Alexander L. Baugh BYU Church History Department
“I think it’s important to realize that the title page of the Book of Mormon says, “written to the Lamanites.” That’s one of the very first things it says. I think Latter-day Saints today think well, the Book of Mormon is written for us. Well it was, written for the entire world, but of course Mormon, Moroni in their understanding of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, they fully realized that this book, this record, would eventually come forth to their descendants to the descendants of Lehi, and his family. And, this is clear to Joseph Smith. There’s no question in my mind that Joseph Smith knows from the very beginning this record needs to be received and given to and accepted by Lamanite descendants. And in 1830, to Joseph Smith and the Church members, a Lamanite meant to them, a North American Indian. There’s just no question.” Alexander L. Baugh BYU Church History Department; transcribed from the documentary “History of the Saints” Mission to the Lamanites Part 1.
There is really only one or two big differences between the Heartland theory and the Mesoamerican theory. It has to do with the location of Cumorah. NY or Mexico? The Meso boys believe the plates Joseph Smith found in a hill was not necessarily “the Hill Cumorah.”
They also believe the final battles of the Nephites occurred somewhere in Mexico. They believe the events of the Book of Mormon took place in Mexico and Central America, and as you read the quote above you will understand that we believe the events of the Book of Mormon happened right here in the Heartland of The United States of America.
Editorial Position of the Annotated Book of Mormon
From: David Hocking, Rod Meldrum, Jonathan Neville, Boyd Tuttle, Amberli Nelson, Wayne May, and Rian Nelson
Whatever you feel is fine with us, but but we strongly believe the Book of Mormon plates were buried in the Hill Cumorah in upstate New York and the last battles of the Nephites happened near that same hill. Hill Ramah where the Jaredites were destroyed is also the exact same hill. (Ether 15:11)
Here is what the Editors of the Annotated Book of Mormon shared with the Meso boys, who attacked our book.
- We still believe the teachings of the prophets about the New York Cumorah; and
- We trust people to make their own informed decisions.
The prophets have been clear about two points:
(i) the Hill Cumorah of Mormon 6:6 is in New York and
(ii) we don’t know for sure the locations of other Book of Mormon events.
Email to Meso boys: “We have adopted the above as our editorial position, as anyone who reads the book can see. If you were confident in your position, you would encourage all to read the Annotated Edition and see the flaws for themselves, but instead you warn your readers to “stay away” and then stand before them as their “truth filters” and “Interpreters” thus preventing them from ever entering in.” Annotated BofM Editors
Why do many insist that the final battle of the Nephites and Lamanites didn’t happen at the one and only Hill Cumorah? Many yell the words, “It’s a clean hill”, meaning there are no arrowheads found there, or they say, “where are all the bones?” Bones from 1,400 years ago that weren’t even buried? No breastplates or headplates? Ever hear of spoils of the war. Too small of a hill? The final battles didn’t happen just on a little hill, but in the Land of Cumorah. See Mormon 6:2. Oliver Cowdery said in Letter VII it was the hill of the final battles. Good enough for me. It makes sense. I believe the final battles happened in the Land of Cumorah, near the hill.
The purpose of the information below is to share with you significant archaeological evidence for the ancient Hopewell and Adena Culture nearby the Hill Cumorah and in the Heartland of North America. There is evidence of fortifications, pottery, copper, weapons, palisades, forts, mass burials, mounds, tools and other artifacts all around this area. I believe the Hopewell culture matches up with the Nephite culture extraordinarily well. The Hopewell originated in 600 BC at the panhandle of Florida from Crystal River to Pensacola, Florida. History documents this. The Hopewell then traveled north into Georgia and Tennessee. There is evidence of a huge society of the Hopewell from Missouri to Illinois to Indiana and then to Ohio which was the dominant historical area of this people. History shows the end of the Hopewell civilization around the year 400 AD near Hill Cumorah in New York. Historians say the Hopewell just disappeared and historians have no idea what happened. I feel I have a good idea. The final battle at Cumorah was 385 AD. This is some of the best evidence of a possible link to the Hopewell and the Nephites.
“One of the old Indian Trails which became the route of the first road of the white man in this area, from Canandaigua Lake, two miles south of the Hill to Lake Ontario twenty-two miles north passing the “nose” of the Hill Cumorah. The finding of Indian arrow and spearheads in great quantities on the slopes of the Hill and in the fields surrounding it indicates that long after the great battle in which the Nephites were annihilated Hill Cumorah has been an important battle ground. Willard Bean’s experience coincides with Giles’ conclusion as he found many arrowheads and artifacts as he visited and worked on the Hill Cumorah in the early 1900’s.” A STUDY OF THE HILL CUMORAH: A SIGNIFICANT LATTER-DAY SAINT LANDMARK IN WESTERN NEW YORK Cameron J. Packer Religious Education Master of Arts
Please join us at our Firm Foundation Expo, including the 28th International Book of Mormon Evidence Conference, from Sept 23 to 25, 2021 at the Mountain America Expo Center Exhibit Hall 3 at 9575 S. State St Sandy, Utah 84070. On Sat Sept 25 from 3:30 to 5 pm we will have a special Native American Celebration for all who attend. Our Native American friends will also have a vendor booth doing live podcasts, doing live painting and selling drums, art, books and other items. Come and support them. Tickets Here:
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Our friends at Heartland Research Group, continue to find information and date ancient fires found in the area across the river from Nauvoo, which is where we believe the Ancient site of the Nephites or Zarahemla existed. D&C 125 You will read below some of the newest information from them.
| Casting Arrowhead in Metal Alloy from Mold Designed According to Ancient Artifact from the Crystal Clear Waters of Northern Wisconsin Take a look at the attached photos. Today the metalworker has made the prototype of the ancient arrowhead from Northern, Wisconsin. He will have good replicas of the 4th Century North American Copper Alloy Arrowheads in about one week. This 21st Century casting will be done according to the pattern of the people who lived and died in the Heartland more than 1,700 years ago. There are still a few adjustments that are required to replicate the modern casting to the ancient design. We will soon have an arrowhead that we can fix to a shaft. We will then determine the effectiveness of the arrow’s design in battle. The artifact came from mass production with the intention of cutting down many warriors on large battlefields. Using the ancient technique from Egypt for lost wax casting, the metalworker has made a master mold for the arrowhead. He will now build a casting tree and make dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces. He will put 1% tin and 0.05% silver into the copper alloy. After making a casting, he will put the tang of the arrowhead into a wood shaft, fixing it with boiled pine pitch and catgut sinew. In a few weeks, we will have a prototype that we can test with a bow. Heartland Research wants to determine the effectiveness of the North American design to the bronze arrows of the Ancient World. More than a million metal arrowheads were flying in the air during the last stand of the Nephites at Cumorah. Our research question is simple. How good was this design in battle? We want to compare the aerodynamic movement and impact of the ancient American arrowhead to the well-known designs that the armies of Alexander the Great had. We expect that the North American metal arrowhead was more than equal to the bronze arrowheads that the Greeks had when they fought the Persians at the Battle of the Granicus in 334 BC.   The Control of the Arrow’s Flight with Fletching. We will need to adjust the fletching of the feathers on the shaft of the arrow to create wind drag. The fletching will be specific to the aerodynamic design of the metal arrowhead. The design of the arrowhead suggests that the fletching will be straight and keep the arrow from spinning in flight. The fletching will provide stability and accuracy in flight. Fletching is made up of three or more vanes or feathers. We plan to use bone for the notching of the arrow on the string of the bow. Within a few weeks, we will have clear opinions concerning the effectiveness of the arrow’s complete design for battle against large armies.  Fletching for Wind Drag for When the Arrow is in Flight.       ©2021 Heart Land Research Group | 2681 Milan Street Easton, PA 18045 |
From Kevin Price PhD “Heartland Research Group”
“Wayne May sent me this slide and I added some text to the picture to help people understand what they are seeing (zoom it up). This is ABSOLUTE evidence that the Nephites (Hopewell) were advanced in metallurgy technology. They were smelting in kilns, and pouring molten iron into clay molds to make tools and weapons for war.
This artifact was found among Hopewell ruins in Ohio and dates perfectly to Book of Mormon times. Please feel free to share with your friends and if they ask questions and you need Wayne or I to respond, let me know. We MUST educate, because modern archaeologist are claiming these things are all fake. Why, because it undermines their teachings that all ancient North Americans came across the Land Bridge. They teach no one came to North America by ship until Columbus. It is a false teaching to support their evolution theories. Of course those of us who believe in the Book of Mormon know the real underlying motives.
The Mesoamerica model for Book of Mormon is destroying testimonies. We have got to show that the peoples of the Book of Mormon really existed and the teachings about this advanced society are true and backed by archaeological evidence.
The excuse of being afraid to speak up are over.” Best wishes,
Kevin Price [email protected] M 785-393-5428
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Email from Kevin Price to Wayne May:
Wayne,
“A person on the Ancient Artifacts FB Group posted this artifact she found in a wash in Southern California and was asking if anyone had any idea about is origin. I said I would send you the picture to see if you had any ideas.” Kevin Price
