John E. Clark of the New World Archaeological Foundation gave a riveting presentation that explored the origins of Mesoamerican civilization. Arriving late to the Spencer W. Kimball tower meant that I was one of the many that had to sit on the floor in the aisles. I am glad nobody called the fire marshal. From my vantage point I saw several young students diligently taking notes on lap tops, something I wish I had done for this report.
Dr. Clark began his lecture by observing that when the Spanish explorers encountered native Americans, they had no book like Genesis that could explain the origins of the civilization they saw. Clark defined civilization so that the essential component is that the community had a government that had authority to tax and put to death its subjects, usually in that order.
Then, Dr. Clark segued into a personal history about his involvement in archaeological studies in Mesoamerica. We learned about some of his adventures in digging in the dirt while taking 10 years to get a dissertation together and we applauded the sacrifices of his wife throughout this ordeal. He talked about his role in the New World Archaeological Foundation that was started in the early 1950’s and was later funded by LDS Church. Interestingly, Clark mentioned that most of those who worked for the Foundation were non-Mormon or were on their way to becoming such.
A transcript of Dr. Clark’s lecture will never do it justice. Someone asked if his slides will be made available, but Dr. Clark declined, estimating that the photography and art had a value of around $50K. The pictures we saw were visually engaging. John Clark led us around on a virtual tour of ruins in the area like Teotihuacan, San Lorenzo, Monte Alban, Tikal, and other places I don’t recall. He showed us pottery that was reserved for corn beer, noting tha many of his discoveries involved Word of Wisdom violations. He showed us stone carvings of fat men sitting, obviously a symbol of leadership, with the quip that not much has changed over the centuries.
Towards the end of the lecture, Dr. Clark surveyed different theories for origins of new civilizations before discarding most of them in favor of his current findings, which he noted are tentative. He mentioned that the NWAF has the research cornered on Mesoamerican origins, while other outfits concentrate on the later periods where the finds are often more sensational.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Clark addressed a question about what all this archaeological study has to do with the Book of Mormon. Here he referred to earlier presentation he has given such as his Library of Congress address and FAIR’s 2005 conference (a transcript of which has recently been posted on FAIR’s site). In sum, Dr. Clark finds the trajectory of increasing archaeological finds that corroborate the Book of Mormon encouraging and the opposite of what one would expect if the Book was fraudulent. He cautioned that critics will fail to be impressed by statistical analysis of Book of Mormon hits and missed, because of different assumptions about what constitutes evidence. The best way to find out the Book is authentic remains praying about, if it means shutting yourself in a closet until you get the job done.
What does that mean that the photos are worth $50,000? He didn’t own them and would have to pay copyright?
Boy, I’m staring to believe that the evidence is all right there in front of us. We just need to learn to see it for what it is–much like Alma’s view of creation.
Keller,
Thank you very much for posting your report of this talk. I too wish you had been able to take more detailed notes to share with us. But you have done quite a nice service in what you were able to provide.
Is there any way you can contact Dr. Clark and ask him to post his paper on the FAIR website? I find his comments to be quite interesting.
Clark (#1), I don’t know what the situation is with copyright on the photographs. Your guess is as good as mine.
Joe (#3) This link indicates that Clark is finishing up a book on the subject. Somebody was digitally recording the lecture, so it may resurface somewhere.
Keller,
Thanks for commenting and the link. If it does surface, I hope a link could be posted at this sight. I really would like to read or hear the entire talk.
He seems to have given a couple of jabs. He says many in the foundation were either non-Mormon or becoming non-Mormon? That doesn’t sound very good. Pointing out WofW violations of ancient people? Hmmm.
Eric,
Dr. Clark was making funny jokes the entire lecture and I disproportionally reported them because that is what I remember best. I think that he had Ferguson in mind as he mentioned him at a different spot in the presentation. So it was kind of an insider joke as well as a caution in putting too much faith in how much the Book of Mormon can be confirmed by scientific processes.
I doubt that the Word of Wisdom is one of those absolute standards of morality. I class it as a covenant that helps set us a part as a people in our time. An analogy would be circumcision and dietary guidelines under the Law of Moses for the Nephites.
It’s good that Dr. Clark believes that there is increasing evidence that places BOM origins in Mesoamerica, but I’m afraid I still waiting for the smoking cimeter. Fantastic claims demand fantastic evidence, as Carl Sagan said, and I hope to be alive when that evidence is found, whether in Mesoamerica, Palmyra, Chile, Micronesia, or an isle of the sea. (a “12 miles to Zarahemla” roadsign would be nice)
Just curious if anyone has been able to get a transcript or audio of Dr. Clark’s presentation?
Joe,
I don’t have any updates for you yet. I will try emailing a few people this week and see what I can come up with and report back. If I can’t find more about about the presentation, I hope I can at least find some journal articles where Clark has published on the subject before.
Here is a link to where some audio can be heard of the lecture.
http://fhss.byu.edu/lectures/index.html