Joe, in 1834, Oliver Cowdery wrote a series of letters about the history of the Church. He said of them: "That our narrative may be correct, and particularly the introduction, it is proper to inform our patrons, that our brother J. SMITH Jr. has offered to assist us. Indeed, there are many items connected with the fore part of this subject that render his labor indispensable. With his labor and with authentic documents now in our possession, we hope to render this a pleasing and agreeable narrative, well worth the examination and perusal of the Saints.-... assuring [our readers] that it shall be founded upon facts." In 1835 Joseph had his scribes copy Oliver's letters into his journal as part of "a history of my life."
In Letter 7, Oliver wrote: “You are acquainted with the mail road from Palmyra, Wayne Co. to Canandaigua, Ontario Co. N. Y. and also, as you pass from the former to the latter place, before arriving at the little village of Manchester, say from three to four, or about four miles from Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road. . . .I think I am justified in saying that this is the highest hill for some distance round. . .At about one mile west rises another ridge of less height, running parallel with the former, leaving a beautiful vale between. The soil is of the first quality for the country, and under a state of cultivation, which gives a prospect at once imposing, when one reflects on the fact, that here, between these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites were destroyed.
By turning to the 529th and 530th pages of the Book of Mormon, you will read Mormon's account of the last great struggle of his people, as they were encamped round this hill Camorah (sic). In this valley fell the remaining strength and pride of a once powerful people, the Nephites... From the top of this hill, Mormon, with a few others, after the battle, gazed with horror upon the mangled remains of those who, the day before, were filled with anxiety, hope, or doubt. . . .
“This hill, by the Jaredites, was called Ramah: by it, or around it, pitched the famous army of Coriantumr their tent. Coriantumr was the last king of the Jaredites. The opposing army were to the west, and in this same valley, and near by. From day to day, did that mighty race spill their blood, in wrath, contending as it were, brother against brother, and father against son. In this same spot, in full view from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellowmen.”
J. LarsonApril 12, 2016
I don't know why it is so set in cement that Lehi, Mulekites, and Jaredites had to have traveled to Mesoamerica by way of the Pacific. Warren Aston even says that the route is not conclusive. Maybe Lehi sailed down and around the tip of Africa and crossed the Atlantic landing somewhere on the east coast. We have no idea of where the Mulekites and Jaredites may have begun their journeys or where they may have landed. Current scholarship as well as clues from the Book of Mormon are pretty compelling to show that all of these civilizations existed in the Great Lakes area of North Amerca. I have visited some of the great mounds in Ohio and New York including the huge serpent mound. I have also visited the museum of Holy Stones in Newark, Ohio, and seen engravings of the ten comandments and other artifacts. I have lived in western New York where there are hundreds of fortifications built in the manner described in the Book of Mormon with trenches all around, bone pits and mounds of ancient bones. Metal helmets and breast plates were found in quantities by early farmers and were sold for scrap metal. DNA studies now show a match between the Algonquins and related tribes that match the people in the Middle East. No such match exists in Mesoamerica. Smelting of metals such as copper, iron, even steel have been found as have metal plates with curious writing. Language similarities between Egyptian and some North American tribes such as the Micmacks indicate some sort of connection with Egyptian writing which is puzzling to the archaeologists. It's time we stepped back from what is assumed to be the the lands of the Book of Mormon and reassess the ethnic and archeological evidences around the Great Lakes. Zion's Camp came upon a skeleton on their way to Missouri which Joseph Smith stated it was a Nephite named Zelph. It's time we took a second look.
JoeApril 9, 2016
Randy, the Hill Cumorah in New York was not named that by Joseph. He called it a "hill of considerable size". It was called Cumorah much later on by the Pratt brothers. We know that both the Lamanites and Nephites spread out over "all the land" and many shiploads of them were taken north by Hagoth. It is quite feasible that if the Nephites landed on the Pacific side of Central America, thousands of them could have later settled all over North America including the Great Lakes region. Just do a look-up on the number of Indian tribes found in every state of the nation in Joseph's day. It would be plausible to see shiploads of Nephites heading north across the Gulf of Mexico, landing near New Orleans, then over time, traveling up the Mississippi River.
J S SterlingApril 7, 2016
Agreeing with Randy Cook, Alma 22:28 does not definitively state that the initial landing was on the Pacific coast. It was on a coast, yes, and it was west of the land of Nephi, so it logically not an eastern coast. As I recall, the land of Nephi was northward. So the initial landing could have been on a western coast or a southern coast. Doug Taber wrote:
"What is true is that once around the bottom of Africa, prevailing currents would take them up and over to South America." Or they could have landed somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.
Kurt KammeyerApril 7, 2016
I did some research on this subject a few years ago while I was planning to write a book. I determined that by following the southeast route across the Pacific, a typical Polynesian double-canoe could make the journey in a minimum of about 180 days. Along most of the route from Australia to Central America, there are chains of islands such that you need not voyage for more than a few days without making landfall. The only exception is the leg from Pitcairn to Central America, which could take several weeks. And as the article mentions, the periodic el Nino trade winds flow westerly for about five years, and then easterly.
Randy CookApril 7, 2016
Could as easily have ended up on the east and west coast of Florida, inner and outer coastal region of Chesapeake, upper Mississippi basin,Great Lakes, Finger Lakes region near Palmyra or other areas that meet the criteria. Only thing I know from the Book of Mormon is that Moroni buried the plates in the hill Cumorah. At lest when Joseph Smith removed the plates, the plates were in a hill was in up state New York. Moroni 1:3 indicates Moroni wandered withersoever he had to for safety. I suppose Moroni could have trekked some 6000 miles from Veracruz Mexico (Cerro El Vigia) to up state New York and deposited the plates convenient to Joseph Smith but Moroni does not describe a multi year 6000 mile odyssey. You would think he might have written about such a journey alone.
Gary RawlingsApril 7, 2016
I am not sure of the reference, but Joseph Smith is quoted as saying that Lehi landed at Valapraiso, Chile, in South America. This leads one to wonder if they went down through the Indian Ocean and thence east and south east, according to the wind currents.
Dan SilvermanApril 7, 2016
Great article and book! A big fan of Warren's work.
For those interested, the brand new movie LEHI IN ARABIA shows all the footage of the Bountiful candidates and Warren's work in Arabia- see the trailer at www.lehiinarabia.com Really inspiring!
Doug TaberApril 7, 2016
One could imagine a peninsula on the east coast of South America that could then have a "western" ocean side, so the passage in Alma is not definitive. What is true is that once around the bottom of Africa, prevailing currents would take them up and over to South America.
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Leslie ReesApril 13, 2016
Joe, in 1834, Oliver Cowdery wrote a series of letters about the history of the Church. He said of them: "That our narrative may be correct, and particularly the introduction, it is proper to inform our patrons, that our brother J. SMITH Jr. has offered to assist us. Indeed, there are many items connected with the fore part of this subject that render his labor indispensable. With his labor and with authentic documents now in our possession, we hope to render this a pleasing and agreeable narrative, well worth the examination and perusal of the Saints.-... assuring [our readers] that it shall be founded upon facts." In 1835 Joseph had his scribes copy Oliver's letters into his journal as part of "a history of my life." In Letter 7, Oliver wrote: “You are acquainted with the mail road from Palmyra, Wayne Co. to Canandaigua, Ontario Co. N. Y. and also, as you pass from the former to the latter place, before arriving at the little village of Manchester, say from three to four, or about four miles from Palmyra, you pass a large hill on the east side of the road. . . .I think I am justified in saying that this is the highest hill for some distance round. . .At about one mile west rises another ridge of less height, running parallel with the former, leaving a beautiful vale between. The soil is of the first quality for the country, and under a state of cultivation, which gives a prospect at once imposing, when one reflects on the fact, that here, between these hills, the entire power and national strength of both the Jaredites and Nephites were destroyed. By turning to the 529th and 530th pages of the Book of Mormon, you will read Mormon's account of the last great struggle of his people, as they were encamped round this hill Camorah (sic). In this valley fell the remaining strength and pride of a once powerful people, the Nephites... From the top of this hill, Mormon, with a few others, after the battle, gazed with horror upon the mangled remains of those who, the day before, were filled with anxiety, hope, or doubt. . . . “This hill, by the Jaredites, was called Ramah: by it, or around it, pitched the famous army of Coriantumr their tent. Coriantumr was the last king of the Jaredites. The opposing army were to the west, and in this same valley, and near by. From day to day, did that mighty race spill their blood, in wrath, contending as it were, brother against brother, and father against son. In this same spot, in full view from the top of this same hill, one may gaze with astonishment upon the ground which was twice covered with the dead and dying of our fellowmen.”
J. LarsonApril 12, 2016
I don't know why it is so set in cement that Lehi, Mulekites, and Jaredites had to have traveled to Mesoamerica by way of the Pacific. Warren Aston even says that the route is not conclusive. Maybe Lehi sailed down and around the tip of Africa and crossed the Atlantic landing somewhere on the east coast. We have no idea of where the Mulekites and Jaredites may have begun their journeys or where they may have landed. Current scholarship as well as clues from the Book of Mormon are pretty compelling to show that all of these civilizations existed in the Great Lakes area of North Amerca. I have visited some of the great mounds in Ohio and New York including the huge serpent mound. I have also visited the museum of Holy Stones in Newark, Ohio, and seen engravings of the ten comandments and other artifacts. I have lived in western New York where there are hundreds of fortifications built in the manner described in the Book of Mormon with trenches all around, bone pits and mounds of ancient bones. Metal helmets and breast plates were found in quantities by early farmers and were sold for scrap metal. DNA studies now show a match between the Algonquins and related tribes that match the people in the Middle East. No such match exists in Mesoamerica. Smelting of metals such as copper, iron, even steel have been found as have metal plates with curious writing. Language similarities between Egyptian and some North American tribes such as the Micmacks indicate some sort of connection with Egyptian writing which is puzzling to the archaeologists. It's time we stepped back from what is assumed to be the the lands of the Book of Mormon and reassess the ethnic and archeological evidences around the Great Lakes. Zion's Camp came upon a skeleton on their way to Missouri which Joseph Smith stated it was a Nephite named Zelph. It's time we took a second look.
JoeApril 9, 2016
Randy, the Hill Cumorah in New York was not named that by Joseph. He called it a "hill of considerable size". It was called Cumorah much later on by the Pratt brothers. We know that both the Lamanites and Nephites spread out over "all the land" and many shiploads of them were taken north by Hagoth. It is quite feasible that if the Nephites landed on the Pacific side of Central America, thousands of them could have later settled all over North America including the Great Lakes region. Just do a look-up on the number of Indian tribes found in every state of the nation in Joseph's day. It would be plausible to see shiploads of Nephites heading north across the Gulf of Mexico, landing near New Orleans, then over time, traveling up the Mississippi River.
J S SterlingApril 7, 2016
Agreeing with Randy Cook, Alma 22:28 does not definitively state that the initial landing was on the Pacific coast. It was on a coast, yes, and it was west of the land of Nephi, so it logically not an eastern coast. As I recall, the land of Nephi was northward. So the initial landing could have been on a western coast or a southern coast. Doug Taber wrote: "What is true is that once around the bottom of Africa, prevailing currents would take them up and over to South America." Or they could have landed somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.
Kurt KammeyerApril 7, 2016
I did some research on this subject a few years ago while I was planning to write a book. I determined that by following the southeast route across the Pacific, a typical Polynesian double-canoe could make the journey in a minimum of about 180 days. Along most of the route from Australia to Central America, there are chains of islands such that you need not voyage for more than a few days without making landfall. The only exception is the leg from Pitcairn to Central America, which could take several weeks. And as the article mentions, the periodic el Nino trade winds flow westerly for about five years, and then easterly.
Randy CookApril 7, 2016
Could as easily have ended up on the east and west coast of Florida, inner and outer coastal region of Chesapeake, upper Mississippi basin,Great Lakes, Finger Lakes region near Palmyra or other areas that meet the criteria. Only thing I know from the Book of Mormon is that Moroni buried the plates in the hill Cumorah. At lest when Joseph Smith removed the plates, the plates were in a hill was in up state New York. Moroni 1:3 indicates Moroni wandered withersoever he had to for safety. I suppose Moroni could have trekked some 6000 miles from Veracruz Mexico (Cerro El Vigia) to up state New York and deposited the plates convenient to Joseph Smith but Moroni does not describe a multi year 6000 mile odyssey. You would think he might have written about such a journey alone.
Gary RawlingsApril 7, 2016
I am not sure of the reference, but Joseph Smith is quoted as saying that Lehi landed at Valapraiso, Chile, in South America. This leads one to wonder if they went down through the Indian Ocean and thence east and south east, according to the wind currents.
Dan SilvermanApril 7, 2016
Great article and book! A big fan of Warren's work. For those interested, the brand new movie LEHI IN ARABIA shows all the footage of the Bountiful candidates and Warren's work in Arabia- see the trailer at www.lehiinarabia.com Really inspiring!
Doug TaberApril 7, 2016
One could imagine a peninsula on the east coast of South America that could then have a "western" ocean side, so the passage in Alma is not definitive. What is true is that once around the bottom of Africa, prevailing currents would take them up and over to South America.
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