths of their natural basis of representation.  A black man in a free State is worth just two-fifths more than a black man in a slave State, as a basis of political power under the Constitution.  Therefore, instead of encouraging slavery, the Constitution encourages freedom by giving an increase of ‘two-fifths’ of political power to free over slave States. . . . it still leans to freedom.”  In order to follow the tortured route that the three-fifths clause took on its way to adoption into the Constitution, follow the votes taken in:  (Paragraphs 458, 461, 1229, 1251, 1260, 1289, 1293, 1314, 2078, 2092, and 2702).

Reference: Frederick Douglass, “The Constitution,” in The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass, ed. Philip S Foner 472

*The three-fifths clause was not a measurement of human worth; it was an attempt to reduce the number of pro-slavery proponents in Congress. By including only three-fifths of the total numbers of slaves into the congressional calculations, Southern states were actually being denied additional pro-slavery representatives in Congress.

While there were a few Founding Fathers who were pro-slavery, the truth is that it was the Founders who were responsible for planting and nurturing the first seeds for the recognition of black equality and for the eventual end of slavery. This is a fact made clear by Richard Allen.

America’s Exceptional History of Anti-Slavery

“Recently the idea of American Exceptionalism has been ridiculed in academic and political circles with entire books dedicated to the purpose of tearing down any thought of an ethical America. Much of this recent shift centers around America’s record on slavery. For instance, organizations such as the New York Times have started initiatives declaring that the “true founding” was not until the introduction of slavery 1619 and that the “founding ideals were false” due to the existence of slavery.

The shift to a negative perspective of America largely stems from the revisionist school of history beginning in the 1960’s and culminating with Howard Zinn’s monumental 1980 People’s History of the United States. This book popularized the historiographical approach of doing “history from the bottom up,” which means telling the story of America through the interpretive lens of oppression. A fellow activist historian of Zinn’s, Staughton Lynd explains the fundamental premises underlying this approach in his Doing History from the Bottom Up. In their interpretive model, “was founded on crimes against humanity directed at…enslaved African Americans,” and therefore must be evil.

Such anti-American revisionism forgets that America’s record on slavery actually is exceptional compared to the rest of the world. Rarely do revisionists remember that over half of the American states had passed laws abolishing slavery by 1804, nearly thirty years before William Wilberforce effected the similar results in England. This wide-scale abolitionism was planted by the Biblical beliefs of several early colonies, was watered by the advocacy and action of the patriots during the American Revolution, and finally brought forth fruit through the establishment of a Constitutional Republic designed to advance liberty and defend the ideals of the Declaration.

A careful review of the colonial anti-slavery context, the development of abolitionist thought during the War for Independence, and the staunch leadership of the pro-freedom Founding Fathers reveals how America led the way in abolishing slavery. Instead of the modern academic narrative which attempts to debunk American exceptionalism, history shows that America was exceptional in their struggle for emancipation.” Wallbuilders

Shortly after the Nephites separated themselves from the Lamanites (establishing the land of Nephi), Nephi states that he “did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us.”

Many people don’t know about the abundance of Gold, Iron, and Copper in the hills east of Chattanooga, Tennessee. We believe after Lehi landed near Apalachicola, Florida, Nephi could have fled his brothers north along the Chattahoochee River into Unicoi Gap, Georgia and traveled on the Hiawassee River to Chattanooga on the Tennessee River. Complete Nephite and Book of Mormon potential routes from Florida to New York here.

2 Nephi 5:14. He also writes, “I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.” 2 Nephi 5:15.

The necessity of ore for the Nephites was very critical for their survival. Where and when was the first gold rush in the United States? You may be surprised. It was in North Carolina and Tennessee long before the 1849 Californian Gold rush.

In 1799, gold was discovered in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, when Conrad Reed found a 17-pound “glittering stone” in Little Meadow Creek.

In 1828 Dahlonega, GA was the site of the first major gold rush in the United States.

Ducktown, TN was the center of a major copper-mining district from 1847 until 1987. The district also produced iron, sulfur and zinc as byproducts.

We understand the fervor that surrounds the finding of gold and silver. I will now speak about the lost Rhodes Gold Mine.

Rhodes Gold Mine

Thomas Rhoads, one of the earlier converts to Mormonism (1834), led the first expedition of Mormon settlers to northern California in May of 1846, whereupon arrival in October of that same year he settled near Sutter’s Fort along the Consumnes River. Thomas Rhoads then went to work for, and became a close friend of, John Augustus Sutter, famous for the discovery of gold at his mill site. Much of Rhoads’ early fortune came from mining the gold-rich fields along the Sacramento valley.

Thomas Rhoades

The Deseret News July 2 1996
In 1852, Thomas Rhoades was commissioned by President Young to salvage hidden gold known to Ute Indians. Chief Walker (Wakara) who had been baptized a member of the church, reportedly agreed to reveal the location of the gold as long as it was used exclusively for the benefit of the church. The site of the mines was called “Carre Shin Ob,” or “There dwells the Great Spirit,” Thompson recounted. Indians had no particular interest in the gold beyond their basic needs and harbored old resentments against Spanish overlords who had mined the metal at the expense of their race, he said.

Brigham Young

Walker’s conditions were that only one person at a time know where the mines were, that Indian surveillance be constant and that only as much gold be brought out each trip as the individual could carry. The death penalty was to be executed immediately if the secret got beyond the chosen person. President Young demanded in turn that Walker, whose loyalties were known to be chancy, take an oath upon the Book of Mormon to hold up his end of the bargain.

Chief Wakara (Walker)

According to the family account of Gale R. Rhoads, a grandson, Thomas made a number of trips into the mountains with an Indian guide. The gold supposedly was from mines abandoned by Spanish entrepreneurs who were in the territory before the 1776 Domin-guez/Escalante explorations.

Each of Rhoads’ trips took about two weeks, and the first load of gold, the family records say, weighed about 62 pounds. The Deseret News frequently reported his comings and goings, without details regarding gold, if any.

In the summer of 1855, Thomas had a severe illness and a son, Caleb, signed the oath and took over the job of recovering the Indian gold. When Thomas was well again, father and son took several trips together. Walker himself died in late 1855.

Caleb Rhoades

The Rhoads records say that the statue of the Angel Moroni atop the Salt Lake Temple was overlaid with the Indian gold, as were some of the trimmings inside the temple.

In December 1855, Rhoads obtained a land grant from the Territorial Legislature for a huge area known today as Kamas Valley. ” Source

MORE INFORMATION LOST RHOADES MINE

In the summer of 1855, Thomas had a severe illness and a son, Caleb, signed the oath and took over the job of recovering the Indian gold. When Thomas was well again, father and son took several trips together. Walker himself died in late 1855.

This map is the 1858 LDS land grant map. Area #4 lists Brigham Young and Thomas Rhoades as the owners. (Area 4 colored brown for clarity)

This is an overlay that I did of the old land grant map with today’s satellite image of the area.

The land grant included the Kamas Valley (originally named Rhoades valley), the drainage’s between the upper Weber River and the Upper Provo River.

While the old sketch is not a perfect match to today’s topography, you can see enough features that allow us to determine a little better the actual boundaries of the grant. The northern boundary seems to follow the Weber River right up to Mirror Lake and then down the Duchesne River to where it turns up Iron Mine Creek, across soapstone and down to Woodland on the Southside.

This map is an enlargement of area 4.

“Rhoades first came to the valley in 1859 with about twenty other Mormons including W.O. Anderson, John Turnbow, John Simpson, Morgan Lewis, Daniel Lewis, Alma Williams, Clinton Williams, Richard Venable, Richard Pangburn, John Lambert, and their families. The group clustered together in a fort near a spring on the east side of the valley for the first several years. The log fort was sixteen feet high and the fort walls formed the backs of the houses. Before the group vacated the fort, thirty-two families had lived in it. A log building in the fort’s center was used as a schoolhouse, meetinghouse, amusement hall, and center of government.”

After obtaining the grant and moving to Kamas Valley, Rhoades began to work whatever locations they had just obtained the right to in the grant. He soon fell ill and his son Caleb then took over the work for him.

“Family writings say, again, that Father Rhoads and Caleb worked gold mines on this land. Thomas also found “black minerals” in the area – coal that became part of the church mining properties.

Caleb reportedly became the largest tithe payer and one of the most generous members of the church in his almsgiving. Many eyewitnesses said they had seen his gold at various times.

After Walker’s death, his brother, Arapeen, took over Ute leadership and continued to allow Caleb Rhoads to harvest gold from the tribe’s secret store. But Arapeen’s successor, Chief Tabby, denied access.

Caleb made several covert trips to the site after this, family records say. He also petitioned the U.S. Congress for a land lease and agreed to pay the national debt in exchange. He was frustrated in part by a Utah representative to Congress, George Q. Cannon, who said Rhoads was “only an ignorant prospector and not capable of handling a $100 million deal.” In the end, the petition was denied, and the federal government eventually chartered other companies to mine in the Uintas. Government-paid geologists scouted the area and reportedly found many Spanish artifacts, smelter ruins and other signs of ancient mining. But they never found the fabled Rhoads Mine.

Caleb claimed the deposits were in unique formations not usually associated with gold. He said the geologists were looking in the wrong place. Thomas was called in the late 1850s to settle Minersville and help develop silver mines in that area. He died there in 1869.”

Mesoamerica Two Cumorah Theory

M2C means, “Mesoamerica Two Cumorah Theory”, as defined by Jonathan Neville. In other words those who believe there are two Hill Cumorah’s, one in New York where Joseph deposited the plates, and a second Hill Cumorah somewhere in Mexico where the final battles of the Nephites and Lamanites took place. YES, they really believe this!
Why?
1. They need to justify that their theory has to have happened in Mesoamerica.
2. They insist the area around NY Cumorah is too small to be a place for such disaster.
3. They claim no bones, arrowheads, iron, copper and other artifacts have ever been found near the NY Cumorah. My Proof Here
4. They believe the Cave at Hill Cumorah that Joseph entered and saw wagon loads of plates was just a dream and didn’t really happen. Blog, Other Blog
5. They believe Moroni traveled over 3,500 miles to NY to bury the plates.

John L. Sorenson begins his Preface to Mormon’s Codex: An Ancient American Book, with these observations:

“This book presents a wide array of evidence that the Book of Mormon is an ancient historical record that could only have been produced by a writer who lived in Mesoamerica (southern Mexico and northern Central America) many centuries before Spanish explorers reached that area…. Numerous theories have, of course, been proposed to correlate Book of Mormon geography with the modern map of the Americas. None of these theories have been considered definitive by authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In chapters 2 and 7, I explain why I consider only one of those theories–involving a particular area in Mesoamerica–to escape the fatal flaws exhibited by all the others.”

I suspect most readers glide right over this sleight-of-hand rhetoric. The truth, though, is that Church authorities have always made a clear distinction between fact and theory regarding Book of Mormon geography.

Fact: The Hill Cumorah is in New York. This was established as a fact in Letter VII, written by President Oliver Cowdery who was an eye-witness to the depository of Nephite records in that hill (Mormon 6:6). Joseph Smith helped write these letters, had them copied into his personal history, and endorsed their republication for the rest of his life. The fact that Cumorah is in New York has been repeated many times by Church leaders, including by members of the First Presidency speaking in General Conference. No member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve has ever repudiated this teaching of his predecessors.

Theory: Church leaders have always said don’t know for sure the locations of other Book of Mormon events, so every proposed geography other than the New York Cumorah is necessarily a theory.

All of this means that, starting right from the outset, Mormon’s Codex is propaganda, not scholarship…

Brother Sorensen also says, “There remain Latter-day Saints who insist that the final destruction of the Nephites took place in New York, but any such idea is manifestly absurd. Hundreds of thousands of Nephites traipsing across the Mississippi Valley to New York, pursued (why?) by hundred of thousands of Lamanites, is a scenario worthy only of a witless sci-fi movie, not of history.” Mormon’s Codex, p. 688…

The treatment of Cumorah in Mormon’s Codex is an illusion of scholarship, as you’ll see if you read it carefully. Here are some examples:

“In the final stage of their retreat, all the identifiable Nephites assembled near the hill Cumorah, probably Cerro El Vigia in south-central Veracruz….

When all the remaining Nephites were ‘gathered in,’ the numerically superior Lamanite horde waged battle. In a single day they exterminated all 23 units of the defenders (each nominally of 10,000 men)….

Finally, the hill where the end came for the Jaredites, who called it Ramah, and the location of the last battle of the Nephites at the same hill (they called it Cumorah), have a highly likely correspondence to Cerro El Vigia (see fig. 7.2), an outlier on the northwest of the Tuxtla Mountains. In overall location and in a dozen other features, the textual information in the Book of Mormon agrees with the geographical situation. 72″

In classic M2C citation cartel fashion, Footnote 72 (page 142) cites David A. Palmer, In Search of Cumorah (Bountiful, UT: Horizon Publishers, 1992). Brother Palmer, of course, encouraged Brother Sorenson to write his books…

Brother Palmer is the one who wrote the self-serving entry on Cumorah in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism that cites only his own book for authority, again in classic M2C citation cartel fashion. You can read my discussions of his book if you search for “David Palmer” on this blog. Brother Palmer cites the anonymous articles in the Times and Seasons for authority, while ignoring the teachings of the prophets entirely, except for a brief dismissal of Letter VII, which he doesn’t even quote.
_____

As you go through the “criteria” for Cumorah set forth in Mormon’s Codex and In Search of Cumorah, you’ll see that the criteria are derived not from the text but from the assumed Mesoamerican setting. There must be volcanoes, for example, which Mormon and Moroni forgot to mention but which Brothers Sorenson and Palmer thoughtfully provide.

As I noted at the outset, once you recognize that Mormon’s Codex is a long-winded justification for repudiating the prophets, you see the logical fallacies and circular reasoning throughout.

To be clear, I do not reject the Mesoamerican setting and I won’t until it has not been rejected by the prophets. However, I think it is implausible, given the New York Cumorah. I think the evidence from ancient North America aligns far better with the text of the Book of Mormon than the evidence from Mesoamerica, Baja, Panama, etc.

For me, the distinction between fact and theory, between the New York Cumorah and everything else, is so well established by the prophets that it is inexcusable to censor, let alone repudiate, the teachings of the prophets…

It’s a side benefit that the fact of the New York Cumorah is so well supported by available archaeology, anthropology, geography, and geology. Mormon’s Codex is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog.” Jonathan Neville Illusion of scholarship – Mormon’s Codex part 3

“Sorenson’s analysis of Alma 22 seems to be influenced by the Times and Seasons article published on 1 October 1842, which declares that the Nephite city of Zarahemla “stood upon” “Central America or Guatimala [sic].” Sorenson cites this passage from the Times and Seasons, although he recognizes the “fact that the geography question had not been settled authoritatively.”^[1] In Mormon’s Codex, Sorenson relegates the Times and Seasons articles to a footnote in support of his unequivocal conclusion: “Joseph Smith became convinced in the last years of his life that the lands of the Nephites were in Mesoamerica.”^[1]

Sorenson’s assumptions about Central America lead him to a preconceived concept of Book of Mormon geography; i.e., a narrow neck of land between two larger land masses. Perhaps he felt somewhat bound by the Times and Seasons articles and his inference that Joseph Smith agreed with them. As such, Sorenson’s work could be viewed as an effort to vindicate the Prophet’s words.” Moroni’s America by Jonathan Neville pages 26-28

You Choose-

BYU Fantasy Map?

Heartland Model Map?

There are several definitions of Latin America:

From a strict cultural and linguistic perspective, it would include all countries and territories where Romance languages — Spanish, Portuguese, French, and their creoles — are spoken.

The most common view is that Latin America includes territories in the Americas where Spanish or Portuguese prevail: Mexico and most of Central America, South America, and (per land area and population) the Caribbean. The acronym “LACRO” refers to this view. The English-speaking American countries are not considered to be part of Latin America. Territories where other Romance languages such as French (e.g., Quebec in Canada) or Kreyol (e.g. Haiti, Martinique and Guadeloupe) predominate are frequently not considered to be part of Latin America from this perspective, despite the French origins of the concept. The former Dutch colonies Suriname, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba are not considerend parts of Latin America, even though in the latter two, the predominantly Iberian-influenced language Papiamentu is spoken by the majority of the population.

Sometimes, particularly in the United States, the term “Latin America” is used to refer to all of America south of the U.S., including countries such as Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados and Suriname where non-Romance languages prevail. Conversely, it is often used in Brazil to designate the Spanish-speaking countries within this area, which are often known as Hispanic America.

Geopolitically, Latin America is divided into 20 independent countries and several dependent territories. Spanish is predominant and an official language in most Latin American countries, with the exception of Brazil where Portuguese prevails. Source

Moroni’s America Chapter 29 – Latin America and The Book of Mormon

In The Lost City of Zarahemla, I discussed the impact of the North American setting on people who live outside the United States. I suggested three ways in which native peoples in Central and South America can be Book of Mormon people.

First, they could be among the “other sheep” Christ visited. The numerous legends of a “white God” and other elements of a Biblical nature could be attributable to such visits, even though there are no records extant.

Second, the “Hinterlands” theory suggests that descendants of Lamanites migrated southward.

Third, the Jaredite civilization, which came from Asia, expanded throughout the continent. As I wrote there, “In some respect, the Book of Ether is largely forgotten as a history of the inhabitants of the American continent, probably because of a widely held perception in the Church that the Jaredites were completely killed off, leaving only a sole survivor to meet the Mulekites. I propose that this notion is incorrect and that the Jaredites are at least one of the sources of the Asian DNA found in indigenous Latin Americans.” Moroni’s America Chapter 29 – Latin America and The Book of Mormon

“Concluding as I have that the Mesoamerican theory originated out of misplaced missionary zeal (or a focus on the hinterlands), I was curious about what a “correct” geography would look, like. The work of Sorenson and others has been invaluable in this pursuit-but it led me to a much different conclusion. Sorenson’s work excludes Mesoamerica as a viable setting for the Book of Mormon.  “The Lost City of Zarahemla” by Jonathan Neville page 357

John Sorensen also denies the Heartland model by saying, “There remain Latter-day Saints who insist that the final destruction of the Nephites took place in New York, but any such idea is manifestly absurd. Hundreds of thousands of Nephites traipsing across the Mississippi Valley to New York, pursued (why?) by hundreds of thousands of Lamanites, is a scenario worthy only of a witless sci-fi movie, not of history.” John L. Sorenson, Mormon’s Codex (Deseret Book, 2013), p. 688.

“Hinterlands is defined here as meaning the unknown area of North and South America that are not within the scope of the writings of the Book of Mormon. In other words, since we believe main events of the Book of Mormon happened in a limited area of North America around the Great Lakes in the east, and Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri to the west, and south in Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, and Florida, all other areas will be discussed as “The Hinterlands”. We propose that Mesoamerica is the Hinterlands along with many other areas of the continent. As Mormon has said, “…I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people (Words of Mormon 1:5). There are many people in South and Central America that are Lamanites and part of the Hinterlands.” Jonathan Neville

“From a theological perspective, there is another way to address the question of Lamanites and Latin America.

In 3 Nephi 16, the Lord gave an extended sermon about the “lost sheep of Israel,” the Gentiles, and the house of Israel. There are several key points.

1. The Lord said he had “other sheep which are not of this land.” If, as I propose, “this land” refers to North America, then Christ could have been referring to people in Mesoamerica and South America, as well as anywhere else in the world. The heading to the chapter refers to the “lost sheep of Israel,” but the text itself does not use that phrase. In fact, according to Mosiah 26:21, “he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep and him shall ye receive into the church and him will I also receive.” This suggests that the “sheep” in 3 Nephi 16 were not necessarily of the house of Israel, but anyone who hears the Lord’s voice. The Lord’s sheep could be Mesoamericans, Asians, Africans—anyone.

2. The Lord’s sayings were to be kept and manifested unto the Gentiles, “that through the fullness of the Gentiles” the remnant of their seed—meaning the Lord’s people at Jerusalem, or the Jews—may be brought to a knowledge of their Redeemer, and thereby be gathered.

3. The truth was to come unto the Gentiles, who were to scatter the Lord’s people who are of the house of Israel. The Europeans did scatter the tribes from Eastern North America (through the Removal Act of 1830 and the many treaties that placed them on reservations), but the indigenous people in Latin America still live where they always have.

4. At a future date, the Gentiles would rebel. “At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fullness of my gospel,” the Lord will bring the fullness of the gospel from among them. And then he will remember his covenant with the house of Israel. So it seems consistent with the scriptures for the gospel to be taken to the Gentiles—including the people in Latin America—before it is taken to the descendants of the people to whom the Lord was speaking; i.e., the Lamanites. At this point—still future—the Lord says:

12 And I will show unto thee, O house of Israel, that the Gentiles shall not have power over you; but I will remember my covenant unto you, O house of Israel, and ye shall come unto the knowledge of the fullness of my gospel.

13 But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.

14 And I will not suffer my people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down, saith the Father.

15 But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of my people, O house of Israel.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, thus hath the Father commanded me—that I should give unto this people this land for their inheritance.

At the end of this sermon, the Lord told the people, “I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. Therefore, go ye unto your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father in my name that ye may understand.” (3 Nephi 17: 1-2) That advice applies to us today as well. (My novel, The Rule of Equity, proposes one possible way the promises in chapters 16 and 20 of 3 Nephi could be fulfilled.)

The Lord did resume this sermon, starting with 3 Nephi 20:10. In verse 22, he explains, “this people will I establish in this land . . . and it shall be a New Jerusalem.”

The New Jerusalem, of course, will be in Jackson County, Missouri” Moroni’s America Chapter 29 – Latin America and The Book of Mormon

“During Zion’s Camp while in Illinois, and Missouri, the prophet Joseph Smith said, “ …Wandering over the plains of the Nephites, recounting occasionally the history of the Book of Mormon, roving over the mounds of that once beloved people of the Lord, picking up their skulls & their bones, as a proof of its divine authenticity…”  This cannot mean that while Joseph was picking up the bones of Nephites in Illinois that he was referring to divine authenticity of a Mesoamerica record.” Jonathan Neville

Learn more about the Hinterlands here: https://www.bofm.blog/the-hinterland-lamanites-in-the-americas/

Learn why Prophets mention the Children of Lehi in South and Central American Temple dedications here https://www.bofm.blog/temple-dedicatory-prayers-lamanites-in-south-central-north-america-2/

I think it is a great time in life to stop trying to avoid trials. “Trials Happen” Trials are necessary for spiritual growth. If you have never had trials and challenges how can you ever appreciate the great things in your life. There must be an opposite in all things.

Of course I do know quite a few people who don’t seemingly have many trials. They have money, a happy marriage, a great job and seem happy in life. If having these great things and yet having no trials, I don’t think anyone could have as good of a life to come, without some trials to overcome. The more we have a challenge and overcome it, the more we learn on our path to Godhood.

Believe me, I don’t ask God for trials but they just keep coming which I am grateful for. I have a wonderful Aunt Beth who always said to me “I never worry when I have a trial, I worry when I don’t have one, as they strengthen my testimony.”

Try this experiment. Next time you have a trial, stop for a moment and say. Thank you Lord for this trial. What is it I can learn from it? You can either get closer to the Lord or further from Him. It’s your choice.

This past conference was wonderful. I loved Elder Holland’s and President Nelson’s talks below. Here is a small portion of them.

Waiting on the Lord

By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Oct 2020

Faith means trusting God in good times and bad, even if that includes some suffering until we see His arm revealed in our behalf.

My beloved brothers and sisters, we are all eager—no one more than I—to hear concluding remarks from our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. This has been a marvelous conference, but it is the second time that COVID-19 has altered our traditional proceedings. We are so tired of this contagion, we feel like tearing our hair out. And apparently, some of my Brethren have already taken that course of action. Please know that we do pray constantly for those who have been affected in any way, especially for any who have lost loved ones. Everyone agrees that this has gone on much, much too long.

How long do we wait for relief from hardships that come upon us? What about enduring personal trials while we wait and wait, and help seems so slow in coming? Why the delay when burdens seem more than we can bear?…

COVID and cancer, doubt and dismay, financial trouble and family trials. When will these burdens be lifted? The answer is “by and by.”¹⁷ And whether that be a short period or a long one is not always ours to say, but by the grace of God, the blessings will come to those who hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ. That issue was settled in a very private garden and on a very public hill in Jerusalem long ago…” Jeffrey R. Holland

A New Normal

By President Russell M. Nelson President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Oct 2020

I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ…

We live in a glorious age, foreseen by prophets for centuries. This is the dispensation when no spiritual blessing will be withheld from the righteous.¹ Despite the world’s commotion,² the Lord would have us look forward to the future “with joyful anticipation.”³ Let us not spin our wheels in the memories of yesterday. The gathering of Israel moves forward. The Lord Jesus Christ directs the affairs of His Church, and it will achieve its divine objectives.

The challenge for you and me is to make certain that each of us will achieve his or her divine potential. Today we often hear about “a new normal.” If you really want to embrace a new normal, I invite you to turn your heart, mind, and soul increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Let that be your new normal.

Embrace your new normal by repenting daily. Seek to be increasingly pure in thought, word, and deed. Minister to others. Keep an eternal perspective. Magnify your callings. And whatever your challenges, my dear brothers and sisters, live each day so that you are more prepared to meet your Maker.⁴ (Pres Russell M Nelson color and italics added)

Elder Holland compares pornography to COVID-19 in address to Utah Coalition Against Pornography

By Rachel Sterzer Gibson Updated12 SEP 202012:00 PM MDT

Four years ago, in addressing the Utah Coalition Against Pornography’s annual conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke of the need to view the threat posed by pornography like “a public health crisis; like an infectious, fatal epidemic; like a moral plague on the body politic that is maiming the lives of our citizens.”

In offering the keynote address at that same conference on Sept. 12 — this time delivered remotely due to precautions for COVID-19 — Elder Holland said, “Well, I guess we’d better be careful what metaphors we use because we have been given such a plague.” 

The UCAP’s annual conference, called the Rally for Hope and Healing, was held at the Burns Arena on the Dixie State University campus in Southern Utah. In his remarks, which were livestreamed to participants in St. George and elsewhere, Elder Holland outlined the “striking similarities between pornography and COVID-19” and offered hope and encouragement to the “foot soldiers in the war against pandemics, whether of the body or the mind.”Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve speaks at the 14th annual Utah Coalition Against Pornography held in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 12, 2016. Credit: Courtesy UCAP

“As we conquer COVID-19 — and we will — may we be equally committed right now to conquering this other pandemic and free the world from the plague of pornography,” he declared.

In the first of his comparisons between COVID-19 and porn, Elder Holland explained that the coronavirus spreads through small, imperceptible droplets in the air. Those who are infected with the small particles — 1,000 times smaller than a grain of sand — may not initially recognize the danger and therefore “may or may not have taken appropriate precautions against this seemingly ubiquitous aggressor.”

“This sounds eerily like the infection of pornography,” Elder Holland said. “Exposure begins through small, simple, visual droplets about which even the victim may not fully appreciate the danger.” Sadly, “the little pornographic germs” are pervasive — television, movies, checkout counters, cell phones and iPads — so that exposure goes on and on.

While washing hands, using sanitizer, wearing a mask and observing social distancing can help protect against COVID-19, “pornography does not know how to be clean or to be masked or to keep any distance at all,” the Church leader said.  

And while there is hope for the development of some form of inoculation to COVID-19, “I am not aware of a wonder drug coming to counter pornography, so we must conquer it another way,” he said.

Elder Holland then explained “more than you ever wanted to know about these two plagues.” Once in the body, COVID-19 forms spikes on its surface that contain three elements that help the virus access the ACE2 receptors of cells. After attaching, the virus deposits its genetic material inside the cell and quickly replicates itself until the cell bursts.

Like COVID-19’s “sticky” spikes, pornography has three elements that make it a particularly contagious disease. Quoting Dr. Al Cooper, Elder Holland explained that those three elements are accessibility, affordability and anonymity. Due to its widespread accessibility, porn’s onslaught is constant. “And because porn is available for free on a variety of internet-enabled devices, it is available to any viewer whenever and wherever he or she wants it — usually the darkest and most private hour and location possible, allowing it to be viewed anonymously in most cases.”

What of the impact of “these two plagues?” Elder Holland asked. COVID-19’s impact varies, though it is generally worse for those over 60. Some will never know they had it while others end up on a respirator, having their blood artificially oxygenated, or dying from the disease. “These victims can no longer rely on their own natural capabilities. Instead, they must live artificially to survive from day to day.”

In contrast, no one escapes pornography unscathed as some might with COVID-19, and it reverses its audience — attacking the young more viciously than the elderly. “Like COVID-19’s worst victims, pornography takes what is normal and natural and makes it artificial for everyone who uses it. Because it rewires the neural pathways in your brain, to leave it will require constant monitoring of your thoughts and feelings, not unlike the greatest monitoring of the lungs or blood of COVID-19 patients,” he said.

Both COVID-19 and pornography create a form of social distancing, he continued, where family and friends feel powerless. But where COVID-19’s isolation is compelled by public officials, porn’s isolation is voluntary, stemming from a fear of being found out. “Unfortunately, users think that when they use it in isolation that they can restrain the contagion like someone in quarantine does for COVID-19,” he said. “Yet this isolation only perpetuates the disease instead of isolating it.”

Pornography distorts the very nature of love, he said, which is as important to a fully functioning human as the cells that make up the body. Calling COVID-19 “a destructive, intracellular parasite,” Elder Holland explained that the virus hijacks a cell’s reproduction machinery and relentlessly replicates itself until the host cell bursts from the buildup of the viruses.

“Similarly,” he said, “when pornography hijacks our love and emotions unnaturally, we struggle to replicate them naturally.” He then quoted Dr. Gail Dines who said, “In porn[ography], sex is not about making love. The feelings and emotions we normally associate with such an act — connection, empathy, tenderness, caring, affection — are missing. In their place are those emotions we normally associate with hate — fear, disgust, anger, loathing and contempt.”

For those who give illicitly only part of that which cannot be followed with the gift of their whole heart, Elder Holland warned, “is its own form of emotional Russian roulette. If they persist in sharing part without the whole, in pursuing satisfaction devoid of loyalty and love, giving parts and pieces and inflamed fragments only, they run the terrible risk of such spiritual, psychic damage that they may undermine both their physical intimacy and their wholehearted devotion to those who love them most — in reality, not virtually.”

Recognizing that many in the audience have “deeply personal hopes,” Elder Holland said, “Because God does work in this world, we can hope — we should hope — even when facing the most insurmountable odds. … We all need to believe that what we desire in righteousness can someday, someway, somehow yet be ours.”

With COVID-19, there is hope for a vaccine. “As we have learned with flu and other vaccines, they are not always perfect. Similarly, efforts to protect yourself, your spouse, child, family member, or other associate from pornography may be successful by degrees.”

Elder Holland recognized that those who struggle will need help. “For the kind of painful loneliness that some suffer here today, the best help always comes from heaven.”

Look forward with faith and courage, he said. “Do not replicate the longing look of Lot’s wife back to Sodom and Gomorrah. That leads to salty, bitter experiences. It does not matter whether you are looking back for grief, pain, desire, or some other reason. Learn from the past, but don’t wallow in it,” he said.

Many years ago, a young heart surgeon — Dr. Russell M. Nelson — operated on two siblings, but, despite his best efforts, he lost them both. Although he was ready to quit, his wife Dantzel explained that if he quit, someone would have to learn what he already learned, which would take a long time and result in the loss of additional lives in the process.   

“Part of life is coming up against obstacles such as pornography and pandemics and conquering them, destructive as they are,” Elder Holland said. “Some problems are of our own making, and others simply happen to us. We face what we must face, and we persevere. It means squaring our shoulders and stiffening our back and staying with a virtuous effort.”

Use pains, temptations and traumas, Elder Holland told listeners. “Harness them as a moving force to be better, to become better. Allow God-given gifts to come out in you. When you are a creator, you focus more on the positive and less on the things that are destroying or hurting you.  Let your pain lead you to your Heavenly Father who loves you.”

Elder Holland said he is not oblivious to the fact that this is a “wrenching, terribly harrowing problem.” Many have been trying to help themselves or others battle this demon for years.

“In some sense, we are all distant spectators to one another,” he said. “Not one of us has suffered what the other has suffered. However, I believe there is One who has. Each person will have to counsel and pray and work through that with Him. We cannot live without hope. Every one of you needs to have hope. Christ Jesus gives us that hope because in some incredible way, He has in effect been where you have been and felt what you have felt.”

The Lord will always bless those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them. “If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going,” Elder Holland said. “If you fall, summon His strength. Get back up. Call out like one did, ‘O Jesus, … have mercy on me’ (Alma 36:18).” 

Christ will help individuals repent, repair, fix whatever needs to be fixed and keep going. “Soon enough you will have the success you seek,” he said.

When others try and ban certain words or wont listen to another’s opinion they are turning this Miracle we call America upside down. Whenever there is disagreement we should have more dialogue, not less. Banning words or phrases or books is a terrible way the progressives use today to take away our God-given rights.

Plead for America

“I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people, and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God… this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer… We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God… We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth, and must defend the cause of honor, decency, and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln, and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God… Please look for the Lord’s hand in your lives and in the lives of your family, as I do in the lives of my ancestors and family,” he said. “Expect it. Do not dismiss it. Do not relegate the experiences in your lives to coincidences. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776 through the signing of the U.S. Constitution in September 1787, the “wise men” whom the Lord “raised up unto this very purpose… As an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I have a solemn duty to face the Lord and deliver His message,” said President Ballard. “His words often include words of encouragement and expressions of love. They also include words of warning. America and the nations of the earth, as in times past, “are at another crossroad… Let it begin today that we take leadership and reach out in our own prayers and encourage our neighbors, our friends, our families … to pray for this country that we all love much.”  President Ballard pleads with Latter-day Saints to ‘pray for this country’ as United States is at ‘another crossroad by Sarah Jane Weaver church News. Link here: https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders-and-ministry/2019-10-21/pray-for-the-united-states-its-leaders-and-its-family-president-ballard-pleads-164797

“…in culmination of the grand scheme of schemes, this great nation, the Republic of the United States, might be established upon this land as an asylum for the oppressed; a resting place, it might be said, for the Ark of the covenant, where the temple of our God might be built; where the plan of salvation might be introduced and practiced in freedom, and not a dog would wag his tongue in opposition to the purposes of the Almighty. We believe that this was His object in creating the Republic of the United States; the only land where his work could be commenced or the feet of his people find rest. No other land had such liberal institutions, had adopted so broad a platform upon which all men might stand. We give glory to those patriots for the noble work they did; but we give the first glory to God, our Father and their Father, who inspired them. We take them by the hand as brothers. We believe they did nobly their work, even as we would fain do ours, faithfully and well, that we might not be recreant in the eyes of God, for failing to perform the mission to which He has appointed us.” Bishop Orson F. Whitney, delivered in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, April 19, 1885. Reported by John Irvine. Journal Discourses Volume 26  Page 201

Mark E. Petersen said: “You from other lands don’t need to become jealous of America. Who is jealous of Palestine, where Jesus was born? We are not jealous of the country; we merely recognize the hand of God in sending him there. We must also recognize the hand of God in sending the gospel to this land. We learn to love America because it is God’s land!

Celebrating First Amendment Rights

Religious Freedom Day is celebrated in America each year on January 16 — the date of the 1786 passage of Thomas Jefferson’s Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. That measure ended the state-established church in Virginia and for the first time placed all denominations on the same legal footing. That act fully protected the right of religious conscience — one of the first rights protected in America. As John Quincy Adams affirmed, “The transcendent and overruling principle of the first settlers of New England was conscience.”

When America became an independent nation, the first state constitutions similarly protected the rights of religious conscience, such as that of North Carolina:

That all men have a natural and unalienable right to worship Almighty God, according to the dictates of their own conscience. Source

73% Say Freedom of Speech Worth Dying For

Rasmussen Reports Wednesday, August 23, 2017.
73% Say Freedom of Speech Worth Dying For

Americans agree freedom of speech is under assault but strongly insist that they are prepared to defend that freedom even at the cost of their lives if necessary.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that an overwhelming 85% of American Adults think giving people the right to free speech is more important than making sure no one is offended by what others say. Just eight percent (8%) think it’s more important to make sure no one gets offended. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This shows little change from past surveying. Eighty-three percent (83%) think it is more important for the United States to guarantee freedom of speech than it is to make sure nothing is done to offend other nations and cultures. Seventy-three percent (73%) agree with the famous line by the 18th century French author Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.” Only 10% disagree with that statement, but 17% are undecided.

Among Americans who agree with Voltaire, 93% rate freedom of speech as more important than making sure no one is offended. That compares to just 69% of those who disagree with the French author’s maxim.

The national survey of 1,000 American Adults was conducted on August 17 & 20, 2017 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

Just 28% of Americans believe they have true freedom of speech today, and most think the country is too politically correct.

There is rare partisan agreement on freedom of speech. Most Americans regardless of political affiliation agree that they would defend someone’s right to say something even if they don’t agree with it, although Democrats are slightly less sure than Republicans and those not affiliated with either major party. The majority across the political spectrum also agree that free speech is more important than making sure no one’s offended.

Generally speaking, most adults across the demographic board agree. Blacks (65%) are just slightly less likely than whites (75%) and other minorities (73%) to say they’d defend to the death someone’s right to free speech if they don’t agree with them.

Men are more supportive of the statement that women are.

Voters rate freedom of speech as even more important than other basic constitutional rights such as religious freedom, freedom of the press and the right to bear arms

After conservative pundit Ann Coulter was forced to cancel a planned speech at University of California, Berkeley, in the late spring following protests and threats of violence by some students. 44% of Americans said there is less freedom of speech on U.S. college campuses today than there has been in the past. Nearly half (47%) also believe most college administrators and professors are more interested in getting students to agree with certain politically correct points of view rather than in a free exchange of ideas.

In May, just 19% of voters felt that the United States should erase symbols of its past history that are out of line with current sentiments.

Despite calls by some politicians and the media for erasing those connected to slavery from U.S. history, voters strongly believe it’s better to learn from the past than erase it.

Just 20% of Americans say it is better for owners of social media like Facebook and Twitter to regulate what is posted to make sure some people are not offended.

Banned Words by FG

Posted here June 29, 2015

It’s in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, for goodness sakes: “Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech . . .” Is there anyone who doesn’t understand what that means? It means as a free American citizen I can say whatever I want (as long as my words don’t lead to the physical harm of others — like shouting “fire” in a movie theater, for example). My thoughts and words are not controlled by the government. I am free to say whatever I wish.

Yet, there are colleges and universities across the country compiling lists of words students must not use, phrases that are forbidden, and all sorts of rules about what can and can not be spoken. These, mind you, are the institutions intended to be forums of debate; they’re where issues are expected to be argued back and forth. These are the institutions that now wish to squelch any comment they disagree with.

The First Amendment wasn’t provided to protect uncontroversial speech. There’s no need to protect that; it’s uncontroversial. The First Amendment was expressly provided to protect uncomfortable, disagreeable, and contentious speech.

A list of 100 politically correct words and phrases:

1. Homosexual  –                 Gay
2. Homeless –                       Outdoor urban dwellers
3. Insane –                             Reality challenged
4. Perverted –                        Sexually dysfunctional
5. Prostitute –                        Sex worker / Sex care provider
6. Stupid –                              Intellectually impaired / Unschooled
7. Dishonest –                        Ethically disorientated
8. Dustbin Man –                  Sanitation Engineer
9. Insult –                               Emotional rape
10. Bisexual prostitute –       Equal opportunity prostitute
11. Poor –                                 Economically marginalised
12. Immigrant –                      Newcomer
13. Illegal immigrant –          Irregular immigrant / undocumented worker
14. Right wing protest –        Riot
15. Left wing riot –                 Protest
16. Drunk –                              Inebriated / chemically inconvenienced
17. Terrorist –                         Freedom fighter / rebel / protester / insurgent
18. Global warming –            Climate change
19. Job losses –                       Job restructuring
20. Criminal –                         Behaviourally challenged
21. Broken Home –                Dysfunctional family
22. Caretaker –                        Site engineer
23. Fat –                                    Metabolic overachiever
24. Slum area –                        Economically deprived area
25. Foreign food –                   Ethnic cuisine
26. Housewife –                       Domestic engineer
27. Jungle –                              Rain forest
28. Natural disaster –             Global warming incident
29. Sex change –                      Gender reassignment
30. Tramp –                              Homeless person
31. Unemployed –                   Economically inactive
32. Preferential treatment  Affirmative action
33. Racist –                               Someone who disagrees with the far-left
34. Nazi –                                  Someone who disagrees with the far-left
35. Fascist –                              Someone who disagrees with the far-left
36. Husband –                          Partner
37. Wife –                                  Partner
38. Dictator –                            Leader who refuses to obey the UK government
39. Tyrant –                              Leader who refuses to obey the UK government
40. Regime –                             Government that refuses to obey UK government
41. Crime rate –                        Street activity index
42. Robbery –                            Wealth redistribution
43. Vomiting –                          Unplanned re-examination of recent food choices
44. Lying –                                 Economical with the truth
45. Wanted criminal –             Person of interest
46. Patriot –                               Troublemaker / pest / nuisance / agitator
47. Promiscuous –                    Sex addict
48. Chairman –                         Chairperson / Chair
49. Fireman –                            Firefighter
50.  Merry Christmas –            Season’s Greetings
51. Blackboard –                       Chalkboard
52. Illegal voter –                      Undocumented voter
53. Bribe –                                  Public service bonus
54. Christmas –                         Winter Festival
55. Lies –                                    Alternative facts
56. Printing money –               Quantitative easing
57. Immigrants –                      Labour supporters
58. Illegal subletting –             Irregular subletting
59. Shoplifting –                       Irregular shopping
60. Black sheep –                      Outcast
61. Blackmail –                          Extortion
62. Postman –                            Mail carrier
63. Manhole –                            Utility hole
64. Blacklisted –                        Banned
65. Murder –                              Unauthorised termination of life
66. Rational fear –                    Phobia
67. Uneducated –                      Unschooled / Lacking a formal education
68. Flip chart –                          Easel (Flip is a derogatory word for Filipinos)
69. Mexican –                            Hispanic
70. Dustman –                           Sanitation engineer
71. Ghetto –                               Economically deprived area
72. Housewife –                        Domestic engineer
73. Illegal aliens –                    Undocumented migrants
74. Ugly –                                   Visually unfavourable
75. Lazy –                                   Motivationally deficient
76. Unemployed –                    Unintentionally at leisure / non-waged
77. Smelly –                               Nasally disturbing
78. Best man for the job –      Best person for the job
79. Man in the street –            Average person
80. Waitress –                           Server
81. Failure –                             Non-traditional success
82. Forefathers –                      Ancestors
83. Man-made –                       Artificial
84. Manpower –                       Human resources
85. Mankind –                          Humanity
86. Right-hand man –             Chief assistant
87. Christian name –               Forename
88. Sportsmanship –               Fairness
89. Tax man –                           Tax officer
90. Workmanlike  –                 Efficient
91. Steward –                            Flight attendant
92. Stewardess –                       Flight attendant
93. Deaf –                                   Hearing impairment
94. Disease –                             Disorder
95. Businessman –                   Business person
96. Actress –                              Actor
97. Manageress –                      Manager
98. Spinster –                            Bachelorette
99. White lie –                           Lie
100. Plastic surgery –                 Cosmetic surgery

Britons have been gagged by political correctness.

The British National Party believes in freedom of speech and also believes that criticism and dissent are essential in a democracy.

The far-left uses slur words against their political opponents because they have lost the argument.

The story of Joseph (of Egypt’s) brothers placing him in a pit then selling him as a slave to the passing Midianites is recorded in the Hebrew Scriptural account in the book of Genesis:

  
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, “The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?” And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, “This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.” And he knew it, and said, “It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.” (Genesis 37:29-33)

The same story is told with an additional detail in the Book of Jasher: Joseph’s coat is first torn, then dipped in the blood of a goat:

 

And Issachar said unto them: ‘Here is an advice for you, if it seem good in your eyes to do this thing—Take the coat which belongeth to Joseph and tear it, and kill a kid of the goats and dip it in its blood, and send it to our father;’” “And they hastened and took Joseph’s coat and tore it, and they killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood of the kid, and then trampled it in the dust, and they sent the coat to their father Jacob…” (Jasher 43:10; 13;

 

The significance of the torn coat is the symbolism of being rent, or separated by force into parts, and is associated with mourning, grief, and loss. The tearing of Joseph’s coat was symbolic of the House of Israel being torn apart by the actions of Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery. However, a portion of the torn coat was preserved and given to Jacob.

The Book of Mormon, published in 1830, includes a story in the book of Alma regarding Captain Moroni invoking the symbol of Joseph’s torn garment. He uses that symbol to motivate his people “to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain” (Alma 46:23). The opposite of being a slave is having liberty. Moroni was aware of Joseph’s coat being torn [rent] from source records other than the Holy Bible and invokes this symbol of being “sold” as a slave to making a covenant for liberty.

Here we have an example of the Book of Jasher providing additional facts that are corroborated by modern scripture and the corollary—that the Book of Mormon contains an identical detail not available in published records. The Sefer haYasher manuscript (the Book of Jasher), found in the ruins of Jerusalem during its destruction in 70 A.D. then translated into English in 1840, contains this important detail in the Book of Mormon:

 

Moroni said unto them: “Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—‘Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.’” (Alma 46:23-24) By David Hocking Executive Editor of the Annotated Edition of the Book of Mormon.

See My Blog Liberty vs Evil Here

Moroni Raises ‘The Title of Liberty’

Alma 46: 11 And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah. 12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat, and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it: In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom and our peace, our wives and our children. And he fastened it upon the end of a pole. 13 And he fastened on his headplate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins, and he took the pole which had on the end thereof his rent coat, and he called it, ‘The Title of Liberty’. And he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land. 14 For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the Church of God, called by those who did not belong to the Church. 15 And those who did belong to the Church were faithful, yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ or Christians, as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come. 16 And therefore, at this time Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land might be favored.

George Washington’s Title of Liberty Did You Know?

“While the trueborn Sons of America, animated by the genuine Principles of Liberty and Love of their Country, with increasing Union, Firmness and Discipline repel every Attack, and despise every Danger… Come then, my Brethren, unite with us in an indissoluble Union, let us run together to the same Goal.—We have taken up Arms in Defence of our Liberty, our Property, our Wives, and our Children, we are determined to preserve them, or die. We look forward with Pleasure to that Day not far remote (we hope) when the Inhabitants of America shall have one Sentiment, and the full Enjoyment of the Blessings of a free Government… Incited by these Motives, and encouraged by the Advice of many Friends of Liberty among you, the Grand American Congress have sent an Army into your Province, under the Command of General Schuyler; not to plunder, but to protect you; to animate, and bring forth into Action those Sentiments of Freedom you have disclosed, and which the Tools of Despotism would extinguish through the whole Creation…” Quoted in Annotated Book of Mormon by Meldrum and Hocking. Source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 1, 16 June 1775?–?15 September 1775, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia [1985], 461–463.

As I think of the Prophet Joseph Smith translating the plates I am imagining the many things on his mind as he translates. What does “by the spirit and power of God” mean? I don’t think Joseph is reading some English words from a rock in a hat. I think he is “translating” meaning as the dictionary says, “the rendering of something into another language or into one’s own from another language.” Dictionary.com

I think this is an interesting definition of translation. “Translation has been used by humans for centuries, beginning after the appearance of written literature. Modern-day translators use sophisticated tools and technologies to accomplish their work, and rely heavily on software applications to simplify and streamline their tasks.” GALA

I would replace the words sophisticated tools, technologies, and software application to mean by the “gift and power of god”. In other words something very difficult to do or almost impossible to do without God’s help.

I don’t think some angel or the Lord were providing the English words to make it easy for Joseph. I believe the Lord tells us to use all our resources and try our best and after we have done all we can and feel we can’t go further, then and only then will the Lord step in. I don’t believe the Lord uses magic, ever!

My main point for this blog is to show that the surroundings where Joseph Smith lived and translated possibly influenced Joseph to help him translate. As Jonathan Neville explains it, Joseph used the information in his own “personal metal bank account” to explain what he saw on the plates. The surroundings of Joseph obviously assisted him to see things around him that helped explain translation. Especially when Joseph described what Lehi or Nephi saw during the dream of the tree of life. In other words what did Joseph see around him that made Lehi’s dream more familiar as he translated. How could Joseph put into words the amazing tree of life vision without being able to visualize the lakes, trees, streams, and wilderness that surrounded Joseph.

OVERVIEW:

“The Book of Mormon’s opening book of 1 Nephi presents a dream/vision in which prophets describe a detailed scene involving a narrow path with an iron rod, leading to the tree of life laden with the most desirable fruit. A river that is both good and bad flows alongside, on the other side of which is seen a large, high building filled with the proud people of the world. The scene is fraught with physical and spiritual peril. All of these elements are met efficiently and conspicuously in a scenario that Joseph Smith experienced in and around Rochester, New York, at the specific time when he dictated this text. In the Book of Mormon vision of the iron rod and the tree of life, Nephi’s father Lehi “. . . beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.” l Nephi 8:26-27.” Rick Grunder Page 1367

In the Book of Mormon dream of the iron rod beside the narrow path leading to the tree of life, Nephi’s father Lehi was led through “a dark and dreary wilderness.” The dismal passage continued “for the space of many hours” until Lehi “began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me . . .” (1 Nephi 8:4, 8). Joseph Smith dictated that vision text while he lived at the Whitmer farm in Fayette, Seneca County, New York; see MP 350 (Reynolds Arcade) for discussion. The Whitmers, like all farmers in that vicinity, were acutely aware of the vast Cayuga or Montezuma Marshes nearby . . .

“By 1790,” explained local historian John W. Wells, “thousands of settlers” could be seen migrating westward to vast tracts of land opened for farming and development in central and western New York. Of three principal migration routes, the most important was the “Great Genesee Road . . . extended to Buffalo by 1800, and for 30 years until the completion of the Erie Canal . . . the main artery of traffic across the state.” (Wells, 2). On this “cleared track about 30 feet wide,” Lucy Mack Smith and her boys drove their team and wagon to Palmyra in the eighteen-teens. Along the way, they experienced something no traveler could forget: the longest bridge in America, more than a mile in length, set on pilings across the shallow northern end of the “one major obstacle on this natural route to the Genesee country. This was Cayuga Lake. To the north of the lake extended the dread Montezuma marshes and other treacherous and pestilent swamps nearly to the shores of Lake Ontario.” (Wells, 2; see map further below)

“Moscheto Point,” observed Horatio Gates Spafford wryly in 1824, “at the mouth of the Owasco Outlet, on the N. boundary of Mentz, is well named.” The town of Mentz then included the village of Montezuma which is seen in the map above. Spafford’s description continued with an unusual observation which deserves at least passing notice in the context of Lehi’s dream . . .
—There is a very large hollow Buttonwood Tree, in this town, in which ‘Elder Smith, preached’ to 35 persons, at a time, and says the tree could have held 15 more: he says its circumference, 3 feet from the ground, is 33 feet; and a Correspondent informs me it measures ‘more than 17 feet diameter.'”
[Spafford, 314, emphasis in the original] Spafford knew of only one tree in the entire state which was slightly larger.

The giant buttonwood (sycamore) he described near the marshes did not likely bear white fruit like that of Lehi’s tree, but it dramatized two elements of relevance here: first, the prominence of trees in the minds of early settlers of New York State at the time, and second, the association of such a noticeable tree with spiritual protection – the faithful believers worshipping in the shelter of the massive trunk. If this connection seems tangential, it is at least as notable as one Book of Mormon defender’s efforts to connect the dream of Lehi with ancient Egyptian precedents which praised this very kind of tree in the Book of the Dead (“Hail, sycamore tree of the goddess Nut. Grant thou to me of the water and the air which are in thee.” Quoted in Griggs, 273).

The general geography near the Whitmer farm presents yet another element of Lehi’s dream: a mental image of emerging (while hiking or while riding on the Erie Canal) from a dismal wasteland onto spacious, open fields. Mentz, with its giant tree, lay on the eastern edge of the marshes, in Cayuga County, and boasted 8,642 acres of improved land worked by 673 farmers who owned 2,746 head of cattle, 500 horses, 6,079 sheep, and produced nearly 28,000 yards of cloth (Spafford, 314; published 1824). 1036 Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source © 2014 Rick Grunder

“In the Book of Mormon vision of the iron rod and the tree of life, Nephi’s father Lehi “. . . beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their mannerof dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking andpointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of thefruit.” l Nephi 8:26-27.

What images might Joseph Smith have seen in his mind while dictating these words? How might he have related to the iron rod dream? Elements of this story include:

– darkness and feelings of desperation (1 Nephi 8:4, 7-8, 23; 12:17)
– a dark and dreary wasteland (1 Nephi 8:7)
– a large and spacious field (1 Nephi 8:9)
– a tree with desirable fruit of unsurpassed sweetness and whiteness (1 Nephi 8:10-11)
– a river of water (1 Nephi 8:13); a “fountain of filthy water . . . yea, even the river . . .” (1 Nephi 12:16); “a great and a terrible gulf” which divides the people in the building from the righteous who are seeking the tree of life (1 Nephi 12:18); equated with the river of water, representing filthiness, “an awful gulf, which separated the wicked from the tree of life, and also from the saints of God.” (1 Nephi 15:27-28); even a representation of hell itself (1 Nephi 15:29).
– a rod of iron extending along the bank of the river (1 Nephi 8:19); defined as “the word of God” (1 Nephi 15:24)
– “a strait and narrow path which came along by the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:20)
– “numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path . . .” (1 Nephi 8:21)
– mists of darkness (1 Nephi 8:23)
– “a great and spacious building” “on the other side of the river,” which “stood as it were in the air, high above the earth . . . filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers . . .” (1 Nephi 8:26-27); defined as “the pride of the world” (1 Nephi 11:36) and “vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men” (1 Nephi 12:18)
– ridiculed persons who “fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.” (1 Nephi 8:28)
– “other multitudes feeling their way towards that great and spacious building.”
(1 Nephi 8:31)
– a great multitude that entered “that strange building” and “did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit . . .” (1 Nephi 8:33)
– many people who “were drowned in the depths of the fountain . . .” (1 Nephi 8:32)
– many people “wandering in strange roads.” (1 Nephi 8:32)
– “broad roads” into which people were led, to their moral destruction (1 Nephi 12:17)”

From Page 1368 Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source © 2014 Rick Grunder

IN THE LATE 1820s, the cheapest and least bone-jarring way to travel across New York State was by the Erie Canal. It was the wonder of the age, built at tremendous cost. Among the most challenging obstacles to its construction in the region around Palmyra had been the Cayuga or Montezuma Marshes north of Fayette, and the formidable Genesee River which runs through the heart of Rochester. The marshes cost health and lives, while the aqueduct by which boats could cross the Genesee required large, costly stone slabs anchored deep into the river bed…

People sometimes drowned in the canal, falling not only from the boats, but from the narrow towpath or the numerous bridges that crossed this inland waterway: The canal . . . was respectfully regarded as a place of danger, or even death. . . . Although the water was shallow at most points, there were reports of even the boatmen themselves drowning as they fell into the canal or the canal basins. Boats caught fire, they sank, and men and horses drowned with them. Children playing near the canal were often accidentally drowned. . . . Sometimes, too, bodies were discovered in the canal, their identities unknown, their deaths unexplained. [Shaw, 223. The ironic term “casual drowning” was applied to such incidents in some coroners’ reports of the time (telephone interview with Lysbeth Hoffman, Carlton Town Historian, Orleans County, New York, March 1, 2006)] Thomas Woodcock described how a young lady’s head was crushed when she failed to duck as the boat passed beneath a typically low bridge (Woodcock, 9). Joseph Smith’s mother was acutely aware of these dangers, and she chastised careless mothers for being neglectful on the boats in the spring of 1831, As for instance at a time when passing under a bridge if children were on deck they would be thrown over board or bruised in such a manner as was terrible to think of . . . Sisters said I God has given you children to be a blessing to you and it is your duty to take care of them to keep them out of every possible danger and in such a place as this especially to have them always by your side . . . [1844-45 manuscript, in Lucy Mack Smith 2001, 516]

THE PATH AND THE ROD

As a boat approached civilization, passengers’ pulses quickened. It is naturally exciting for a villager to arrive in the heart of a bustling, growing city. The entry into downtown Rochester was just such an event. Like Lehi in his dream, the canal rider found himself moving slowly alongside the river of water, parallel to the Genesee River, the canal feeder channel, and mill canals . . .

Looking ahead eagerly, passengers saw factories and flour mills on all sides,
promising an accelerated pace of life. A traveler arriving from Palmyra would see that the canal was about to swing left and cross the Genesee on a magnificent aqueduct massively constructed to withstand floods and flotsam. The towpath, meanwhile, had become so narrow that horses had to be hitched one in front of the other (Shaw, 202).

As canal became bridge, there appeared something of crucial significance to our Mormon parallel scene . . .

The 1825 engraving above shows how the iron rod could indeed mean the difference between life and death . . .

View ca. 1913 during unusually high water, looking east (showing the second, wider aqueduct finished in 1842 a few feet upriver, south of the original site). From the Albert R. Stone Negative Collection, Rochester Museum & Science Center, Rochester, New York; used with permission. Note
the similar railing and the precarious narrowness even of the expanded towpath, to the inner side of which was water in the summer, and a potential fall of several feet to a stone base in the winter.

“What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw . . . ? And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso . . . would hold fast unto it, they would never perish . . .” 1 Nephi 15:23-24, To appreciate the fearsome power of this scene, the image above can be viewed clearly at greater than 100% on most computer monitors.

And I beheld a rod of iron, and it extended along the bank of the river, and led to the tree by which I stood. And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world. And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path . . . [1 Nephi 8:19-21]

That is precisely how the scene must have appeared to our passengers at this point, as suggested by an 1888-94 photograph reproduced above, showing the similarly-designed but larger second aqueduct of 1842 (“. . . more massive in every respect.” McKelvey 1979, 55. Photograph from the Collection of the Rochester Public Library Local History Division; used with permission.)

The context is irresistible. In the dream, what begin as a nature scene and field suddenly become a worldly scene and field; just as with the setting illustrated above. It is at this very point, when Lehi perceives the path and the rod, that he also notices the concourses of people and the great and spacious building. The sensations described there are what the country traveler experienced in this approach to downtown Rochester, New York. “The streets,” wrote a British visitor to Rochester, even in 1820, “which are spacious, present a succession of well-furnished shops; and the bustle which continually pervades them gives the whole place an air of activity and commerce.” (John Howison, Sketches of Upper Canada . . . [Edinburgh, 1822, second ed.], quoted in Upstate Travels, 137)

THE FOUNTAIN OF FILTHY WATER

We have seen the narrow path, the rod, the river and some of its dangers.
Delicious fruit is in abundance, both on trees and in the market over the river. Discarded fruit by the wagonloads even floats down the river itself. We have our first glimpse of the pride of the world in Rochester, New York, and have seen the many alluring roads and byways available there. Now to continue the narrative. Far more ominous than the upper rapids of the Genesee were the main falls, a few blocks north, downriver beyond the aqueduct:

THE DREAM OF THE IRON ROD DOES NOT OCCUR IN A “DESERT.”

That word is never used. Nephi’s terms are “wilderness” and “waste,” which Joseph Smith knew so well. As late as 1842, Joseph would refer to “the wilderness of Fayette, Seneca county [New York]” immediately adjacent to the Whitmer cabin, and to”the wilderness between Harmony, Susquehanna county, and Colesville, Broome county, on the Susquehanna river . . . [Pennsylvania and New York, respectively]” (D&C 128:20). These are green, green places indeed. At the front ofJoseph Smith’s own Bible was a picture of “Hagar in the Wilderness,” portraying young Ishmael strangely dying of thirst in a verdant setting with a broad stream flowing luxuriantly nearby…

Published in New York State in the 1820s, this was a picture of a “wilderness” as Joseph Smith would have understood it. Through eight years of wandering through Arabia, accordingly, up to the point where Lehi’s family arrives at a lush location which they call “Bountiful” (1 Nephi 17:4-5), there is no mention of dust, heat, wind, sand (except that of the sea), sun (except the glory of a heavenly being in a vision), horses, or camels – and certainly no tribes (other than “the twelve tribes of Israel”), caravans, robbers (unless Nephi’s brother, so accused by Laban) or thieves. ILLUSTRATION ABOVE: Frontispiece placed in many copies (including the one later owned by Joseph Smith) of H. & E. Phinney’s Stereotype Edition of The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments . . . (Cooperstown, New York, 1828; MP 52)…

Joseph Smith never saw a desert. The sinners in his story drown “in the depths of the fountain” (1 Nephi 8:32). Compare the drying streams of Arabia to New York’s endless mists and flow! In arid Utah, one points to the Provo “River.” Here in Joseph Smith country, we would call such a thing a “creek.” The Genesee, so impressive in the illustrations above, is a nice river to New Yorkers, but an expected part of geography – almost ordinary when compared to the St. Lawrence River, to Niagara Falls, or the Hudson.

Joseph’s familiar “land of Cumorah” was “a land of many waters, rivers, and
fountains” (Mormon 6:4). The topography of a genuine, much more extreme
Arabian desert never crossed the consciousness of most Americans of that era. In the Book of Mormon description of wandering through the wilderness of Arabia, there is but one allusion to “thirst,” and that is in conjunction with affliction, hunger and fatigue (1 Nephi 16:35). When the eighteenth-century Moravian missionary David Zeisburger journeyed through the moist, fertile district which would one day include the Whitmer farm, he called it a “wilderness” – even “the Dry Desert” – when he failed to find ready drinking water for just a few hours (Willers, 7)…

Go back and read the Book of Mormon dream text once again. The rod of iron extends along the bank of the river (1 Nephi 8:19). A longer (verse 20), narrow path comes “along by the rod of iron,” and both lead to the tree. The “rod” is clearly a railing that protects people from straying off the narrow path as it approaches the river, and into destruction – including drowning in the depths of the fountain – a precise Erie Canal model. The people who proceed safely seek the path first. Then, to keep from losing the path when a “mist of darkness” arises, they catch “hold of the end of the rod of iron” and cling to it as they walk along (1 Nephi 8:22-24). Again, this is a railing, and it only coincides with that part of the path that is closest alongside the full river (examine verse 20 carefully). Other multitudes have the same experience, grabbing onto the railing at the point where it first begins, and then holding on for dear life . . .” 1388 Mormon Parallels: A Bibliographic Source © 2014 Rick Grunder

As we prepare for conference I offer you a few wonderful quotes that have inspired me in the past and as I read them again I gain an even stronger understanding of their words. May we hear and understand this weekend with our spiritual eyes and ears. I love General Conference weekends.

“Whenever I hear anyone, including myself say, I know the Book of Mormon is True, I want to exclaim that’s nice but it isn’t enough. We need to feel deep the inmost pats of our hearts that the Book of Mormon is unequivocally the word of God. We must feel it so deeply that we wouldn’t want to live even one day without it. I might paraphrase President Brigham Young in saying, I wish I had the voice of seven thunders to wake up the people to the truth and power of the Book of Mormon.” Elder Russell M. Nelson Sept 30, 2017 General Conference.

“The Book of Mormon reveals the inheritance of Joseph, son of Israel, who was not forgotten when land was distributed to the tribes of Israel. This was promised in the Abrahamic covenant…  Josephs inheritance was to be a land choice above all others. Choice because it was chosen to be the repository of sacred writings on golden plates from which the Book of Mormon would one day come. Choice because it would eventually host the world headquarters of the Restored Church of Jesus Christ in the latter days. And it was choice because it was a land of liberty for those who worship the Lord and keep His commandments.” Russell M Nelson President, Quorum of 12 June, 2016 Provo Missionary Training Center

I would like to call your attention to one thing in the Book of Mormon.  The Lord has promised us greater knowledge, greater understanding than we find in the Book of Mormon, when we are prepared to receive it.  When the brother of Jared went upon the mount to have the Lord touch stones to give them light to light their way across the great ocean, the Lord revealed to him the history of this world from the beginning of it to the end.  We do not have it. . . .

Now the Lord has placed us on probation as members of the Church.  He has given us the Book of Mormon, which is the lesser part, to build up our faith through our obedience to the counsels which it contains, and when we ourselves, members of the Church, are willing to keep the commandments as they have been given to us and show our faith as the Nephites did for a short period of time, then the Lord is ready to bring forth the other record and give it to us, but we are not ready now to receive it.  Why?  Because we have not lived up to the requirements in this probationary state in the reading of the record which had been given to us and in following its counsels. — Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Book of Mormon, a Divine Book,” Improvement Era, Dec. 1961, pp. 925-27; also Conference Report, Oct. 1961, pp. 19-20

Members of the Church everywhere should know the Book of Mormon better than any other book.  Not only should we know what history and faith-promoting stories it contains, but we should understand its teachings. .

I have noted within the Church the difference in discernment, in insight, conviction, and spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not.  That book is a great sifter.”  — President Ezra Taft Benson, New Era, May 1975, p. 19

We have heard that the Prophet Joseph said something about the time when the Constitution would be in danger. We do not know just what turn that will take. He also said something about the Elders of Israel rising to the challenge and helping to save the Constitution of this land. It is entirely possible that that may come about in a rather natural way. Our young people — as they mature and develop and take their positions in industry, in the professions, and in agriculture clear across this land — might represent the balance of power in a time of crisis, when they will stand up and defend those eternal principles upon which this Constitution has been established.

The Founding Fathers did not invent this priceless boon of individual freedom and respect for the dignity of man. That great gift to mankind sprang from the Creator and not from government. But the Founding Fathers with superb genius, I believe, welded together certain safeguards which we must always protect to the very limit if we would preserve and strengthen the blessings of freedom.

. . . They were guided by allegiance to basic principles. These principles must be kept in mind always by those who are here today and reaping the benefits and the blessings which they so wisely provided. We must be careful that we do not trade freedom for security. Whenever that is attempted, usually we lose both. There is always a tendency when nations become mature for the people to become more interested in preserving their luxuries and their comforts than in safeguarding the ideals and principles which made these comforts and luxuries possible.

( Source: “Ezra Taft Benson Responsibilities of Citizenship” 8; also in TETB 599-600 )

“In harmony with our belief that the U.S. Constitution is an inspired document and that America has a special mission,” President Monson said, “the Deseret News will defend and promote the principles of the Constitution and the great freedoms for which the nation stands; indeed, it will promote the free agency of all mankind. We view ourselves as being not just in the newspaper business but in the communication business. As technology or public preferences change, our methods of communication may change, but at all times ours shall be a voice for the principles of our owner, for the canons of responsible journalism and for all other righteous and compatible interests and causes.”

( Source: “Thomas S. Monson New Home for Pioneer Newspaper”, LDS Church News, 31 May 1997 )

As a watchman on the tower, I feel to warn you that one of the chief means of misleading our youth and destroying the family unit is our educational institutions. President Joseph F. Smith referred to false educational ideas as one of the three threatening dangers among our Church members. There is more than one reason why the Church is advising our youth to attend colleges close to their homes where institutes of religion are available. It gives the parents the opportunity to stay close to their children; and if they have become alert and informed as President McKay admonished us last year, these parents can help expose some of the deceptions of men like Sigmund Freud, Charles Darwin, John Dewey, Karl Marx, John Keynes, and others.

Today there are much worse things that can happen to a child than not getting a full college education. In fact, some of the worst things have happened to our children while attending colleges led by administrators who wink at subversion and amorality.

Said Karl G. Maeser, “I would rather have my child exposed to smallpox, typhus fever, cholera, or other malignant and deadly diseases than to the degrading influence of a corrupt teacher. It is infinitely better to take chances with an ignorant, but pure-minded teacher than with the greatest philosopher who is impure.”

Vocational education, correspondence courses, establishment in a family business are being considered for their children by an increasing number of parents.( Source: “Ezra Taft Benson A Plea to Strengthen Our Families”, General conference address, October 1970 )