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< Book of Mormon | Geography | Statements | Nineteenth century
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==Nineteenth Century: Statements during Joseph Smith's lifetime—1842== | ==Nineteenth Century: Statements during Joseph Smith's lifetime—1842== | ||
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+ | ==== 1842: Index of Book of Mormon speaks of discovery of "America"==== | ||
+ | : The discovery of ''America'' predicted, --------------------------- 32, 30{{ref|crawford.1842}} | ||
+ | ====1 January 1842: ''Times and Seasons'': Mounds near Ohio ==== | ||
+ | :I will next introduce the description of some of these ancient fortifications and military works of defence, as recorded in the American Antiquities, by Josiah Priest, and also introduce a history of the building of these fortifications and works of defence, as recorded in the Book of Mormon; and I will here remark, that the Book of Mormon was published in A.D. 1830, and the American Antiquities, by Josiah Priest, was not published until A.D. 1833, three years after. Antiquities, page 158 and 159, “Near Newark in the county of Licking, Ohio, is situated one of the immense works or fortifications of the ancient nations of America. It embraces in the whole, a circumferance of about six hundred rods, or nearly two miles; a wall of earth about four hundred rods, is raised on the sides of this fort next to the small creek which comes down along its sides from the west and east. It would seem that the people who made this settlement, undertook to encompass, with a wall, as much land as would support its inhabitants, and also sufficient to build their dwellings on, with several fortifications arranged in a proper manner for its defence. There are within its ranges four of these forts, of different dimensions; one contains forty acres, with a wall of about ten feet high; another containing twenty-two acres, also walled, but in this fort is an elevated observatory, of sufficient height to overlook the whole country; a third fort, containing about twenty-six acres, having a wall around it thrown out of a deep ditch on the inside of the wall. This wall is now from twenty-five to thirty feet in height. A fourth fortification encloses twenty acres with a wall of about ten feet high.”{{ref|ts.1.jan.1843}} | ||
+ | ====15 January 1842: ''Times and Seasons'': On Columbus ==== | ||
+ | Yea, it was because of this decree that Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, an obscure individual, was blessed with a largeness of mind which disdained to confine itself to the old beaten track, and was inspired to contend for eight years with the learned ignorance of the courts and councils of Europe, when (after many a fruitless struggle,) a small fleet was fitted out consisting of three small vessels, and placed under his command, which sailed from spain in 1492, under the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella then on the united thrones of Castile and Arragon, which terminated in the discovery of America—the land of Joseph—a land more blessed of the Lord than any other land “for the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the Sun, and for the precious things put forth by the Moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof.” | ||
+ | And be it known unto you, O ye Gentiles, that this Columbus was inspired by the Almighty Jehovah to make this discovery, that the poor and meek of the earth, and the persecuted and oppressed of all nations might have a place to which they could fly and be secure from the iron grasp of poverty, wretchedness and want, and from the cruel unrelenting hand of the oppressor. And when in process of time the tyrants of the Eastern World began to extend their oppressions unto this land, God raised up a Washington and inspired him to resist their oppression and by the strong arm of military power to maintain and defend the rights of the American colonies as free and independent States, and after the definitive treaty was finally signed and the American colonies were acknowledged free and independent States by all the European powers, and the Commissioners, who were the sages of this government, assembled from the different States and met at Philadelphia on the memorable 10th of May 1787, for the purpose of organizing the General Government, God inspired them to frame the American Constitution so as thereby to establish the rights of man upon the broad basis of civil and religious liberty, that here might forever be found an asylum for the oppressed of all nations [657] to flee unto for refuge and protection from the power of their oppressors.{{ref|ts.15.jan.1842}} | ||
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+ | Note that Columbus never reached the United States; he was confined to Mexico and Caribbean. | ||
====1 March 1842: Wentworth letter==== | ====1 March 1842: Wentworth letter==== | ||
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:The very cities whose ruins are in his estimation without a name are called in the Book of Mormon, "Teancum, Boaz, Jordan, Desolation," &c.{{ref|pratt.star.mar.1842}} | :The very cities whose ruins are in his estimation without a name are called in the Book of Mormon, "Teancum, Boaz, Jordan, Desolation," &c.{{ref|pratt.star.mar.1842}} | ||
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+ | ==== 2 May 1842: ''Times and Seasons''— Evidence from Kentucky ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | :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 can be formed, nor any calculation 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. [781] 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 was crucified his hasty burial obliged them only to wrap his body in linnen 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. | ||
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+ | :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.{{ref|ts.2.may.1842}} | ||
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+ | ==== 9 July 1842: ''Millennial Star''—Calderwood and Stephens==== | ||
+ | :He introduced an account of many American antiquities together with the discoveries lately made by Mr. Stevens, that all go to prove that the American Indians were once an enlightened people and understood the arts and sciences, as the ruined cities and monuments lately discovered fully prove.... | ||
+ | :He declared that Jesus did visit both the above named branches of the house of Israel during the forty days before his final ascension from the Mount of Olives, and that the Book of Mormon was not only a history of the dealings of God with his descendants of Joseph on this continent, previous to the crucifixion of our Lord, but also an account of the gospel as established among them by the personal appearance of Christ on this continent; and that the account of the gospel in the Book of Mormon agreed with account in the bible, thereby proving that the gospel of Christ is the same in every nation, composed of the same eternal truths, the same gifts, the same offices, the same ordinances, and everything the same as when Christ has an organised church on the earth....{{ref|ms.9.july.1842}} | ||
====15 July 1842: Joseph Smith discusses high civilization in the Americas, uses mound-builders and Guatemalan ruins as an example==== | ====15 July 1842: Joseph Smith discusses high civilization in the Americas, uses mound-builders and Guatemalan ruins as an example==== | ||
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This statement was signed "ED," which attributes it directly to Joseph Smith. | This statement was signed "ED," which attributes it directly to Joseph Smith. | ||
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====15 Sept. 1842: Speculation that Palenque is a Nephite city==== | ====15 Sept. 1842: Speculation that Palenque is a Nephite city==== | ||
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Note that the author regards south of the ithmus of Darien (Panama) as being part of "the whole continent." He likewise invokes purported myths from Guatemala and other Central American areas as evidence for the Book of Mormon. | Note that the author regards south of the ithmus of Darien (Panama) as being part of "the whole continent." He likewise invokes purported myths from Guatemala and other Central American areas as evidence for the Book of Mormon. | ||
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+ | ==== September 1842: ''Millennial Star''—"western continent"==== | ||
+ | :Therefore the oracles, the institutions, laws, government, ordinances and revelations in the Book of Mormon, together with the Urim and Thummim connected with it, have been perpetuated, preserved, and handed forth to this generation as entirely independent of, and separate from all the institutions and forms of the governments of the image, as the moon is separate from the earth; or rather as the western continent is separate from the eastern. They have come forth from Mount Cumorah without hands; that is, by the immediate interposition of the Almighty and his angels—so much for the oracles.... | ||
+ | :Empires might rise and flourish and pass away—thrones might crash amid the wreck of thrones, nations clash against nations, and in turn devour and be devoured, and still the western world reposed in security from all the commotions of the eastern hemisphere; its wall of waters secured it from foreign invasion, and bid defiance to their fleets and armies, and engines of war.... | ||
+ | :We might further add that in the covenants and oracles given to the Jaredites, the western continent is called a chosen land of the Lord, ''“choice above all others;”'' that it was destined by the God of heaven and held in re-[93]serve for a righteous people, a land of liberty that all nations who should dwell thereon should be free from bondage and from all other nations under heaven, if they would serve the true God; but if not, they should be destroyed when they were ripe in iniquity. No tyrannical government such as is so fearfully pourtrayed in the beasts and images of the book of Daniel should prevail, or long maintain its dominion in the ''“land of the free and the home of the brave.”'' {{io}} {{ref|ms.sept.1842}} | ||
====1 Oct. 1842: Zarahemla "stood upon this land" of Central America==== | ====1 Oct. 1842: Zarahemla "stood upon this land" of Central America==== | ||
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=={{Endnotes label}}== | =={{Endnotes label}}== | ||
<!--1842--> | <!--1842--> | ||
+ | #{{note|crawford.1842}} {{Book:Crawford:Index|pages=xxx}} | ||
+ | #{{note|ts.1.jan.1843}} {{TS1|article=Evidences in Proof of the Book of Mormon|vol=3|num=5|date=1 January 1842|pages=640–644}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3403&REC=19}} | ||
+ | #{{note|ts.15.jan.1842}} {{TS1|article=Extract [from C. Thompson’s Proclaimation and Warning]|vol=3|num=6|date=15 January 1842|pages=657–59}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3408&REC=4}} | ||
#{{note|JS.1842a}} {{TS1|author=Joseph Smith|article=Church History|vol=3|num=9|date=1 March 1842|start=707}}. See also {{HC|vol=4|start=535|end=541}}. | #{{note|JS.1842a}} {{TS1|author=Joseph Smith|article=Church History|vol=3|num=9|date=1 March 1842|start=707}}. See also {{HC|vol=4|start=535|end=541}}. | ||
+ | #{{note|pratt.star.mar.1842}} {{MS1|article=Ruins in Central America|vol=2|num=11|date=March 1842|pages=161–65}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3303&REC=3}} | ||
+ | #{{note|ts.2.may.1842}} {{TS1|article=A Catacomb of Mummies Found in Kentucky|vol=3|num=13|date=2 May 1842|pages=781–782}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3458&REC=9}} | ||
+ | #{{note|ms.9.july.1842}} {{MS1|article= Reprinted from Weekly Bostonian (9 July 1842)|vol=3|num=5|date=September 1842|pages=86–88}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3312&REC=9}} | ||
#{{note|ts.15July}} {{TS1|author=Joseph Smith (editor)|article=American Antiquities|vol=3|num=18|date=15 July 1842|pages=858–860}} {{link|http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3421&REC=16}} | #{{note|ts.15July}} {{TS1|author=Joseph Smith (editor)|article=American Antiquities|vol=3|num=18|date=15 July 1842|pages=858–860}} {{link|http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3421&REC=16}} | ||
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#{{note|godfrey1}}{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!-- Godfrey --> Godfrey believes that the author was either John Taylor or Wilford Woodruff. | #{{note|godfrey1}}{{JBMS-8-2-9}} <!-- Godfrey --> Godfrey believes that the author was either John Taylor or Wilford Woodruff. | ||
#{{note|clark1}}{{JBMS-14-2-8}} <!-- Clark --> Clark believes that the author was Joseph Smith. | #{{note|clark1}}{{JBMS-14-2-8}} <!-- Clark --> Clark believes that the author was Joseph Smith. | ||
#{{note|ts1}} {{TS1|article=Extract from Stephens' 'Incidents of Travel in Central America'|vol=3|num=22|date=15 September 1842|start=911–915}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3510&REC=16}} | #{{note|ts1}} {{TS1|article=Extract from Stephens' 'Incidents of Travel in Central America'|vol=3|num=22|date=15 September 1842|start=911–915}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3510&REC=16}} | ||
#{{note|facts.are.stubborn}} {{TS1|article=Facts are Stubborn Things|vol=3|num=22|date=15 September 1842|start=921–922}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3503&REC=18}} | #{{note|facts.are.stubborn}} {{TS1|article=Facts are Stubborn Things|vol=3|num=22|date=15 September 1842|start=921–922}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3503&REC=18}} | ||
+ | #{{note|ms.sept.1842}} {{MS1|article=The Kingdom of God|vol=3|num=5|date=September 1842|pages=92–94}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3317&REC=7}} | ||
#{{note|ts2}} {{TS1|article=Zarahemla|vol=3|num=23|date=1 October 1842|start=927}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3475&REC=20}} | #{{note|ts2}} {{TS1|article=Zarahemla|vol=3|num=23|date=1 October 1842|start=927}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3475&REC=20}} | ||
#{{note|ts.15.nov.1842}} {{TS1|Ruins Recently Discovered in Yucatan Mexico|vol=4|num=1|date=15 November 1842|pages=15–16}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3471&REC=2}} | #{{note|ts.15.nov.1842}} {{TS1|Ruins Recently Discovered in Yucatan Mexico|vol=4|num=1|date=15 November 1842|pages=15–16}} {{link|url=http://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/BOMP&CISOPTR=3471&REC=2}} |
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Yea, it was because of this decree that Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, an obscure individual, was blessed with a largeness of mind which disdained to confine itself to the old beaten track, and was inspired to contend for eight years with the learned ignorance of the courts and councils of Europe, when (after many a fruitless struggle,) a small fleet was fitted out consisting of three small vessels, and placed under his command, which sailed from spain in 1492, under the patronage of Ferdinand and Isabella then on the united thrones of Castile and Arragon, which terminated in the discovery of America—the land of Joseph—a land more blessed of the Lord than any other land “for the precious things of Heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath, and for the precious fruits brought forth by the Sun, and for the precious things put forth by the Moon, and for the chief things of the ancient mountains and for the precious things of the lasting hills, and for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof.” And be it known unto you, O ye Gentiles, that this Columbus was inspired by the Almighty Jehovah to make this discovery, that the poor and meek of the earth, and the persecuted and oppressed of all nations might have a place to which they could fly and be secure from the iron grasp of poverty, wretchedness and want, and from the cruel unrelenting hand of the oppressor. And when in process of time the tyrants of the Eastern World began to extend their oppressions unto this land, God raised up a Washington and inspired him to resist their oppression and by the strong arm of military power to maintain and defend the rights of the American colonies as free and independent States, and after the definitive treaty was finally signed and the American colonies were acknowledged free and independent States by all the European powers, and the Commissioners, who were the sages of this government, assembled from the different States and met at Philadelphia on the memorable 10th of May 1787, for the purpose of organizing the General Government, God inspired them to frame the American Constitution so as thereby to establish the rights of man upon the broad basis of civil and religious liberty, that here might forever be found an asylum for the oppressed of all nations [657] to flee unto for refuge and protection from the power of their oppressors.[3]
Note that Columbus never reached the United States; he was confined to Mexico and Caribbean.
Parley P. Pratt in England wrote of “ruins in Central America” providing Book of Mormon evidence in the Millennial Star. He cited extensively from Stephens and Catherwood's work on Central American archaeology, and then wrote:
: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.[6]
NOTE: Page 862 of this issue of the Times and Seasons states: "The Times and Seasons, Is edited, printed and published about the first and fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOSEPH SMITH"
This statement was signed "ED," which attributes it directly to Joseph Smith.
NOTE: Page 926 of this issue of the Times and Seasons states: "The Times and Seasons, Is edited, printed and published about the first fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOSEPH SMITH."
Although Joseph Smith is listed as the editor at this time, opinions vary on whether it may have actually been either John Taylor or Wilford Woodruff who wrote this unsigned article.[9][10] John Taylor later became the editor of Times and Seasons. Regardless of whether it was Joseph Smith, Wilford Woodruff, or John Taylor who wrote this article, its publication occurred prior to the death of Joseph Smith. The subject being discussed is a very popular book by John L. Stephens, Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, which Joseph Smith read and enjoyed:
they founded the celebrated city of Tula."[12]
Note that the author regards south of the ithmus of Darien (Panama) as being part of "the whole continent." He likewise invokes purported myths from Guatemala and other Central American areas as evidence for the Book of Mormon.
NOTE: Page 942 of this issue of the Times and Seasons states: "The Times and Seasons, Is edited, printed and published about the first fifteenth of every month, on the corner of Water and Bain Streets, Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, by JOSEPH SMITH."
The ruins of Chi-Chen are discussed; no commentary is included.[15]
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